og , of Beath Beth!
the eek,
of
are: .
~ Alfons).
Schoellen abd
—— rial pap binarg
roenleg
ebem.
—Jeba Bim-
@ Exopko, all
Leais H.
atives of Austria-H
Joba Weiss and N
Seuth Bethleheu.
toa, the examiner, 0. @. Beitel, recom-
a divores on the grounds of deser-
ties, and the decree was granted by the
A return to onder of sale was filed in the
extate ot B a E. Evans, of East Bangor,
(A piece ge
guaniien o yy,
tez of Thomas T. and Kate A.
, deceased.
An order of mic was greated in the estate
of Franklin Stem, of Easton, deceased.
5 <<
‘Republican Clute’ Convention. :
‘Scranton Republican clubs have al! ar-
rangemen tes perfected fer the esnvention of
She Biase e of Republican Olabe. The
ad vapoe of thse interested arrived
Moeday afternoon with President J.Hamp-
ten Moore, of Philadelphia, bet the great
bests of the conveution got there today,
when Senator Boies Penrose, losarance
Commissioser Durham, Jeseph M. Huston
aad others marshal: d 700 representatives of
cath scahapirn siege Glabe eashen the
ves a t
Btate are looked for, and there will bs half
that number of delegates in the convention,
which will assemble temorrow morning.
Thies eveniag’s mase meeting will be ad-
dressed by Seestor John M. Tharstoo, ef
Nebraska; Senator Penrose and Jebn Hus-
a2.
The fight tor President of the e is
between Deputy Attorney General Fieits
aad ex-Pestmaster Isadere Sobel, of Erie.
Pieits is confident he will win.
~<a
- + Reselstions Were Oppertuse,
Philadelphia Inquirer.
We had not thought it worth while to
aay that the resolatiens of the Northamp-
toe Republicans bearing on the isene of the
yellew foo were of a obaracter to com-
mand respect of law-abid citizens,
for the reason that the resolations speak
for themselves, but since one Northampton
pewepaper appears to be in doubt on the
eubject, we take this cocasion to say that
Ahey had the ring of patriotiem. Ia thie
Vance, too—for it sometimes happens
\\ dat even a patriotic utterance may be ia-
opportane—we take occasion to add thet
the Northampton resolntions were as op-
portane as they were to the point. The
other counties of the State could not do
better than to condense them, er even re-
KILLED BY A BURGLAR.
FARBER STRUNK, OF RORRDE GEONTY,
BROT DOWN.
Tries te Arrest Twe Men Sucpested of
that | Be
Bes.
Sarglary—Easten Poties Notified
Chartee Grether, of This City, le
pected of Coliplicity In the Crime.
A, Strunk, a farmer residing at Mer-
shali’e Oreek, about five miles frem
Delaware Water Gap, Mosrce county, was
ehet aed killed by a burglar this (Tres-
day) morning.
The Easton police received a telephose
message, notifying them ef the particalars
of the murder, thie afternoon. It was stated
that Gtrunk received information that his
house wae to be rebbed and was | ip
wait for the robber. He discovered
while at werk and one of the robbers shot
et Straak killing bim imetantly. The
thieves then ran to the Delaware river at
Water Gap aod escaped by = boat to the
Hew Jereey shore. A posse of citizens par-
sued the robbers, but they bave sot yet
been apprehended.
Private infermation received by the
local police state that one of the rebbers
was Oharle: Grether, of Easton. A young
resident of Monroe county, who gerved s
term in the Nerthamptoa county jail and
who know Grothec, says he recognised thst
motoiions crook as ose ef the men.
Gretber's ore peere of late bas besa
— 1s be the thi ho
are supposed to eves w
robbed a store at Hampton Junc:ion, N.J.,
last week. At that time, after being dis-
covered in the act, they attacked the family,
ae a storekeepes, his wife and his
ter.
@ information furnished the lecal offi-
cere also states that Grether told a party in
the neighberhood of last night's crime that
the only man he wants to kill now is Jacob
Jobnaon, county detective.
STORY OF THE SHOGSING.
The Fars Press learned by wire from
Stroudsburg this afterneon that dtrunk was
ehot while on his wsy to work at Eilea-
"se Btation. On Monday morning the
house of David Oarlten, at North Water
Gap, was entered by thieves and some can-
aed goods were stolen. Monday evening two
men were scen eating a meal at Marshal!'s
Oreek and a description of them was ob-
tained apd furnished to a constable.
Strunk and Lewis Hays were among those
who were given the description and while
on their way to the place of their employ-
ment,saw two men whom they eupposed to
be the thieves,
Strank stepped up to the strasgers and
said, ‘‘You are my prisoners.’’ One of the
men instantly pulled a revolver from bis
pocket and shot twice, the bullets taking
effect in Strook’setomach. He died at 10.30
o'clock at Marehall’s Oreek.
The supposed thieves then separated and
ran—one down the road and the other into
the woods adjoining. The former held ap
@ team on his way and taking one of the
borees rede toward the river, crossing it ip
the boat.
The last seen of the other man was later
in the morning, when he was going east on
thg Basgnebanna read.
> -
A lawn sociable for the benedli of the
ore fan casa Vivien, be held ot tie
and Lip-
o@in streets, tomerrow stefting.
‘Beldler Lerch, of Mauch Ohuak
had the of bie right hand
while at work eu o drill press ia the Le-
high Valley chops Measlay afternecn.
The congtegation and their friends ae
invited to the ssciable st the Presbyterian
Obareh tomerrew (Wednesiay) evening. A
voluntary offering will be renived towaed
the anniversary expences. ts
will be served im the session room.
<i
~ Ap e
Bey Drewned le the Canal.
A five year-old boy pamed Sauerwine re-
siding oa East Oanal street wae drowned in
the Lehigh river at the cofferdam in Bang-
town at 2.30 o'clock this afterneon.
He was playing with two companieus
and slipped and fell inte the water. Up to
4 e’clock the body had not been recovered.
—<—
Smeke Obesten’s ‘‘Special’*
Foneral of Ors. Zweier.
The faneral of Mra Andrew Zweler
took place from her home, en Oana)
at 9 o’closk thie (Tuesday) mornieg. The
services were held in Bt. Joseph's Catholic
Chorch. High mass of requiem was Cale-
brated, with Rev. James as cele-
brant; Rev. Albert Korves, of Philadel-
phia, deacon, and Rev.
sub-deacon. The services were largely
attended, and many beautiful floral pieces
were presented by the friends of the de-
re aette wearers were QGharies
ine, M. D. Ewndinger, August W
Coorad Branner, James Price and Andrew
Babr. The intermeot war made in 8t.
Joseph's Catholic cemetery. ;
s i>
Go to E. Oowgte’s, 601 Canal street, for
fine oysters. ell Smad
i say:
_ Persesal.
H. Augustns Gailey, son of Dr. Gailey,
and a recently graduated mining engi.
peer, left yesterJay for Pittsburg and te-
day started (o work at Btockdale in the
eopnerrine depertment of the Movomga-
bela River O. ©. & CO. Oo.
Joseph Parker and wife, of Philedelphia,
who have been guests of Mr. and Mre Wii.
liam Gerlock, of Maistelie:'s court, have
retarned heme, accompanied by Mra. Ger-
lock’s mother, Mre. Mary Hamilioa.
Mr. and Mre. Jobn Maurer are attending
the funeral of the latter’s mother at Johra-
tewn today
Mra. Adam Casa, of Berwick street, bas.
retarned from a visit at Asbury, N. J.
Thoms Hardcastle ie ill at bie home op
Grant street.
Irvin Sokuler retarned today after two
weeks’ fishing at Lake Hopatcong
Henry Oayle is seriously iil at bis home
ov Lehigh street.
Bert Haber returned today from Bafta’,
where he speat a week at the ex position
Herbert Johnoron, of Sayre, 10 vieiting
friends here.
Thom peon |:
and p. Fialey
him ep antil this
Ooromer
in 500 yards of
members of the
charge of the inter
y, te attec
He stated Mooday
BO Dew cases amen
brotbers and sister
wotind some ey masz
several members of
all been vaccian:
Everyone shee
ben: fit ball to be
by Excelsior Led
Ortygia Hall, Oc
worthy cause
Ceart
Ocart opened
o'clock this (Ta
Gummere and Shi
Jodge Gummere
jary, stating that
Op were not of a
vo charge to the ja
The graod jary
are: Firet Ward, A
Ward, J. BR Gray
Rreapan, Fourth
Fink Ward, Ch
Jonah Bair, of
foreman of ibe
-der of Adam Strunk,
cto
ee RN TAT RAE NN AES EL A. LTS
~TEMRLES CRETRERO
UW THE SAUL
Execation,
euaOrRERER ARE EME
BEGS FORGIVENESS FOR CRIMES.
Can
Murderer Walked With Firm Step te
the Gallet The Bros Feil a 1650
&. fh, and He wie Slowly Strangied
{8 Berth—Hanging Took Piace in
wa Corridor of the Prison, Which
Was Crowded With People—Grether
Expresses Surprise That So Many
Should Come Out of Curiosity, to See
Him Meet His Doom-—-A Minister,
Who Was Among the Spectators, Of-
fered Prayer at the Condemned
Man's Request.
: Charles Grether, of Easton, murder
a the penalty of
his crime thie (Tuesday) thorhitg:
when he was hanged In the cérridbr Of
the Monrve ctinty jail at Berdddsburg.
The éexecitisa took place at 10.51
o'clock. ng befor that time the
. | small coectdor of the prison was filled
th & curious crowd. There were
fully 259 persons in the place and it
was almost impossible to move about.
Not more than 60 people could have oc-
cupled the space comfortably.
This crowding was due to the ‘“‘gen-
of Sheriff Mervine in distrib-
- At 10.17 the Sheriff
tators to be quiet and at
19.20 went into Grether’s cell and read
the death warrant for the second and
last time. Mervine then began to
apeak to Grether In a loud tofie so that
everyone in the prison could hear him.
He asked Grether to tell who had given
him the revolver found oR him when
friend to yOu.
been &
au ty
always
“he wald, “ahd I want
Charie
Made & Bpeeth Before the
captured after the second eacape. "I've |
he
allowed
about the
the spectators: to
pody while it was
Many
bas
whose sole topic was
Old and young discussed the man and
his crime and the hotels were crowded
until late this morning with a throng
that found the subject one to drink
over. The feeling against the murder-
er was intense. The Monroe County
ee ra mustulte aug i be
8 A nm
edhe ih the tw burdughs (Strbdde-
lirg and Bast Stroudsburg) to close
today from 9 a m to 4 Dp m There
was a crowd of fully 1,000 people out-
side the jail when the execution took
place.
Peter Strunk, the aged father of the
murdered man, arrived at the Burnett
House on Monday, and witnessed the
execution today. With tears in his
eyes, he spoke of his dead son.“ Adam
was a good boy,” he said, “but it was
his sudden death that grieved me most.
Had he died in a natural way, the
blow would not have been near &8
hard to bear,”
Grether began to attire hituself for
the execution at 8.60. He ptt on the
new silt flirnished to him on Monday
and then begat to pace up arid down
the cel}. s
ot B. Hollnes, Grether'’s chief
counsel, and District Attorney Cicero
Gearhart were among the murderer's
visitors today. At 9.15 a m. the other
three prisoners in the jail were re
moved to a cell on the upper tier and
the gallows and rope were tested and
found satisfactory. The rope used was
a part of the coil made for the execu-
tion of Llewellyn Stout at the North-
ampton county jall several years ago.
This was the second hanging in Mon-
roe’s history. The first was thirty-two
years ago, when a man named Ormes
was hanged. By a strange coincidence
the father of the present Sheriff, who
then held that office, conducted that ex-
ecution, and in the decision of ‘the
Supreme Court refusing Grether a new
trial, the Ormes case was quoted.
Grether’s Last Night.
On Monday evening af organization
knowt a@ the Christian Alliance, call.
ed at the jail aid was adinitted to the
r) tle Pet} s'clock until 9.30
Oy eT ee
bad shot Strunk. —
Murderer Captured in Easton.
The murderer was not captured un-
til October 4, 1901, when he was found
at the home of hie slster, Mra, Clare
Metgat, wife Gf Baminel Mettler,
obey) Uni8n street, af) Hest had
been in hiding there for a few dayé,| 9) p
but the honse had been “shadowed”
afd the Easton Officers were well
aware of hia presence. About 5
o’clock in the afternoon the house was
surrounded. County Detective John-
son, Detective Simons, Lieutenant of
Police McDonald, Detective Flynn and
Detective Smith, of Allentown, figured
in the arrest. The men knew that
they were taking their lives in their
hands when they entered the house,
but they did so, apparently without
fear. From cellgr to garret the house
was searched but Grether could not
be found. Moually the officers discov:
ered that the murderer had torn off the
lathing of the partitio# separating this
house from the dne ddjolting. They
entered there and within a» short tite
located Grether in the cellar. -He
stood with drawn revolver, threatening
to kill anyone who came near him, but
finally he yielded and gave himself up.
Grether said afterwards that he never
knew why he did not kill Johnson that
afternoon. He had threatened to do 80
for years, but when the opportunity
presented itself his nerve failed bim.
The criminal was locked up in the
county jail here for several days and
finally taken to Stroudsburg. Hia
lace was kept secret,
murderer be-
eared that the
m. Grether
By the time tha
gan before Judge Hey
H
day, May 28, 1908; be h
is ferve eet
island Blacker. began a series of
robberies in 1 4 that extended from
feaston (through Warren county and
inte Menree county. This was the
robberies that led up to
ef
ee
: Jer ig; 1903, Grether and
Blackey entetéd, @ génergl Bare
Lewis Leven, at HaiiptOr: . Thé family
was awakened and Mrs. Leven cafe
down stairs, followed by her husband
and daughter. A fight followed and
Leven was brutally beaten, his wife
also kheing injured. Grether attempted
to discharge his revolver at Leven, but
it failed to explode. He then struck
thé i man With it. On September
93d $hé pa mee bay rebbing houses
id, this cAurity, and vielnity.
Later they robbed the hotise gf Ane
named Carlington, near Stroudsburs.
of $125. The day following the posse
orgamzed to capture the robbers, and
Strunk was killed.
Bisckey was caught on September
26th at White House, and, after being
tried at Flemington, was sentenced to
five years in the State Penitentiary for
the robbery at Hampton.
The third man connected with Greth-
er and Long Island Blackey in these
crimes was Grether’s nephew, Harry
Mettler, alias “Piggy” Mettler. He
was a follower of Grether’s methods,
and after robbing an old Hungarian,
nee Plainfleld, bound and gagged her.
was seht to the réfermidtory, and ts
still there. ;
The Murderer’s Family Conneétions.
Grether wae 35 years of age, and
son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
Grether. He was once married to a
respectable South Baston young woman.
but whe obtained a divorce from him
when he was convicted of crime. Lewis
Grether is his only brother, and Mrs.
Samuel Mettler. of Easton, and Mrs.
Andrew Corr, of Phillipsburg, his sis-
rh,
are Mettler is as loud in her con-
demnation of the Easton officers as her
brother. was. Charley's trouble hae
worried her until it has affected her
mind, and she is a physical wreck to
day.
Butterick Patterna
As tistia! the Butterick fs far and
away in the lead of all paper patterns
Buy a Butterick and have no fear
ies- Tabout the fit of A ag garment,
Ask (6 see the latent “Detinaatar
teigt Magazine published far the price
‘
FIREMER
Sarvivor
Eat,
ANotHe®R
Banquet
memor
the Or
Annual
Leng
Liv!
will
brary
The an
the survi
Company,
marked
organi
on Mond
Some twe
vivora of
com posin
out of se
the paid fi
together
The pa
Ab AIG wd
come wit
knecht. c!
committee
of Jacob W
bach, two
company.
union a ¥
good rear
each annt\
long as one
survives.
The men
was served
then anno
kMecht had
ter. The ¢
delight at
be thankful
for (he mar
ranged for
Mayor |.
speech of
coived with
agsombiage.
Howell reer
te the Hus
ts, 5
pipay, SEPTEMBER M190,
This City.
Kilpatrick Camp,
wee very
the most im
the
rtant
im + poke
z.tion from the time
> bis recent election as
der-in-Chief, at the
a, evocess in his aspira-
p-Chief in a few years,
eat office in the gift
OCTOBER TRIAL LIST. |
Civil Ceeee te be Heard le Thie Cousty at
That 3
The.
Following te the trial iiet for the term of
court begioning October 14:
of William ®#. Lo-
J. Riegel, as-
lway Supply Co.
cuecouls of the last will ey
le to express hiseelf K
completely overcome,
himeslf, m
o bis efforts that the
outranks any Oawp
having s membeship
-am ef money imveet-
ptry company, bat-
dram corps, an
orgasision & cavalry
on exbibition in the
tore on Batarday.
Frederick M. trading as Frederick M.
Farber & Dae E. L, Butts, trading as the Gar:
DB. e é
() ve Logy Ana Boe. :
: ws. {ihelmina Youngkin ¢ud
husband,
Bailroed Co. vs. Joseph
{ram Wise, Frank haber
, Koes Labar én
A. Barris
liam H. Bowers va. Ida V. Johnson.
rooks ve. David Stoddard.
Kate Morkel.
Ww
or membership were | Eng
old regular drill in
o Monday evening.
ng the line officers of
ill beld ite monthly
ding, Centre Pquare
mh and fanerel of the
al Escampmenst cur-
it to the
, of the constitation.
ia the ritasl. Here
campmecnte of the Q.
baal Eacampment of
4 at the same time
D isstiong have
ted fraternally,for by
nacil-in-Onief of the
e constitation of that
A, members of the 8.
4 to their meetings.
strength to the Janior
be cementing more
ber and eon without
the rights of the
It alao settles forever
ting eons as wembers
b bas been agivcted
nds. The G. A. RB.
distinct body of mem-
or, aad when the leat
‘nization will live in
k be perpetaated by
AND COMFORTS
LAU
Tores Very Sig Speciats ta Ger Cloak aed Suit Be-
partment Temerrew.
Bpecia! 1—A Kersey Jacket, 27 inches
long, one-balf box fitting, strap seame,
serge liming, colore are black, tan and
00.
—A Gelf Cepe, msde of all-
wool, beck ebswis, 27 inches long,
with plaid hood aod plaid fiance, colors
are biae, tan, brown, black and gray.
Price, $5 00.
Special 8—A Golf Cape of Kersey cloth.
30 incbee long, stretched aronnd the bot-
tom, hood lined with a beantifal plain silk
of very fice quality, colors are black, blue,
red, tan, brown and moje.
Price, $7 50.
We believe
exceptional, and better values
offered this season.
Three Specials in the
partment.
thess three (3) specials are
will oo: be
RapeEr’s
Qloak and Suit De-
1
OBITUARY.
MES BOGANNA SENKCAL.
Mrs. Kosanna Bevecal, widow of the late
Adolphus Senecal, died at her home, 433
Ferry wireet, at 1.16 o'clock this (Friday)
morning, of ppeamonia, aged b3 years. Bhe
GRETHER'S PAL CAUGHT.
Pe Fen
His ARREST.
The Man le ‘Long island Biackey” aad Ue
was Once Employed ia Eases —Qaies-
tives Met envthe Trail of
Murdered A. B. Streak
Codsty. :
alies “Charles Von
Sbrank,” alias Bisckey,”
the compinios
the latter sbet
bls Adam B. Straok, at if
Moerce county, several daye ago, wae
arrested at White Hous, N. J., om Thare-
Gay afterueca. He was taken ¢> the Han-
terdon county jail at Flemington aad com-
jatent to kill.
for complicity in
there.
The captare of Brown was dae entirely
to Easton offivers. Witbio a sbort time after
this crook and Grether had robbed Loais
Leven’s etere at Hampton Janc-
tien, N.
the members of the family, when they were
discovered in the act, Easton detectives
started to work on the case, gatisfied by the
descriptions obtained, that the men were
the two notorious crooks above mentioned.
Not two hours after Grether bed shot and
feesion be had made to
whom be had met on
men.
It will be remembered that the men sep-
arated after the murder, Grether holding
apa boy and stealing 8 horse then riding
to the Delaware river and escaping to Rew
aud Brown rooning into the woods.
bt at once that the men woald
meet ab their o'd rendezvous at White
House, and the Easton officers left for that
place immediately. The District Attorney
of Hunterdon county sod High Oonstable
Elmer E. Hann, of Flemington, were di-
rected to meet the officers a: the suspected
meeting place, and both men arrived, the
latter in company with two othera whom
be had depatise]. Ona the outekirta of the
village of White House is a bouse kept by a
man named Flendershot, and that is the
resort where Grether, Brown aod other
vieions eharacters bate been meoting for
the past two years. There Brown soaght
refuge, acd be wae in this house when the
offlcere arrived.
The District Attorney, Constable Henn
anf his two assistenta, Oounty Detective
Jacob Johneos, Lieutenant ef Police Mc-
Donald, Detective James Simons and Fieb
Warden Fraok Fiyno, of Easton, and
Special Officer Jeremiah Halley, of Phil-
lipabarg, fermed a lige about the house,
aod, after a short wall, learned that the
fagitive had ‘lefs about twenty minutes
The approach of the officers we:
es of robbery aad |.
g
i eet
ie sf
FE
E.
[
er
., aad had attempted to marder | gi
The treining table hes been started with
the following men taken oo: Bachman,
Platt, Care, E. Haldemas, Trodt, Earnest,
Laant and Lameos. creat
' FOR SATURDAY.
NEW TAILOR-MADE SUITS
AT LAUBACH’S,
The demand thie fall will be greater
the styles are more peantifal, and the p
are lower.
$10 0O wil
up-to-date
and lined with satin,
liocd with good quality perealise.
$15.00 will bay an extra fine qualit
Black Pebble Obeviot Soil, beaadifali
tailored, Jacket lined and faced with
quality Black Taffeta silk and fluonc
skit, lined with best percaiine. -
$18 00 will bay beautifal Saits, made
the finest quel:ty of plain and Pebb
Obeviots come are handsomely trim med
with Taffeta straza, and come are Mi
(jacket aod ehirt) threaghou! with
Bilk.
We alse show a fail line of very fin
Suite ranging in price from $W 00 to GIS.
These Salts are copied fom suite impo
frem Parig dod Kerlia.
We erpecially invite ladies who app
ciate flac tailoring © inepect three
costam 38.
16 Wu. Lavsach & Bou,
=
|
a”
Pee
g
li
2eak
ill be
i
i
we
eats
OFFICERS AT tne
A RELATIVE RERE.
GER ESTOS
Bsston oa Friday evening about 6 o’clesk.
He was ifamediately taken to the Nerth-
amptea county prison on a warrant held
by Lieutenant of Police MeDenald, of this
elty, charging him with being a fugitive
frem jastiesn. The autheritics ef Menrce
county will now act and Grether will be
taken to Strondsburg to answer the charge
murder. - :
The arrest of Groether places behind
prison bare one of the most dangeroes
eriminale and most depperate charactars
y | the iceal polies authorities have ever dealt
with. He developed criminal tendencies
in early life, and it wes net leng before
ng Grether feund esmpaziens congen-
to his taste for crime, He has served
eentesces both i= the comaty prison and the
Pro | Eastern Penitentiary for larceny, robbery,
erimes.
and other
Woda a ecar et 1900 one
after another was committed in this city
by the “‘back-deor man,” the thief enter-
*] ing @ house through the kitchen while the
- | membere of the family were occupying the
front step. These rebberies were laid at
Grether’s deor, bat the police were unable
to secnre enough eviienas to convict him.
opeak | Fj
t of the Olonds;’’ Finally be was arrested avd tried at court
be a musical eer-
held in Bt.
h temerrow. The
DIES’? TAILOR-
PEOIAL EN- .
‘By
OH’s —
BDAY,
*.
OOTOBER
BEIF, ~~
D-
for the rebbery of a Obinese laundry es
South Third street, bet was acquitted.
Since that time numerous other robberies
bave been traced to Grether, and now, to
cap the climax ef a long list of crimes, the
Moores county marder is charged againet
bim. The story of the arrest of Grether’s
pal, "Long Ieland Bleckey,”’ et While
House, N. J., several days ego, has al-
ready been told of in the Frex Pruss
**Biackey,’’ it will be recalled, wae with
Grether when the latter shot Strank.
Ioformation that Grether was in hiding
at the home of bie sister, Mre. Samnel
Mettler, No. 137 Benth Uaion street, thie
city, wae given to officers of the law several
deys age and on Friday the plane were laid
for his capture. At 4 o’elock Friday after-
neon two cabs, containing cignt officers, left
Sbipman’s stables for Mra Mettle:’s home.
Every man was heavily armed and ready
far trouble, Grether having made threats
thet he would vever be taken alivesad that
he weald kill Oounty Detective Johneoo
on allow that officer to arrest
mm. .
The cflicers in the wert: Detective
Johnson, Lieatenant of Police McDonald,
Detective Bimone, Fish Warden Fivpn,
6}, ‘ a . Beabr Ys Pen rol mm 4 h-
nde oF
lit
pall
i;
5
23 s
(HEE
3
z
g
2
f
fe]
=
Pi
#
seen aboet the place and this ‘‘job’’ was’
abandoned.
The cashier of an Allentown silk mill
was to have been held up while on bis way
from a bank with money te pay the om-
ploye, but he tcok another direction and
the thieves then retarned to this Iccality.
When eearched at the jail Grether had a
Gotective’s badge, several rasors, kpiver,
keys, otc.
Mroe. Mettler sent fora Free Press re-
ter this morning and stated that she
wanted it andersteed that she bad not har-
bored the cfiminal at her bome. Sbe claims
be arrived there Fridsy morning and ashei
for medicine and feod, both o! which she
gave him. Sbe told him to leave the plave,
Mre Mettler esys, because it woald only
get her in tromble. At about 11 o’sleck
Grether and she left the beuse together by
the beck way, and the former jamped over
a meighbor’s fence. She anys che went to
the store and euppeses that in the mean-
time Charles mast have retarned, for she
sayseshe knew nothing about bis presedce
fo the next houses until the officers teok
him out. She eays every man who toek part
fn the capture ie a coward and that not ove
of them ould have entered the house
Mre. Mettler imformed the reporter
that the ceptare came about this way: A
woman te black, who gave her name as Mre
n Fecha: di on bez Frida
iy
HI
ef eee
i
1
fi‘ty-eix, twenty-eight clerical
pamber of laymes. :
wee
READ OUR NEW ADVERTISEMENT
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SUITS MADE TO ORDER.
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The rrily ef Yeung People’s Borietion
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Rev. Raymond Wee’, of Philadelphis,
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Agk for Geldam:th'y Special.
SOUTH SIDE NEWS.
HaNDENREID, William Frederick and WILLIAMS,, John, whites, hanged
Philadelphia, Pa., on May 12, 1764
_[AJ@FIGOS aT qeyreUaI YITM poaryaq pue “prp Koya
05-21-1764 PHILADELPHIA May 17th; On Saturday last WILLIAM AUTENREITH, JOHN
WILLIAMS and John Benson were carried from the gaol
of this city to the place of execution where the first two were ex-
ecuted pursuant to their sentence but Benson was reprieved under the
gallows. Autenreith having cleared him of the robbery for which he
was convicted by confessing that he alone robbed both Mr. Clifford's
and Mr. McCall's houses. They all behaved as became men in their un-
happy circumstances. But Benson, in particular, seemed to be prodig-
iously affected, not knowing anything of his reprieve till the others
HAL were turned off, having gone through all the solemnity of that dismal
scene, being blindfolded, tied up, as he imagined, and about to step
into eternity with them. His concern, it was thought, was the greater
as all along we hear he flattered himself with being saved, always
declaring his innocence of the crime for which he was ordered to die.
But his behavior in going to and at the tree showed that he had lost
all hopes of that kind.
ae
According to the GENTLEMAN' 3 MAGA. ZINE (London, England) issues
of January 17 and February 10, 1%63, William Amtenreith (same as
handenreid) was sentenced to die at the Old Bailey sessions on
January 17, 1863, for robbing a. London goldsmith named Mr. KKK Lap-
rimadaye to the tune of 100 pounds.BRKX He was ordered to be hanged
at Tyburn on Feb. 10, 1863 and was carted there with three others
but was reprieved under the gallows. He was taken back to Newgate
Prison with a rope around his neck and his sentence was commuted
to transportation. The paper also states that he was a surgeon
by trade and not English-born,
HANDY, Willjam, 32<year-old black man, hanged Easton, Pae, on Feb. 20, 1908,
"It is now believed by Northampton county authorities that William Handy, alias William
Jones, the negro who shot and killed Policeman George Shuman at South Bethlehem
Monday, is the man who also murdered two colored men at Bethayres, George and Harry
Henderson on Nov, 22, 190), The description of the man who shot the Hendersons
tallies exactly with that of Handy, even to a slight scar over the right eyebrow,
He also resembles the photograph of the murderer of the Hendersons, District Attorney
Stotz had another interview yesterdgy with Handy, The prisoner still pretends igno-
rance even of the murder of the policeman, He asked what offense had been charged
against him, and when told said he had done no such thing, and broke down and cried,
‘why didn't they lynch me up above?' he asked, indicating by his manner that he re-
gretted that the mob hadn't strung him up at South Bethlehem, 'Why did you kill the
Hendersons at SHHKAXBAXMXMKEM Bethayres?' suddenly asked the District Attorney, A
wild look came into the prisoners eyes and then he replied that he didn't know what
the District Attorney was talking about, Handy was told that he was also charged
with that murder, ‘Nothing to it,' he replied. 'I wasn't in Pennsylvania at that
time. By persisting in his inquiry Attorney Stotz learned from Handy that he was in
jail at Oswego, N. Y., in 190) for shooting a man," WEEKLY HERALD, N rristown,Pa.,
Monday, Septe 2, 1907 (6/56)
nhagton, Pa., Auge 27, 1907-There was much excitement about the county jail at 3
o'clock this morning, due to a rumor from South Bethlehem that a party of de-
termined iron workers had left that borough in an automobile to come to the county
seat and take William Handy, a South Carolina negro, from the jail and lynch him,
Warden Collins took no chances, and aroused and armed all the deputies and trus-
ties, put the double bars on all the entrances to the prison and had the entire
police force stationed about the jail, After waiting until dawn for the arrival
of the supposed lynchers, the officers were dismissed, The negro was arrested
several hours earlier for the murder at South Bethlehem last night of Police=
man Shuman, The policeman had heard of a negro insulting women in a lonely
portion of South Bethlehem, and went to that ouarter to make an investigation,
He found Handy, and when he attempted to place him under arrest the negro shot
and killed the policeman, Policeman McCue found Handy in a yard, and jumped
upon him before he could get his revolver, which had been reloaded, into action,
A crowd of angry men surrounded the prisoner and he was badly beaten, He was
rushed to jail in an automobile, Today Handy claimed to be ingorant of the hap-=
penings of last night," JOURNAL, Atlanta, Georgia, August 27, 1907 (2:h.)
Bemone
HANLON, John Fey white, hanged Philadelphia, 2-1-1871, syy5 550%
* In-a dark prison cell, two mei. iclked—and a murderer was found out
RS. SOPHIE MOHRMANN was
at peace with the world as she
left the Church of St. Bonifacius
and walked the four blocks, to her
home on Orkney Street, Philadelphia.
Devoutly religious, she was always
uplifted by the services, and the Ves-
pers this September Sunday eve-
ning had been particularly inspiring.
‘ There was no light showing as she
mak reached the house and let herself in by the
front door. She called quickly to her daugh-
ter, Mary, who had been in the living-room
when she left, less than an hour before.
Receiving no answer, Mrs. Mohrmann
hastened through the dining-room to the —
kitchen, calling her daughter’s name loudly.
But, as she listened for an answer, she heard
no sound but the ominous ticking of the
clock on the kitchen shelf.
Fear gripped the widowed mother’s heart
and she sank into a chair in an effort to
compose herself. It was possible, of course,
that Mary had gone to the home of a neigh-
bor, that she would soon return. . But as
Mrs. Mohrmann waited hopefully, the real-
ization of her aloneness weighed more and
more heavily and, finally, she threw a coat
about her shoulders and went out to search
for the girl. ° :
None of the neighbors had seen Mary .
during-the evening, and, while they tried to
reasstire the frightened woman, there was
| 7 little’ they’could say. By midnight she had
| exhausted every possibility and, with sev-
eral of her friends, walked to the nearest
police station, at Trenton Avenue and
Dauphin Street, and reported her daugh-
ter’s disappearance. Then the distraught
| e by
Copt. WILLIAM
MACDONALD
C | €
Ales Ch area Ee: Mieo PLACE — ciTY OR COUNTY oo :
Voli Kaplan Lilaglip Mir, (6 yp ff ZL. Meee
cae ze Milhahba= OB dliad bela 9 a CORDON ae
ne oto pecan acid. x
VRE: 2
Meg Mobamane | [Chel Schaiag lac
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4 Lot 2 Amys lal: Wevcbicis 1 blaine 7 De fe
ss eit saa Whinne Pee lish I, Phra Lone; bieswlan Manas > ae Ptr, Utes - ,
OOS pated Jee 2 1 pan fo cag pa gaaag fairl ola deat
Re nie sdlpictee hee der Ly, deca hye t teeta, bpretre tpt niCill lo theal a. :
seshhetacumaiusilels Mejoazen. Medion baste thad t a ey Largely, pen. Disaced, nies
| teh inoney: Pet a ouiaedl{anth thea hese. Ta-vb har
mn pucte ytieapedt filled Thien toclla, 1 /Ovexbrrg,
GAARA EY,
TRIAL
APPEALS
. LAST WORDS
EXECUTION
Near Se.
JY, Hie 2
cea a hehe i fo oa OC paints Vk, F alta pr “, / ? am
GETTYSBURG, PA., SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1925 Entered as second cls:
\ Post Office at Gettysk
—e
er — ccm
went to Berkeley Springs, There shoud be about $700 or $800. After J. Donald Swope, Esq., in- there are fixtures for electric lights |
fia, and from there to Did you count the money at any formed the Court that the Common- J
from . Did in the home the steward be instruct-
x, West Virginia. In Mar- time? wealth rested, Hon. Geo. J. Benner ed to supply bulbs, oF
onday evening, the 13th, I No. . = was given permission to retire with We recommend 1n conclusion that
Ras station and told the »© PHILIP ALFRED HARTMAN. the defendant to an ante-room and more radical measures be used at the ¢
w I. wanted his money. Sworn to and subscribed to before Ro over the confession and other county home for the extermination
“$10 and I left: \ me, this 17th day of October, A. D., tacts. Upon th
: t \ e return of Mr. Ben- of cimex lectularius.”
old him up with a ue 1924.
PAUL O. WOLF, . 2 _t© the Court room it was an- On opening Court, J. Ralph Hart,
a pee. \ nounced that the defense rested, . of Butler township, and Chas. Gart- S
e¢ I went to Hagerstown ia _ Alderman. District Attorney John P. Butt man. of Latimore township, were ap- 7
€ Patterson Hotel. They My commission expires January 2, made the first speech to the jury, Fri- Pointed tipstaves and H. A. Bucher -
for me on account of s0_ 1628. oo
r i ole day afternoon, briefly going over the and Chas S. Gartman were named as.
being ther on account of Witnesses : : : facts as they had been Presented and the special tipstayes in the trial of ,;
they sent me to a lady’s Hayes McKinney, Captain. ee
: 1 asking the jury to bring in a verdict Philip A. Hartman. :
e I spent the night. i. Harry H. Stroble, Jr., Chief of Po- of murder in the first degree as pris- Miss Emilie ‘Scharf was sworn in '
Ow where it was? ij. dice. :
pws ; ; oe e GoNOT was. indicted. as stenographer in the Hartman case .
munute.: It was only a Harry Harrison, city detective. Saturday morning Hon. G. J. Ben- and acted for three days. Wm. w.
© away. I put the car John-H: St Clair, city detective, ner made his address to jury, the high Wyant was sworn in later as -sten- b
r Thad a flat tire, which - Tohn F. DeHart, desk sergeant. lights.of same contradicting the sit- ographer and reported the court for °?
@rlier in the day. I left Harry Hilsinger, county detective.
: : uation of the defendant alone on one the balance of the week. aye f°
scout 10 o'clock Tuesday W. R! Keefer was the first witness side and the most powerful State or- Defendants Paroled, = _ CU
‘I went to Waynesboro, on Friday and he testified he was on wanization, the State Police, on the Jesse Slaybaugh, of near Bigler- 1
ettysburg and Abbotts- the Porch of -the Graeffenburg Inn, other side. That they were after one ville. charged with impersonating an he
¢ through Abbottstown Oct. 14, when the automobile aD man and were leaving nothing toward officer, was placed on Parole for 18 7¢
clock, and drove toward proached at a high rate of speed that end. Attention was called to the months and ordered to pay the costs W"!
