Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-09-14
DEYHLE'S CRIME.
Bloody End of Litigation Over
a Patent.
A MILLIONAIRE SHOT TO DEATH.

Desperate Over tho Failure OF an In
fringement Suit, the Loser Appeals to
the Winner to Give Him $500, and Be-
ing Repulsed Kills Him-A Sad Story
of Alleged Wrong and Terrible Retri
bution-The Tragic Details.
NEW YORK, Sept 14.-F. W. Gesswein,
a millionaire manufacturer of jewelers. tools,
at 80 John street, was shot through the heart
yesterday m jrning by Christian Dey hle, of
9lS Sergeant street, Philadelphia, and died
almost instantly. The murder was the re-
suit Of litigation over some patent rights
which recently went against Deyhle in the
courts and which left him practically beg
gar. Deyhle refused to talk after his arrest,
but the story leading up to the tragedy was
told by Charles +. Rooster, Gesswein's book
keeper Deyhle, some years ago, patented a
refracter for throwing light on engravers'
tables while the engravers were at work
subsequently Gesswein secured a patent for
similar apparatus. Deyhle was not sue
cessful in his venture, and claimed it was
due to the fact that his patent rights had
been infringed upon by Gesswen. He
litigation ensued Deyhle spent small for
tune in pressing his case, and when the court
decided in favor of the defendant he was
left withoui>a cent
Money or Murder.
Deyhle called at the store at @ O'clock YES.
terday morning, and when Gesswein entered
the latter greeted his visitor cordially, and
invited nim to the Office on the third floor
Deyhle explained that the object of his call
was to ask Gesswein for $500, which would
enable him to enter the Old Mans Home in
Philadelphia. He said he thought he hada't
been treated fairly in the matter of the pat
ent, and the tone of his voice became sharp
and bitter as he proceeded. Gesswein took
different view of the matter, and per-
smptorily declined to give Deyhle the money,
and told him that, though he might have
done something for him, the spirit in which
the demand was made robbed him of all de-
sire to do so. Deyhle altered his tone to one
of supplication, but Gssswein held To his re-
fusal and an instant later pistol shot was
heard and Gesswein fell and died in a mo-
ment
The Murderer Dumfouuded.
When Rooster entered the murderer was
standing in front of the chair in which he
had been seated. A revolver was clasped
firmly in his right hand, and he gazed at the
work he had wrought like one dumfounded.
He made no resistance when Rooster
approached him and took the pis toll
from bis hand, and neither did he
make the slightest objection when moment
later Patrolman White entered and put a
pair of handouts on him. He did not utter
word, but went out quietly with the officer
and walked to the station with his head
hanging down as though stricken speeches.
by the appreciation of his awful crime He
was locked up pending the action Of the
coroner The wealthy jewelers. home was
at S23 Marcy street, Brooklyn, whittier his
body was taken. His wife and children were
prostratei. Gesswein was worth 8, 600 0O1.
while Deyhle has no family and recently has
had scarcely enough to eat
Think Deyhie Was wronced
Inquiries among jewelers. show that there
is general belief that Cess vein had wronged
Deyhle. and had practically robbed him of
his invention. Gesswein at first bought
large quantities of Deyhles refracter, but
finally ceased to patronize him Deyhle
made inquiries, and became satisfied that
Gesswein was making the refracters himself.
An infringement suit failed on technical
grounds, and Deyhle had no money to carry
the proceedings further
Gesswen was very energetic man, who
had built up large business in manufacture
ing jewellers tools. He employed 2OO mon.
He was noted for rough manners and al
lowed no sentiment TO interfere with what
he consi Tered his business interests