The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-03-26
THE SHOOTING OF HELT.
The Victim DOad-POstmaster Smith Is Re.
leased ON Bail.


Charles Helt, the young man.fatall!
shot on Friday evening, by John Smith
Of Burlington, over the river, died at tel
o'clock Saturday morning, just twelve
hours from the time he was wounded
The brief outline Of the homicide giver
Saturday morning was correct in every
detail, the trouble at Glenn's Run school
house having originated after the ad'
journed meeting of the Glendale Choral
Society from the taking up Of the case Of
Henry Helt, by President Smith, the
former having on the Friday night prior
to the last meeting, kicked the door Of
the school house, breaking the panel.
The Board of Directors having in the
meantime decided that the Choral So
ciety should pay the damage, the latter
were in a majority OF the opinion that
Henry Helt should repair the damage.
AT this juncture Charley Heltinteriered,
saying that such a decision was not fair,
and alter few hot words with President
Smith he struck him just below the eye,
giving that organ q rather blueish hue,
and struck him second time, when
Smith drew a revolver and told his as-
sailant to stand back or he would shoot,
Mt the same time being so dazed from
the effects Of the blows received as 10
not notice that the weapon was cooked,
and that he had his finger on the trigger.
The weapon was almost instantly dis
charged, the ball entering Charley's left
side.
The wounded man was carried to the
home OF John Johnston and made Us
comfortable as possible until Drs. Her
yey, Williams and Blackford arrived,
who did all in their power for the vic
tim, but without avail. The physicians
remained with the wounded man until
after l o'clock.
Mayor Keller heard their opinion Of
the mans wound, and that he could not
recover, and at once went to Johnson's
house, accompanied bya nISTELLIGENcEE
reporter, who wrote the ante mortem
statement for the Justice. The wounded
man struggled hard to answer while suf-
fering constantly intense pain. His dying
statement is as follows:
Q.-What is your name?
A.-Charles Held.
Q.-Do you know who shot you?
A.-John Smith.
Q.-Why did he do it?
Ale asked questionsabout broken
door; answered. He claimed he had
asked enough members. l asked If it
would not be good to hear both sides of
the tale. He said he had heard both
sides. I said he had not. He pulled
his coat and l hit him.
Q.-What position were you in when
he shot you?
Al was standing. Was not going
towards him. Did not know he was 60
ing to shoot me. Shot me Immediately
after l knocked him down. Never had
hard feelings with Smith. Never made
any threats against him. We never had
a word. Hit him two or three times.
Q.-How often had you hit him before
he shot?
A.-Had nottime to notice; they came
ut me too strong. Had nothing against
me. Never had any words before.
Mayor Keller, OF Martins Ferry, Sat
urday morning onIthe strength oftheevi-
dence, released Smith on $500 bail, to
await n preliminary hearing on Tuesday
ut 10 o'clock.
The funeral OF Charles Helttook place
yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock from
his parents home on Glenn's Run. The
remains were inferred in August
Hentchei's private burying ground near