Witnesses to the tragedy at the Tremont Hotel Sunday evening in which Frank L. Owens shot and killed his father-in-law and partner in the hotel business, Charles Bierwirth, seem to agree that the shooting was in self defense. The opinion is general, too, that Bierwith was under the influence of liquor when he tied to provoke a quarrel with Owen. Bierwirth had in his hand a big knife and had cornered Owen, when the latter began firing. The shooting occurred about 7 o'clock and was seen by almost a score of witnesses. Their stories agree largely with that told to the Nonpareil by owens himself.

Following the shooting, Owens called the police and gave himself up. Pending their arrival he tried to assist his victim. Captain Shaffer arrived on the scene shortly after the shooting and Owens was taken into custody. At the police station he expressed the greatest remorse over the occurrence. Telling of the shooting and the circumstances leading up to it he said: "As you probably know, Bierwirth is my father-in-law and we have been partners in the management of the Tremont Hotel for about five years. Previous to that I was in the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad, coming to this city from Fort Dodge, where my parents and other relatives are now living, about fourteen years ago.

The fight started about 6:30 when Ole Hulquist, a Northwestern fireman, stepped up to the desk to pay for his and another man's supper. Hulquist asked for a couple of cigars, asking for a certain brand, and saying that the last he had bought were rotten and that he did not want that kind. Bierwirth was standing near and overheard the remark. He turned about and asked Hylquist who had some him the rotten cigars." "You did," said Hulquist.

"At that Bierwirth called him a liar and a scuffle followed. Bierwirth slapped Hulquist and I ran from behind the desk and show case to interfere. I grabbed Bierwirth and said, "Charlie, cut this out." "With that he turned on me, saying, 'Maybe you want some, too.' "In the attack that he then made upon me I was forced to knock him down or shove him over, I forget which now.

But he got up and brushed his clothes and went back to the wash room. After he had washed his hands he came out and standing outside the counter said: "Owens, you get ready to die. You can make out your will, because I will kill you before sunset tomorrow. There won't be any mistakes made about it. I'm going to get you."

"He pointed his finger directly at me and I saw he was in a rage. I told him to keep still, and with a lot of swearing, he left the room and went into the dining room. In a few minuted he returned to the office and came behind the desk and show case. He made directly for the drawer in the desk where we always keep a loaded revolver. I stepped in front of this and he then turned and reached upon a shelf on the wall and pulled own a big spring pocket knife we sometimes use to skin hams. Opening this, he started up the aisle for me. I opened the drawer and pulled out the gun. I then backed away and tripped over something falling to a sitting position."

"George Stockert, who happened to be standing near, reached over the showcase and grabbed Bierwirth's arm in an effort to hold him. He pulled away and coming to where I had fallen leaned over with the knife in the air, when I shot. I shot three times, I think. I had to do it. I had seen him under the influence of liquor before and knew what it meant. We never had any trouble before. I had always been able to handle him when no one else could come near him. He seemed to like me and I am sorry that the thing occurred."

The body was taken to Cutler's morgue, where an examination disclosed seven bullet wounds. The fact that one bullet passed through his right arm and then into the body, passing out beneath the left arm, accounted for the number of wounds. One of the other bullets had passed upward from the abdomen and came out on the right breast. One bullet is supposed to have lodged in the body but the other two were found, one beneath his body where he fell in the hotel office and the other in his shirt when the coroner was examining the body.

Coroner Henry Cutler secured sixteen witnesses, many of whom were railroad men who were in the hotel office when the shooting occurred.

Bierwirth was born in Council Bluffs about forty eight years ago and before running the Tremont Hotel had charge of the old Metropolitan Hotel, one block east of the Tremont. Previous to that he had been in the saloon business and when a young man had worked for the Northwestern Railroad. Owens is 34 years old and first became acquainted with the family and his wife while stopping at the Metropolitan Hotel some fourteen or fifteen years ago.

Bierwirth leaves a wife; a mother, Mrs. Augusta Bierwirth; two daughters, Mrs. Annetta Owen, wife of the man who did the shooting and Miss Emill Bierwirth, a stenographer, and one grandson. He also leaves two brothers and three sisters.

Both men were prominent lodge men, Bierwirth being a member of the Knights of Pythias, Eagles and D.O.K.K. Besides belonging to these Owens was also a member of the masonic Lodge.