# mile, pulled in a side from the east, followed by the State part played by the Reading police in of the case, ees
ed around and there I Policeman.That when the. trooper getting this man. The speaker left Samuel Baumgardner, of Gettys- Mi
myself to rob the bank was abreast of the car the signal Was nothing unsaid that might lead the burg, charged with the larceny of an the
hot, for the best part of Riven to stop by raising the right jury to look at the crime from a point automobile robe, was placed on pa- 24¢
as down and out and hand. That the driver, of the car of view other than murder of the first role for one year, fined $25 and or: }or
I knew if I kept on I‘d_ reached his right hand in front of him :
t hat degree. ‘dered to pay the costs of the case,
Baten mapa! aoe ibs pred he ea the we J. Donald Swope, Es. made the John Donmoyer, of Franklin town- ‘
; : : concluding speech for the Common. ship. charged with violating the liquor
rhilggl didn’t. want to do chine to side of road, get off and say- wealth. Ae cane the former speak- laws, was placed on ee for 9 a
a troubles worried ing, “I’m shot, fell forward. The er he called attention to the good months, fined $100 and costs and or- hou
bd y or I should say witness helped to turn the trooper on work of the State Police, and the pro- dered by the Court to abstain from tla‘
0 I put on my overcoat his back and carry him into the base- tection htey give all communities the use of liquor. : a
the square at Abbotts- ment of the Inn later. : oe trom the outlaws and their thorough Daniel Bechtel, charged with vio- dau.
the car standing in the Mrs. Mabel Foutz, a trained nurse, york deserved high commendation, lating the liquor laws, and whose son .58¢-
out of the car and still was next witness. She was on the Then referring to the facts of the was recently sentenced to the peni- Sr!
ed me. I bent P ingide Couch at the time and saw the auto case he argued that all the evidence tentiary for larceny, was placed .on Hes
fixing something inside and policeman when near the hotel pointed to but one verdict, murder in parole for 18 months, ordered to pay iton
red the bank and de- and saw the driver shoot at the po- the first degree : the costs of the case and to abstain UPo
oney. I had a 32 Rem- liceman and saw the latter fall. Go~. President Judge D. P. McPherson from the use of liquor. py ferme
tic. I had the gun in ing to the fallen trooper she took his charged the jury, concluding some. Maurice Bechtel, son of Daniel Mor:
I went into the bank. pulse and said that it was about three what after the noon hour. He called I’echtel. charged with larceny involy- .—
¢ money from the only minutes from the shot to the death attention to the difference between cd in the recent ring of thieves, was the
it tne bank. He hand- of Haley. ae murder in the first degree, murder in placed on parole for 48 months, or. and
ut. uy a Miss Elizabeth Cox testified that the second degree and voluntary dered to pay the costs of the case” Hue.
how much money it she was with Miss Frances McClean manslaughter. He recalled much of and to abstain from the use of liquor, Sixth
at Graeffenburg Inn on Oct. 14 and : terta
; : t nony and the f h ; :
It was around $1,000. saw the automobile and State Police- ee ee on tale Ge Bee ee MARRIAGES while
paee in the car and man approach where she was stand- itation and malice aforethought. ; : —}
zettysburg. I turned ing along the road near the first golf The jury rétired at 12 :45 Saturday Hollinger—Martin.— Miss Verna E. ente:
Highway about 2 miles tee and saw the driver of the car 1 :
: : . in Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. -dinn
wn. I went north point at the officer three or four feet pirat cao The pee pee It Ambrose Martin, of near Heidlers- their
ton to the Menallen away and saw and heard the shot was 4 "59 when the jur arrived at q Pure, and Harry E. Hollinger, were hono
wed Menallen road fired, She saw the officer jump from ere and broil ht the same into United in marriage by Rev. F.M. Bur- —A
tersburg, Biglerville, his motorcycle and exclaiming, “My Court le fe Hot kigas what went kett, at the home of the bride’s par- Year’
rrows, to Piney Moun- God, I’m shot,” fall forward alongside :
<
‘ . . % €nts, January 22, The ring service youn,
I struck the Lincoln thesradd: on in the jury room, but it took wis ed: | af th
and went toward Corporal T.: J. McCarthy of the over ee A oe EP: eee ~ the J
. I drove Several miles State Police testified to the finding of When the jury was polled ach one Haas—Wehler.—Howard T. Haas, day x
State policeman com- the burned car on a lonely mountain . JULY,
of the jurymen answered “Guilty of Of Dover, and Miss Catherine _L. the ¢
he Paced that he (2a git cont heck of car are of the armen answered. ately 21 the Muha eetn, were married Ellen
gnized me in the car, high. About 200 yards from car he Hon. Geo. J. Renner immediately ie S rin Gee by Rev Fred S. Anne:
D and I saw him turn found the two license plates, number. MOved for a new trial and Bye arrest Geese ” ey Saturdes: The double ace .#
n all the speed I had, «4 “466,007, N. Y., 1924.” The uphol. Of judgement and the order was made ae cals ae hee Afterthetnae
missed and T knew ot tery fie burned, metal fixtures char. that the reasons be filed within ten bd y : ‘
ceremony. the couple left on a wed- Hattk
the thought entered red. Witness gave license tags to ‘ays. ; ife ding trip to Philadelphia +o stow,
yo, ust get away, Sergeant Merrifield of Chambersburg, The defendant's brother and wife. +a% : stow,
a “he policeman who Produced and identified them, ieee Aad session of the ae Lutz—Copenhaven. — Miss Cassie —M
gis as “Pull up Sergeant oe Kuhns testified of ee Othee Ce Disnosed ¢ Copenhaven and Alexandria Lutz, Squar
Slowed down and goin to New York stateand of photo- :
both of York, were married on last her a;
. : : Com. ys. Joseph T. Mahon, charged : : -° Harri:
TT be noe hos Serb e Seren anu & witnedaey Za deten Ghared Bk bene G tarry Dencl nas, Hard
I don’t know how Hartman The defense objected to under the influence of liquor, was re- church, at the home of Paul Lutz, have r
e. I turned off the the card ae Mot being the original turned a true bill, The case was York dtreet: RPS See een re
y into a side road, card. The photograph had' been reg- tried on Monday and the jury found
€ mountains. Imust istered as being from ‘the original the defendant ee guilty and the
miles when the road card. > Eee Los a COUNTY to. Davuthe costes
Oaks < ss ;
hee
«= Long—Wetlaw “1:
Ns Qwvan sd restimtncernie
' wife down to -Annville.
- minutes
Columbus, Ohio, when | got this word
from her. I got a job and made $18
a one week and $20 the next week and
then was laid off. Then I was up
against it. I started to rob. The first
place was an oil station right near
Columbus, O. It was on a Friday
night, the latter part of September or
early October. I held up the man
working at the station and got $35.
Then I sent some money home. It
was $10 that I sent to my wife. J
went from Columbus to Toledo, O. I
stole the Cleveland touring car, li-
cense number from Ohio, at Colum-
bus before I went to Toledo. I took
the car as it was parked ona street
~ in Columbus.
From Toledo I went to Canton, O.
At Canton I held up an oil station. It
was raining that night. I got about
$30 at this place. I held up the man
at the station at the point of a gun.
From Canton I went to Pittsburgh.
traveling in the stolen automobile.
Before getting to Pittsburgh, I stop-
ped at! Columbiana, O., and met
George Mentzer. In Pittsburgh I did
nothing. I went straight from there
to Harrisburg. I went to Palmyra to
see my wife.
How long did you stay in Palmyra?
I stayed three days. Iwas ashamed
to tell them the truth; so I told them
that I was working for a man and
they believed it as far as I know.
Then I went from there to Rochester.
~ Do you know the exact date?
No, I don’t. I can’t think. While
in Rochester I got license plates and
went to Binghampton. Oh, first on
the way into Rochester I held up a
man and got $22.50.
Along the road?
‘At Canandagua. From there I went
to Rochester and got the plates and
then the next day I put them on. I
went to Binghampton and Endicott
and Johnson City. I asked for work
there and the, employment man told
me that he didn’ t think he could use
me until spring. T went to Scranton
and from there to Wilkes-Barre. Then
to Sunbury and stopped on the way
‘ from Sunbury it see an old lady.
Did you know her?
Yes, but J don’t remember her
name. She had befriended me a year
before. I spent the night at her
house and came on into Harrisburg.
Wait, I’ll tell you exactly. This is the
17th, isn’t it? From there I went
down home.
Which home?
To both homes, Annville and Pal-
myra. Well I stayed there, let’s see.
Oh, I took my wife out to her sister’s
place.
Was it still on the 11th?
Where does your sister live?
Near Hershey.
The car broke down. I got it tow-
ed in and fixed at Hershey and had
to hock my watch to get enough
money to pay for it. On Sunday I
went to Aspers. .
Who went with you to Aspers?
-No one. I went for my brother and
his wife to bring them down to see
my sick mother. Then I went from
there to Palmyra and brought my
I took my
wife, my brother’s wife and myself to
Palmyra and there I kissed my wife
and baby good-bye and talked a few
with my _ mother-in-law.
Then I left for Aspers .with my
brother and his wife and spent the
night with them—that is. on Sunday
night. Monday morning they pave
me breakfast and I left for Hagers-
town, Maryland. Then I went from
there to Autietam to see a grave
-yard, I mean a cemetery. Later in
-
ur tne : Sia ie
oe a ee ees 2 > re oe era titre.
when t saw a state policeman com-
ing towards me. I slowed down and
I noticed when he passed that he
must have recognized me in the car,
for he slowed up and.I saw him turn
around. I put on all the speed I had,
but the engine missed and I knew [
was lost. Then the thought entered
my mind that you must get away,
come what may. The policeman
soon overtook me and cried, “Pull up
there and stop.” JI slowed down and
when he got abreast of me I fired the
fatal shot. That’s true.
Then I went. I don’t know how
far. moybe a mile. I turned off the
Lincoln Highway into a side road,
which lead to the mountains. I must
have gone three miles when the road
became impassable. I went. over
some rocks and and I felt the engine
scrape and a few feet further it
wedged ‘itself between two_ rocks.
Then I took to foot. I first set the
cer on fire and took the license plates
fo)
What did you do with the license
plates?
I threw them in the bushes.
Did -you stop to think that your
finger prints would be on the license
nlates? ~
No, I was too upset. I was insane
When you came around the turn,
didn’t you see two cops to the left?
No, I didn’t sée them at all.
I started through the mountains.
All night I tramped.: I came out at
Mt. Holly Springs, about five o’clock
in the morning, that is, Wednesday
morning. I asked a man if the res-
taurant was open. Bruce O’Donnell
was the name of the restaurant man.
lfe said that Bruce didn’t open until
7 o'clock. I asked him if he'd give
me breakfast and he said he would.
1 took breakfast and hurriet to the
station — the Reading station — I
bought a ticket for Reading about 6
o'clock and on the way to Harrisburg
I threw my gun and shells out of the
window.
Do you remember about what spot?
Yes between Rose Garden and Har-
risburg. That’s the truth.
I came on into Reading and got a
room at the Reading House. I
registered under the name of Speck.
Speck; of Lebanon, '-Pal< Then, 1
bought some clothes down town,—I
bought a suit of clothes and an over-
coat. I paid $49.50 a piece for the
suit and overcoat. I also bought
socks, shirts, collars, hat, underwear
and a pair of shoes. I spent over
$100. I also sent a money order for
$25 to my brother in Aspers. -I took
the goods I bought back to the hotel.
I then called up my wife’s home in
Palmyra on the Bell ’phone, pay sta-
tion, ‘about noon. Her mother an-
swered the ’phone and said she was
down to my mother’s; so I called
again that evening, about 7 o’clock,
and she asked me if it was true about
the Abbottstown bank.
Why did she ask you that?
She must have seen the papers.
THe state police had been to my
house. I told her, no. She says she’s
glad. She said, “Go to the police sta-
tion immediately. I did, but I couldn’t
lie-and get away with it. I could lie
all right, but it didn’t go.
Before I came to the police station
I took a grip containing the suit,
overcoat and money to a man’s
place and then I came down here.
First, I told a lot of stories and a lot
of lies and made a statement which
was untrue. I can say that. what I
am now saying is the absolute truth.
How much money is in the suit-
case?
dex
Spit INES SARA UE EN i fee Trl Seas
tale POU COstied tO tn Tiraritge Of
the burned car on a lonely mountain
road. The front wheels of car were
fast on a stone ledge 19 to 20 inches
high. About 200 yards from car he
found the two license plates, number.
ed “466,007, N. Y., 1924.” The uphol-
tery was burned, metal fixtures char,
red. Witness gave license tags to
Sergeant Merrifield of Chambersburg,
who produced and identified them.
Sergeant Charles Kuhns testified of
gointou New Yorkstateand of photo-
graphing card showing the license on
Oct. 8 of a Cleveland car to Philip A.
Hartman. The defense objected to
the card as not being the original
card. The photograph had been reg-
istered as being from the original
ecard,
Corporal McCarthy having testified
to finding a belt buckle with initial
“H” and a safety razor box, and giv-
ing the same to Sergeant Dahlstrom,
the lateer testified that when he took
Hartman from Harrisburg to Gettys-
burg he said to him, “Now Hartman,
you don’t have to say anything if you
don’t want to, and if you do say any-
thing, it will be used against you,”
and later in presence of Private
Hughes and Sheriff Shealer showed
Hartman the belt buckle and razor ~
box, when Hartman said, “Yes, they
are mine.’
Robert L. Ditmer, track. walker for -
the Philadelphia and Reading rail-
road, testified that on Oct. 15, a half
mile from Rosegarden, he founda pis-
tol along the track and also a lot of
shells. He turned pistol and shells
over to Corporal Edwin Hunter, who
yroduced pistol and identified same
and stated that bullet killing Trooper
Haley fitted the shells and pistol turn-
ed over to him. The pistol and shells
were given.to Sergeant Dahlstrom,
who in, presence of Sheriff Shealer
showed them to Hartman, who admit-
ted the pistol was his or one like it.”
Edgar W. Warren, brakeman on
the Reading railway, was the first
witness Friday afternoon and recog-
nized Hartman on the train on Oct.
1s and he saw Hartman leave tHe toi-
let. Calvin Murtorff, of Peach Glen,
knew Hartman and saw him at Car-
lisle Junction and noticed him onthe
train.
Sergeant John DeHart, of Reading.
was the first witness about the con-
fession. He declared how Hartman
came to the police station and offered
informaton about the Abbottstown
bank robbery and slaying of Trooper
Haley.
Chief of Police H. H. Stroble, of
Reading, told of the incidents leading
up to the confession, and that Hart-
man was told by witness that he did
not have to make a statement and
that, if he did, it would be used
against him. ;
Capt. Hayes McKinney and Detec-
tive John St. Clair, both of Reading,
and present when confession was
made, corroborated in every detail all
these facts, and that he was not prom-
ised any immunity to make it.
Major Lynn G. Adams testified to
going over the route with Hartman
and Sergeant Dahlstrom from Ab-
bottstown to Graeffenburg Inn and
that Hartman pointed out where he
first met Haley. and fired the fatal
shot.
Sergeant Dahlstrom eeatnee the
case of the Commonwealth by testt-
fying of the same trip with Major
Adams and when witness asked Hart-
man “Why did you ‘shoot at all?
Hartman replied, “Well, I was cor-
nered and it was a only, chance to.
get away.”
When the
of the juryn
murder in tl
Hon. Geo |
moved for a_
of judgment
that the rea
days.. |
The defen |
attended eve
during the tr
Other
Com. vs. J«
with operatic
under the in:
turned a tr
tried on Mo:
the defenda
county to pa
Com.’ vs.
charged witk
oath of Ch
found a true.
ed for trial
bail not ansv_
ter being ca’ |
cognizance w
was awarded
Com. vs. !
with aggrava
true bill and
Com. vs. V
with the ille.
icating liquor
Com.avs.ics
with violatin;
a true bill.
the April Co:
Com. vs.
with — incest:
found a-true
Com. vs. H
assault and b
bill and case
ant entering
“keep the pea:
the costs.
Com,” vsze.
with embezzi
charging thr
true bill. Q:
S. Harnish at
Com. vs. .
with embezz!
found a true
Maria S. Ha:
mers.
The "Grand
Jail and Cour
ing the folloy
were dischar
-The report
submitted to
man, Rev,
tysburg.
“The granc
session, 1925,
have carefull
the county jz
and find tha
have _ faithf
duties.
“We find th
more secure |
floors of cell
recommend
greater secu:
charged to k
stantly free «
“We. reco
Ladies’ depa
home be ea:
escapes at e2
“We find t
at the coun’
tory. The s
department 3
mend that a
to survey th
" home with r
that he cons
central heat
“We furthe
/ finding
' / loaded,
ete es cere menos os
COM. VS. PHILIP HARTMAN.
(Continued from Page 1)
ed the road to the basement of the
‘Inn and getting his golf bag and cam?
out of the basement and around in
front of the open porch, when he saw
the car driven by Hartman.and the
motorcycle in front of him. He said
he was but cight feet away when
Hartman picked up the pistol and
turned it on Halcy saying, “Take
that.” This witness looking at Hart-
man identified him as the man in the
car.
Friday morning the witnesses testi-
fying were W. R. Keefer, Mrs. Faust
and Miss Bessie Cox, eye-witnesses,
Corp. McCarthy of the State Po’'ice.
. of finding the car and tags. Seret.
Kuhns of tags being issued to Hart-
man, Sergt. A. F. Dahlstrom and Pri-
vate Hughes of Hartinan claiming as
his property articles found in car,
Robt. L.. Ditmer. track walker, of
the revolver, jammed, still
and Dahlstrom and_= Sheriff
Shealer of remark made by Hartman
when shown gun: “That is my gun or
one like it.’. The Commonwealth by
‘Friday noon had made out a complete
case of the murder without the con-
fessions which are expected to take
up considerable time. Friday’s wit-
nesses will be given more in deétail
next week.
Gettysburg College Rifle Team.
Last week Gettysburg’s Rifle Team
registered its second victory of the
season with another perfect score of
500, defeating University of Mary-
land by a single point. Bikle, Brant-
haver and Plank duplicated their pre-
vious weck’s performance by scor-
ing perfectly, with like scores by
Riley and Menges.
The University of Maryland proy
ed to be stiffer opposition than did
Rutgers. If G-Burg continues scor-
ing as she has in the past two weeks
matches will be keener and worth
more to win. - ue
During the week ending January
24, the high five scoring against the
University of Maryland were:
W. L. Blank. cs 3. ee 10)
L.. T. Riley. G60) Cie 100
G. B. Bikleos. co cs cere eee cc: 10.)
H, E.. Bratithaver’...cci3seetrs so. 100
D. E. Menges !aooe. os cee oe 100
Total oes cers aes CRTs ees 500
Univ. of Maryland Ju.c29335%.: 49)
The five low men firing were: J.
Pegg, 99; A. R. Cattell, 99; F. Mark-
ley and P. H. Leatherman, 98; and
C. O. Telfer, 97. The new Springfield
rifles have arrived and practice and
tryouts with them will be held this
week,
* Got to Get About
GETTYSBURG COMPILER, SATURD.,
te et
BANK STATEMENT.
Report of the condition of the Lincoln Trust Company of Gettysburg, Pa.
located at Gettysburg, Pa., as of 31st dav of December, 1924.
RESOURCES.
RESERVE FUND Beis
Cash, specie and notes ..recececceeee OU e spe ONe Teed $24.619.2¢
Due from approved reserve agents .......s.eseereaees $3,824.66
$ 108,443.85
Nickelsvand cents “v2.2 cscs eee ascot cer er bee oor Ore Ct es aes 434.19
Exchanges for Clearing House site a res Se eee 1,085.08
Bills’ discounted :. Upon one name? os ee ee Se ee eee se ea hee 38,570.09
Bills discounted: Upon two or more names ...... 0... ieee eee 188,781.34
Time Joans with* collateral rte a i eee ee 14.347.82
Gall loans: with ccdlateral. oer ero ie ciety hae oo aceice nese oman ‘,59,689.28
Loaus-on eall Upon: one namescserin oem cin ee be we ce ecw cee Sagan 37,306.08
Loans on call: Upon two or more mainmes ......cececccccccccececs 25,040.00
Bonds cre eee, ce eee ETSY 0s wieder wee bok s pec eee s 112,375.75
Bonds and mortgages OWNED eee ee os boc oe tecece cc eusc coweite 45,150.00
Judgments of ®record:: secre eee es ee ee Se Ne ia 158,385.00
Furnitare ANG Axtures Tel Pe each be eba sek seane ees ceeds Sos ele as 14,792.00
Owcrerafts. tetas eke ee eo RR oe eee 427.98
Tot ee ree eee ee ree ne cee els Core 804,828.
MAEM LIABILITIES. sgn
Capital ‘stock2 paid, Wie sorry ae wee tS oo cca the Teese eek rece Petes $ 150,000.00
Surplus fend ga eer Se Pee aby v's che Cha eee esd enh eee 20,000.00
Undivided profits, less expenses and taxes paid ....cceceecceece’ 8,957.02
~DEMAND DEPOSITS: “
Deposits subject :to- check sve sess tes cee oN Chee $175,607.06
Certified checks ....... eo ERS MS Oe ke es agi caer [s\ 212.50
Cashier's ‘or: Treasurer's checks p08 00. 66 eS ed - 1,406.89 :
—— 177,226.45
TIME DEPOSITS: Love
Time certificates. of: deposit’ 2: dougie. ceekes cccee clic: $347,783.32
Special, time deposits sn. ieee tyre os cee’ plan tioaen 3,741.75 j
Limé. savings fund: deposit$. “cer gess. ss oh keke 97,119.90 “aa
— — 448,644.97"
Total. rath ae ea ooes Fou Cee he eo 6 eee OR Cg ae 28.
TRUST FUNDS: pots ie
Mortgages oo sre os vs PE eee | oe See ea $ 16,415.18
Cash balance. pce ek Al eRe eee cab eA: See 1,413.72
total Trust Funds sacs Peas ee oo cc oe PE ee ie $ 17,828.90
. CORPORATE TRUSTS.
Total amount (i. e. face value) of Trusts under deeds of trust
or mortgages executed by Corporations to the Company as
Trustecs to secure issues of corporate bonds, including iE quip- ee
ment Trusts {casey VAR a inet nani $ 12,000.00 _
State of Pennsylvania, County of Adams. SS.
l, E. M. Bender,
swear that the
belief.
Treasurer of the above named institution do solemnly
above statement is true to the best of my knowledge and.
: wer (Signed) E. M. BENDER, Treasurer.
Sworn and subscribed to before me Correct-Attest: (Signed)
this 9th day of Jaruary, 1925, L. U. Collins
(Signed) Mary Ramer, Bk Lightner
Notary Public. E. C. Keefer
~My commission expires May s. Directors.
1927,
5 BANK STATEMENT.
Report of the condition of the Abbottstown State Bank, located at Ab-
) bottstown, Adams County, Pa., as of the thirty-first of December, 1924. :
RESOURCES.
RESERVE FUND:
Cash specie and notes. ....cceemube crc tre vec eee. $2,074.50
Due from approved reserve agents ......ccecceccevcvecs 6.458.88
Legal reserve securities at par ..... RRR Sa ee .. 6,050.00 me
Nickels ‘and cents {, 32.0.0 ogee ees kn e's a see een Ker AS alia: ews pee ie:
Cash: items 2821.52)... eee eee i ea “Sie 370.75"
Due from banks, trust companies, ete., excluding reserve ....., 9.03 ©
Bills discounted: Upon one name ............ OPecep eee cee weeeeree 3,600.00
Bills discounted: Upon two or more names ....:..--ecececeeee ». (77,856.94
Time loans with collateral $Aeegere. 0. Coevecvcccescessece 12,430.00.4
Call loans: with collateral .; eM, ec ete URES EES. 3,045.00.
Loans secured by bonds and Mortgages. eis ae ee. Bie 9,200 oo
Bonds 3.66 cag Pi Ek ea ee 3 268.25
Judgments o f record v.00 eee j
Office building and lot ......, PON bas veces redpes eer een Ae:
Furniture and: fixtures’ (oc 30 eee ee Bes
mOverdrafts .. S:aiwienn ek SS
——
iit i)
105 YEAR |
Weekly $2.68 a Year.
GETTYSBURG, PA., SATURDAY, FEB
et
HARTWAM FOUND GUILTY
. OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DE-
GREE BY THE JURY.
tt
j
Hartman’s Confession Established A
Criminal Career Headed For a
i =! si Tragic End.
The legal battle of the trial of Phil-
ip A. Hartman was at the close of the
*» Commonwealth’s case, when after of-
fering all the direct evidence of the
- Abbottstown bank robbery and the
killing of Poiceman Francis Haley
~~ two hours later when he was corner-
/ man:
it Ri
ed and shot to escape capture, testi-
“mony was offered of his confession.
Every effort was made to exclude the
confession, but unsuccessfully.
Philip A. Hartman voluntarily
walked into the police station in
Reading and offered to give informa-
tion of the bank robbery and murder
~of Policeman Halye and said the man
who committed the deed was an Ohio
man by name of Roth., then he re-
peats the story and admits that he
“owas driving the car for the man and
that is why he knew. The Reading
_police did not believe the man and
“continued to ask questions until he
““told them to get get paper and ink
and a stenographer and he would tell
the story.
Chief of Police Harry H. Stroble, of
Reading, read to the jury the follow-
‘ing confession as then made by Hart-
- Deading, Oct. 17, 1924,
12:11 A. m.
1. Philip Alfred Hartman, 24 years
old, Queen street, Annville, Pa., make
the. following statement to Capt.
Hayes R. McKinney, Chief of Police
Harry H. Stroble, Jr., Detective John
-H. St. Clair, Detective Harry Har-
rison, Desk Sergeant John DeHart
and - County Detective. Harry Hil-
‘singer, in the presence of witnesses
whose names apear below. I, with-
out any threats or promises of any
- kind and of my own free will, abso-
lately :—
I was broke and I was getting word
from my wife that she needed money
for herself and her baby. I was in
Columbus, Ohio, when I got this word
from her. J got a job and made $18 .-
one week and $20 the next ae and
then was laid off. Then I was up
against it. I started to rob. The first
- place was an oil station right near
Columbus, O. It was on a Friday
night, the latter part of September or
early October. I held up the man
working at the station and got $35.
-Then I sent some money home. It
was $10 that I sent to my wife. /
»went from Columbus to Toledn OT
my nerve failed me.
the day I went to Berkeley Springs,
West Virginia. and from there to
Martinsburg, West Virginia. In Mar-
tinsburg, Monday evening, the 13th, I
went into a gas station and told the
young fellow I wanted his money.
He gave me $10 and I left.
Did you hold him up with a gun?
Yes, sir.
From- here I went to Hagerstown
again, to the Patterson Hotel. They
had no room for me on account of so
many people being ther on account of
the fair, but they sent me to a lady’s
house, where I spent the night.
Do you know where it. was?
No, wait a minute. It was only a
short distance away.+1 put the car
in a garage. | had a flat tire, which
I changed earlier in the day. I left
Hagerstown about 10 o’clock Tuesday
morning and [ went to Waynesboro,
Emmitsburg, Gettysburg and Abbotts-
town. I drove through Abbottstown
about 1:30 o’clock, and drove toward
York, about a mile, pulled in a side
road and turned around and there I[
fought with myself to rob the bank
or should I not, for the best part of
an hour. I was down and out and
desperate and I knew if I kept on I‘d
get caught. So I told myself you
must rob that bank and then quit.
And all the while I didn’t want to do
it; still my financial troubles worried
me for I owed over or I should say
about $616. So I put on my overcoat
and went to the square at Abbotts-
town, I left the car standing in the
square. I got out of the car and still
I bent over as
though 1] was fixing something inside
—I then entered the bank and de-
manded the money. I had a 32 Rem-
ington automatic. I had the gun in
my rand when I went into the bank.
I demanded the money from the only
man who was in the bank. He hand-
ed ne mony out.
4: -you know how much money it
was
No, I don’t. It was around $1,000.
I came out and jumped in the car and
started toward Gettysburg. I turned
off the Lincoln Highway about 2 miles
from Abottstown. I went north
through Hampton to the Menallen
road. I followed Menallen road
throught Heidlersburg, Biglerville,
‘through the Narrows, to Piney Moun-
tain Inn.
Then I struck the Lincoln
Highway there and _ went.
Chambersburgh. I drove several miles
when I saw a state policeman com-
ing ‘towards me. I slowed down and
I noticed when he passed that he
must have recognized me in the car,
for he slowed up and I. saw him turn
around. I put on all the speed I had,
but the engine missed and I knew I
was .lost. Then the thought entered
my .thind that you must get away,
cOme what may. The policeman
soon overtook me and cried, “Pull up
there and stop.” sal slowed down and
toward.
There shoud be about $700 or $800.
Did you count the money at any
time? Eee
No.
PHILIP ALFRED HARTMAN.
Sworn to and subscribed to before
me, this 17th day of October, A. D.,
1924.
PAUL O. WOLF,
Alderman.
My commission expires January 2,
iG23.
Witnesses:
Hayes McKinney, Captain.
. Harry H. Stroble, Jr., Chief of Po-
ice.
Harry Harrison, city detective.
John H. St. Clair, city detective.
John F. DeHart, desk sergeant.
Harry Hilsinger, county detective.
W. R: Keefer was/the first witness
on Friday and he testified he was on
the porch of the Graeffenburg Inn,
Oct. 14, when the automobile ap-
proached at a_ high rate of speed
from the east, followed by the State~
Policeman.That .when .the trooper
was abreast of the car the signal was
given to stop by raising the’ right
hand That the driver of the car
reached his right hand in front of him
and fired at the policeman. The wit-
ness saw the trooper veer his ma-
chine to side of road, get off and say-
ing, “I’m shot,” fell forward. The
witness helped to turn the trooper on
his back and carry him into the base-
ment of the Inn later,
Mrs. Mabel Foutz, a trained nurse,
was next witness. She was on the
porch at the time and saw the auto
and policeman when near the hotel
and saw the driver shoot at the po-
liceman and saw the latter fall. Go-
ing to the fallen trooper she took his
pulse and said that it was about three
minutes from the shot to the death
of Haley.
Miss Elizabeth Cox testified that
she was with Miss Frances McClean
at Graeffenburg Inn on Oct. 14 and
saw the automobile and State Police-
man approach where she was stand-
ing along the road near the first golf
tec and saw the driver of the car
point at the officer three or four feet
away and saw and heard the shot
fired. She saw the officer jump from
his motorcycle and exclaiming, “My
God, I'm shot,” fall forward alongside
the road.
Corporal T. J. McCarthy of the
State Police testified to the finding of:
the burned car on a lonely mountain
road. The front wheels of car were
fast on a stone ledge 19 to 20 inches
high. About 200 yards from car he
found the two license plates, number.
ed “466,007, N. Y., 1924.” The uphol-
tery was burned, metal fixtures char.
red. Witness gave license tags to
Sergeant Merrifield of Chambersburg,
who produced and identified them.
Sergeant Charles Kuhns testified of
goin to New Yorkstate and of photo-
After J. D
formed the C
wealth restec
was given pe
the defendan
go over. the
tacts. Upon —
ner to the C
nounced that
District At
made the first
day afternoon
facts as they
asking the ju:
of murder in
oner was indi
Saturday m
ner made his «
lights of sam
uation of the
side and the 1
ganization, th
other side. T
man and were
that end. Atte
part played b
getting this 1
nothing wunsai
iury to look a:
of viéw other
degree. =
J. Donald :
concluding sp
wealth. Aswe
er he called
work of the St
tection htey
trom the outl:
work deserve
Then referrin
case he argue
pointed to bu!
the first degre
President Ji
charged the |
what after the
attention to ‘
murder in the
the second
manslaughter.
the testimony
be considered
itation and n
The jury re
First a dinner
their room st
was 3:50 whe
verdict and b
Court. It is
on in the. ju
eleven ballots,
on the degree
When the ji
of the jurym:
murder in- th:
Hon. Geo:
moved for a:
of judgment ¢
that the. reas:
days. = =
The defend
attended ever
during the tri:
Other C
owt (Aenea eT anc
on expert from the
quietly; “The way
> entered the home
were sleeping. He
over Mrs. Gelwix
daughter and then
ng to touch off the.
; safely out of the
lyzed fragments of
bed clothing and
erosene.”
lid the same with _
‘r muttered. ~ .
i, “I don’t believe
start a fire in her
“Otherwise, her
1ave been burned.
e stirred and was
ce while he was in
simply hit her on
flashlight and then
over her body. He
she’d burn to death
vent up. Maybe he
time, with: the fire
the next room at
st coldblooded crime
Snyder said furi-
going to get the rat
s the last thing I
ich followed, how-
for a prompt solu-
; crime died slowly.
led that Mrs. Gel-
wnger daughter had
ical injuries before
3 assumed that the
m. afire while they
us. Only Catherine
down, and the fact >
vered consciousness
sponsible for her life
’t be entirely elim-
ect,” Sheriff Gillan
. “He lived nearby
slipped out of the
at e without his
are of his absence.”
7 what to think,”
said disgustedly.
Iso a possibility. His
iim come in, but he
% longer than he
tening to the New
He didn’t say any-
ig at the clock when
@ ”
ss questioning, how-
d to put both. boys
: clear. Ross had a
thom he was con-
d. And so far ‘as.
od, he had never
h Catherine Gelwix.
: didn’t want to get
said. “I can’t see
murder, but—”
1, was exploded. The
-e of the injured girl
erit a considerable
‘on his twenty-first
uld have been well
wife. Not only that;
i that he had been
her the day before
rred. “I wanted to
ger,” she declared.
. rey Goa eo we
* “We had all the preparations made,
and I didn’t want to change the date.’
Sheriff Gillan produced. the fire-
blackened flashlight which he had
found in the ruins of the burned
home. Catherine, while still hospi-
talized, had been advised of the deaths
of her mother and sister, and was
eager to co-operate in the search for
their slayer. - ’
“Do you recognize this?” Gillan
asked. i
The girl studied it for a long time.
“I’m not sure,” she said finally. “But
it lookstlike a flashlight that mother
eg on a stand by her bed.” ea a
; nyder said thoughtfully, as. they
left the hospital; “Ralph Hawk had
the run of that home. ‘He would
have known where to lay his hands
on that flashlight at a moment’s no-
tice.” ;
“That proves nothing,” Sheriff Gil-
lan said flatly. “A complete stranger
could have seen it on. the stand and _
picked it up.” .
Still seeking’ a seemingly non-
existent lead, the corporal went once
more to the'home of. Irvin Baer,
Ralph Hawk’s employer. “We’re com-.
pletely stymied,” he admitted frankly.
“But this case must be solved, I’m
not quite sure of Ralph, and I want
Leds pina: him entirely as a sus-
Baer smiled good-naturedly. “Ralph
just couldn’t have done a thing like
that,” he said.
“But did he ever mention anything
“to you or your wife which might in-
ee ANY
+ it \ vy Ms a } + } .
dicate that he. didn’t. get along too
well with : Catherine?” .«
- The farmer looked at him curiously.
“It seems to me the girl herself could
answer that better.” _
“Maybe.' But she’s still in .love.
Love is blind, they say, so we can’t
count on her for anything. I’m not
saying that Ralph is guilty. But for
his own sake,- I: want him cleared
completely.” ;
“There was a_ letter,” Baer said
slowly. “My wife found it in the
stove. She didn’t know whether.
Ralph _ tossed it-in, intentionally or
not. At any rate, the fire was out and
it didn’t. burn.”
The corporal looked quickly at
Mrs. Baer. -“Do you still have the
letter?” : :
“No. I burned it as soon as I saw
that it didn’t aie, So me.’”
‘£Do' you remember what it’ con-
tained? é
‘“T. didn’t ‘read it through,” the
woman said... “But it seemed to be
from Mrs. Gelwix. She said she had
heard that Ralph was dating a Cham- |
bersburg girl named Evelyn Harmon
and wanted to talk to him- about it.
I burnedi the letter, because I knew
Ralph could look after his own busi-
ness. without any help from me.”
my see,” the corporal said -thought-
fully. “But I’m wondering now “if
he didn’t look after it too well.”
BASx ‘at Headquarters, Snyder
contacted Sheriff Gillan. “It’s
the first definite lead we’ve had,’ he ‘
np
said. “I was hoping that you might
be able to help me out.”
“I know a on family,” Gillan
admitted. “Or, rather, I ow of
them. Evelyn might be their daugh-
ter. We can find out.”
“Good. Meet me here and we'll
drive out in my car.”
Once again, luck was with them.
Evelyn armon, a_ pretty, dark-
haired girl, readily admitted that she
had gone ‘out with Ralph Hawk on
several. occasions. “He bought me
a big box of candy for Christmas,”
she declared. “We hada date the
next night.” i
“Didn’t it matter to you that he
was eneneee to another girl?” Sny-
der asked.
Evelyn’s hand flew to her throat.
“He didn’t have another girl!” she
said swiftly.
