Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-10

PROVES THAT REF. FATHER RE.
GAL WAS MURDERED WITH
ROBBERY IN VIEW.
PRIEST HAD BEEN DRINKING.



Conscious.
-
NEW YORK, January 9.-Robert
Bryan, alias Sailor Bob" alias Jack
Harris wanted in Philadelphia for
completely In the murder there Friday
last Of Rev. Father Riegel, promi-
nent priest of the Roman Catholic
church, was arrested in this city to-
night by detectives of the central Of
fee.
Bryan was arrested at IL o'clock
and when taken before Captain Titus,
of the detective bureau, made confess
sion in which he told the story of the
murder of the priest. Captain Titus
refused to give any names repeated to
him by Bryan, stating that the others
implicated would doubtless be arrested
in Philadelphia tomorrow.
Bryan is a saloon-keeper and it is
said runs an unlicensed saloon on
North Eighth street, Philadelphia. He
came to this city Saturday night last
and his arrest was at the request of
Chief Quirk, of the Philadelphia po-
lice
The story told by Captain Titus con-
corning the confession made by Bryan
is that on Friday night last there went
to Bryan's place a man, whose name
Bryan gives, but which is withheld by
Captain Titus, accompanied by three
companions, and a priest, the Rev.
Father Riegel. The latter was very
much intoxicated A woman named
Anna Miller was present at the time
the men entered, it is said, but was
sent from the room. The men gave
frequent orders for beer. for which the
priest always insisted on paying Each
time he paid he displayed large roll
of bills. He was so intoxicated that he
dropped the bills on the floor The
men struck his hands and made him
drop more. Bryan admits getting S19
in that manner, and asserts that 9TH
ers got more. This continued for
some time when one of the men ex-
cused himself and left the room. Pres
entity he returned. He carried a small
vial which Bryan says was filled with
dark liquid. Bryan declares this
liquid was twenty cents worth of laud-
anum and choral which had been pur-
chased on prescription at a nearby
drug store. Two glasses of beer were
poured out, one of which was drugged
Bryan says that after the priest had
! taken the beer the man who drugged
a'''ss'sYas going to rob the
Bryan then said he told a third par
ty that he would mot allow it in his
place and made the men take the
priest out of the room. Bryan says
that after they had gone he found
silver snuff-box on the floor and this
he threw into the street. He says he
knew nothing further about the affair
until Saturday morning when he
awoke. Then the Miller woman told
him the body of a priest had been
found in the hallway of the house
next door. Bryan said that he looked
for the man who drugged the beer
and when he came into his saloon
that night he accused him of killing
the priest The man denied it. An
other party told him his name was on
the prescription at the drug store.
The man then left Bryans place and
has not ben seen since. Bryan said
that he became frightened and left
town.
1t is said that Bryan was arrested
for highway robbery in 1897 and his
picture is in the Rogues' Gallery I'M
der the name Of Jack Harris.
According to Captain Titus, Bryan
is a -eoaapanion of man known as
"Scotty &oung.' who is now serving
life sentence at Sing Sing for the
murder ia 1N.&t George Everhart,
who lived in this city.
PHILADELPHIA. January 9.-The