Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-15
THE EAST END GHOST
Said That Philip Dietz Haunts Place
Where He Was Shot.
HAS GUN AND DRESSED FOR HUNTING
Rumors Are Rife in the East Part of
Town in Regard to the spectre but
Done Will Say They Have
Actually Seen It,


Actually Seen Ii.
From Wednesdays Daily
Is Philip Deitz's ghost roaming
about the East End? That is the ques-
ton that is bothering lot of people
in that part of town. The air is thick
with rumors of the spectre, but no one
has been found who will say that he
has seen it. 1t is said that a policeman
whose beat is in that part of town
has solemly averred that he has seen
the astral, mystical or shadowy. form
of Mr.. Deitz, dressed in a hunting suit,
with his gun over one shoulder, pacing
up and down the walk in front of the
place where he met his death, and it
is also said that that policeman goes
by the place at night with big Colts
revolver in his hand ready for busi-
ness at the slightest interruption
from the spectre. During his lifetime
Mr.. Deitz was a taXerdermist. and
for the purpose. of securing specimens
on which to exercise his art he was
wont to take his gun. and dressing in
his hunting suit, take to the woods
in search of specimens. 1t is supposed
that the love of hunting had been so
inculcated in Mr.. Deitz while living
that he was not willing to give. it up
even tho laid in the grave. 1t is also
said in the East End that the bar
tender in John Wagner's saloon quit
his job few days after MIR. Dietz
was found dead in the room over the
saloon, because he heard some strange
noises and declared that it was Philip
Diets ghost. AT the saloon they say
that galvanized extension to the fueI
outside made moaning noise when
the wind blew and that the bartender
mistook the sound for ghostly warn
ing. 1t is common talk around the
place where Mr.. Dietz's body was
found that there is something queer
connected with the place, but no one
seems willing to say they have seen
the spectre, altho many say they have
heard of it. A little colored boy said
that he had heard of the ghost; that
the kids had told him that if he was
out after night it would surely get
him; but he was not afraid even if the
other kids were.
How Philip Dietz Was Found.
The lifeless body of Philip Deitz,
| whose absence had been mystery for
a week or ten days was found
in room over John Wagner's saloon
at S25 East Main street, January Z,
about IL o'clock in the morning. Three
bullet holes in the left breast revealed
the cause of death, the supposition be-
| ing that the wounds. were self-admin-
| istered. The body when found was
| frozen and had probably been there
| for more than week. The corpse was
| on its knees at the side of the bed, on
| which the head and arms rested. In
the right hand was gripped tightly q 30
| calibre single-action revolver, with
| which the shooting is supposed to
| have been done, as empty cartridges
corresponding with the number of
| wounds were found in the chamber of
the gun. Two of the balls were found
to have penetrated the heart and the
other entered the body diagonally,
passing in close proximity to that or
gan. None of the bullets passed
thru the body. The body was dis
covered by Sebastian Yochum and Paul
Gobeat, who, by means of ladder,
climbed to rear window and there
saw the body in the position above de-
| scribed.
Other Evidence.
| The coroner's inquest and other evil
| dence obtained in the case, revealed the
fact that Mr.. Deitz had not been seen
by any of his friends in Ottumwa since
December 27, when he ate dinner at
the English Kitchen. Els disappear
ance had occasioned his friends con-
siderable uneasiness and Mr.. Wagner
had inserted an advertisement in the
Courier with the hopes that either he
or some Of his friends who knew of his
whereabouts would see it and notify
his friends in Ottumwa. Mr.. Wagner
did not suspect that he was in his
rooms, as he had left there and had
engaged rooms on West Second street.
The deceased had been suffering from
a deranged mind for some time past.
This aff1iction, however, appeared to be
periodical. He was adjudged insane
and sent to the county asylum May 16.
George Wilson said that within thirty
days after he entered the institution
he appeared to have regained normal
condition in this respect, and that he
was suffering from broken leg, which
he sustained when he first entered the
institution, by jumping from a second
story window. December 10 he was
able to leave the county hospital, and
DIR. Sheafe, the county physician, pro-
nounced him cured Of the mental de-
rangement. Mr.. Wilson said that he
still suffered more or less from the in
il juries sustained from the fall, and that
he urged him to remain at the farm
until spring, by which time he would
be able to go to work. To this Mr.
Deitz replied that he was anxious to
get back to the city and get to work
J He came directly to Mr.. Wagner's place
and again took up his abode over
the saloon where he roomed
and did his own cooking. This has
been his headquarters off and on fol-
the past few years. Mr.. Wagner said
j he did not charge him any room rent
the last time he returned. He was pre-.
viously engaged by Mr.. Wagner as q
barkeeper, and had also worked at 9
II number of other saloons in the city
T. /. { = #rNy