The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-12-22
BY GUY O. CORE,

BY GUY q. CORE,
Yankton, 8. D., Dec. IA
On a marble slab at Tenge's
morgue, in this city, with
a bullet hole entirely through
his head, lies George Rossteu-
scher, aged 35, whose mad in
fatuation for 14-year old Ber-
nice Culligan, indirectly caused
his death.
After having wantonly shot
Daniel Courtney, his former
employer, and the adopted
father of the immature girl,
he barricaded himself in an
upstairs gable bed room, in the
Courtney home, eight miles
northwest of Yankton, and held
q sheriff's posse at bay for
nearly 16 hours. At 4 o'clock
yesterday, after he had sworn
that he would never be taken
alive, six sharpshooters, sworn
in as deputy sheriffs. firing at
viii from 200 yards, with steel
jacketed $3.50 bullets in new
Springfield rifles, raked the
gable room with a deadly fire.
About 80 shots were fired. He
was found q short time later by
Charles r. Rossteuscher, his
half brother, a dentist here.
He died at 1880 o'clock last night at
the Courtney farm. An inquest was
held over his body today. He is not
thought to have been ins6ne.
All was quiet and peace in the
Courtney farm home Monday night.
The evening was spent as usual. There
was no omen Of evil. The horses in
the barn were quiet and Daniel Court
ney did not go to the barn as was his
custom before retiring. 1t was shortly
before 1880 o'clock when the family
prepared to retire. Mrs. Courtney had
disrobed and was In her bare feet when
rafting machinery was heard outside.
A moment later there was a tapping at
one OF the windows. Thinking tramp
was about, Daniel Courtney secured his
shotgun and stepping on the front
porch fired once In the air. thinking
to frighten the marauder.
Shot In Vital
For q time all was quiet In the still
night, when suddenly there came a bold
knocking upon the front door. Court
ney opened the door, and seeing his
former hired man, stepped out on the
porch and began talking to him. In
stantly shot rang out and Dan Court
ney staggered backward, clutching at
the air. fell in the doorway with a bull
let through his intestines. Hearing the
shot, Mrs. Courtney at once ran to his
side. Rossteuscher, apparently en-
ragged at sight Of the woman fired once
at her, missing his mark I'm the gloom.
Where Rossteuscher went Immediately
following the shooting is not known.
Clarence Courtney. aged Is, and Beren-
adopted daughter. ran out the back
door to the barn and mounted horses.
The boy rode to Utica, two miles away
and notified DR.. l.. +. Curtis OF the
shooting. The girl rode to the home OF
Richard Lucid, half mile away. The
frantic wife and mother. dragged as
best she could her bleeding. suffering
husband inside the house and ran In
her bare feet across the fields to the
Lucid home.
When DR.. Curtis arrived at the farm
house with his driver, Rossteusoher
was the only person about. He came
out to the physicians buggy and mer-
rily said: Hello Doc
"Is Dan hurt very badly" inquired
the physician.
mo, he'll be all right in a couple of
days. / didn't shoot to kill him."
Rossteuscher accompanied the physi-
clan and his driver into the house and
watched calmly by while first aid was
given. He pulled cartridge from his
pocket and showing it to the physi-
cian asked IL II wasn't pretty little
thing. He had been drinking heavily,
but was not badly intoxicated at the
time. He held his revolver in the palm
of his hand for the doctors inspection.
Thinking the man desired him to ex-
anime the weapon Curtis reached for
mo you ion't. Whenever you get
this gun 1t will be like this" and he
leyeled the blue steel weapon at the
head
Rossteusoher Tells Purpose.
This incident seemed to incite his
suspicion for all the rest of the eve
ming he diverted himself by dwelling
the weapon alternately upon the ply
stefan and his driver. All of the time
he talked continually.
~ intended to do this to the girl"
said he, making a gurgling noise and
then suggestively drawing his hand
across his throat. "Then intended to
REINFORCEMENT WILL
CUT OLD COUNTIES
piarra G n hoo IL A ccor,iinc, IN