Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-07-03
MURDER Ar sILVxKBRooK.
An Excited Saloon Keeper shoots
the Wrong Mnn.

The inhabitants of SIlverbrook, vii
laee about = half mile west Of Uuior
street, were thoroughly excited las,
night week by the killing Of Patrick
o'Brien by Adolph Kettner, q saloon
keeper, the latter's saloon being the
scene Of the tragedy.
Yesterday week Samuel Patterson
and Edward Holman with another man
went into Ksttner's saloon and called for
beer. Holman handed Ksttner a $2 bill
and the latter returned IS cents change.
Patterson noticed the supposed trickery
and said to Holman, "He owes you 81
yet" The saloon keeper stoutly denied
this and the men, after few objections,
not In the choicest language, left the
saloon.
Shortly before o'clock in the evening
Holman and Patterson went back to the
saloon and again called for drinks.
While they were drinking, in came Pat
rick 0'Brien and James Little, who, after
drinking beer, sat down and began talk
ing. In little while, Patterson and
Holman, who were slightly Influenced by
liquor, renewed the talk ahont the %
bill, and Kettner, to put an end to fur
ther controversy, threw Holman rs cents
and treated the crowd to beer.
SNOW with an oath) knew you owed
that 81" said Patterson as he drained his
glass. Without replying, Ksttner ran
exoitedly TO the end Of the bar fsrthest
from the door, took g revolver from
drawer, looked 1t and mounted keg.
Look out, Sam, he's going to shoot
you," cried Holman, as he rushed out
the door. Hardly had he spoken when
Kettner fred. Fortunately for Patterson
he had stopped down in front OF the bar
just In time aud with this cover made q
lurried exit from the room. Kettnsr
seemed terribly excited and fired two
more shots. At the report Of the third
shot 0'Brien, who had risen from his
seat to run out, threw up his arms, ,reeled
aud fell heavily to the floor with blood
streaming from wound under his left
5ys. Seeing what he had done, Kettner
dropped the revolver, wrung his hands
and cried "My God I've shot that
man. didn't mt an to shoot that man."
Iu his excitement he grabbed his keys
and ran into shoe store next door and
asked the proprietor what he should do.
He was advised to give himself up, and,
after locking the saloon door, leaving the
bleeding body Of the victim on the foor,
he started for the police station, where
he arrived about IL O'Clock, and was
Immediately put under arrest.
James Little also came to police station
and in company with Officer Pierson went
back TO the scene Of the homicide. Upon
arriving there he found large crowd
outside Of the saloon, and Officers White
and Peterson inside with 0'BIien, who |
breathed his last at 1l.26.
Soon after the death of o'Brien, Ser.
geant HAtton, DR.. 0gle and l.. W. Palmer |
arrived and the body was removed to the |
morgue in this city. Deceased was q |
native Of Ireland but has been in this |
country some time, and has been en-
ployed as stone cutter on the B. Il p. |
railroad. Hs was about 40 years old.
Before Judge Cummins Thursday morn
ing, Kettner was given hearing, Levi G. |
Bird, Esq, appearing as his counsel. He |
set in the dock pale and detected, with |
his head resting on his hands.
The witnesses James Little, Edward |
Holman and Samuel Patterson, who live |
on Holly street, SilverbrOok, testified to |
the above facts.
William Caldwell oolored man living |
at Third and Rodney streets, was also |
summoned as witness, but said he was
not in the saloon when the shooting took |
place. The accused was committed with.
ont bail, i