Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-16
Heard Reports of Shots.


Heard Reports of Shots.
William F. De Renter, one of the en-
ploves at the museum who was in room
adjoining that in which the shooting oc-
CURED. heard the shots fired and he also
heard Seehorst make remark before the
shooting Frank II. Cole, whose home is
At 1865 Franklin street, Brookiand, and
others were working on the cases in the
room, but they were not in sight OF the par
ties To the shooting when the homicide
WAS committed. Cole found the Dody OF
Won Iterson on the floor. Seelhorst was
standing over the body holding the rifle.
, ole reached across the body to prevent the
,rmed man from doing any further damage,
lut the latter seemed perfectly satlshed
With what he had accomplished, and snow
d no disposition to do further harm. Coie
deprived him of the rifle and Joseph H.
Koran. acting captain of the watch, placed
aim under arrest.
SeeIhorst remained silent during the time
~ was held by the museum off1cer. onerine
no explanation for his conduct and not
even volunteering to tell his name capt
Mathews. Sergt. Yates and Policeman Hill
ton responded to call and took charge
IF the prisoner. He was taken to the po-
lice station and the captain and sergeant
remained at the building to secure state
ments regarding the affair.
Motive for the Deed.
A
gathered about the room in which the muir
Ter had been committed. but very few OF
hem knew the deceased and none of them
lad ever before seen the alleged murderer.
Those who assembled seemed anxious to
earn the motive for the deed. They seemed
% think. from the statement made by Seel-
lorst that the victim had caused trouble In
MS family. Coroner hewitt was summoned
o the museum by Detective Hartigan. who
had been assigned to the case by Inspector
Raardman and he viewed the body, which
had a. surroundings the skins and skulls or
mammals.
DIR hewitt heard the statements of sew
eral Of the witnesses. and from them he
concluded that Won lterson was seated on
a chair when he received the fatal wound
He fen from the chair and rolled upon his
face Those who went to his assistance
turned the body upon its back and had
physician make AN investigation. me iat-
ter found that life was extinct. Death. IN
the opinion of the physician, had resulted
INSTANTLY When Coroner hewitt had con-
GUIDED his investigation he directed that the
remains h. removed to the morgue me
body reached there shortly before O'CLOCK
Deputy Coroner GlaZebrook performed an
autopsy.
Answers All Questions.
Seclhorst made several statements to
policemen at the fourth precinct station
this afternoon and he also told his story
TO a Star reporter. He volunteered moth
ing but was willing to answer all ques-
tons asked him. He repeated his statement
that Won lterson had wrecked his life
when he Seelhorst was boy, and said
that for the past three years he had brood
I'd over his condition. 1t was not until
recently. however, that he concluded def
uitcly to kill Won Iterson. The rifle he
used he stated. he bought about ten years
ago. His father. he added, is dead, but
his mother. brother and sisters are residing
At the Philadelphia address.
Inspector Boardman this afternoon COM
nunicated with the police in Philadelphia
md the latter said they would make an in
VeStigation there and let the local police
eral cartridges, a return ticket on the rail-
road and several other articles, of little
value. in his pockets
Coroner Finds Four Wounds.
Four shots stuck Won Iterson, according
To examination of the body made by
Coroner hewitt at the morgue late this
afternoon. Two bullets penetrated the
chest. under the right arm a third pene-
trated the chest near the left armpit, and
a fourth went into the left arm between
the elbow and the wrist, fracturng the
bone.
Detective Hartigan went to the home of
Won llrTSotl tillS AFTERNOON ana TOOK charge
of his effects. They will be turned over
to the property clerk to be disposed of by
the court
Coroner hewitt announced that he will
hold an inquest in the case at the morgue
tomorrow morning at 80 o'clock.
Artist of the First Glass.
F. Won lterson was employed at the
establishment of Andrew B.
Graham & Co. 18th and streets. He was
regarded there as an artist of the first
class and of sober and industrious
habits. Speaking of him to a Star reporter
this afternoon Mr. John A. Eckert. SUPER
intendent of the Graham Company said
Won lterson had been there about six
months, during which time he had been on
the pay rolls of the establishment, although
he found time to do much extra work for
the National Museum. the bureau of eth
noiugy, the fish commission and other sci
entihc branches of the government His
work was of high order and Mr. Eckert
showed the reporter some of the handwork
OF deceased. He made colored sketches of
fishes. birds. animals curios. relics. etc.
and the pictures We're in every instance ex-
act reproductions of the originals His fell
low workmen are said to have regarded
him as sort of wizard artist because of
his truthful reproductions
II was also said that the prefix Won
before his name indicates that in Germany.
where 1t Is said he was born, he came of
a very good family. Won Iterson was de-
scrbed as between forty-eight and fifty-fiye
years OF age and a bachelor. so far as is
known He was on the pay roll of the
Graham Company at the time of his death.
He certainly was skilled artisan" Su-
perintrndent Eckert remarked. and a man
OF steady habits. and always attended strict
~ 10 Ills business. l cannot imagine WHY
Seelhorst shot him. He never indicated
here that lac was involved in any feud or
other trouble. and at times manifested the
utmost cheerfulness. He was above the
average man in intelligence. He told me he
had travelled extensively anu spoke French
tiueutly. lie was what is known as a Iitho-
graphic artist and was such a good one
that his services were always in demand
He resided at 4}6la II street"
MIR. Eckert also said that strange man
OF large build visited the Graham estab-
lfshment TO Won Iterson about two
weeks ago. He regards the shooting much
II mystery.
Of Quiet Disposition.
Mr.. Thos Burnett of 4361s II street, from
whom Won Iterson rented a room during
the past three weeks, stated to a Star re-
porter that he had known Won Iterson for
about d year and had always found him of
quiet disposition. He added that Won tier
son had several occasions told him that
he had ma relatives in this country
Al Fritz Reuters Hotel, John Marshall
Mace PaunSNlrania w