Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-16
CRIMES AND NISFORTUNES
Which Followed the Curse Of a Dying
Man.
The Fate of Tai German, Of Youngs'
town, O., and the Incidents which
Preceded It, the Scene of which
was This City-A Peculiar Story.

will subscribe to as being true, at least
as to the main points:
Youngstown, O., September 14.-Tal
German. a we'll known sa.oon keeper
here, dropped dead Of heart disease at
l o'clock this morning.
German was well known in Pitts
burgh and throughout Western PenL-
syivania, but he was better known N
Wheeling. Four years ago German fig
ured in one Of the most sensational cpl
sodes in the history Of Ohio county,
w. Va. and it was fated by dying
man that he, as well as two others OF d
trio then well known, should die an
unnatural or violent death.
German is the second Of the trio 10
drop dead of heart disease. Joe Fahey'
the first member Of the fated three,
died OF heart disease at his place OF
business on Chapline street, IN Wheel-
ing, two years ago. German Is the seC-
end. while WOodson, the third, mas al
ready escaped the ga,lows once, having
killed a man and was cleared through
popular feeling, aided by the newspaper
men of Wheeling. LATE WoodSon IS
the sole surviving member Of the fated
three. He is at present a comedian IN
some theatrical company.
The story of the curse which rested
on Tai German. Joe Fahey and Lafe
Woodson. men well known in Wheel
ing. three years ago, reads like a chap
ter from the Arabian Nights InlS
trio at that time were barkeepers in
saloon in Wheeling, known as Florence
Hail; kept by two Italians on Market
street. A former Pittsburgher has
since taken It and is running it as
first Class place.
The history of Florence Hall under
the management of Stephen Malatesta
and Roverio, the Italians, is one OF the
dark spots in Whesling's history. Nal
atesta was a member OF che OF me
wealtniest families in Philadelphia, ana,
with Frank Roverio, another Italian, he
came to Wheeling and started Florence
Hall. Malatesta died in Wheeling al
ter making fortune, while Roverio,
also having made fortune, went back
10 Italy, and is now one OF the sunny
country's noblemen near Florence
German. Fahey and WOodson were
barkeepers in Florence Hall in 1912.
In December, 1891, Woodson, who had
drifted into Wheeling with a travelling
opera company, murdered a man in
Florence Hall. He had been employed
there as night barkeeper.
On that night a well-knOwn man
named Fleming came into the Hall I'M
der tie influence of liquor and wanted
a drink. He carried a heavy cane and
made some trouble with German and
Fahey. who had come into the place 10
play a game of cards. Fleming was re-
fused the drink by Woodson. Fleming
appealed to German. who was a friend
o fhis, and German ordered Woodson to
give him a drink. He got it and then
refused to pay.
a fight resulted, in which WoodsOn
took the heavy cane from Fleming and
hit him over the head wi. it three
times, knocking him senseless. The pa
troll wagon was called ard while being
carried out Fleming revived enough to
curse all parties concerned in the fight
He cursed Fahey, German and Wood
son personally. and predicted for them
a violent death, as well as cursing the
house.
On his way to the hospital Fleming
died. WOodson was frightened for the
murder and tried in the March term of
court. The defense was set up that the
blows given Fleming would not have
killed a man who was not near deaths
door owing to dissipation, and on this
plea Woodson was freed. He left
Wheeling and Joined a theatrical troupe.
When last heard of he was in the East.
To his Wheeling friends Woodson Of
zen expressed the idea that he would
meet a violent death, owing 10 the curse
set upon him by Fleming. German and
Fahey were also worried by Fleming's
curse. Within six months Malatesta
died, and afterward Fahey dropped dead
in his own place on the South Side in
Wheeling.
Fancy refused to stay in the Flore nee
after the curse, and bought a place on
Market street. While attending to some
customers, about two years later he
dropped dead OF heart disease. being the
first OF the trio 10 60. Before DYING.
however, Fahey killed girl and tried 10
commit suicide twice.
In the summer of 1892 Fahey attended
a picnic near Wheeling. Il, in jest.
picked up a FlObert rifle which had been
used in shooting at a mark, aimed it at
a girl and shot her dead He had been
told that the gun was not loaded.
As the girl dropped dead Fab sent
up cry: The curse of Fleming
Fahey reloaded the gun and tried to
shoot himself. George Weitzel. a Whee-
ling man, yet in jhat city. is going
through life with one eye. as a result Of
Fahey's attempt a suicide. He caught
the gun as Fancy was about TO discharge
il.
After that Fahey made another at
temp. at suicide. Two days before he
dropped dead Fahey trisd TO get out of
the saloon business. Within As hours,
with negotiations still pending, Fahey
dropped dead.
The death of Fahey, coupled with
the trouble into which WoCdson had
gotten. greatly worried Goreman. who
yesterday dropped dead. He ief, Wheel
ing and soon turned up in Youngstown,
Ohio. where ne started a place, and
death found him in il Yesterday
German was well liked by all who
knew him. Two years ago he saved the
life of a newspaper man, now well
Known in Pit.sburg. A dTunkn toby