The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-12-09

nlSnt. IL mas not Deen determined
whether he was shot by a member of
the posse or shot himself
Yankton, S. D., Dec. 14.-George
Rossteuscher the discharged farm.
hand who shot and mortally wounded
late Monday night, his former en-
ployer Daniel Courtney, living six
miles from here, and then barricaded
himself in the home, was shot and
captured last evening by the sheriff S
posse and members of the South Da-
kota national guard.
The climax was reached at o'clock.
Rossteuscher made a truce with Shei
If Hickey whereby friends were ALLOW
ed to enter the house and remove his
dying victim, the latter's wife, the
niece Bernice Culligan, and son.
Courtney was put in an ambulance
and brought to a hospital here.
Revolver Load, Bullet Enters Brain.
After the removal of the prisoners
Sheriff Hickey called on Rossteuscher
to surrender, but he was in an ugly
mood and refused. A number of pick
ed marksmen from company NJ then
took up positions opposite two bed
room windows and two volleys were
fired from a safe distance.
Dr. Charles Rossteuscher, a half
brother of the besieged man, then en-
tered the house and on search found
his brother fatally wounded in a small
upstairs room.
His revolver was completely loaded.
He received bullet in the brain from
the hail of lead poured into the room.
1t is thought Rossteuscher was peer
ing through a window wheh shot, as
the bullet entered his forehead. He
was still alive last night, as was his
victim, but both were very low.
Courtney Shot Down.
George Rossteuscher, who was dis
charged week ago by Courtney, re-
turned to the Courtney farm Monday
night, knocked at the door of the
house at II o'clock and asked to be
let in. Courtney went out on the
porch and refused to let the man in.
Rossteuscher then fired at Courtney, a
bullet from an automatic nine-shot re-
volver taking effect in his intestines,
in the left side. Courtney sank to the
floor in state of coma, and Rossteu-
scher entered the house and sat talk
ing to Courtney's wife and son, aged
8, and niece, Bernice Culligan.
Little Boy Hero.
The little boy stepped out of the
door, mounted a horse and rode to
Utica, two miles away, for help. The
house was soon surrounded by armed
men. Sheriff Hickey and Rev. Father
Ling of Yankton, were sent for and
arrived at the Courtney home two
hours after the shooting.
Rossteuscher is Tailor.
Rossteuscher followed him into the
room, threatening that he would also
shoot the niece, Bernice Culligan, up
on whom he has tried to force his at
tentions, but who had repulsed him
emphatically at all times. While
Rossteuscher was hunting for the
girl. Mrs. Courtney managed to slip
NY Hliu III Tie udlhueSS anu u6I
way barefooted to the home of the
nearest neighbor, where phone mes,
sage was sent to Sheriff "Bill' Hickey
,of Yankton, and also to Father Link
and another to the family physician
at Utica. Shortly afterward several
neighbors arrived, but as soon as
they got inside the house Rossteu
scher covered them with his gun and
herded them in one corner of the
room, threatening them with instant
death in case they sought to escape
from the house.
Admits Priest and Doctor.
When the sheriff. priest and doctor
arrived. the wife of Courtney also re
turned to the place, where the hus
band lay near to deaths door. The
priest, the doctor and the wife were
admitted, but when Sheriff Hickey
stepped upon the porch Rossteuschel
seemed to scent danger and met hin
at the door with his hammerless re
volver aimed at the sheriff's head
While Hickey, who is game to tn,
finish, was parleying with the muir
derer the latter edged away, keeping
the gun In positiOn for immediata nc