Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-10-25
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
A Young Man Shoots His Father,
Mother and Imbecile Brother.
Arrest and Confession OF the
Guilty Wretch.

Derea village, OuyanOga county. Inc
connected with the
bloody affair, as obtained, are as fol-
lows: For several years GOttlieb Mol
ler, a German, has lived with his wife
and an idiotic son on a small farm in
Strongsville. An elder son has lived
in Cleveland for years, where he was
in several families as coach
man. His name is Lewis. About
two years ago he gave up the business
of coachman, and became fireman on
the Lake Shore and Southern Michi-
gan railway, where he ran between
Toledo and Cleveland. For years
this son and his father were not on
friendly terms, in consequence of
money matters. The father wanted
the son, whose age is now twenty
three years, to turn over to him most
of his wages, as he received them
monthly. To this the son objected,
and an i'll feeling was thus created be-
tween the two.
Tuesday Lewis made his usual run
on the railroad, arriving here about Z
o'clock in the evening. He spent an
hour or more, as he states, in visiting
saloons, and drinking pretty freely.
About 9 o'clock last night he went
to Berea village, on an engine arriv-
ing there. be hired horse and car
riage at livery stable, and started for
his fathers house, four miles distant.
This he reached not far from mid
night. The house was dark the old
folks aud the idiotic son were fast
asleep. The son ratified the front
door for admittance, but no one
opened it. Then he went to the rear
bedroom window, removed pane Of
glass, raised the window and entered
the dwelling. Once inside the house
the son proceeded to the door Of the
sleeping room of his old father and
mother. AS he reached that point,
the father was awakened by the sound
of footsteps, as is supposed, and i'm.
mediately rose in bed. AS he did so,
the son took aim with seven shooter
and fired. The bullet took effect in
the breast. The father fell back in
bed. The son then fired two shots in
succession, one Of which took effect
in the left breast and the other just
above the left eye. going nearly
through the head and causing death
almost instantly.
The first shot awoke the mother of
the murderer, but she was so much
frightened that she did nothing; but
the son, having sent the third shot
into his fathers body, began firing at
his mother. Three of those balls hit
her; one took effect in the breast, an
other in the face, and the third in the
back.
The son now turned his attention to
his idiotic brother, who had been
awakened by the firing, and had left
his bed. He fired two or three shots
at him, one of which took effect, crea-
ting an ugly but probably not danger
Gus wound.
Thinking that he had killed the
three, the murderer took the deed to
the homestead, and, getting into the
carriage which he had left at the road
gate, drove back to Berea, where he
arrived about 2 o'clock this morning.
After taking the horse and buggy to
the livery he went to the Nichols
House, where he took room and re.
mained for two hours. Then he arose
went to the depot and came to Cleve-
land on the early morning train.
Soon after the murderer left the
scene of his bloody work the wounded
son succeeded in making his way to a
neighbor's house, and informing him
of something of what had happened
The neighbor, 7. Rummery, procured
the company of another neighbor aud
went to the house, where the body OF
the old man, Noller, was found dead
in bed and covered with blood. Mrs
Noller was found lying in a pool of her
own blood in an adjoining room. She
was unconscious and bleeding freely.
A doctor was quickly summoned
and the wounds-dressed. During the
forenoon she sufficiently came to to
give an account Of the terrible affair,
though she does not yet know who
the murderer is. There is little or no
hope Of the mothers recovery.
The news Of the tragedy spread like
fire, and in a few hours the country
for miles around was greatly excited
over the horrible deed. Constable j.
]. BARTLETT gathered up a few clues
and arrived here about noon to-day,
pretty we'll satisfied that the son Lewis
was the guilty party. The officers
brought along a photograph of the son.
With this Detective Goodrich went to
the Union depot, and there he cap
tured the prisoner about 2 clock this
afternoon, as he was about getting on
westbound Lake Shore train.
AS soon as arrested the murderer
confessed the crime, saying, Il" Yes, |
killed father and mother" He was
taken to the Central police station,
whore he is now awaiting a prelimin-
ary examination, which will probably
take place tomorrow or next day
The prisoner is reticent by request
of his lawyer. He says, however, that
he went home with no thought OF
murder, but after he got into the
house be and his father entered into
dispute, aud he began to shoot be.
fore he knew what he was about He
also says that after the shooting his
mother gave him a deed of the farm,
which was found with him. AS the
fathers dead body was found in bed
and the mother says the shooting
awoke her, little credonoe Is given tc
this story of the prisoner.
1t is the general opinion of those
who haye talked with the murderer
that he went home thinking he would
kill the entire family, take the deed
to the farm, and then come into pos