Sheriff Gillan said drily: “You
should read the newspapers, Miss
Harmon. It was Ralph Hawk’s fiancee
who nearly died in that fire at Marion
on New Year’s eve.” i
“I... 1 didn’t know.” The girl’s
eyes gb tat before their accusing
stares. “Ralph was one boy I- thought
I could trust. But he hasn’t been
here since that last date after Christ-
mas, I was wondering what had
- happened.” *
eciding to put his cards on the
table, win, lose or draw, Corporal
Snyder drove to the Baer home and
laced Ralph Hawk under arrest.
he charge was murder. The youth
protested stormily, but to no avail.
YOUTHS TREAD DREARY PATH
63
62 last night.”
,
*
DETECTIVE
The doctor indicated that the in-
terview was over and the two men
left the room.
“Ralph Hawk didn’t burn to death,
at any rate,” the corporal said. “And,
come to think of it, it is peculiar he
hasn’t been here to see his girl friend.
He certainly must have heard about
the fire.”
Bouse started the motor of their
car. “Let’s go ask him,” he said.
as terra stopped at the Gelwix home
to pick up Sheriff Charles -Gillan
and Constable Walter Klipp. These
two officers were assisting the arson
squad in. their search for evidence.
Gillan tossed a fire blackened flash-
light to the be te and asked; “Does
this mean anything to you?”
Snyder looked at it curiously. The
lens had been broken out,: robably °
by the terrific heat to whic it had
been subjected. But the fire certainly
was not responsible for the way one
end of the light had been flattened
out.
“Looks as though it was used as a
club,” Bouse observed.
“Exactly.” Gillan pu his hat
back thoughtfully. “I found this in
the debris. It could have been used
to knock out the victims before set-
ting them afire.”
“Quite possibly.” Snyder handed
it back to the sheriff.. “What do ron
know about Ralph Hawk, the y
Miss Gelwix was to marry?”
“Not a whole lot,” the sheriff ad-
mitted. “He’s very good looking and
extremely popular. I think he once .
won a contest as the best-looking kid
_ in town. It’s tough that he got caught
in the fire.”
“He didn’t,” Snyder said tersely.
“He left before it started. How’d you
like to help round him up?”
“Sure thing.” Calling Constable
Klipp, the sheriff climbed into the
olice car. “Hawk works for Irvin
aer, a farmer livin several miles
down the road. . We'll probably find
him there.” !
Hwa was in an upstairs bedroom
getting dressed for a visit to the
hospital when the officers arrived.
Mr. and Mrs. Baer, his employers,
were in the kitchen. —
“We just head the news a short
time ago,” the farmer said in answer
to Snyder’s questions. “Ralph was
all broken up about it.”
Ralph Hawk came into the room
.then, a slim, handsome boy with a
shock of black, wavy hair. i
“We won't keep. you long,” the
corporal assured
have heard, your fiancee’s home
idn’t burn Db, accident. It was
deliberate murder.”
Hawk wet his lips and sat down in
a chair. “I didn’t know,” he said.
“There’s no question about it,”
Snyder assured him. “We've investi-
gating now—and I'd like your help.”
“ “Surely—if there’s ‘anything I can
0.” aie
“Good. You can begin by ac-
counting for your own whereabouts
TRIANGLE OF DEATH
Continued from page 31
“I left Catherine to visit my father.
That was about ten o’clock. When I
left there I came straight tg the farm
and went to bed.” .
“Why didn’t you ge back to your
girl friend?” Sheriff Gillan demanded.
“She was waiting for you.”
“T couldn’t,” Hawk confessed. “The
license plates on my- car expired aty-
midnight, and. my new ones didn’t
come yet.. The. police are always
watching for cars with old plates right
‘after the first of the year.”
“What time did Yd get home,
then?” Bouse queried. -
“l don’t: know,” Hawk admitted
honestly. “I didn’t think to look at
my_ watch.” ;
“It was shortly after midnight,” Mr.
. Baer interrupted. ‘I remember.-wak-
ing up when the whistles blew.
Sometime later I got awake again
when I heard Ralph come: in. the
house.”
“Okay.” Snyder turned this latest
information over in his mind. .“And |
‘ suggested. “Perhaps he liked Cather-
him, “As you may .
as he paced up and down the room.
«with “the. exception: -of 'that:-battere
si flashlight “¢ ’ 4 mip
CRIME RAMPANT,
SAYS FBI CHIEF.
Unless strict precautions are taken,
“the racketeers,. the overlords, the des-
perados and the® criminal scum who
_characterized the roaring 20's will come
back.” ,
The quoted words are from an address
made at Miami before the International
Association of Police Chiefs by no less
an authority than J. Edgar Hoover.
"The firing has stopped on the battle-
front, but it is being resumed on ‘the
home front," Mr. Hoover said, "Law-
- lessness has token on such proportions as
to startle the imagination. The crime
waves proclaimed in the daily press are
_not imaginary. | They: are real, they are
bloody. If anything, the press is guilty
of understatement... A ,
The FBI chief cited figures showing the
alarming increase of serious crime since
the wor ended, To a large extent he
blamed irresponsible youth and lax par-
ents for-the rising tide of criminality.
I suppose you don’t have’ any idea
why anyone would want to wipe out
that. entire eri Al se ;
“Lord, no!” awk was visibly .
startled. ‘“Gosh,-everyone liked Mrs.
Gelwix and the. two girls.”
“How about Paul Ross?” Bouse
ine better-than he should have, under
the circumstances.” . ‘
Hawk shook his head.’ “No. He
was just a good frien that’s all.”
Completely baffled, the officers of-
fered to drive the youth to the hospi- *
tal where his girl friend waited. Then
they returned ‘to headquarters to com-
pare notes with other : nvestigators.
“So far. we haven't turned up a
thing,” Sheriff’ Gillan said restlessly,
“There’-isn't one» worth-while ‘clue, °
-ever, only seemed to put
\
\ /
John Funck, arson expert from the
state, capital, said quietly; “The way
I see it, the killer entered the home
while the women were sleeping. He
- poured kerosene over Mrs. Gelwix
and her younger daughter and then
rigged up something to touch off the.
fire when‘ he was safely out of the
house. We've analyzed fragments of
their clothes and bed. clothing and
found traces.of kerosene.”
’ “He probably did the ‘same with |
Catherine,” Snyder muttered. |
Funck disagreed. “I don’t believe
he had time to start a fire in her
room,” he said. “Otherwise, her
i ay epee have been burned.
No, I lieve she stirred and was
about to get awake while he was in
the room. So he simply hit her on
the head with the flashlight and then
_poured kerosene over her body. He
probably figured she’d burn to death
when the house went up. Maybe he
was pressed for time, with the fire
ready to start in the next room at
any moment.”
“This is the most coldblooded crime
I ever heard of,’ Snyder said furi-
ously. “And I’m going to get the rat
responsible, if it’s the last thing I
ever do.”
i the days which followed, how-
ever, his hopes for a prompt solu-
tion to the vicious crime died mac
An autopsy revealed that Mrs. Gel-
wix and her younger daughter had
suffered no physical injuries before
death, and it was assumed that the
killer had set them. afire while they
were still conscious. Only Catherine
had been struck down, and the fact -
that she had recovered consciousness
so.quickly was responsible for her life
being saved.
-;“Paul Ross can’t be entirely elim-
inated as a suspect,” Sheriff Gillan
‘said emphatically. “He ived nearby
and could have slipped out of the
’ ‘house to set that fire without his
parents being aware of his absence.”
“I don’t ow what to think,”
Corporal Snyder’ said emgage
Mr h Hawk: is also a possibility. His
employer heard him come in, but he
- could have slept longer than he
realized after listening to the New
Year’s whistles. He didn’t say any-
thing about looking ‘at the clock when
Hawk came home.”
Hours of fruitless questioning. how-
S both. boys
even more in the clear, Ross had a
girl friend to whom he was con-
_ siderably *attached. And ‘so far ‘as.
could be learned, he had_ never
sought a date with Catherine Gelwix.
“Perhaps: Hawk didn’t want to get
. married,” Snyder said, “I can’t see
‘him committing murder, but—”
That theory, too, was exploded. The
plack-haired fiance of the injured girl
was due to inherit a considerable
amount of money on his twenty-first
birthday,.and would have been well
. able to support a wife, Not only that;
‘Catherine insisted that he had been
anxious’ to marry her the day before
the tragedy occurred. “I wanted to
wait. a day longer,” she declared.
| Aw Sea er N! ng agent yp te
* “We had all
and I didn’t
Sheriff Gi
blackened f
found in tI
home. Cath
talized, had |
of her mot!
eager to co-:
their slayer.
“T’m not sur
it looks’ like
kept on a sti
/ nyder ‘sa
left the hos
the run of
have known
on that flas}
tice.”
“That pro:
lan said flat)
cguld have
picked it u
Still see
existent leac
more to th
7 Hawk
pletely stym
“But this c:
not quite sv
to eliminate
pect.”
Baer smile
just couldn’
that,” he sa:
“But did !
“to you or yc
_—______out-with
“J don’t know what your motive
that. fire and I didn’t try to kill
Catherine. I... I loved her.”
Snyder said musingly: }
almost believe that you're telling the
Hawk half-rose from his chair.
“Of course, I’m telling the truth.”
“There is one thing more,” the
corporal said suavely. “The lie de-
tector. You’re not compelled to take
the:test. But if you do, it may clear
you. completely.” : .
° Hawk hesitated only briefly. “Til
take it,” he said.
1 Teg John .Funck supervised
the proceedings. Hawk sat in a
chair and the sensitive instrument
was attached to his hands and head. ©
Any lie, no matter how minute, would
cause a reaction ‘that would record ,
on the sensitive machine. .
Questions were asked and answered _
as an inked needle drew a faintly
wavering line across a sheet of paper,
‘But when Hawk said coldly; “
didn’t try to kill anyone,” the needle
jumped violently.
. “I could -
’ Hawk had planned to ma:
a eR Pn ag ee ng
“The youth stared at it a moment.
manding, accusing.
“Under the concerted attack, Hawk
5 i is hands, “Tl
The story which poured fronr his ~
lips was one of the most vicious that
the listening officers had ever heard
the Gel-
wix girl, but his good looks. became
his downfall. “He founda new love,
and ‘wishedto discard the old.
But wedding preparations had al-
ready been made; the’ date..of the
ceremony was fixed. And then the
callous farm youth thought of mur-
ers Sica aa}
“Tl ‘asked her to: change the date,”
he said dully. “I pretended that I
‘ wanted to get married sooner. That
was to throw people off the ‘track in
case I should s . I knew
Catherine wouldn’t change it, since
everything was in readiness. . .
“On the night-it happened, I left
Catherine about ten o’clock and went
Nie: visit my father. . Leaving ag pee
topped at Catherine’s | home.
“I must have
em ee 5 ¢ Sd L2G. ¢ 5
+ i Fe ee ee
told her 1 might be back and knew
was,” ye hangs told the white-faced ~ “Does that mean—that- what I- just “the. door -w be open.”
youth. “But I’m almost certain that said is supposed to:be a lie?” > ‘Didn't oe ‘hear you come in?”
you're guilty. You: wanted Catherine Funck looked at him gravely. “Not Hawk shook his head. “Everyone
out of the way so that you would be exactly,” he said. “It-means that " was asleep. I. went through the
free to go with the Harmon girl.” . -what you just said is a lie!” house and got some kerosene from
“You have no right to say that,” ‘In a rage, Hawk wrenched the i “the kitchen stove. “Then I poured it
Hawk said seity.. “There isn’t a paratus from his body. But his self- over Mrs. Gelwix and Helen Louise.
shred of proof. what if I did ae control waa £008. 508 pg she-cppor They still didn’t waken, so I set the
yn-a-few times?-A-fel--—tunity—to- i pala: , -the-—bed—on—fire—and—locked-the—door_to——
low’s entitled to a good time before he officers closed in, questioning, de- make sure they couldn’t get out.”
settles down for life. But I didn’t set i i The little group listened, horrified,
while Hawk told of going into Cath-
erine’s room. He had picked up the
flashlight’ en route, and when she
sti he used it as a bludgeon to
beat her into insensibility.
“J didn’t have the heart to set her
afire,” he said, almost apologetically.
*But I the kerosene on her *
clothing and figured she would die
before she came to.”
Fortunately, however, this part of
his heinous plan misfired. Catherine
“recovered consciousness in time to
reach the window and be pulled from
the -inferno.by Charles Farran and
Margaret .
Brought to trial, Ralph Hawk was
found sane by State psychiatrists and
guilty by a jury of his peers. The
alty was death, and on March 28,
939 he died’ in: the electric chair at
‘Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Eprror’s Nore: The name “Paul .
Ross” used in this fact-detective story
is tect a person who,
S hecok ques med, was completely °
‘innocent. |
a
Texas, Md.—Olficer William Power and Detective Sergean
body of Benjamin Chaffiman, 65-year-old
farm. The bodies of his two adult
Jr.. 31, and a daughter, Irene, 25,
examining
Baltimore County farmer, who was shot to death on his
children were: also discovered on the farm. They were Benjamin, 4 ea
Police predicted an early ‘solution to the sg Sovetdn ot egret
dina Siete Fitri’ oie ore Saint 4
»
ever made ever
entire section.
The inform
Sheriff Creaso
more helpful. ]
five miles awa
that Dave Ho
alibi for the ni;
had been atten:
and he was rez
he did prove it
Sheriff. Whit
next move lat«
Doctor Hamilt:
“Your man v
thirty this mo
“Cause was f
And that,” he
mildly. The f
like an eggshel
too.”
“You mean h
“No, I don’t
taken a few.
the body now.
fying them?”
“Sure,” Whit
Doc.”
New York
after they
ex-service:
work on t)
“MURDER WILL OUT!”
The killer, following his arrest. Left to right, standing, Trooper Bouse,
Sheriff Gillan, Detective Funck, Corporal Snyder and Constable Walter
Klipp. Sitting figure is Lothario responsible for the double murder.
-who struck her over the head,’ Snyder said grimly.
“Providing that she recognized him, of course.” °.
. “My theory exactly,”, the doctor said calmly, .”
’ The two officers left the hospital as dawn broke, gray
-and cold. Wearily they climbed into their car. ‘Looks
s like the same old story to me,” the corporal muttered.
“A pretty girl planning marriage and”a jealous suitor
to gum up the works. I’ll wager that this Ross, when
we find him, is a jilted suitor.’’. «
“and a few inquiries brought out the information that
~ Paul Ross also lived in the neighborhood. The youth
ic young was in bed when the officers arrived, but he dressed
im when ‘
nature. call.
“How is Catherine?” he asked quickly.
“Not. too good,” Snyder admitted.”
cut youth of about: nineteen, and’ his concern seemed
‘genuine. Certainly, he didn’t look like a murderer.
_“That fire last night was no accident,” the corporal
said evenly. ‘tt was set deliberately after someone
‘made an attempt to murder those three women, Only
* -Catherine escaped.”
: “Good Lord!” Ross sat ates weakly ina chair: “Who
would do a thing like that?” .
' also want to.know why she kept muttering your name
» over and over when she arrived at the hospital.’
Ross sat up straighter. ‘You don’t think. that 5 ea
# “J don’t think anything,” the corporal: said. sharply.
_.“T’m asking you.”
> - “I don’t know why she would miention me,” Ross wid
© -dully. “I was at home all night; my parents will tell
you that. When the fire started I ran out and helped
carry Catherine to the hospital., She wasn’t uncon-
scious then, and I: know she ‘recognized me. Mayr
that’s why she kept repeating my name.” ©:
‘His parents backed up their son’s ‘story that he had
They drove out to the remains of the Gelwix home *
‘hastily and came downstairs in response to his father’ s.
He studied the youth cautiously. Ross ‘was a clean i
“That’s what we want to know,” Snyder told him. “I:
SHERIFF GILLAN——
He picked up a clue which
turned an "accidental fire”
into a knotty murder mystery.
retired at midnight, after listening to the whistles and
bells welcoming in the New Year. “Paul didn’t leave
_ the house,” the father said earnestly. “I had to awaken
him when I saw the fire. I’m sure he'did all he could
to help that.poor girl.”
“Tl take your word for it,” Snyder said. ‘“We’re not
accusing anyone yet. Just rounding up the facts.”
ee Ne of the case had already reached
Harrisburg, the state capital. Arson experts, at-
tached to the Fire Protective Bureau, were sent to
check the remains of the Gelwix home. Just as they
‘ arrived, the charred .bodies were being removed.
** Snyder and Bouse, meanwhile, returned to the hospi-
. “tal, hoping to question the girl who they believed held
‘-« the key to the entire riddle. And this time, Catherine
‘Gelwix was able to talk. Gently but insistently, Snyder
‘asked her about the events of the preceding evening.
“T don’t remember a thing,” she said, her voice almost
inaudible. “I don’t know what happened.”
“You must remember,” the corporal said firmly.
“Someone made an attempt on your life. You weren’t
alone in the house, and it would have been almost im-
possible for an intruder to enter unobserved. Surely
you can recall something that will help us.”
The girl turned her head from side to side. “I was
sleeping,” she. said weakly. ‘Ralph was over, early in
the evening. .We made some last minute plans for our
... our wedding. But he left at ten o’clock to visit his
father. ‘Mother ‘and Helen Louise went to bed. I left
‘the door open, because Ralph said he might come back
‘later. But I fell asleep. .That is all I know.”
“Then your fiance wasn’t with you at the time?”
“No.. I-don’t know where he is, or why he hasn’t
been here to see me.”
. “You quarreled, perhaps?”
‘ Again the negative shake of the head. “No. We never
. quarreled at all; never even came near to a quarrel. I
loved him too much for that.” (Continued on page 62)
31
—
Melk
—
ee
a St
r
GRAPHIC PUBLICATIONS
kes
160 NEW LOVE FOR OLD
him. Not surprising that later, in her delirium, she kept re-
peating his name.
It was the next day before Snyder was able to question
Catharine Gelwix, and by that time an investigation and search
of the murder house was already under way. She could re-
member nothing of what had happened.
Very gently, the police officer reminded her that an attempt
had been made on her life. Her mother and her little sister had
been murdered. There must have been something that she
remembered—
“I was sleeping,” she whispered. She went on to tell how
Ralph Hawk had been there early in the evening and discussed
wedding plans. He’d left early, promising to return, if he
could. Waiting for him, she’d fallen asleep. ~
Had there, by any chance, been a quarrel?
Catharine shook her bandaged head weakly. “We never
quarrelled. I loved him too much to haye, ever quarrelled with
him.” ,
From Catharine’s story, it now seemed that her sweetheart
had not been in the burning house. Then—where was he?
Why hadn’t he come to the hospital, or at least inquired about
Catharine?
The two police officers hurried to the scene of the crime,
where Sheriff Charles Gillan was assisting the arson squad in
their investigation.
Only two bodies had been found in the ruins. In the fire-
gutted cellar, Sheriff Gillan had discovered a scorched and
broken flashlight. One end of it had been dented as though it
had been used for a club. It certainly could have been used as
a club to knock the victims unconscious before setting them. on
hire, :
The arson expert had a theory. He believed that the killer had
entered the house while all three women were sleeping. He had
NEW LOVE FOR OLD | 161
poured kerosene over Mrs. Gelwix and Helen Louise and -
worked out some device to set them on fire after he was safely
out of the house.
But Catharine, according to his theory, had probably started
to wake when he entered her room. He’d struck her with the
a flashlight, poured kerosene over her unconscious body, and felt
_ confident that she would burn to death when the house went
"up in flames. By that time, the expert reasoned, he must have
4 had to hurry lest he be caught in the fire himself.
& Several days later, the autopsy proved the expert’s theory
Re correct. (Arson experts really know their stuff, take it from
: E vm The two murdered women had suffered no annie be-
in their sleep. Only Catharine had been struck down with the
flashlight found on the scene.
But what was the motive for so brutal a crime?
The town was shocked. Everyone liked the Gelwix family.
“Tt was suggested that the crime might have been the deed of a -
_ prowler, a maniac. Yes, it must have been. No one in the
— little town would have committed so frightful, so vicious a
murder. It simply couldn’t have happened. People who had
known Mrs. Gelwix and her two daughters felt that it must
_. have been a nightmare, that in the morning they would wake
’ up and see the Gelwix house there as it had been before.
: Corporal Snyder didn’t believe in nightmares. He believed
in evidence, and he was looking for a murderer. —
»-. The morning after the fire he’d interviewed Ralph Hawk.
‘He’d asked a few questions about him first and learned that he
- was good looking, and very popular. In fact, he’d even won
-a contest as the handsomest boy in town.
Ralph Hawk was working for a farmer a few miles out v
town, and when Snyder arrived at the farm he was told that
ithe young man was upstairs getting dressed. :
q
EB
@
hos ine wae
NEW LOVE FOR OLD
Firel Fire!
It was after midnight, January Ist, 1937, when the cry rang
out through the streets of Marion, Pennsylvania.
The cry should have been, “Murder—!”
A boy and a girl had just returned from a gay New Year’s
party. And as boys and girls do, they were sitting in his car,
parked in front of her house. Suddenly—to quote the b6y—
“The house next door started to burn, all of a sudden. The
flames seemed to come from all directions.”
The two youngsters rushed to the house. The boy—Charles
Farran—saw a girl through one of the windows. He broke
the glass and pulled her out, getting his hands (and his new
suit) badly burned. He knew there were two other helpless
Victims in the house, and he made try after try to rescue them,
but the flames drove him back.
The girl—Margaret Small—had spread the alarm. The fire
department was on its way, and the neighbors were already
there. The badly injured girl was carried to the nearest hos-
pital.
tured skull.
A tragedy—the more so, because January Ist was to have
y- Her fiance had left her before
158
been Catharine’s wedding da
NEW LOVE FOR OLD
midnight, after a last discussion of the wedding plans.
But it was even more tragic than that. The police discovered
f. . —and promptly—that it was a case of brutal, cold-blooded,
premeditated murder.
159
Even before the arson experts arrived, that much had been
learned. Corporal Snyder,
and his assistant, James Bou
where the doctor had phon
erate murder.
of the Pennsylvania State police,
se, had rushed to the hospital from
ed that it looked to him like delib-
What they learned from the doctor seemed
at anyone would pour kerosene over three
unconscious women, and then set them on fire.
Yet, that was what a
over her clothing and set on fire.
she had recovered consciousness
in the flames.
Corporal Snyder thought that over.
and a jealous boy friend. It made a
surprising one. Such thin
beginning of time.
The only trouble with the theory was, that the boy whose
name she’d repeated over and over had an unbreakable alibi.
And while he had known and liked Catharine as a friend and
, neighbor, there had been no romance. In fact, he had another ;
= girl. -
A pretty girl, a fiance,
good theory, and not a
gs had been happening since the
However. when the fire broke out, his father had wakened
him. It was he who had helped carry the desperately injured
: _ girl to the hospital. She’d been conscious, and had recognized wa :
162 NEW LOVE FOR OLD
“He just heard the news a few minutes ago,” the farmer
said. “He’s getting dressed in a hurry, to go to the hospital,
He’s terribly broken up about it.”
A moment later Ralph Hawk came downstairs. He was a
handsome, slender youth with curly dark hair.
Corporal Snyder broke the news that it was murder, not
accident. |
The boy turned pale. It was a minute or two before he could
speak. Then he said, “What can I do to help?”
“Plenty.” The police officer added, “First, where were you
last night?”
Ralph’s story matched Catharine’s. He’d spent the evening
with her, discussing their wedding plans. At about ten o’clock
he’d left her to visit his father. From there he’d returned to
the farm and gone straight to bed.
Why hadn’t he gone back to Catharine’s home—since she
was waiting for him?
The explanation was a simple one.- The license plates on
Ralph’s car had expired at midnight, and his new ones hadn’t
arrived. He knew that the police were always looking for cars
with old licenses right after the first of the year, and he didn’t
want to risk any trouble right now, on the eve of his marriage.
What time had he returned to the farm?
He wasn’t quite sure. He hadn’t looked at his watch.
The farmer’s wife volunteered the information that it had
been shortly after midnight. She’d been awakened when the
New Year whistles blew. Then she had heard Ralph Hawk
returning to the house. .
The police officer didn’t enjoy his job. After all, this was to
have been Ralph Hawk’s wedding day, and now his wife-to-
be was in the hospital, her mother and her little sister had been
brutally slain. But, questions had to be asked. Believe me,
NEW LOVE FOR OLD | 163
there are a lot of jobs policemen and police officers dislike
© having to do. This one was one of them. |
At last the police drove young Hawk to the hospital where his
sweetheart was slowly recovering. They admitted to themselves,
as they drove away, that they were baffled.
The boy whose name Catharine had said, again and again,
after her arrival at the hospital, was definitely in the clear. No
motive, and a perfect alibi.
Ralph himself? It was possible that his alibi would not hold.
Motive? He was due to inherit a comfortable sum of money,
f and supporting a wife—and even a mother-in-law and young
|. sister-in-law—would have been no problem. There seemed to
=. be no question about his devotion to Catharine. Why, he had
| been begging her to marry him a day earlier—December 31st.
Catherine told the police, “I wanted to wait until January Ist.
- We had all our plans made. I thought it would be bad luck to
» change the date.”
- She examined the battered flashlight the police had found
F in the ruins. It was hard to tell—but it did look very much
E like one that was usually kept on a table beside her mother’s
bed.
In other words, Corporal Snyder told himself, the flashlight
could have been stumbled on accidentally, by some perfect
stranger, or, picked up deliberately by someone who was familiar
with the house. No clue there!
The prowler theory was discarded. A casual thief who had
' yentured into the house where three helpless women were
Be _ sleeping might have struck one of them down if surprised in his
: burglary, but he would hardly have gone to the length of con-
cealing his crime with murder and arson. If he had come into
the room where Catharine was asleep, he might have reached
. for the nearest weapon and left her unconscious on the floor.
Easton Area Public Library and District Center Founded 1811
6th & Church Streets, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042-3587 e Phone: (215) 258-2917
Quentin de Streel
Director
Fab. as 1906
Ronald C. Van Raalte
P.O, Bex 984
Arlington Heights, IL 60006
Dear Mr. Van Raalte,
Enclosed are newspaper copes covering the murder of
Adam Strunk by Charles Grether in 1991. Although the Sept.
24th report of the killing does not call Mr. Strunk-a
dephuty constable, he is referred to by that titie in
subsequent stories.
For this crime, Charles Grether was hanged in Monroe
) County on 24 Feb 1903. He was unsuccessful in appealing”
for a new trial or pardon.
I don't know if Adam Strunk's casual association with
ahw law enforcement agency warrents a place in your book.
If you should need further copies of this case, just let
me know.
Sincerely,
2) .
Terressa Price
TP
~~ ECEIVE \
FES 2 | 1986
MAIN LIBRARY PALMER BRANCH SOUTH SIDE BRANCH
6th & Church Sts. Mine Lane Rd. & Division St. Berwick & Seitz Sts.
(215) 258-2917 (215) 258-7492 (215) 258-3121
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GRETHER, Charles, white, hanged Stroudsburg, Pae, 2=2l\-1903,
Ce Aen — ESTABLISHING
. AND Jas A NATIONAL
DOCUMENTING MEMORIAL
THEIR DEATHS
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead
we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the /ast full measure of devotion; that we here
highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”
30ONALD C. VAN RAALTE
aw Enforcement Historian
-ost Office Box 72883
Roselle, IL 60172-0883
ost Office Box 174
Scottsdale, AZ 85252-0174
Chief of Security
Sreat Lakes Zone
Avis Rent A Car, Inc.
eee eeeeneeeeaketeteneeetetene
beaity Sheriff H-2
Carson City, Nevada
; *
Sergeant (Retired)
Arlington Hts. Police Dept.
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Past President
int. Assoc. Auto Theft Inves.
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MEMBER
Am "~~ Association State
Anc | Historians
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Org. of American Historians
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Western History Association
RoR eeeweeeeeteeeeenteteteneee
Former Texas Rangers Association
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Natl. Assoc. of Outlaw and
Lawman History
Abraham Lincoln
February 22, 1986 312-694-5661
County Clerk
Monroe County
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Dear Clerk:
As part of a national project to identify and document
line of duty deaths of peace officers, an incident was
uncovered as having occurred in your county for which I
need additional documentation.
On September 24, 1901, Deputy Constable (?) Adam Strunk
of Marshall's Creek was killed by burglars, apparently
while in the performance of his duties. On February
24, 1903, Charles Grether was hanged for his conviction
for the murder.
It would be a great help to this project if you could
provide copies of any papers of election or appointment
to the position of Deputy Constable for Mr. Strunk; and
copies of any certificates of execution, death warrant
etc for Mr. Grether.
Thank you for your kind consideration in this matter,
which there is no rush.
Sincerely yours,
Ree eneteeeteneeeeeaeeeneeeee OZ Onctre
Westerners, International o- Y df c—
Reka ReRteeeteeeehetatates
nt. Assoc. Chiefs of Police
Mi¢h. Assoc. Chiefs of Police
i. Assoc. Chiefs of Police
ee ee tewererarenaneneneeneneen
Amer. Soc. Ind. Security
RARER H HERE Reeeeetetenee
-olice Management Assoc.
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smer. Society Public Admin.
Ronald C. Van Raalte
Roselle
Shall his sacrifice be forgotten, his grave watered only by the tears of a wife, a child, a mother?
for
COMMONWEALTH ¢. GRETHER, Appellant. 205
1902.] Arguments—Opinion of the Court.
Cicero Gearhart, district attorney, with him Claude C. Shull
and Rogers L. Burnett, for appellee.
Per Curtam, November 10, 1902:
The day before the homicide, a felony had been committed
in the vicinity. The evidence clearly indicates that the pris-
oner was one of the culprits, who, though pursued by the
officers of the law, had eluded arrest. Strunk, the deceased,
having learned where they were, accompanied by several of his
neighbors, started as a private citizen without a warrant to ar-
rest them. Coming upon them early in the morning as they
were cooking their breakfast, he approached them and laying
his hand upon the shoulder of each said, “I arrest you.” Hav-
ing been asked by the prisoner why they were arrested, the
reply was “ For breaking into a house at Minsi.” ‘The prisoner
said, ‘“ We will go with you.” His companion, under pretense
of getting ready to accompany Strunk, darted into the surround-
ing bushes and escaped. The prisoner almost simultaneously
shot and killed the deceased. At the time of the shooting, he
was under arrest by his victim, who as a private citizen with-
out a warrant had a right, under the circumstances, to arrest
him: 4 Bl. Com. 298. <A felony had been committed; the
prisoner and his companion were the perpetrators of it; they
had eluded the officers of the law, and the pursuit by the pri-
yate citizen was fresh, who, when he made the arrest, notified
his prisoner that it was for a felony that had been committed
by him. The right of a private citizen to make an arrest un-
der such circumstances cannot be doubted. The law clothes
him with ample authority and affords him the same protection
it will extend to a public officer with a warrant in his hands:
Brooks v. Com., 61 Pa. 852. In that case it is said: ‘It is also
said that arrest by a private person is contrary to the genius
of our institutions, and is the relic of a barbarous age. But
the reverse is the case ina republic, where the people them-
selves represent its sovereignty and its security. The felon
is an enemy to that sovereignty and security, forfeits his liberty,
and cannot complain that the hand of his fellow-man arrests
his flight and returns him to justice. What title has he to im-
munity from the law which he has violated, and to be permitted
to escape its penalty because the officer of justice is not at hand
a ee
COMMONWEALTH v. GRETHER, Appellant. 207
1902.] Opinion of the Court.
to sustain a conviction of murder of the first degree. For its
vagueness it is overruled.
In dismissing the motion for a new trial the learned judge
below said: ‘The court is convinced that the homicide was a
cold-blooded, deliberate murder, and the conscience of the court
is entirely satisfied that the verdict is a righteous one under the
law.” This utterance was fully justified. The assignments of
error are all overruled; the judgment is affirmed and the record
remitted for the purpose of execution.
Stewart v. Linton, Appellant.
Mortgage — Acknowledgment—Married women—Deputy consul general
—Affidavit of defense.
An aflidavit of defense to a scire facias sur mortgage against a married
woman is insufficient, which avers that the mortgage was executed under
what purported to be a power of attorney; that deponent and her husband
attempted to execute a power of attorney before a deputy consul general
and signed such power of attorney; that they were informed at the time
that the deputy consul general had no power to take an acknowledgment ;
that it was arranged that they should return the next day to appear before”
the consul general ; that they changed their minds and never returned, and
never in fact did execute the power of attorney.
A deputy consul general has power to take an acknowledgment of a
deed and mortgage.
Argued Oct. 14, 1902. Appeal, No. 159, Oct. T., 1902, by
defendants, from order of C. P. Armstrong Co., Dec. T., 1898,
No. 100, making absolute a rule for judgment for want of a suf-
ficient affidavit of defense, in case of John Stewart v. Phoebe
Rebecca Elizabeth Elwina Linton and Adolphus Frederick Lin-
ton. Before McCoutium, C. J., MircHent, DEAN, FELL,
Brown, MESTREZAT and Potter, JJ. Affirmed.
Scire facias sur mortgage.
The defendant filed an affidavit of defense which was as fol-
lows:
That at the time of the execution of the mortgage in suit
and the power of attorney, upon which the actions of John B.
ne rs
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204 COMMONWEALTH v. GRETHER, Appellant. ©
Syllabus—Arguments. [204 Pa.
the deceased, in order to submit to the jury the conclusive evidence that
a bullet from the pistol of the prisoner had caused the death charged to
him.
Criminal law—Murder—Instructions.
On the trial of an indictment for murder where it appears that the pris-
oner after having committed a felony shot the deceased, a private citizen,
who attempted to arrest him without a warrant, it is proper for the court
to refuse a point framed as follows: ‘‘If the prisoner while struggling to
resist his arrest by the deceased, did, in the heat of the struggle, and with-
out malice, intentionally discharge his revolver at the deceased, inflicting
upon him the wound from which he subsequently died, he is guilty of man-
slaughter only, and this is the law even though, at the time of the act, the
prisoner was in no real or apparent danger of losing his own life, or of
sustaining any bodily harm.”
Argued Oct. 18, 1902. Appeal, No. 233, Jan. T., 1902, by
defendant, from judgment of O. & T. Monroe Co., Dec. T.,
1901, No. 1, on verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree,
in case of Commonwealth v. Charles Grether. Before McCot-
LUM,C.J., MITCHELL, DEAN, FELL, BROWN, MESTREZAT and
Porrer, JJ. Affirmed.
Indictment for murder.
siding.
At the trial it appeared that the prisoner on September 24,
1901, shot and killed Adam Strunk, a private citizen, who was
attempting to arrest the prisoner without a warrant for a
‘felony.
The court admitted under objection and exception, testimony
relating to the exhumation and examination of the body of
the deceased, which had been taken up by the district attor-
ney. [3-5]
Verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, upon which
judgment of sentence was passed. Plaintiff appealed.
Before Hrypt, P. J., specially pre-
Errors assigned among others were (8-5) rulings on evidence
quoting the bill of exceptions; (17) refusal of prisoner’s fifth
point quoted in the opinion of the Supreme Court; (18) that
the record is insufficient to sustain a conviction of murder in
the first degree.
F. B. Holmes, with him W. A. Shafer and Samuel HE. Shull,
for appellant.
¥
206 COMMONWEALTH vp. GRETHER, Appellant.
Opinion of the Court. _ [204 Pa.
to seize him? He has broken the bond of society ; he has dealt
a blow at its welfare and security, and he has placed himself
in open hostility to all its faithful members, whose duty it be-
comes to bring him to justice.”
We have carefully examined the assignments of error urged
as reasons why this judgment should be reversed, but all are
so manifestly without merit that no useful purpose can be served
by discussing any one of them at length. The third, fourth and
fifth, to which the greater portion of the argument of appellant’s
counsel is devoted, relate to the exhumation and examination
of the body of the deceased, alleged to have been unlawful be-
cause not conducted by the coroner or under his direction.
The rights and duties of the coroner were not involved in the
examination of the body, which was made at the instance and
under the direction of the district attorney for the purpose of
being able to submit to the jury conclusive evidence that a
bullet from the pistol of the prisoner had caused the death
charged to him. Such evidence it was the right as well as the
duty of that officer to procure, if it existed, without regard to
anything the coroner may have done or omitted to do, and no
one of the numerous and inapplicable authorities cited in sup-
port of the third, fourth and fifth assignments sustains them;
and none can be found to do so.
The fifth point submitted by the prisoner, and which is the
subject of the seventeenth specification of error was: If the
prisoner, while struggling to resist his arrest by Strunk, did,
in the heat of the struggle, and without malice, intentionally
discharge his revolver at Strunk, inflicting upon him the wound
from which he subsequently died, he is guilty of manslaughter
only, and this is the law even though, at the time of the act,
the prisoner was in no real or apparent danger of losing his
own life, or of sustaining any bodily harm.” This point could
not have been -affirmed, for, if as stated in it, the prisoner in
resisting arrest intentionally discharged his revolver at the de-
ceased, he intended either to do great bodily harm or to kill,
that he might escape, and in either case malice would be pre-
sumed and it would be murder, not manslaughter.
