Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-22
a rHR1LLrNe TRAGEDY
In n Court Room In Indlana-Sot VIII
ing to Die with His Boots On.

| minutes past y O'CLOCK tnis aIterhoou
the Hendricks County Courtroom was
the scene of terrible tragedy. Samuel
Wesner, the leading criminal lawyer In
this part Of the state, armed with dag
ger, engaged in mortal combat with
Coley Brown, vino was armed with re-
volver, with the result that Wesner's
body lies in casket awaiting transpor-
tation to his home in Lebanon, while
Brown crouches in cell at the County
Jail, straining his ears for the mob that
threatended to take him out and hang
him.
Both murderer and victim are resi-
! dents Of Lebanon, twenty miles north
of this city. Wesner, as stated, Is the
leading attorney at the Boone County
Bar, while Brown is the richest man in
Boone county, his wealth being esti-
mated at 5000, 900. Brown owns num-
Der OF farms, has big hardware store,
and is President of the Lebanon Natu-
raj Gas Company. His connection with
the latter institution was indirectly the
cause that led up to to-day's tragedy.
Last winter the residence OF Martin
Hoke, at Lebanon. was bowed up by
natural gas explosion. Hoke entered
suit against the Gas company for s., 600.
Wesner was the leading attorney for
the plaintiff, while Brown, as president
| OF the company, was the central figure
of the defendants. Brown made affida-
Wit that he could not secure fair and
| -. 81 krfo Of / Oh and thu n a : a
was taken TO this city on change OF
venue. The trial commenced last Tues
| day.
Yesterday Brown was on the witness
stand. His cross-examination by Wes-
ner was very severe, and the President
of the Gas Company, in his endeayor to
make the best possible showing for the
defense, was hopeessly tangled by the
astute cross-Questioning OF Wesner
Smarting under the cross-examination
to which Wesner had subjected him,
Brown last evening uttered threats
against Wesner. The latter was
warned by his friend that he
had better be on the watch
for Brown, but he declared that he was
not afraid. The closing speech for the
plaintiff was concluded by Wesner a
| a few minutes after noon to-day, and
court adjourned until o'clock. In his
speech summing up the case, Wesner
scored Brown unmercifully,a and strongly
limited in his testimony he had been
guilty Of rank perjury.
The Court room had been cleared OF
lawyers and witnesses, and not over
dozen persons remained. Judge Bad!ey
was putting the finishing touches TO his
charge, and WesDer, leaning against
the Judges desk, was eongratulating
his client and his co-counsel on the ex-
celent case they had made. Brown
stood twelve feet away, with his hands
in his pockets, growing at Wesner, who
seemed obivious to his presence. En-
met Kennedy, a jnror, states that as he
passed Brown he heard him utter an
oath directed at Wesner, which wound
up with "that - ---- OF -"
Suddenly Brown strobe forward and
exclaimed to Wesner: my reputation
is as good as yours, d-n you"
The testimony is not exactly clear as
to the conversation that followed, but
Wesner replied in taunting manner.
Ferdinand Winter, an Indianapolis
lawyer, told the two to quit quarrellnE
like school boys. The wordy war con-
continued, and Brown fumbled in his
pockets, as though reaching for
weapon. Seeing this Wesner exclaimed:
"Shoot, d-n you. dare you to draw
your gun"
Quick as fash Brown drew revolt
YER and fired twice AS the pistol
cracked, Wesner reeled for an instant,
then his hand sought his pocket, and as
his hand was raised, in it flashed MUIR
derous dagger. "You have done me,
but | will get you," Kissed Wesner, as
he rushed on Brown, who was backing
off, still pointing the smoking weapon at
his antagonist. The right hand Of Wes-
ner descended, but Brown caught the
blade in his hand, and the two men went
to the floor, with Wesner on top.
There was desperate struggle for
few seconds, Wesner trying TO plunge
his dagger in Browns body, while
Brown tried in vain to get another shot
with his pistol. Then Wesners
strength failed him, and the spectators,
having recovered from the temporary
stupefaction in which the tragedy had
thrown them, pulled Wesner of, and
Brown scrambled to his feet. The lat
ter was unhurt, except for an ugly cut
in his hand, where he had caught the
descending dagger.
Wesner was helped to a chair, and
later was placed on a mattress. He rap
idly weakened as the blood flowed from
his wounds. His niece, pretty girl OF
wenty, who had accomp panied him, pill
lowed his head in her lap, and hung
over him and moaned and wept as
though her heart would break.
The physicians called decided that he
could not live. Wesner accepted the
situation phllosophically. He would die
like a brave man. He stated that he
had acted in self-defense, and that
Brown had been the aggressor. He gave
some directions as TO his business affairs
and sent his love TO his family. He was
perfectly cool and collected. His last
words were: "Pull off my boots. do
not want to die with my boots on" For
~ minutes after he had been shot, Wes-
ner was corpse.
After the combatants had been sepa-
rated, Brown submitted quietly TO ar
rest, and was taken to jail. The weapon
with which he had done his murderous
work was No. 80 Smith Il Wesson,
double-action, revolver. Examination
showed TWO empty shells, one empty
chamber and two unexploded cart
ridges.
The dagger with which Wesner at
tempted TO put quietus on Brown is
in the possession Of the Sheriff. 1t Is
a double-edged affair, ten inches long
and an inch wide. The sheath Ia which
IL was carried was picked up from the
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