Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-24
JOHN HATCHER DEAD.
Coroner Mcdowell Lodges a Commit
ment of Murder Against Lee.
THE DOCTORS HOLD AN AUTOPSY.
hatcher Has Fine Army Record, and Put
Up Many Buildings.
CoULsON is COLLECTING EVIDENCE

John L. Natcner, VINO was snot py VIII
lam Lee last Tuesday, died about 6 o'clock
last evening in the Homeopathic Hospital
At o'clock yesterday morning Alderman
Graf was hastily summoned to the hospital
and the following deposition was made by
Mr.. hatcher:
81, John T. hatcher, aged Al years, by occu-
patton carpenter contractor, believing that
am about to die and about to meet my Maker,
do make this solemn declaration, that on
Wednesday afternoon about LIS o'clock.
came into my office, No. III Second avenue
William E. Lee was there in the office; he
asked me to step into my back office. We had
been talking together until about 2:05 o'clock
started to 60 out from my private office to the
front ofiice, with the Intention to get a drink.
He jumped up and shot at me. striking me in
the back. l fell down and he shot me again
while was endeavoring TO get up. At the
time he shot me he did not say anything, nor
did expect him to shoot me. He was intoxi-
Gated. 1 was in the front Office when was
shot, as remember lying in there.
-. T. hatcher"
John 7. hatcher was born at Carlisle,
Pa, in 1847, and came to Pittsburg in the
year 1868. His father was q contractor in
Carlisle, and when the rebels blew up the
arsenal in 1868, he got the contract for re-
building it. During the progress of the
work, Lincoln made q call for men to join
the army. Young hatcher earnestly i'm
portuned his father to allow him to enter a
regiment, this his father and mother vigor-
ously opposed. Seeing that it was useless
to seek the sanction of either father or
mother he ran away from home and joined
the Two Hundredth Pennsylvania Volun-
teers.
HIS ARMY RECORD.
He met his regiment at Camp Curtin just
after the battle of Gettysburg. He was at
the taking of Fort Stephen; also at Peters
burg. Vicksburg and a number of minor en-
gagements. His regiment was also first to
enter Richmond after its surrender.
After the war closed, and he returned
home, his father left Carlisle and came to
Pittsburg, and they both entered into part
nership on the Southside at the corner of
Washington and Sixteenth streets. They
remained there until 1876, when his father
died.
While in business on the Southside
they built, among other notable places,
the Presbyterian church, corner of Sarah
and Twentieth streets; the market house,
Lebanon Presbyterian Church; also Robin
son & Rea's mill, Garrison's works, and
Clark's Solar Iron Works. After his faith
er's death he removed to Second avenue,
Pittsburg. When he was killed he was
working on the Baltimore and Ohio build
ing, corner of Fifth avenue and Wood
street, which had been condemned. The
object of the owners was to have it put in a
safe condition without tearing it down. he
also built very fine residence for Mr.. John
PlunketG on Twentieth and Carson streets.
His mother stated last evening to DIS
PATCH reporter that he was a most dutiful
son. He was kind and affectionate. Many
years ago he associated himself actively
with the Reformed German church. He
took an interest in the church and Sunday
school. In the latter he was for a number
of years a teacher.
A DUTIFUL SON.
when his father died the very best
qualities of his nature wereshown," said his
mother. "When he left home in the morn
ing he would always ask me what he could
bring me home. Oh, it was evidence Of his
love"
Here Mrs. hatcher began to weep. She
then said that so far as she could learn he
was always Straightforward and scrupulous
in his business transactions, and believe
he was respected by his business friends.
His wife was Miss Annie Evans, daughter
of james Evans, of Allegheny, and five
children are the result of the marriage. 1
believe the shock of his death will kill her,
for he was good, kind husband and
father"
Coroner Mcdowell, when notified of Mr..
Watchers death, inpanelled jury, which
will hold an inquest this morning, and or
dered Drs. Seip, McClelland, Blystone,and
Thompson to make post mortem examina-
tion. The coroner lodged a commitment
against Lee for murder.
The doctors finished their work by II
o'clock last night. but will not reveal the
result of the autopsy until this morning.
Lee was sleeping in the Jail last night,
and they decided not TO tell him the news
until the morning. During the day he ex-
pressed the hope that hatcher would live.
Detective Coulson commenced to gather
testimony last night
Detective Coulson has letter, supposed to
have been written by N Natcher, which contains
damaging evidence against Lee. He also
has a messenger boy who saw Lee come out
of the Office with the revolver in his hand.