The sun., 1898-03-10
LovESICK YOUTHS CRIME.
RoT GEHRIG KILLS HIArS ELF AND
WOUNDS WILLIAM u. DAHIS.

They were Churas. ana HAD Como TO SEliiorp-
Vile. Pa. to Cell Two Normal school
Giris-GehriE snitton with Girl Ho HAD
Seen Oniy Once - shoots Davis In Ned.
LANCASTER, Pa, March 9.-Wiiam b. Davis.
aged 1S. son of well-known coal operator of
st. Clair Schuylkill county, lies in critical
condition at St. Joseph's Hospital, this city,
with three pistol wounds in his body, one of
which, near the temple, is probably mortal.
Tho person who shot him, 19-year-old hoy
Gehrig, whose father is rich agent OF n brew.
Ing firm and whose home was Mt Milton Pa, Is
dead by his own hand in tho village Of Millcrs-
vile, q few miles west OF here, the scat of the
well-known Mlllorsville State Normal School.
for the love Of ono Of whose young women stu
dents the double crime committed Geh.
rig, after having tried desperately to murder
his young friend, and evidently thinking he had
done SO, placed tho revolver beside his own
ear and sent bullet into his brain dying
within few minutes of the time when mis- com
panion summoned aid from the clerk of the
village inn, whore the double tragedy occurred.
Gebrir and Davis were students at busi-
ness college in Philadelphia. One day last
week Davis told his chum that II would be
good scheme for them to run up to Lancaster
county and make n trip to Millersville, where
young woman friend of his was q student. Hc
said sthe young woman and himself had been
schoolmates at their home in st. Clair. Gehrig
readily fell in with the proposition, and:on last
Saturday the young fellows, who were insep-
arabic companions during the few months of
their college career, arrived in Lancaster on an
early evening train and boarded trolley car
for. the Normal School at Millcrsvillc:,
There young Davis inquired for his old school
mate, Miss Annie Holmes, member of the jun.
Tor class of the Normal who presented her school.
mate, to her friend, Miss Alice Cummings, a
OF young Gehrig, which followed, was succeed
cd by pl asant conversation of half an hour
and then tho young men left.
Young Gehrig, after ho returned to Philadel-
phia With his college mate could talk of little
whom he confessed himself greatly smitten.
Yesterday. in Philadelphia ,Gchrig prevailed
coSd 20
acquaintance of the young women. Davis had
no money, but Gehrix said that didn't matter,
They arrived in the, city, early last evening
and went to Millersville, where they stopped at
the place which Is not far away from the stately
Normal School. They were assigned to ono
postponing payment for breakfast, remarking
that there would be time enough for that in tho
morning.
went to bed. They took them to tho village
Post Office. but Gohrig did not mail his. Moth
ther drank anything while at the hotel This
morning Barkeeper Hess arose about O'Clock
and went at once to the barroom., He had been
working about for half hour when he heard
throo reports Of pistol in rapid succession.
They came from the room occupied by the two
young men. Hess started to run upstairs, but
he met Davis coming down covered with blood.
He e.Sd said; dhrn, s,o. mo"
Davis sank into q chair In the barroom. Just
then fourth shot was hoard upstairs. When
found Gehrg dead on the floor, his hand still
clutching the revolver with which he had
sought his friends death and then killed him
AFTER Davis had submitted. to a surgeon's
care he told to the Coroncr's jury the facts of
the meeting with the young women of the nor
NAL school.:and the visit to renew the acquaint-
ance. When he came to,the story Of the double
gone to bed the latter seemed to be very rest
less. Davis awoke about half past o'clock
the room. He attempted to get out Of bed
and had one foot on the floor when Gehrig
whh hs s
hitting him: He threw UP his hands. and that
was how a bullet struck him in the wrist. An.
other cut through his lip and passed out OF the
cheek. and still another ranged along the tenn
pie and is embedded in his head: Gehrig
a made of his s" way % to tho door. though which he
managed to got before his companion had an
way way to the barroom. Davis AYERS that he can.
not tell what reason Gchrig had for shooting.
as they were on the best OF terms. and there
This letter was found :on the floor close to
and Annie Holmes. Not being able to see
them. and they keeping away from us. we re-
solved to take our life. My name is Roy
Gohrig. Milton, Pa. and the little fellow is
William Davis st. Clair. Please notify our pa
rents at once. We would like to be cremated.
SO notify our parents at onco"
Davis told fnE Sun reporter. and repeated to
the Coroner ;that there was no such compact be-
tween him and Gehrig as that indicated in tho
foregoing. He said the subject was never even
hinted at Both Miss Cummings and Miss
Holmes say their acquaintance with Gehrig
dates only from last Saturday the only time
they ,ever saw. him; and that there was never
the slightest bit of love making or Irritation be-
tween them.
The Coroner's jury decided that 1t was q
case of suicide and attempted murder but
made no attempt to fathom tho motives OF tho
crime