The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-30

Hall, pastor Of the Fifth Avenue Pres
bytcriau church, was passing from tho
church to the parsonage adjoining, Just
aitcrthe close OF tho morning services
to-day, man named John &. Rath, y
German, forty-iivc years old, stepped
from behind wagon on the opposite
sido CT tho avenue and fred throo shots
i'll quick succession Mt thercvercnlgcn-
tleman, as he was about to ascend tho
steps OF his residence. The first Slot
struck the stone stoop OF the doctors
house, tho second perforated ono
OF tho glass panels OF the front
door and the third nattened itself
against tho side OF the house. The
shooter coolly put the pistol, 4 five cham
bercd revolver Of the pattern known us
THE Young America" in his pocket
while Mr.. a. L. Dick, a member OF Dr.
Halls church and the sexton jumped
upon him and held him until the arri.
val OF IN officer. lie made 10 resist
ance, whatever, and was led away to the
Flity-tirst street station house and
locked up. Shortly afterwards DR..
Hall went TO The police station and pre-
ferred complaint against the prisoner.
Rath is heavy, well built man with
whiskers and mustache, well dressed
and has the appearance ot a woll-to-do
business man. lie gave his business
rs that OF u real estate dealer.
A great crowd was present when the
shooting occurred and for n while the
most intense excitement prevailed.
About fifty people followed the officer
TO the station and sawthat tho prisoner
was safely landed behind the bars. 1t
was an emincntly respectable crowd
composed mostly OF church-going peo-
pie, many OF whom were members ef
DR.. Halls church. hence there was no
riot or attempt at rescue, nor threats OF
lynching.
The prisoner was evidently not in
his right mind. He mu,tercd about
conspiracy which lie imagined existed
against him, and papers found on his
person showed The bias of his imaciI-
ings. There were two OF these docu-
mcnts, one in manuscript and the other
printed, but both were substantially
the same. The printed paper was
more circumstantialin the history OF
the ale ed conspiracy to drive the
writer TO suicide or crime.
1t stated that agents OF wealthy and
influential people wero doing all in
their power to prevent him from rising
III his business, were watching all OF his
steps and making 1t impossible Tor him
to obtain Justice. Ills tormentors, too,
he said, mixed his food with obnoxious
stuli, thereby causing him intense dis
tress. The conspiracy, tho statement
gays. was inauguratcd i'll 1879, and has
no equal in human history. The state
mcnt goes on in this sort OF style at
great length, all OF which elbows that
the author was man of unbalanced
mind: The document intimates that
Or. Hall, DR.: Potter and Judge Hilton
were the chief conspirators Mrs. a.
/. Stewart was, it was intimated, good
friend OF his. The prisoner stated alter
MS arrest that Dr. HAL was chief
among those consprlng to do him
bodily and mental harm. This is III
explanation OF his actions.
Inquiry at the address given discov-
cred a cheap restaurant and lodging
house, Andrew Grcener, proprietor. 1t
is located in the tenement house quar-
ter Of the city, and is patronized by
transient class OF very poor people,
mostly foreigners. The landlord snid
that Ratll had occupied room there
Tor about four months; had been in
this country twenty years and had ac-
quired Il fair knowledge OF the English
language. Glccner also said that Rath