The eighteenth specification, which is not pressed in the
printed argument, alleges in general terms, without calling our
attention to any specific defect, the insufficiency of the record
4
82 COMMONWEALTH v, HARRIS, Aplnt., et al.
Statement of Facts—Opinion of the Court. [314 Pa.
Verdict of guilty, penalty of death, and sentence there-
on. Defendant appealed.
Error assigned, inter alia, was judgment, quoting
record.
George 8. Wolbert, for appellant.
Vincent A. Carroll, Assistant District Attorney, with
him Charles FP. Kelley, District Attorney, for appellee.
OPINION BY Mr. Justicn Kurnart, January 2, 1934:
Robert Harris was convicted of murder in the first de-
gree and sentenced to death.
Appellant asks us to reconsider the rule announced in
numerous homicide cases that evidence, in proper form,
of prior convictions of crime is admissible for the sole
purpose of aiding the jury in determining the penalty to
be inflicted if the jury finds defendant guilty of murder
in the first degree. Counsel have restated persuasively
the arguments against it, all of which we have consid-
ered in this and very many other cases. We have re-
cently restated the rule giving reasons therefor in an
opinion for the court by Mr, Justice Linn. See Com. v.
Stabinsky, 313 Pa. 231, Nothing need be added to what
is there said. See Com. y. Kurutz, 312 Pa. 343; Com.
v. Williams, 307 Pa. 134; Com. vy. Flood, 302 Pa. 190;
Com. y. Dague, 302 Pa. 13; Com. y. Quaranta, 295 Pa.
264; Com. v. Mellor, 294 Pa. 339; Com. v. Parker, 294
Pa. 144; Com. y. Dorst, 285 Pa. 232.
The records of two prior crimes wherein appellant had
been adjudged guilty were clearly admissible as eyvi-
dence. While the minor offense involved in one, of itself
would not have been admissible, it was associated with
and a part of the other, a major offense, which brought
both crimes within the rule. The court’s charge min-
utely and fully instructed the jury as to the sole pur-
pose for which they were to be considered, and carefully
COMMONWEALTH v. HARRIS, Aplnt., et al. 83
81, (1934).] Opinion of the Court.
told the jury they were not presented for the purpose of
controverting any testimony given on behalf of the ap-
pellant, but were to be used solely in ascertaining
whether appellant was such a person as was entitled to
clemeney in case a verdict of guilty was found. There
ws no error in the admission of this evidence.
Appellant maintains that the jury abused its discre-
tion in fixing the death penalty, because it is too severe
and drastic to be imposed in this case, and that this court
has authority to modify that sentence. Without decid-
ing the question as to our power to modify the sentence
fixed by the jury, we conclude that the present case is
not one wherein this court is called upon to use that
power, if it exists. A consideration of the evidence de-
tailed below, by which the finding of the jury was war-
ranted, convinces us the verdict of the jury is justified,
and the penalty of death is not too drastic a sentence.
Downey, the decedent, and Frank Cassidy, a friend,
men of advanced years, had resided at 917 8. 16th Street,
Philadelphia, for some time prior to December 17, 1932.
A rumor spread through the neighborhood that Downey
had recently received the proceeds of an insurance policy
taken out on the life of a relative. This reached the ears
of appellant’s friend and codefendant, Joseph Sterling.
In the early evening of December 17th Sterling came to
the home of appellant, and asked him to go along with
him: “I know where we can make some money,” and
when asked where it was to be had, he replied, in sub-
stance, from a couple of old men: “All Ul have to do is
£0 in and take the money from them.” Sterling told ap-
Pellant that he had a gun, and said: “Come on, we’ll get
“ome money.” Thereupon appellant in his car drove
with Sterling to a point about a block from decedent’s
residence, in front of the home of Sam Shelton, one of
Sterling's friends. Some days before, Shelton and Ster-
ling had broken into decedent’s home in the absence of
both decedent and Cassidy, in an effort to get this money.
If decedent had any money in the house, they did not
find it.
OEY
pdonsreermoneet -< erate
Se rg om Tape er party ance eT
84 COMMONWEALTH v. HARRIS, Aplint., et al.
Opinion of the Court. [814 Pa.
Shelton not being at home, appellant, with Sterling,
walked from Shelton’s residence to decedent’s home.
Sterling rang the bell and the door was opened by
Downey. Appellant and Sterling pushed past Downey,
all of them proceeding back through the hallway to the
kitchen where the other aged man, Cassidy, was sitting.
Appellant and his companion who had drawn his re-
volver, said nothing except to warn Cassidy to “Sit
where you are” when he attempted to rise. Nevertheless,
Cassidy tried to escape and was struck on the head by
appellant, with the butt of a revolver. Jassidy was cut
on the head, several stitches being necessary to close the
wound. Almost immediately after this seufile, Cassidy
heard a shot. The two intruders left. Cassidy, who had
been stunned by the blow, after recovering, followed a
trail of blood to the front door of his residence and
through the snow, to the next house and inquired for
Downey. Ile found him there with wounds through his
hand and neck, from which he died four days later at the
hospital. Sterling’s appeal to this court sets forth fur-
ther facts in connection with the killing. [Next case
above. |
Appellant made a written, signed statement confess-
ing that he knew the purpose of Sterling’s visit to
Downey’s residence, and went. there for the purpose of
taking money from two old men. He joined in a plan
to rob, While defendant now denies part of his confes-
sion, stating he did not know the real purpose of the
visit to Downey’s house, and Sterling at the trial at-
tempted to exonerate Iarris from all knowledge of the
crime by denying that he had ever told Harris of the pur-
pose of his visit to decedent’s home, these facts were all
for the jury.
The jury believed the confession and other evidence of
the Commonwealth.
These facts substantiate the jury’s finding that this
was a deliberate murder committed while attempting to
perpetrate a robbery, and under the Act of 1860, P. L.
COMMONWEALTH v. HARRIS, Aplnt., et al. 85
81, (1934).] Opinion of the Court.
382, it was murder in the first degree. Appellant urges
the death penalty does not fit this crime.
It has been the policy of the State, under the Act of
1860, to inflict the death penalty where the crime is com-
mitted while perpetrating a robbery. The Act of 1925
docs not change this policy unless the jury finds mitigat-
ing circumstances which indicate provocation, impulse
of emotion, or other satisfactory reasons for lessen-
ing the penalty. Where the crime is based upon the
mental impulse of greed and desire, it is difficult to dis-
cover such extenuating circumstances as would move a
court to reduce the sentence. Appellant in this case
aided in an attempt to rob, in the perpetration of which
the killing took place. The jury has sentenced him
to death. This court will not arbitrarily substitute its
judgment for that of the jury even if it had the power
so to do. We are not justified in arraying against the
statutes any disinclination we may have to impose the
extreme penalty. If the penalty is warranted by the
record, the sentence must stand. Any further plea in
mitigation must be to the pardoning power.
We have read the record. All the elements of murder
in the first degree appear. The assignments of error are
overruled,
Judgment affirmed and record remitted to the court
helow for the purpose of execution.
Bair, Appellant, v. Snyder County State Bank
et al., Admrs.
Trust—Creation—Elements—Informality of creation—Necessity
of clear language—Trust res—Delivery of certificate of deposit to
bank—Instruction to pay to person to be designated by check.
1. A trust does not arise unless all the elements of a trust are
present, regardless of the informality of the acts or conduct relied
“pon to establish it. [89]
oa Be a aes a
~
UPrawer Was dccp ald tie Pandit could
not see the quantity of money in the
drawer.
fter getting the money he or-
dered: Mr. Stambaugh to turn with
his back to the window and enter the
vault. As sogn as Mr. Stambaugh
turned his back, the robber made a
bolt through the open door and jump-
ed into a waiting car and it speeded
‘ westward on the Lincoln Highway
toward Gettysburg. Mr. Stambaugh
in his effort to see the car only saw
one man in the vehicle at the wheel,
though it is believed that the bandit
had one or more accomplices. At a
meeting of the directors of the Ab-
bottstown bank the exact loss was
found to be $1461, fully covered with
insurance by the American Surety
Company. The handit was traveling
in a car bearing a New York license.
Abbottstown citizens when the
alarm of the robbery was given gave
chase, but soon lost all trail of the
bandit. Telephone messages, how-
ever, were sent out in every direction.
Sheriff Shealer and others getting
the messages relayed them north.
south and west. Major Lynn G. Ad-
ams, of the State Police force, was
notified, also the State Police head-
quarters at Chambersburg in charge
of Sergeant Merrifield and Private
Francis L. Haley.
When the State Police at Cham-
bersburg received the word to be on
the watch for the bank robber, Pri-
vate Francis L. Haley started east-
ward on the Lincoln Highway on a
motorcycle at high speed. As he
reached Graeffenburg Inn he passed
two road police on motorcycles with
side cars and Haley immediately
swung behind the road police and
caught up with them right beyond
the office of Forester Williams, where
the information was evidently given
of the bandit at large.
After a hurried tlak, the two mo-
torcycles continued on their way
toward Chambersburg and Haley,
turning east speeded forward at a
rapid pace toward Gettysburg. After
passing the gasoline station of Graef-
fenburg Inn he was seen to slacken
tlie speed of his car. Ahead of him
appeared a car with a New York li-
cense plate. Haley turned quickly
after passing the car and motorcycle
went racing westward after it.
The State Policeman gained on
the car and coming alongside of
the car and slightly ahead of the
driver, Haley raised his gloved right
hand and gave the signal for the car
to stop. The speed of the motorcycle
seemed to slacken and that of the
car to increase for an instant and a
hand in the car reached out and the
crack of a pistol was heard. The shot
was fired when car and motorcycle
were at the eastern corner of the
Graeffenburg Inn.
Policeman Haley at once slackened
his pace, leaped backward from his
motorcycle, threw it to the side, then
bracing himself and raising one hand
toward his breast said “I’m shot.”
With that both hands went up in the
air and he fell forward on the side
of the road, off the cement, face
downward. The point at which he
was shot being in Adams County and
the place where he fell in Franklin
County.
Those nearest Haley rushed to his
assistance, one calling “Get the num-
ber of that car.” Geo. Johnson turn-
ed Haley over on his back. A trained
nurse at the Inn feeling his pulse,
said he was dead. A moment later
the pulse was noticed as coming back
yeeditesday and the inquest was held
by Coroner Dr. S. D. Shull, of Cham-
bersburg. Atter viewing the body of
Halev it was sent to his home at
Pottstown. He centered the training
school last May and his tirst assign -
ment to duty was at Chambersburg
on Sunday. He was 25 vears old.
Eleven witnesses were subpoenaed
to appear at the Coroner’s inquest of
Dr. Shull, conducted by District. At-
torney Clippinger., of Pranklin county.
Two of the witnesses, Miss Elizabeth
Cox, of Broadway, and Miss frances
McClean, Baltimore street, wituessed
the murder from the southern side of
the Flighway within several feet of
the point where Private Haley fell.
George Johnson, the golf instructor
sas on the road in front of the hotel
and on the hotel porch were cye wit-
nesses, Mrs. FLO. Miller. residing at
Graetfenburg Inn: Mr. and Mrs. Mer-
kle Landis, of Carlisle; Mrs. W. W.
Foust, of Altoona; Mrs. Paul R.
Weitzell. of Philadelphia; Raley R.
Sheely, and Rilev Kieffer, clerk at the
Inn,
The coroner's jury found that Haley
came to his death as the result of a
tuunshot wound, which entereed the
right breast and pierced the heart.
The jury fixed responsibility for his
(rath on the “unknown driver of a
tenring car.”
The New York license tag 466-007
gave the first clue to the identity of
the bandit. Inquiry established that
they had been issued to Philip A,
I[artman. The description of the
bandit used and broadcasted by the
State police was: Five feet six inches
tall, 28 to 30 vears of age. well built.
stneoth face, tight brown hair. broad
noose. \When last seen was wearing
gravoosurt and light colored slouch
hat.
On Thursday night, Philip A. Hart-
man walked into a Reading police
station and surrendered, at first alleg-
ing that be was a follow-up man and
could name the murderer, but was un-
able to hold on to his framed up
Story and finally confessed that he
had robbed the bank and shot Police-
man tlaley. Hartman stated that af-
ter firing his car he started across the
mountains to Aspers, where he al-
leged he had a relative and that he
came out near Mt. Holly Springs
about daybreak and boarded the train
arriving about 7 o’clock at Harris-
burg and left there on the express
for Reading. When he entered the
Police station he said: “I can give you
the name of the fellow who shot that
State Trooper.”
Hartman’s home is at Annville,
he kas a bad reputation and main-
tained quarters at Rochester, N. Y.;
and only a short time ago went there
with an Ohio license on his car and
exchangéd them for the New York li-
cense plates. The car now turns out
to have been stolen at Columbus, O.
The gun was found beside the Read-
ing tracks near Rosegarden, where
Hartman had thrown it from
train.
The clothes he wore when he com-
mitted the crimes have not yet been
found, but Hartman says he threw
them on a moving train in Reading.
He said he had used $200 of the Ab-
bottstown stolen money for a new
suit and outfit. He alleged he had
sent a part of the money to his folks
at Annville and balance of moncy was
secreted in Reading: The police found
his room well stocked with new
clothes and finery. Money was found
in the clothes and a pocketbook was
also found containing money.
the
will burn in Idashlight,.
Battery not yet barned out,
R. W. Wentz
$5 rocker for best plate of 5 Smoke-
house apples.
D. M. Hoffman, Biglerville.
Smoking stand for best
Concord grapes.
Mrs. Jacob Lower.
Photoplay Theatre
Guessing contest at Theatre,
Correct—214. Earl Spealman, York
Springs-~—214.
G. W. Reichle
$5 first prize; $2.50 second prize for
nicest bunch of chrysanthemums, six
to bunch.
ist--Mrs, Clem A. Hartman, Cash-
town: 2nd—Marie Carey.
Dougherty & Hartley.
first prize and $1 second prize
for best plate of Stayman apples, five
to plate.
we W. Garretson, Biglerville, R.
ok,
ira Pitzer, Arendtsville.
St for best plate of Rome Beauty
apples, § to plate.
Lioyd W. Garretson.
Si tor best plate of quinces.
Ist—-Williany Harman, Biglerville;
2nd- Mrs. ©. Hoftinan, Aspers.
Si for best plate of peaches, § to
plate.
St for best quart jar cherries.
Ist—Mrs Charles Ogden, Orrtanna;
-nd—Mrs. Luther Rice, Arendtsville.
St for largest apple of any kind,
Ist--[2. ©. Stock, Gradners; 2nd—
John Blocher. Flora Dale.
DandYline Shoe Store
Choice of best pair shoes in store
for best loaf home-baked bread.
Mrs. Elias Patterson, Cumberland.
2nd prize—pair of bed room slip-
pers. he:
Mrs. Layman Weaver.
Citizens Trust Co,
$2 cash for best six ears of corn.
aS Geiselman, Ltttlestown, R.
= a
$2 cash for best plate of pears, any
variety,
$2 cash for best plate home-made
fudge.
Mrs. Howard Sheffer, Gettysburg.
J. W. Brehm
$2.50 for best display of dahlias, not
more than five.
Mrs. H. H, Thomas.
$2.50 for heaviest head of cabbage.
H. J. Gochenour.
“Reds” Epley Oil Co.—New Eberhart
Garage
Spark plug for biggest white po-
tato.
D. M. Hoffman.
Quart can “ggg” polish for biggest
sweet potato.
W. G. Mason.
Dreadnaught Tire Chains
winner of guessing contest.
Russell Kane, Biglerville.
Lestz’s
$3.95 dress hat for heaviest apple.
Glenn Myers.
$1.05 dress cap for second heaviest
apple. ;
_ $3.95 silk broadcloth shirt for heav-
lest pear. :
Mrs. James Hoffman.
$1.95 for second heaviest pear.
W. Garretson.
$2.75 pair dress gloves for heaviest
sweet potato.
Mrs, Herman Rife.
$1.65 work gloves for second heav-
iest sweet potato.
Curtis Herring.
Gettysburg Department Store
Best half bushel potatoes—ro-tb. jar
Pyrox—value $3.15.
Dwight Strausbaugh, Orrtanna.
plate of
$2
30X34
Mrs.
1 -de
peck tt.
Noe
1. Rat
peck ar
Willis
$5 we
made p
Mrs.
I cas
largest
A_E.
Electr
celery s
Mrs. (¢
Hair
best pla
Miss
I
$4 flas
Mrs. I
Jiffy e
for large
Raym«
Guess}
—piece «
. Betty
Silver
Food Ca
Mrs. J
Consol
Stayman
Ist—H.
Blocher,
Ge
$5 cash
anthemu:
Mrs. Jz!
$5 cash
Mrs. H
$5 cash
Mrs. L
$5 cash
Flowers.
Miss A
$2.50 cz
mos.
Mrs. C.
$2.50 cz
endula.
Mrs. C.
$2.50 fi
dragon.
Mrs. W
$2.50 c
Cockscom
Miss M
$2.50 fo
Mrs. S:
$2.50 ca
ioli.
Mrs. A.
$3.00 la
lemon me
Mrs. J.
$2.50 si
pumpkin
Mrs. A
D2 i.
$2.50 lac
apple jell
Mrs. Le
$7.50 pi:
best 5 to
iety).
$5.50 dr
potatoes ¢
Guess n
jar—a bo>
Harold
(C
‘the county is
kil .
‘ { 2 take
s
¥
a Sa
m4
25, elec. Pa. (Adams) 11-30-1925.
ft
fjad-
Ati | Fa
HARTMAN, Philip, white,
=——
105 YEAR
Weekly $1.09 a Year,
GETTYSBURG, PA., SATURDAY, OCT
BANK ROBBERY AND MURDER BY NOTED BANDITA BIG FARMERS?
as ea eee }
ABBOTTSTOWN BANK HELD UP ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON BY
ROBBER MASKED WITH RED HANDKERCHIEF ACROSS FACE.
Less Than Two Hours Later Same Bandit Shoots State Policeman Haley
At Graeffenburg Inn After Being Commanded To Halt—
Man Hunt For Murderer.
Old Adams county has had a thrill
from thedesperate acts ofa bandit-
murderer such as the county has not
experienced since the days of Lewis
the Robber. It was a thrill as long as
broad, for it started
with a bank hold-up at Abbottstown
at 2:15 P. M. at the eastern border of
the county and finished with the mur-
der of a State Policeman at the west-
ern edge, in front of. Graeffenburg
Inn on the Lincoln Highway at 3:35.
P.M
He appeared in Abbottstown after
the noon hour and is believed to have
been in the town about an hour be-
fore entering the bank, evidently get-
ting the lay of the land. Then when
Reuben Altland, President of the
bank, had gone for dinner, and Cash-
jer Harry F. Stambaugh was alone in
the bank, the bandit entered the bank
with a red handkerchief across lower
‘part of his face and leaving the door
open and going to window demaned
the money Mr. Stambaugh was car-
rying into the vault. He demanded,
“Give me that money.” Mr. Stam-
baugh, thinking it was a joke, answer-
ed accordingly. Thenthe hand of the
bandit was raised and the end of a
gun pushed through the grate and the
demand repeated, “Hand me that
money or I'll blow your brains out.”
The money was handed over and
the bandit asked for more money, to
which Mr. Stambaugh replied “There
is no more.”
The bandit demanded that the
drawer be opened in front of the win-
dow, where money drawers are us-
ually built, and that the money be
handed over. Mr. Stambaugh, open-
ing the drawer in part, handed out
some money, but not all, for the
drawer was deep and the bandit could
not see the quantity of money in the
drawer.
After getting the money he or-
dered Mr. Stambaugh to turn with
his back to the window and enter the 5
vault. As sogn as Mr. Stambaugh
turned his back, the robber made a
bolt through the open door and jump-
ed into a waiting car and it speeded
westward on the Lincoln Highway
toward Gettysburg. Mr. Stambaugh !
in his effort to see the car only saw
one man in the vehicle at the wheel,
though it is believed that the bandit
had one or more accomplices. At a
meeting of the directors of the Ab-
5 er © ew oe
and she directed that a physician be
gotten at once. A car rushed to Dr.
Holland’s office at Fayetteville, but
he was not at home, and calls for six
other physicians were: similarly an-
swered, as well as the call to the
Chambersburg Hospital, and while
last calls were being made came the
news that Haley was dead.
The bullet of a 32-calibre revolver
first struck the upraised hand of Po-
liceman Haley, passed through the
hand, struck the breast on a slant
and cut a main artery from the heart
and lodged against the fifth rib,
An alarm was immediately sent out
from the Graeffenburg Inn of the
murder and in a few hours’ time the
Lincoln Highway from the Inn to
Chambersburg was under patrol of
volicemen,
The bandit continued on his way
tor about two miles from Caledonia
Park and turned to the right at
Sweeney's store on the road toward
Scotland. He turned from this road
onto a rough mountain road, and
continued on until his car was caught
on a rock in thé roag. Then the car
was Stripped of license tags and set
on fire. The tags were found, show-
ing an effort to fold them.up and de-
stroy them. They were found about
thirty feet from the car. The car, a
Cleveland automobile, was found on
Wednesday morning and a_ strong
force of State Police and others had
every anvenue of escape watched in
the effort to catch the murderer. Ma-
jor Adams personally directed the
search and Captain Price was in com-
mand. of the State Police scouring
the mountain.
A coroner’s jury was summoned on
Weditesday and the inquest was held
by Coroner Dr. S. D. Shull. of Cham-
bersbyrg. After viewing the body of
Haley it was sent to his home at
Pottstown. He entered the training
school last May and his first assign-
ment to duty was at Chambersburg
on Synday. He was 25 years old.
Kleven witnesses were subpoenaed
to appear at the Coroner’s inquest of
Dr. Shull, conducted by District At-
bey Clip; singer, of Franklin county.
Tw of the witnesses, Miss Elizabeth
Cox, of Broadway, and Miss Frances
McClean, Baltimore street, witnessed
the murder from the southern side of
the Flighway within several feet, of
DAY
PERFECT WEATHER—GOOD PA-
RADE—TWO BANDS—PEOPLE.
——
Fifty Thousand Tickets
For Free Prizes---List of Premiums
And Winners at Exhibits.
Given Away
Eckert’s Shoe And Stocking Store
$5.00 in merchandise to lady dis-
playing six largest cactus dahlias,
of one shade; $5.00 in merchandise
for man displaying largest Michigan
Russet potatoes; pair of golf hose to
Winner of boys’ guessing contest;
pair of silk and fibre hose to winner
of girls’ guessing contest.
Holder of ticket No. 15.
Daniel Hoffman, Biglerville.
Donald, Bucher, Biglerville.
Albert Bell,
Miss Eva Slavbaugh.
Gardner’s 5, 10 and 25 Cent Store
$2.50 for best plate of fudge—Mrs.
Hawasal Sheffer.
2.50 for best Cole apples—J. R.
Gache naur,
$2.50 for best Stark apples—J. R.
Gochenaur.
$2.50 for five best chrysanthemums
~-Edith Miller.
Home Studio
One dozen photographs for best
plate of Pound apples.
John C. Blocher, Flora Dale.
Elsie R. Appler
$7.50 hat for prettiest bouquet of
yellow chrysanthemums.
Mrs. John Ramer, Cashtown.
G. W. Weaver & Son
3utfet Set—rst Prize—Mrs. G. F.
Mitchell; 2nd—Mrs. G. Lefevre.
Doughnuts—Mrs. Charles Rudisill.
Crullers—Miss Freda Baschoar.
Farm Products—Reuben Lupp.
Gettysburg Compiler
$2 for tallest corn stalk.
Martin Redding, Gettysburg, R. D.
Stoner’s Tire Shop
Kwilight Flashlight for guessing
nearest correct length of time battery
will burn in Flashlight.
Battery not vet burned out.
R. W. Wentz
$5 rocker for best plate of 5 Smoke-
house apples.
D. M. Hoffman, Biglerville.
Smoking stand for best
Concord grapes.
Mrs. Jacob Lower.
Photoplay Theatre
Guessing: contest at Theatre.
Correct—214. Earl Spealman,
Springs—214.
G. W. Reichle
$5 first prize; $2.50 second prize for
nicest bunch of chrysanthemums, six
to bunch.
plate of
“York
Seana
Best plate a
tb. Lime Sulfu
G. M. Stock,
Best half &
‘Tool Grinder-_
W. K. Enck,
Best cake,
Aluminum Do
—value $2.50.
Mrs. Harry
2nd prize—A
W earever—yal
Mrs. J. Willi
Best loaf br.
Mop—value $1
Chase and Sa
fee—value $1.1
First—Mrs. ]
—Mrs. Lloyd
township.
Best pound
Schraft’s best
Mrs. Nelson
Best dozen e
Chocolates—va
Ira Pitzer.
Best plate
value $2.00.
Janet Fissel.
Best plate w
lish Teapot—v:
Mary Jane §&
H.
Ist prize chu
Aluminum kett
of grapes.
Ist—Mrs. Me
R. D. 1; 2nd—
Aspers.
Ist prize Alv
prize tin dish
home-made br«
ist—Mrs. Cl
tysburg R. D.
ert, Gettysburg
Ist prize Th:
Dusting cloth
tato.
1st—Mrs. H.
—Mrs. Blanche
~
c
2-lb. box “)
best %4 dozen ’
Mee C509
D. 9. :
1 box 50 cl
largest Stayma
Grace Kuhn.
Peopl:
Aluminum (
best pie.
Mrs. George
1 dozen gla
peck turnips.
No entry.
1 galvanized
peck of shellbz
Willis eka
$5 worth of
made pie.
Mrs. E. E. SI
1 case of N.
largest ear of «
A. E. Sheely,
E.
$3 for best b:
HAWK, Ralph E., white, 20, elec. Pas S. P. (Franklin County) on March 28, 1938.
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by
16
LARRY HENNESSEY:
LOOD running in a thick
river down her forehead
and blending with the acrid
gemoke to blind her, the blast of
4; a roaring inferno at her back and
é “ the horrible odor of burning
flesh in her BO strils, Catherine Gelwix staggered across
the hell which was her bedroom and managed to reach
the half,spened window.
Desperate, she blindly reached for the sill. A half
minute later and she fell across it unconscious, The
consuming flames reached out lecherous fingers and
licked at the trailing cotton house dress that partly
concealed the graceful curves of her young body.
In a second room an elderly woman groaned once and the
thin trickle of a child’s hysterical scream was. suddenly cut
short at the height of its pitch as lungs drew in blue-white
tongues of flame which scorched and shriveled her vocal cords.
Violent death was running wild that morning of January Ist,
yi the Gelwix home on Kennedy street in North Marion,
Pénssylvania. North Marion is five miles from the historic old
battle town of Chambersburg.
iastbesin datetime att aL
Phew fe ty a
4
i
i
|
4
A
|
|
Handsome Charles Farren had stood with Margaret Small in
front of the Small home, on Kennedy Street, late that same
night. They were beside his automobile and he was saying
goodnight. The girl’s face was flushed with excitement. The
two had just returned from a late New Year's party. ;
Young Farren was about to walk the girl to her door when
he drew up short.
“What was that?” he asked, turning to his companion.
There was a frightened, startled note in his voice.
For a brief moment the two stopped and the girl strained her
ears to listen. She started to laugh and the laugh was cut short
as her eyes opened wide. This time they both heard it. Heard
the weird groan followed by a heart-breaking wail of terror
and fear that drifted out on the cold and quiet night.
Their eyes were drawn as if by a magnet to the Gelwix house,
not more than a hundred yards away. The house stood out
stark against the blue of the cold night sky and for almost a
minute the two stared at it in fascination. And then suddenly
the girl drew closer to Farren and a shiver ran through her
slender body.
They both had seen it at the same time. A peculiar, mys-
terious light moving across the windows of the lower floor. The
light leaped, disappeared only to return with an increased bril-
liancy;
FUNERAL PYRE
Basement of Gelwix home,
where a mother and young
daughter roasted in flames.
4no00d40eTe
cy
And then, unmistakably this time, a short terror-stricken
series of heart-rending groans was repeated. Gasping, choking
groans of utter terror.
With the girl attempting to hold him back, then following ‘¥
close at his heels, young Farren approached the house cautiously. iS
As a sudden flame of light lit up the entire side of the house, (3
the two halted dead in their tracks. Their eyes were riveted in &
horror to a half-opened window at the side of the house, for, =~
half-fallen out of the window was the slender outline of a f=?
young girl’s body. The face was covered with blood and half- <j
audible cries were coming from her twisted mouth. 99
“Oh, my God!” muttered Margaret Small. “It’s Catherine 3
Gelwix !” fle
Farren didn’t think. With an instinctive rush, he dashed for {3
the window. Even as he pulled the semi-conscious girl through
the frame, he realized that the house was on fire.
Dragging her to where he had left Margaret Small standing, ‘=j}
he gently placed the girl on the ground. Then, leaving Miss “3
Small to guard the girl, he rushed back to the house and in a ©
second was through the window and had sprawled on his knees (“5
in the bedroom. ~
For suddenly, Farren had realized that there must be two more [=f
persons in that blazing hell. Catherine’s fifteen-year-old sister, j-4«
Helen, and her mother, Mrs. Hazel Gelwix. ae
we
)
Lad
“Yeah. Both Mrs. Gelwix and Cath-
erine kept their pay in the house. They
were paid yesterday afternoon. I had
warned them once or twice that it wasn’t
a very safe place to keep money, but they
explained that they never had very much
at a time and so I never really worried a
great deal about it.”
Constable Klipp shook his head slowly.
“Seems strange anyone would murder
two people—perhaps three people—for a
few dollars. And yet—it wouldn't be the
first time such a thing had happened.”
“What did you do after you left last
night?” asked the sheriff of Hawk.
“Went home. You see, Cathy and I
had decided that inasmuch as we were
getting married today, why it would be
est to spend a quiet evening and get a
good night’s sleep. We had to get up
early as there were a lot of things to do.”
Klipp noticed that there were tears in
the boy’s eyes and he tactfully changed
the subject.
“Well, don't worry, son,” he said. “We'll
see what Catherine has to say when she
is able to talk—and as soon as the ruins
of the house cool off, we likely will be
_ << something or other to give us
a lead.
(CORPORAL SNYDER in the mean-
time had looked up Mrs. Gelwix's
parents. Both were gray and heart-
broken at the tragedy which had over-
taken their daughter and granddaughters.
Mr. and Mrs. Shelhamer were only too
eager to be of help. But there was little
that they could say.
Yes, Mrs. Gelwix kept small sums of
money in the house. But almost never
more than fifty dollars at a time. It was
possible that she had had a little more
than that on the night of the fire. Out-
side of a possible theft motive, they could
not imagine why anyone might have com-
mitted the crime.
Coroner Thrush kept close vigil at the
hospital and it was shortly after dawn
when the girl regained consciousness.
After she had spoken, everyone con-
nected with the case agreed that robbery
was the most likely answer.
The girl's memory was none too good
for she was undoubtedly still suffering
from a terrific shock. But she remem-
bered a few things. She had had dinner
with her grandparents that evening. Re-
turning home she had entertained a
neighbor’s child for a while and then her
fiance, Ralph Hawk, had arrived. She
distinctly recalled Hawk’s leaving early.
after which she had lain down on her bed
with her house dress on for a few min-
utes. The next thing she remembered
was coming to for a brief second as she
was pulled through the window by young
Farren.
OFFICIALS were forced to the be-
lief that a thief must have entered
the house, while the family was asleep,
for the purpose of stealing. Catherine
must have stirred and he had struck her
over the head. Then, realizing that he
may have committed one murder, he
had set the house afire in an effort to
cover up his crime. There seemed no
other practical theory because the girl
herself failed to remember when she
had been struck.
During this time the State Police were
not idle. The girl’s clothing had been
94
.
Love’s Charnel House
[Continued from page 19]
rushed to Harrisburg and the police
laboratories. A careful examination
proved that her dress must have been
soaked with kerosene at some time not
too long before the fatal fire. But what
was vastly more important, numerous
bloodspots were found. And the strange
thing was that there was no kerosene
discovered on the splotches where the
blood was found. There was but one
feasible deduction. The girl had been
struck on the head before the kerosene
had been spilled over her dress.
A physical examination failed to show
that the girl had been criminally violated.
Dr. Thrush said that Catherine could
not have injured her head in a fall. She
would have had to fall at least twenty
feet in order to have obtained the deep
wounds in her head. It was obvious she
must have been struck witha blunt, heavy
instrument. Struck twice.
Police realized for the first time
definitely that this was no case of an ac-
cidental fall and an accidental fire. It
was arson and attempted murder—plus
murder!
By this time a searching party was al-
ready in the ruins of the house in a vain
search for some shred of evidence.
With the legs and arms literally con-
sumed by the white-hot flames, the
charred torso of Mrs. Gelwix was found
directly under the living room hallway
in the cellar where it had fallen when the
floor caved in. A second body, or rather
a pile of bones, lay some four feet away,
near the hot air furnace. Both hearts,
for some odd reason, were still intact.
ITH Dr. J. C. Hudson, Coroner’
Thrush removed the remains of the
two bodies to the Cramer Undertaking
Parlours in Chambersburg and made a
hurried autopsy. It was utterly impossible
to make positive identification. On the
other hand the two medical men learned
definitely that the torso was undoubtedly
that of a middle-aged woman while the
other bones belonged to a girl child of
not more than fifteen or sixteen.
Trooper Bouse, the State arson expert,
made a personal and careful search of the
ruins. It took him most of the afternoon.
Bouse, who had solved many of Pennsyl-
vania’s most baffling arson cases, knew
exactly what he was looking for. But,
after hours of digging in the still hot
embers, he at last shrugged his weary
shoulders and gave up. On the other
hand, when he finally arrived at the office
of Sheriff Gillian to find both the sheriff
and Constable Klipp, he had a parcel
under his arm. He unwrapped it to dis-
close a large, curved piece of glass.
“This,” he said, “isn’t what I was look-
ing for. But it will do just as well.”
Gillian and Klipp looked at the glass
with some degree of skepticism.
“That fire was started with kerosene,”
Bouse went on. “How doI know? Simple.
The black silt on the walls, which were
only partly burned. Also on this glass
you will notice a dark smudge. That is
from burning kerosene.”
Bouse stopped for a second, then went
on.
“In the basement, under the kitchen, I
found where the kerosene kitchen range
had fallen through the burned floor. But,
strangely enough, I wasn’t able to dis-
cover the large kerosene reservoir at that
spot.”
He held up the piece of curved glass
again.
“This is what is left of that reservoir.
I found it under the place where the bed-
room in which Mrs, Gelwix and Helen
slept. Someone entered that house, went
to the kitchen and obtained the kerosene
reservoir from the kitchen stove, entered
the women’s room and doused them with
the fluid. Then, after lighting the living
bodies, dropped the container and fled!”
Sheriff Gillian drew in his breath and
Constable Klipp nodded. ’
“Further,” said Bouse, “that container
was empty when it was dropped in the
bedroom. I can tell by the various
smudges on this fragment of glass. You
see, I figured it was a kerosene fire to
begin with. And then, when I couldn’t
find a can, it was obvious the kerosene
must have come from the house itself
rather than have been carried there. I
am sending this glass to be examined for
fingerprints—but I doubt very much if
any will be found.” P
“Well,” said Gillian, “it’s all very in-
teresting. But where does'it|leave us?
We thought to begin with that it was
arson. Now we know that much for
sure. And we know that a woman and
her daughter were murdered. But we
haven't one tangible clue. We haven’t
even got a suspect. We halven’t a mo-
tive. It’s a shame that girl tis hnable to
remember anything.”
Constable Klipp rose to his feet.
“It might not be,” he sit lowly, “a
bad idea to question Catherine Gelwix
again.” He left the room. |
Bouse was still talking to oH sheriff,
He pulled a part of a bdd spring
from the parcel he had carried under his
arm. There was a tiny fragment of cloth
still clinging to it.
“The murdérer carried the kerosene to
the bedroom; poured it over the bed in
which Helen and her mother were sleep-
ing. Then he lit the bed. You can tell
by this spring how it must have been
done. The spring shows that a tre-
mendous heat over and under it twisted
it out of shape. Then the murderer must
have gone to Catherine’s room. He ap-
parently started to pour the kerosene
over her too when she awakened sud-
denly or stirred in her sleep. He struck
her twice, turned and ran to'the window
and escaped. The girl, in a half daze, was
quickly revived by the heat from the fire
and instinctively staggered toward the
window. As she reached it she lost con-
sciousness. It was only the quick work
of the Farren boy that saved her life.”
“By that it would seem the killer left
the house just as the Farren boy and Miss
Small arrived on the scene?”
“Exactly.”
OUSE left and shortly afterward
Klipp returned.
“The girl still doesn’t remember any-
thing,” he said.
Sheriff Gillian nodded, discouraged.
