John George Wetle Killed

POLICEMAN KILLS PRACTICAL JOKER
John G. Wetle Shot by Patrolman Heppner

PRETENDS HE IS HIGHWAYMAN
Points Pipe at Officer and Demands His Money

ANSWER IS A PISTOL SHOT
Men Close Friends and Neighbors, Living at Fulton Park, Where Shooting Occurred - Heppner Only Recently Joined Force.

For the sake of perpetrating a practical joke, John G. Wetle, a married man with a wife and seven children, forfeited his life last night. Wetle was shot and killed about 7:45 o'clock while attempting to hold up Policeman F. D. Hepner in play at a lonely spot in Fulton Park, near where both men live.

Wetle knew Hepner well, in fact they had been bosom friends all their lives, an all the evidence in the affair, although there were no witnesses to it save the two principles, goes to show that Wetle, who was an ex-policeman wanted to try the mettle of Hepner, who is a young man about 24, with only a little experience on the force, and afterwards give him the laugh about the affair.
Hepner left his home between 7:30 and 7:45 o'clock and started for the police station, where he was to report for duty shortly before 11 o'clock. He was dressed in his "plain" clothes and carried his revolver in his pocket. His home is about a quarter of a mile from the city limits and his path to the Taylor Ferry road, where he could take the Fulton car, led for about a third of a mile down the hill through a dark walk, skirted on either side with brush and ugly-looking places.

Meets Man in Dark Spot

Hepner had just arrived at a spot where two nights before John Duffy, one of his neighbors on the hill, had been held up and robbed, when he saw a man coming toward him from behind a clump of brush. It was Wetle, but the night was so dark that Hepner did not recognize him. Wetle's collar was turned up and his slouch hat pulled down over his eyes and at the time and the place suggested the appearance of one not bent on honest business. Wetle bore toward Hepner in his direction and Hepner walked off to one side, rather to avoid him. Wetle was then about 50 feet away. As Hepner turned, Wetle also turned and made straight for Hepner, and when within about 12 feet, drew his hand from his pocket and, holding what Hepner thought to be a revolver, commanded: "Hand over your money."

Fatal Shot Fired

Hepner drew his revolver and fired. The shot went through the man's heart. He tottered on his feet for a bare second and, with the cry, "Oh, my God, Fritz." sank in his tracks, dead.
The moment Wetle spoke Hepner recognized his voice and knew that he had shot his friend. With his electric flashlight Hepner discovered that it was only a tobacco pipe that Wetle held that had looked like a revolver.

Hepner summoned Wetle's brother to the scene and the police were notified at once. Hepner reporting the shooting at the first telephone he could find, while the dead man's brother and others watched by the body. Chief of Police Gritzmacher, upon being notified, immediately sent Detective Price to investigate the affair and to see if there were any circumstances connected with it in which the policeman might be held to blame. The investigations of both the detective and the Coronor, who also arrived at the scene shortly after the occurance, failed to bring out any additional facts, and all concerned, even including the dead man's relatives, combined in the opinion that the unfortunate policeman had only acted as he should have under the circumstances. Hepner was not arrested.

Men the Best of Friends

Wetle was 43 years old and was employed in the Engineer's department in the construction of sewers. He served as a policemen under the administration of Mayor Pennoyer, about 12 years ago. He had known Hepner since that young man was born and the men had never been anything but the best of friends.

Hepner was appointed to the police force a little less than a month ago and bears a good reputation, both among the police and his neighbors. His grief at the killing of his friend was pitiful, and shaken with sobs and moans, he was led away to his home, where his nervousness and grief compelled him to remain for the balance of the night. He was excused from duty last night by Chief Gritzmacher and told to report to the Coroner this morning at 9 o'clock.