Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-06-13
THE DOUBLE MURDER.
Full Particulars of the Bloody Crime in
Hancock County


The East Liverpool Crisis contains q
very full account of the double murder at
Hamiltontewn, Hancock county, on Mon
day, which shows the crime to have been
one of the most sensational ever occurring
in this section, rivaling the Holiday Cove
tragedy in interest. The Crisis says:
The scene of the fatal shooting is in
Jonathan Prosser's store. 1t is located in
one of the few brick buildings in the ham,
let, and is a typical country store. about
15x15 in size. 1t is filled with various
articles until there is but standing room
for less than q dozen men. The proprie-
tor was interviewed by a reporter, and re-
lated the following description of the fatal
duel:
about two o'clock in the afternoon
Jacob Geer, who am acquainted with,
came to the landing in a skiff; he came up
to the store and said he was on his way 10
Cumberland, and wanted some crackers
for a lunch; he sat by the door talking
when he saw Durnsberger, who was a
stranger TO me, coming up the landing
from the boat in which he bad
come in the night before. Geer remarked
that he expected trouble with him, az he
had threatened to kill him. told him
there would be no trouble in my place.
The stranger came up and came in; stand
ing in font of Geer, he said, Cd d-n
your soul you parted me and my wife, and
I'll shoot HI out of you You've done
me as much dirt as l have
you, replied Geer. At this re-
ply Durnsberger pulled a revolver and
pointed it at Geer. l was standing by his
side at once, and made him put it up,
telling him l would have no trouble in my
store, and if he would commence any he
he would be put out rougher than be
wanted. By this time we had
got on one side of the room and
Geer on the other, l standing between
them. Durnsberger again pulled his re-
vOlver, and before could stop him blszed
away at Geer; the shot grazed me and
struck Geer, went through him and nearly
through the heavy door back of him. Geer
fell, bat pulled his revolver and shot at
Durnsberger; the latter jumped at the shot
and / knew it had struck a vital spot.
Durnsberger then advanced toward Geer,
who had fallen, and emptied the remain
der of the loads of his revolver into his
body; one Of them struck fairly between
the eyes. He then started out towards his
boat, but fell before going far Both men
died almost instantly after they fell.
Geer never stirred after he fell. The
shooting only took few moments time.
After it was over ran out s1d followed
for assistance. The neighbors came in
and carried the bodies to DurDsberger's
boat. was the only witness to the shoot
ing, and went at once across the river and
telegraphed for the Coroner and Sheriff, at
New Cumberland, to come up and hold an
inquest"
John Bunting was passing the store in a
wagon where the shooting occurred and
saw Durnsberger run out holding his stom-
ach, screaming, and fall on the bank. AT.
ter the shooting the bodies of the two men
were laid out in the shsnty boat in which
Durnsberger and his four-yesr-Old boy
lived. The men both wore an expression
of horror. Durnsberger was very white;
a bloody stain on his shirt front showed
where the fatal ballet had entered his right
side Geer's body was a more horrible
sight; blood had poured from his side. nose
and mouth
Mrs Durnsberger said to reporter;
1.-THE trouble between the two men arose
some time ago. Geer accused my husband
of being too intimate with his wife, for
which he said he would get even with
him. We had a sick child at the time,
and one day Geer came to the beach and |
asked how the child was. He stayed |
some time talking, but as l did not ask
him in, he said he supposed / did not want
him there. l told him he was welcome to
come any time my husband was there. l
told my husband about this, and he be-
cana angry and accused me of having
G. or on the boat. After this Geer went
down the river for several days and re-
turned. He saw me, hat did not 90
home. I told Mrs. Geer that / had |
seen him, and when her husband returned |
there was a family rumpus over it. My |
husband and he began quarrelling after
that, and Geer told John he had been 70
our boat often. My husband wanted to
fight him duel then. He sWoI he would
get even with him. After he went away,
he wrote letters to me, urging me to kill
Geer The last trouble WAS caused by
Mrs. Geer telling my husband that l had
taken a trip down the river with Geer, and
that he had cast me off. All the time he
was aropud last Sunday knew he was
trying to get chance to kill me, and l
feel confident he went up to the store with
the intention of killing Geer, for the child
that was left on the boat oays he told him
he was going up to kill the Jail man
meaning by that, the one who had caused
him to be taken to Jail.
The verdict of Justice Pusey was that
the men had met their death by pistol
inflicted by each other. On the
person of Durnsberger was found SS2 in
money and two certificates of deposit for
5000 each. On Geer's person was found |
$40. His son claimed that when he left |
home he had 5000. The revolvers of the
men were .32-calibers. Geer's had one |
chamber empty, while Durnberger had
emptied ell in his weapon.