Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-22

strength of the nervine Lee had been
imbibing.
Lee remarked to Officer Morley on Tues
day that cit wouldn't take him life time
to get even with some people" Morley was
employed by hatcher to watch Lee.
CAUSE OF THE SHOOTING.
Some financial difficulty existed between
the men. Lee claimed that hatcher was
indebted to him to the amount OF about $500
on some notes, and he claims that it was for
the settlement of this claim he called upon
hatcher yesterday.
Mr.. hatcher, on the other hand, claims
that Lee was indebted to MIN, and said that
a few weeks ago he loaned Lee S400 to pay
on a note but Lee came back to him saying
he had lost the money and wanted more,
which hatcher refused.
About a week ago Lee went to Watchers
Office in an intoxicated condition, and they
uuarreled about the difference between
them. hatcher stepped out on the sidewalk
and called to Officer Morley, who is located
at the patrol stable few doors above, to
come down and arrest Lee. Morley started
down, but before he arrived Lee had de-
parted through the shop in the rear.
John F. hatcher is a man 40 to As years
of age. He came to this city from Carlisle
when a young man, and went into business
at once as a contractor, and has been we'll
known in that capacity for some 20 years
past When William Roseberg appealed
from the decision of the Building Inspector
in the matter of the proceedings to condemn
the building at the corner of Wood street
and Fifth avenue, hatcher was appointed
one of the viewers.
HE MAY PULL THROUGH.
As he vas a man of temperate habits and
possessed of good constitution it was sup
posed he might be able to pull through. DIR.
Seip seemed to think there was possibility
also if the patient could be kept quiet. He
has a wife and five children.
J. I. Watchers home is situated on Dith-
ridge street, off Fifth avenue. 1t was visited
Yesterday afternoon by a DISPATCH re-
porter. The house is small but very pretty,
and has a cosy look, wrapped in Towering
creepers and clustering Vine-leaves from
roof to basement A neatly cultivated
grass plot lies in front. and small crowd
of sympathIzing neighbors had gathered
round the entrance-gate when the
reporter arrived. On the door-steps were
some of the children of Mr.. hatcher, all
weeping bitterly. They were entirely ignor-
ant of the true facts of the case, and cheered
up considerably upon learning that there
was still hope for their father. Mrs.
hatcher had started for town Immediately
on receiving telephone message announc-
ing the accident.
Mr. hatcher has five ch;ldren-two boys
and three girls. The oldest is Miss Rose
hatcher, aged about 16; but quite as iull of
sense and determination as a lady of 40.
She was buslly engaged in comforting her
brothers and SISTERS and trying to conceal
her own feelings as much as possible.
Lee, the shooter, bears a bad reputation.
A dozen years ago he ran Philo Hall, on
Market street. One night a man named
Meyers heated heavy poker to a white
heat and then run it through an inofensiye
old German, known as ''the Unites States
baker" This tragedy stirred upSthe owners
of the property to the necessity of reforming
the place, which was done by tearing down
the building.
A FAMOUS HALL.
In its day the hall had been as famous as
Lafayette, or any other hall in the city, for
the inception of events and measures which
made history.
1t was at the hands of Lee, assisted. it is
said, by his father, that George Johnston,
the real estate dealer, received beating
that came near sending him over the Styx,
but which eventually sent Lee over the Al
legheny, where he wore striped clothing for
some time. Johnston was a lieutenant of
police in that district, and in the exercise of
his duty was under the necessity of raiding
Philc Hall at frequent, intervals. Once
Johnston and his men raided it and captured
147 people, while many more got
away. These raids made Johnston very
unpopular with Lee, and one night the
officer pursued him into a room. Some one
extinguished the gas, and two men clubbed
Johnston almost to death in the dark. Lee
was arrested and sent to the penitentiary,
from which he was pardoned a few months
later, having political pull.
Most people who have known Lee say he
is a nervous, excitable man and not cal
culated to inspire confidence with his fel-
lows, as his quick imperative manner created
an aversion in others TO his society. Differ
ent people remarked yesterday that they
had always considered him dangerous and
were not surprised at his fatal deed.
Mrs. Lee is a very estimable lady,a promi-
nent member of St. Agnes Catholic Church.
He lived in fine three-story brick house
on Forbes street. Mrs Lee has been absent
from home for a week, and Lee, it is said,
has been drinking heavily since his wife
went visiting.