1885-06-22aWall Shooting (Part 1)

Gunfire on James Street was rarely heard in the 1880s. However, on June 22, 1885, violence manifested by an obsessive rejected suitor caused pandemonium.

Jimmy Wall was widely known as a jig dancer, but also as an odd character. Rosa Voeller was the woman he was obsessed with.

Here is the story of the incident that was the culmination of months of trouble:

 “”A slenderly-built, waxen-faced young woman, of prepossessing appearance, was sitting in a buggy on James street north about half past eight last night, when a man rushed out from a laundry at No. 109, pointed a revolver at her, exclaiming, ‘Now, young lady,

                   You’re a Goner !’

and fired. Passersby were horrified at hearing a shot immediately followed by a woman’s piercing screams and cries of ‘For God’s sake, take it away,’ and soon a crowd obstructed the street.

          “The first shot having failed to effect any injury, the diminutive shooter stepped closer to the woman and attempted to fire another shot. The weapon would not work, and the determined fellow shook it to cause it to fire. The woman made a dash for the revolver, and

                   GRAPPLED WITH THE MAN

and an exciting struggle ensued, during which the weapon went off and the bullet entered the young fellow’s thigh. Grasping  the pistol, the almost fainting woman threw it from her with all her remaining strength, screaming, ‘Somebody

                   FOR GOD’S CATCH IT.’

and almost fell from her seat. The horse was at this time plunging violently and the shootist made a jump for the bridle and clung to the horse. Turning to the woman, he shouted ‘you’d better leave town or

                   I’LL HAVE YOUR LIFE

tomorrow. ‘ Mr. Dwyer, the owner of the rig, sprang to the aid of the woman and assisted her into the house, while constable Walsh took charge of her assailant, but not till after he had made strong resistance and tried to escape.

“The lady is Mrs. Rose Zoeller, whose husband is an invalid, and the man who caused her death was James Wall, better known as Jimmy Wall, the dancer. He is a hatter by trade.

                   THE WOMAN’S STORY

          Mrs. Zoeller says she was acquainted with Wall before her marriage five years ago. When he heard of her approaching nuptials he told her she would have no peace after she was married, and ever since, in various ways, he has done his best to make his prophesy materialize. He at one time boarded for a short period with the Zoellers  and took advantage of his position to annoy the lady of the house. The neighbors have received a number of badly-spelled and ill-constructed letters, filled with scurrilous language calculated to injure Mrs. Zoeller in their eyes, and insinuating that while Mr. Zoeller  was flat on his back, ill with consumption, his wife was altogether too pleasant to Mr. Wall, who was described as the ‘whited-haired boy’ of the family. These charming epistles, some of which have fallen into Mrs. Zoeller’s possession, are alleged to be the work of Mr. Wall himself. ‘I tried to keep what Wall was doing annoying me away from my husband,’ said Mrs. Zoeller, ‘but one day he threatened me in front of my sick husband, and I had to complain of him.’

“The lady says she had been driving during the afternoon with her husband, and after that with some friends. Returning home, before taking the big rig back to the stable, Wall, who was in the house,, visiting her husband, rushed out and attacked her as already stated. She was unhurt, but suffered a terrible shock to her nervous system. She seemed most troubled, however, by the probable effect of the affair upon her invalid husband. She seemed afraid that he would succumb under the excitement of the affair.

“The revolver was recovered where it was thrown from the rig by Mrs. Zoeller and handed to Constable Campbell.

“After arresting Wall, constable Walsh remarked that the shot might have been a bad one to which Wall replied ‘I wish I had shot myself through the gizzard.’ Wall was perfectly sober but very much excited when arrested.’ ”¹

¹ “Wicked Jimmy Wall : A Little Jig Dancer Tries the Shoot Act – Upon a Young Lady – He Fires Twice and Only Manages to Shoot Himself in the Leg”

Hamilton Spectator     June 23, 1885.