The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-27

Planned Their Crime, but Made
Ready to Resist Arrest - Large
Stock of Ammunition on Hand
Fired on All Who Approached.
TOLEDO, o., March 26-John and Paul
Zeltner, who yesterday murdered Attor-
ney Westenhaver, at Hoytsville, and
afterwards entrenched themselves in their
home near that place and defied arrest,
were taken this morning and lodged in
jail at Bowling Green. Peaceable meth
DDS finally prevailed in the capture,
though it is doubtful If the capture would
have been effected except for the fact
that the Zeltners were nearly out of am
munition and they knew surrender was
the only method of saving themselves
from an infuriated mob
The soldiers ordered to the scene had
planned to make stand about daylight
and strict picket duty was maintained by
the Bloomdale rifles all night, the men
being stationed around the house at short
intervals and at sufficient distance from
the house to prevent the Zeltners from
picking the men off. Several narrow es-
capes from bullets happened during the
evening, for the Zeltners, being German
sharp-shooters, were picking out and
shooting at every one venturing within
500 yards.
Ex-Sheriff Riggs, of Bowling Green,
went to Hoytsville during the night to
see Attorney Hood whom the Zeltners
wished to consult. Hood promised to go
to the house at daylight, but when the
hn
fearing that the Zeltners would shoot
any one approaching the place.
AT 5:30 this morning, ex-Sheriff Riggs,
accompanied by neighbor named Brown,
started towards the house. They walked
the distance alone. The Zeltners offered
no resistance to 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 they would be compelled to surrender,
and they had better give I'D peaceably.
INDUCED TO SURRENDER.
The Zeltners seemed not disposed at
hrst to give up, and stated that they
feared the mob, two hundred of which re-
mained outside the militia lines. They
tried to induce Mr.. Riggs 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
Kingsbury was notified. He at once made
arrangements to afford the Zeltners the
protection Of the militia, and a special
train was ordered to Custer to convey
the men to JAIL
The Zeltners gave up their arms Each
was provided with a repeating rifle and a
revolver. There were seventy-fve
rounds of rifle ammunition and two boxes
OF revolver cartridges left in the house.
The men were taken from the house and
conveyed to the train, and under the pro-
lection of the militia and Sheriff Kings
bury, ex-Sheriff Riggs and Deputies A. l..
Farmer and Lind Roach, they were taken
to the Bowling Green jail without moles-
tation.
A crowd Of about 1000 people met the
train, but there was no demonstration At
the Jail the Zeltners were very reticent
and did not care to talk of the matter,
saying only that they regretted the death
of Clarence Wettenmeyer, who was killed
IN the attack on the house. 1t is not
thought there will be any trouble from
the mob, as the city of Bowling Green
is quiet and nearly everybody is dis
posed to let the law take its course, but
extra precautions have been taken in
case any trouble occurs
Mrs. John Zeltner who was in the house
with her three children during the
trouble, was not molested, and is there
yet.
READY FOR TROUBLE.
Developments since the capture of the
Zeltners indicate that they not only de-
liberated the bloody defiance of law. but
also prepared for it by having a large
stock OF ammunition in their residence
two miles from Hoyt's Corner
II. III. Westenhaver, solicitor, of North
Baltimore, had been their attorney in
numerous cases and sued them for his
fees. The jury and witnesses had been
sworn yesterday before Justice E. Bur-
COON In the township house at Hoyt's
Corner in Westenhaver's suit to recover
fees, when Paul Zeltner demanded some
papers of Westenhaver and ATTEMPTED to
take them from his pocket. John Zeltner
then Joined in demanding the papers and
Immediately fired the fatal shot.
As the Zeltners had their horses ready
for mounting and escape, it is thought
they had arranged to get Westenhaver
into tight for the purpose of doing
him. although they did not give the
victim time to make any demonstrations
towards them. The Zeltners kept UP
their firing till they mounted their horses
and continued it as hundreds of citizens
pursued them for two miles to their resi-
dence After they reached their house
they kept up constant firing the rest of
the day and during last night. They not
only went to the trial fully armed, but
they had ammunition at home for con-
tinued fusillades and still left a large
stock on hand
While the feeling is intense around
North Baltimore on account of the mur-
der of Westenhaver, 1t is equally intense
around Hoyts Corner on account of the
killing of Clarence Weidemeyer, who was
with the sheriff's posse last night. When
Wefdemeyer advanced volley after VOL
ley was poured into the crowd from the
upper story of the Zeltner house. and the
Zeltners knew that they were firing on
their neighbors, as we'll as the sheriff
and his deputies.
Before the arrival of the troops during
the night a cannon used In shooting oil
tanks when they are on fire and auan-
tity of nitro-glycerine had been secured
| so there would have been trouble after
sunrise If the troops had not arrived
The Zeltner brothers and their families
were no doubt saved by the prompt
arrival of troops under the orders of Gov
Bushnell.
The troops stood between the firing
from the house and the enraged crowds
and not only captured the desperadoes
but also protected them from violence all
the way from the southern boundary of
the county to Jail, a distance of over
twenty miles, with excitement at the
highest pitch all the along the route
In connection with the participation of
two women and four children in the Zelt-
ner barricaded house it is stated as fur
ther proof Of deliberation that the Zelt-
ners transferred their farms and other