The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-05
LITTLEAOpE OF RECOVERY.
Victim of Brutal Criminal Act of
Last October.
ASsAILANTs YET AT LIBERTY.
His Death Would Culminate a Most
DsstardIy Outrage and Police
Are Urged to Renew Eff
forts to Find the
Criminals.

The condition of Mr.. ]. b. Zettler,
by the shot from burglars revolver,
is so critical that there are hardly any
hopes for his recovery. Since that FRI
day night when Mr.. Zettler and num-
Der of neighbors pursued the strangers
who attempted to effect an entrance
into the Zettler residence, the condition
of the injured man has been such as to
cause alarm on the part of the family
as well as Of the physicians. A News
Democrat reporter called up the Zett-
Ter residence by telephone Saturday
morning and he was informed that the
patient had passed very restless night
and that his condition has been and at
the present time, is very critical. His
death will eliminate one of the most
brutal and desperate criminal acts
which have occurred in this city for
many years, and the apparent delay
in apprehending the guilty parties is
not to be attributed to any unnecessary
delay on the part of the officers, for
they have diligently and persistently
followed every clue that has been af-
forded in this case. The mayor has
given them instructions to find the men
at all hazards, but they have not been
able to make any arrests which would
compromise the prisoner with the Zett-
Ter affair
On the night of October 27, last, the
attention of Mr.. Zettler was called by
his NUifn to bn -
were prowling about the house. Mr..
Zettler approached one of the fellows
who was found standing on the front
porch, and after some questioning and
evasive replies from the fellow as to
what business brought him there, the
man started away from the house. He
was Joined by second man who came
around the side of the house. When the
men started down the road Mr.. zett-
Ter and his hired man followed them,
and the two strangers increased their
gait, and finally at some distance away
from the Zettler home they began to
run. The pursuers also started running
after them, and on the way summoned
other neighbors. Together the crowd
went after the men, and while running
down the road leading to the cemetery,
and when Mr.. Zettler had forged ahead
of his companions, one of the parties
who were being pursued turned around,
fired four shots, one of them taking ef-
feet in Mr.. zettlers side and causing
a mortal wound. Surgeons were quick
ly summoned, after Zettler had been
carried home, and a hasty examination
was made of the injury. The bullet
was not probed for at once, but the sur
geons more particularly paid their at
tentions to stopping the copious flow
of blood which was caused by the sew
erance Of an artery. The blood was
finally stopped from flowing but the
condition of the injured man was such
that his life was almost despaired of
The best attention was given to his
case, but 1t appears that the worst fears
of the surgeons at the beginning are to
be realized. Mr.. zettler is said to have
been lying in a critical condition for a
short time past, and it appears his con-
diton has demonstrated to the surgeons
that he may not recover.
In case of hs death, If the guilty part
les can be apprehended they will be
held to answer to the charge of murder.
Numerous descriptions of the fellows
have been given the police by citizens
but in each case the clue which was fol-
lowed failed of naturalization.