Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-21
SHOOT THE HAT.
The Operation Attended with Fatal
Consequences.

| CuOeI JohnSoHs brooklyn Bridge
Hotel, No 48 Chatham street, is bar.
room, very long and low, and contain
ing several billiard tables. Against the
wall ON one side are targets for rife and
pistol shooting. The barroom is open
all night, and the cracking of firearms is
often heard before daylight, though. for
the most part, the shooting is allowed
only in the day.
Charles Westfeld, the night bartender.
is German, 46 years of age, and mar
ried. He lived with his wife at No. 125
Monroe street, and has the reputation of
oelng ordinarily a sober, industrious
man. BY constant practice he became
an expert marksman, both with rifle and
| pistol, and was fond of showing his skill
TO the frequenters of the place. Lately
ne has INDUCED in the dangerous prac-
tlce OF shooting apples and other objects
OF the heads of ali who were reckless
enough to risk standing for him. His
1rleEds warned him repeatedly against
this perilous exper .ment, but as his skill
increased his confidence in his own
powers tempted him TOO strongly to be
resisted, and when he could not other.
wise get customer to stand for him he
| offered drink to any one who would
take the post of danger, and on these
terms he had no trouble in getting men
to risk their lives.
Very early yesterday morning, when
Westtield took his place behind the bar
! 1t was evident to the few customers who
were in the saloon that lac had been
| drinking freely. He offered to shoot a
match with any man present, and tired
to get one of his customers to place
lemon on his head and allow him TO
| shoot it off with a rife, but. as his CON
dition was apparent, he failed to induce
anyone to risk his life in the manner pro-
| posed.
"Oh, put down the ride and sit down "
said one of the frequenters of the saloon.
eve all know you can do it, but what is
the good of trying it now? Your hand
is too unsteady"
Finally Westfeld put the rifle down
and attended to his business for couple
of hours. At about 4 o'clock SIX or
seven old customers entered the saloon.
and among them was Gustave Warganz.
| of No. 226 William street, German. 81
years of age, who was somewhat intoxi-
Gated. Westfeid served the party with
drinks, and they sat at table about
twenty feet from the bar, where War
ganZ soon fell asleep. HIS back was to-
ward Westfield, aud as he dropped
slowly forward, and recovered himself
with sudden motion that displaced
his hat, but did not knock it from his
head, bis companions laughed, and West.
field grasping the rifle, said:
LII take off his hat for him."
Nobody spoke, for the rifle was at the
marksman's shoulder, and word might
have disturbed his aim. For moment
the rifle and its holder was motionless.
and then sharp report rang through the
saloon. AT that iostant the sleeping
mans head jeIked forward, and the bar,
tender, dropping the stock of the rifle to
the floor, looked aDxiously to see the
result Of his shot. The low hat spun off
Warganz's head, and, starting to his feet,
he said
''He has hit me that time"
Everybody laughed, for the hat. with
a bullet hole in it, was living on the floor.
aud the man appeared 10 be uniniured
He picked up the hat, looked at the hat,
and said:
''Well, | felt as if the ball hit me.
The hats spoiled, and you owe me a
drink.
Warganz went to the bar and called
for glass Of ale, which Westfeld gave
him. He drank it, and, putting his glass
upon the bar, turned round and took off
his hat again, TO show his friends the
hole that had been made in it. As he
did so the bartender, looking at the back
of his head, saw that the hair was clot-
ted. and blood was trickling over the col
lar of bis coat.
''My God" he cried, che is shot. Look
at his head"
Warganz grew deadly pale, and would
nave fallen, but his friends supported
him. They helped him behind The bar
and bound a wet towel tightly around
his head, partially stopping the blood,
which was f1oWiDg from a hole above his
right ear. Then the injured man, assist
ed by MS friends, walked to the
Chambers street hospital, where it was
found that the small bullet had pierced
the skull and penetrated the brain. No
attempt was made to probe for IL hut
the wound was dressed, and then.
Chambers street hospital being over
crowded, Warganz was sent to the New
York hospital, where he arrived in a
very weak state. There is hardly chance
for him to recover, for though brain
wounds do not always result in death the
overwhelming majority Of such cases are y
fatsl
Warganz sank into stupor la 'er in the
day, and was hardly expected 10 live
through the night. His brother, who
visited him, came away in tears, having
learned that there was little or no hope
of saving his life. While conscious,
Warganz told the hospital officials that
he was widower, but that statement
was coHtradicted by some of his friends,
Who said that he bad wife living.
Westfield completely broke down on
learning the result of his reckless rifle
practice. He accused himself of MUIR
dering his friend and, going into the
street, he surrendered himself to Police
man McQuade, who took HIM to the Oak
street station. In the forenoon he was
arraigned before Justice Patterson in the
Tombs Police Court, and twenty men
we're in court prepared to testify to his
good character. Justice Patterson COM
nitted Westfield to the city prison to
await tfe result of Warganz' wound.
Warganz' bat was shown in court,
end from its appearance it did not seem
that its owner had been under fire for the
first time yesterday morning. 1t was
riddled with holes.
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