“On the other hand,” Klipp went on,
“there are a_couple of things we do
know now. First, any petty thief who
may have had it in mind to steal some-
thing like fifty dollars would never have
had the diabolic cunning to have set that
fire and wipe away the evidence of his
crime,
“Secondly, no petty crook would have
bothered to have fired the house and
taken a chance of a murder rap on top
of a mere robbery charge. Whoever en-
tered that house did so with the definite
purpose in mind of committing murder.
“Whoever entered that house must
have particularly wanted to have mur-
dered Catherine Gelwix. She, ct appa
was the only one who was struck as well
as left to burn to death.”
“Unless,” began the sheriff, “the
girl...
“Impossible,” said Klipp. “Why if Far-
ren hadn’t have just happened to be on
the spot at the time, Catherine Gelwix
would have been burned to a crisp with-
in five minutes.”
“So that leaves us where?”
“It leaves me going back to that house,”
said Klipp. “If Catherine was struck
over the hand~and there is at least no
doubt on that score—then she must have
been struck with something. And I am
going to find out what it was.”
“And if you find out?”
“If I find out I'll have the killer in this
office within twenty-four hours.”
Sheriff Gillian looked puzzled, then
vaguely amused.
“Perhaps,” he said, “you know who the
killer is already.”
“Yes,” said Klipp, “I think I do.”
BEFORE going back to the fire scene,
however, Klipp stopped over at the
Herman Bear farm where Catherine's
fiance was living. He knew Bear well
and talked with him only a few moments.
aia wed he had come to question young
awk.
Hawk was home and he talked will-
ingly to the constable. Was it possible,
asked Klipp, that Catherine might have
had some suitor who might have become
insane with jealousy when he discovered
that she and Hawk were about to be
married?
Hawk said he really didn’t know def-
initely of anyone. es, he admitted, a
number of youths had been attracted by
the girl. But after all, he and Catherine
had il going together for several years.
Everyone knew it and everyone knew
they were planning to be married.
Klipp wwestioned the boy for almost an
hour. en he left he did sa with the
realization that one more idea had turned
sour, :
In the meantime State Police and depu-
ties had picked up more than two dozen
hobos, hitch-hikers, and tramps in the
neighborhood. One man, with blood on
his clothes and his face badly scratched,
looked a likely prospect. But he soon
was able to obtain witnesses to prove
that he had been in a fight with another
man ‘in a hobo camp the night before.
He was released. ;
Late that afternoon, Klipp again re-
turned to the sheriff's office. e was
amused as he watched the long line of
itinerants that were being questioned.
“You're wasting your time,” he said.
And then he removed from his pocket
what the sheriff recognized at once as the
charred remains of a flashlight.
“This,” he said, “is the weapon used by
the killer in an effort to beat in the head
of the Gelwix girl. I have examined it
through a microscope and there are
traces of blood on the cracked lens. Fire
won't destroy blood, you know.”
The sheriff nodded.
“Now,” continued Klipp, “I want you
to try and have this light traced. Find
out, if possible, where it was purchased
and who purchased it.. Have every drug
’
store, hardware shop and place where
they sell these, covered. And then see if
I am right about those stains being
blood.”
“But why do you think that was the
killer’s weapon?
“Easy. irst, whoever entered that
house last night must have had to work in
the dark. It is obvious that he would
have carried a flashlight. Second, if he
had a flashlight in his hand when he was
near the Gelwix girl and she started to
awaken, it would have been the obvious
thing to have struck her with. A black-
jack would have knocked her completely
unconscious. And I don’t believe the
killer could have had both a flashlight,
and another weapon in his hands, as well
as that kerosene can.”
The sheriff gasped. “It begins to shape
up as one of the most diabolic and clever
crimes I’ve ever encountered,” he said.
“I’m going now,” said Klipp. “There
is just one more thing I want to do. On
my way here, I stopped at the home of
Evelyn Jones, whom I discovered is a
friend ot the Gelwix girl. I asked her a
couple of questions and the answers have,
I believe, given me a very definite clue
as to the criminal.”
“What did you ask her?”
“The principal thing I asked,” said
Klipp, “was ahnhar she knew anything
about Catherine Gelwix’s plans for being
married.”
“And the answer?”
“The answer was that she didn’t think
Catherine would have been married in any
case.”
A true Hero!
Read the dramatic story of this
month’s ¢rue hero on page 66 of
this issue—a flying deputy who
saved a flood-stricken family!
Readers are invited to send in
their nominations for the Hero of
the Month contest. A prize of 350
will be sent to the hero, and the
same amount to the person sending
in the account of his heroism, If a
policeman sends in the true
story of heroism himself, he will
receive the full $100.
That night Klipp, alone, returned to
the. scene of the tragedy. For hours
he watched, hidden behind bushes. It was
shortly after midnight that a dim,
shadowy figure crept into the moonlight
and approached the ruins.
Klipp wasn’t there because he believed
the criminal always returns to the scene
of his crime. He was there because he
realized that in this case the criminal
would have to return—return to get that
incriminating flashlight.
But, just as the constable arose cau-
tiously to his feet and pulled his service
revolver, the creeping figure must have
had some wild instinctive warning of his ,
danger. He leaped suddenly aside and
darted back into the shadows of the night.
Klipp didn’t attempt to follow. He had
found out what he wanted to know. The
possine identity of the murderer who was
in back of the ghastly murder plot.
That night there was a general con-
ference of everyone working on the case.
Several new developments had occurred
simultaneously. The Jones girl had been
requestioned and admitted that she was
friendly with young Hawk. She said that
he told her he didn’t wish to marry Cath-
erine Gelwix. Hawk’s employer added
several other unusual details. And after
it was established that the flashlight had
been purchased by the youth, he was
quickly taken into custody.
AWK denied all knowledge of. the
crime. For three days and nights he
was subjected to one of the most severe
grillings ever eres a murder suspect.
And then, after a day’s rest, he was
again brought before his questioners.
This time he was faced by Mr. Bear, with
whom he lived. Bear, in a calm voice
and looking directly at the prisoner, told
his story. On the night of the Gelwix
fire, he had awakened when he heard the
engines going by. He called to Hawk to
arouse him. A moment later the boy, in
a sleepy voice, had shouted back from
his room.
“It's all right,” he said. “Nothing to
it—just a fire at the Gelwix house.”
When Hawk heard this story, from the
lips of the man to whom he had answered
that night, he merely shrugged. Asked if
it were true, he replied:
“If Herman Bear says so—I guess it’s
so.
“Then—how did you know it was that
Gelwix house?” snapped the sheriff.
“Why...” and Hawk smiled serenely
at the perspiring faces of his inquisitors,
“... why, because I set the fire.”
Later, after the killer had been re-
moyed to Harrisburg when aroused coun-
trymen were aware of his confession and
a lynching was feared, he told the entire
Story.
He had been visiting Catherine on the
fatal night. Murder had not entered his
mind at first, he said. They sat and talked,
and later discussed plans for the wedding
on the following day. He had tried to tell
the girl that he didn't want to go through
with the marriage, but had lacked the
courage. Then, just as he was about to
leaye, the idea of burning the house down
and destroying all of its occupants oc-
curred to him.
About an hour after he had left for
the evening, he had crept back and en-
tered the house through the kitchen win-
dow. First he had obtained the kerosene
can and liberally doused the bed on which
Mrs. Gelwix and Helen were sleeping.
Lighting the soaked bedclothes, he had
hurried to Catherine’s room. As he was
about to toss the remainder of the kero-
sene on her, she had awakened. But be-
fore she could more than open her eyes,
he crashed the butt of the flashlight down
on her skull. Twice he had struck her,
and as she fell back on the bed, he had
thrown a lighted match on the girl. Some-
how or other the match had missed Cath-
erine and the bedclothes caught fire.
Catherine, coming to in a daze a few
seconds later, was too late to see him
rush off. She had managed, semi-con-
scious as she was, to reach the window
before fainting.
Hawk ended his confession with the
admission that he had conceived the plan
on the spur of the moment; that he had
not had the courage to come out and tell
the girl he wouldn’t marry her, but rather
had chosen the more direct method of
murdering her. Fortunately, Catherine es-
caped with her life—but two other inno-
cent victims paid the price with their
own horrible and torturous deaths.
When Hawk was brought to trial early
this summer, his only comment was:
“I may get the chair—but at least I
don’t have to get married.”
A jury of twelve men convicted him of
murder in the first degree.
Catherine Gelwix recovered.
95
the arson expert said. “But that, along
with other evidence, clinches it.”
John Funck helped the police officers
reconstruct what probably had happened
that New Year’s morning. “The three
women must have been asleep,” he said.
“Mrs. Gelwix and her younger daughter
were in one bedroom. Catherine in an-
other.
“The mother and Helen didn’t awaken.
Catherine must have heard somebody
moving around in the dark and probably
jumped out of bed. Whoever was inside
let her have it over the head. She was
unconscious when he spread the kerosene
around. The killer thought she would be
burned up along with her mother and
sister. Somehow Catherine managed to
get near the window and be rescued.”
The coroner’s autopsy on Mrs. Gelwix
and her younger daughter showed neither
had been attacked. This indicated they
had burned to death in their beds, just
as the arson expert had figured.
Snyder and Gillan returned to Cham-
bersburg Hospital late that afternoon after
receiving a call from doctors there.
Catherine Gelwix was able to talk!
“What happened?” she kept asking.
“Where is mother? Where is Helen?”
Sheriff Gillan begged her to try to re-
member. “Someone tried to kill you,” he
said. “Did you see who it was?”
The girl’s voice was almost inaudible.
“I was asleep,” she managed. “Ralph
was with us earlier. We were making
plans for our wedding. He left. I thought
maybe he would come back. Mother and
Helen went to bed. I left the door open
because I thought Ralph would come back,
but he didn’t. I went to bed. That’s all I
remember.”
Sheriff Gillan asked one more ques-
tion. “Did you quarrel with Ralph?”
“No. We never quarreled.”
The doctor motioned the county officer
away. “That’s all for now,” he said.
The investigators were disappointed.
The only new information they had was
that Catherine Gelwix had expected Ralph
Hawk to return. They decided to talk
with him about that.
“I told Catherine I would come back if
I could,” the handsome youth said. “But
after I left I realized I didn’t have my new
license plates for the car. I’ve sent for
them, but they haven’t arrived. I didn’t
want to be picked up.”
Snyder and Gillan were not allowed to
talk with Catherine Gelwix again until
the following morning. She had not been
told about her mother’s and sister’s deaths.
“You muttered a man’s name in your
delirium,” Corporal Snyder told her. “It
was Henry Norman. Do you know why
you mentioned his name?”
The girl shook her head. “No,” she said.
“Henry is a nice boy. He wouldn’t harm
e.
She did recall hearing noises in her bed-
room and getting up. “But I didn’t see
anybody,” she insisted. “This is all like a
horrible nightmare.”
Questioned at length about Henry Nor-
man and Ralph Hawk, the girl was posi-
tive Henry held no grievance against her.
Concerning Ralph Hawk, Catherine did
recall one disagreement that tragic night.
“It was about our wedding date,” the girl
said. “Ralph wanted to postpone it. He
didn’t make a big fuss. I explained it
couldn’t be done because the announce-
ments were already printed. That was all
there was to it.”
Gillan and Snyder went back to the
sheriff’s office where Constable Klipp and
Private Bouse, the men who had gone
through the Gelwix house ruins, were
waiting. The state trooper handed Gillan
a battered flashlight. “Maybe this means
64
-
something,” he said. “We found among the.
ashes.” . _
The sheriff and Snyder studied the
tarnished metal closely. One end was
badly dented. It was obvious the flash-
light had been struck hard against some-
thing.
“This could be the blunt instrument
which clobbered Catherine Gelwix,” Gil-
lan. said.
When the girl recovered sufficiently to
be told the truth about her mother and
sister, the sheriff showed the flashlight
to her.
“My mother kept that on a table beside
her bed,” the distraught girl said. “It was
not battered like that before New Year’s
Eve.”
Snyder and Gillan were convinced who-
ever had wielded the torch knew some-
thing about the interior of the Gelwix °
house and the habits of the people living
there. Working on the theory that an ex-
suitor could be a logical suspect, the
policemen double checked Henry Norman.
Everything he’d told them proved to be
true.
“Ralph Hawk has an alibi,’ Sheriff
Gillan reminded Snyder. “He’s deeply in
love with Catherine. She tells us they
never quarreled seriously. Where do we
go from here?”
The state. trooper agreed Hawk ap-
peared to be in the clear. “He was with the
Gelwix family until midnight,” Snyder
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said. “Then he left to see his father. Cath-
erine thought he might return, but he
didn’t. He says it was because he didn’t
have new car plates. His employers heard
him come in around 1 o’clock. That was
two hours before the fire started.”
Sheriff Gillan said, “Two hours is a
long time. Hawk could have sneaked out
of his employer’s farm house without any-
one knowing it.”
Both officers knew this was a long-shot,
but all other leads had been exhausted.
Ralph Hawk’s background would have to
be probed again.
“Ralph could have had his pick,” his
employer told Corporal Snyder. “But he’s
in love with Catherine. Why, you should
see the beautiful ring he gave her for
Christmas. It cost plenty.”
The state trooper told Sheriff Gillan
about the ring. Neither of them had seen
one on Catherine Gelwix’s finger. They
decided to question the girl about this
without letting her know what they had
in mind. She assured them her fiancé had
never given her a ring of any kind.
“We decided against it,” she said.
“Young people have so many expenses
when they first start out.”
Snyder and Gillan didn’t question her
further. Once outside, they exchanged
knowing glances. “Our work is cut out for
us now,” Sheriff Gillan said. “We’ve got
to check every jewelry store in Franklin
County.”
The county officer and Constable Klipp
formed one team. Corporal Snyder and
Private Bouse began their canvass from
the opposite direction. Gillan hit pay dirt
at the third jewelry store they visited in
Chambersburg. The proprietor remem-
bered selling a diamond ring to Ralph
Hawk a few days before Christmas.
“He paid $200 for it,” the ‘jeweler said
after checking his records. “His girl was
with him.”
The sheriff asked the girl’s name. The
proprietor didn’t know it, but his wife did.
“It was Jane Wilson,” she told Gillan.
“I remember because she was such a
pretty little thing. They were in here late
one afternoon and spoke about driving
back to Fayetteville.”
The sheriff contacted Corporal Snyder,
who was questioning jewelers in that area
east of Chambersburg. Taken to head-
quarters, the striking brunette readily
admitted Ralph Hawk had given her the
sparkling diamond she was wearing on
the third finger of her left hand.
“We're engaged,” she said happily.
This one statement brought the
mystery of the early morning fire that
had taken two lives into clear focus. Ralph
Hawk was a two-timing lover. He had be-
come infatuated with another girl after
he had promised to marry Catherine Gel-
wix. Gillan and Snyder picked him up
and confronted im with the facts.
The handsome youth admitted being
engaged to both Catherine Gelwix and
Jane Wilson at the same time.
“But I didn’t have anything to do with
that fire,” he protested. “I wouldn’t harm
anyone.”
Sheriff Gillan said, “If you’re innocent
you won't mind taking a lie detector test.”
Ralph Hawk agreed. But when the
sensitive machine arrived and the super-
visor started attaching the delicate
apparatus, the suspected youth was the
one who asked the questions. Told how
the inked needle would move in a con-
sistent line on the white paper when he
spoke the truth and would jump violently
when he lied, Ralph Hawk’s bold front
faded.
“It’s no use,” he muttered. “I must have
been mad. I tried to kill Catherine and
her mother and Helen.”
The confession that followed shocked
even the case-hardened policemen. Ralph
Hawk had been too much of a lady’s man.
He had jumped from one romance to an-
other until he was finally trapped by two
engagements.
“I knew I had to do something,” the
handsome Lothario sobbed. “T left Cath-
erine’s house around midnight. I told her
I was going to see my father and that I’d
try to get back. I did go to see my father.
I went back to the farm where I worked.
That was about 1 o’clock. I made sure I
was heard coming in, then I sneaked out
about an hour later.
“Catherine had left the door open for
me, but she’d given up on my coming
back. I made sure everybody was sound
asleep and nobody saw me go in the front
way. I locked the door behind me. There
was a can of kerosene in the kitchen. I
spread it all around. Just as I was about
to strike a match, Catherine woke up. I
had Mrs. Gelwix’s flashlight. Catherine
didn’t see me because I hit her from be-
hind. Then I set the place on fire and ran
out the back.”
Mrs. Gelwix and Helen had perished in
the flames. Catherine had been more for-
tunate. After many days in the Chambers-
burg Hospital she made a full recovery.
Ralph Hawk was indicted for murder
in the first degree. State psychiatrists
found him sane and he was tried and
found guilty as charged.
The two-timing Romeo died in the
electric chair at the State Penitentiary,
Bellefonte, Pa., on March 28, 1939.
(The names Henry Norman and Jane Wilson
are fictitious to protect the identity of persons
innocently involved in the investigation.—
The Editor)
But Farren was driven back through the window a second
after he had entered. Driven back by yellow flames and clouds
of black curling smoke.
As he ran around the house seeking another entrance he called
to Margaret Small to run for help. He himself was seeking
the window opening on the bedroom in which Mrs. Small and
her younger daughter were sleeping.
Smashing the glass of a window, Farren again entered the
house. This time he was in the right room and he managed to
get as far as the bed. The room itself was in flames and the
boy was able to see as though it were illuminated by a series of
flood lights. Gropingly he shoved his scorched hands under the
mass of covers in search of a living body. But no one was on
the bed, Already flames were licking at the foot and Farren
knew that in less than a minute the entire structure would be a
blazing hell. Fighting his way back to the smashed window,
Farren was barely able to reach the open air before his clothes
had caught fire.
N THE meantime, Catherine Gelwix had been half-carried,
half-dragged to the Small home by Margaret. Quickly Dr.
Charles T. Buckingham was summoned. He arrived to find the
girl still semi-conscious, Strangely enough, he discovered
the flames. had never actually reached her. But his probing
fingers swiftly discovered the cause of her condition. A. great
open wound in her forehead indicated a fractured skull. He
staunched the flow of blood and did what he could. But there
was a grim note about his mouth as he turned away. It was
doubtful if Catherine Gelwix would ever regain consciousness.
By this time a crowd had gathered in front of the tiny bunga-
low, which, for a number of years, had been the house of the
widow Gelwix and her two lovely daughters. The flames had
burst through the roof and attracted many neighbors.
Already someone had telephoned for the Franklin County
pumper, stationed in Chambersburg.
Realizing that two women were trapped in that house of
flames, Farren asked for assistance. Several men volunteered
and together they crashed through the locked front door. But
this only served to make a draft and quickly flames took the
place of the billowing smoke which had greeted them.
And then suddenly a peculiar dead silence fell over the crowd,
followed by a horrified cry of terror.
For there in the macabre light of the flames, lying face down
on the hallway floor, was the body of Mrs. Gelwix. Dozens of
her neighbors watched as the body twitched and a last feeble
groan of utter agony escaped from the mouth.
Farren, already scorched, jerked away from the crowd and
ran toward the house. He drew a handkerchief from his hip
pocket and attempted to tie it across his mouth. Several men
leaped out to hold him back when they realized the desperate
chance he: was about to take. But Farren pulled away and
rushed into a blazing inferno that was sure death.
But fate here was kind. For as the boy reached the porch,
there was a tearing crashing roar and the entire framework of
the small home crashed inward and the body of Mrs. Gelwix
was suddenly swallowed up in a mass of burning, crashing
_embers. ; :
*’Farren leaped back just in time to save his own life.’ “°"
«(In the meantime, Dr. Buckingham had not been idle,’ The
grim shadows behind his kindly eyes were there for two reasons.
He had little hope for the recovery of Catherine Gelwix.. But
that was only the first reason. He had discovered two gaping
-indentations in the girl's forehead. Indentations which could
have been caused by only one medium—blows froni a blunt and
‘murderous instrument of death... sh alee halal
‘Pressing into service a neighbor’s car, Dr. Buckingham
‘rushed the unconscious girl to the General Hospital in Cham-
bersburg. And then he summoned Dr, A. W. Thrush, County
“Coroner, ag soon as he had-done everything he could for his
patient. © . : ries soe ies NE GY aN grea a
Dr, Thrush was tired and only half awake when he arrived.
AM iy you said this. was a fire case,” he muttered
Thy Soh Ae - a alent 1
_« "Fire, yes,” said Dr, Buckingham. “But fire can be arson!”
~ He nodded toward the ward in which the Gelwix girl lay,
“And arson or not, fire never yet was responsible for two.
fractures’
, Murder !”
“18
e
ESCAPED
Catherine Gelwix was to be married on New
Year’s Day—her head battered she crawled
through a window, fainted, and was taken to
a hospital cot. Her mother and sister died.
Dr. Thrush whistled softly under his breath. He was sud-
ae
2 denly wide awake.
“ Quickly the two men entered the ward where the girl was
«sleeping fitfully.
“There’s nothing to be learned from her—yet,” said Dr. Buck-
ingham. “But—here’s something that should be of interest to
ou. And to the police officials as well.”
Reaching out he picked up a bundle of feminine clothing.
Quickly Dr. Thrush examined them, then, his face taking on a
_| peculiar expression, he leaned close to the handful of garments.
of the. skull... Ask me and I'll name it arson and ©
His nose twitched and he looked up startled.
“We'll call the police at once!” -he snapped.
i
j
4
WEDDING DAY
But—broken by the disastrous fire, youthful
Ralph Hawks visited his fiancee in the hospital.
must be terribly upset. A thing like this to happen on the very
day which was without a doubt planned to be the happiest in
his life. i 2 .
“Suppose you drive into town with us,” suggested the sheriff.
“We can talk on the way in.”
ND to Klipp and Gillian, the boy outlined all he knew of
‘the case. Both men watched him closely as he talked. They
could see that he was deeply affected by what had happened and
that he was utterly mystified. His dark hair kept falling into -
his wide-apart eyes and his humorous mouth was drawn into a
ated. “No reason anyone could ent
‘igh E ey Souldn' Cha ve bad ‘an’ wHemy
ment to young Ralph Hawk had been announced. The Hey couldn" ive Had’
oe cae to hee ion married that very day—the day following have been poing ational f ) 6 |
the tragedy. The idea that anyone could have wished the little & kui n'
family harm—could have purposely set fire to the house—
seemed fantastic.
Officials realized that if they were ever to get anywhere, the
best thing to do would be to question Catherine Gelwix. But %
Catherine was still unconscious—and with two deep fractures of
the skull, the prospect of her recovering didn’t look too prom-
}
sing.
he Sheriff Gillian and Constable Klipp turned to leave the
scene, a young man, wild-eyed and obviously under a terrific
strain, rushed up to them. cue -
“My God, what has happened? What is this... :
“Who are you?” asked the sheriff, his eyes quickly noting %
the obvious hysteria of the youth. :
“Me—why, I’m Ralph Hawk. Catherine and I are engaged.
I just left the hospital. She has partly regained consciousness.
But what ever happened here? Did someone . ok
“Now take it easy, son.” advised the sheriff. “That's what we gy,
are trying to find out ourselves.” He realized that the boy af
| Fortunately, Catherine’ s :
weak moans were able
to attract the attention
of a young couple sit- x
ting in a car nearby.
es aneodil :
The superintendent looked worried.
“From what I have been able to
learn,” she said,, “the Gelwix home
“burned to the ground some time
around midnight. Apparently it was
a bungalow with all the bedrooms
on the ground floor. Neighbors, at-
tracted by the flames, saw the girk ~
kneeling by her bedroom window.
They lifted her out and, on the advice
of a local physician, rushed her to the
hospital.
“Our examination showed the pa-
“tient to be suffering from two frac-
tures of the skull, with approximately
two ounces of brain tissue missing,”
the nurse said quietly. “The injury
may have been sustained in a fall,
though that is doubtful, and she
stands a good chance to recover. But
what aroused our suspicions was the
strong odor of kerosene on her cloth-
ing. She was wearing a dress, slip
and paities. No stockings or shoes.
And all three garments were literally
saturated with the fluid. The whole
affair seemed very suspicious to us.”
I was hastily making notes as the
nurse talked. “I’m glad you called
me,” I told her. “May I talk to the
girl now or is she still unconscious?”
“You can talk to her but she won't
‘be entirely rational. The anesthesia
hasn’t had time to wear off.”
“Sometimes people say things at a
time like this,” I reminded her, “that |
they would not otherwise mention. A -
. few minutes now may save weeks of .
work.”
But Catherine Gelwix could give us
no information on what had occurred.
In her semi-conscious condition she»
mumbled only one name over and
over: “Phil Mowan—Phil Mowan—”
-“One of the men who brought her
to: the hospital,” the nurse whispered
to me. “She may have recognized him
on the way over and the impression
stayed on her min
“It’s possible,” I admitted. “I’m go-
ing to Marion now and I wish you
would have. someone stay with this
girl at all times. oe may talk later
”
* *
HE little town was seething with
excitement when I arrived. The
burning of the Gelwix home was the
only topic of conversation. I parked
my car a short distance from the
smouldering ruins and _ shouldered
*through the crowd. Reaching the
foundation of the building, I looked
down into what had been the cellar
of the Gelwix home.
The fire had done a complete and
thorough job. No part of the building
remained standing and the cellar was.
cluttered with debris that had fallen
from the upper rooms. A furnace oc-
cupied the center of the cellar. The
door was ajar, with glowing coals still
visible in the fire box though the pipes
leading to the chimney had been de- —
3 vised, pointing. “The People in the
next house have one.” -
‘faulty furnace could have started the
‘witnesses brought out the fact that.
One of the spectators pointed down” «
into the ruins, “Several people burned
to death, Officer. Look, you can see |
part of a body down there now!” - ——
He spoke the truth. Half buried in
the red hot embers, I could see a por-
tion of the ribs and skull of a human
being. Bs
“Where's the nearest phone?” I a
asked, a
- “Over there,” my informant ad---
I knew that no one would toudk :
any part of the burned building until
the fire had cooled. And if human
beings had perished, it was my duty
to notify the coroner of what had
occurred, :
But Dr. A, W. Thrush had already
been called and he was on the scene
when I returned from telephoning his
home.
‘{t’s a bad business,” he said, shaking
his head. “Any idea what caused it?
Some seem to blame the furnace.”
“I don’t know yet,” I told him. “A
fire.” But I was thinking of the girl in
the hospital with a fractured ese and
kerosene on.her clothing. -
~~ * &
ESPITE the early morning hour:
careful interrogation of various ©
the fire was first discovered by Mar-
garet Small, a neighbor, and Charles
Farren, her escort of the evening. The
couple had returned’ from the Ace of
Hearts night club in Chambersburg
about 1:15 as. after celebrating the
New Year. Farren was driving a light
delivery ‘belonging to his em- :
ployer and he and the girl, who lived. daring y
next door to the Gelwix home, parked building.
for a few rainutes in front of her Farren s:
house. onds bef:
“Charles and I were sitting in the ture coll:
car,” Margaret told me, “when I sud- No on:
denly heard someone moaning. It people w
seemed to come from the Gelwix known
home. Charles heard it, too, and when mother
we looked that way we saw flames in Louise, :
one of the bedrooms.” occupied
Margaret screamed for help, and eral disi
the two young people rushed toward. the theor
the burning building, only to find that ine’s boy
the doors were locked. Circling the in the fla
house, they looked in a window and “They
saw Catherine kneeling on the floor row,” M:.
with her head on the window sill. fully, “ar
Farren raised the window and a Thursd
climbed inside, Together, the boy and Traged
girl lifted the unconscious Catherine coming o
outside to safety. two mem
Other neighbors, attracted by the third per
fire and Margaret’s cries, carried the man she
girl to the Small home, while Farren, sible thir
heedless of his own safety, battered in . But Ra
the front door in a heroic endeavor _ remains
to rescue other possible victims. But recoverec
the fire was gaining such swift head- coroner’s
way that it was impossible for the women ci
crematior
“APRUE CRIME DETECTIVE CASES
- TRUE CRIME
endeavor
But
ead=-
r the
TIVE CASES,
ee:
TRUE CRIME'S artist "pictures the youthful killer about to pay his debt to society for the ervel arson murders -
he had perpetrated, .:. Se
» yn"
daring youth to remain long in the
building. Half-suffocated with smoke,
Farren staggered to safety a few sec-
onds before the entire flaming struc-
ture collapsed..
No one knew exact how many:
people were inside, although it was
known that Mrs. Hazel: Gelwix,
mother of Catherine -and Helen
Louise, a fifteen-year-old: daughter,
occupied one of the bedrooms. Sev-
eral distracted neighbors advanced
the theory that Ralph Hawk, Cather-
ine’s boy-friend, might have perished
in the flames.
“They were to be married tomor-
row,” Margaret Small told me tear-.
fully, “and Ralph was there often on
.a Thursday night.”
Tragedy had indeed struck with the
coming of the New Year, wiping out
two members of a family. of three, the
third person gravely injured and the
man she was to have married a pos-
sible third victim of the fire.
But Ralph Hawk was not dead. The
remains of two female bodies were
recovered from the debris, and the
coroner’s report disclosed that both
women came to their death by partial
cremation in an incendiary fire: that
TRUE CRIME DETECTIVE CASES:
totally destroyed their home.
Murder and arson! Two of the most
despicable crimes in the book.. But
who could have done it? The family
had no enemies; the daughter was
engaged to be married. Was it pos-
sible that some rejected suitor had
chosen this heinous method of re-
venge? Was it possible that he—?
But careful investigation gave him
‘a clean slate. After a few routine
questions I was convinced of his inno-
cence.
The Fire Protection Bureau at Har-
risburg was called in to handle the
arson end of the case. I had a feeling
that the murder angle would,be head-
- ache enough for me. Private Bouse
arrived to check the fire, along with
John Funck, ballistician, whose job it
was to probe the kerosene-soaked
clothing of Catherine Gelwix, and to
‘determine, if possible, the nature of
the weapon used to inflict the injuries
sustained by the girl. But we all co-
operated, and Sheriff Gillan of Frank-
lin County, as well as Constable
Walter. Klipp of Chambersburg, lent
their invaluable aid to the investiga-
tion.
* * *
of labor,
‘If he had been with his fiancé oni*
N A murder. mystery of this ‘ports
everyone comes under suspicion -
until all alibis are thoroughly checked, «
And such a process of einer
Our two most logical leads were i
Gelwix girl, who was still in a semi-",
conscious condition in the hospital; >=
and Ralph Hawk, the boy ord was. tor
marry ie
Catherine could give us no “infor
mation whatsoever, other than to say
that her fiancé had been with her the=
night of the tragedy. The girl did ‘not -
know what’ had occurred. She had
fallen asleep and remembered nothing
until awakening in the hospital. As>- =
yet,. Catherine was unaware that her.
mother and sister had perished, and ©
it was deemed best not to tell —_ at >
the present time. Sait
Young Hawk, we learned, ‘worked
on the neighboring farm of Irvan S. ‘
Baer and we decided to question him. «>
New Year’s Eve, as she claimed, he
might be able to shed some —_ on :
the baffling case.
Ralph was not at. the farm wisi wi
(Continued on page 51)
“The ax was standing right there. by
the steps. You know the rest.”
_ “Yes, we know the rest,” Griffin
said grimly. “All the questions I put
up fo you to ask Spiewok were disre-
garded, weren't they?”
An ironical smile curved Szcze-
panek’s thick lips. “What do you
think?” ar
EATH BREAKS A DATE
‘alled, but, Baer and his wife were
eager to talk of the tragedy. I asked
if Ralph had been away that night and
if they knew when he arrived home.
. “I don’t know what time Ralph ‘got
in,” Mr. Baer told me. “But I was
awakened when the fire engines went
past. There was a light burning in
Ralph’s room, and I called and asked
if he was going to the fire.” ay
“You think he was in bed at that
time?” “"
“I don’t believe he was,” Baer said
thoughtfully. “Ralph told me he had
just come from the fire. I asked him
where it was and he said it was in
Marion, that a couple of women had
burned.” oan.
_ “If he had just come from the fire,”
1 interrupted, “he knew it was his
fancé’s home that had burned, Are
you sure of what you say? I can't
believe anyone would take that sort
of news so calmly.” ;
“Irvan’s right,” Mrs. Baer stated
positively. “But Ralph is a very calm,
wnemotional boy. I don’t think I ever
saw him angry or upset. And it would
be just like him to take the news the
way he did.” ise
We located Ralph at his father’s
home. Without mentioning his em-
ployer’s story, Private Bouse and I
questioned the youth regarding his
movements on the night of the trag-
edy,
Ralph took a long time to tell his
story. He appeared absolutely’ un-
moved and indifferent. Apparently
the death of his fiancé’s. mother and
sister, and the near death of the girl
herself, had had little effect on him.
“I didn’t see Catherine the night
this happened,” Ralph told us quietly.
."Lloafed around town the early part
of the evening. Then I bought a pint
of chocolate ice cream and took it
home. My brother and I ate it. After
that.I drove my brother’s car out to
the farm where I work. I left early
as he didn’t have his new license
plates and I didn’t want to be caught
on the road after midnight. When I
got to the farm I put the car in the
garage and went to bed.”
Things certainly were shaping up.
We had three stories, all plausible,
but each contradicting the other.
. “Have you seen Catherine since this
TRUE CRIME DETECTIVE CASES
Further questioning of Szczepanek
showed that he drove home from
Newburyport, changed his clothes and -
. went back to the job where Spiewok
worked unsuspecting. He also knew
that Frances Bill recognized him at
the hospital, and that prompted his
flight with. the money.
In time Frances Bill recovered fr-—
ABR 453 sos ital oa SR
+. 193 t
Page :
We itinn wat a
_ (Continued from page 43)
happened?” I wanted to know.
Hawk admitted that he had not.
“Would you like to visit her now?”
I asked. “We'll drive you right over.”
The youth offered no objection and
we drove him immediately to the hos-
pital. Squaring his shoulders, Ralph
walked into the room where his fi-
ancé lay on a bed. Her eyes lighted
‘ up at sight of him, then fell as she saw
us standing in the background.
“Ralph, who are those men?”
‘Hawk shrugged. “Just some fel-
lows.”
Catherine looked searchingly at the
boy she hoped to marry. “Ralph,” she
asked, “what happened to me?”
Hawk stirred uneasily. “I don’t
know, honey,” he said. “I wasn’t
there.”
The girl stared at him unbeliev-
-ingly. “Why, yes, you were, Ralph!”
The youth managed a sickly smile. ©
“If I was there,” he muttered, “TI didn’t
know it.”
After a few minutes with his sweet-
heart, during which time he expressed
no concern over the girl’s narrow es-
cape from death, Ralph Hawk indi-
cated that he was ready to leave.
* * *
LTHOUGH Hawk was at this time
our chief suspect, we really had
nothing definite against him, other
than the conflicting stories told by his
employer, his girl friend and himself.
And I am frank to admit that I
wanted to find the boy innocent.
His reputation in Marion was ex-
cellent. Ralph was popular and had
once been voted the town’s best-look-
ing boy. He seemed honestly in love
’ with the girl he planned to marry, and
she with him. To even suspect him of
so heinous a crime seemed preposter-
ous. But the fact remained that two
brutal murders had been perpetrated
and a vicious attempt made on Cath-
erine’s life. Only by the merest chance
had she escaped the fate of her
mother and sister. Someone had com-
mitted it, but who? And for what
motive?
One by one we checked off names
from our rapidly dwindling list of sus-
pects as investigation proved them in
no way connected with the crime.
Meanwhile our search for the crim-
inal was going forward on all fronts.
LEU AR TENT TAN 5 SORTER.
Dre . ee geen or
+? ‘ t Thy
her wounds. ws
On December 18, 1918, a year after
the crime, Szczepanek went on trial
before Judge Webster Thayer with
District Attorney Wells prosecuting.
On December 23rd, the jury returned
a verdict of first degree murder. He
was sent to death in the electric chair.
Sheriff Gillan, with the aid of men
from the State Fire Bureau, sifted
every ounce of ashes and débris in
the cellar of the burned home. It was
a long and tedious job, but the men
. were well repaid when they came
across the blackened case of a flash-
light with a damaged base. Rushed to
headquarters, experts stated that, in
their opinion, the flashlight was the
instrument used in striking Catherine
Gelwix above the right ear and frac-
turing her skull.
* * *
AREFUL checking of Ralph’s story
revealed that he was telling the
truth in so far as his actions of the
early part of the evening were con-
cerned. He actually had gone to the
store and purchased ice cream, after ©
which he left in his brother’s machine.
But had he gone directly to the farm,
as he claimed, or had he stopped at
the Gelwix home? And there was
Irvan Baer’s story of Ralph’s knowl-
edge of the fire, even before the en-
gines reached the scene.
The boy’s presence in his room,
‘however, was corroborated by two
young men of the neighborhood.
Knowing Ralph to be a frequent visi-
tor at the Gelwix home, they had left
the fire and driven to the Baer home
in order to assure themselves that
their friend was safe.
Ralph answered their hail and in-
formed them coolly that he most cer-
tainly was alive and well.
