The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-10-20
OBERBEsSER A MURDERER,
Scott Smith, One Of His Victims
Dead.
He Drinks Large Quantities of
Ice Water,
Regardless Of the Warning oi
His Physicians,
Which Speeds His Way to the
Great Beyond.

His Suffering Ended Few Minutes Be-
fore 9 O'clock Tuesday Nisht-John W.
Ellis or "rhree Fingered Jack" Still
Lingering Between Life and Death.
Murder in the fret degree will probably
be the charge made against Robert Ober.
nesser, the man who shot Scott Smith
and John Ellis. Smith died last highland
II may be question Of a few days only
when John Els will relapse into death.
Although one bullet has been removed
from Jacks body, another one is still en-
bedded there, and should Inflammation
set in this would cause his death. There
was scarcely any improvement In his cons
dition this morning, and he was very
weak.
Scott Smith, one Of the victims of Ober.
nesser's revolver, died Tuesday night
shortly before O'clock. During the day
Smith suffered considerable pain which
increased toward evening. Drs. K. j.
March and j. Fraunfelter proposed an
operation yesterday evening, but the pas
tents strength was declining very rapidly
and no cutting could be done without en-,
failing the mans death. About two hours
before he died he drank large quantities
| of ice water, which had been forbidden
him by the attending physician. He
stated he would lie at all events and that
he would drink Of the water.
Coroner Openhimer viewed the remains
last night. Drs. March and Fraunfelter
| will hold post mortem on the body this
i a /. r..
The deceased was born at Lockport, Pa,
in December, 1864. In 1880 he came to this
city and engaged in driving hacks and
carriages for the local liverymen, which
he carried on almost up to the time of his
death. Undertaken McCrea has taken
charge of the remains.
Through the kindness Of Deputy Sheriff
John Mobley, News DEMOCRAT reporter
called upon Obernesser in the county Jail
this morning,
GOOD morning." said the man.
The cell which serves as the mans
abode is located on the south side Of the
hall, upstairs in the Jail, and is but dimly
lighted by the sunlight. 1t contains chair,
bed and few other articles. The priss
oner wore black shirt with q light knot
bow, the costume which he displayed
himself in on the night of the shooting.
His features appeared somewhat troubled
When approached by the reporter, he
spoke very willingly on the subject Of the
murder, he said:
"Yes, heard Smith died last night, and
1 am very sorry. didn't intend to kill
him, but only defend myself. You see he
and Jack came at me together in the sa-
loon and 1 was afraid
THEY WOULD DO ME.
So l told them to stay away, but Smith
jumped at me, when ] took aim at hin
and fred. / saw him fall. As to Jack,
don't remember how shot him. didn'
know had hit him until went out with
the girls and came back again, wher
an officer caught hold of me anC
told me. I do not remember
of meeting any of the men before tha
time. Smith fooled with one of the girls
and he asked me whether that woult
make me mad. told him he should gc
ahead and have just as much fun will
them as he wanted to, and wouldn't ssay
word. l had no intention of shooting
the men and killing them.
OF course this is serious thing and
am very sorry for it.n
When told that Jack was still lying a
the hospital in precarious condition, h,
said:
VI do hope he won't die, but of cours
he may"
Obernesser seems to be of very indie
pendent nature. He has employe,
Messrs. Rice and Thayer to defend him.