Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-03-31
MURDERERS AT BAY.
Zeltner Brothers Surrendered
When Militia Appeared.

They Fled TO Their Home at HOyt's Cor
ners, Ohio. After Numbering an AttOr-
ney---Fought sheriff and Citizens for
Hours and Killed One of the Posse.
Ell. Westenhaver, ex solicitor of North
Baltimore. Ohio, was murdered at Hoyt's
Corners, Ohio, Saturday. He was trying
a case against Paul and John Zeltner for
attorneys fees, and, when the court adj
iourned, at noon, the brothers demanded
papers, which he refused to surrender.
John Zeltner fred at the attorney, who
ran out of the door. The ball struck him
in the right side. Four more shots were
fired at him, but they did not take effect.
At the corner of the building Paul Zeltner
met the attorney and fired two shots, one
striking him in the leg and the other
in the forehead. Death resulted in
10 minutes. The Zeltners mounted their
horses and rode out of town, loading their
guns as they went. A posse was quickly
formed, but the brothers we're not captur-
ed until Sunday.
Developments since the capture indicate
that the Zeltners not only deliberated over
the bloody defiance of law, but also prepar-
ed for it, having large stock of ammuni-
ton in their residence, two miles from
Hoyt's Corners. As the Ieltners had their
horses ready, it is thought that they had
arranged to get Westenhaver into fight
for the purpose of "doing him" The Zelt-
ners kept up their firing till they mounted
their horses, and we're pursued by hundreds
of citizens After they reached their
house they continued firing all day and
during the night.
The Zeltners stood boldly in their yard
all the afternoon and defed arrest. There
was frequent exchange of shots at long
range, and a man named Weidmeyer, who
crossed an open space, was shot through
the heart and instantly killed.
Sheriff Kingsbury and posse of depu-
ties were soon on the scene, but the fusil-
lade kept up by the Zeltners prevented any
effort to capture them Later in the day
the Zeltners retired within the house and
barricad, d it. A hundred shots were fired
into the house, but without effect. The
sheriff then decided to call for the Bloom
dale Rifles Meantime a guard was sta
toned around the house Mrs. Zeltner and
her three children took refuge in the cellar.
During the evening ueighbor Of the Zelt-
ners went into the house, under a flag of
truce, and tried to induce the men to sur
render, but they declined TO do so before
morning, fearing the mob
The Xeltners surrendered TO the sheriff
Sunday morning on seeing the militia pres
ent, fully armed.
The Zeltner brothers and their families
were no doubt saved by the prompt ar
rival of troops under the orders of the gov
ernor The troops stood between the fir
ing from the house and an enraged crowd,
and not only captured TIE desperados but
also protected them from violence all the
way from the southern boundary of the
county to the jail, distance of over 20
I miles, with excitement at the highest pitch
all along tn, route. In connection with
the participation of the two women and
four children in the Zeltner barricaded
house. it is stated as further proof of de
| liberation that the Zeltners transferred
their farm and other property on Friday to
Mrs. John Zeltner.
| When Wedmeyer' fell Saturday night
volley after volley was poured into the
crowd from the upper story of the Zeltner
house, and the Zeltners knew that they
we're firing on their neighbors as well as on
the sheriff and his deputies.
| The Zeltners gave up their arms. Each
was provided with repeating rifle and a
revolver, There were 20 rounds of rifle
ammunition and two boxes of revolver car
trdges left in the house.