Who Shot J. T.? The Pittsburgh Press, August 21--25, 1889 21 August SHOT TO KILL. JOHN T. NATCHER, THE WELL KNOWN CONTRACTOR, FATALLY WOUNDED. Has an altercation With Wm. Lee, Who Sends a Bullet Into His Body -- The Assailant Escapes    John T. Natcher, the well known building contractor was shot and nearly killed this afternoon, by William Lee, the house and sign painter, whose place of business is at No. 404 Forbes street. Both are very well known. The shooting occurred about 2 o'clock. Lee escaped, and at 3 o'clock was still at large, although the police are looking for him.    The trouble which led to the fatality was occasioned by some contracts in which both men were interested. Lee went ot Natcher's offices a few minutes before 2 o'clock. He is said, by persons who saw him, to have been under the influence of liquor. He talked loudly and was evidently excited about something.    Mr. Natcher was not in at the time, but the office boy called him and the two talked confidently fro several minutes. Mr. Natcher then sent the office boy out on an errand, saying that he need not be in a hurry to return, as he desired to have some private conversation with Mr. Lee.    What transpired after the office boy left the office will probably never be definitely known. Something like 10 minutes later the neighbors were startled by a pistol shot, and going into Natcher's office found him lying on the floor just between the two rooms. The blood was flowing freely from a bullet wound in the back and it was evident that life was ebbing rapidly.   (continued) SHOT TO KILL The Homeopathic Hospital ambulance was summoned at once, and the wounded man was taken to the hospital. The flow of blood was stopped, but it was impossible to tell at once whether or not life could be saved. In the excitement which always comes with a shooting, Lee escaped. While being conveyed to the hospital Mr. Natcher recovered consciousness and explained that as he was going into his private office to wash his hands Lee shot twice, one bullet grazing his hand and the other entering his back. "I didn't think the cur would do it," he said, "but I'm afraid I'm a goner now."    Word was sent to the mayor's office at once and half a dozen officers were sent out after Lee. It is almost impossible for him to escape. Mr. Natcher is about 40 years of age. He has a wife and three children and always bore an excellent reputation. A couple of days ago, when he had a disagreement with Lee, some members of the latter's family warned him to look out as Lee might do him harm. He did not anticipate any serious trouble, however, and hence was taken wholly by surprise. At 3 o'clock the general impression at the Homeopathic hospital was that Natcher would not recover.    Wm. Lee, the assailant of Mr. Natcher, is well known to the police. Immediately after the shooting occurred, the detectives started out to scour the city. Word was telephoned to each of the police station houses, and it is believed that the escape of Lee is impossible. 22 August NATCHER STILL LIVING. No Attempt Made to Find the Bullet Which Entered His Body    John T. Natcher, the contractor who was shot yesterday by William Lee, is still living, but there is not much prospect of his recovery. He is receiving the best attention possible at the Homeopathic hospital. The attending surgeon said this afternoon that no definite plan of action had yet been agreed upon. He said it would depend entirely upon developments in the case whether or not an effort would be made to extract the ball in Natcher's body. Natcher was able to talk some to-day, and does not complain of much pain.     Inspector McAleese made an information before Alderman Gripp this morning, charging William E. Lee with felonious assult. Lee was committed to jail at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon to await the result of Natcher's wounds.     Mrs. Lee called at central station this morning, and the meeting of husband and wife was most affecting. Mrs. Lee bore up under the terrible load until her husband was brought out of his cell, when she broke down and wept bitterly.   23 August BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. JOHN T. NATCHER MAKES AN ANTEMORTEM STATEMENT He Tells How He Was Shot By William Lee. The Injured Man's Death Expected At Any Moment.    All hope that John T. Natcher, the contractor, will recover from the pistol wounds inflicted by William Lee, on Wednesday afternoon, have been abandoned. At midnight he appeared to be growing worse and a messenger was sent at 3 o'clock this morning from the Homeopathic hospital to the police department, in accordance with instructions issued yesterday. Alderman Gripp was notified without delay and he proceeded to the hospital and took Mr. Natcher's dying deposition. The deposition was taken at 4:20 o'clock this morning and the signature of Mr. Natcher was witnessed by William Stone and Robert Denniston. The following, which fixes the guilt of William Lee beyond a doubt:   (continued) NATCHER STATEMENT "I, John T. Natcher, aged 41 years, by occupation a carpenter contractor, believing that I am about to die and about to meet my Maker, do make this solemn declaration that on Wednesday afternoon, about five minutes of 2 o'clock, I came into my office, No. 117 Second avenue. William E. Lee was there in the office; he asked me to step into my back office. We had been talking together until about five minutes after 2 o'clock; I started to go out from my private office to the front office, with the intention to get a drink. He jumped up and shot at me, striking me in the back. I fell down and he shot me again while I was endeavoring to get up. At the time he shot me he did not say anything, nor did I expect him to shoot me; he was intoxicated. I was in the front office when shot, as I remember lying in there. "J. T. NATCHER."  