The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-07
NOT AFRAID OF DEATH
Rather Than Be Captured By The Authorities
A Desperate Takes His Own Life.
HOLDS TWO THOUSAND MEN AT BAY.
Expecting An Attack EtIinger Had
Made u vcrftnbic Arsenal OF His
House, IEandcuned His wife's Feet
Together, una Intended to Murder
Her aud Then XIII HIMSELF,

Bellefonte, Pa, March civilian .Et-
linger, the backwood's desperado, who
has been imprisoned In his house by the
sheriff, committed suicide this afternoon
by shooting himself in the head after
the house had been set on fire by the
SherIn's posse Iii an attempt to drive
him out. His wife ana children surren-
dered and escaped death by the flames.
The body OF the dead constable was then
recovered. After the building was en-
refoped in flame Etlnger came to the
door, and in the presence OF the crowd
shot himself. falling ok into the ruins.
NOT AFRAID OF DEATH.
Etlinger lived in the little village of
woodward, I'm the eastern end of this
county. He was about % wears of age
and among his neighbors he had the
reputation of being q man whom 1t was
not best to provoke. Several month hs
ago he assaulted his father-in- law, Ben
)anin Benner, and nearly scalped him
with piece Of cordwood. Etlingcr was
arrested ut the time and brought here
Flc secured bail, but when the case MAS
called for trial, Etlinger failed to ap-
pear. bench warrant was issued for
his arrest but the man had taken refuge
IN the mountains that surrounded the
hamlet In which he lived. He was occa-
sionally seen, but none of his neigh bors
were Venturesome enough to attempt
his arrest
Yesterday afternoon Constable Bar
ner heard that Etlinger was at home.
There had been fcud between Garner
ana Etlinger and the Consta BILE deter
mined upon the arrest of his enemy
He deputized c. G. AIotz and John Post
erman to assist him in arresting Etlin-
ger. The three went to the house of
EtllnScr and found that the latter, whose
wire and 3-ycnr-old daughter and =
year-old son had barricaded themselves
IN the second story OF their frame dwell
ing. The officers entered and Barncr
kicked in "a panel of the door on the
second floor. Evidently reckoning on no
desperate resistance. tho Consta tle
started to crawl into the room in which
Etlinger had taken refuge through the
broken door The man had prcpured
himself for resistance. however and ms
i'arner's head and shoulders appeared
i'll the room Etlinger fired a rifle ball
through his head, killing him instantly.
Etlinger then fired through the door at
the other two men and Motz was
struck and badly hurt.
The two dcputiZed constables beat a
hasty retreat from the house. They
aroused the town and men "a atbered nm
their fire arms and FASTENED to Ictling-
ers dwelling. shot from the house
quickly warned every man that came
within range that Gtlnge- was prepared
10 TO further murder in defense Of his
person. Sheriff Condo was tclegraphcd
for here, and with sixteen armed dcpu-
ties went to Woodward on a special
train.
During the siege yesterday Etlinger
sent shot through the window of a
house next door to his and Frank Gels
wh1te, who was lying i'll therein, was
hit and dangerously wounded little
later Etlinger fired into the house Of
Mrs. Robert Miller and the bullet Just
missed that lady. John Musser, who
was watching IGtlingcr's house. was
shot In the neck and severely wounded
Upon the arrival OF the Sheriff on the
scene. that official took charge of the
siege. The thousand and more men
around the house kept up fussilladc.
The only way that seemed possible to
ddslodge EfEnger without sacrificing
the lives of several men was 10 fire
the house, but on account of the chill
dren and Mrs. btHnGer the Sheriff de-
term!ned to not resort to this eXcept as
last measure. The house was guarded
throughout the night. and as the news
Of the siege had spread by daylight
there were fully 1000 armed men about
the house.
This morning Sheriff Condo determin-
ed upon attempting to take the house
by storm. lie made a rush for the blrild-
Ing. but the whistle of the bullets from
Ethngtr's Winchester speedily took
she courage out OF the storming party
and drove them back under cover. Then
the Sheriff decided to fire The building.
James Cornelly. Belefonte Deputy,
volunteered to apply the ma tch. Under
the cover of Il fierce fire directed against
the house Ivy the crowd. Cornelly made
his way to the building and applied
the torch and returned in safety.
The flames made slow headWay and Il
was fully ali hour before the building
was ablaZe The heat of the fire drove
Etlinger and his family to the cellar
When the building had become too hot
for habtation the cellar donr was steal
thily opened and the two babies pushed
through into the street. Closely following
the children Mrs. Etlinger burst through
the cellar door and staggered out. The
crowd was hot against the woman. as
they believed that she had assisted her
husband in defending the house. and as
ohe made her appearance q cry went
up: "Shoot the witch
Cooler heads raised shout and pre-
vented any firing at the woman. AS
she fed from the house her husband
fired four times after her. but each shot
went wide of the mark.
By this time the building was ablaZc
from cellar 10 roof. and, with the choice
OF death by crcmn t!on or at the ha nds
OF the mob. Etlinger decided to kill him
self. He suddenly stepped from the eel
lar way with rife in one hand and n