Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-08
Four Ruffians Slug and
Shoot Citizen on Well
Lighted Avenue.
ATTACKED NEAR HOME
Fatally Wounded, He StaggerS
to Rear Door of House, Sum-
mons Help ana Expires.

Late this afternoon the police wer,
still holding TO the theory that robbsr,
by novices was the motive in the muir
der Of J. 3. Scnoessel at me steps o
his home on Seventh avenue at II
O'Clock last night.
Held up by four men in front OF
his home. slugged and shot through
the left side OF the abdomen when
ne showed fight, John b. SchoesseI.
2s2S Seventh avenue, at 10 o'clock last
night, staggered distance Of 30 feet
10 ,ne rear door OF his home. and gave
faint CRY lor help. He died Is
minutes later, of an Internal hemor-
image. large artery II the abdominal
cavity having been ricdled by the
bullet
Mrs. Schoessel, attracted by his cry,
called 20 her son, Arthur, and the
two went 10 the rear door, where the
father was taken into the house on
the porch he murmured but two sen
fences. The first. in reply to his wife's
question. Were you Ieid up? What's
the matter. John?" was. -Four men
At the foot OF the stairs"
second and fainter sentence was
the last he said and was in warning
20 his son, not 10 lean too far over
him.
EVIDENCE Of STRUGGLE.
II is presumed that his assailant
made an attempt to rob him OF his
money and watch and that he at
tempted to defend himself \ large
bruisc was foundi on the crown OF
the head ana similar one on the
muscle OF the left arm. probably in
ricted with bldnt weapon by the /.
hold-up men An umbrella. which Mr. Z
Schoessei had Garfield. was turned in I
side out and was badly bent. iudicat- !
ing that DC had ped il in trying to \
beat on the williams and reach his
home In safety.
The assault occurred in the glare
OF two arc street Fights. one located
on Seventh avenue bear Twenty eighth
street. and the othelr at Twenty-ninth
street. both being about I25 feet from
the scene OF the mfrder
This section OF thI city was deserted
at that hour ana MO pedestrian saw
the scunle or heaEG the shot fired
Neighbors heard thy shot but differ
as TO the number fred. some claim
ing but one. whilei others say that
there were two. Seteral people resid-
ing nearby claim - have seen men t,
running away folloRiug the shoe ting Z
Mr.. SchOessel, inl the happiest OF
spirits. departed frOfn the German
Lutheran church, CORNER Of Twentieth I
street and Fifth Avenue, where he !
had been attending dhoir practice, as ,
usual. on Friday ev Ieni-gs. at 9: so. :
None OF the other sid gers residing in :
his vicinity. he usually made the trip !
home alone, and last evening was no ,
exception. r
HOLDUP MEN SI1CU ISE NOTHING. Z
That the men were laying in walt 4
Tor some pedestrian and not for him v
IN particular, is the theory advanced .
By members OF the family. as the af-
air occurred in front OF his home. He c
rad but a little change on his person
md usually carried but a small amount.
Both his watch and money were found II
n his pockets and il il believed that Q,
he scnffle becoming too warm for the te
one fired the shot and then n,
he four made a getaway. >,
After having been taken into his N,
rome. three physicians, Drs Joseph =,
De Silva. W. ID. Snive,y and A. f
Williams. were called lLe doctors -
arrived quickly, but their services were =
u no avail .
The bullet. thought 10 be from an =,
automatic 81 calibre revolver. pierced =,
he lower portion OF the left side of -
he abdomen. Mr.. SchOessel wore
10 overcOat. but his coat had been =
,uttoned and the bullet PASSED through a."
;Oat. pants. vest and underwear
HEMoRRHAGE CAUSES DEATH.
That he died OF an internal hem
'rThage is the theory or the attend 81
ng physicians. There was bur =
slight stain OF blood on his underKar. .t,
ments-
Members OF the family. interviexad
b. an Argus reporter. were satisfied
hat the affair was the result OF the g,
work OF hold-up men for several rea- ag
sons. principal OF which vas The fact e.
hat had the murder been blauned tie an,
would have chosen q snot -