The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-12-02
THE RINGTONN SHOOTING !
Gehrke'S Recovery is Still Matter of
Doubt.
A CLAIM OF SELF DEFENSE MADE.
1t is Alleged That Thomas Welsh Fired the
Shot After Himself and Two Brothers
Had Been Set Upon by a Crowd.
More Arrests Made

John Gehrke, the farmer who was shot at
Applegate's hotel in Ringtown ON Monday
night by James Welsh, is still in critical
condition and confined to the hotel. Dr.
Rentschler, the physician in attendance, says
the bullet has not been found If it should
not be found the man will die. In the event
Of its extraction the chances for recovery will
be good. Gehrke's home is only about a mile
from the hotel, bat the doctor will not permit
his removal there.
From the developments made before JUS
tice Stauiler at RinEtown it now appears that
Welsh did shoot Gehrke either while defend
ing his younger brother or in self defense.
1t appears that Jerry Hawk, John Gehrke,
Samuel Eisenhower, Thomas and James
Welsh and younger brother engaged in a
game of cards in the bar room Of the hotel
on Monday night The proprietor ~ the
hotel and NJ. Stautler were spectators.
Before the game started it was agreed that
the first player caught cheating would be
obliged to set up the drinks for the crowd,
as penalty. Hawk, it is alleged, was caught
violating the confidence of the other players
and he paid the penalty. Aftera hands had
their drinks the game again proceeded. The
party was in jolly mood over the clever
manner in which Hawk had been forced to
set 'em up. Suddenly some one Of the party
charged Gehrke with cheating, in
that he was playing with six, instead
of five cards. Gehrke promptly denied
the charge saying that it was a mis-
take. The younger Of the Welsh brothers
called him liar. Gehrkes temper inn
mediately jumped to a high pitch and he
sprang at the young man to resent the insult.
This was like applying a torch to a heap Of
powder. All the men jumped to their feet
and general fight followed, Applegate and
Stautier also taking a hand in it. 1t also
appears that the party became divided in
sympathy, the Welsh brothers being on one
side against the others and were badly kicked
and beaten. The younger Welsh charges
that during the fight Gherke drew knife
and it was then that Thomas Welsh drew his
revolver and fired the shot.
After the atIray the Welsh brothers hur-
ried to their farm. Each of them have badly
cut aud bruised faces as evidences of the
fight. Sentiment in Ringtown is against
them, however, and the murmurings about
the place were so bitter yesterday that it
was not considered advisable for any of them
to visit tue village. But when Welsh was
taken tn Justice Stauner's Office aud entered
g, 600 for his appearance at court no attempt
was made to molest him. The sentiment has
changed somewhat however since later
developments show that the shooting was
not committed in cold blood and without
provocaton, as at first reported.
Yesterday afternoon the younger Welsh
appeared before Justice Mccormick and
swore out warrants for the arrest of Gehrke,
Hawk, Staufler, Applegate and Eisenhower,
charging them with assault and battery
All but Gehrke were arrested and entered
bail for trial at court. Should Gehrke re-
cover, he will also be put under bail for trial.