The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-02-27
&GLNro -. -
ONE AGAINST A HUNDRED.
Rare Physical Courage Shown by "a Brute
Who Beat his Wife and his
Daughter.
At Bay Within his House While Timid
Mob Proposed Plans for his
Capture.

| Rohmer's beigerent attitude were brought
about 10y fit of anger attending disagree
| ment with his wife.
| The man is 80 years of age and of ordinary
build. His trade is cabinet making but of late
he had been employed as carpenter on the
extension of the Galveston Harrisburg and
San Antonio railway, west of this city. Though
addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor he
seldom appeared under its influence, and last
night his condition was in this particular not an
exceptionable one. Last August he suddenly
abandoned his family and went to 'the 'front.'
where he stayed until about three weeks ago
Upon his wife, who was then in bad health,
was thus thrown the burden of supporting
herself and her nine children. Undismayed,
she went bravely to work, taking in sewing,
doing washing, and serving in various other
ways in order to provide the simple necessaries
of the household. As her husband owned the
house in which she Iived-a small. frame struct-
ure, rather dilapidated and uninviting she
did not have to pay rent and her task
than it would otherwise have been.
To assist the mother the eldest child modest
and intelligent girl of ID, obtained employment
on SOledad street, where she earned 81 week,
and this she added to the family store. All was
well until
THE HUSBAND RETURNED.
He did not appear the same as before" said
Mrs. Rohmer sadly as she carressed the little
infant that nestled in her arms and looked in
wide-eyed wOnderment at the curious people
around. HE was morOse and gloomy" she
continued, land seldom had a kind word for
any one, even for poor baby here, who is only
nine months old. He seemed to have AIKEN
dislike to Mary, and spoke rudely to her When
ever he had an opportunity. He objected TO
her enjoying herself as other vivacious girls do
and seemed to want her to stay within doors
all the time. This morning Mary went down
town to buy, with her own money, material for
a dress for her little sister. While she was gone
she had hidden in a bed. He was taking it
when told him not To do so for it was not
mine but Mary's. Then he wanted TO know
where she had gotten it, and when refused to
tell him he became very angry and left the
house. The ring had been given TO Mary on
New Years day by young man named
Sawhill. My husband returned shortly before
dark and saw u Mexican chopping wood in the
yard. He said he would have no Mexican
about the place, and when told him the wood
was so tough that neither Mary nor had been
able to chop it he replied that he would show
me who was boss. Then he took a pistol and
ran the Mexican away. After this he shouted
to me that he would show me he was boss, and
then struck me- For time all was dark before
me. When | became conscious again he was
striking Mary and attempting to catch hold of
her throat. | caught his arm and held to il till
Mrs. Bracken, who is my ncighbOr, came in and
got between us. Then Mary and / and the
children ran away. He followed us and was
about to catch us as we were entering Mrs.
Brackens house when Mr.. GiEOux, young
man who rents a room of Mrs. Bracken,
stopped him and made him go back to the
house. They say he
DRAGGED Me BY THE HAIR
after he struck me, but cannot say so, for
was unconscious for several minutes" The
poor woman then sighed and began weeping
A iyid mark on her right temple showed
where her husband had struck her. During
her narrative her children crowded about her
and trenbled at every noise from the street
without, as if fearful that their father would
appear, while kindly Mrs. BraCken, in whose
house they were, underworld to allay their APP
preheHSiOn.
After his rencOntre with Mr.. GirOux ROhmer
destroyed all the furniture in his house, broke
the windows and then amused himself by
shooting into the walls. 4 large crowd soon
collected in the vicinity y few venturesOme
persons stood in LeOna street i'll front of the
house, but the majority went no farther than
the corner of Commerce street, few yards
east of the dwelling. Policemen Bishop and
Chavez soon appeared and endeavored to ar
rest the offender. They yelled to him to sur
render and started to enter the house when he
presented a revolver. Then three shots were
fired almost simultaneously, one by ROhmer,
one by Bishop, the other by Chavez. "Im
shot" gasped ROhmcr, but, recovering almost
instantly, he shouted, keep OFF, and again
presented pistol. The officers, deeming dis
erection the better part of yalOr, retired. They
knew they had inflicted wound ON ROhmcr,
severity They themselves had not
been injured by Rohmer's shot.
other policemen arrived and the house was
surrounded. ROhmer had shut the door, but
now and then his form could be seen pacing
rapidly TO and fro and frightful Oaths were
heard as he raved and
BEAT THE WALLS WITH HIS HANDS.
Policeman Tom Rife was standing in Leona
street under street lamp when Rohmer threw
open the door of the house and went out into
the yard "Of you want me- said he in
broken English, 81 Den Wy dOnd you come took
me, Ell = Rife did want to take him, but two
Navy revOlyers which ROhmer held crossed in
front of him were sufficient 10 dissipiate any
idea of immediate action to that end. Rife
stood still, and Rohmer, after derisiyely at
tempting to laugh, retired within the house.
While this scene was being enacted, policemen,
armed with rifles, were arriving from head
quarters. They were ledlby Chief Assistant City
Marshal Karber and Captain Hughes
one 9ner,o Of them hem. brought warrant for
to kill Officer Bishop. A consultation
was held and it was decided that as
ROhmer's family were secure from him there
was no necessity of imperilliUg life by attack
ing him, but that it were better to wait until he
should have become tired of his position and
willing TO surrender. Though at this time
some IL or IA policemen and 100 or more other
men were in the vicinity, Rnhmer, by reason of
his being in the house, had much the advantage
OF the situation. IL he had wanted TO he could
nave Killed number of men before he could
nave himself been killed or made prisoner.
But volunteers TO effect his capture were not
wanting. Several railroad men and one or two
newspaper men, besides lawyer of some repu-
tation for courage, Otferedto
UNDERTAKE THE TASK,
but the police considered themselves capable
OF managing the affair. About o'clock Rob-
mer called officer Brown. Brown went 10 the
window beside which ROhmer was standing