The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-03-30

catetthat they not only deliberated over
the bloody defiance of law, but also pre-.
pared for it by having a large stock of
ammunition in their residence, two
miles from Hoyt's Corners. e. II. West
had been their attorney in numerous
cases and sued than for his fees. The
jury and witnesses had been sworn
Saturday before Justice Burgoon IN the
township house ut Hoyt's Corners in
Westenhaven' suit to recover fees, when
Paul Zeltner demanded some papers of
Westenhaven and attempted to take
them from his pocket. John Zeltner
then joined in demanding the papers
and Immediately fired the fatal shot that
killed Westenhaven.
AS the Zeltners had their horses ready
for mounting and escape. it is thou ght
that they had arranged to get Weston.
haven into fight for the purpose of
"doing him." although they did not
give the victim time to make any dem.
onstrations toward them. The Zeltners
kept up their firing till they mounted
their horses, and continued it as hun
dreds Of citizens pursued them for two
miles to their residence. After they
reached their home they kept up con-
slant firing the rest Of the day and dur
ing Saturday night. They not only
went to the trial fully armed, but they
had ammunition at home for continued
fusilades and still left a large stock on
hand.
While feeling Is intense around North
Baltimore on account of the murder OF
| Westenhaven, it is equally intense
around Hoyt's Corners on account OF
the killing Of their neighbor, Clarence
| Weidmeyer, who was with the sheriff e
posse Saturday night. Andrew Kosch.
| ner, farmer, was also killed. When
Weidemeyer fell, volley after volley was
poured into the crowd from the upper
| story of the Zeltner house and the Zelt-
ners knew that they were firing on their
| neighbors Us well as on the sheriff and
his deputies. Before the arrival Of
troops, during the night, cannon used
in shooting oil tanks when they are on
fire and quantity of nitroglycerin had
been secured so that there would have
been trouble after sunrise il the troops
had not arrived.
| The Zeltner brothers and their fami.
lies were no doubt saved by the prompt
arrival of troops, the Bloomdale
Rifles, under the orders of Governor
Bushnell. The troops stood between
the firing from the house and the en-.
ragged crowds and not only captured 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 20 miles
with excitement at the highest pitch al
along the route.
In connection with the participation
of the two women and four children in
the Zeltner barTicaded house, it is stated
as further proof of deliberation that the
Zeltners transferred their farms and
other property on Friday to Mrs. John
Zeltner.
The watchers learned that John Zelt.
ner's four children were with their
father and mother, and that a kitchen
maid was also in the house. The sheriff
was not desirous of injuring innocent
parties, and he accordingly sent several
women near to the house to induce the
Zeltners to send the women and chill
dren away from the domicile. After
talking q few minutes the Zeltners de-
! hberetely fired at the women, but did
not hit them.
The militia had planned to make a
stand about daylight and strlct picket
duty was maintained by the Bloomdale
Rifles all night, the men being stationed
around the house ut 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 Zeltners, being German sharp.
shooters, were picking out and shooting
at every one venturing within 800 yards
| About $3.50 Sunday morning, ex.
Sheriff Riggs, accompanied by neigh.
bor named Brown, walked to the house.
The Zeltners offered no resistance tC
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 com,
PEELED to surrender and they had better
| give up peaceably.
They were promised protection. After
about half hours talk they agreed anu
Sheriff Kingsbury was notified. He al
once made arrangements to afford tue
Zeltners the protection Of the militia
and special train was ordered to Gus,
ter to convey the men to Jail.
! The Zeltners gave up their arms
Each was provided with a repeating
rifle and "a revolver. There were III
rounds of rifle ammunition and TIVE
boxes Of revolver cartridges left III the
| house.
| The men We're taken from the house
and conveyed to the train, and under
the protection of tho militia and Sheriff
Kingsbury, ex.Sheiiif Riggs and Depu-
ties ALI Farmer and Andy Roach, they
| NUptn lion IN rho PoutinU Grnau Ioi
without molestatiOn.
! A crowd of about /, 900 people met the
| train, but there was no demonstration
At the Jail the Zeltners were very roti-
cent, and did not care to talk of the mat.
ter, saying only that they regretted the
death of Clarence Weidemeyer, who
was killed in the attack on the house.
1t was not thought there viii be any
| trouble from Il mob.
Mrs. John ZcUner,, who was in the
house with her three children during the
trouble, was not molested and was left
| there.
The services Of Company III of North
| Baltimore, WHICH was taken aboard th,
| speclal train, were not needed, and tin
| company was not even disembarkod
The sheriff concluded that the presenc
| nf militia here was unnecessary, anC
| tho Bloomdalc Rifles were sent home.
Later. the nrisnnerS wore interviewn'
IN the Jail. The elder brother, Paul, said:
81 am glad l killed him" (meaning
| Westenhayen) while the younger broth
er, John, refused 60 say anything ON the
subject.
The jail was crowded with visitors
who We're admitted TO see the prisoners
/ In. tT