Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-04-07
A SHOOTING MATCH
BETWEEN AN OFFICER AND TOUGH OlIl-
ZEN.
Tom Hill Tries 70 XII Patrolman Gaus and Then
Makes His Escape, After Being Fired at
Three Times.

Officer George Gaus had rather close
call for his life, about half-past one O'Clock
yesterday morning.
His assailant was the notorious Tom Hin,
and had it not been for the failure OF re
volver, aimed and snapped by Hill, TO go
off. the force would have been short one oil
its most efficient members.
Gaus, in defending himself. fired three
times at his assailant, but without effect
so far as is at present known.
About quarter after one, while Gaus
was patrOling his beat in the Second ward,
he found a window broken in front Of bus
mess house. and Hill lying on the sidewalk
i'm a drunken sleep He had evidently
fallen through the glass. and then rolled to
the sidewalk The officer got him up, and
taking him by the arm, started TO the City
Hall. but without any serious intention OF
putting a charge against Hill. provided he
would agree TO pay for the broken glass.
On the way TO the City Hall the officer
preached the matter of the broken glass to
Hill. who denied breaking the window, and
began 10 abuse Gaus. The latter then de
termined TO take his man on down. At St
Mathews church, just as the couple We're
crossing the street. Hill said
Let 90 of me. What's the use OF hold
inc me!n
The officer said that was all right, and
maintained his hold As the stone pave
ment in front of the Court House was
struck, Hill twisted loose from the officer
who was holding him by his right hand,
which is weak from having been broken. and
/ in doing so caused Gaus good deal of pain
and temporarily left the hand useless. As
he got loose Hill pulled a revolver and
/ stickingi il into the officers face pulled the
trigger. The weapon snapped, and Hill
/ tried u second time, with no better success.
| While this was going on. Gaus was en-
deavoring 10 get his pistol out of his rear
/ pocket. but being handicapped by his hurt
| hand was unable 10 do il instantly. He
/ cot hold of his weapon, however, Just as
/ Hill was trying 10 snap his revolver u
third time aud fired hurriedly at Hill. The
/ latter then ran east along the sidewalk
and as he went Gaus fired Il second time
/ Hill ran on to the gas lamp at the
corner Of the killmyer residence, where he
turned round and lcveliug his pistol at the
officer took Il dead aim and pulled the trlg-
ger. The revolver snapped again, and as
/ it did so Gaus fired third shot. Stimuli
taneously with the crack of the officers
| pistol Hill gave a suppressed exclamation,
as though he had been scraped by a bullet,
and turning ran rapidly east up Fifteenth
street, evidently thinking his pistol could
not be depended on "a do the work he
hoped To accomplish. Gaus pursued his
man up through the streets as far as the
Baptist Church. where he lost him. He
made thorough search of the neighbor-
hood but could not find Hill, and then
went 10 look after his hand
At first il was thought the officers hand
had been broken again. but it turned out
that it had only been badly wrenched and
sprained
Hill ought to be captured and turned over
| 20 the grand jury