Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-11
sATELDo-BARTON.
Reasons For the Attack Which Re-
suited In the Shooting.
The Theory Of the Victims Fiends-How
The ARRAY Occurred = Belief
That Sateido Was Shot
BY His Brother.
THE VICTIM DYING. LAST NIGHT.

Special % Hesfe7n Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, February l0.-The shooting
affair at the Republican office, last night,
continues the topic of public interest here.
1t is charged the articles published in the
Republican to which Sateldo took exception,
and which he resented were inspired by
the Star route ring, in retaliation for Satel-
dos efforts to expose that ring. He was
among the first who attacked the Brady
administration of the Second Assistant
Postmaster Generals Office. He published
charges of fraud and corruption in the
active in encouraging
Congressional Investigation.
The parties accused of completely in the
Star Route frauds retaliated by charging
Sateldo with purpose to levy blackmail
upon them, and the fight became bitter on
both sides.
Sateldo's friends now declare that the ar
ticle exposing his visit to and fight in
house OF ill repute, and the subsequent
article charging him with an attempt to
bribe an employe of the National Republican
were the work OF the alleged Star Route
conspirators and were published to punish
him for his
Crusade Against the Ring.
They point to the well known fact that
until few days ago, Gen. Baady was the
chief owner of the Republican, and TO the
fact that it has been the persistent defend
er of the accused Star.route men, and has
been recognized as the organ for these men.
Barton, in justification of himself, has
declared that he was obeying orders in
a. a. ,,l, at Ia
his life, perhaps; that he was not, as has
been alleged, venting any personal spleen,
but that he was carrying out the instruc-
tions of his superiors, which he dared not
disregard.
This new phrase of the matter, togethe'I
with the publication of the fact that markC
copies of the paper containing the artic':
against Sateldo
Were Sent His Wife, =
has considerably changed the tone OF pub
lie sentiment in Sateldos favor.
At first he was generally condemned, but
his friends have made it appear that he
was ruthlessly pursued and goaded even to
attacking him in the affections and esteem
of his wife. He resorted to every means TO
keep the knowledge of his misconduct
from her, and said he was comparatively
Indifferent with regard to all others, but
he wanted TO spare his wife the knowledge
of his disgraceful conduct.
She was informed of it, however, through
the marked copies of the Republican,
Sent to Her by Mail,
and she now admits she severely upbraid-
ed her husband and regrets it. 1t was this
act of thus informing his wife, his friends
say, that goaded him to desperation.
1t is maintained in his behalf that he
did not got to the Republican office
with any intention of shooting Barton or
anybody else. The paper he presented
Barton was a written confession that Bar
ton had, while in the employ of the Dis
trict of Columbia Government, several
years ago,
obtained Money Through Forgery.
Sateldo claimed he had proof of this, and
his purpose, so it is stated, was to compel
Barton to acknowledge his guilt by affix-
ing his signature to the paper.
Then, so it is said, Sateldo intended to
present the paper to the proprietor of the
Republical, and demand in the name Of in.
consistency, as they have beenscoring him
for his nisdeeds, that they discharge Bar
ton.
OF course: Barton REFUSED to sign the
paper, whereupon Sateldo struck him, and
they grappled over Barton's desk.
Barton admits he Immediately
Reached for his Pistol.
which was in drawer of the desk. He got
hold of ii and attempted TO shoot Sateldo
while they were scuffling Barton says
that at one time he had the muzzle OF the
pistol pressed against Sateldo's abdomen
and that he then pulled the trigger, but as
other shots were fired at that instant, he
could not tell whether his pistol was dis
charged or not.
1t is plain now, the younger Sa-
teldo, seeing Barton get his pistol. y
Immediately Drew His
and undertook to save his brother by shoot
ing Barton. He was very much excited,
and fred recklessly. and il is the general
opinion he shot his brother, or there is no
reasonable theory to explain how Barton
could have put bullet into his assailants
back.
"wednesday night Barton read proof OF the
article against Satcldo. which appeared in
Thursday mornings Hepubiicdn to a friend
who is connected with leading daily OF
Cincinnati. This friend advised Barton not
to publish the article, saying II
would not do any good and might
result in harm. Barton replied that he
must insert it, or that lie could not prevent
it, or something to that effect, whereupon
his friend remarked that Sateldo would
certainly resent it, and probably do so with
violence.
Barton:drew open drawer in his desk.
exposing q revolver. and said he was
Prepared for the Consequences.
II appears Sateldo regarded Barton as
solely responSible for the Objectionable
publications, and considered il the fruit OF
an old feud between himself and Barton,
which originated when they served together
on the Republican some years ago, but Bar.
toms emphatic disclaimer Of all response
bility, say Sateldo's friends, shed new light
on the matter, and they now attribute the
newspaper exposure Of his misconduct to
the Star-route ring.
Reported Dying.
At 1890 tonight, A. NJ. Sateldo was re-
ported in a dying condition. He has been
sinking gradually since morning.
Barton continues TO improve rapidly.
Ante Mortem Statement Of the Mar.
dered Man.
wAsHIsGToS. February 10.-,A Western
Associated Press agent saw Mrs. Sateldo,
wife of A. NJ. Sateldo who was shot in last
nights difficulty, at the Republican office,
about IL o'clock this morning. She de-
clined to say anything with regard to the
merits or dement's OF the difficulty, saying
she knew nothing about 1t. The report
that she was absent from here was incor-
rect She was informed OF the shooting OF
her husband nearly an hour after it occur
red, and Immediately went to him In
the meantime he had been conveyed 70 the
Providence Hospital
Mrs. Sateldo said, this morning, that her
husband realized he was in very danger.
GUS condition; that no marked change
since last night could be observed, and
there was but little ground for hope OF his
recovery. He said to her, this morning,
that Barton fired the first shot.
It is admitted by Barton that he fired
one shot Immediately after taking his pis-
tol from the drawer Of the desk, but Bar
ton says he held the distol low down and
tried to shoot his assailant in the body
somewhere, but in scuffiing his aim was
destroyed. and that he missed Sateldo. Bar.
ton is positive he didn't fire the shot that
did execution, but that sateldo's brother
did. Barton Is resting comfortably and
will soon recover.
Tb,ee diffarent men state to-day that