The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-06

The wheeling police are graphing
with a murder mystery which may be
cleared within few hours, probably
to-day. Last night Chief clemans had
three officers on the trail of the man
who is suspected of having committed
the murder, and It was hoped they
would return to the city on the mid
night train from down the river with
their man in custody. but they did not,
and the result OF their trip is not
known.
Early yesterday morning L. B. Scott
who runs a skin ferry between lower
Bellaire and the West Virginia side OF
the river, saw the unclothed body of a
man floating in the water. Scott
brought the body to the West Virginia
side Of the river, and the authorities Of
Marshall county were notified. Later
in the morning the corpse was taken to
an undertaking establishment in Ben
wood. where DR.. Alley conducted a post
mortem. which revealed most conclu-
sively the fact that the dead man had
come to his end by foul play. His wind
nine It was found, had been broken by
blow from some blunt instrument, and
in addition there was bad wound
above the eyes, which It was shown by
the examination had fractured the skull.
The lungs were found to be entirely
free from water, which showed that
death had ensued before the body was
placed in the river.
It was Intended to have the coroners
inquest take place at once, but Justice
Lacey, of Benwood. later postponed this
until tomorrow afternoon, when 1t Is
likely there will be more evidence forth
coming.
The body was soon identified as that
of Louis Dittmore, a Wheeling man,
who is married, but has not lived with
his family for some time. He was form
erly employed in the Sweeney foundry
on the South Side, and more recently
was a puddIer in one Of the mills at
Benwood. For two or three years he has
had no steady employment, and for
some time has lived on house boat
anchored at the mouth Of Whiskey
run, below West Wheeling. He was not
of a vicious disposition, and was his
own worst enemy, being addicted to
strong drink.
One of Dlttmore's associates, who fire.
auently visited him at his house boat,
was Joe" Drlller, a South Wheeling
man who does not bear an excellent
reputation, according to the police de-
partment officials. Although there is
no direct evidence to connect Driller
with the killing OF Dittmore, yet the po-
lice suspect him, and are on his trail.
Driller is known to have come over to
South Wheeling on the afternoon Of the
Fourth" Tuesday. In company with
John R. Watkins, late of Little Wash
ington, he went to the office of Squire
Greer, of the South Side, and had that
gentleman prepare bill OF sale by
which Driller transferred to Watkins
for $50 the two-roomed shanty boat,
known as the Randy Boose Fishing
Club" AS this boat has been supposed
to be owned by Dlttmore, the police at
once began to look into DrIller's where
abouts when they learned OF the tram
sactlon Just mentioned.
1t was learned that Drlller, accom-
panied by a woman who had been with
him on the boat, went to Benwood in o
skin Tuesday night, leaving about s
o'clock. Two hours later they called at
Paul Rigots place in Upper BenwOod
and asked for accommodations for the
night, which the proprietor refused.
Thereupon, Driller and the woman left
the place and 1t is understood they went
down the river to one of the many fish
ing camps established by Wheeling peo-
pie for the summer.
Lieutenant Eddie MichaelS, Of the
Wheeling force, accompanied by officer
Devlnney, and one OF the Benwood Of
ficers, went down the river last evening
in search Of DrIller. They did not re-
turn on the midnight Ohio River train,
so 1t is likely they did not meet with Inn
mediate success,
The police have information to the eff
feet that there was a quarrel between
two men at the Randy Boose" shanty
boat ut the mouth OF whlskey run on
the afternoon of the Fourth" and that
man on the bank of the river yelled
to another man who was leaving In q
skin, accompanied by woman, "You
---7, I'll kill you II 1 have
to 20 in a boat to do it." These words
were heard by Mr.. David Wagner, the
well-known citizen of West Wheeling
From what the police can learn, the
quarrel was renewed early in the even.
ing, when 1t is believed the murder was
committed and Dlttmore's body thrown
into the river. The police have lnformH'
ton that leads them to believe that attel
the man was killed, the murderer tooH
his departure in great haste some oil
the womnn's clothes being left behind
Watkins, who bought the boat from
Drlller, says Drlller threw some of Dit
more's clothes into the river before
leaving. The 'john boat in which
Drlller and the woman left, was found
on the West Virginia shore near Bogg'i
Run, where they no doubt dIsembarket
and went to Rlgots place.
The forthcoming developments OF thiI