The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-03-27
BOLD MrRDDRERS Gagged
They Held a Military Company at
Bay All Night,
THE NUMBERING PRBMBDITATED

Their First Victim Had sued Them
For Legat Services. aud They shot
Him Down I'm Court-Another Victim
shot From Their Barricaded Home.
Bowling Green, o.. March 27.-John
and Paul Ieltner. who ON Saturday
murdered Attorney Westenhaver. at
Hoytsville, and af,er entrcnching them.
selves in their house, near that place.
detied arrest. were finally taken yester-
day morning and are now in Jail nt
Bowling Green
Pcaceable methods finally prevailed
in the capture, although it is doubtful
If the capture would have been effected
except for the fact that the ZeltnerS
were nearly our Of ammunition. and they
knew surrender was the only method Of
saving themselves from an infuriated
mob. The militia had planned to make
a stand about daylight and strict picket
duty was maintained by the Bloomdale
Rifles all night, the men being stationed
around che house at short intervals and
at sufficient distance from the house to
prevent the Zeltners from picking the
men off. Several narrow escapes from
bullets happened during the evening, for
the Ieltners, bping sharpshootcrs, were
picking out and shooting at everyone
venturing within 800 yards
ExSheriff Riggs, of Bowling Breen.
went to Hoytsville during the night to
see Attorney Hood. whom the Zeltners
wished to consult. Hood promised to
90 to the house at daylight. but when
the time came be refused to go, evil
IDENTIFY fearing the Zeltners would shoot
any one approaching the place.
At $50 yesterday morning ex-Sheriff
Riggs, accompanied by neighbor named
Brown, started toward the house. They
walked the distance alone. The Zelt
ners offered no Resistance to their ap-
proach, and they were admitted to the
house.
The Zeltners seemed not disposed at
first to give mp, and stated that they
feared the mob which remained outside
the militia lines. After half an hours
talk they agreed, and Sheriff Kings
bury was notified. He at once made
arrangements to afford the Zeltners the
protection of the militia.
Mrs. John Zeltner, who was in the
house with her three children during the
trouble, was not molested, and is there
yet.
Developments since the arrest OF the
Zeltners Indicate that they not only de
liberated over the bloody defiance of
law, but also prepared for 1t, having a
large stock of ammunition in their resi-
dence, two miles from Hoyts Corners.
e. II. Westenhaver, ex-solicitor o.
North Baltimore, had been their at
tOrney in numerous cases and sued them
for his fees. The jury and witnesses
had been sworn before Justice Burgoon,
in the township house at Hoyts Corners.
in Westenhaver's suit to recover fees,
when Paul Zeltner demanded some pa
pers of Westenhaver and attempted to
take them from his pocket. John ZelJ-
ner then Joined in demanding the papers
and Immediately fired the shot that kill
ed Westenhaver.
As the Zeltners had their horses ready
for mounting and escape it is thought
that they had arranged to get Weston
haver into a fight for the purpose of
"doing him." although they did not give
the victim time to make demonstrations
towards them. The Zeltners kept up
their firing until they mounted their
horses and continued as hundreds of
citizens pursued them for two miles to
their residence After they reached
their house they kept up constant fire
the rest of the day and during Satur-
day night. They had a large stock of
ammunition stored at home.
While the feeling is intense around
North Baltimore on account of the muir
der of Westenhaver, it is equally in
tense around Hoyts Corners on account
Of the killing of their neighbor, Clarence
Weidmeyer who was with the sheriff s
posse Saturday night When Weld
meyer fell volley after volley was poured
into the crowd from the upper story of
the Zeltner house, and the Zeltners
knew that they were firing on their
neighhors as well as on the sheriff and
his deputies Before the arrival OF
troops during the night a cannon used
in shooting oil tanks. in case of fire and
a quantity of nitro-glycerine had been
secured, so that there would have been
trouble after sunrise if the troops had
not arrived.
The Xeltner brothers and their fam
lies were no doubt saved by the prompt
arrival of troops under the orders of
Governor Bushnell. The troops stood
between the firing from the house and
the enraged crowd, and not only cap
tured the desperadoes, but also protected
them from violence all the way from the
southern boundary of this county to
the jail here, distance of over 90
miles, with excitement at the highest
pitch all along the route.
1t is stated as further proof of de-
liberation that the Zeltners transferred
their farm and other property on Fri
day to Mrs. John Zeltner.