The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-14
ASSASSINATED In HIS OFFICE.
New York Millionaire Importer Shot Down by
Man He Had Beaten in o Lawsuit.

NEW YORK, Sept. 13-F. w. Gesswein,
the millionaire importer and manufacturer
of jewelers. tools and supplies, in this city,
was ruthlessly shot down and killed by
Christian Deyhle this morning. 1t was the
result of business quarrel over reflector.
which Deyhle claimed he had patented.
The two men had been at law about the
patent, and Deyhle had been beaten in his
suit. He had been accustomed to call upon
Mr.. Gesswein frequently at his store in
John street, but after his defeat in the
courts he discontinued his visits. Nothing
had been seen of him for the past six
months until o'clock this morning, when
Deyhle walked into Gesswein's store. on
the ground floor, and inquired for the pro-
prietor. When Mr.. Gesswein entered the
store Deyhle gave nod of recognition,
arose and. approaching him, said that he
came on private business. "All right" re.
piled Gesswein, "come into my Office"
Thereupon the two men went up stairs, in:
to the little private office on the. second
floor. where the tragedy occurred. They
were alone, with the door closed.
No one knows exactly what occurred.
Mr.. Charles Koester, one of the clerks in
the store, whose desk is right next the thin
board partition which separates Mr.. Cess
veins Office from the remainder of the
room, says that though he could not see
what was done, he could hear almost ev,,
erything. that was said. He heard loud
talking between the two men, but did not
think 1t necessary to interfere. He heard
Mr.. Deyhle demand money from his en-
ployer, and when the latter refused there
was loud report. Koester then rushed
the lounge, but before he could reach 1T
fell to the floor and expired Immediately.
uttering only a groan. Deyhle was stand
ing in the middle of the floor with smok-
him ana delivered him to the police. who
shortly arrived.
The prisoner is a German, sixty-nine
years old. He is of medium height. and
wears q rather long and grlzzleG beard
as uncouth as his hair. which is near;
shadowed by thick gray eyebrows, while
his lips are very thin and tightly pressed
against each other. He was shabbily
dressed in gray, and had a small, dirty
looking valise in which were several small
tin boxes containing substances which the
police said looked like poisonous matter
He had only few cents in his pocket.
When asked why he killed Mr.. Gesswein,
he said: He has ruined me-. l invented
and had patented reflector for jewelers.,
made samples myself and sold them to
Gesswein. / lived pretty well for time,
but ne soon copied my retiectOrs himself.
and i was unable to get along: So | sued
him IN the United States Court before
Judge Brown, who decided against me.
Three weeks ago / wrote a letter
in German to Mr.. Gesswein, asking him for
$500 to enable me to enter the home for aged
people in Philadelphia. This he refused.
When entered Gesswein's store this morn
ing he had not arrived. ] waited for him.
He arrived at last, and bade me come up
stairs to his Office. When Mr.. Gesswein
again refused my request for 500. drew
my revolver and quickly fired at him, with
out leaving the chair was occupying by
his left side"
Mr.. Gesswein was forty-one years of age
He was n quiet man and devoted to his
family. The family consists of Mrs. Cess
WEN and six children, three boys and three
girls The eldest is girl of fourteen years
and the youngest baby of few months.