The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-02-18
THE SHOOTING OF SNINDT.
Bullet Found To-day Lodged in the
Spinal Column.
SLIGHT HOPES FOR RECOVERY
Eisenhower Bursts Into Tears when Told
That He Shot the Wrong Man-His
Story of His Wrongs and william
Swindts Denial.


Story of His Wrongs and william
swindt's Denial.
John Swindt, the victim of the shooting
on South Main street yesterday afternoon, is
still alive, butin a very precarious condition
and his chances for recovery are very slight
He is completely paralyzed from the waist
down and the jabbing of needles into his
lower limbs caused no sensation that he ex-
perienced 1t is believed he has received a
fatal wound, but may linger for many days
Last evening DIR. j. c. Church, the family
physician held consultation with Drs
Callen, Straub and Roberts and all seemed to
concur in this belief. They probed for the
bullet, but were unable to locate it, Swindt
complained of intense pain in the abdomen
The bullet entered the back, on the left, on
line with the elbow. The doctors believe
that its course was turned by rib and that
it struck the spine and passed down into the
abdomen The paralysis is probably due to
a fracture or dislocation of one or more of
the vertebra, which causes pressure on the
spinal cord. If such is the case it is only a
question as to how long the cord will last
under the pressure.
The case has caused sensation and the
discussion of it has, to a great extent, over
shadowed the interest in the election. Swindt
was to have been on duty as watcher for
John p. Bochm at the Second ward poll
to-day General sympathy is expressed for
the victim, especially SO that he should be an
innocent sufferer. The case has also been
cited as one Of the striking instances of lifes
+uncertainties. Swindt worked as miner at
the Turkey Run colliery. After successfully
] lNnCg ,,,I tI. 81,
stantly surround men who must earn their
living in the bowels of the EARTH and was
cheerfully walking home to join his wife and
children, it seems especially distressing that
he should find death lurking on the way and
at the hands Of a cowardly assassin whom he
had never wronged, and who is now in
agony over the terrible mistake he made.
Eisenhower, the assailant, was first made
known of the mistake by a HERALD re-
porter early last evening.
DO you know that you shot the wrong
man?'' he was asked.
Mo- he exclaimed with mingled sur
| prise and doubt
Yes you shot his twin brother, john
Tears filled the mans eyes and for mo-
ment he did not attempt to speak, but tried
| to subdue his emotions Partly recovering
/ himself he said, "Well, gentlemen, if l did
shoot the wrong man am very sorry; but if
! didn't shoot the wrong one | am satisfied.
Bill Swindt broke up my family and l made
up my mind that he would have to be shot"
When questioned as to what he meant
when he said Swindt had broken up his
family Eisenhower said 'I'll tell you the
whole story. One night last August Bill
4 Swindt took me home / was drunk but
not as drunk as they thought | was, and as
l laid on the floor pretending to be, asleep |
saw my wife sitting on Swindts lap. |
! jumped up and grabbed hold of my Wife
Swindt kicked me and split one of my ribs
| had him arrested, but he settled the case
by paying the costs. A few days after my
wife had me arrested for assault
and battery, but we settled the case and |
agreed to go away. l went to Pittsburg, but
couldn't stay away. l finally went to live
with my family again, but my wife had me
arrested and taken before Squire Dengler
That was on the 27th of December, last, and
she has kept me away ever since. What
made me feel worse than anything was that
this afternoon / met my six-year-old son ON
Centre street. | took him into store and
bought candy | asked him if he wouldn't
! like to live with me, but he said, No, mamma
| told me that if / met you ON the street |
shouldn't look at you That made me worse
than ever | left the child and walked down
Main street. | saw Swindt-l thought it was
Bill Swindt-and shot him. My wife lives
with her seven children in Robbins row, ON
East Apple alley The youngest child is four
years old. | know that Swindt put her up to
sue me and keep me away"
The most important witness to the shootin g
is Harry w. Smith, son of EX-Chief Burgess
James Smith. He was engaged with George
Boyer in painting sign at the saloon located
at the northwest corner of Main and Laurel
streets, and was but few yards distant from
the scene of the shooting. He says John
/ Swindt and another man walked along the
| Lehigh Valley railroad in northeastern
direction and towards the Main street cross
ing. Eisenhower walked south ON Main
street Swindt reached the crossing slightly
before Eisenhower did and failed to notice
the latter Eisenhower passed to the rear of his
victim, drew revolver, and shot him in the
back. Swindt dropped like a log, but while
PROSTATE pointed in the direction of his
fleeing assailant, who ran up ON the rocks
south of the railroad with Smith and Boyer
in pursuit. Eisenhower ran around the two
houses on the rocks and back to Main street,
down that street to the highway leading to
the lime kiln. Smith and Boyer caught him
about 300 yards distant from the scene of the
shooting. Eisenhower's right hand was in
his oyercoat pocket, still grasping the re-
volver. He made no resistance.
Theodore Eisenhower is very heavy
built man, about hve feet eight inches il
height. He has heavy crop of dark brown
hair and very heavy brown mustache. Hi:
features are repulsiye, brutal to degree
AT no time does his face become free of &
scowl. He is 40 years of age and was born
at the cross roads near Slabtown, in / Cata
wissa Valley. His reputation is against him
: He is credited with being man of very in
temperate habits, quaTelsome, oyerbearinl
and exceedingly suspicious, He constant!
brags that he is able to whip every one h,
meets. Eisenhower was teamster at th
Turkey Run colliery until last summer whel
he lost the position on account of his intem
perate habits.