The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-04-29
JEALOUSY THE CAUSE
OF SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
Earl Shaffer Instantly Killed,
Philip Smith Dies Enrout
To Hospital.
When Irate Husband Held Up
Driving Party, Fierce Gun
Play Started.

Stepping out from behind a clump
OF bushes on the Colrain pike. Just
outside of the corporate limits OF Mar
tins Ferry. Sunday morning shortly
before IL O'Clock, Earl Schaffer, held
up two rigs in which his wife and
stepson. Robert Scott, and Philip
Smith and Lucy vioi. were riding and
with a drawn revolver tried to per
suade ais wife TO return home with
him. This she refused to do. II is
said, and when Smith, who was In the
front buggy, started to interfere
Schaffer opened fire. Drawing his
revolver Smith returned the fire and
both men fell to the road mortally
wounded. Schaffer died in the road.
while Smith passed away enroute to
the Martins Ferry hospital. Finding
a third revolver in the road the Mar
tins Ferry police arrested both Scott
and his mother. last evening and have
started an investigation. thinking per-
haps that one of the men may have
been killed by a third party. The Viol
girl is also under arrest, but is being
held as a witness only, as she ran from
the scene before the shooting started.
The duel ended a fued that had
existed between the two men for sew
eral months and the climax came as
no surprise to the neighbors OF the
two men. Both have made threats OF
killiEZ each other and generally went
heavily armed. Jealously is assigned
as the motive for the double shooting
| Shaffer accused Smith OF winning his
wifes affections and on several occas-
ions the two men have had trouble.
/ Schaffer is a mill man while Smith
was employed as a teamster. Coroner
Messerly. was on the scene shortly
after the crime. and last evening
started examining witnesses. An in
quest will probably be held this morn
ing.
Previous Trouble.
Some months ago Shaffer and his
wife separated. IL Is said. through
jealousy. Mrs. Shaffer' went to live
in a clearinghouse near Martins
Ferry. where her son, Robert Scott,
and smith were staying. Later she
and her husband became reconciled.
and she returned TO live with him.
Just a few weeks ago Shaffer again
: had trouble with Smith over his wife,
and went to police headquarters at
Martins Ferry. He had a black eye,
and said that Smith had assaulted
him. Again he and his wife became
/ separated, but the police succeeded in
adjusting the difficulties, and they
again started living together.
Smith on several other occasions
has been in trouble. On March 7th
I he was arrested, charged with draw.
/ ing a revovler on another man. On
the other hand. Shaffer was very jeal-
Gus OF his wife. and a few days ago
nearly mixed II up with a stranger
who kept looking at his wife on a
! trolley car. This resulted In Mrs.
Shaffer again leaving home for a time.
! He and his stepson. Robert Scott,
were never able 10 get along together,
and quarreled numerous times.
The Sunday Ride.
Last week Mrs. Shaher. her son
and Smith arranged 10 take a ride 10
1 Colerain. Smith. accompanied by
Lucy Viol. age 16. we're seated in one
buggy and Scott and his mother In
the other. They thought that shaffer
may See them II they drove near the
Shaiier home. 20 they took a round
about road
Shaner had In some manner learned
Of the trip and. securing his revolver
walked about two hundred yards up
the road and hid behind a clump OF
bushes Smith was driving IN front
and after he had driven past the spot
where Shaffer was hiding he stepped
out and. drawing his revolver, com
manded Scott 10 stop. which he did
Then Shaffer implored his wife 10 re-
turn 10 his home. but this she refused
I According 90 her statement. she tried
TO get him 70 enter the rig and take
n drive with him He would not Dc
90. and angry words followed Smith
had IN the meantime stopped his rio
and. turning around. started 70 argue
with Shaffer. becoming frightened
when she saw the two mon were
armed. the vioi girl Jumped from the
I buggy and started running back to