’ There was no question but that
Ralph was home and in his room im-
mediately after the fire. But how long ~
he had been there previous to the
start of the blaze was a mystery we
were determined to solve, It was un-
fortunate that the family had not
_ heard him come in.
Returning to the Baer home, we
questioned the farmer more closely.
He was positive that he had not mis-
understood Ralph’s remarks concern-
ing the fire, but it was Mrs. Baer who
supplied our first clue to a possible
motive.
Several evenings before, she said, a
neighbor’s child had arrived with .a
note for Ralph. The note was in a
sealed envelope. Ralph had read it
and thrust it in the stove.
But there was no fire in the range.
51
=
a
i ’ 3 . . te
Bc. ented Rca «Ce Aa,
hh Ralph left the house, Mrs. Baer
retrieved the piece of paper and read
it. As nearly as she could recall it
read in the following manner:
“Dear Ralph: ©
- Will you come to the house this
evening? I am not feeling well.
I couldn’t go to work today.
Please come.”
Mrs. Baer said the note had been
delivered on December 28th, three
days before the tragedy.
The note, arriving at that time, sug-
gested a ‘connection with the case.
But even so, things failed to make
sense, Ralph had planned to marry
the girl the following day. But—and
‘doubt. entered my mind—had he
doubted his own willingness to marry
and settle down after giving the girl
his promise? '
“Ralph,” Catherine had said, “had
wanted to be married the previous
day. But, due to their inability to ob-
tain a license just then, they had de-
cided to drive to Maryland for the
ceremony.” At no time had the youth
evinced the slightest reluctance to
stand by his promise.
We had our doubts on that score by
now, but nothing was said. Catherine’s
condition was still precarious; so
much so that she had not yet been
told the full extent of the tragedy,
‘although the crime was now four days
old.
Further delving into Ralph Hawk’s
past elicited the information that the
handsome youth was restless under
the restrictions placed upon him by
his engagement to Catherine. The boy
was to inherit several thousand dol-
lars on reaching his majority and this
fact, coupled with his splendid ap-
pearance, made him a much-sought-
after suitor.
Bernice Starrin, a 17-year-old girl
who lived in another town nearby, ~
voluntarily informed us that Ralph
had “dated” her the night of Decem-
ber 26th, four days before the attack
on his fiancé. As a Christmas pres-
ent, she said, Ralph had given her a
box of candy.
Oddly enough, a similar present
was Ralph's only gift to his fiancé,
although Catherine purchased for him
an expensive wrist watch as a token
of her esteem.
Armed with these new develop-
ments, we faced Ralph again, charg-'
ing him with wanting to break his
promise of marriage to Catherine, and
advising him of our knowledge of the
unburned note which Mrs. Baer had
found in the stove. The youth con-
fessed to having dates with the Star-
rin girl and admitted receiving the
note from Mrs. Gelwix, but denied
that either fact had any bearing on
the case.
I then confronted him with his em-
ployer’s statement of what had been
said at the time of the fire.
52
_ “If you returned home at midnight,
Ralph, how did you know there had
been a fire? And how did you know
that two:women had burned, even
before the engines arrived?”
Hawk hung his head. “I was at the
_Gelwix home the night of the fire,”
he finally admitted, “but I don’t know
. a thing about what happened. And
I didn’t think it would help any to
become involved. if I could avoid it.
Admitting that I had been in the
house wouldn’t help you catch the
guilty person.”
“Suppose you tell us all about it,” I
suggested. “Where you went and
when you arrived and left. It’s always
best to tell the truth, because some-
times some little detail that you may
think unimportant is sufficient to
break the case.”
“I can’t tell you a whole lot,” Ralph -
said thoughtfully. “I told the truth
when I said I was home in the eve-
ning and about buying the ice cream
to eat. But when I left home I didn’t
go to the Baer farm right away. I
went over to see Catherine.”
“Was anyone else there? Someone
who may have committed this crime?”
“No,” Ralph admitted. “Mrs. Gelwix
was in the livingroom listening to the
radio, I didn’t see Louise anywhere,
but I suppose she was in bed.”
“What time was that?”
‘I guess about ten o’clock. Mrs.
Gelwix said Catherine had lain down
for a few minutes and that I should
just go in.”
“I understand,” I said. “Was Cath-
erine awake when you entered her
room?”
“She got awake when I came in. 1
sat down on the edge of the bed and
we talked for quite a while. But I had
to leave early on account of the old
license plates on the car. [ didn’t dare
be caught on the highway after mid-
£.”°
“But how about the fire?” I per-
sisted. “How did you know that any-
one had burned to death?”
Ralph looked at the floor. “I didn’t
say that,” he said flatly. “Irvan must
have made a mistake.”
There was no other recourse but to
lock the boy up. I knew he wasn’t
telling the whole truth and, while he
might eventually be cleared of. sus-.
picion, Ralph Hawk had a lot to ex-
plain, I talked things over with Funck
and Bouse and it was decided to put
him on the polygraph in the morning.
+. *
POLYGRAPH or lie-detector is
nothing more than an extremely
sensitive instrument used for record-
ing the respiration and blood pres-
sure of a suspect. It is now used by
up-to-date police departments as a
time-saving device. As an example,
let us suppose that we have what ap-
pears to be ten logical suspects and
we know that only one of them com-
suspects‘on the polygraph, we elimi-. ”
nate nine of them and can concen- |
trate our. efforts in the direction of |
the man whom we really know to be
guilty. The polygraph enjoys a very
high record of accuracy, and numer-
ous cases have been cracked wide
open which, without its aid, would
probably have remained forever a
mystery,
.. Ralph Hawk displayed no particu-
lar emotion when told that his ‘state-
ments were to be verified on the
machine. Outwardly calm throughout
the entire procedure, he was unable
to still the sudden leaping of his
heart when asked about the fire and
the subsequent death of the two
women. Ralph ran a bad record, and
we told him so.
He made no comment ind we tried
again with the same result. Leaving
nothing to chance, Ralph was tested
yet a third time and, as in each pre-
. vious instance, the inanimate machine
relentlessly indicated his guilt. |
We hammered him with questions
now. “Why? Why? What was the
motive? Weren't you in love with the
girl? Didn’t you want to marry her?
What did you have against the mother
and sister?”
The handsome youth stoically en-
dured our examination, refusing com-
ment.
The murderous flashlight was
brought in. “You struck her with
this, didn’t you, Ralph?” I accused
him sternly. “You thought Catherine
was dead before you set fire to the
house. It was a tough break for you
when she managed to stagger to the
window in time to be rescued.”
Hawk eyed us coolly and took a
deep breath. “I guess you’ve got me,”
he said. ‘I might as well confess.”
The statements made at that time
and signed by the youth were, for
sheer brutality and complete callous-
ness, unsurpassed by any other case
in my years of experience as a police
officer. To those who knew him from
boyhood, Ralph Hawk was no differ-
ent from any other youth of the
neighborhood. Quiet, unassuming,
slow to anger, he would be consid-
efed anywhere as a respectable, up-
standing young man. Yet he had
turned overnight into a beast.
“I went to the Gelwix home,” Ralph
told us coolly, “about ten o'clock.
Mrs. Gelwix and Louise were already
in bed and Catherine was in her
room. I went in and stayed with her
for a while.
“I don’t know how. long I was there,
but I got to thinking about our mar-
riage and how I didn’t want to go
through with it.
“IT just sat there and thought, and
I knew I couldn’t go through with it
I could see the flashlight on the bu-
reau and suddenly I decided to do
TRUE CRIME DETECTIVE CASES
mitted ee crime. By ‘running the ten
~ ever her. But
i \eouldn’t set he
* Buick rocketed
derbolt. Begley
‘stantly realize
would fight bac
| make a_ succe
/ jammed the ga
'- McFadden stu
‘ window and lc
_ Speeding Buick
~ At a mile-a-:
and the whit:
Somerville Av:
| before the two
“as McFadden’s
_ into the teeth o
ached to punct:
- tires, but he sc:
shots which em
- Mumerous side
' streets snarled
desperate effor
grim nemesis .
»which seemed ‘
> McFadden g:
* triggered three
| Black Sade ca
mouth of Sacre
“Now we've
Begley, riding t
© foot while his
“down on the g
/-spun into Sa
“when Begley le
leaped forwar<
e“This is a deac
- bottle him tight
-%, Sacremento ‘
ending at the B
- road tracks. Th:
‘ing he had fall
own making, b
the very end.
.the curbing, ble
Ned a_shudderin
-walk. This unf
Black Spade .
¥ Begley and Mc}
4 Fame chine DETEC
{ accused
re to the a
no differ-
th of the
nassuming,
be consid-
ctable, up-
+t he had
east.
me,” Ralph
en o'clock.
ere already
vas in her
aes
as
4
with the whole family. I struck
shove the ear. She didn’t move. Then
tok it into Mrs. Gelwix’s bedroom.
* I splashed some over the bed and set
fre to it. Then I stood there a moment
fo see that it burned. When I saw
it was going to catch I locked
door so they couldn't get out.”.
~ Gy continued, “and poured kerosene
- Rover her. But I lost my nerve. I
euldn’t set her on fire. I took the
Buick rocketed forward like a thun-
ff
> @isantly
derbolt. Begley and MacFadden in-
realized the Black’ Spade
ould fight back bullet for bullet to
mke a successful escape. . Begley
jammed the gas pedal to the floor as
° WivcFadden stuck his hand out the
tindow and leveled his gun at the
geeding Buick.
At a mile-a-minute clip, the Buick
ind the white cruiser tore down
ille Avenue. Traffic scattered
fore the two madly careening cars
McFadden’s gun barked angrily
into the teeth of the wind. McFadden
hed to puncture one of the Buick’s
ires. but he scored zero with the six
‘WRiots which emptied his gun. Through
2d with her.
I was there,
it our Mar-
want to go
hought, and a
vugh with it. 3
on the bu-;
cided to do |
TECTIVE CASES. r.
es
mmerous side streets and main
kesperate effort to shake loose the
pim nemesis of the police cruiser
yhich seemed to creep up on him. .
McFadden grabbed Begley’s gun,
triggered three fast shots just as the
“MiBlack SBade careened wildly into the
a pouth of Sacremento Street...
“@ “Now we've got him!” exclaimed
“Wi tegley, riding the brake with his left
Bot while his right still clamped
a down on the gas pedal. The cruiser
‘“Sgm into Sacremento — Street and
Aven Begley let up on the brake, she
3 keped forward like a greyhound.
<q This is a dead-end street, Al. We'll
“A \itle him tighter than bonded stuff.”
“4 Sacremento Street is quite long,
“Goaiing at the Boston and Maine rail-
‘Wi md tracks. The Black Spade, realiz-
‘9 ig he had fallen into a trap of his
wn making, burned the rubber to
Wewte very end. He slammed against
[PF ilte curbing, blew out a tire and came
a shuddering stop on the side-
k. This unforseen move by the
lack Spade was -an obstacle for
Begley and McFadden. :
CRIME DETECTIVE CASES
treets snarled the Black Spade in a
oilcan back to the kitchen, locked
the front door and returned to Ca-
therine’s room. The fire was burning
pretty fast by now, so I kicked a
window out of the bedroom and
crawled out. Then I got in my car
and drove to the Baer farm. I had
just reached my room when the fire
went past and Mrs. Baer got
awake and called to me.”
¢ «
NX that he had confessed to the
fiendish crime, Ralph Hawk was
apparently resigned to his fate. He”
refused counsel, saying coolly, “I did
it, didn’t 17 What good will a lawyer
do me now?”
The case aroused intense interest
all over the country. Ralph was thor-
(Continued from page 35)
The terrific speed at which they
‘were traveling was prompted by
their desire to stem any escape of
their quarry. And when the Buick
stopped practically in front of them,
Begley had to think fast. With a .
muttered prayer, he twisted the
wheel to avoid ramming into the
Buick. The cruiser tilted, knifed
along on two wheels, the. tortured
tires whining like berserk demons.
For a split-second, it looked as though
it would settle down on all fours. But
the weight on the tilted end was too
much as it careened against the curb-
ing and overturned with a crescenda
of crumpled metal.
- Bruised and badly shaken up,
Begley and McFadden freed them-
selves from the wreckage. They were
in time to see the Black Spade leg
it over a wooden fence in the direc-
tion of the railroad tracks. Begley
and McFadden were physically un-
able to give chase. Alarmed citizens
poured out of their homes. A fast
call to headquarters brought Chief
Thomas Damery and a squad of po-
lice to the scene.
Warned by Begley and McFadden —
that the Black Spade was armed and
desperate, the police spread out and
searched the area clear across to the
other side of the railroad tracks. Both
Begley and McFadden had been re-
moved to the Somerville Hospital.
The police fingerprint expert tackled
the Buick, determined to uncover a
tell-tale fingerprint which would
eventually snare the marauding
“stop-light” Black Spade.
An hour later the manhunt was in-
” tensified, but as the night lengthened,
there wasn’t a single trace of the
Black Spade. The inky stretch of
- darkness along the railroad tracks
had perfectly screened his escape.
Spade.
oughly examined by famous psychia-
trists, men and women who wanted to
know just where the wheels went
It was brought out that Ralph’s
mother had perished in a burning
building while he was still a child.
Could that explain his diabolical
crime? A jury didn’t think so. They
brought in-a verdict of guilty, and
the youthful slayer, who had not yet
reached his majority, was sen! »nced
to die in the electric chair at Penn‘
sylvania’s Rockview Penitentiary.
His case was appealed ‘but without
results. And on March 28, 1938, Ralph
Hawk paid his debt to society.
Note: The name Bernice Starrin is
fictitious.
N “ te? (Sita hy Aa é
Tes oe eS ib Wah OK + Abn at: *
jp hihi on Bi aR Soir phon .
ARLY the following morning the
Somerville, Boston, and Medford
police departments were already
working in close cooperation. It was
in Medford that the Black Spade had
pulled his first stop-light holdup.
Lieutenant James Stewart Lenox
who had made the investigation said: _
“We know the man we want is in
his early twenties. And although the
descriptions we have received are of
they vaguest sort, they seem to be of
one person. Every victim’s descrip-
tion of the Black Spade’s procedure
has been the same. He climbs into
the car when a stop is made at a red-
light, presses a gun against the back
of the driver’s head and scares them
into obeying his orders. The Black
Spade has had uncanny luck so far.
But what I’m afraid of, if we don’t
capture him mighty soon, is murder!”
*: # *
| pc atnial 9 o'clock of April 2nd,
three youths were picked up as
suspicious characters. At Somerville
police headquarters, they were sub-
jected to a severe grilling which,
hours later, convinced the police that
none of the three were the Black
Throughout
manhunt for the Black Spade slid
into high-gear. The string of hold-
ups had hit the front pages of the
Boston newspapers, causing great
consternation particularly among the —
numerous women who drove cars
within Boston and its many suburbs.
The tenderloin district of Boston
in Scollay Square was being watched
closely by a score of plainclothes-
men. Here a youthful desperado
could find plenty of sources to help
him spend any ill-gotten money.
There were numerous beer-joints
53.
Greater Boston the
ic |
Pd yy
=
Fa_(Franklin) 3-28-1938. _
NEVER a BRIDE
Clara Wakefield was a good girl, al-
though perhaps not always “good” in the
conventional sense of the word. Her main
aim in life was to marry and have kids
and a small Pennsylvahia farm of her
own.
There was only one obstacle to the ful-
filiment of Clara’s ambition. That was the
fact that, while he was obviously crazy
about her, her sweetheart, young Pud
Hawks, had still to pop the question.
Clara knew that she would have to take
matters into her own hands. Sc today, the
last day of the year 1937, she had gently
broken the news: she was going to have
a baby.
“Now we'll get married, won't we,
Pud?” she said. “We'll have to.”
“We'll get married right away,” Pud
: promised.
When Clara invited hirh to a New Year's
Eve party she was givihg that evening,
he said he wasn’t sure whether he could
come or not. Clara knew Pud thought her .
ae: over-quiet, maybe even a little
di
As it turned out, this New Year’s Eve
party was anything but quiet.
Along about midnight when neighbor-
ing farmers were “7 out the old and
toasting in the new quarts of good
Pennsylvania whisky, a sudden blast of
flame roared up against the sky..
“The Wakefield place,” said farmers
excitedly. “Burning like & haystack in the
By the time the first state trooper ar-
rived there was nothing left of the house
but « blackened brick fetndation end the
furnace. Beside it, buried in rubble and
ash, the trooper found two charred human
bodies.
When they learned. of young Pud
Hawks’ friendship with the Wakefields,
police sought him out for questioning.
His answers were tforward. He
hadn’t heard of any fire. He hadn’t, he
said, even been near the Wakefield house
on New Year’s Eve. He had been invited,
but it was too far to walk and he was
afraid to use the car betause he had no
38 License plates.
Then they broke bad news. Clara had
been seriously hurt, but was still alive.
Pud appeared stunned and his face turned
pale. The police offered to drive him to
the hospital to see her.
Police warned Pud that because of her
weakened condition Clara had not yet
been told that the bodies of her mother
and sister had been found at the scene
of the fire.
Clara was propped up in bed when Pud
entered the room. A slightly swollen and
red right eye was the only visible mark
of her recent ordeal.
“Hello, Pud,” she sajd, smiling and glad
td see him.
Pud stared at her reddened eye.
“ “Are you okay, Pud?”
“Okay,” he said.
“Honey,” Clara strained reward him.
“What happened to me?”
“I don’t know,” Pud said.
Clara hesitated. Her incredulous whis-
per was barely audible. “But, honey,” she
sdid, “you were there.”
Pud’s sickly grin and faint “No, I
wasn't” didn’t save his wrists from the
handcuffs that were clapped on.
Fifteen minutes later his nerve broke.
Everyone likes to wipe the slate clean on
New Year’s. Pud was no exception.
“We were lying on the bed in Clara’s
‘ rdom,” he said, “fully clothed, listening to
the radio. Her sister and mother were
asleep in the next room.
“I got to thinking,” he went on. “Some-
thing came over me—I didn’t want to
marry the girl. I knew I should, but I
didn’t want to.
“So I leaned across the bed and hit her
on the head with the butt end of a flash-
light. Then I went to the kitchen for some
kerosene, sprinkled it over Clara, threw
tHe reroainder in the bedroom where her
mother and sister were sleeping and set
it afire. I crawled out a window and drove
home.”
Pleading guilty to. both murders, Hawks
got the chair.
Though everyone thought it extremely
unfilial to her, Clara tried halfheartedly
to defend Pud at the trial. The reason be-
cdme clear later. In his death cell, Clara
told Pud that she never really had been
pregnant at all, ©
- BY.DEREK QUINN: ~
34
delete MAgreT Aye MILES
page 33)
face contorted in sdrrow at the news
of her friend’s death, wept, ‘‘I knew
she shouldn’t have gone out with that
guy the minute I saw him.’
¢‘*Why?”’ asked Detective Brown.
% ‘*There was something hungry-
looking about him,”’’ said the burles-
que girl. ‘“There was a look i in his eyes
‘[-didn’t like.’ - > &-
* “Do you know who he is?””
“Qh, I can recognize him all right,”’
sobbed Billie. ‘‘But I don’t know his
name or where you can find him.”’
‘‘What do you know about her
husband?’’ asked Brown.
‘‘Just his name, W.B. Stockwell.
Frances referred to him as Billy,’’ said
the dancer. ‘‘He kept writing to her,
trying to get her to quit burlesque and
come back to him.”’
Billie LaMonte had never met her
murdered roommate’s husband, and
ex-sailor, nor did she know where he
could be found. But Frances, she told
Brown, was from onsen aters ict and
had family there.
At the hotel desk, Brown learned
that Frances had checked out early
Saturday night, but had not returned
to pick up the suitcase she had left in
the package room. Searching it for
evidence, he came across a large,
neatly tied package of letters from
W.B. Stockwell, her husband. The
content of the letters ran from
declarations of love and pleas to leave
burlesque and return to him, in the early
letters, to a ‘‘quit and come back to
me, or else,’’ tone in the latest ones.
“*Yes. I know about Stockwell,’’
' said Captain Matowitz when he heard
Detective Brown’s report and read the
letters. ‘‘I’ve already contacted ine
girl’s family in Philadelphia, but all
they could tell me is that the husband
has been traveling a lot in the Midwest
and West on the job he got since getting
out of the Navy. They don’t know
where he is or the firm he works for.
/- A brother is coming here to claim the
body.”’
‘“At least we know cuiahiie of her
past,’’ said Brown. ‘‘But learning
about her present, especially the sailor
she went out with is liable to be a tough
job. r ve got a description, see no
name.’
(continued on page 36)
macy MRDEF ELI Ee sa py
EBLE
te
» rh we ‘sus Baath
ot, ERT yan a
TG
; oN
THE MONTH'S BEST CASES
TORTURE KIDNAP! «eee ee cet By John Shirley 6
h await a retired minister in an
West Virginia—Torture and deat
abandoned mine until G-men bring the kidnapers to justice.
GINIA’S ILLICIT LOVERS....-°":
10
PASSION PLOT OF VIR!
By Sheriff Frank D. Mays and Walden Snell
leads to a crimson murder but a keen-
Virginia—Y outhful passion
witted sheri
TRAILING THE FIEND OF RAT RIV
s Canadian Mounted Police
Canada—A mysterious
until, true to tradition, they get their man.
CALIFORNIA’S RIDDLE
o bb eee ee
San Francisco—/
trail of a heartless murderer.
aoe 8 HTS ore
leading police on the
- WISCONSIN’S BANDIT ‘KILLERS
SHOWDOWN .- tious By ‘George Hymer 22
Chicago—The last members of a notorious murder crew turn to
bank robbery but are wiped out by police.
AVENGING CAROLINA’S SLAIN POLICE HERO ...-.- we
_, By Capt. L. R. Fisher and Herbert Rudlin 26
er is murdered but his
Nosth Carolina—A fearless state troop
his death.
MOLLS
comrades avenge
TRAPPING NEW JERSEY’S DEATH
By Roland E. Lindbloom
police until a
9 are > web Ee ME
acon yo eener
Newark—The wanton killing of a bus driver baffles
probationer makes a startling admission.
PENNSYLVANIA’S BANK RAIDERS AND THE DEADLY
AMBUSH - By Lawrence Flick, Jr., and Mackenzie Griffin
Philadelphia—A perfect bank robbery fails when clever bandits
are trapped by @ detective’s hunch.
By Martin Cotter
MURDER MADNESS ..--ee rere
[llinois—Patient detectives catch up with a pair of brutal killers
in the concluding chapter of a gripping tale.
SHORT FEATURES
ey hk dk eee
CRIME FILE
PHOTO FLASHES ..---e seer Sete By oie ey bt8e coccenenes
$90,000 GEM THEFT...--.-ssrr 5 slate sete ea ae ee
CURB THE SEX CRIMINAL...-++°°° eee eee By Dr. John E. Lind 50
Serre va Ora.
STRAIGHT FR
ER - By Harry F. Mullett 14
By Kate O’Connor 18
+) Through
in America
32
38
46
by Country Press, Inc., at 11
DARING DET
Louisville, Ky.
of March 3, 1879, with addi
7 ALL MANU
New York City, Ni. Vi
THE AUTHOR'S RISK, ACCOMPANIED
00 a year, §. A. Copyright 1938 by
d month receding date of issue.
Advertising forms close
tising offices: New York, 1501 Broadway; C
Simpson-Reilly, 1014 Russ Bldg.;
MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU
360 N.
Los Angeles, Simpson-Reilly, Garfie'!
OF CIRCULATIONS
4
5 ate ie ie , dia cabin Mis rae
a SM bon fee tte i yah ea
ECTIVE is published monthly 00 W. Broadway,
at the post otfce at Louisville, Ky., under the act
1501 Brosdun
foreign subscriptions, $2.
the 20th of the: thir \
, ichigen Ave.; San Francisco,
Country
Adver-
1 “* ”
-Latest Sensations in the Crime Whirl—
and What the Law Is Doing About Them
Te discovery of the frozen body of tomobile slayings. Mrs. Flossie Hart-
Charles Mattson, ten, kidnap vic- man, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, with her
tim of Tacoma, Washington, hor- eleven-month-old son in her arms,
rified the nation. The boy had been came upon her estranged husband,
mutilated, beaten to death. Apparent- Joseph, sitting in a parked car with
ly the deed was that of a sadist, and Miss Mary King, 34. The mother
ransom of $28,000 had not been asked climbed into the rear seat, handed the
in good faith. The hellish criminal is child to Joseph, then shot him through
still at large, as we go to press. the heart. The baby escaped unin-
Eight armed men stuck up the Bar- jured.., And in McComb, Mississippi,
ney clothing store on Eighth Avenue, Ed Felder, prison guard, went driving
New York City, and snatched money with his wife, their three-month-old
and jewelry from customers totaling daughter and a niece, Dora Dean Sim-
$40,000. Half an hour later Fred mons, eighteen, Spectators saw the
Dunn, 29, one of their number, was married pair ‘quarreling. The next
located dead in a furnished room. minute Felder blasted both women
Checks made out to Barney were to death with his army revolver,
scattered about the room, and indi- turned it against himself and per-
cated a fatal quarrel over the loot. ished. Again the infant was spared.
There have been several arrests, In La Crosse, Kansas, a row over
At the Manhattan Opera House, also the. selling of some cattle caused Glenn
in New York, Frank Cicero, 33, was Purcell, farmer, to strangle his wife
stabbed to death while a dinner dance and drown their baby, aged one year,
with 1,500 guests was in progress, Po-’ in a bathtub. The next day Purcell
lice locked all doors and searched the brought a friend home with him and
crowd in the vast ballroom until 2 cooked dinner, while the bodies lay
a. m., yet failed to identify the slay- hidden in. another room. He -tried .to
er. excuse himself to the Sheriff later by
Ralph Hawk, twenty-year-old farm saying his wife’s attitude about the
hand of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania cattle had made him so mad he had
. told county officials he had “decided committed the murders “before he
just what to do” when he tired of be- knew what he was doing.”
ing betrothed to Catherine Gelwix. He Matanuska, Alaska, the New Deal
crept into the girl’s bungalow home colony, has had its first homicide mys-
f
“a flashlight, poured oil over her bed
f and the one next to it, and set fire to
/ the place. Mrs, Hazel Gelwix and her
younger daughter, Helen, fifteen, were
burned fatally, but Catherine was res-
cued by neighbors,
In a’ Chicago north side tavern : \
Frank Parker, 40, a piano tuner, sat : :
down at the piano and played “Sweet iffy
Mystery of Life.” The crowd ap- ’
plauded, all except Harold Rembert, , :
25, who drew a pistol, shouted, “I : Bee
Baker, told officers that one of her as-
don’t like you!” and shot Parker dead,
For no better motive than that Rem-
bert faces a murder charge,
Babies figured curiously in two au-
: Sailants had weakened and talked his
Hy oe en oak teeth vat rete companions out of putting the torch
’ >
front of her tent, a rifle bullet in her oe after the preparations had been
head and the Weapon beside her. Samuel Miller, eighteen, of Dover,
Though a coroner’s inquest ascribed New Jersey, beat a probable life-term
the death to suicide the woman’s hus- rap for kidnaping and rape when his
band has been held for the grand jury “victim,” Jean Nash, fifteen, agreed to
ba arse ood 7 pooner a arriage ITY him. A wife may not testify
ine, a relative by marr agains j ismi
of “Dizzy” Dean, baseball player, was ’ * her husband Case dismissed.
shot to death at the bus barn in Gulf-
port, Mississippi, of which he was
manager, Robert Tinsley, 45, an em-
ploye discharged by Devine, has been
arrested and accused of murder,
In West Charleston, West Virginia,
the corpse of nineteen-year-old Clara
Edens was found by firemen in a
burned shack, Blackened surgical in-
struments by her side set police to
searching for a doctor believed to have
on an illegal operation upon
er.
Identification of an Indiana murder
victim ended search for senile Morris
Seigel, known as Chicago’s “King of
Fixers,” wanted for questioning in the
investigation of a huge ambulance-
chasing ring. Carl A. C, Johnson, a
farmer, confessed that he had beaten
Seigel, 77, to death in a farmhouse
Mrs. Flossie Hartman: She
shoots her husband, misses baby
Carl A. Johnson, Pointing to
the spot on the floor where
maentucky posses trailed three men
the “King of the Fixers” fell
who ravished a nineteen-year-old
alive. The victim, Mrs, Clarence
Back Bay, Boston, apartment with
knife wounds in her chest, arms and
neck, William F, Carbone, 39, auto-
mobile salesman, wailed when arrested
for the crime: “We were childhood . Ralph Hawk: To avoid mar-
sweethearts. We had been quarreling riage, he kills two, and
- since Christmas over various affairs,” desperately injures a third
29
ey, QIME
. ) /
as ie iis ie, V (4
OPFIC/AL LETECTIVE Sikes 70 .
-_ >
J-/-S7 37
A
Richmond gave the alrm, summonging a policeman and Dr..J,. Allen of t29 Cumberland St, The wife
was past all human aid. Remained speechless and died in 15 minutes, Had been shot in the head 4
two places and one had entered back of left ear, ranging upward, and the other piercing the 5)
cheek under right eye. There was also scalp wound in front of right temple, apparently made by ~
her head striking aginst bricks as she fell, K ayes was found to have turned pistol against self
after shooting wife, and to:have fired first ball into face at the right angle of jawy, whence it
took an upward course, passing through obbit of eye, and again justabove the eyes, f racturing
the frontal sinus and producing flesh wound in the region of left temme. He was taken to St. Mary!
Hospital where it was found that left eye was uninjured he could see, out of it} that organs of
speech were not affected, and that, although suffering greatly from shock to' who system, he did
not appear to be conscious 6 any great pain, and at times was able to express self intelligently,
Ball, however, could not be reached by probing and doctor pronounced wound mortal,
Being a Roman Catholic, he was visited by priests and was urged by one of Sisyers to tell her
what had happened and prompted to commit deed. Assuring him that he had not many hours to life
and thats no harm could come to him in consequence of his confession and that even if guilty the
Sisters under the circumstances would not be calledon to betray hém, she entreated him to relieve
his consciense by telling her the truth, He had already sought to screen himself by a crudely
contrived plea of self defense, throwing upon wife blame of. occurrence by intimations that. she had
tried to shoot him or had persuaded some man to shoot him for her and afterward he had sought to
involve, ‘in similar charges, her eldest daughter, who was known to hate been all morning at work
at factory. When the Sister questionedhim t he instinct for self presergation so strong that it
prompted him to say: 'I did not shoot my wife; my wife shot me,* ToSister he said he had pure
chased pistolg taken it home, placed it on table and wife took it up and shot at him, This story
was not consistent with statement made to another person that his wife had threatened to shoot him
a week ago or with the way in which the unfortunate woman was shot, respecting which two theories
have been f prmed; either that he crept up behind her and inflicted the first wound in the back of
the head, firing the second shot just as she turned to face him; or that the wound in the face
was given first, and that in the back of the head as she turned to fly, or with the instinctive
miscular mo emant, said always to be the result of a gunshot wound in the face or chest,
wheeled around. Mrs, Hayes was formerly wife of Patrick O'Keefe, a liquor dealer, who had left
her and her four-children in what was for tyeir class of life, comfortable circumstances, The
house in Collins St, where she lived with children during her widowhood was small but bery neat
in appearances, She was highly spoken of by neighbors as being amiable and industrious, and
giving Hayes no cause of jealousy which somehow.as alleged as 'motive of act. After death of her
first husband, Mrs, O'Keefe remained three years a widow and about five years ago married Hayes wb
os~descrobed bu _sp,e as~am emgomeer, bu ptjers as~a_;abprer. amtpijersstos;—as-dpoms--e--$ ort a2
a_variety of trades.—About—a_-yéar-after marrtape, he~began |
is described by some as an engineer, by others as a laborer, and by others,as doing a'little at a
variehy of trades, About a year after marriage, he began to idle around, lving upon results of
wife's hard work, and upon what little property she possessed, while he tormented her by accusa~
tions of inflidelity and by fllowing, even when her errand was only to nearest grocery store, to
“keep a watch upon her movements, He was a man of violent temser, quarreled with wife about her
children; abusing her rounding, and in gusts pf passion, dragging the food from the table and
stamping upon it or thpowing it into street, He had never been accused of striking here Last
spring he left house and was gone for a month, Returned but lapsed into old habitse
~ BHILADELPEIA INCUIRER :3=2)-1880 g : : t
ae t
e t t
+e
“Stet Aye Sp Ae RAR ORAM cps sEE
PARMA RM se LN Ris
# A ‘ EAS . , é ; Bs fc Le ee ee
PATRICK HAY§S, ,HANGED PHILADELPHIA, PA.
on January 6, 1881.
t t
“Gallows erected in convict corridor of county prisop....Hayes, who had married Bridget O'Keefe,
a widown,: seems to have lived for some time unhappily with his wife, two principal sources of
trouble between them being the wife's refusal of her husband's demand to have the control of
her property and the husband's jealousy of his stepdaughter's (Kate O'Keefe) influence over her
mother, On March 23, 1880, after having been absent from home several days, Hayes unexpectedly
returned about 9 o'clock in the morning, found his wife at the washtub, ouarreled with her, shot
+ -her and then tried to kill himself, lodging two bullets in his head, He was carried to St, Mary's
Hospital, where he tried to represent that his wife had shot him, and that he had acted purely in
self-dferse though he failed to explain how, He was tried and on June 25. convicted. .He subse=
quently published a statement which, however, was, not a confession, but rather an attempt at
self-justification or excuse, Nn Nov, 9 the Governor fixed the time for the executionserece
Hayes has a brother and two, sisters, one of whom lives in this city, the other at Renovo, and
all of whom have manifested pity and affection for him since his terrible fate was announced,
On morning before execution Carter B, Taylor went to Harrisburg with Hayes! brother: bearing
a petition with many signatures and asking reprieve on ground that it could be shown that when
the crime was committed Hayes was of unsound mind and not responsible for his actions. , The
case was never taken before the Board of Pardons, On night before execution splet for only 3/h's
of hour, Without the least thoughts of bravado he made light of his possition, To the
_ Keeper who took breakfast to him, he remarked as he surved tray consisting of a cup of tea,
some milk toast and eggs: 'John it seems a waste of these good things for me to eat them when
I am so soon to be hung, doesn't it?" He was dissatisfied with the efforts made by his
friends and counsel to have him respited and asserted to his keeper "I would not go out now
if I were let out.'Moved to scaffold with firm step, mounting with sprightly gait. Held two
crufixes in hand, Priest had urged him not to speak, but he insisted on doing so, saying:
"I could talk to you an hour, but my noble priest says it is not right for me to sepak at
this time. .I could tell you about 'some of my married life,. I am not afraid of that, rope
up there (pointing to it) but only of God above-and I pray he will receive me. “I will give |
you all my blessing, gentlemen, I'm the weakest man in Philadelphia in body but the strongest
in heart. God bless you, I forgive the world and hope it will forgive me," After hands were
fastened behind baek, remarked: 'You can go on, I will let you do anything to me you want. i
You see, I'm as humbée asa child a year old." Then remarked to Sullivan, being hanged on the
Same ‘gallows: "Sullivan, have courage." His body. never twitched after drop fell though his
neck was not bfoken and he died of strangulation, Prounounced dead in 16 minutes. Buried in
St, Mary's Cemetery," © eam f
. 4
.
e ; : ry , ‘ ‘
-- PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, Philadelphia, Pa,, Jan, 6 and Jan. 7, 1881...
e. ss au k t : : -
"A quiet neighborhood lying between St. Mary's and the Episcopal Hospital was thrown into excite-
ment yesterday, the first intimation being received by a young man, Robert Richmond, lving at No,
2335 Frankford Ave. Directly in rear of presises, at prsent occupied as a tavern, is a small
dwelling fronting on Collins St., and occupied till yesterday by Mrs, Bridget Hayes, he three...
daughters, Kate, age 20, Ella, age 16, Mary, age 14, and a son named Erank, her children by a fore
mer marriage. Her husband, ‘atrick Hayes, an engineer, had been away for a week, being a man of
violent temper, in a fit of which he had left home, as he had done on a previous Occasion, when
he was absent for a month,
"Mr, Richmond happening to open the back door of the tavern shortly before nine o'clock, noticed
Hayes in the fapd in the rear of the Collins St. house, They youngest daughter of Mrs, Hayes hd
gone to school, the other girls to the factory where they worked and the lad had also left the
house, No one was at home but Mrs. Hayes when her husband appeared, and Richmond heard their
boices in conversation, but no loud or angry words, and there was no sight of a quarrel till
siddenly three pistol shots where heard in quick ‘succession, and Hayes came stagzering out of a
sort of summbr kitchen back of his own residence into the tavern yard, bleeding profusely from
wounds in the head and excaliming: "Oh dears; oh dear; go fetche=---", There his voice failed him
and he turned and went back upon his own premises, Richmond following and on entering the summer
kitchen, beheld on the ground, near the washtubs at which she had been engaged, was the body of
Mrs, Hayes, covered with blood from wounds in the heag which was leaning, as if in sleep,
against a pile of bricks, On the pavement of the summer kitchen lay Hayes, with his left arm
thrown across his wife's breast; a five barreled r
3 evolver of the patent of 1868 known as th
True Blue lying at his feet as it seemed to have fallen from his hand, with four barrels dischetged,
Ree
ae ie
ER:
peg SRE:
iy ie ¥ ae or easing a a i n Re , yh ony J ierga bd
Three Kil lers
Die in | Chair :
In 15 Mi inutes at Rockview
| + |
eee
Special to The Pittsbs ron Press :
BELLEFONTE, Pai March 28—
Three killérs—one who burned two:
women to death to escape marriage,
another who shot # Philadelphia
‘dered a Philadelphia:
in the electric chalg- at Rockview.
