The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-05
INQUEST HELD over
BLACK And ROGERS
HALL TESTIFIED HE SHOT AND
KILLED JOHN ROGERS. WHO
ATTACKED BLACK.
Dead Mans Step-daughter Testified
That Black Was Shot and Killed
BY Copeland.

of William Black Of Bellaire. Oaio.
and John Rogers. local contractor,
Clarence f. Hail of st Paul Mimi,
testified he killed Rogers following
the latter's attack upon Black Miss
Sadie Black adopted daughter of the
dead man, testified that Black was
shot and killed by a mal they say is
Mr.. Copeland
John Copeland, one OF several local
men whose visit to Blacks room at
hotel here last night was followed
by the deaths OF Black and H1gers, is
in a critical condition from three
pistol shot wounds me received at the
time.
Black claimed to be an eX-priest of
the Roman Catholic church. and in a
lecture here Tuesday attacked that
church. He was due to lecture again
here last night. The local men Wis
tied him shortly before the hour OF
his lecture. Hall accompanied Black
here.
The shooting occurred within two
minutes after a committee of Marshal
men, Copeland John Rogers and
George Ryan, called on Black just be
fore 6 o'clock last aight to request
him to stop his lectures here attack
ing the Catholic church. Black the
previous night had talked on Effects
Of the Confessional Box and last
night was to talk on Convent Life %
With Black was Miss Sadie Black.
aged about II. an adopted daughter,
and G. F. Hall. who registered from
ist Paul, and Travelled as Blacks com
paaion
So far as now known the shooting
was between the committee and Han,
Blacks companion The lecturer him
self is NOT known To have fired rha
young woman said She threw her
arms about her foster father trying to
protect him Hall. it is said was
either in an adjoining room, or in the
bath room of Blacks apartment when
the committee entered Ryan, of the
committee, was charged in the police
warrant with killing Black, and Han
is charged with killing Rogers and
wounding Copeland
Black and Rogers were so close
that they fell one over the other.
BLACK was shot through the heart and
two or three times in the body, while
Rogers was shot in each side of the
head
Both Hall and Miss Black testified
that they returned from a walk short
ly after 6 o'clock last night with Black
and were accosted in the hall Of the
hotel by two men who requested an
interview with Black
The two Witnesses testimony.
Which agrees on main points, relates
that the two men, Black, Hall and
the girl, entered Blacks room, two
other men following Then, they de
clared, Rogers. acting as spokesman,
protested against Blacks attacks on
the Catholic church and demanded
that he leave town.
Black refused to leave town and
said he would lecture that night. the
Witnesses said, Whereupol Rogers,
they said grasped Black, a scuffle fol
lowed ald a shot was fired that hit
BLACK Hall said that as Black fen,
Rogers ,eaned over him and that he
jerked out his pistol and shot Rogers
through the head, causing death a
short time later Hall said he fired
several other shots, he did not know
how many, stepping into an adjoining
room as he did so.
AT the conclusion OF the prelm-
Young here tonight into the shooting
which resulted in the deaths OF vii
liam Black, travelling lecturer. and
John Rogers. local contractor, and
possibly the fatal woundtng of John
Copeland, the principals we're ordered
held under bond for the grand jury
George Ryan was released on Sl0,-
600 bold: George Tier, $4,000, and
Clarence F. Hall $500
The case against Walter Verhalen
of Marshall. in connection with the
affair, was dismissed ana a warrant
sworn out for another local man who
had not been arrested tonight,
At the hearing today deputy sherifts
searched spectators, the justice hav.
ing ordered no arms allowed in the
court room.
Ryan, Hall and Miss Sadie Black,
adopted daughter of the lecturer,
were the only witnesses called.
Ryan's testimony was that Rogers.
after Black had refused the demand
to leave town leaned over and shook
ais finger in Blacks face and said
"You won't lecture here tonight"
BLACK then reached toward his hip
pocket" said Ryan, and as he did so,
Hall shot Rogers"
Ryan testified that other shots FOL.
lowed, Hall backing into bathroom
and shooting Copeland from through
) the door