The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-27
zELTNERS ARE IN JAIL
They Surrender After Eighteen
Hours of Defiance.
A DESPERATE RESISTANCE
Fortified in Their House, the Murderers
Picked Off With Rifles Any Who
Came Within Range Ex-
element Has subsidized.

Bowling Green, March 26-The sur
render this morning of Paul and John
Zeltner, the murderers of Lawyer
Nestenhaver. who, for is hours. defied
arrest at their home at Hoyts Cor
ners, has been attended by an almost
complete subsistence of the excitement
and it now appears that the whole af-
fair has somewhat been exaggerated
The situation was at one time serious,
but its extent was magnilied At no
time was there any danger of a clash
between the citizens and the militia
When the Bloomdale Rifles arrived at
Hoyts Corners at a. M. the greater
part Of the crowd had dispersed and the
excitement had subsidized. In fact, be
fore the militia arrived at the scene OF
the trouble, the guard around the Zelt-
ners' home had been so relaxed that
they easily could have escaped.
There was no demCnStra ton when
the fugitives surrendered this morn
ing, the people apparently being sat
lstled to premit the law to take its
course. The Zeltners had to be assured
by the sheriff. however. before they
agreed to surrender, that they would be
pie gathered at the stations along the
railroad as the special train which
brought the prisoners to Bowling Green
Whlrled by. but there We're no hostile
demonstrations. A large crowd gath
cred at the railroad station in this city
and followed the prisoners, escorted by
the militia. to the jail, but there was
no disorder and no threats of summary
justice. 1t is not believed here that
there will he tl,,
prisoners. The services of Company II
of North Baltimore, which was taken
aboard the special train. were not
needed. The Bloomdale Rifles We're
sent home this evening
Developments since the capture to-
day of John and Paul Zelt-
ner in Wood county indicate
that they not only deliberated
over the bloody defiance of the law. but
also prepared for it by having a large
stock of ammunition in their residence.
q miles from Hoyt's Corners. +. Fl.
Westenhaver. eX-solicitor of North Bal
timore. had been their attorney in nu-
merous cases and sued them for his fees.
The jury and witnesses had been sworn
yesterday before Justice L. Burgoon in
the township house at Hoyt's Corners
in Westenhaver's suit to recover fees,
when Paul Zeltner demanded some pa
pei VI W Il anu attempted 10
take them from his pocket. John Zelt-
ner then Joined in demanding the pa
pers and Immediately fired the fatal
shot that killed Westenhaver.
As the Zeltners had their horses ready
tor mounting and escape. it is thought
that they had arranged to get Western
haver into a fight for the purpose of
doing him. although they did not give
the victim time to make any demon
STATIONS toward them. The Zeltners
kept up their firing until they mounted
their horses and continued it as hun
dreds of citizens pursued them fer two
miles to their residence. After they
reached their house they kept up con-
slant firing the rest of the day and dur
ing last night. They not only went to
the trial fully armed, but they had am
at home for continued fusi-
ladies' and still left a large stock on
hand
While the feeling is intense around
North Baltimore on account of the MUIR
der of Westenhaver, it is equally in
tense around Hoyt's Corners, and on
account Of the killing of their neghbor.
Clarence Weidmyer, who was with the
sheriff $ posse last night. When Weld
nyer fell VOlleE after volley was poured
INTO the crowd from the upper story of
he Zeltner house, and the Zeltners
Knew that they were firing on their
leighbors as we'll as on the sheriff and
lis deputies Before the arrival of the
roops. during the night. cannon used
n shooting oil tanks when they are on
Are and quantity of nitro glycerne
had been secured, so that there would
have been trouble after sunrise if the
troops had not arrived.
The Ieltner brothers and their fami-
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 crowds and not only cap
tured the desperadoes, but also protect
ed them from violence all the way from
The south boundary of this county to the
jail here, distance of more than 20
miles, with excitement at the highest
pitch all along the route.
In connection with the participation
Of the two women and four children in
the Ieltner barricaded house, it is stated
as further proof of deliberation that the
Leltners transferred their farms and
other property on Friday to Mrs. John
Leltner.