The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-27
The Two Brothers Are German Sharp
shooters and Could Pick OF
Man mt 500 Yards.
NO CHANCE FOR A LYNCHING
TROOPS GUARDED THE PRISONERS
TO BOWLING GREEN JAIL.
Ex-skeriff Briggs's Courageous Visit
10 the Zeltner Home to NegO-
tiate the Surrender.

BOWLING GREEN, O., March 26.-The
surrender this morning of Paul and John
Zeltner, the murderers of Lawyer Weston
haven, who for eighteen hours defied ar
rest at their home at Hoyts Corners, has
been attended by an almost complete sub
sidence of the excitement and it now ap-
pears that the whole affair has been some
what exaggerated. The situation was for
time critical but the extent of the excite
ment was magnified. At no time was there
any danger of clash between the citizens
and militia When the Blcomdale Rifles ar
rived at Hoyt's Corners at 1 a. m. the great
er part of the crowd had dispersed and the
excitement had subsded. In fact, before
the militia arrived at the scene of the
trouble the guard around the Zeltner home
had been SO relaxed that they could have
easily escaped. There was no demonstration
when the fugitives surrendered this morn
ing. the people apparently being satisfied to
permit the law to take its course. The Zelt-
ners had to be assured by the sheriff, how
ever before they agreed to surrender. that
they would be fully protected. Small crowds
Of people gathered at the stations along the
railroad the special train which brought
the prisoners to Bowling Green whirled by,
large crowd gathered at the railroad sta
tion in this city and followed the prison
ers, escorted by the militia, TO the Jail, but
there was no disorder and no threats of
summary justice. 1t is not believed that
there will be an attempt to lynch the pris-
oners. The services of Company H. OF North
Baltimore, which was taken aboard the spe-
cial train, not needed and the COM
pany not even disembarked. The sheriff
concluded this afternoon that the presence
of militia here was unnecessary and the
Bloomdale Rifles were sent home this even
ing.
The militia had planned to make a stand
about daylight and strict picket duty was
maintained by the Bloomdale Rifles all
night, the men being stationed around 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 sharpshooters, were
picking out and shooting at every one ven
turing within five hundred yards.
Ex-Sherif Briggs, of Bowling Green, went
to Hoytsville during the night to see Attorney
Hood, whom the Zeltners wished to consult.
Hood promised to so to the house at day
light, but when the time came he refused
to go, evidently fearing that the Zeltners
would shoot any one approaching the place.
At $50 o'clock this morning ex-Sherin
Briggs, accompanied by q neighbor named
Brown, started toward the house. They
walked the distance alone. TIE Zeltners Of
fered no resistance to their opproach, and
they were admitted TO the house. Mr. Briggs
plainly told them that the militia was ready
to make an attack on the house and that
they would be compelled 10 surrender and
they had better give up peaceably. The Zelt-
ners seemed not disposed at first to give
| up and stated that they feared the mob
| two hundred of which remained outside the
militia lines. They tried to induce Mr.. Briggs
| to accompany them through the timber. but
he refused, and they were told they would
not be molested if they gave up their arms
and accompanied him TO Jail. After a half
hours talk they agreed, and Sheriff Kings
bury was notified. He at once made ar
rangements to afford the Zeltners the pro-
| lection of the militia, and special train
was ordered TO Custer to convey the men TO
| Jail.
| The Zeltners gave up their arms. Each
had been provided with a repeating rifle and
a revolver. There were seventy-ive rounds
| of rifle ammunition and two boxes of re-
volver cartridges left in the house. The men
were taken from the house and conveyed TO
/ the train, and, under the protection of the
militia and Sheriff Kingsbury, ex-Sheriff
| Briggs and Deputies Alf Farmer and Andy
| Roach, they were taken to the Bowling
| Green Jail without molestation. A crowd
| of about thousand people met the train,
| but there was no demonstration. At the
| Jail the Zeltners were very reticent and did
| not care 10 talk of the matter, only saying
that they regretted the death of Clarence
| Wettemeyer, who was killed during the at
tack on the house.
1t is not thought there will be any trouble
from nab, as the city of Bowling Green
is quiet and nearly everybody is disposed TO
| let the law take it's course, but extra pre-
cautions have been taken in case any
trouble occur. Mrs. John Zeltner. who was
| in the house with her three children during
| the trouble, was not molested and is there
| yet.
Ex-Sheriff Briggs told the following inter-
| esting story: II will acknowledge" he said,
| that l had some msgivngs when the men
| unbolted the door and as / stepped into the
house both men had their rifles in their
hands and the door was banged behind me
like fash. Empty shells and cartridges
were strewn about the floor and the smell OF
sulphur prevailed. Johns wife was weeping
| and the two little children were hudding
around her knees l said: Now, boys. IL
| you have II in for me. just give me chance
| is all I ask.
II finally persuaded them 10 lay aside
their guns. They both appeared 10 be bad
| ly scared. but did not seem 10 realize the
| seriousness of their situation. / told them
| that 1t was foolhardy 10 resist longer: that
they were surrounded and II they refused 10