The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-25
She Was Attacked by Her Brother-in-
Law, John Barnhart, Who Threat
ened to Kill Her.
AFFAIR OCCURS ON BLUFF ROAD
ONE SHOT HIT BARNHART IN THE
ARM AND ANOTHER In GROIN.
Mrs. ZOI1crs Is Arrested by Bicycle
PatrOlmen, but Immediately Re-
leased on Bond.

In a desperate effort TO save her life,
which was threatened by her drunken broth
er-in-law, George Barnhart, early last even
ing Mrs. John Zolers shot and severely
wounded him after what seemed an in
evitable death struggle for her. The shoot
ing took place at the home of Mrs. Barn
hart, the wife of the wounded man, about
two miles south of the city on the Bluff
road at $50 o'clock.
Mrs. Zollers is a sister of Mrs Barnhart
and lives on the Bluff road about mile
! nearer town than her sister. Last even
ing she drove to the home of her sister and
| asked her to take a ride. While she was
talking to her sister Barnhart ran out of
the house and unhitched Mrs. Zollers's
horse and started the animal down the
road by giving 1t few hard kicks in the
ribs. Mrs. Zollers went after her fright
ened steed. and, bringing 1t back. hitched 1t
| to the buggy and went back into the house
| TO get her sister.
Barnhart was under the influence of
| liquor and was determined that his wife
would kill both of the women If they dared
| do anything against his wishes.
BARNHART DREW REVOLVER.
He became very angry when his wife in
! formed him that she was going driving
with her sister and ordered Mrs. Zollers
| out of the house, at the same time picking
| up a revolver and saying that he would
| blow her brains out. Mrs. Zollers, although
| much frightened, retained her self-control
| and backed out of the door into the farm
! yard, with Barnhart clutchng at her throat
| and striking at her head with the butt end
of the pistol. He struck her on the head
| several times and her head and arms are
covered with the marks of the beating she
received at the hands of the man who was
attempting to end her existence. They
grappled and fought back and forth In the
| barnyard and when they neared a milk
wagon that was standing near the barn
| Mrs. Zollers picked up a revolver that
was lying in the wagon and fired three
| shots. Two of them took effect and Barn.
| hart fell to the ground, cursing and swear
ing as he lay there writhing in agony.
| He was quickly carried into the house by
| farm hands who had been attracted TO the
scene by the shooting, and DR.. schneider
was called and dressed the wounds. One
| shot took effect in the right arm, while
the other embedded itself in the left groin,
| ihf1icting a serious If not dangerous wound.
| Mrs Zollers, on the advice of her sister.
| drove to her home, where she was later
found by Bicycle Policemen ZEN Hull unks and CRIT t
| the police station charged with assault
and battery with intent to kill, but 1t is
| probable that the case against ner VIII
| be taken into custody as soon as his con-
dition will admit Of his being moved from
| his house.
SUPPORTS HER HUSBAND.
Mrs Barnhart is a Woodworking German
woman, and for years has supported her
| husband, who refuses to work, and herself
| by means of a dairy farm on which she
lives She was often compelled to be out
late at night in delivering milk and kept
| the revolver used by her sister in the wagon
| to use in case she should be held up.
Her husband has on several occasions
| beaten her severely, and when she threat
| ened to leave him he told her that If she
| did he would kill her. Mrs. Barnhart said
| last night that her existence for the last
| few years had been worse than that OF the
beasts of the field, and she asserts her IN
tention of securing divorce from her hus-
| band at once. Mrs. Zollers is an amiable,
though piucky, little woman and Is the wife
| of John Zoliers. a car inspector for the
| PENNSYLVANIA Railroad. She bears most
| excellent name and has the sympathy OF
| all who know her, and was taken out or the
police station on bond shortly after being
| locked I'D.