Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-13

Arrested - The DeIallS VI
Shrewd Play.
Quite a lively and interesting little
episode occurred at the Hotel Windsor,
yesterday afternoon, and when it was
over Henry Beeler, of Waynesburg, Pa.
was out a round thousand dollars, with
which the thieves got away clear and
clean.
The police were Immediately inform
ed of the matter, but all hands appear
to have been sworn to secrecy, and II
was with the greatest difficulty that
anything like a connecting story OF the
facts could be pried out OF anyone. by
dint OF hard work, however, the skele-
ton, at least, of the story was dragged
to light, and here it is:
Wednesday J. H. Strosnyder, OF AL
legheny City, J. P. Frazier, OF New
York, Henry Beeler, of Waynesburg,
Pa, and William Boyd, of Braddock,
Pa, arrived in the city. Beeler regis
tered at the Stamm House, and where,
by a simple coincidence, T. A. Cotter. a
travelling salesman, of Pittsburg, we'll
known in this city, was also stopping.
The four first named circulated about
town in a miscellaneous manner We'd
nesday night and yesterday morning,
and being more or less we'll known to q
number of local gamblers and people
who manage to live without working,
they found things decidedly pleasant.
Subsequent events make it appear how
ever, that StrOsnyder, Boyd and Frazier
were not in Wheeling for their health,
but for the especial purpose Of making
a killing" and that Beeler was the Sc
lected victim. Beeler was known to the
other three to have a good deal Of
money with him, and StrOsnyder was
personally acquainted with him. The
four met some time yesterday morning,
or perhaps Wednesday evening, and
Beeler was introduced to those Of the
party he did not know. Yesterday af-
ternOon early Beeler went up to the
Hotel Windsor to see his friends, and
being told they were in room No 16, he
went up 1t was then that the scheme
TO do the guest was put into operation.
The conversation turned upon sport
ing matters, and particularly upon foot
racing, at which Beeler is a good deal
of an artist, and has quite a sprinting
reputation. Things got warm, and fin
ally a match was made between Beeler
and Frazier, and Strosnyder was agreed
upon as stakeholder. Beeler was there
for business, and he counted out and
planked down a thousand dollars into
Suosnyder's hands, as his share of the
purse to be contested for.
Right here the unhappy Mr.. COtter
entered upon the scene. He had been
in the city on business, and had in
tended to go to the grocery houses in
the over-the-river towns during the
day, but hearing of the growth of the
smallpox, and being informed of the
fact that if he got over to Martins Fer
ry he would have a good deal Of trouble
in visiting other towns, notably Bell
aire, he concluded to remain in Wheel
ing. He was sitting in the Windsor
lobby. along in the afternoon, when he
was sent for to go up TO room No. 16.
Mr.. COtter went up, and was there in
formed something of what was going
on. and was urged to become the referee
i'm the coming race. Mr.. Cotter is not
much given to sport, and he treated the
entire matter lightly, refused to be
referee. and sought an early opportun-
Ity to return to the lower floor Of the
hotel again.
What transpired just after the de-
parture of Mr.. COtter, in room No. 16,
is involved in some obscurity, but the
next thing Mr.. COtter knew he was be-
ing tapped on the shoulder by Police
Lieutenant Dan Ingram, who informed
him in dulcet and persuasive tones that
he was under arrest on a charge Of aid
ing and abetting in the doing of Mr..
BeeIer out of his ten centuries of cur
rent funds.
Then the scene shifted to Justice
Phillips Office. where Mr. Cotter was
released on bail for a hearing to-day,
Messrs. z. B. Carney, John J. Sheekey
and Joseph Speidel going on his bond.
The police secured the town for
Boyd. Frazier and Strosnyder. but up to
a late hour last night they were non est.
II is believed that StrOsnyder got away
In a buggy. but where or how the 9TH
ers left ranks with some other details
unknown at the present writing.
Beeler, in addition to being a sprinter,
claims to have been the stakeholder in
the Corbett-M Mitchell prize fight, in Flor
ida. two years or so ago, and has very
extensive acquaintance among sport
ing men.
The hearing to-day will probably
throw much additional light upon the
matter-just how StrOsnyder got away
from Beeler with the money, for in
stance.