The record-union., 1892-03-16
CHARGED With MURDER.
Result of the Inquest in the Palmer
PhIeger Tragedy.
Testimony Given by Eye-witnesses to
the Shooting Palmer Drunk
and Phleger Unarmed.

Coroner George IT. Clark held an in
quest last evening in the case of Charles
Phleger, who was shot and killed by H.
j. Palmer in Wissemann's saloon on
Fourth street last Saturday,
The following jurymen were sworn to
hear the evidence: Frank Wickwire, A.
Z. Booth, John F. brennan, Thomas
kirkpatrick, A. J. Mccormack, John
r. Fenton. T. Banholze, NJ. Graf and A.
G. Wiley.
LEEMAN's STORY.
William Leeman was the first witness
called. He testified that he met Palmer
and Chris Wagner on Fourth street just
before the shooting. Continuing he said:
''We had drink in Davis saloon. and
Palmer filled his glass with whisky.
Nick Dole then came along and he and
Palmer commenced TO talk. j. f. Camp
came along and / told him that Wagner
wanted to see him. We all went into
Wissemann's saloon and had another
drink. The witness, Wagner and man
named White went into the rear room to
talk over some business. Phleger was
sitting in chair reading a paper at the
further end of the room. Palmer went
ont in the backyard. Witness did not
pay any attention to him. A moment or
two later he heard the door slam again,
and just then Nick Dole gave yell. Al
most at the same instant shot was fired.
Witness turned round and saw the other
four shots fired. Phleger tried to get
away, but Palmer followed him, shooting
as fast as he could.
Leeman said that some time before the
shooting he was on the sidewalk. Palmer
was coming down the street, and just
then Phleger came out of Wissemann's S.
lie only walked a few steps, and, seeing
Palmer, turned around and went back
into the saloon. The witness considered
that Palmer was quite drunk.
J. T.. Camp was the next witness. He
saw the first part OF the shooting. He
was in the saloon, as he wanted to see
Mr.. Wagner. Palmer came in while he
was there and started for the back room
Nick Dole said, 81 want to look after
him; / think he wants to get into a row
with Phleger." Palmer went into the
back yard, and the witness asked Dole
who Phleger was. Dole pointed to
Phleger, as the latter sat at the further
end of the back room. While the witness
was looking at him, Palmer re-entered
the room, and Immediately pointed
pistol at Phleger and fired. As Phleger
rose from the chair the second shot was
fired. The witness then ran out Of the
place. Phleger had no pistol, so far as
the witness could see.
SAW 1T ALL.
Enoch Dole testified that shortly before
the shooting he met Palmer on Fourth
street, in front of Wissemann's saloon,
and noticing that he was smiling blandly,
said, well, drunk again?" Farmer re-
piled that he had not lost much. Mr..
Camp came along looking for Wagner.
All hands then went into the saloon for a
drink. The witness made some joking
remark to Palmer for filling his glass so
full of whisky. Camp, White, Leeman
and Wagner went into the back room to
have talk, and the witness noticed
Phleger reading a paper at the further
end Of the room. Palmer started to go
into the back room, but, seeing Phleger,
turned around and said TO the witness:
There are those that are ---, and
there are those that are not ---."
Then Palmer went out into the back yard,
passing Phleger The witness thought
there might be fight, and told the sa-
loon n-keeper 50. Just as Palmer re-
entered the room the witness saw him
stop beside Phleger. The latter must
have seen him, but did not look up or
move. Palmer drew a revolver
from his coat pocket and aimed
it at Phleger for several seconds.
The witness yelled, Hold on, therei"
but just at that instant Palmer fired.
Phleger partially arose from his chair
holding his newspaper in front of him,
and seemingly trying to get hold of a
chair when the second shot was fired
Phleger then retreated behind table
and tried TO raise chair, but could not
Palmer fired again, and then again, as
Phleger moved behind the stove. Just
as the fifth shot was fired the witness and
Mr.. Leeman seized Palmer, and the wit
ness took the pistol He placed Palmer
under arrest and took him to the police
station. On the way, Palmer complained
of being weak and faint and Dole took
him into a saloon and gave him drink
The witness did not see any pistol in
Phleger's hand. He thought Palmer
was quite drunk.
WHAT WAGNER SAW.
9. A. Wagner, the hop buyer, was talk
ing with Leeman on the sidewalk, near
Wissemann's saloon, when Palmer came
along. Leeman said to him: did YOU
see your friend?" Palmer said: Eyes,
the - --. He is no good, or he
would not have taken what I said to him
this morning" They went into Davis
saloon, and Palmer began to talk about
Phleger, using very vile language.
Among other things Palmer said: II
passed by him, and called him --
-, but he didn't take it up. 1t wouldn't
do him much good if he did. as I've got
something here in my pocket that will fix
him. The witness looked at the pocket,
but did not think Palmer had pistol.
subsequently they went into Wisse-
mann's saloon and had another round of
drinks. The witness and two others went
into the back room TO have a business
talk. Palmer walked through the room
and into the backyard, and as he passed
Leemau he said something TO him, but
the witness did not know what the re-
mark was. When Palmer re-entered the
room the witness heard a shot, and on
turning round saw Palmer ire the second
shot ut Phleger. Phleger had news
paper in his hand, and held it up before
him. He then tried to raise a chair but
could not, which caused the witness to
Believe that his arm was disabled. Phle-
ger, as the shots We're fired, retreated be-
hind the stove, and Palmer followed,
firing in rapid succession. After the fifth
shot mad been fired Palmer pulled the
trigger again, but as all of the cartridges
had been exploded the pistol only
snapped Palmer was then seized by
Dole and placed under arrest.
CoRRoBoRATIvE EVIDENCE.
William Whites testimony was sim
ply i'll corroboration of that given by
Messrs. Ieeman, Wagner and the others.
lie saw the last four shots fired and was
positive that Phleger had no pistol.
jacob Lowensteln, harness maker,
testlhed that be was sitting in the rear
room OF WisSemann'S saloon reading a
paper when the shooting commenced.
Phleger had come into the saloon while
the witness was there and had taken
seat near the rear wall and also picked
up paper. The witness did not paw
any attention to Palmer when the latter
passed through the room, and did not
hear him make any remark to Phleger
The witness turned around when the
second shot was fired and, realizing what
was Transporting, got out Of the place as
faSt as he cOuld