This morning John T. Natcher was resting somewhat easier that he had been, but thoses in attendance have no hope of his recovery. At 5 o'clock he began vomiting and continued doing so for an hour. Owing to his extreme weakness, any further search for the ball imbedded in his body was precluded. Lee was committed to jail to await the result of Natcher's injuries, which, in the opinion of the attending physicians, are liable to terminate fatally at almost any moment.   Officer Olishan, who was the man who arrested Lee, described how he captured his man and the slight trouble he had with L??? and another officer. Said he: "I did not know Lee, but I was standing in front of Robinson & Baxmers commission house keeping my eyes open for anything strange in the vicinity. I thought Lee had secreted himself in Wolfe, Howard & Co's cellar. When I saw him come out of Bradley & Co's place, although I did not know him and had no description of him, I thought he was the man. Stepping up to him, I said: "Well. Billy, you did it that time."  "How bad is it?" he inquired. This satisfied me that he was the man, and I started with him up Second Avenue, intending to go to Gripp's office. The two officers came along and said they wanted Lee. Not knowing them I drew my revolver out when they satisfied me that they were all right, I turned the prisoner over to them. This makes the fifth man I have arrested. 24 August LEE HELD FOR COURT. POSITIVE TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CORONER'S JURY THIS MORNING. A Startling Memorandum, Showing That Natcher Feared That Lee Would Harm Him.     The coroner's inquest into the death of John T. Natcher, who was shot on Wednesday by William E. Lee, began this morning at 11:30 o'clock. Lee was present. He was very nervous and showed plainly that he has suffered since Wednesday afternoon. There were dark lines under his eyes, and his mouth twitched nervously. He chewed tobacco incessantly and took a deep interest in all that was going on, although he rarely lifted his eyes from the floor.     W. P. Bennett, whose office is at 89 Fourth avenue, was the first witness called. He said: "I knew J. T. Natcher, the contractor. About 2:15 o'clock a gentleman came into my office and said that John T. Natcher had been shot. I went at once to the Homeopathic hospital, and was there when the wounded man was carried in. He recognized me and said he wanted to talk to me. The physicians permitted me to see him. He said nothing to me about Lee shooting, merely wanting to give me some messages for his family. I afterward, at his request, made an examination of his papers, and among other things found this memorandum in Mr. Natcher's handwriting."     Mr. Bennett handed a paper to the coroner's clerk. It was a memorandum written in pencil and referred to a visit Lee made to Natcher's office just one week before the shooting. It evidently shows that Natcher was afraid Lee would do him harm. The letter was as follows: Conversation Aug. 14, about 4:45 P.M., between W.E.L. and J.T.N. Lee came to my office. Well what do you know? J.T.N. -- Nothing. W.E.L. -- Have you seen Mr. W.? Yes. What did he say? J.T.N. -- Said his lawyer was away and would not be back for a week or 10 days. W.E.L. -- I want to talk to you (going towards my private office). I have no time to talk to you, I said. Well, by G___, you must talk to me. I said I would not talk to him in his condition and for him to call again. He said he would be d_____ if he would not compel me to leave town and said I can pay those notes. At this juncture Mr. R. came in and he still talked very loud and I told him to keep quiet or go out of my office. He said he would not and I sent one of my men for the police and patrol and when one had come Lee had got into his buggy and driven away. A boy was with him. He had been drinking a great deal. Have seen him much more under the influence of whisky. The day before he came he was very drunk -- so much so that Mr. Nelson had to help him down stairs.   L. C. McCormick, foreman for Natcher was next sworn. He said: "Shortly after 2 o'clock I heard two shots fired. I ran to the window of the second-story room, in which I was, and saw Mr. Lee going down street. I ran down stairs and found Natcher lying on the floor on his stomach. He said: "Mack, Lee has shot me. I didn't think the dirty cur would do it. Get me on the sofa, and then call an ambulance."   