, 1900-12-07
PREACHER KILLED
FOUGHT A DUEL ON THE STREET
WITH A PROMINENT
LAWYER.
West Virginia City Has a Sensation
The Minister Appears to Have
Been the Aggressor in the Quarrel
Trouble Started Over d Cartoon
Used by Preacher in His Sermons.

Williamson. w. Va, Dec. This
afternoon S. David Stokes shot and
killed Rev. DR.. Wohl in a street duel
here. Mr.. Stokes being also injured
seriously. Tonight the whole town and
eN IL the country districts are greatly
excited.
Mr.. Stokes was one of the most
prominent young lawyers in Mingo
county. He left his Office this after
noon Immediately after dinner. and
pleasantly greeting friends on the way,
walked with quick and firm step in the
direction of the house occupied by Rev.
Mr.. Wohl and his housekeeper. Mrs.
Levine. Mr.. Wohl's family being in
Kentucky. Mr.. Stokes stopped at the
gate to talk with Mrs. Levine. who
stood in the doorway.
Within a few minutes the minister
came out of the house. He seemed to
be greatly excited about something.
and said to Mrs. Levine. as he passed
her at the door: You would be much
better. at present, in the house" She
laughingly replied hat the day was
far too pretty to be spent entirely
within doors. and Mr.. Stokes interrupt
ed by remarking:
Yes, don't think of leaving us for
the house"
Quick as a flash Mr.. Wohl turned
and. addressing Mr.. Stokes. said.
Leave the premises"
An alteration followed. Both men
ran to the sidewalk directly in front
OF the house. Something was said. al
most indistinguishable: You are a
liar" and in an instant the report OF
a revolver vas heard. Stokes stun
bled tried to regain his footing, but
fell in the street. Wounded as he was,
he drew his revolver and covered the
minister. now within ten feet OF his
fallen foe.
Again Wohl fired and simultaneous
ly with that shot the pistol in the sink
ing hand of Stokes spoke. When the
smoke cleared away the two men lay
in their W blood upon the sidewalk.
A crowd ran up to the scene. VIZ.
Wohl was dead. Chance had carried
the bullet from Stokes pistol through
the head of the minister, killing him
,, la, f,ll I'll, ,,,n,h,,,'1 l,ll,t 1,,l
entered Stokes side below the heart
and passed entirely through his body.
In the hall of the minister's home,
facing the fearful duel to the death,
fallen across the doorway, was found
Mrs. Levine. 1t was first thought she
vas dead and had probably been shot,
but an investigation showed that she
had only tainted from fright.
Up to a late hour this evening Mr..
Stokes has refused to say anything
concerning the terrible tragedy, and
Mrs. Levine is in too much of a state
of excitement to talk.
Rev. Mr.. Wohl was recognized as one
of the o forceful and eloquent of
Presbyterian ministers of this state.
Mr.. Stokes is an eX-Nirginia universit,
president and N from II of the
best families of the Old Dominion,
The tragedy was the outgrowth OF
strained relations between the Two men
for a week past. Mr.. Stokes, who is
-. - H. --I- g A. ..-..l .-.
here, saw a cartoon illustrating a Ger
man given by the Cotillion club, which
Mr.. Wohl had used in a m The
cartoon pictured a ballroom scene,
with various paths leading downward
to Ruin and among the places
shown as a result of the dance was a
famous resort" In some way the car
toon came into the possession of Mr..
Stokes, who. afterward meeting MI.
Wohl, told him that if it were not for
his cloth he would thrash him. Wohl
retorted that Stokes need not hesitate
on that point, and he vas ready to meet
him at any time.
Late at night Mrs. Levine was pre-
vailed upon to talk, and in her state
ment she Ices much to remove the
blame heretofore laid upon Mr.. Stokes.
Her version of the story is as follows:
The conversation had been seem
ingly amicable and Mr.. Stokes was
about to return the caricature in his
possession when Mr.. Wohl remarked:
It's a pity that cartoon is true Stokes
asked Mr.. Wohl whether or lot some
of the most eminent ladies in town had
protested against the pictures as be-
ing personal and false. Then it was
that Wohl hurled the lie into Stokes
face"