Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-03-14
FATE OF AN OUTLAW.
Chooses Death Rather Than Capture
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Grim Tragedy In Pennsylvania.
Bellefonte, Pa, March 7.-William
Etlinger, an outlaw living at Wood
ward, small town near by, while re-
sisting arrest killed two constables, and
then, after attempting to murder his
wife and children, who were barricaded
with him, he committed suicide Friday
morning in full view of his captors,
standing on the threshold of his blazing
house.
The constables, Garnia and Guiste-
while, had a warrant for his arrest for
jumping bail bond last year. He re-
turned home last week, but the con-
stables learned of it only Thursday.
They armed themselves and went to
his house. He at first threw dynamite
at them, but without effect. Then they
broke into the house, and Etlinger met
them in the hallway and shot them
with double-barreled gun loaded with
buckshot.
The villagers tried to secure the bodies
and arrest Etlinger, but he warned them
to keep away, and they were afraid to
venture further. Finally, however,
big lumberman managed to drag
Guistewhile's body into a neighboring
house, narrowly escaping discharge
of buckshot from Etlinger's gun.
A message was sent to Sheriff Conda
and he arrived about midnight and
swore in posse and surrounded the
souse. The murderer was called upon
to surrender, but he answered with
shot, wounding John Musser, one of the
posse. Then Etlinger began to hurl
sticks of dynamite at the crowd.
There was some talk now of firing
the house, but the idea was abandoned
because of the presence within range of
Etlinger's wife and two children. At
daybreak Sheriff Conda again sum-
moned Etlinger to surrender, and mar
rcwly escaped bullet from Etlinger's
gun. The posse then began to advance
upon the house, pushing a barricade
ahead of them as they went, and finally
reached the front door. In the mean
time Etlinger had run upstairs, and he
now appeared at second-story window
and dropped dynamite upon the men,
compelling them to fall back.
BY this time another party of be-
siegers was pounding away at the back
door with log. Etlinger ran to the cell
lar and got a can of kerosene, pouring
the contents on the kitchen floor. Then,
revolver in hand, he compelled his wife
and children to stand in one corner of
the room while he set fire to the build
ing, crying out that all would die to-
gether.
The flames spread rapidly and fierce
ly, and when the heat became intoler-
able the woman clasped her youngest
child to her bosom, and, unlocking the
door, ran out, the other child closely
following. Etlinger fired at them sew
eral times, but missed. A score of rifles
were kept leveled at the open kitchen
door, in apprehension of the murderer
making a dash. Suddenly the smoke
lifted, and by the sight of the flames Ell
linger was seen standing in the front of
the room, seemingly deliberating with
himself on his next move.
When the roof came crashing down
Etlinger sprung up. In one hand he
carried revolver and in the other a
rifle. Around his waist was a beltful OF
cartridges. Turning to the crowd, and
without the slightest trace of fear, he
cried: 81 don't want to hurt any OF
my neighbors, but no man can take me
to prison." Up Went the arm holding
the revolver, and as quick as flash two
bullets were fired into his head. He
sunk with groan.
By this time the house was mass OF
flames, but brave deputy ran in and
succeeded in dragging out Constable
Gardner's body, thus saving it from
cremation. During all this time Mrs
Etlinger and her children were stand.
ing near by, n witness of the awful fate
of the husband and father. Twice in
the last two years Etlinger almost
dubbed three men to death, and he had
shot four more in fights.
Sheriff Condo said that at least 2,50t
bullets had been fired into the house
during the 80 hours it was under seige