I helped him to a sofa and then ran to the hospital for an ambulance and a physician. They came very quickly. I talked to Lee on Wednesday morning on the corner of Second avenue and Wood street. He said that Natcher owed him some money, and he would do him up. He may have been intoxicated, but he walked perfectly straight. When I saw him walking down the street after the shooting, he was strolling leisurely along, and did not appear to be intoxicated. (continued)   (continued) LEE HELD FOR COURT   J. H. Lytle, bookkeeper for Mr. Natcher, told of Lee's coming into the office and of his being sent away on an errand. Lee was somewhat under the influence of liquor. He was not staggering, however.   Constable Clistum saw the crowd in front of Natcher's office and asked what was the matter. A colored boy told him that Wm. Lee had shot Mr. Natcher and gave him a description of Lee. He went down into Wood street for the purpose of watching the approaches to the river and stayed there until he saw a man who answered the description given by the colored boy come out of the cellar under Bradley & Co.'s store. He stepped up to him and said: "Well, Billy, you've done it this time."   "Yes," he replied, "and I'm sorry for it. How bad is it?"   Clistum told him that it was not so bad as was reported, and then took him up Water street to Smithfield and thence to the central station. Several other officers were met on Water street and one of them accompanied them to the station house.   Dr. M. C. Blystone, of the Homeopathic hospital, told of the reception of the wounded man at the hospital and described the wounds. One bullet was found just under the skin in front, and the other entered the back under the left shoulder blade and could not be located. The blood-stained clothing worn by the unfortunate man were exhibited and the bullet holes pointed out. An autopsy was held last night, the report of which Dr. Blystone said Dr. Seip would make.   Dr. Seip was not present and the coroner asked Lee if he desired to be sworn. He said that he did not. The inquest was then adjourned until 1:30 in order to get Dr. Seip's testimony.   24 August JOHN T. NATCHER DEAD. The Wound Inflicted by William E. Lee Proves Fatal. At 5:30 last evening John T. Natcher died at the Homeopathic hospital, another victim of drunken rage. The wife of the stricken man sat beside his bed up until life left the body. Then, overcome with the sense of her bereavement she had to be led away to another part of the building, while all that was mortal of her husband was being transferred to the mortuary room. The features of the murdered man bore traces of horrible suffering. His eyes were sunken and dark rings around them showed the strength had left the body long before life was extinct. The eyes remained wide open after death and the skin was white as alabaster, on account of the great loss of blood sustained just after the shooting. Coroner McDowell arrived at the hospital later in the evening and viewed the remains. He empanneled the following jury: G. B. Anderson, Louis Rupple, Harry Diehl, James F. Ruttegar, A. A. Heiner and H. Grant Miller. Dr. Seip and several other physicians were ordered to make a post mortem, and report at the inquest. Coroner McDowell left for the jail to inform the prisoner, Lee, of the outcome of his rash act. He was asleep, and the coroner concluded to await informing him until this morning. He made out another commitment against Lee, and then left the jail. John T. Natcher was born at Carlisle in 1847. His father was a contractor there, and when the war broke out and Lincoln called for volunteers young Natcher importuned his parents to allow him to enlist. This they would not do and the youth ran away from home and joined the Two Hundredth Pennsylvania volunteers. He was in several engagements, and his regiment was the first to enter Richmond after its surrender. Natcher came to Pittsburg in 1868 with his father and entered the contracting business on the South Side. He remained there till 1876, when his father died and he moved over to this side of the river. He was a very skillful man, and during his career built many of the handsomest buildings in the county.   25 August DIED. NATCHER -- On Friday at 5:45 P.M., John T. Natcher, in his 41st year. Funeral from his residence, Dithridge street, near Fifth avenue, on Sunday at 2 P.M. Interment private. CLURA -- On Saturday, Aug. 24, at 2:40 P.M., Essie Clara, aged 16 years 6 months and 2 days. Funeral from the residence of her parents, No. 9 Knoll street, Allegheny, on Monday, Aug. 26 at 2 P.M. Friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend. [Cincinnati papers please copy.] McNEAL -- On Friday, Aug. 23, 1889, at 6:45 P.M., Mary Ann Means, wife of E.J. McNeal, aged 26 years. Funeral from the residence of John McNeal, on Three Degree road, Hampton township, on Sunday Aug. 25, at 10:30 A.M. Friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend. MOODIE -- On Friday morning, at 5:50 o'clock, Geo. Moodie, Jr., son of George and Jane Moodie, in the 19th year of his age. Funeral from the residence of his parents, 431 Thirty-third street on Sunday at 2 P.M. Friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend. SCHWAN -- On Friday, aug. 23, 1889, at 1:30 P.M., Charles Schwan, aged 69 years and 2 months. Funeral services at the family residence on Boquet [sic] street, Oakland, on Monday, Aug. 26, at 2 P.M.