The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-03-31
RES UED FIR ON a MOB.
Brothers Murder an Attorney IN
Cold Blood in Ohio.

Escape to Their Home ana Hold =
Crowd OF Infuriated Citdseus 1T
hay, killing One-Militia Called
Ont and They surrender.
Toledo, o., March 27.-J ohm and Paul
Zoltner, who on Saturday murdered
Attorney Westhaver, at Hoytsville, and
after entrenching themselves in their
house near that place defied arrest.
were finally taken Sunday morning, and
are now in Jail at Bowling Green
Peaceable methods finally prevailed in
the capture, although it is doubtful if
the capture would have been effected
except for the fact that the Zoltners
were nearly out of ammunition, and
they knew surrender was the only
method Of saving themselves from an
Infatuated mob. sx Il 81 49,.
Persuaded to surrender.
! At $3.50 Sunday morning ex-Sheriff
Riggs, accompanied by a neighbor
named Brown, started toward the
house. They walked the distance alone,
Sheriff Riggs stating afterward that
he expected at any minute to be shot
down. The Zeltners offered no resist
ance to their approach, and they were
admitted to the house. Mr. Riggs
plainly told them that the militia was
ready to make an attack on the house,
and that they would be compelled to
~ hn1 1>o<$ -,
peaceably. The Zeltners seemed not
disposed at first to give up, and stated
that they feared the mob, 200 of which
remained till that time. They tried to
induce Mr.. Riggs to accompany them
through the timber, but he refused, and
they"were told they would not be mo-
Tested if they gave up their arms and
accompanied him to Jail. After half an
hours talk they agreed, and Sheriff
Kingsbury was notified. He at once
made arrangements to afford the Zelt-
ners the protection of the militia, and
a special train was ordered to Custer to
convey the men to Jail. The Zeltners
gave up their arms: Each was provided
with Marlin rifle and Smith & Wes-'
ton revolver. There were IS rounds of
Marlin ammunition and two boxes of
revolver cartridges left in the house. !.
- Taken to Jail.
D., The men were taken from the house
and conveyed to the train and under the
protection of the militia and Sheriff
Kingsbury, ex-Sheriff Riggs, and Depu-
ties ALI Farmer and Andy Roach they
were taken to the Bowling Green jail.
without molestation. A crowd of about
1000 people met the train, but there was
no demonstration. At the Jail the Zelt-
ners were very reticent and did not care
to talk Of the matter, only that they ex-
pressed regret at the death of Clarence
Wettenmyer, who was killed in attack
ing the house.
Was a Deliberate Murder,
The murder of Westenhaver was DELHI
crate. The trouble began in the Office of
Justice Burgoin in .Hoytsville Saturday.
Attorney Westenhaver had brought suit
against the Zeltners to recover 500 for
legal services. At the noon adjournment
Of court Paul Zeltner walked UP to Wes-
tenhaver and demanded a letter bearing
on the case. His attorney, Hood, sought to
given to him by Westenhaver.
you bet it WILL" responded Paul Zelt-
ner, drawing his revolver. John Zeltner
also drew gun and the men began to fire
at the attorney.
Westenhaver, pleading for his life, start
ed for the door of the courtroom. AS he
passed out of the door bullet hit him in
the side and he fell to the ground. He
arose and rushed out on to the pavement
The iZeltners passed out of the door and
ran around the courthouse in different d.
rections.
Paul Zeltner reached the wounded man
first. land, STOPPING over, fired at him, the
shot breaking the attorneys arm. He fired
again, the second shot grazing his fore
head. Westenhaver raised himself on his
arm, 1nuttered DON'T and fell back
dead. The two murderers then brandished
their firearms at the crowd that had col
lected and started for their horses, which
were tied near by. They mounted the ami
mails and started out of town on galiop.
They fired one or two shots into the air and
rode to their homes, about three miles
from Hoytsville, where they sought refuge
in the cellar
The police at Toledo, Bowling Green and
other towns were notified of the shooting
and posse was quickly formed to capture
the two men. In less than an hour 500 men
had gathered from all parts of the county.
An effort was made to parley with the two
men In the cellar, but rifle bullet was their
only response. Then a party of rs men
made an attack on the house. AS soon as
the attacking party got within firing dis
lance they fired volley at the windows
in the cellar There was no reply until
the smoke had cleared away, and then
came answering shots from the house, one
of them taking effect in the stomach of
Clarence Widenmeyer.
Member IF tho pnaso x&11oA
He fell to the ground and his comrades
rushed to pick him up. Before they were
able to remove him to a position Of safety
another bullet struck him in the head,
killing him instantly. Shot after shot was
fired at the cellar window, but as soon as
the smoke cleared away answers would
come from hitherto unlocked for places in
the: house. The besieged men seemed to
be well provided with repeating rifles
When the Zeltners learned that they had
killed one Of the attacking party they
yelled derisively at their would-be captors,
declaring they would kill themselves be-
fore they would submit to arrest f
The Zeltner brothers and their families
rival Of troops under the orders Of Gov.
Bushnell. The troops stood between the
firing from the house and the enraged
crowds, and not only captured the des-
peradoes, but also protected them from
violence, all the way from the southern
boundary of this county to- the jail here
distance Of over 20 miles.
street Duel In Chicago. e
Chicago, March ~ Frank Kinahan,
an electrician, was killed Sunday in a
street duel with two unknown men.
Over 20 shots were exchanged. Kina-