The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-09

The following account of the murder of
William L. Hoblitzell, formerly of this
county, and the lynching Of the murderer
is taken from the Cumberland Daily Noes /:
CAMP HoBLrrzELL. COL, Oct. %, 81.
AT or about the hour of nine o'clock this
morning, while Mr.. W. L. Hoblitzell was
engaged in business at camp s. one Ben, or
as he was commonly called, Pete Theophil,
know on the roll of his works as Italian
No. 81, approached him and in an excited
manner, and in broken English, demand
ed lis pay as he intended to leave. 1t be-
ing Mr.. HobiitzelTs rule to pay only after
ten dav's notice, excepting, Of course, the
regular monthly pay days, he told Ben
that he could not get his money until pay
day, unless he had given the usual notice.
This Ben knew very well, as he had been
employed there for several months, but it
did not satisfy him, and he repeated his de-
mand in manner usually violent. Mr..
Mr.. Hoblitzell did not understapd all Ben
said. as most of it was spoken in Italian, but
never saw him more mild and gentle in
manner.
After a few minutes, and when he had
finally told Ben that the rule applied to all
without exception, he came into the Office
and was for some time engaged with my
self in the examination of papers. The ltal-
ian continued to talk outside, and finally
came into the store adjoining the office
rt..x, A. IIoll,t,an .,ll lin, -. Ioax-a or ho
would put him out Ben stubbornly refused
to go, and in the effort to eject him desperate
struggle took place in which Ben was decid-
edly getting the worst, when ! summoned
them, Ben agreeing to go, and passing ont
the door, In a moment, and before il can
be described, he turned stepped ON the sill
of the door and fired at Mr.. Hoblitzell, who
was only few PAGES from him, and was
apparently adjusting his clothing, which
had become disarranged in the struggle.
After firing, the Italian ran, brandishing
his revolver and threatening man who at
tempted to stop him. In the excitement
incident to the shooting the would be muir
derer escaped, and up to the hour of writing
e p. m.) has eiuded pursuit. Mr.. Hoblit-
zell is of vigorous physique and possesses
strong constitution, which may materially
assist in his recovery, but the wound is a
serious dne, the ball entering the right
breast an inch below and 10 the right of the
nipple.
r. Il MerkrnptI
The wife of Mr. Hoblitzell, who was at
Colorado Springs, was telegraphed for, and
she and her daughter left there at 80 p. III.
on special train furnished by the railroad
company. No mention is being made of
their having reached Camp Hoblitzell, be-
fore the death of Mr. Hoblitzcll, which oc-
CURED at o p. m. just twelve hours after he
was shot.
Specials from Gunnison to the Denver
Republican state that reward of 81 600 was
offered for the capture of Theophil, and that
the sheriff and hundred principally
the railroad laborers who had been working
for Mr.. Hoblitzell-oyertook him in the
mountains, and brought him TO Gunnison,
Friday evening.
Fearing an outbreak the prisoner was re-
moved from the Jail to the court house
where better guard could be kept over
him, and a strong guard stationed there.
At midnight, however, masked men appear
ed and covered the guards with guns and
pistols, while others rushed in, placed a
rope around the Italian .leck, dragged him
down the stair steps, then through the snow
a distance of two squares, and then hanged
him to livery stable sign, where he was
found Saturday morning.