Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-05
MURDERED HIS WIFE.
A Most Horrible Crime in East Wheel
ing, This Morning.
WILLIAM MAIER SHOT HIS WIFE,
One Of the Balls WOundiug His Daughter
in the Hand-Ths Murderer Runs From
the House and Makes His Escape
Police Securing the City.

ly after two o'clock.
William Maier, baker, residing on
the west side OF Wood street, between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, de-
liberately shot his wife TO death. and
his twelve year old daughter very mar
rowly escaped with her life, ball
piercing one OF her hands.
Several shots were fred BY the mur-
derous husband and father, who, after
completing his bloody work, fled from
the house, and up to an early hour TINS
morning had not been captured.
The crime was committed in the bed
room occupied by Maier and his wife,
her sister also sleeping in the same
apartment.
The shots aroused the entire neigh
borhood, and soon number OF excited
people gathered in front OF the resi-
dence where the terrible crime was en-
acted. Several ventured Inside, and
after obtaining an inkling OF the sttua-
tion, started in search of the police, ana
two of them, running to the City Hall,
conveyed the first intelligence to Lieu
tenant Gaus, who was on duty. That
officer at once ran to the scene, and In
short time had taken such energetic
steps as to put the entire night force OF
officers upon the track of the murderer.
Maier is a baker by trade, working
for Mrs. Theodore Moter. at No. lO9
Sixteenth street, and is In the habit OF
going TO work about three o'clock In the
morning. IL is supposed he bad got up
about one o'clock, or little after, and
obtaining a revolver, at once set ABOUT
his murderous work, while his wife was
still in bed, wnere her dead BODY
was found by the neighoors who
were attracted TO the house by
the reports OF the revolver and the
screaming OF the little girl. IL was
about twenty minutes after two when
the crime was committed, and Mailer
was heard TO run down the street mo-
ment after the last shot, showing that
he was fully dressed, and had fed from
the building without the loss oil mo-
ment's time. At three O'Clock the po-
lice were securing the central portion OF
the city, and watching every avenue OF
escape, and IL is the hope that he Will
be captured before daylight.
A REGISTER reporter was upon the
scene of the murder shortly after IL
happened. In small room on the
south side of the second story OF the
frame house No. 1909 Wood street, was
the dead body OF Mrs. Marie Mailer.
Two bullet wounds in her head and
clot OF blood upon the pillow upon
which her head rested told the story OF
the
AWFUL CRIME.
A small crowd OF curious people stood
about the door and an officer prevented
them from entering the room.
Only one person was witness TO the
murder-a twelye-year-old sister OF
Mrs. Maier, who slept In the same room.
After the deed had been committed
and she herself slightly wounded by
bullet from the revolver OF the mur-
derer. she was removed 10 the home oil
Mr.. Nesbitt, on Fourteenth street. She
was I'm such an excited frame OF mind
that she could not tell the details OF the
crime. She finally said:
"She refused to kiss him and the dirty
dog shot her."
The couple have had frequent quar-
rels and during their exhibitions OF
anger have made so much noise that the
lady occupying the rooms down stairs
complained 10 the owner OF the build
irg. and threatened 70 remove from the
tho house. On Monday the husband
and wife had another quarrel, and the
latter left him and stayed at the honse
OF her sister, Mrs. Silas Connor, on the
opposite side OF the street. In the alter
noon Meier called TO see her, and pre-
vailed upon her TO come back and live
with him.
Last night IT Is probable that the
quarrel was renewed, and when the
wife refused 10 kiss him, Mailer secured
his revolver. and
SHOT HER IN THE HEAD.
The first shot was probably sufficient
TO do the work. but bent upon carrying
out his hellish purpose. the inhuman
wretch fired again, and again. One
bullet entered the center Of the neck In
front, and passed out OF the right cheek,
lodging 10 a pillow upon.which the wife
rested her head. Another shot entered
the right side of the head, and the third
shot entered the right arm, between the
elbow and shoulder. One shot struck the
twelve wear old sister, who lay along
side OF the wife, and passed through the
flesh between two fingers upon her
right haud. Satisfied that his helIish
work was thoroughly accomplished,
THE MCgDEEEE LEFT
tbe house, and ran down the ricketiDg
pair Of stairs outside.
Members Of the family living down
stairs heard the shots fired, and neigh
bors across the street and in the rear
heard the shots, and Immediately ran TO
the doors. Among the first TO reach the
scene were Geo. Garrison shd DIR. knehl-
born. They stood at the bottom Of the
steps aud could smell the powder.
Relieving that something was wrong,
they Immediately ran 10 the City Build
ing and notified the police. Officer
Creighton was sent 20 the house, and
the entire force was notified 70 keep
lookout for the murderer. The entire