The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-11
THE JOURNALIsTs BATTLE.
DartOn win Recover. Hut SOteIdO's Lif'
Fast EbhIuR AWhY.

WAsHSOToS, January lO.-A Western
Associated Press Agent saw Mrs. Soteldo
wife Of A. N. Soteldo, who was shot in las
nights difficulty at the Republican office
about II O'Clock this morning. She de
clined to say anything with regard to the
merits or demerits Of the difficulty, saying
she knew nothing about It. The report
that she was absent from here was incor.
rect She was informed OF the shooting oi
her husband an hour afterit occurred and
Immediately went to him. Meantime he
had been conveyed to the Providence Hos
pital. Mrs soteldo said this morning her
husband realized that he was in yery
dangerous condition; that no marked
change since last night could be observed
and there was but little ground for hone Of
his recovery. He said 10 her this morning
that Barton fired the first shot. II Ia nd.
mitted by Barton that he fired one shot i'm.
mediately alter taking his pistol from the
drawer OF the desk, but Barton says he
held the pistol low down and tried to shoot
his asSailant in the body somewhere, but in
scutiling his aim was destroyed and that he
missed Soteldo. Barton is positive he did
not fire the shot that did the execution, but
that Soteldo's brother did. Barton is rest.
ing comfortably and will soon recover.
Three different men state to-day that they
heard Soteldo yesterday evening threaten
to kill Barton.
Soteldo has made an anto.mortem state
ment and his will. He knows he is dying
and says he is willing TO die; that he has no
further use Tor life now; that the Republican
has ruined his reputation by its publica-
tlons. He expresses remone for his past
life and says he has broken his Wiie's heart.
He maintains that Barton shot him, but
says he forgiyes him.
A. Q. Soteldo was arraigned in the Police
Court to-day charged with assault with in.
tent TO kill his brother, Antonio NJ. So.
teldo. He was committed to Jail to await
the result Of his brothers injuries. Soteldo
has regained entire Consciousness, bnt ia
paralyzed from the head down, and his
death is onlya question OF time. He dis.
claims any intention to shoot Barton, and
says Barton fired the first shot; but he for.
gave him (Barton) for it. He thus far de-
clined to make any legal ante mortem state
ment, but says that he carried pistol for
several days merely for his protection, as
he had beensleeping alone in new house
in a remote part OF the city.
At 1890 tonight, A. NJ. Soteldo was re.
ported in dying condition. He has been
sinking gradually since morning. Barton
continues TO improve rapidly. In an inter-
view this afternoon, he gave the following
version OF the affair; II was sitting Mt nv
desk when Soteldo and his brother came in.
When Soteldo came to the door spoke to
him, and said, come in He grabbed n
chair and coming around sat down beside
me. SoteIdo pulled out paper and said
III this is n card, give it to AIR. Gorham." "
This is not a card, }" he said, tread it." II
repeated: ~ don't care for it" Then he
said: You don't, don't you," and struck
me on the head, knocking me down in the
corner. Then when i Jumped up he
grabbed me by the coat before l had a
chance to defend myself. Young Soteldo,
who was standing near the wall on the nm,
per slde oil the room, began firing. l
grabbed my pistol from the drawer, but
iound could not use it. Sew
cru shots were fired; don't know
whether fired or not. After his brother
ped.
Barton said afterwards that the elder
SSoteldo made an effort to get something
from his right-hand pocket during the
melee, but he did not think he fired a
shot; I'll ! shot Soteldo," he said, ~
would have shot him in the abdomen, for
pressed my weapon against him there"
The paper that Soteldo presented 10
Barton was written confession that Bar
tonhad, while an employe Of the govern
ment OF the District Of Columbia several
years ago, obtained money through forgery.
Soteldo claimed that he had proof OF this,
and his purpose, so il is stated, was to com.
pei Barton TO acknowledge his guilt by af-
fixing his signature to paper.
Then, so 1t Is said, Soteldo intended to
present the paper to the proprietor Of the
Republican and demand ;inthe name Of
consistency, as they had been scoring him
for his mideeds, that they discharge Bar.
ton. Ot course, Barton refused to sign the
paper, wheregRon SQteldo struck him, and
they grappled over Barton's desk,
Barton admits that he immediately reach.
ed for his pistol, WHICH was in the drawer
OF his desk. Hegot hold Of 1t and attempt-
ed to shoot SoteldO while they were scuiIl.
ing. Barton says that at one time he had
the muzzle of the pistol pressed against
Soteldos abdomen, and that he then pull
ed the trigger, but as other shots were fired
at that instant he could not tell whether
his pistol was discharged or not.
II is plain now the younger Soteldo
seeing Barton get Ibis pistol, Immediately
drew his and undertook to save his brother
by shooting Barton. lie was very much
excited and fired reCkleSsly It is the gen
eral opinion that he shot his brother, and
there 10 no reasonable theory 10 explain
how Barton could have put a bullet into
his aSsailant's back.
On Wednesday night Barton read Nhe
proof OF the article against Soteldo, which
appeared in Thursday mornings ReDub-
licdn, to friend who is connected with
the leading daily OF Cincinnati. This friend
advised Barton not to publish the article,
saying that it would not do any good, and
might result in harm.
Barton replied that be must insert It, or
that he could not prevent 1t, or something
to that eifest, whereupon his friend re-.
marked that sOteldo would certainly re.
sent it, and probably do so with violence
Barton drew open drawer in his desk
exposing a revolver, and said he was pre-
pared Tor the consequences.
1t tappears that Soteldo regarded Barton
as solely responsible for the Objectionable
publication, and considered it the fruit Of
the old feud between himself and Barton,
which originoted when they served togeth.
er on the Republican some years ago, but
Bartons emphatic disclaimer Of all respon.
sibility, say SoteldoNs friends, sheds new
light on the matter and they now attribute
the newspaper exposure Of tis misconduct
to the staF toqte ring,
That Garbage Dump Explosion.
New YoRE, February IO-At the in.
quest to-day into the cause Of the explosion