The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-06
Fight Follows Inquiry About Vote
in Saloon and Frank ID. Lay
man Was Killed.
SHOT BY THE PROPRIETOR.
Saloonkeeper Hartman Declared
Crowd Started to Break Glasses
When He Refused to Say
How He Voted.

Frank d. Layman. a teamster. living at
| No. 300 South Second street was sho. last
| night by Peter Hartman in the latter
| place of business at No. 1885 South Second
| street and died half an hour later from the
| wounds. An inquiry about Republican poll
| tics was the indirect cause of the tragedy.
Layman expired he was placed on a
cot at the City Hospital. He was uncon-
scious when placed in the ambulance and
could give no statement of the trouble that
led &c the shooting.
Hartman claims to have shot in self-de-
fense. as he says eight men entered his
saloon, and after buying drinks refused to
pay for them. He says the men abused
him. and when he insisted on payment for
the drinks. he says they began smashing up
his place OF business with beer glasses.
At 1890 O'clock eight men entered the sa-
loon and ordered similar number OF
drinks which amounted to 40 cents. Hart
man says the men were boisterous, and
when he served them the drinks and asked
for pay. he says they told him they had no
intention of settling. One of the party, he
says, asked him how he voted at the pri-
mary. to which he replied:
IT'S none of your business"
With that remark. Hartman says. one
of the men threw n heavy beer glass
at him. He lodged it, and it landed in the
glassware on the back bar. Others in the
party, he says, also threw beer glasses at
him.
Hartman then reached for his revolver
and fired three shots. Two Of the bullets
struck Layman and he fell prostrate on
the floor. His companions then ran from
the saloon. The police called for an ambu-
lance. and the dying man was removed as
quickly as possible to the City Hospital AS
fhn
breathed his last
The police OF the Third District Police
Station shortly after the shooting arrested
arthur Lowenstein and John Sipple. Hart
man was also arrested and locked UP at
the Third District Police Station. He ad-
mitted firing the shots. and said he did 80
In self-defense. fearing that he would be
being hurled at him.
An examination at the City Hospital
showed that one Of the bullets entered on
Layman's left side and pierced the kidneys.
The other bullet went through the left arm.
AT the Third District Station early this
Sipple of No. 1880 South Third street acted
as spokesmen for those under arerst John
sipple declared that Hartman acted hastily !
and the shooting was unprovoked. In sub
stance, he said
We are all teamsters, and had spent
most OF the afternoon at the precinct voting |
shS 5sNeiltH w II IS tnat y
We had been drinking freely and some of /
I ne boys were pretty loud when we entered
Hartman's saloon at No. 1723 South Second
street. A round of drinks was ordered. and D
while we were drinking we discussed politics.
Our conversation evidently annoyed Hart l
man. who was behind the bar. and, after 4
demanding payment for the drinks. he or
dered US out of the place. He threatened
to forcfbiy. eject us. and reached for his re- |
volver. which was behind the counter. Some
one threw a beer glass which broke lamp
and shattered the glasses behind the bar \
Then two shots were fired. and Layman
and were later arrested" /
Among the others under arerst in con-
lection with the shooting are John and
louis Roedle of No. 12S Soulard street, and
Joseph Schfrman of No. go Lesperance
street.