Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-15

ssDevils John Well.
A CLASSMATE OF MR.. BLAINE'S WHO WAS SHOT
DEAD AS BURGLAR.
Special CORRESPONDENCE Of the Philadelphia Press
WASHINGTON, Pa, August S.-Just before
dawn the other day, while Chiefof Police HAM
mond was making the rounds of the business
quarters OF the town, he noticed two men, with
the aid of an iron bar, attempting to force an
entrance into vandegrift's wholesale liquor
house. When the would-be burglars saw the
officer approaching, instead Of retreating, they
advanced, one with the iron bar uplifted, evil
IDENTIFY determined on a vigorous resistance
tily drew his revolver and fired The man with
the iron bar dropped His companion took to
his heels The officer Leaned the PROSTATE
expired. Chief Hammond recognized in the
dead man John Wolf alias "Dev1l John" no
during the last fifteen years had been depleted
to the extent Of $4,000 In successfully prose
cutting him for reaSe S violations olaf OF the law
coroner's jury exhonerated Chief Hammond,
but he was afterwards arrested on a charge OF
murder entered by Mrs a Mason, the dead mans
leased ON $4,000 bail. The case is before the
grand jury this month, and it Is believed that
body Will ignore the bill.
A DOWNFALL CAREER,
John Wolf was ffty-six years of age and had
an eventful career. In his youth he attended
Washington college, long before its consolida-
ton with jefferson, then located at Canons.
sume time OF the 900 students, the majority
were the sons Of southern planters, who. with
well.hlled purses and attended by their negro
Wallets, transformed this otherwise humdrum
village into a place of continual uproar Many
and varied were the pranlss played, and in
John Wolf was found ready leader. He was
most noted, however, for his skill in stossinr"
silver half-dollars-,a scarcity in those days
which often resulted in depleted southern
,1.pNfc r00fy 1acc i
Of his studies finally led to his expulsion. Que
morning the senior class, OF which he was a
member, filed solemnly. out of the chapel at
the conclusion OF morning prayers. With old
Professor Scott long since deceased, then Occn-
plying the chair Of natural sciences, at its head,
the class marched through the college halls To
the class room. As the professor grasped the
door knob he was visibly shocked, and uroppcd
to the floor. He arose hastily, however, and
veloped the fact that an electric battery had a
wire attachment with the door knob, ana upon
grasping it t., tue professor had received the full
out aus the originator Of the plot, and was sum-
marily dismissed from the institution.
HIS FIRST CRIME.
After his expulsion from college John retired
to obscurity for awhile. We next find him in
Boston, In the employ of u publishing house.
While In the employ of this house he assisted
In editing a new edition o. Tcnnyson's poells
His salary was large, but he spent it in ricting
and druu kenneSs Asa result he was discharged
bling shoe store. shortly after his turn to his
native town. Afterwards as Il result of anotiIer
escapadc, he served a term in the Western eri-
tent larry. The prison doors opened t. II hard
ened criminal. Johns next offensc con sisted in
selling liquor in this prohibition county. He
was sent TO the workhOuse. His incarceration
nowcNef, served only to make him the mere
determined for Immediately upon his release
he would obtain supply oi liquor ut Pittsburg
home and Immediately entered into the ILLEGAL
traMc once more. 1t Is Sole to say that within
the past fifteen years Johns name has never
been of the court docket. AT the worhhouse
Lo was looked upon an expert shoe-cutt err
His wife, now dead. kept up the liquor business
a c1.s her husbahd,s enforced absences, and
lease She was convicted of the same otitnse and
sent to the county Jail: Thus they alternated
ceivcd but little reward from her prctligate nus
band, however. Many instances there to
record of her brutal treatment at his hands.
Children remembered Wolf rs an occasional
appearing ghost ON tue outskirts of town.
Johns fun cost him dearly one nigh. however,
as he was the recipient of IL full charge of buck
shot at the hands OF an indignant father. He
had few good qualities. He WAS very honort-
BILE In money matters; as borrower he had an
gx ns end repntaI,on In c9nysrsins with re
ably used excellent anguage, but ut other times
was coarse and brutal His college career s,' he
rehearsed with shame. One night, about
three years ago. while party OF students were
serenading Judge McKennan, of the United
states Stat, circuit court, Wolfe, in company
trlcted by the old college songs Wolf stopped.
When the singing had ceased John mounted Il
from Virgil, delivered an Grafton, taxing Tor
MS subject the esthetic one OF 1.-The True Spirit
OF Poetry"
Aver death, among VOLTS effects was found
will bequeathing his body to local physicians
for dissection. They declined to take the
corpse however, and it was buried. The sister
stantly until Last Saturday-by the sexton in
day time and by three men at night.