The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-18
Row at n Dance in SIabtown That Re-
suited in the Death OF One Man
and WOunding of Others.
REMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT
TO BE VOTED ON BY THE PEOPLE OF
JACKSON ON TUESDAY.
Nothing but EIectiOneering mt Sey-
HOrsey Dying in a PoOrhouse.
speclal to the IndIanapolls Jourpal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
GREENSBURG, Ind, Oct 17.-Revolvers,
knucks. two girls and plenty of beer in
half dozen men at a dance at Slabtown,
five miles south of this city, last night, fig
ured in one Of the worst tragedies ever en-
acted in this county. 1t was a free-for-all
fight, resulting in one man being killed and
two fatally wounded, while several others
were hurt.
Thomas Tresler is a farmer, who lives in
the Slabtown neghborhood. He has three
sons-Andy, Rudolph and Fred-whose ages
range between twenty-one and twenty-six.
A mile from the Tresler place is the home
of farmer named Newberry, a well-to-do
and respected family. There are also three
Newberry boys-Norton, aged twenty-eight;
win, aged twenty-six, and Harry, aged
twenty-three. The Newberry boys and the
Tresler boys were always great friends, and
always got along we'll together. In the past
few weeks, however, Harry Newberry and
Fred Tresler had some trouble over a girl,
one Miss Topmeyer, to whom young Tres
ler was paying attentions. The girl, it
seems, rather preferred the company OF
Newberry. Tresler, realizing this, positively
objected to her having anything to do with
ment Tresler swore to Miss Topmeyer that
if she danced with Newberryy there would
be trouble. But nevertheless she danced
with Newberry, and there was trouble. By
this time Tresler was under the influence
of liquor, as was also the other Tresler and
Newberty boys. He went at young New
berry with d knife, when he was foored
by q pair Of knucks in Newberry's hands.
In less than minute the entire families Of
both the boys were mixed up over the
affair and riot ensued, in which dozen or
more Participated. The Tresler faction had
two to one to the NeWberrys, who were con-
siderably bested Norton seriously
wounded by gashes from knives and
crushed skull by knucks. The other New
berry boys were not fatally wounded. Two
of the Tresler boys were seriously wounded
by gashes in the head and over the heart.
The fight lasted several minutes, the great
est of excitement prevailing in the dancing
hall. The sweethearts of the boys also
mixed up and considerable hair was pulled.
The Newberry boys finally escaped from the
building, and VIII and Harry took to tho
woods. Norton started home Immediately,
with his lady company Minnie foWl OF
AIillbourn, beng chased quite distance by
the TreSlerS.
1t was about clock this morning when
the trouble occurred, and 1t was nearly day.
light when NeWDerry returned from Mill
bOurn, seven miles away. AS he drove into
his barnyard his mother heard two shots,
and heard the dog bark. Thinking that her
son was shooting at some dogs which had
been about the place, she paid no attention
to the matter. This morning Newberry had
not returned to his room, and a search was
instigated when his dead body was found
by a straw stack in the rear of the barn.
There was a bullet hole back of his right
ear and his own revolver was under his
right hand, his head being down. Friends
of the Treslers claim that it was case OF
borhood is that it was murder. The shot
in the rear of his head and the fact that
revolver was entirely empty, but an exam
ination shows that the cartridges were re-
moved without being discharged. The ofi-
GERS think that the murderers, If he was
a victim of murder, removed the charges
and put his revolver under his hand to IN
dicate suicide. No arrests have been made
vet.