Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-04
THE VINEYARD TRAGEDY.
Prof. Victor DeHam was Acct
dentally Killed by His En-
plOye - Circumstances that
Lead to this TheOry-Funeral
ArranVementS. Etc.

Condensed from yesterdays Pittsburgh Post.
The theory that Prof. Victor DcIlam
was murdered by thieves who came to
steal his grapes was upset yesterday by
the developments OF the detectives.
Their investigation seems to leave no
doubt that DeIlam was accidentally
killed by Peter j. Bauer, his hired man,
who was cooperating with him To eX-
pei the thieves from the vineyard.
Ii seems that about 10 o'clock on Mon
dav night after Dellam and Peter had
retired, the servant girl heard rust
ling among the leaves in the grapery.
She notified Peter, who Immediately
arose. As he was about To leave the
house unarmed, Mrs. Dellam came with
the gun. lie proceeded TO the vineyard
where he heard voices, but he could not
see the intruders. lie discharged one
of his loads, but when he attempted to
tire the second one the cap would not
work. He went back To the house,
when Mrs. DeIIam told him To 90 into
the young vineyard. as the thieves had
probably run over there. lie went out
again. and this time met Prof. Dellam,
who said To him, "Pctc, have you got 4
load?" lie replied that he had, when
the Professor S.Iid, "rhen fire it. lie
fired in the air. and not hearing any
more noise, the two men rcturnedt to the
house.
Peter then reloaded his gun and told
the family to 90 to bel, stating that he
would keep watch awhile in the grapery.
Prof. DeHam secured his revolver and
although Mrs. Drllam demonstrated
with her husband the Professor accom-
panied Peter To the yard. When the
men left Mrs. Dcllum stationed herself
at tine corner uf the house To watch the
proceedings. The Professor started
towards the lower end of the vineyard,
and Peter towards the upper end, but
the latter went around and came down
towards the center Soon the two shots
were fired, the first by DeIlam and the
second bv Peter. The finding of the
dead body OF the Professor was correct
ly told yesterday, and subsequent de-
vrlopmcntS showed that Dellam re-
ccivcd the fatal wound i'm the viCini
ty oi the heart, and that it was pro-
duccd by charge of No. ! or y
shot. Twenty-Six shot were found i'm
the body. Some of them We're after
wards taken from the wound and the
remaining load was drawn from Peters
gun. The shot were found TO CORES
pond exactly in size. Peter claims that
he was forty PAGES from DtHam. He
heard the Professor call "Oh Pete be-
fore he fired. saws he fired into the air,
and finally tried 10 make II appear
that the fatal shot came from be-
hind the spring house. But the cir.
cum5tances that cOnclusively point out
that the fatal shot came from Peter ;
gun are that Drllam was in a straight
line rom Peter, with his left side to-
wards him; that the shot from the wound
are exactly similar % those in Peter
gun; that no tracks were seen IN the
plOwed ground back of the spring house
where Peter SAYS the shot came from;
that only two shots were fired at the
time Of the killing, and the exceed
ing imprObability of anv thief taking a
shot gun with him when going To steal
grapes. The shooting, however, was
accidental, and Peter cannot be charged
with murder.
Peter was broughttO the city by the
detectives Yesterday morning, and is at
present confined in the Central Police
Station. Detective DreSSler, simply as
a precautionary measure, yesterday pre-
irrrrd a charge against the prisoner.
Peter is son OF Nicholas Bauer, OF
Baldwin township, is twenty-one years
of aye, and had been employed by De-
Ham for about two months. He was
greatly excited during the shooting and
may not have known where he pointed
the gun when he shot, but the prObabil-
tiles are that he denies having accident
ally killed the Professor from fear.
Coroner Thomas repaired to the scene
Of the tragedy yesterday morning, and
impanneled jury. The jury viewed
the remains and the inquest was post
pOned until this morning. The fu-
neral services will be held at st. Paul ;
Cathedral at 3 O'Clock this afternoon.
The interment will he private.