The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-01-10
A BLOODY TRAGEDY
A Cripple Kills One Man and
Severely Wounds Two
More at Merrill.
Col. Wilbur F. Sanders is
Elected United States Sen.
atOr for Montana.

MEERtLL, WIS.,, 0peclal Telegram,
David Sarvis,a saloonkeepcr, and two
policemen-Frank Hotz and Robert Truax
were shot carly this morning by George
Handler, cripple, Sarvis dying few mo-
ments later. Truax may die, but lIotz is
thought to be out of danger. Handler was
in sarvis' saloon early Tuesday evening,
watching game of cards. Imagining that
one of the players, who was under the in-
fucncc of liquor, was being imposed upon,
he made some remark that angered Sarvis,
and, as Handler claims, Sarvis struck him
in the face causing his nose to bleed, and
followed the act with insulting remarks.
Handler lett the saloon, and purchased
revolver at Fchland e. Co. hardware store.
Early this morning he went to the entrance
of Boards opera house, where firemens
ball was in progress, and asked Policeman
Truax to ascertain il Sarvis was in the hall,
explaining that he had had trouble with
him short time previous. To pacify him
Truax went in and made inquiries. but was
told by Sarvis' wife that her husband was
not there. Handler then went to the sa-
loon, where Sarvis was standing behind the
bar. Two citizens had just dropped in for
glass of beer who, while drinking, heard
the report ofa revolver. They saw Sarvis
stoop behind the bar and run toward the
exit end oft. Another shot followed be-
fore those standing by could interfere, when
Sarvis called out: Hold him! am shot"
and in stopping position ran out of the
saloon and to the rear Of Watkins drug
store, nearly q block away, where hc was
found two hours afterward.
POLICEMEN TRUAX AND HoTz
were coming down the opera house
stairs whcin notified that Sarvis
was shot. After shooting sarvis
Handler fourishcd the revolver, clean
ing out the saloon. lie then rushed
across the street to Lyman Bros saloon,
demanded drink and said he would shoot
the first man who laid hands on him. Just
then Hotz entered the door, when Handler
shot him through the shoulder. Another
shot penetrated the right ear and scalp,
when notz ran behind the bar. Handler
then turned, firing ut Truax, tine ball lo'lg-
ing in the lett lung. TruaX exclaimed, ''My
God, l am shot" when he rushed into the
street, calling for rifle, saying: 81 must
arrest that man, for he is murderer
Handler soon had sole possession OF the s;-
loon, and while pccring through the Win
dow was fired ut by Israel Shank with
Winchester rifle, the ball grazing Handlers
hat. As Handler ran down the back stairs
another shot was fired, barely missing him,
when he fell, dropping the revolver, and
was captured by the posse who surrounded
the building. Cries OF Lynch lim!" were
heard in every direction. Handler was
taken to Jail by the mayor Of the city and
Il. L. Mathews, followed by All int,lriatcd
mob. The prisoner was taken from the
corridors in the Jail twice before he could
be secured in cell. The excitement runs
high, and threats oflyncling are still being
made. Crowds to-day ore surrounding the
scene of the murder and the jail II is ru-
morcd that friends OF Sarvis arc coming
from Wa,lsau tonight to hang the murder
cr The Jail is considered safe, and the lo-
lice force has been strengthened The
mayor has ordered all saloons closed.
GONE INSIDE FACTS.
From gentleman in St. Paul who for
mcrly resided i'll Merrill, it is learned that
George Handler, the murderer, formerly
lived at Brownsville, Houston county,
this state, where his parents now reside
but removed to Merrill some ten years ago.
He is q brothcr-in-law of ex-Shcrih OCon-
nor of Lincoln county and was jailcr
during part of OConnors term Of office
Handler is man of middle age, married
and has family of several children. lie
is short man OF powerful build but has
dislocatcd hip. Sarvis' saloon at Merrill is
finely fitted up place, and there formerly
was gambling room over the saloon. He
was a man of fine appearance, very athletic,
the owner of n fast horse and was consid-
cred as an all-round sporting man. lie was
about forty years old and was married dur
ing the past year. Truax was formerly
chief of police of Merrill, man of great
physical courage. While conveying pris-
oner from Merrill to Wausau several years
ago his charge made an attack upon him
and injured linn about the head seriously,
the prisoner making his escape. Hotz isan
old soldier and q. A. Il. man. The gem
tleman says il a lyncling is attempted the
lynchcrs will meet with warm reception,
as Handler has many friends in Merrill.