Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-11
Waller Fall Shoots Txo
Men 10 Boston
Who Were Witnesses Against
Him in an Assault Case.
Shooting Occurs in Office Of Dis
trict Attorney PeIletier.

Boston, Nov. 10.-Walter f. G. Fall,
indicted anG awaiting trial on a charge
Of assault on a 14-year-old girl, shot
and killed Frank A. Rees. step-father
OF the child, and Police Sergeant Fred
erick Schlehuber, the principal wit
ne.ises against him, as they were wait
ing in the district attorneys office to-
day to lay their evidence before Dis
rrict Attorney Joseph c. Pelletier. Fall
then attempted to commit suicide but
was overpowcrcd and placed under
arrest.
Fall was Indicted recently for as
saultine Recs' step-daughter Esther
II. Fnss. and the case was about to
come to trial in the superior criminal
court. FALL in the meantime, had fur
nished sureties and was out on bail
This forenoon, Rees and Schlehuber
went to the district attorneys office in
the Stuff nix county court house ION
Pemterton square to talk over the case
with the district attorney Fall and
his attorney, Benjamin Haines, also
called at the district attorneys Office
Hardly had Fall entered the room
when he drew a revolver from his
pocket and fred at Rees and Schle-
huber. Rees fell dead, and Schlehuber
died WITHIN Il few minutes at the Re-
lief hospital The policemen on duty
III the district attorneys Office Crap
pied with Fall as soon as they could
reach him. and the slayer put up a
fierce struggle. attempting to end his
own nj" He was soon OverpoWered
however, and taken across Pemberton
square to police headqI arters, where
ne was committed to the care of Cap
tain Duga". the department investi-
gator OF all homicide cases
Attorney Haines said after the shoot
ing that Falls action was most unex-
pected. Fall. the attorney said, had APP
peared calm and bad given no indication
of any kind that he held any feelings of
resentment towards either Rees or SchIe-
huber. nor did Haines have any idea that
Fall carried revolver. Mr. TIaines said
that Fall fired at his victims as soon as
he entered the district attorneys office
and In each case the bullet entered the
face. probably penetrating the brain.
Fall is a slim young man of about a
years of age. He was employed at the
State House in the office of the sealer of
weights and measures
Rees was employed at a South Boston
business house as an auditor and lived
at 81 Tremlett street, Dorchester
Police Sergeant Schlehuber was attach
ed to the Dorchester district police sta
ton and lived at 9 Vinson street, Dor
chester Fall resided at 60 Babcock
street. Brookline.
Within two hours after the shooting
Fall was brought before Judge Parmen
ter in the municipal court and held with
out bail on Il charge of murder. The
case will be presented to the grand jury
tomorrow by Dist. Atty. PclletiPr On
the way to prison Fail told one of the
officers that he was anxious to marry
the Fogg girl, but that such action was
bitterly opposed by Rees.
Two alienists will visit Fan tomorrow
and examine him.
District Attorney Pelctier in a state
ment said;
THE adjustment of the case was being
discussed between tie defendant, his
counsel. myself. and Rev Rufus Tobin,
one of her guardians. child having been
born to Esther Fogg
an my office at the time were Miss
Arnold. my stenographer. and Mr.. Wolf,
my messenger. At the second shot | rush
ed into the outer room and he had just
fired his third shot. In all. five shots Were
fired, two at Rees. one at the sergeant
who was sitting directly beside him. the
fourth one at himself and the last one
at Patrolman McDonough. who had come
into the office
The case had been practically settled
and il IS said that it had been arranged
for Fall to marry the girl
Dist Atty. Peletier had narrow es-
cape. though he was not the object OF
Falls vindictveness. He rushed from
his office out through that of his assist
ants and was opening the door between
the inner and outer office when Fail fired
the last shot which buried itself in that
door. 1t was not aimed at the district
attorney, however, for at no time was he
In sight of the murderer until after the
shooting.