Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-03-30
A
A Murder In Open Court, philadelph'".

"a 4 ANY, -
to be placed on trial for an alleged
commission Of an outrage upon the per-
son of a young girl, the father Of the
latter, Thos. Leis, placed a pistol at his
heart and fred, the ball entering the
heart of Eller just above the left nipple,
and caused almost instant death. The
circumstances attending the commission
of the terrible act, together with the
past relations of the two parties to each
other, were rs follows:
The murdered man was a tailor by
trade, aud resided at No. $40 Orchard
street, below Poplar. He IA about
thirty years of age, was of the ordinary
hight, of slight build, with dark hair,
and slight beard upon the chin aud up
per lip, and when he met his summary
fate was neatly attired in a plain black
suit.
Thomas Leis, the avenger of his
daughters shame, and, as it is also sup
posed, Of his own imagined personal
wrongs, was ~ near neighbor of his VIC
tim, as his residence was at No. $50 Or
chard street. During the war he was q
member Of the Twelfth regiment of
Pennsylvania cavalry, commanded by
Col. William Frishmuth, of this city.
His reputation with his companions
in arm. was noue of the best, all efforts
made by the officers to get efficient SER
vice out of him having failed. In 1863,
while the regiment was in camp at or
near Georgetown, District of Columbia.
| Leis deserted, but he was afterwards
taken, and kept for some time in con-
inement. From this restraint be man
aged to escape, whether through the
connivance of others, or by his own un-
aided e1ertions was never discovered,
and he was not retaken.
Residing so closely to each other it
was natural that the families of the two
men should be on terms Of intimacy;
but about a year ago their friendly re-
lations towards each other were disturb
ed BY some financial transactions, con-
siderable enmity being the result. In
some manner Leis became indebted to
Eller in the sum Of two hundred dollars,
for the payment Of which the latter
made frequent demand, offering finally
to settle the Indebtedness for a hundred
and fifty dollars. Mrs. Leis then made
an effort to pay the debt of, and, with
this end in view, she endeavored TO dis
pose Of some certificates Of stock in a
land association. She was unable to
find a purchaser. Her husband finally
heard Of her operations, and become
much incensed at Filler on account OF
his importantly.
On the 18th of April, 1866, Eller at
tempted to commit an outrage upon the
person Of a daughter Of Leis, about
twelve years Of age, named Louisa.
There are various rumors afloat concern
ing the circumstances attending the
| commission Of this ~offense, which we
refrain from making public on account
of their conflicting nature. For this
alleged offense Filler was arrested and
held in 81, 800 bail, Mr.. George W. Ran
kin becoming his security. On the Sd
of May, 1866, he was indicted for the
o~ffense, but shortly afterward he left the
city, going to Harrisburg, it is said.
His bail was forfeited, and suit brought,
judgment being obtained and execution
issued some months since.
This morning the prisoner was brought
from the County prison, to be placed on
trial. Just as he was passing into the
court room by the prisoners entrance,
tipstave Krotzer being Immediately be-
hind him, Leis, who was in waiting
just within the room, stepped up and
drew a pistol from his side pocket, which
he placed at the breast of Eller, and
fred at once. On receiving the contents
of the pistol, Filler jumped up, gave a
scream, and fell back into the arms Of
the tipstave. The shot proved fatal in
a few minutes, and the body was remov-
ed to the clerks Office Of the Quarter
Sessions, and from there to the coroner's
office. About an hour afterward the
wife Of the deceased visited the coro-
ner's office, exhibiting a great deal OF
emotion on account Of the calamity
which had fallen so suddenly upon her.
The prisoner was then removed by
the officers and taken at once to the
county prison. He is a stout and square
built man, about five feet seven inches
in hight, his eyes dark, as well as his
hair and whiskers, the latter worn only
upon the chin and upper-lip.
He is apparently about ~forty-ive years
Of age, and exhibited great composure
from first to last. Thus far all expires.
sions of public sympathy have been en-
tirely with the prisoner, but the elicita-
ton of all the facts in the case may
cause a change in this respect.