Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-20
MARRIAGE A FAILURE.
A Young Wife Sends Three Pistol
Bullets at Her Husband.
THE LAST ONE TAKES EFFECT
4 Bitter Quarrel of Two Families Ends in
a Bloody Tragedy.
NO ARREST HAS YET BEEN ATTEMPTED
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

GREENsBURG, PA, June 19.-This quiet
and peaceful community, noted for its many
handsome churches and broad acres. is in q
ferment of excitement over the shooting Of
DR.. w. j. Hammer, one of the leading
dentists of the place, by his young and
beautiful wife with whom he had quarrel.
The injured man is resting easily at his
home, and his wife has not been arrested by
the authorities. This step will not be taken
unless DR.. Hammer takes sudden change for
the worse.
The shooting took place between and 10
o'clock last evening at DR.. Hammers house. on
West Pittsburg street. The sad affray was the
result of petty Jealouses between the families
of DR.. Hammer and his wife. The couple were
married about year ago last April. and it is
said did not live happily. Mrs. Hammer was a
Miss Sell, daughter of Eli Sell, a wealthy store
keeper, OF Paradise. a suburb of Greensburg,
aud up until the day of the wedding her
parents approved of the match.
A FAMILY QUARREL.
A GOODNESS sprang up between the two fam
lilies after the marriage. and time did not soften
the frigid density. On the contrary matters
went from bad to worse until November last,
when the young bride grew ill with diphtheria.
The attack was sudden. and young DR.. Ham
mer called in his brother, R. b. Hammer.
Coroner of Westmoreland county and one Of
the best physicians of the town. After attend
ing Mrs. Hammer for several days, the brother
in-law was dismissed, and she called in her own
brother Jacob Sell, who is also prominent
practicing physician.
This action widened the breach between the
two families and professional jealousies were
aroused. The following day DR.. w. ]. Ham,
mel. VINO was shot last night, met John Sell,
another brother of his wife and a wealthy
drover OF Paradise, on the street. A discussion
ensued. and was ended by Mr.. Sell backing
one OF Or. Hammers eyes and both men were
somewhat used up. This has been kept quiet
and few people in the town know of it.
Owing to continued disagreements. DR.. Ham
mer and his wife did not get along any better,
and it is said he il-treated her in various ways.
The young woman claims to have stood the
abuse as long as SIZE could, and yesterday she
went to her fathers house and told Mr.. Sell
she could stand it no longer. Her father said
he would see her husband, and accompanied
his daughter back to her home. In the mean
time, it is said, her brother. John, who had the
fight with her husband, gave her his revolver,
telling her not to allow any man TO abuse her.
She put the revolver in her pocket and with
her father went home.
NO VISITORS WANTED.
Upon arriving at the house she found her
husband was not In, and sat down to await his
coming. She did not wait long. and about the
first thing she heard was her husband ordering
her father out of the house. Mr.. Sell was in
formed that the house belonged to DR.. Ham
mer and no member of the Sell family was
dIOWeu TO 6nLer LQ6 PORTALS. OlQ MI. Sell was
white with amazement as be asked:
why, you certainly don't mean it, Wil?'
OUT"
Mr.. Sell tried to explain his presence and, it
IS said, refused to 60. DR.. Hammer took hold
Of and struck his brother-in-law over the head
with his cane. Mrs. Hammer thinking her
husband would kill her brother, pulled out the
revolver and taking good aim fired at the
doctor. The bullet did not take effect and she
fired again with no better result. She
then became excited and rushed out
into the street screaming murder"
murder" at the top of her voice.
Mr.. /. B. Dalbey, neighbor, rushed to the
house, but the door was locked. He burst it
open and jumped into the room, followed by
Mrs. Hammer, with the revolver still in her
hand Her husband grabbed her. and it is said
a desperate struggle ensued. The couple
scuffied until they got outside the door, DR..
Hammer trying to take the revolver from his
wife.
THE THIRD SHOT.
The latter held on to the weapon and outside
the house DR.. Hammer slipped and fell. AS
he did so his wife raised the weapon and fred
at her husband while he was lying on the
ground. The bullet, 22-callber, struck him
below the right shoulder blade and came out
below the point of the shoulder.
The injured man was carried into the house,
and his wife, with her father, went to the lat
ter's home. DR.. r. B. Hammer was called in
and attended his brother. The physician stated
unless pneumonia set in the wounded man will
recover. The latter feels no pain, and this
afternoon sat up in bed and smoked cigar.
Mrs. Hammer fell in love with her husband
while attending High School. and after gradu-
ating they were married. She is about 20 years
of age, tall. slender with a large aquiline nose
and is pretty blonde. Her husband is about
26 years of age, and has been practicing den-
tistry In this city for the past five years. He is
quite marksman. and taught his wife how to
use and shoot a revolver.
Both families are among the oldest and
wealthiest in Westmoreand county. DR.. Ham
mers brother, the Coroner is a candidate for
the State Legislature on the Republican ticket.
Another brother. Theodore NJ, is a large
grocer of the town and has considerable money
Every effort is being made to hush the shooting
up, and very few people will talk of it.
MCSwIGAN.