James Mitchell
 

Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 6 July 1871, page 8

A STRANGE RECORD OF WICKEDNESS-A most singular causeless crime was committed night before last at No 81 East Pearl street. The first story of the building in which the deed was done is occupied as a saloon: the upper floors are used for boarding and lodging purposes. Jacob Gossner is the proprietor.

To this place James Mitchell and Chris Seffenger, two soldiers from the United States Barracks at Newport, came about seven o'clock on the evening of the Fourth. They were accommodated with lodging and retired about half an hour afterward, both occupying the same room. Nothing further was heard from them until the next morning, when one was found badly shot in the head and the other dead in his bed.

It is inferred that the dead man shot his companion with the intention of killing him and soon afterward shot himself. A coroner's inquest was held at which the following testimony was elicited:

TESTIMONY OF THE OWNER OF THE SALOON

Jacob Gossner being sworn said; I am proprietor of this saloon and boarding house. At about 7 o'clock last night two men dressed in soldier's clothes came to my house and took supper, after which one of them asked me if they could stay all night. One spoke of going back to Newport but the other said he was tired and they both agreed to remain. One of them paid for both and then retired.

They appeared to be sober and did not drink any thing here. They went to bed at half past seven o'clock; my daughter lighted them to the room. I noticed the candle both last night and this morning and am sure it could not have been burned more than ten minutes. I heard nothing until this morning. I arose at about half past four and was the first one up about the house, so far as I know. I neglected to state that these two men were occupying room No 7 on the third floor.

I heard someone calling me through the window to bring him some water. I procured some water and bringing it up saw one of the men, all bloody sitting on the steps leading to the third story. There was much blood on his face and I said, "Good heavens! What has happened? Did you fall through the window?" He answered No. I then asked "Who hurt you"? He said, "I don't know." Next asked him. "Where is your partner?" "In bed" he replied. I entered the room and found his partner dead in bed, with much blood on his clothing and froth about his mouth. The man on the steps then came in and I asked "Who did this?" He said "I don't know. I heard a shot go off but did not know where it came from."

By this time the officers arrived and took him to the station house. The two men appeared to be friendly last night. This morning the surviving man manifested no sorrow or pity for the other and appeared to know but little about what had transpired. Did not observed that the deceased had much money. They said last night they could not pay much as they hadn't much money. I heard no report of any pistol from room No 7 last night so far as I know.

There was a continual firing all around and it is possible I have have heard such a report without knowing it. The key was on the inside of the door when I went in the room this morning. Two men slept in the room on the north of No 7 which is the only room adjoining it.

THE SURVIVOR'S ACCOUNT OF THE AFFAIR

Christian Seffenger, the wounded man, testified as follows: Am twenty nine years of age: was born in Baden Germany; have been in this country about fifteen years; have been in the United States Army for the last twenty-two months; I served also three years in the war of the rebellion. Yesterday James Mitchell and I came over the river between ten and twelve o'clock. We drank several times and he paid for every thing we got. I offered to pay several times, but he would not let me. "No no I've got enough, let her go" he would say. We took supper at a place, I think No 81 Pearl street, and afterward went up stairs with Mitchell.

He locked the door and I went to bed immediately. He followed soon after. I got in on the inside and turned by back toward him. He undressed also, and came to bed a moment later. My face was turned toward the wall and I was resting on my right side. About five minutes after I got in, Mitchell shot me in the right side of the head. I heard one shot and immediately I lost consciousness.

I regained my consciousness about daylight this morning. I turned over and found him dead by my side. The would did not hurt me much and not knowing what to make of it, I crawled over him and went to the window and called for water. Fearing that I would not be heard, I unlocked the door went to another room, and started to go down stairs. Feeling faint, I sat down on the stairs and a moment later the landlord came up and found me. He gave me the pitcher of water and I went back to the room.

I cannot imagine why Mitchell should have desired to kill me, unless it was because when he was in the guard house at the Barracks he asked me to grass? him a bottle of whiskey. I told him I could not do it as it was against orders. Since that time, about two weeks ago, I think, he told me one day that when he died I would have to die too. I did not think he was in earnest and did not pay any attention to him.

When we started out yesterday he had a small five shooter pistol with him. We did not fire any shots during the day. As we came over in the ferry he pulled out the pistol and showed it to me. "Well, I've got that with me anyhow" he said. Once in the garrison at Newport, Mitchell knocked me down when we were in a little altercation.

Before he shot me last night I noticed him moving about in bed, but I thought he was only fixing the bed clothes. I cried out when he first shot me and then didn't know anything till morning.

Seffenger was taken to Hammond street Station house, where the jury listened to his evidence. Later in the day he was taken in a carriage to the Barracks. His wound is an ugly one but his physicians state that he may recover. The ball entered below the left temple and came out through the eye ball. A probe inserted at the side made its appearance in front. As stated above, the pistol have five barrels; three of these were found discharged.

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