The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-25
A POSSIBLE HOMICIDE.
A Stranger is Probably Fatally
Beaten by Frank Church,
FOR A GROSS INSULT TO HIS WIFE.
Church locked up to Await tho Re.
suit ofthc Mans injurics-.-Thc Story
told by Each OF tho partics...Thc
Assaulted man n Book Agent, whose
Home Is N Louisville.

Yesterday forenoon about hall past
ton o'clock Frank Church walked up to
stranger on Eleventh street near Mar
kct, and with stout club struck him
over the head from behind. He struck
several other blows, one OF thcm taking
effect Just behind the right ear, several
on tho arms and shoulders and at least
two stunning blows on the top OF tho
head The man was taken by surprise,
and when tho second blow was struck
he started to run along the street, yell
ing police. Church followed a considL
cElblc time, still trying TO hit him, but
asa crowd soon gathered he dosistcd
and walked away, while the other man
walked into II convenient barber shop
and washed of the blood, with which
his face and his clothing were badly
smearcd.
Officer Jack West heard OF the diff
Guilty, and, finding the man in the bar
Der shop, arrested him for disordcrlv
conduct. Al the city building he said
his name was Ed Neald and that he was
\ book agent, and had but recently
come hero from Moundsvil!e. West
suggested that he ought to have doc
tor, but lie said he thought he did not
need one lie was locked up, and Il
little .later Church was arrested by
West but not locked up, as he prom
iscd to appear this morning in police
court.
THE MAN BADLY HURT.
About noon Neald was feeling pretty
sick, and he asked that physician be
summoned. City Health Officer Spragg
was called in and examined the priso-
ncr, who showed all the symptoms OF
conclusion OF the brain. There were
two large gashcs on the top of his head,
which the doctor sowcd up. On the
side OF the head just behind the right
ear was bump, which, by injuring the
base OF the brain, probably did the
most damage.
DR.. Spragg lett a prescription ior
Ncnld, and after he was made us COM
Portable as possible, left him in cell No.
in the lookup. About o'clock the
doctor went back and found the man
lying on his back on the floor OF the
cell. lie had thrown up the medicine
given him and was unconscious. 4
twitching oil his muscles and other
signs were so grave that the prisoner
was removed to scttcc in the lookup
keepers office, and made us comiorta.
bic US possible. officer Lukins was
sent by Captain Delbrugge, in view OF
the gravity OF the situation, to take
Church into custody, and he soon re-
turned with him.
CEUGCn's REASONS FOR THE ASSAULT.
Church was very much surprised
when told what a serious position he
was in. When he was informed that
lie would have to be locked up, rs the
man was likely 10 die, he cried and took
on badly about his wife and child
When in the cell he sobbcd and cried
aloud.
Church is little fellow, the well
known Junior member OF the express
and transfer firm OF Burns & Church.
SuNS llItll lItC II.S-ll W Ills
house some time ago and wanted to sell
abide or an album. Church was away
from home, and Mrs. Church told the
man he would have to wait until she
asked her husband about it. Her hus-
band told her TO buy Bible and pay
cash, and this she did. Nea!d returned
and wanted to sell an album, and was
again told TO wait till she could consult
her husband. Church said they did
not need an album, and this his wife
told Neald when he returned. He then
wanted her to kiss him, asked her il
she did not love him, and chased her
around the table several times.
When Church was told OF this he was
naturally very angry. Yesterday morn
lng no returned home from his work,
which keeps him out nearly NIL night,
and found that his wife had not been to
bed. and when he asked her why she
said that that man had been there
again, and had wanted her to let him
III, and when she refused tried to open
awiEdow and then to force open DOOR
Church's absence from home was
known to Neald, for not long before the
visit OF Ncald to the house Church had
hauled 4 box OF books for him. 1t was
this which made him SO angry, Church
says, that when he saw Neald on the
street lie crossed over and began to
pound him with the club, which he
Gays he picked up in the street.
NEALD's STORY.
When DR.. Spragg was dressing the in
iured mans wound he was rs rational
and clcar-heaIed Us could be. He said
that he was taken entirely by surprise
when assaulted, and that he could not
imagine any motive Tor the assault. He
was positive that it was 4 base ball bat
that Church struck him with, and said
that he received five or six blows.
Alter the man was removed 10 the
outer office 4 man who also sells Bibles
and albums for the Southwestern Pub
fishing Company, in whose employ
Ncald was, called at the building and
looked at Neald. He said Neald had Il
wife at Moundsvillc, and that he was
highly connected at Louisville, Ky. In
the six months they worked together
lie never heard OF his having any trouble
before, and ho knew he had never done
anything that was wrong 10 the knowl-
edge OF the company Tor which he
worked, because the managers were
very particular, and would not keep 4
man whose behavior was not honorable.
AN AFFECTING SCENE.