Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-03-11
Awful Tragedy in Center County

Awful Tragedy in Center County
Last August William E,linger Of
Woodward, Center county, whipped
bis father in-law was arrested for the
assault and placed undsr $3.50 bail to
appear at the Bellefonie court to
answer last November He did not
appear. The Judge issued bench
warrant for his arrest. Ga Thurs.
day, March 4, the warrant was plac
ed in the hands Of tho newly elected
constable, john Barner, who depu.
tized G. G. Motz and John Hoster.
man to assist in the arrest.
They went to the home of Etline.
er, but were refused admission. The
constable broke into the front door
and entered the house, but found
that ktlinger, with his wife and two
children, We're up stairs, the stairway
door being closed and locked. The
constable broke in a panel and crawl
ed partly through when he was shot
in the head with shotgun. The
deputies then retreated. After tha.
Etlingsr remsined upstairs. Frank
E. Guisewite, a neighbor, living on
the opposite side OF the street, LOOK
ing from windsw, noticed Eslinger
with his shetgun aiming in the di-
rection of Guisew.te's window. He
hurriedly threw his bsad to the side
and attempted to get away. One
buckshot struck his head, not break
ing the skull bone, snother entered
his shoulder and remained there.
After that the two b3ndsmen, some
time during the afternoon, coming
up the street, EtlIrger a~pesr.d at
the up stairs window with his gun,
asking Mr.. Orndorf, if he wsnt.d to
be shot like a dog.
During that inquiry, be shot at
Srpdorf, but his aim failed Then
Etlinger shot at the ether bondsmen,
Mr.. Engle, it was also aimlsss.
From o'clock on, lie remained in
bis house and would shoot at any
porson appaaring in view.
During the afternoon he fired two
shots at the public school building.
while school was in session. The
building was fifty fee. distant No
one was injured. -Scme Of tie win
dows were badly shattered He also
shot into the house of Mrs. George
Miller, ali aged lady, the mother-in-
law of Robert Wolfe, merchant at
Woodward, and she had very mar
row escape from the bullet
At 3 o'clock the citiz,ns, despairing
of capturing Etlinger, teIegraphsd
Sheriff Condo of Bsllefonte, and ask
ed his assistance The Sheriff re
sponded and with foIce of fifteen
well armed deputies went on a special
train to Coburn aud arrived on the
scene at S o'clock. He found the
house surrounded by mob of citi
zsns, numbering in the neighbor-
Lood of 500, and this number con
stantly grew until fully 1000 people
were on the scene. To ali the de
mands for surrender the outlaw sim
ply sent back defiant challenges that
he would never be taken alive and
would kill any man who ventured
near
He emphasized bis threats by keep
ing up constant Ere at the crowd,
which was returned until the ammu.
milton Of the citizens was exhausted,
and ii was estimated that fully 1000
shots had bsen fired. Not only Et.
fingers house, but ma : cf the sur,
rounding buildings were riddled y i, Ii
bullets. At en- early hour on Frida,
a depu.ation of mel was sent to
Bsllsfonte for more ammunition and
later word was telegraphed fer more
mon. The ammunition was furnished,
but the sheriff wa= instructed to dep
utiz9 Men down there. At $50 on
Friday morning, the sheriff with SIX.
teen deputies made q charge on the
house, buf they were met with such a
fusilsde Of shots that they beat a
hasty retreat and soon were again
under cover. This condition of in.
activity continued until II O'Clock or
after, when the mob became SO infur
lated that it could no longer endure,
and a grand rush was made for the
house, which was fired in a dozen
places.
The building being frame struc
ture, it was soon completely envelop.
ed in flames. When it was sll on fire
Mrs. Etlinger with her two children
walked out, and were shot at by the
husband aud father. The woman
WAS at once put under arrest. Ii
'he msantime Etlinger kept under
coeer until the building was about
to collapse, when he appeared in the
doorway, and merely laughed at the
officers demand to surrender, and be
fore anyone could approach to pre-
vent it, placed a large revolver to bis
temple Snd blew out his brains. A
rush was then made for the burning
building AMI the crowd had Just
time to remove the fallen body Of
Etlinger and secure the body of Con
stable Barner, and ons of the most
horrible tragedies ever enacted il
that section OF the State WAS at ar
end.
Etlinger had bad reputation.