Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-03
Full Particulars of the Bloody and
Fatal Affair,
With the Arrest and Confession OF
the Murderer.
From SlndnN'S Rerister.

For any months back, wheeling has
been remarkably exempt from anything
in the nature of Ss turday night rows, but
this calm vas rudely broken, last evening
by what seems to be brutal, unprovoked
and unnatural murder. 1t grew out Of q
saloon row and was superinduced by strong
drink, for the yictime and his murderer
has been personal friends, were fellow
tradesmen and lived in the same ward.
mouth to steal away his brains and now,
as q consequence he lies in the Jail, to ans
Eer the charge Of murder.
HoRRID SIGHT.
In rear room of the saloon of William
Miller, No. $50 Market street, at 3 o'clock
last evening. was horrid sight. Stretched
upon the floor, the head covered with q
towel and resting upon a pillow, lay the
BODY of Charles F. Dick, still warm with
the life blood that had ceased to flow, but
which still spsttered the hands and soiled
the neat suit of brown. Under the towel
was face, CHASTITY and dead, the lips
purple line and the forehead concealed be-
hind heavy clot Of blood that had come
from q pistol wound id the right
eyebrow. He was dead, and at that
time George Boettner was flying murderer
before the law. The saloon, guarded by
Constable st. Myers within, and Officers
Junkins and Dunlap without, was filled
with q motley crowd of men, some Of whom
gaZtd with awe at the horrid spectacle,
while others, with unfeeling calm, drank
and smoked, Occasionally friend would
De admitted TO look with sadness on the
disigured countenance, and perhaps shed
Il tear or two at the loss of friend. A half
hour later the brother was admitted aud
the speech OF the crowd was silenced in the
presence Of his noisy, fearful grief.
STORY or THE MURDERER.
About twenty minutes before o'clock,
Dick left the saloon, where he had been
drinking, and started out the door. Scarce
ly had he stepped upon the pavement
than there was loud report and he stag.
gered toward the street and fell on the
curb, the light fall of snow being imme-
diately crimsoned by the blood which
gushed FROM q wound in his forehead. The
saloon was deserted, instantly and those
who quickly reached the street were in
time 10 see the man running up Market
street. Officer Junkins was near the corn
er below and saw the flash, but by the
time he reached the spot, the murderer
had disappeared. The victim, unconscious
but still breathing, was borne into the
saloon and laid upon the floor. \ bloody
wound in the right forehead, through the
eyebrow, told how the missile had done
its deadly work, and the young man was
dead before DR.. St'ffel reached the scene.
GEORGE BoErTNER DID IT."
cried some one, and this information was
the first to reach the ears OF the police
when they arrived. Without loss OF time,
word was sent in every direction and Off
GERS were skurrying the town, leaving the
crowd, including the reporters, to peer
into the story connected with the crime.
This, at first was no easy matter, but after
q careful system of cross examination Of
those known to have been in this saloon,
at the time, the following was cleaned and
n. sy be relied upon as the correct account.
PRELIMINARY QUARREL.
George Boettner, Lou Cook, Charles Dick
and Others composed party that had been
spending most of the day in Miller's saloon
drinking and otherwise amusing them
selves. In the course of the day Boettner
and Cook had q row, growing out of some |
labor matter, both being employed at the
Central glass works. Words grew hot, and
finally Boettner drew = revolver and msde |
q rush upon Cook. Dick, who is repre-
scented as every body's friend, went bstween
them and Just in time to prevent muir
der, and caught the revolver as the trigger
was pulled. The descending hammer
caught the forehnger Of his right hsud and
made an abrasion whica may yet be plain,
ly seen. After this truca was patched
up and the quarrel was over. Cook soon
sitter withdrew from The party. Dick,
BOettner and the others continued together
and by some fatality fingered about the
spot soon to witness the murder.
BEFORE THE ACT.
Shortly after O'Clock, the men, having
left the saloon, returned to it and both
Dick and Boettner plainly showed the
effects Of liquor. Miller, the bartender,
refused them beer, whereupon Boettner
grew noisy and quarrelsoms and Miller
ended it by putting him out. He did not
20 away, but stood leaning against the tele-
graph pole and must have held the pistol
in his hand. A few minutes afterward,
Dick started out the door and, as stated
above, had scarcely stepped upon the
bricks, when Boettner leyeled the revolver
and fired, the shot taking instant effec:-
This story, with variations, as told BY
different persons, Is about correct some
additions having been afterwards made in
Boettner's confession, which is given below.
AN EYE WITNESS STORY.
Robert G. Hobbs, an eye witness to the
shooting said: Charley Schemp and l |
we're going up Market street and as We
nesred Gus Mlller's saloon l noticed two |
men standing in front of the saloon, one |
with his back to the curb, the other with |
bis back to the saloon door. heard the |
men talking but not in q loud tone of |
voice, when suddenly the man standing |
next the curb stepped back and fired one |
shot The man who was standing next |
to the door fell forward on the pavement |
on his face. The man who had the pistol |
stepped back two or three steps down the |
pavement, looking all the time at the man |
on the pavement when suddenly, seeing |
SehemP and me hurryiDg toward them, be |
started un Market STRAIT ON q daad rnn