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Charles Schmid Killed by Vernon Winkler, Who Turns Gun on Self, Following Quarrel on Skating-Rink Floor. FIRSICH BEGGED WINKLER NOT TO SHOOT “Wish to God I Had Listened to You!” Said Young Man, Realizing Enormity of Deed. Charles Schmid, 32 years old, of Batesville, was shot and almost instantly killed by a bullet from a 38-caliber revolver in the hands of Vernon Winkler, 24, also of Batesville, in an altercation which occurred in the skating rink operated by Winkler and his father, Henry Winkler, at St. Clair’s hall, at the end of Catherine street, at about 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon. Some fifteen or twenty couples were skating in the hall at the time. Shortly after the shooting of Schmid, young Winkler stepped out the back door of the rink, walked a few steps into the wood, and sent a bullet from the same revolver through his own brain. He died at his home on South Second street about three hours later without re gaining consciousness. The shooting, which took place in the barroom at the west end of the wall, followed a brief quarrel which arose on the skating floor between Winkler, who was acting as floor manager, and a number of patrons, Jesticing Starts Quarrel. Witnesses say that Winkler, who was skating and managing the floor, had early in the afternoon complained that a group of patrons, among whom was Schmidt, were encroaching on the skating floor at the west end of the hall where they were congregated about a stove. A few moments later Winkler is said to have skated past this corner of the hall again, and to have jostled one of the group of young men in such manner that he was thrown against Schmid with con siderable force. This was followed by a heated exchange of words, during ~ , so w hich the participants moved down hall toward the west end. They , near the barroom door, and Winkler is song, are drawn a knife, but he replaced his pocket on the advice of bystanders. He then stepped behind the bar and picked up the revolver and held it in a threaten ing sammer. Randolph (“Boone”) Firsich, a member of Schmid’s party, went be hind the bar and grappled with Wink ler and endeavored to induce him to put the gun away, it is said. Schmid, Clarence McClain, Charles Gehrich and Everett Dielkes, and perhaps one or two others, were standing in front of the bar, most of the crowd of skat ers having left the hall at the start of the trouble. Witnesses say that at this time Schmid invited Winkler to “come outside and settle this thing.” Schmid was standing a few feet from Winkler, but whether he was ap proaching him or retreating is not clear in the minds of the witnesses. Winkler released himself from Fir sich’s grasp, raised the revolver and fired point-blank at Schmid, the bullet striking Schmid in the middle of the breast, just below the heart line. Schmid backed out into the hall, said to Charles Gehrich, “Get the doc tor, I’m shot,” took a few steps to ward the outer door, and collapsed. Firsth, McClain and Dielkes carried him to the door and laid him on the floor in the vestibule, while Gehrich called Dr. Charles W. Gibson. When the physician arrived, he said death had been almost instantaneous. Winkler Expresses Regret. When he realized what he had done, young Winkler walked over to where the body lay, grasped Firsich by the hand, and said, “Boone, I wish to God I had listened to you!” Henry Wink ler, the father, became hysterical, it is said, and chided his son severely for the financial ruin his act would bring. Young Winkler also was subject to considerable elimination on the part of bystanders, one of whom is said to have struck him with a soeda-water bottle. The young man is said to have made an effort to pacify his father, and failing, said, “It’s house; every body’s against me; there’s only one way out of it all!’ He then stepped outside at the northwest corner of the building and shot himself. Doctor Gibson was again called, and after a brief examination he declared the man was mortally wounded. The physician bandaged his head as best he could, and young Winkler was car ried to his home, near the rink, where he died at 5:50 ° 0’clock Sunday after noon. (Continued on Page Four)
Newspaper Details
Batesville Republican
Batesville, Indiana, US
Thu, Jan 11, 1923
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Derrick B.
USA 31 May 2026
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