The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-20
IN SELF DEFENSE.
Solomon Zicgier Tells the Story OF the
killing ofshsrifr Hrooker-rsrseSution
mud IL Ilrsutls,


killing orsherir Hrooker-psrsesution
aud II. Rcsuils.
SYLVANIA, Ga. Nov. lo.-As was
expected tho defendants attorneys de-
cIdcd not to Introduce any testimony
In the Zelgler trial when tho arguments
bcEun this morning. Solomon ZeiGler
was put on the stand to make his state
ment. He read It with but little hcsita-
ton. His father had told him on his
death bed, he said, that while coming
home on the Sylvanin train hc heard
George BelllnGar make a statement that
he considered an insult. He spoke TO
the negro about It and Sheriff Brooker
took the matter up. Brooker cursed
Ze!gler. but friends separated them.
HIS father left the train to avoid 4
difficulty. When the train reached
Ze!glcr station, Brooker called out to
him from the car:
Come on and so to Sylvanla and
I'll fix you. d"
MY father started into the car and
was shot by Brooker. ran Into the
car and Drookcr shot Mt me. the bullet
grazing my neck. l rushed into the
car and almost before ! knew It had
taken Brokers pistol from him md
shot him. I went back 10 my father
His throat was cut l asked him who
cut his throat. He told nc Conner Will
Hanson. Two or three days lnter my
father died"
Before the death OF his father the
prisoner said he went into the train us
Il was passing Sylvania to see Il lady.
He looked around and saw ,nnn hold
Ing n gun at his head. II ws Conner
Williamson. He took the gun away
from him and beat Williamson severely
with his fist.
After my fathers DEATH" said Sol
"I went before Justice Jennings and
secured n warrant for Brooker for mur-
der. He was allowed TO give bond. I
went before the grand jury TO indlct
him. but Instead OF ind!cting him they
indicted me for assaultIng Brooker.
"Brookcr." he said. had sworn 10
have revenge. He told Mr.. Hurst In the
grand jury room that Sol ZeiSler had
nearly done him up and that he would
kill him II II took ten years to do Il.
lie told Preacher Thompson thnt he
would kill Corrill and the first chance
he got He told Mr.. Arnctt the same
thing. I told 3ir. Arnett I wished
Brooker would 80 on and let me alone,
US did not want TO kill anyone.
AT Golind. at the Baptist Assoc!n-
tiOn. I carried my gun with me, as
always did after Brokers' threats. At
GolIad l and somc friends were In a
carriage when Brooker came up be-
hind us. I made an excuse 10 get out
OF the carriage and went 10 look Mt Mr..
Fastcr's horse. We ntterwnrd went
back TO the carriage. but as Brookcr was
still there, We went up TO the church.
The sheriff followed Us there. This
went on for some time. Everywhere
we went he would come. He looked Mt
us with unfriendly glanccs. Mr.. John
Hughes reported TO nc that Brooker
had said that he would kill my brother
and myself before the day was ended.
That he was going TO be the last man
TO leave the grounds that dag. Some
one asked 1Irooker what he would do II
the Zctgler boys had their rifles. I havo
got rifles myself he replied.
y friend OF the HeIglers reported to
them. according TO the statement. that
Brookcr had rifles In his buggy. Just
before the killing Solomon said he was
helping his friend to gear up his team
Brookcr and man came up ard began
talking low. The defendant heard
Brooker Say: Boys. this Is our last
chance to Ect them"
II was those threats. he said, that
forced the killinE In sclt-dcfcnsc.