The Washington times., 1907-01-16
F. w. Won IterSOn
Shot to Death by
Otto SelleShOrSt.
Slayer Alleged Dead
Man Interfered in
Family Affairs.
Placed Under Arrest
But Refuses to Make
Statement.

Brooding over personal wrongs
which, he says, his victim Perpe-
trated fifteen years ago, Otto Selles-
horst, of Philadelphia, shot and in
stantly killed F. ". Won Iterson, an
artist and photographer, formerly in
the employ of the Graham Engrav-
ing Company, about 1880 o'clock this
morning in the small Office room on
the first floor at the northeast cor
ner of the National Museum pa
yilion. Selleshorst submitted quietly
10 arrest as he stood over the quiV-
ering body of his victim. and is now
in the custody of the police at the
Fourth precinct.
There were no eyewitnesses TO the
tragedy. Won ItersOn was engaged in
a temporary job OF drawing for the
museum and was at work In the offiee
where the tragedy was enacted
Searches for His Victim.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock seIeshorst an
tered the building with a package under
his arm and inquired OF Z. W. HanYey.
a carpenter engaged in making repairs
on one OF the museum cases in the north
corridor. the way tO-Dr. Lyons office.
The information was given and going
into the doctors apartment SelleshOrst
asked where Van ItersOn was engaged
at his work DR.. Lyons pointed 10 the
room opposite. as there was nothing in
the Gsmeanor OF SelleshOrst 10 indicate
that his desire to see Won Iterson was
other than Of a friendly nature. The
doctor said that when he noticed the
package under Selleshorsts arm he
thought Il contained some work for
Heard the Men Talking.
W. DeRlemer. who is employed in the
building. heard the two men eonverslng
quietly for a few minutes and then
6elleshOrst walked out IN the corridor.
His leave taking was only temporary
and for the purpose Of unpacking rife
which he had concealed in the parcel
he then returned TO the room in which
his victim was employed. He was hard
ly there a second OF time when u. W
Hanvey, The carpenter who had directed
SelleShOrst 20 Dr. Lyons apartment.
passed the door OF the room IN which
the two men were and he heard Seiles-
horst say:
Victim Pleads for Life.
''You will not interfere with my fam
fly any more"
Won Iterson pleaded: Don't don't,
don't"
The reports OF three rife shots fired
ia quick succession followed. and these
were answered by the agonized groans
OF Won Iterson. ........
Joseph Horn was the first 20 enter
the room Ia which the tragedy oc-
CURED, and he found SelleshOTst stand
ing over his victim. who was IL his
last death struggle. The slayer ap-
peared TO be unc0ncerned, and held the
muzzle OF the rife with which he had
committed the deed in his right hand.
while the butt end rested upon the moor.
Refused to Give Re-son.
When taken into custody the slayer
quietly surrendered the rife. but re-
fused 70 give any reasons for having
committed the tragedy, He refused at
frst TO give his name or any account
OF himself.
The weapon with which he committed
the murder Is .22-caliber repeating
rife.
But few OF the visitors at the Museum
at the time were aware that a tragedy
had occurred in the building. Superin-
tendent J. 81 Goldsmith was in an ad-
Joining corridor and though ne heard the
three shots that were fred, he thought
the noise proceeded from where several
carpenters were at work making repairs.
lie was about 10 go 10 them and counsel
CONTINUED on Eleventh Page)