The great West., 1890-01-03
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.

MERRILL, Wis.,. Special Telegram,
David Sarvis,a saloonkeeper, and two
policemen-Frank Hotz and Robert Truax
were shot early this morning by George
Handler, cripple Sarvis dying few mo-
ments later Truax may die, but Hotz 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
f1uence 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 left the saloon, and purchased a
revolver at Fehland & Co. s hardware store.
Early this morning he went to the entrance
of Boards opera house, where fremen's
ball was in progress, and asked Policeman
Truax to ascertain if 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
a glass of beer, who, while drinking. heard
the report of a revolver. They saw Sarvis
stoop behind the bar and run toward the
exit end of it. Another shot followed be-
fore those standing by could interfere, when
6arvis call ed out: Hold him! am shot!"
and in STOPPING position ran out of the
saloon and to the rear of Watkins drug
store, nearly block away, where he was
found two hours afterWard.
POLICEMEN TRUAx AND HoTz
were coming down the opera house
stairs when notified that Sarvis
was shot. After shooting Sarvis,
Handler fourished the revolver, clean
ing out the saloon. He then rushed
across the street to Hyman Bros saloon,
demanded a 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 Hotz ran behind the bar. Handler
then turned, firing at Truax, the ball lodg-
ing in the left lung. Truax exclaimed, MY
God, l am shot!" when he rushed into the
street, calling for rifle, saying: II must
arrest that man, for he is a murderer"
Handler soon had sole possession OF the sa-
loon, and while peering through the win
dow was fired at 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 him!' were
heard in every direction. Handler was
taken to Jail by the mayor of the city and
F. E. Mathews, followed by an infuriated
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 of lynching are still being
scene of the murder and the jail. It is ru-
mored that friends of Sarvis are coming
from Wausau tonight to hang the murder
er The Jail is considered safe, and the po-
lice force has been strengthened. The
mayor has ordered all saloons closed.
SOME INSIDE FACTS.
From gentleman in St. Paul who for
merly resided in 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 brother-in-law of ex-Sheriff O'Con-
nor of Lincoln county and was jailer
during part of O'Connors term Of office.
Handler is man of middle age married
and has family of several children. He
is a short man of powerful build, but has
dislocated hip. Sarvis' saloon at Merrill is
a finely fitted up place, and there formerly
was gambling room over the saloon. He
was man Of fine appearance, very athletic,
the owner of a fast horse and was consid-
cred as an all-round sporting man. He 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 him about the head seriously,
the prisoner making his escape. Hotz is an
old soldier and G. A. R. man. The gen
tleman says if lynching is attempted the
lynchers will meet with warm reception,
as Handler has many friends in Merrill.
q ANnEDc