Penitentiary shortly,’ after | mid-;
night. !
It kequired less than 15 minutes:
ta execute the slayers, strangers.
until (36 hours befor@ they walked,
oné-by4one, to theirs deaths, The:
executions brought tq 272 the num-.
ber of: persons elegtroducted ; for.
their crimes in the state.
Those who died were:
Ralph E. Hawk, 31, of Marion,
Pa., who‘ burned two women to
death In an attempt; to avoid ak
riage.
Fred Relbaldil, 27, dt Philadelphia,
who killed. a policempn.
Albert W. Gregg. 331, a Chicago
store and killed @ Philadelphia
banker while shooting his way to
freedom. : ,
Hawk was first to dle. He stepped
fizmly,the:few paces from the death
house to the execut on chamber, a
smile -ypon his lps. jf: He ‘was silent
and-stared upward tintll the black
death mask was slipped over. his
head. ;
Two ministers ‘acedmpanied Hawk
on, his walk to the chair. Rev;
Clyde Meadows, of {Chambersburg,
near Marion, 9 frend’ of” Hawk's in|
earlier days, .».cd steadily at the |
doomed man who pad turned tq
him for religious consolation.
Rev. C.F. Lauer, prison chaplain;
walked along with ‘Hawk, intoning @
psalm. He pronounged benediction.
The charge siryck Hawk at
12:31 a! m. He yas pea es:
dead at 12:34 a. m.
Reibaldt walked ihto the execu
tion chamber as n as en
body wasiremoved, {He was accome
panied by Rev. Fy P. McCreesh,
Catholic chaplain, who murmured a
special prayer for the dead. Pale-
faced, Reéibadli weg his Nps with
the tip of his tongke nervously as
his gaze rested ppon}Deputy Warden
Frank Craver of Holimesburg : County
Prison, Philadelph§ where | the
doomed man had’ been’ ai for
weeks.
good luck to
“So lorig, Warder},
you. That's all,” heysa
“So long,” whispefed r. Peo)
Executioner Robeytt Elliot threw
switch at 12:36% a. m. Reibaldl
ce pronounced dead at 12:39%%.
Gregg -was pale; and his: lips
quivered ‘as he walkéd, hesitantly,
into the -death chamber. He said
nothing, but stared, fascinated, at
the chair until » He stumbled
against it. i
Gregg was the: anly one of the
trio who died without turning to
religion. ‘Rev. Lauer attempted to
convert hini, but until the last it
was doubted that Greeg asked for-
giveness. .
Gregg's identity Iwas uncertain. |’ §
Some belleved Albert W. Gregg was}
an allag.: If so, he fled without re-!
vealing his real fame, for the
charge ‘struck him/#at 12:42 a. m.
and he was: pronoupred dead three
minutes Jater.
Gregg ‘was "the j rs
lanker—died:
policeman and a gangster who mur-:
within a few minuted.of each other:
ganster, who robbed; a department |,
die aT He’ ' smoked in-
sdissttiy and the dimilight in the,
eaath hotise was traced:by the glow,
of a cigarect as he site agri paced
back and forth,
His | wa me only: unclaimed
body. Burial was planned for him
in the prison cemetery: today. Mrs.
Bertha Reibaldi of :Philadelphia
claimed the body of. her husband,
‘ithe father of two children. Hawk's
father, John E, Hawk, claimed the
body of hfs son.
Young Hawk had been a farm
hand at Marton until he sought to
burn the family of Catherine Gel-
wix, his flancee and gn expectant
mother, in an effort to;avold marry-
ing the girl, | Mrs. Hazel Gelwix
and a daughter, Heley, 15, burned
to death in bed but neighbors res-
cued Catherine although she hdd
been , hit across the head with a
flashlight.
Reibaldi, a paroled::convict, was
given the supreme pefialty for the
fatal shooting’ of a ‘Philadelphia
policeman, Maurice Handloff, who |
;| Surprised Reibaldi when he held up
a motorist at:a traffic signal. |
Gregg was anotheri‘parolee. He’
was convicted ‘of shodting C. Mor- |
gan Knight, socially prominent in-
vestment banker of ; +Philadelphia,
when Mr. Knight - {interfered as:
Gregg escaped Wangmaker's de- |
partment store.in Philadelphia with |
$1200 he obtained in @ holdup. |
Police at Philadelphia said Gregg _
showed much ~agitafion ‘as the time
eid bank of Chicago-sf €59090 fn a!
iotdup several montt; ure the
wo" cdiittised* robbing the naa |
Wanamaker robbery.
nly man: who ‘ig
195 PENNSYLVANIA REPORTS 270
HAYS, Mark Thomas, white, hanged ~ at Germantown, Paey on April 25, 1901.
"Germantown, Paey April 25. = Thomas Hayes was hanged here today, He died game and
walked to the scaffold boldly. He was pronounced dead in ten minutes, Hayes had nothing
whatever to say and refused all religious consolation. The crime which cost Hayes his life
was committed July lh, 1899, at the Hill farm, near Dunbar, Pa, It was frequently referred
to as 'the murder without a motive,' as Hayes and his victim, William Lowden, had been
neighbors and close friends for years. On the night of July 3, Hayes, Lowden and some
others where carousing at the home of William Burns, another neighbor, About 3 o'clock
@eM.y a Quarrel arose between Hayes and Lowden. Hayes went home but returned with a
shot gun and with the wordsg 'I will allow no man to call me a coward,' and shot Kaxdau
Lowden dead, Hayes afterwards claimed that he had no intention of killing Lowdon, but was
in the act of firing a Fourth of July salute when his gun was accidentally discharged,"
JOURNAL, Atlanta, Georgia, april 25, 1901 (2/2.)
A 600D GIFT.
Oneof the Deet birihday
rtfis ty w yeor’s suvscriptlon
to this paper, Ail the newy
for w Goat & year. That
abment ons world apprectate
bee
CENT-A-WORD.
No matter what you want
to buy or #éll, fron. & barrel
te a farm property you'll
ttad the Centa-Word ads
in this paper will do the
work.
VOL. 17.
STROUDSBURG, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1903.
NO. 31.
- USTREPROMPTAT COURT
- dudze Erdman’s New Rules Given
Out In Jury Charge.
oo
" SESSIONS COST $25 AN HOUR,
ee
Tele Sum Expanded By Taxpayers Who Must Be
Profcetse — Hila Honor Touches on Uribery at
5 Primary Elentions and Attempts to Approach Jurors
¥ “WaOpening Fabsvery Term This Aiternoan.
Megular February Court convened at
gget tte p.m, Monday before Judge Erd-
aay BERS and Apacciates Edinger and Bos-
ee mard, 25
¥ Constable ‘Haney was appointed to
wiaitapou the grand jury and Conata-
Die tohn KR. Place to west upon _ the
Sogri 8osSe=
Goristables, escept one, made thetr
hen tats Peporta and oMcers Wm. Meckes,
“RW duuth, Bugene Altemoxe, Samuel
— Pelker and-b fe-Mikelo-were-appotat.
‘ed tG remain and uct as special officers
On Pueaday, —— ~
> $y. Arthate Tee was uppointed: fore-
tan of the grand jury. Be Gee,
Joie Erdman’s first charge toa
grand jury wae 6 highly Interesting one
add contiined nuch of Interest, show-
tig In severak places careful considera-
ee en he. Stirs of the county: and hin
ONS ca
“lho take ‘charge*ot panes) until |
to Influence a voter by giving, offering
or promising to give him anything of
vulue for his vote, influence or work, a>
it may he termed, In behalf of any
eandidate, or for any voter to accept
or receive anything of value for his
vote, Influence or work In behalf of any
candidate, |
tons of these acts will become generally
known by the voters of this county and
that the knowlege of the same will
have a salutary effect.”
A further explanation of the duties
of grand jurors was given and then
Judge Erdman closed with the follow-
ing: } if ¥ ‘
“It is our destre that the busineas of
the Court shall be conducted with as
little delay as possible, so, that there
can be no just charge made that the
county is expending too much money in
conducting its Courts. We, therefore,
request and as far as Iles jn our power,
‘shall require each component part of
this Court to perform its portion of the
work with us—much dispatch “as” tan
consistently be used with safety to the
Interests of all concerned. * * * While It
may pot properly form a part of our
charge to you,; yet we desire at this
tlme to inform all persons present hav-
ingg businesn at. this seseion of the
Court, or at any future seasion over
which we may preside, that we propose
to Ingixt upon the observance of the
follawing regulations:
“Court wilt convene at ‘the hour fix-
ed for that surpone.
“AN parties: interested, whether jur-
ors, Witnesses, Itiganta or attorneys,
must be ate _prompuy at the time
fixed,
“The Court "ill not delay” te pro-
ceedings on aecnunt of the absence of
attorneys, but ¢o 1 will be assis
the
torneyn retained t arrive,”
“The Rule é
Hae ot UaAEe Ny POISE
ft, DY Agreement of counsel
Meopriized by this Court. -
We_trust that the proviszj..
rie To The Last He:
Firm Tread And Spoke! Clearly.
THE DROP FELL TUESDAY AT 10.49 A. M.
: drop apd La herd of he.
GRETE
Charles Grether has been hung for the
murder of Adam ‘Strunk.
He was brave to the last and mage
no ecene,
"The drop feu at 10.49 a.m. Grether
was pronounced‘dead 14 minutes later
and, he waa cut down by Deputy Wade
Mervine 19 minutes after the drop fell.
At least 300 people were in the county
jail on Tuesday morning last when: ene
execution occurred.
There was a long statement eana ‘on
the Beaffold, “Grether telling of his ea:
capes and forgiving his enemies. Ae Z
_ As the drop fell the knot came in
front of the prisoner and he Lead
strangled to death, ~
At 1.10 Rhéritt Mervine inecract ge
his son, Wade, to be certain to place
"| the rope In the proper position with the
koot under the left ear,
oat 420.12 the Sheri? arked all to ‘be
tring. he wuld.
ER PAYS.
_ DEATH PENAL}
ad
Mounts Scaffold With
va 4
Those Who Witnessed Execution As Jurors and: Sy Taken
To Phillipsburg, N. J., For Interment—Prisoners Last Hours on
----Earth—Forgave -All---Dead~ Man's~ Early <Life and (Criminal
Redoed-—Was Married and Divorced+--Half His Life Behind Bars,
. "Says -tooa:bye, : pScbariie, give me
your hand,” >
At 0.24 Deputies Wade and John
Mervine entered the cell, |
“Charley” jants his hands loose” to
talk on the, “Seattold, “sald Wade Mer-
vine, A “few. emoments later” to his
There wad: artes” of
agninat the law? and after a brief con-
fab the Tequest wus not allowed.
Grether ueked: to have his hands ‘tree
“No, No, it's
on the
tured; :
He Wainer)
scaffold, ep pS :
Arether @uepale but not ghastly, >
He naked fof a prayer and Rev, C. E.
Correll, a: Reformed. miniater, of. Cun-
1 heh dee Luyeme Co,, prayed,
seattolds cone requed Was re-
r aly a, one Bteps of the
Fehall nat be continued
JUDGE W. A. ERDMAN.
He ta presiding over his first regular
Court term thid week.
&
Se
without the.express ganetion of the
Court, but fhe Court wl permit. a con-
tinuance the District Attorney for)
one term qithout cause shown.
“We deen the enforcement of these
reguintions @8sénilal, for the reason
that the expense of operating this Court
is not lose thane $25 un hour and, the
|
.
|
|
1 Who
Samuel P, Overtleld, Middle Smith-
fleld.
Samuel D. Newhart, Savlorsburg
Hiram Shiffer, of Effort,
Bert Herrick, Pocono Lake.
John Haney, Snydersville. .
John A. Gardner, North Water Gap.
Mr, Haney was one of the jurors se-
lected by the present Sheriff's father to
witness the Orme execution 34 years
ayo, :
At 10.27 1-2 Grether came from his
cell, his hands and arms tied behind
his back. He half waiked and half ran
SHERIFF V.0, MERVINE
Conducted the Execution
Grether Tuesday morning.
of
nas aay ese ~ “ a
up the nine steps.” He wis pale but pot
ghastly hnd ateod erert on the plat-
form, He was drersed in black, wore
tan colored stip Pode had a jow col-
lar and, tle, 2. :
a firm roles, nor & ign: of tremor,
believe te true: Rd Just Cent and den? t
blame you, Short, Twill (ell of my ex-
GRETHER'S SlSTER'S STORY
Says Brother Could Have Escaped
For a Hundred Dollars.
SHOWS A LETTER ABOUT IT,
implicates Watchman “Dick” Moljes Bul Latter Says
its a Lie—Never Even Thought cf Such a Thing
And Probably Given ov! In Revenge For Potsce
Discovery. pd
Mrs. Andrew Corr, of No, 146 Wash-
ington street, Phillipsburg, when ween
by un’ Baston Argus representative,
Stated that a great deal of Injuxtioe
has been done both to Grether and te
his relatives, Mrs. Corr denied having
made an attempt to get some poisen
to her brother and denounces many of
the efforts to make rensationn out of
he cause of her unfortpnate brother.
She exhibita. a letter, written by
Charles on February 1, 1903, and
mitted in Phillipsburg the same. day,
which states that If she, Mrs. Corr,
would call at the Stroudsburg jall dur-
Ing the hours when Watchman Holjes
was on duty, and would then place $160 -
in his (Grether’s) hands his escape
could be arranged, This letter wna in
some way smuggled out of the fall and
was given, Mra. Corr alleges, to a |
woman- who came to PhuUpsbure ut
that tinrve on a visit, mailing -~ letter >
in Philltpeburg.
Mra.. Corr states that ie refused
absolutely to pay $1! and: oharacter-
ized the whole echeme ag. blackmall,
And AN attempt to make money out>
of her, thinking that tn present atate
of mind, she. would be wilting to do al~ ©
moat anything
Charles’ Mberty,
Although the Jetter, whic h was
Grethers hand writing,
Sprenr on Watehman
in ardor to. eecure
Wratten wha
nantly entails lo becowe a. purty’
apy Iransantian ef the sort.
pa ee
made thingy -
fei kitted
capes but will net tell who mmye me the ocn urtey hdnultrend shar
evelver Pb owihl be tote Co tie cored teeter eran wv Tt he to
promise 1 made te the one who gave it) tC de i trtentionalty ”
to me. The Sher! never had a band! The offlvers. acconting to her estate
in my escapes, he ‘knew nothing of THO hounded Bim all his Ife and beth
them. Had his) onmlers heen otk yet} DY and his brother, Lew. she clair
they would never happened” No one jauttored many times when they were
was pold to let_me out. Twas watching entirely Innocent of any erime
{ When seen in matand to the abowe,
for chances and took them.”
Ar weban oot
ianeet ’
Mr Heotfes estd
“VOL 8--NO.- 161
~ BRETHER STILL IN EASTON fitieS22°
Tha, officers praise Samuel Metrter
or his Willingness to allow thet ta go
No Time Set For His Removal ‘but contenn Mrs
and say that [f the Monroe
To Jail Here. wnty authorities order them ta bring
charge against her for harbertng
a ide geek
4 (@Pether they will do su. This will not
2
DATE WILL BE KEPT QUIET § “done Says District mriaodl Gear
——
Alleged Murderer Will Probably Get’ “Third De-
» gree “ From Detective Johnson In Order to Find
Out About Other Robberies-Prisoner On Verge
of Collapse When Caught.
““No arrangements have been made up
oy late this afternoon for the removal : ? i
of Chas. Grether, accused of the mur- : f 3 Neer D g tween pute told how easily he could
der of Adam kee age the Easton, : : ag Woke bave Killed four of the officers
to Monroe county jail. ? ? ba"I had a bead on you through the
District Attorney Gearhart says that , ‘ ‘ ; may window,” he aid to McDonald, ‘and
the prisoner will be brought here this ‘ j i % rh ’ Ce was going to shoot you. I could have
week but will not give out the exact ‘ : 4 qe ¢ kiNed four of you.” He said that he
time, in order to prevent a scene. é . 1 d seo ie Ht that this would be of no av@il,
Detective Johnson wants to keep f -- 3 ma" ‘ and decided in the ceilur that he might
Grether in Easton for a few days in | ne : i z . ‘ a8 well give himself up. He = after-
_ order that he re haar Aa rust - , cea Wards expressed regret ihat he had not-
cerning ‘other robberies rether : : ‘ : ended his own life.
does not tell he will be oe to nd , The prisoner would not speak of the
“third degree’ or “sweat box,” as the | — 3 murder or of any of the. burelaries.
police term a certain form of examina- | “ . . ; i _ charged against hla He admit
tion. Ae oo i one of the revolvers belonged
The prisoner himself has expressed | Hy od 3 and claimed that he had hee
& desire not to be taken to Monroe Jersey all the time since
county until the citizens have had time | “4 te igh as he calls tt He wytd
to “cool off.” He fears he will be rire} 5 y [etm the Del aware river, bo!
‘roughly dealt with. - a i Delawar On fet Te laware,
Lackawanna i festern Ratlroa,},
Sheriff Fisher was seen to “drive oe ea ; #4 5
towards East Stroudsburg late Satur- | i RES fcr ns ¥ and rode to Washin N.. J. From
_. day night. A report that Grether was age me eet Seat ; there he went to the New Jerse:
_-coming on the 11.45 p. m., train, soon : : ; ‘ q Central Railroad and got aboard # coal
. drew a big crowd to the Lackawanna ‘ ¥ : _? otrain to go tw White House, Ling
Wy ri there the might the uffieers captured
depot. The curious were disappointed. ; :
Easton papers of Saturday evening ne if ‘ ‘ : i “Long istand Blavkey. He said he
‘contain much of interest concerning ’ 4 4 remained in that n
Grether. ; e “BS ‘oA while and the fullowing dak te
When grabbed in the cellar of the | : i = & 5 train for Asbury, and from there went
Peterson house, the ey ecg was | ; on & fast freight down th
trembling like a leaf, and he collapsed | Ae Ga hans. ' z While riding on this ts
completely, and, sinking Into a chair, | ; fot - told there were two officers aboard, and
asked for a drink of water. He re- 0 aes 3 ; without waiting toh
covered somewhat after this and asked | © : ei jumped from the -tra He landed
to see his sister. She was brought in- ; : ae head foremost and fractured his nose.
to the room and the two commenced to. ; } } kane Grether says he returned to Asbury
quarrel at once, each calling the other ‘ oe j ‘ ; sige “ then to see a doctor but the latter was
ungrateful. The officers stopped this g A : tik <i out and after passing the night tn a
by taking Grether from the house and | ets Sb ee barn met the physician the next day.
; leading him to the county jail. He of: | . : : , ) . and had his injury dressed. He had
the ered no resistance. Is , & nee but $18 and he spent most of thas for
In the warden’s office at the ate | Bye 4 ay i 2 food and finally decided to returns to
\ Grether coolly rolled a cigarette andbe- | tale UA a? } f : Easton. The officers think he has beep
‘tween puffs told how easily he could | ; : : there since last Monday night. "He
re killed four of the officers. : : says he met only the people he krew
had « bead on you through the na * since his arrival in Eagjoa.
ow,Y-she-s2id to { 4 hy fia ‘ 4 When searched at the jail Grevhes
“going to shoot you. I could <i : 3 : ‘ had a detective'’s badge. several razors,
four of you.” He said that be 7 cs Py sare krives, keys, ef.. in bis poukets.
ht that this would be of no avail, oe 4 *. Grether was known aa ‘oné_ of the
‘and decided in the cellar that he might , 3 : most desperate criminals in this sec?
ae well give himeelf up. He after- | tion of the State. About twelve years
Danaea expressed regret that he had Ant ie pi ~ : ago, when ex-Chief Tilton attemnted
‘ehded his own life. { ‘ . a .to arrest him and his brother, Lewis,
“The prisoner_would not eeek of the | ‘ ‘ g _. for a robbery. the latter-tired a shot
murder or of re Phy. jane ease bate : ‘ j =" at the chief, The bullet went through
_ charged against him. He admitte at: - ‘ Wy 5 the rim of his hat and made a slight
one of the revolvers belonged to Strunk | f ‘ i ~~sealp wound. They*both served tend
and claimed that he had been In New 4 ‘ .for this crime. Lewis Grether is now
Jersey all the time since “that trouble" | ¢ : in the penitentiary at Trenton.’ N. J.
as he calls it.. He said he had crossed j 5 ce The father of the two boys, Lewis
the ect. Fiver, ag ~ “Ayah at! ; 1. ae Grether, resides at 627 Pine street,
Delaware Station, on 2 elaware, Po i249 ; ‘ 7 Easton. .
L awanna and Western Railroad, ; Grethe: ond “Long Island Blackey”
fud rode to Washington, cee J. “tong! i ‘ q oe F - had planned many burglaries which in-
there he went to ‘the 2? rt e a 2 ; cis. Ss: oe eluded the robbery of the Bloomsbury
Central Ratlroad and got aboard a coal: é y bank, the Lehigh Valley Traction car
train to goto White Tiouse, reaching | barn, Easton, the hold-up of a_ silk
there the night the officers cuntured | mill clerk at Allentown, who carried
“Tone Island tack ey Be bid) the pay from the bank to the miil.
They postponed action in every case.
fearing to take the great risk.
Several weeks ago two burglaries
were committed at Rittersyille and at
‘each place a gold watch was stolen. |
One of the watches was recovered,
having been sold by Grether fn Phil- |
net a for $2. The watch was worth |
nie
te ge dhe AE
oe “2 ae
Lust spring Grether was trled in the |
court at Easton, fer robbing a China-
vaan on South Third street. Through
a technically, he was arquitted,
Mrs. Mettler made a “epasch" from
the front stepe of her house while the |
detectives were making the search for,
Grether, She said it was ec shame the |
Wey the officers were hounding her, ;
that Gretuer waa not there nor had he}
deen there previous to the officers’ are |
~ Riood of Moser,
_
Alleged Slayer of Adam Strunk
| Made Prisoner in Easton.
TAKEN IN. SISTER'S HOUSE
‘Bs
fective Johnson and His Men Locate the Comm-
anion of Verdi in the Marshalis Creek Tragedy
Had Two Revolvers on Him When Captures ang
Capture Causes Sensation Here Johnson Claims
Reward.
Charles Grether, who it is alieged
Shot and kiiled Adam Strunk neuer
|Marshall’s Creek a few days ago, was
Faptured in Easton early on Friday
jpvening by Detective Jacob Johnson
‘kind is now in jall there.
i} Grether was about to commit suicide
When arrested. : ;
. District Attorney Gearhart about 7.30
on Friday evening received the follow-
ing telegram from Detective Jvhnson,
|Mated in Easton:
arrest Chas. Grether this afternoon
| GHARLES GRETHER UGH
Write ‘
Fear pe tree,
hated
Hepa
build
Pegiiar
shim
welsh
low,
GRE
Gres
Van =
HRS CREM HEE
ena bab et te, Cpas
alae * Leug isia
HARLES GRETHER, ALLEGED MURDERER.
“f% the first picture ever published of the deesperado, Charies Greth-
er several years. He has been connected
er arrest on a charge of killing Adam
“Bear Marshall's Greek, a few duys ago. His clever capture is fully
other column. eet
' ;
|
[ ~ “I had the honor with my men to
“and took revolvers from him. He is
in Easton jail.”
Signed JACOB JOH?
A ; County D& ve.
' _ HOW CAPTURE WAS MADE,
Charles Grether ‘was arrested in Eas-
ton, Friday, about 6.10 o'clock Pp. m.,
Berwine, the
fever ae ek UI AaB LOUr puilce feng cas Gratin f
H men of Easton, drove to the Metler |
t esad cf GEA. T_ TAR
characte Attorne:
ESCAPED TO NEXT HOUSE. asked the County Commissioners ta
i Grether. who was on the watch, saw !
pthe officers approaching and made his | §& Bvt only Us waten Gr
“Aeajescane through the reof of the house peter oage ents but
5 fand hid in the celiar’of the home of eher in preven 5.
ge i Miss Emma Peterson, an invalid, nexe {demonstration at. the
yi door. (The atiicers traced him to the }Uict Attorney sare.
pi cellar. eee ey ona ken :
‘ "S *, ay 49 Ten, Tar tm
When. Detective Johnean ments ey fea Saray: 11582
ohn. te fahy ddenity Grete
t
‘light of his dark. lantern on
{Grether had « pistsi pointed at John-
(sen and another ome. Strunk's revolver
Mer will be Sovagnt-
painted gt hie own head. ner wil » nt
* _ county jail very sans
THIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE. ‘: i. Fert qinet mm otter
* seer
out "Charlay, dort:
3 Grether hesitated
ithe officers gratbed him. slipped on, (2Ol captsre
thandoufis and tock hit to the eounts iees er aS to pratee £
Sherine where he wesw “48 in- a eel fort thy made,
= cp MVatreg:
‘ ete Si inaey arsdt
peereds were
eRort to incate the- ren
Gt Flere
.eteners
MURDERED ADAM STRUNK. :
(|. Charles Grether will have to ansaxer
ta a Monroe county court for the al-
G leged slaying of the man pictured
above. He wus a depotized police offi-
cer and was killed while {nm the ver-
(drmance of his duty.
#
“under strong guard.+s
3, Ever since the shooting of Strunk,
Giicrether has been in New Jersev.
s “Long Island Blarky™ in his confession
,to the detective stated that (hrether
Was the one who fired the shot.
WOMAN USED AS DECOY.
»{ Previous to the capture of Grether
‘the Easton detectives nent 2 woman to
jthe Metler house in order. to see if
Grether was there it is believed thet
-ithe woman was really a mati in dis-
Caer guise as the voice wax fomewhat
©2255 harsh and the person was heavily veil-
(SSW (ed-and dressed in deep dlack,
Bo), The woman claimed to he an aunt of
Verdi. “Long isiand Blacky” aml said
‘she lived in Weet Coxsie, Green Co,
N.Y. Hef name snes said was Miss
| Magate Van Shank. She said “fiacky
“inad sent her ty have a talk with
g iGrether and alse ta get sawe to give
f%& her nephew xo that he could brewk ogt
of the Flertington jail Previous to
en
Drovide a watchman fori.
fon payers are needed @
he jail whe
erater he is
Sherift
unlawful
Dia-
Masten
at
sriby Detective Johnson. f
“{ On Wednesday Grether was stealing
@ ride on a Lehigh Valley coal train
-}and believing that the officers were
‘jafter him, jumped off the train at
Landsdown, N. J. He fell and broke
his nose. The wound he had dresaed
at Asbury, N. J., and on Thursday
Grether went to Easton and-slept that
night in the barn of the late Chief. Jua-
tice Henry Green on Ferry street.
Friday morning Grether went to the
home of his sister, Mrs.- Samuel Met-
ler, on Union street, where he was lo-
cated by Detective Johngon, who said
some days before that he would arrest
the man there. — tay
_ Johnson, accompanied’ by Detective
Smith, of Allentown, Datectivea Sim-
[oimasti end McDonald and
ot Easton, ‘4 2
Who was of the watch, saw
the officers approaching and toade his
escape through the roof of the house
and hid in the cellar of the: home of
Miss Emma. Peterson, an invalid, next
door. The officers traced hira to. the
cellar. - Bt ou Rin i seen ee ea
When Detective Johnson threw the
;Hght of his dark jantern on bim,
Grether had @ pistol pointed at Jonn-
son and another one. Strank's revolver,
pointed at his own head. ae Sains
TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE, —
Johnson called out ‘“Chartey, don’t
Shoot” and while Grether: healtated,
tS Tan down on the
Ttetnber at Whitenouse, No J:
Howe a prisoner it the jail at Plemine-
ton, N. J. , ‘
As well be remembered. iether and
“Long Island Hlac key." after commit-
ing-* number of burglaries In Warren .
amd Hudterdon counties, over ta New “*
(Jersey, om the 23rd of S=ptember, they
robbed the residence of David Carlton,
inear the Deiaware Water tap. Is was
j while Monroe: county ofticerg and 4
inumber of citizens of the locality were
'searching fur the thieves the follow-
iing day. that Grether and hiy com.
}Panion were found to the. woods and i
| Strunk, Who attempted to arrest Grethe ° >”
er, Was Shot and died in a few min-
utes. Ai
TIMES FIRST TO GIVE NEWS." >
th was a few minutes after seven
o'clock when the Times received a
‘phone message from Easton telling of
Grether’s capture and as soon as con-
firmation was secured frum the Easton
police the news was builetined and ie
made a sensation. / Pena
The report flew Iike witdfire all over =
the town and the bulletin board wag”
soon surrounded by a throng of " peo-
ple. "Phone messages-were sent out by
the Times to ail parts of the county
informing residents of the capture. s
TWO UNDER MURDER CHARGE.
When the prisoner is brought “here
there will be two men confined im the
county Jatlon a murder charge, the
other being Benj. Alle, the Haltan: who
shot and killed Henry LeBar.>-at
Gravel Place. Not since Brooke .and-
Ormes were confined tp cells here. far
the Brodhead murder has such ap
event occurred. It will be a strong.
coincidence if V. O. Merwine, now a
candidate for sheriff, should be oxlied
: Coitnty: Cominianbets
provide a watchman for dal,
is not only to watch Grether after hf ie
brought bere. but’ will -asint-. shy)
Fisher ‘in. preventing any . unias
demonstration at the jailo- The
trict Attorney saya: >.
“I rent Detective Shafter to Bafton
today to arrange for the. removal! of
gner wiR be brought to the Manron
county jail very soon. Hir cuming/wilh
be rept quiet {n-order to avoid
Although Monrow county office
the officers grabbml him, silpped | an
ithe visit of the woman two deny jer
tere had been sent te the Metier house
, The woman tot4 tyrether tn “etear
SOUL aml Keep her posted as te his
iwhereabouts. Grether was suspicious
7 and left hia sister's home. He came
back. however, and then it was that |
et Yanenin arrested him: The finding of |
8) Strunk's revetver on Grether teen tm
Hot capture Grether they are neve
sh ipek S08, Sida i ner
On the pia, Of mind, she woul
ed IN bliek, wore | Mout Oy thie
Maret
‘ j
itnact
RESET, Ligh §
sb: the rope in the Proper Doeltion, with the
t UrRamentn on UUfallona of |
jRULKS ne
That ty Present stare
be willing ta do ale
AYO erie t
Cretherds iu pate bu form, He was drew
He anked for a
4
! not whaatly, o. i
+m ¥ tan colori Sp nese 7
prayes ang Rev, %! F.
Knot under the tert enr,
Geere WHE neds be beara :
exrdapt at the
in ardar 16 keer” re
Ad dwell 2 low cal. | Charts gee, :
ay Zo | Corretlh, “a Leformed Talntater, of Cun-{ er la manip ; “ Heit “abi which’ waa bs
AE 1013 dees SCH eked ull to’ be INGHAM. Latxeme Co., nruyidt * fim volre. pot x MEN OF tremor, | Orethera eben, matt things
Pequemt of ite triad fir Ice will be ob- ay Or even 4 himper,.; irether ten told of | hip he eaht: Abe ede 33 Aimenr that _Watehman . Notjes wra
served," ) Pee ee ORAL teste): oie HAT Daa : “Ab 18 Hog. t walk worthy a. the matte
fr a ee 3 ee sie Cc on i theaters a i eseieae hipaa tacit a
: Like trol tner, oy Agvoomert of roninet | PI Nr ar i Silt. fae gay ib ges believe in wtrtte wid just fiend ane don't } HANY refassiy 19 become BULTS tp
WHE Dok he meagriteid by this Court, a met | ame you, Sheri. 7 will tell or My ew. | HOY Transgantion nf the wart, erage ast
| ; Urimingd tapes Shall nat pe far Uriresy She Z pc bes but wity HOt tel who gaye me the! “Charley HAA tent Mint tee kifted.
at sthout the expreas weinetion of the, 4 | PEN v ear Cowl by POR to he ved lath, rn treet , ry “ anf
" feourt, put dhe Court win Permit a cons | | or Tomadde to tye Oe WhO wave jp)! nt ho it Phlen tons dy i
Unuance by the District Attorney for | toome. Phe Shere? nec ey bad a tana The otticnny, MOORING fa tear Ftaten
‘ JUDGE WwW, A. ERDMAN. ene term without cause shown. H lin TONS PRE DOS RG Knew nathinar of, Ment hounded Kim att nis Wes
ie “We dean) the enforcement of thea | g { foie Hal his ONters heen Obey pi} td his brother 1. MWe she lime
He ia presiding over hic Wrest rogue eeulittons essenthal, for the reason | | j they Would nevep happetied’ Na i. SUMO ueny times When they score
Court term this week thet the expanse of operating this Court | Was pald to let me out, Twas Watching SU Urely innocent of ATV Crimes :
- ‘Snot less than ges an hour and the t | for chances and took them.” Wrhet seen’ itr rye td to the above, k
Pa he evonomicat in the conduct | OOUntY. therefore, has a right to de. . | Here Grether heked for wetter and a) Mr Modjes: said: :
detire to he econ mic ‘mand that it shall not be nut to any ‘ i tin dup full was put to his lips. He “A man Would have been foolish to
af the Court: Tare fleatyoNPense that-can be avoided by the | eh asingle stp and Continued: Bt Grether OUt fer $ton y hen dies Could
In the SIRERS, nee ee ‘ e orompt and faithful discharge of the| i | “MY first PSCane Was mide through | hte eat gana The story ig ome Bul out
Sunes the ausike 0 ae aot ee luties incumbent upon the — several! fj dohn Shifter failing to lock omy cep UV tevenge for nding the Dolson” :
and, then awelt pgelly on Ne ah component parts of this Court.” | . | GOT NE Hey ESC wae ray: Ae Holfes nm fused to give 4 reporter .
nt Approaching a gro et ee Be There was a very large attendance | \ through a mistake jn boltiigs the corry- i further information HS lo the $500. og.
asked to be INfarmed Whew aus ee Yt Court, both morning and afternoon | | dor door, a {fer P
was done. ; e CRE eniniie. | Meeslona: Tuesday, 5 “T want to Sty before this ig over that There ws 20 immense erowd ut the :
Does Gunes : se » ie ; ae } True bills having been found against | : Pit am Surprised to think that se many! Philipsburg leet when Grethers
ton of the offence, he iy si as “Dan” VanPuskirk © for robbing the! : : People are here out of CUTIOSIEY to see DOCV arrived, Me wier put in a Waron
a Sa fueneed, :
Juror be seein 2 attendee sy Bryant Me Minsi Pharmacy, breaking | | this. Ig there a man who will pray for UM hurried to the cemetery and buried
ig attempt Itsele Pe ;: k aie AO ob- | ill and assaauit and battery on his | } mer" 3 Withont any religious Ceremony Onby
Court Instructed the sh is rations} °on, the prisoner was placed on trial! Then Pastor Correll delivered an Andina Corre a brether-in Jaw WHE ut
Bins beat Le ey MAA ap ‘or the former. Hon. D. S, Lee appear- { ‘ eae invocation asking | for Inercy , the erave. The comin was Not epened,
and nat to xive out re Oe helt Rush d for Van Buskirk and A. Mitchell a 3 jon Grether’s soul Grether then asked) The Northampton County fallows
nesete the publle. tees | Palmer for Charles M. Bryant, Van- . | for another prayer but no Fesnonse wag! Used here WAS The one on which John
Upon Viehiipns Seay ae ‘kirk wus found guilty on both | made and the Prisoner himself, in ay Plbard, Witiam Bartholomew ang
emt bo KES abn ahaa esp epee es. He will be Sentenced today, : clear, firm, Voice prayed, Llewellyn Stout were hanged In the
poled ie ash eel aeswedirs A trie bill was found against Patrick : “IT don't deny my part,” he later sald, {Jel yard in stan,
site 2 that silt ‘thime hetore you, | Maloney and Harry Graft for robbing | “fain the Dally Times Showed ita j
Se DH thet ee t-[ the home of Mrs. Bornhoeft in Bast 4 Grace Be ae j RODEN in giving heen <a iis public
esl kins braeety Agog a ee Stroudsburg. They plead Rzuilty, Sen- : PHARLES GRETHER i YeSterdays Exactly twenty-two min-
ention, gs 1 ? - i ‘ armres pee Miri ey,
tee au : tenee piven today. ; te after Grethe 13
Sret stone = ahd nee eine ne An {Indictment nealnst Irvin Robbins ea ieee : Ss 7 - LS terre en aOR: Aes
paddes a ie tea a oe ee We propose | for assault and battery on his wife, was] At 10.16 Shoeritt Mervine entered | At 145
DD: CON THE, e
ee comment on the nature of the] ignored by the rand jury,
Was
the rope was pa
Grether's cell,
“age
offence and not on the particular ac-| In the case
Pronounced
ale
wssed around |
There wus an Inaudible
of Joseph Overfleld the
dothig paper had an “extra” on the
Street with a nine rolunin, Mustrated
Grether’s neck. Ho was given a sip of “tory of the
conversation for a few minutes, the Water and the black cap put over his
curation contained in this particular! grand Jury ignored the indictment for| Sheritt appearing nt 10.20. 1 1s pre-
DBL We know nothing of the facts in] violation of the electlon law,
head. pee
Deputies Wade
“relation to the particul
ed and you ure t
tn pirecize!
