The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-01-24
FOR MURDER.
Boyd Wintersteen Faces a Jury
On the Charge of Killing M.
L. Fisher at Danville.
A Verdict Of Guilty of voIun-
tary Manslaughter.

1t has been some years since so
much interest was shown in a court
trial at Danviile, as was exhibited
during the past week over the trial
OF Boyd Wlntersteen who was charged
with killing Martin Fisher, in that
borough, on September IL, 1900.
The trial began before Judge Little
last Thursday morning, and the court
room was packed. The common
wealth was represented by District
Attorney Welsh and James Scarlet,
Esq. and the counsel for the prisoner
were Hon. H. M. Hinckley, Edward
S. Gearhart and Major c. p. Gear.
hart. All of Thursday and part of
Friday morning were consumed in
the selection of jury, many of the
jurors stating that they had fixed
opinions, and some being opposed to
capital punishment. The twelve men
were finally selected, and DisirictAttor-
ney Welsh opened the case at eleven
O'Clock. He stated that the common
wealth expects to prove that this is a
case OF willful, premeditated murder;
that evidence will be introduced to
show that on Saturday, September 8,
Wintersteen, employed on the Castle
Grove farms, had controversy with
Mr.. Strouse, foreman, concerning
certain horse, which Wintersteen re-
fused to drive, and that Wintersteen
declared that if he did not have his
way, there would be the worst time on
that farm that there ever was. Win
tersteen then quit work, but after
wards appealed to Superintendent
Fisher, after which he left the farm.
Before going he repeated his state
ment that the matter was not ended.
and that there would be the worst
lime that there ever was on that
farm.
Other evidence, Mr.. Welsh said,
will be introduced to show that Win
tersteen during the next few days stat.
ed to different persons that he would
get even or have revenge for his dis.
charge, and that he then bought re.
volver at one hardware store and
cartridges at another store.
He was seen around town by differ
ent people on the morning of Septem-
Der IL, to some of them saying that
something would happen soon at the
Bennett farms. He was seen going
towards Castle Grove, and shortly
after ten o'clock appeared at the
house on the Strouse farm, where he
asked for Mr.. Strouse. Soon after he
left the house men working on the
farm saw him in the fields, and fear
ing that he might injure the women
they started for the house. Soon
afterwards the farm hands found Mr..
Fisher in his carriage, dying from the
effects of pistol shot wound.
Other evidence will be introduced
to show that about an hour after the
tragedy, employees at the Howe &
Polk Mills saw man walking along
the canal bank, acting strangely, walk.
ing into and out of the canal, throwing
away a revolver, then picking it up
again and placing 1t at his head.
The Rolling Mill employees followed
the man until he came to "Reilly"
Watts place on Church street, where
he said that he had just killed a man
on the Castle Grove farms, and
wanted to give himself up. They &C
companied him to Jail where he sur
rendered himself and his revolver to
Sheriff Maiers.
DIR. p. c. Newbaker and DR.. Shultz
testified to finding bullet hole in
Fishers side about three inches below
the armpit, and that this wound caused |
death. A number of other witnesses
were called who gave the details of
the tragedy about as stated by Mr..
Welsh IN his opening. Sheriff Maers
testified that when Wintersteen gave
himself up he said that he had shot
Martin Fisher. The purchase of the
pistol and cartridges was proven by
clerks who sold them to Wntersteen.
Mrs. Strouse testified to threats made
by the prisoner, and DR.. Barber said
that Wintersteen told him he bought
the pistol to kill Fisher and then kill
himself. and that Wlntersteen was very
much excited at the time.
Several other conversations with
the prisoner while in jail were admit
ted, and the prosecution rested, and
court adjourned until Monday.
Al Aha onaninn Of court On Mondau