The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-11-01
HeartrendIng Tragedy,
Deputy Sheriff j. FItzBiEllams
Instantly Killed.
BE Is SHOT BY A POLICEMAN.

BE is SLOT BY a POLlGEmAN.
Last night. about ten o'clock, it was
rumored about the streets, that De-
putty Sheriff Fitzwilliams had been
shot in a bar-room, by policeman.
The news created the most intense
excitement, and In a short time squads
of men could be seen hurrying to the
saloon Of Charles Ehrhardt, where
the dead body Of Dir. FitzWilliams
had been carried after he had been
killed.
The excitement was very great, and
it was difficult to learn the facts in
regard to this terrible homicide. We
heard great deal, and cut Of the
mass of rumors. we give the following
as near the truth in the case as we
can get at it. We do not want to do
injustice to any one, and will only give
what we consider, as far as our infor-
nation goes, a fair statement of the
case:
Some persons had been quarreling
on one of the street corners 1--WE will
mention no names because we do not
positively know the names of the par
ties), and Marshal Wunderlich and .
policeman told them to go home. and
let that end the matter. To this the
parties assented and started of, but
went to Louis Eller's saloon, on Syca-
more Street, between Second and
Third, to take one more drink" In
short time Mr.. Fitzwilliams came
along, and was admitted to tie saloon
after knocking for a while, the door
having been closed and locked when
the first party entered, and was locked
again as soon as he was admitted.
While ia the saloon, another fuss
commenced, and a fight was in pro-
gress when Marshal Wunderlieh and
policemen John Young and Sylvester
Deeds tried to get in the front door
to quell the disturbance. They could
not get IN the front way, however,
but ran around and got in the back
way, and rushed into the saloon.
Policeman Deeds, swe are informed,
made rush for the door, but Mr.
Fitzwilliams caught held of him,
whenDeeds struck him on the forehead
With his billy" inficting a wound
about one inch and half In length,
but not very deep, but at the same
time it was an ugly and painful cut
As soon as Deeds saw that it was
FitzwilIiams that ne had struck, be
begged his pardon, saying that he did
not know him when he struck, and
repeatedly asked him to pardon him
as he did not mean to strike an officer
Mr.. Fitzwilliams was very angry, and
said he would fix him for that" al
the same time drawing his revolver
which he had partially cooked. Chris
Wunderlich caught Fitzwilliams's
arm, for he was afraid he might
| shoot Deeds. During this time il
seems that Deeds had his revolver in
his hand, and jast as Wunderlieh
caught Fitzwilliams' arm. a pistol shot
was fred and Fitzwilliams was struck
in the middle lobe Of the left lung
the ball striking about one inch and 8
half above the left nipple, causing
death within few minutes. Accord
ing to our information. the melee was
| still going on in the bar.room wher
the pistol was fired.
| AS stated above, after the death o.
! Fitzwiliiams, his bodyowas carried
| over to Ehrhardt's saloon, next tc
the jail, aud the Coroner was. sent for
/ A jury was esnpanneled at midnight
but We believe our statement contains
nearly all the essential facts.
| About eleven o'clock, Mr.. Deed:
gave himself up to Tom Royston, and
was locked up in the City Prison. He
admitted that he had fred the shot
that killed Fitzgilliams, but said thai
it was accidental lie said be had nc
idea of shooting Fitzwilliams, but wa.
in the act of begging his pardon when
his revolver went off. 49,
| About midnight Deeds was removed
to the county Jail. There was con
siderable feeling among the friend:
OF Fitzwillianls, and Deeds was re-
moved as matter of safety.
This is one of the most melancholy
i tragedies we have ever been called
upon to record. Mr.. Fitzwilliamf
was a man that was universally liked
and had hosts of friends. He served
in. the war for the Union, in the
old Thirty 9Th Indiana, and came
home with the rank OF Major. He
was wounded at the battle of Stone
River, and was gallant officer. He
had been Deputy for Sheriff Miller fol-
about two years, and was brave and
efficient officer. He leaves a wife aud
three children to mourn his untimely
decease.s His wife tainted. last night
, on the reception of the terrible news
and, upon reviving, was almost frantic
with grief. She will have the warm
and unfeigued sympathies of our en-.
tire community in this dark hour Of
affection. May the Father OF all
mercies deal tenderly with her and
her orphaned children.
j Major FitzWilliams was splendid
specimen of man, pbysically,and died
t in the prime Of life, being about 3s
years of age.