“other bing
®xXecution
hot enkes, As fast as
“reeled off the presg
hoended to the
i then the sup
that sold like
they could be
the papers Wore
Newsboys
bly could not
arertme charg-
9 pass ypon this hill
Y the saine way you do all
presented for vour consider-
ation. ihe crime to which we refer ia
Common Pleas Court mi
follows: :
S. S. Shafer, Esq, appointed master
In the divorce cage of James M. Mey-
he death
P to this
riY that he
neg. :
nutes are as
sumed that the Sheriff read 1
[wesc to the prisoner who u
moment and go told the She
did not belleve he would ha
and John “Meryine
were on the sea frold,
Deputy Wade Mery
his foot and at 10.49
and even
ine then stamped
equal the
j demand.
. tm. Sheriiy Mer- | H The regular edition of the Paper,
Once more the Sheriff asked Grether vine pulled the bolt. i With a more complete story, was out
ers vs, Albina 8. Meyers, - {#0 walk up on the scaffold ana tell the] - Grether's body shot down: toup face
that of brinery at primary elections," Rule to shaw cause granted in’ the Ce the black cap bie
hme Court then rend the Act of Aa-|dlyorce of Ida May Bonser va,
: wembly in regard to bribery at prim-| James Bonser,
i before the publle
| from other Fouree:
ess the
© loosened and fhe
tly under the chin,
d to death. There! {!
receiv
ooRry elsetiong and then continued:
"Yn a-Repubtie like ours where the
waopPerme authority ts vented In the peo-
bla, Whowe method of expreasion fs by
ballot, {tis pasential ‘that elections be
hoentathy conducted and that the will
“ot the indlyldant be Not influenced or
“eartipted by git: rew
Moe or the gam
rope knot came direc
He slowly Strarigle
ed Information
a. Exactly 2053 coples
paper were sold Tuesday, -- i
ree
INSTITUT PROGRAM,
The Grand Jury rety
Ing: j 5
To the Honorables, the Judges of the
Court of Quarter Sessions of the
' Peace in and for the County of »
toe. The Grand Inquest of the Com-
monwealth of Pennsylvania, inquir-
ing for the aforeraig County of Mon.
roe respectfully reports: —°
That the attention of the Grand In- ,
queat Is called to the 2
line of the XN. ¥, 3. & w, R. FR in the
township of Smithfeld, which
Frned the follow-
4
j
i
H
|
rT
i
Six minutes after the
Was not broken,
: er, J. H. Shu, cp.
D. Gruver, W, p Gregory, EH, Ley-
PISS
fon-
Program for the local Institute to pe
held at TrNners ville
| on Wednesday,
March 4th in the evening: Relece >
ering, of there towns, Dr L. BR. Smith, | teading, aie Edith Hayes; Belect | &
of Bushkill, Hp, Holler, of 2; ona: tending, Migs Flsie Lonimere: Tuna ys,
Cu Kener, of Wing Gap, Swartz, o¢ Pen} 1x0 : : pie ay auvion, Tduate arb. mp
Argyl and Fe Ga = Kintner; Debate, Resnived, That Yine
burg, viewed thé boay ND ORMER, coln deserves more credit: for Eaving ©
Grether. dead) © : i
Deputy Wade M
the Union than Washington for feht-
Ing for its freedom, - AS =
down, An fnyitaty
wil the expreased will of the votera
EnSy Joos tor tight and justice to
yrevait, hut when rorrupt) and venal
ih8 Shiuence tho’ will of the voter,
- BRooks a
i £
; First t
ervine eut the body First picture
ever publiahed of the
Rradhera urdererg, >
On Was then Biven one Eaters The one
on the Sor terre steep ges .
the DIE CM ™d outside the Jal to view | M&ht 8 Ormes who wan hung 34 yoars ATTENDED sotroor, DAILY,
the remains,” jy actual count, over | 2E° by the father of the bresent Sher- eet
Ite-o1 1500 naseed ty’ nd out of the Jail, There} (7 "4 the iast to dle on the acutrold
48 Smiply show results ob- i ; ronien : ;
A batts éregesns geben The I It in re- were woneN and ohija
endeavored to-provida| Epecttully recommended that proper
feet stoctions, not only by pro-
é here: berore Grether,
renin the crowd. 4 ‘
Y,. of Philipsburg, iets
h the body at noon} "It. wa
oe SMakon to that chy. on othe
a Newspaper, Photo wax an © | | 2-09 Tacks vofiin traf, The remains
oid Un ‘type made whortly. . en the Phillipsburg ems
er ercaalies shooting, | Ht atternden, There - wern
asia ce oe fernony Le
The pupils of Gregory's Rchool, Myesr. gs
nNuthill township, wire have uttendag/ ee
reece Wee gee CVOFY: Gay! fon the ftth month are”
* Not aa tt ahould ho. My trust} Pleyd | Mark, fedph owunts, ” Realye
In. God keeps me OP. His will be-Apne, Groenamoyer,. Walter Augslinyer, Hare:
May thy Hte of sin 8nd disgrace he qf Old Minter, Tatra Parmmin, rma:
warning to others 2nd repent before 41 | Sbupp, Eq Berfaee, Lettie Bhungs, Er
i too Tate,”\y Torgive. my. snemieg. Oh, | it Rerfaag and: Annie Shunp, 2%
God, blew: ty Bistera and all Ne ents ma
[tone Forgive ity have do ) BHAI ROOT,
‘[ Oaks: of Jeans chy cas fet :
Revo. ye Correll anuj
‘Prinetpal: Lash, of <the®
toh
ie te
nibliig candidatos from making or of-
rihes,-bat wtse by making It x
nee foe ar Hector ta accept
oer to soli hin vote)
an then tread the Acta ot
. Paradine town.
Sip requn’ attention and - repaira,
im being down, ae:
iborted to be in had con:
constable: his retums
te etatement. in that
daving bie. to’ partlow-| 1 Ue
fiithon ti thee gota off
‘debe ihe
bes a: f i 1 Se enemies +
TAYOE rt * sete : :
wade mae AoA) talesionary. ery:
the Onna: baie” eld Ja 8 Ret BowGA We
Merving An he pedicle tee
oat Orether's fomntn ‘
Piped 9p
68, how you pot
“terre dey:
78 COMMONWEALTH »v, STERLING, Aplnt., et al.
Opinion of the Court. [814 Pa.
This court has the power to reverse, modify or affirm
the judgment of the trial court, not only by statutory
authority, but as an inherent judicial function of an ap-
pellate court: Com. v. Garramone, 307 Pa. 507; Beale
v. Com., 25 Pa. 11; Daniels v. Com., 7 Pa. 371; Drew v.
Com., 1 Whart. 279, 281. See Act of June 16, 1836, P. L.
784, section 1.
The death penalty has been fixed by the legislature in
the belief that it not only protects society from the anti-
social actions of the particular person condemned and
punishes him as well, but that it is, in its imposition in
each case, a deterrent to others who may contemplate in-
jury to society. The propriety of this policy is not for
our determination. We apply the law enacted by the
legislature in the cases as they arise. The alternate pen-
alties of death and life imprisonment are provided, not
with the idea that the courts may impose the one or the
other arbitrarily or without reason upon a conviction
of first-degree murder. Where the heinous offense is
lessened because of the mitigating circumstances arising
from the emotion or the pressure of events under which
the offender has acted, or for other satisfactory cause,
and he is customarily of law-abiding nature and habits,
the court is justified in fixing the lesser of the two pen-
alties; but it cannot undermine the policy and intention
of the legislature by permitting its own feelings to in-
trude on the wisdom of that policy.
Charles Downey, the decedent, had resided for some-
time prior to his death at 917 South 16th Street, in the
City of Philadelphia, with a friend, Frank Cassidy. Both
of these men were advanced in years. An acquaintance
of the defendant had heard a rumor to the effect that de-
cedent had recently come into possession of several thou-
sand dollars, the proceeds of an insurance policy on his
sister’s life, and communicated this to defendant. The
defendant and this acquaintance, a week or so before the
killing, broke into the house on 16th Street, but, finding
COMMONWEALTH v. STERLING, Aplnt., et al. 79
76, (1934).] Opinion of the Court.
nothing of value, left. Neither of the old gentlemen was
at home,
On December 17, 1932, the defendant, with a friend,
Robert ILarris, came to the door of the 16th Street house,
rang the door bell, and when Downey responded, thrust
their way by him in silence and proceeded through the
hallway to the kitchen, where Cassidy was sitting.
Downey apparently followed the intruders to the
kitchen. The defendant, as he entered the kitchen, drew
a revolver, which was offered in evidence. Cassidy at-
tempted to eseape and was struck with a revolver several
imes on the head by Harris, defendant’s companion.
Almost immediately Cassidy heard a shot. <A little later,
following a trail of blood, he went to the house next door
fo ask for Downey and found him there with wounds
through the neck and hand, from which he died four
days later, on December 21,1932. Defendant was appre-
hended, and on December 31st signed a written confes-
sion in which he admitted that he went to the decedent’s
residence with the intention of robbing decedent of the
money which he believed decedent had, and that a shot
from his revolver wounded decedent and caused his
death,
The defendant has confessed to the killing, which is
admittedly murder in the first degree as provided in the
Act of 1860, P. L. 382, section 74, but he declares he is
not a hardened criminal, did not intend to shoot or kill
anyone in the commission of this robbery, and did not
voluntarily pull the trigger which discharged the gun
and caused the death of decedent. He claims that the
fun was discharged by accident when Downey bumped
his arm in trying to escape.
The defendant intentionally armed himself with a dan-
ferous weapon and proceeded to decedent’s home with
the intention of committing robbery upon the person of
the decedent. Whether the gun was discharged acciden-
tally or not does not alter the legal effect of defendant’s
acts, though we find it difficult to believe defendant's
76 GORDON v. ILARRISBURG et al., Appellants.
Opinion of the Court. [314 Pa.
gage where taxes, charges or assessments have been filed
which accrue subsequently to the mortgage, but have, by
law, been given a priority. We have read with consider-
able care the case cited by appellant, Pottsville Lumber
Co. v. Wells, supra; it merely holds that a sale in a mort-
gage foreclosure does not discharge taxes assessed dur-
ing the year the land is sold, with the result that land
purchased at a foreclosure sale can be sold for such un-
liened taxes even in the hands of the purchaser at such
sale. The affirmation of this policy of the legislature to
preserve the liens of mortgages, as indicated in this act,
taken into consideration with the fact that the legisla-
ture when it desired to provide a method for destroying
such liens, did so expressly and only in a cautious and
deliberate manner, constrain us from giving so careless
and easy an interpretation to the words of the Third-
Class City Act. The mortgage lien would not be divested
by a sale of property for taxes in a third-class city where
the sale is made by the city treasurer.
The judgment of the court below is affirmed.
* Commonwealth v. Sterling, ApInt., et al.
Criminal law—Murder—Penalty—Sentence of trial court—Plea
of guilty—Murder during perpetration of robbery.
1. Where the defendant pleads guilty to an indictment for
murder, and the evidence of the Commonwealth substantiates a
finding of murder committed during the perpetration of a planned
robbery, the trial court docs not abuse its discretion in fixing the
degreo of the crime as murder in the first degree and sentencing
defendant to death. [77-81]
Appeals—Review—Criminal cases—Murder—Sentence of court
—Discretion of trial court.
2. ‘The Supreme Court has the power to reverse, modify or affirm
the judgment of the trial court, not only by statutory authority
but as an inherent judicial function of an appellate court. [78]
COMMONWEALTH v,. STERLING, Aplnt., et al. 77
7¢,. (1934).]
3. On appeal from a sentence of death on an indictment for
murder to which the defendant pleaded guilty, the Supreme Court
will not modify the sentence in the absence of an abuse of dis-
eretion by the trial court. [80]
Argued November 28, 1933. Before Frazer, ©. J.,
SIMPSON, KEPuART, SCHAFFER, MAXEY, Drew and LINN,
dd:
Appeal, No. 289, Jan. T., 1933, by defendant, Joseph
Sterling, from judgment and sentence of O. & T., G. J. D.
and Q. 8. Philadelphia Co., Jan. Sessions, 1933, No.
1179, in case of Commonwealth vy. Robert Harris and
Joseph Sterling. Judgment affirmed and record re-
mitted for purpose of execution.
Sylabus—Opinion of the Court.
Indictment for murder. Before Davis, P. J.
The opinion of the Supreme Court states the facts.
Sentence of death after hearing of evidence. Before
Davis, DP, J., LAMBERTON and Brown, JJ., without a
jury. Defendant appealed.
Error assigned, inter alia, was judgment, quoting
record,
(1. Levering Arnhold, for appellant.
Vincent A. Carroll, Assistant District Attorney, with
him Charles F. Kelley, District Attorney, for appellee.
OLINION BY Mr. Justicn Krrrarr, January 2, 1934:
Joseph Sterling pleaded guilty to the charge of mur-
der, The court below, after hearing the Commonwealth’g
wy idence, fixed the degree of the crime as murder in the
“rst degree and sentenced Sterling to death.
The sole question is whether the penalty fixed by the
lower court, when considered in relation to the acts done
hy defendant, is too severe and disproportionate; should
it be mitigated to life imprisonment?
92 fkzenig?g uo (squnop etydtepetrud)
Sydesop ‘onTTyaIS pue “yaeqou “sTuyVE
80 COMMONWEALTIIL ». STERLING, Aplnt., et al.
Opinion of the Court. [314 Pa.
contention that the trigger, requiring some effort to
move, was discharged accidentally by the mere brushing
of defendant’s arm by the decedent. The cases cited by
appellant, Com. y. Garramone, supra, and Com. y. Rit-
ter, 13 D. & C. 285, involve very different circumstances.
from defendant’s case. In the former, in which this
court reduced the sentence from death to life imprison-
ment, the defendant acted under the stress of great pas-
sion and provocation, while in the latter, the defendant,
a man “destroyed by drink and desperate by reason of
the fact that he had come to the end of his resources,”
subject to a frenzied and jealous passion, murdered. In
this case now before us the homicide was the result of a
mental rather than an emotional impulse. Though the
killing might not have been deliberately planned, the
likelihood of its occurrence was unquestionably contem-
plated and callously ignored by the defendant, who most
certainly intended to commit a crime which he knew
might well give rise to it. Defendant’s end was mercen-
ary; it included within the means of accomplishment
the employment of arms with the expected result of
wounding and death. It may be said that in practically
every case of robbery the death of the victim is not
planned by the participants; in fact, in many it is a re-
sult which the perpetrators particularly attempt to
avoid. Nevertheless, a killing in the perpetration of
such an act has been termed by the legislature murder
in the first degree.
This court is not permitted to substitute its opinion
for that of the court below unless the court below has
abused the diseretion given to it in this elass of cases.
Unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been
abused, that the lower court has overlooked pertinent
facts or has disregarded the force of evidence or erred in
its law, we are without authority to act.
After a careful review of the evidence, we find all the
elements of murder in the first degree and can discover
COMMONWEALTH v, STERLING, Aplnt., et al. 81
768, (1984).] Opinion of the Court.
no extenuating or mitigating circumstances which jus-
tify modifying the sentence of the court below.
Judgment affirmed and record remitted for the pur-
pose of execution.
Sce next case below.
e
Commonwealth v. Harris, Appellant, et al.
Criminal law—Murder — Penalty — Sentence of jury — Killing
during perpetration of robbery.
1. On the trial of an indictment for murder where the evidence
eubstantiates a finding that the defendant aided in the commission
ef a planned robbery, in the perpetration of which the killing took
place, the jury does not abuse its diseretion in fixing the death
penalty upon a verdict of guilty, in the absence of extenuating
circumstances. [83-5]
Appeals — Review—Criminal cases—M odification of sentence of
jury—M urder trial.
2. The question of the power of the Supreme Court to modify a
sentence of death fixed by the jury after a trial on an indictment
for murder, is not decided. [83]
Criminal law—Evidence—Prior convictions—Homicide cases—
Penalty to be fixed by jury.
3. Evidence in proper form of prior convictions of crime is ad-
missible in homicide cases for the sole purpose of aiding the jury
in determining the penalty to be inflicted if the jury finds defend-
ant guilty of murder in the first degree. [82-3]
Argued November 28, 1938. Before Frazer, C. J.,
SIMPSON, Kunrirart, Scuarrer, Maxey, Drew and Linn,
JJ,
Appeal, No. 295, Jan. T., 1933, by defendant, Robert
Harris, from judgment and sentence of O. & T. and G.
J. D. and Q. 8S. Philadelphia Co., Jan. Sessions, 1933,
No. 1179, in case of Commonwealth y. Robert Harris
and Joseph Sterling. Judgment affirmed and record
remitted for purpose of execution.
Indictment for murder. Before Davis, P. J.
The opinion of the Supreme Court states the facts.
VoL. cocxiIv—6
Bn AN NE I ee acres: Oe So abate NG
tease that had had more than its share of
Ss gurprises, came a few hours later when
».Magistrate Hines and Detective Taggert,
» »-thoroughly enjoying their part in the dra-
-matic dénouement, announced that Charles
_0E, Harris was only an assumed name and
that the indicted man actually was John
E. Francis Hanlon, friend and neighbor of the
).‘Mohrmanns, who frequently had sworn |
>.yengeance on the slayer and who, for a
vo time, had pretended to work so assiduously
| sto bring the murderer to justice. ‘
'-9/it Gradually the story of: the latest inves-
, tigation came out. Judge Hines told how,
while visiting the prison, he had caught a
«glimpse of Hanlon, how he had checked the
arecords and learned that his former as-
,sociate in the three-man investigating com-
_mittee. had. been sentenced recently for an
attack on a young woman, and how certain
‘similarities in the two cases had caused him
yito suspect Hanlon of the Mohrmann crime.
1, It shortly . became known that, at this
-point, Hines and Taggert had visited Han-
lon’s wife, from whom they learned that he
had disappeared : several weeks before—
cactually about the time he: was picked up
sunder an assumed. name for the churchyard
attack. He had been tried and sentenced
without his wife learning anything about the
trouble he was. in and, even.as the inves-
.tigators talked with her, she had no idea
- that her husband was involved. .»- '
The trial. of John Hanlon ranks high: in
| _the criminal annals of Philadelphia. Held
| “in the old criminal courthouse in. State
| : House Row, the historic building in which
| : /George Washington took the oath of office
E as he started his second term as President
| © of the United States, 4t lasted seventeen
days. A
ml HANLON HAD wealthy relatives ,who
A FRIEND TO ORGANIZED ait
LABOR FOR OVER 50 YEARS ©
“1S BACK OF
Carhartt Overalls have carried the union
label for over fifty years. That's a.
record—and a. record to be proud. ofl 4
.More—the Carhartt family for three: = © :
generations has staunchly backed the, =
ccuse of union workers—supported their!’
efforts in good times and bad—improved ©
working conditions—helped by ex.
ample, and many times contributed
funds to serve the needs of unionism.
Better hours at better pay have helped
us produce the finest work clothes that
money can buy. Made from Carhartt. -
Master Cloth in a variety of sensible .
colors—lock stitched throughout, s¢-»
curely reinforced at all wear points, :
sanforized against shrinkage and genet= '
SS.
i
me meee t
—_, 4
against the forbidding walls.
r: 3 ; ously cut for roomier work comfort, with \ ‘
to me a > re eupat’ spn rst sums non-corroding buckles and buttons se-') “J
is provide him wi e best possible coun- curely riveted, Carhartt's are durable, <
sel. The distinguished defense lawyers they . che y
! = hired were headed. by Benjamin Harris er gospel ee and above
| ik Brewster, brilliant attorney who. had just , nomical. et
ir -come from the Attorney Generalship of Remember—Carhartt work clothes’ must’
n- yi se went: ud a aa , re r always give you your money's worth in’.
f- arly. in tne er D accused, mane satisfaction—or your money backl Insist, -
startled to see Michael Dunn enter the wit- nny
on ness box. ae on the extra value features of Carhartt's, ..
4 “Do you know the prisoner at the. bar?” ; , 493
ted District Attorney Sheppard asked. ‘ ti
oii “T do,” Dunn replied quietly.
vad “What is his name?”
lly “Charles E. Harris.” pegs bs
There was a deep significance to these
ted questions and to the witness’s answers, for
: ong they showed that the Englishman had not
| heir been prompted and that, even then, he did
| tory not know that the prisoner actually’ was
imed John Hanlon. : ; eek
" Frankly and convincingly, Dunn related
phia : the story .of. his former cellmate’s confes-
ayer On crn Ce ean rae moseagre oe + gh abate § “An
; rneys drew from him a missions that he Fists che: : ie
i es had served terms in many prisons and that CARHARTT WASHABLE WORK CAPS ;
od Ba oe che bed eomnenistes © long. list of burglaries. ‘Are fll ext for comfort and coolnesr—skilfully tailored for
- mob @ But throughout the entire: recital, Dunn's neat app Table in materials to match—
“when »voice never faltered’ and at no time were will not shrink ot lose their shape. Eyelets for ventilation—*:
bal i the lawyers able to confuse him. ' a another exclusive; feature. } af,
gp vs When Hanlon testified in = pie — Aine ad ‘ ti
; a he flatly denied having contess to: Dunn. PEE ty of
ional He swore that he did not kill, Mary Mohr- THE HAMILTON CARHARTT OVERALL CO..
} 4 ap mann, Several witnesses were introduced “Established 1889 :
“4 -in an.effort to establish an alibi for him. | - , da j ;
| wees, But, when the jury returned from consider- DETROIT, MICH. . ATLANTA, GA. 5 °F DALLAS, TEXAS ©, CARHARTT PARK, KY
| a th , ing the evidence, their verdict: was guilty ‘ aM ih
a : me of murder in the first degree. fet
ps ., Michael Dunn, pardoned by the Governor THIS LABEL 1S
to get sand otherwise rewarded for -his services to YOUR PROTECTION
| Ag that the State, disappeared from Philadelphia.
s. They And on February 1st, 1871, more than
sal note four years after that fatal September night
t known in 1866 when he killed Mary Mohrmann,
or John Francis Hanlon went to the gallows $305
ld in historic Moyamensing Prison as’ seventy ‘
policemen struggled to keep back the
in this throngs’ of curious people who surged
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GETTYSBURG, PA., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1925 | edgy A Arp alae ier ng at -
Snir of Court im Bono Mase HARTHAN ELRCTROCUTED Scttebwre ¢ of © Om she Joh PERSORAL POL
Judge Edward M. Biddle, of Car- The Chamber of Commerce gave a
lisle, specially presiding in “se rule example of prompt action when som
and answer upon George J. Benner, E munity necessity demanded it on last
PRISONER TAKEN TO EASTERN Friday, November 27th. The fact that COMINGS AND
hel filed an opinion recently after after
postof- waking a decree which the Court be- PENITENTIARY BY SHERIFF. the Sub-Station of the State Police OUT OF
lieved was mandatory, under the Act, ewes remains in Gettysburg is due almost noe
“extends permission for reinstatement . ; r
petition after 60 days, on January 234, On Monday Morning He Paid The The Wednesday preceding Thanks- : re
ike A Social And Ot
giving, orders were received to close ; --
..1926, The opinion and order of court te Provid : A
a see rovided By Law for His the local Sub-Station on Saturday. ings and
entirely to the Chamber of Commerce.
is as follows: :
“The pending rule was taken under Murder of Policeman Haley. Much action was demanded if this of
the provisions of section 74 of the act closing order was to be averted.
of r4th April, 1834, P. L. 333. The Members of the Chamber of Com-
Philip A. Hartman, of Annville, who merce took off their coats and hus- M aM ‘
ceeding instituted in behalf of Alice murdered State Policeman Francis L. tled. Wires were kept hot between Liber ro ae Ts. 2
reine at C. Seymour, under the provisions of Haley in front of the Graeffenburg chre and Harrisburg and several other ape i re¢t, aeoll
P Xecier Section 28 of the Act of June 16, Inn on the Lincoln Highway on Octo- points, in order to give Gettysburg an Bridgeton, N. Js!
. 1836, P. L. 784. Stated briefly, that ber 15, 1924, paid the penalty of the opportunity to be heard on this mat- ip, week-end. ‘pe
ment © proceeding was started by a petition law on Monday morning, November ter. Wednesday evening, members of Aves iB. Beal
aperring that the respondent, George 30 by being electrocuted at the Rock- the Chamber of Commerce were as- i.. Bender, Balti
view Penitentiary in Center county. sured that the matter would be given ences: Dale
rule was issued as a result of a pro-
‘ J. Benner, when acting as attorney 5 ae
gee for the petitioner, had received acon- He was placed in the chair at 7:02 consideration. Friday, Capt. Stout reg hl and ee
siderable amount of money belonging. and was pronounced dead by prison informed the local office that Lieu- evThe aiuees Ci a
“Apel to her; that, after repeated demands physicians at 7:09. tneant Campbell was coming to Get- (sect. were visita
D result U2? him for an accounting and pay- Hartman was taken to the Rock- tysburg to confer with the business yy anesday rh
ghey 8 enht, he had neglected and refused to View Penitentiary on last Saturday men of the community on the State “““wirs CH Hel
seed a6 OnY the petitioner the money belong- morning by automobile. Sheriff John Police matter. The Chamber of Com- 1.25 gone to Toro
wed © ink, to her, and had retained it him- ©. Shealer was in charge, with, Con- merce arranged for the meeting at che will spend t
oe her self. In that proceeding a rule for stable Charles H. Wilson assisting. the Hotel Gettysburg. Members. Of Cister Me
a an attachment against the respondent Arthur Warman, East Middle street, the Board of Directors, County Com- ‘’S ise Docdttie)
Panuine was made absolute in 1906, but the drove the car and Edgar L. Hilde- missioners, President Jones of the Viol Cr or: y
eo Wik attachment was never executed, nor brand, a student at Gettysburg Col- Adams County Bankers’ Association, *10)4 ago
res il- was an¥ return thereto made by the lege, who interested himself in Hart- Dr. Stonesifer, President of the Lit- il ©. WEs La
neh Je sheriff; and, in October of the pres- man’s case, accompanied the party. tlestown Chamber of Commerce, Mr. °* a“ enney i
of Le wad ent year, a petition was presented on The trip was without special incident, Butt, District Attorney, and Lieuten- Rid, i ha betural
DP ADen: behalf of the same petitioner against unless it was at a detour they were ant Campbell, met at luncheon and . om 1d to N.
€N- the respondent and a rule to show thrown off the route and came to discussed the matter. It was the sails Flap py Ss
of babe cause why an alias attachment should their destination by another than the unanimous opinion of those present treet: ia visitl
tn sen not be awarded was issued and served usual route. | ; that the removal of the Sub-Station . i aaet ue ened
upon him. Thereafter an adjustment refore going to the chair Hartman from Gettysburg and Adams County ‘T “Nites Phillips ir
a eC was made, which the client accepted made a statement that he killed Ha- would be almost a calamity. Lieut. ;
. mR t. 6 satisfactory, and, at the instance lev and that no one else was impli- Campbell explained that the appro- spending seer »
y. of the parties, that rule was dis- cated in the tragedy. priation for the maintenance of the Mrs. I. "Mat hid
nt in St. charged and the existing attachment Hartman walked from his cell to State Police was getting very low, —Miss Sencnall
dissolved. Following that, however, the chair without apparent trepida- and for reasons of economy the clos- turned to seat Ped
Taughi the present rule was issued by the tion, The march was started by Rev. ing of the Sub-Station had been or- spending serere a
faughim- court at its own instance. An answer C. E. Kalb, prison chaplain, repeating dered. There was a small additional her parents, | ord
linbaugh. ¢9 the rule has been filed by the re- the Lord’s Prayer. Hartman follow- amount needed to take care of local Stewart, cage ;
is street. spondent, and his attorneys have re- ed, flanked on one side by Edgar L. operating expenses. The Chamber of —Miss Nellie .
need a€€ quested the court to dispose of the Hildebrand and on the other by 4 Commerce guaranteed the payment of ton street, big,
. 37 matter immediately upon the record guard. His step did not falter at any these expenses during the month 0 eg
ae rr as it stands, without the appointment time and not a word was uttered by December, in order to give the bor- ._. aP | Prye
ig ng € of an amicus curiae, without the fil- him as he was placed on the chait ough and county offirials time -to ke an aul Prom
> Get ing of a replication, and without the and the apparatus adjusted. agree on the future financing of the 1 “Cress Hamiltond
otek taking of depositions or testimony. ‘The body was claimed by Hart- proposition. Once more the Cham- ““_“yfrs. Laura bs]
e follow- The court is satisfied to make dispo- man’s father and taken to Annville, jer of Commerce has proven a mighty yo. Miss. Grace
Bistian D. sition of the case under these condi- and was taken to Abbottstown on jelp in an emergency. ter. + ,
ss_Anni€ tions. Wednesdav, where the funeral ser- The Chamber of Commerce has just Sir tee mg aie
° Coan “From an examination of the rec- vices were conducted by Rev. Harry about finished writing its invitations e ere ev w .
5. Emory ord, it appears that repeated demands Daniels. and among those present at to the High School graduating classes al xander S
arty O J. were made on behalf of Mrs, Sey- the interment were Sherig John C. of Pennsylvania to visit Gettysburg. pigs a pianist w
rd; ae mour for an accounting and for the Shealer and Deputy Sheriff Blaine E. This year we are also planning to get . Wateon Chapel!
phia, Th payment of the money received for Bixler. _ out invitations to the High Schools se the guest of I
The; 4 € her by the respondent, and these de- There was no element of uncertain- of Marvland. This kind of publicity Grimm, Baltimo
The mands were not complied with by tv or circumstantial evidence in this js usually very effective. We cannot Gettysbuurg.
1d. Little the respondent, who retained the -casc. Hartman had first held up the expect too much from the first in- "Mr, and Mrs.
‘ ttle money from some time in 1904 oF 1905 cashier of the Abbottstown bank and \itation, but, by keeping at it every > ed to
until October of the present year. It trying to escape the consequences of vear, it is bound to have its effects.
a is true that his answers filed in the ‘the one crime added murder to it After we get them here, it is up to
proceeding stated that he was not
d and by the double crime added such ys to treat them so well, that they'll
teee M aware that the attachment had been gravity to his offense that there was aj] plan to come again. pe
eas wee awarded against him, and that during but one result he faced from the start The Chamber of Commerce seg Springs avenue.
Tncorks the latter part of the time that he res —murder in the first degrec. He had tributed twenty-five dollars towse whia to spend sere
3 parents tained the money he had been given able counsel in George J. Benner, who the Boy Scout rent fund. No nee to er. and Mee
ti, ‘eoig to understand by the attorney for saw to it that conviction was by say anything about the Scout agers Wilmington.
ae home, Mrs. Seymour, who succeeded him, strict legal evidence. After a fair ment, except, perhaps. to state ye vith Mrs. Mary
Pete aks : that no adverse proceedings against trial from every point of view the in- the more scouts we now have, the ;
him would be pushed without further -evitable result of murder in the first more good citizens we will have im "vty Ratoh &
Mr. tl notice to him. This, however, dogs ‘degree resulted. the future. ; Bloomheld, i#
ae Pred not affect the original offense, and, < Mrs. Jatia Ts
ak the. ©, we view it, the facts that are ad- —_——_—_" West Middle
B71, Han- mitted by the pleadings bring the re- ; _ Hoa.
: spondent squarely within the provis- Bible Society’s Annual Report. : From The Air. tas returned f
Beneficial - . : :
ions of section 74 of the act of 1834, : , reikert. U. S. A Omaha, Nebrat
ty Name which make it “the duty of the court The Gettysburg Women’s Bible So- Fon Sete Pee Meo Kelly Field, Mr. and Me
Catholic ; ; : ! a
. to cause the name of such attorney ciety was organized in November, : Wednesday arriv- of Lancastet.
1 . 2 sae . Tex. eane .
unites to be stricken from the records of 1846, as_an Auxiliary | to the sketae ae is howe in McKnightstown in wr. and Mee
ass of re- the attorneys, and to prevent him Bible Society. It has been in con- Thanksgiving dinner |
| Joseph's 5 . : oe : time for the
; longer in the said tinuous existence for 79 years, mak- : ie -nded the Army- —Mr. ®
it in Mt rom prosecuting t : : Lieut” W eikert attended : :
* court.” The pending rule must, there- ing annual contributions to the Par- © : pat New York of children
Navy football game at Now eee ay Salis so
fore, be made absolute. At the same ent Society. ; 4 returne
time, the conditions and circumstanc- The membership dues are 50 cents Satassey pereparations for his retere Mr a +
es of this case are such that, in the a year, though — an ee? one flight ccuth. During the few aero middie re, 4
ini is- : ntributions of any |. os vin i ofa oat
opinion of the court, to make the dis- dollar or more. CO tributio La visit considerable te (at eat ae Ostend wt
amount from .05 up are thankfully {to su
softened the aro ereikert attemoted to A.
d at the
mopriester,
ic stroke
t Edward barment of the respondent permanent
: fe ‘ i sse
would be to impose an excessive pun- received, when the town is canvass that when
nial, this . * ' Ity in xet+ Saméev-
> ishment; and the appellate courts each year in May. ff he had great difficulty : endl
eral com have ruled that it is not obligatory Each pastor of the town has been pear his plane up to the necessary —®
ing hi It when tht aed epaaren
ont i made a Life Member by the payment ee, As a restt
he court to make a disbarment of y speed to rise As aa ft came in eam ote
this kind permanent. of $50.00 by the Society. Bibles, Tes lane left the ri a- «~4
pre at SAS 2 OTR ECON,» PLE ~~ taments and smaller portions of sage with an a sete
ims coun-
keasmith
- teabfler oA
ertric witt
bp ARMA athing ti PRIS
“105 YEAR
Weekly $1.0 a Your, 7
att 2
Fo c/ naefurtie te —
GETTY saat RG,
A., SATU
DBATH LIS? OF THE WEEK
LITTLESTOWN PLUMBER DIES
IN HOSPITAL.
Several Other Sudden Deaths In The
County of Those Well Known
Or Related Here.
William Howard Long, a bachelor.
aged 50 years, living at Littlestown,
died at the Annie M. Warner Hos-
pital within five hours after admis-
sion to the hospital for heart trouble
He was a plumber by trade and be-
came ill at a Littlestown hotel Sun-
day evening from acute indigestion,
and his condition became worse so
rapidly on Monday that he was
brought to the Hospiaal and though
everything was done to save his life
he died five hours later. An autopsy
revealed that death was due to a di-
lation of the heart. Mr. Long is sur-
vived by a step-brother, Harry Long,
of Littlestown, with whom he made
his home.
George Fissel, a native of Adams
county ,died at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. George Rebling, of
Steelton. last Thursday morning,
aged 85 years. Four daughters and
one son survive: They are Mrs. Geo.
Walters, of Harrisburg; Mrs. Reb-
ling, of Steelton; Charles H. Fissel, of
Gettysburg; Mrs. James Reed, of
Biglerville, and Mrs. Effie Nicholas
of Harrisburg. Two sisters, Mrs. Pol-
ly Mummert, of Philadelphia, and
Mrs. Rebecca Wisler, of Abbotts-
town, also survive. Funeral services
were held on Saturdav_ morning from
the home of Mrs. Rebling. On Sun-
day morning the body was brought to
Gettysburg and interment was made
in Evergreen Cemetery.
William A. Hollebaugh, a native of
Gettysburg, died suddenly at his home
in Washington, D. C.. on Tuesday.
He was 5§ years old. Mr. Hollebaugh
was a brother of the late S. Russell
Hollebaugh and the late Mrs. Charles
S. Speese, of Gettysburg. He is sur-
vived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs.
is survived by his wife and the fol-
lowing sons and daughters: Mrs.
Percy Alwine, of New Oxford:
Clyde, of Allentown; Charles G. and
Austin, of Spring Grove; Ralph O..
Eases Donald, Paul and Mary, at
rome. .
SUPREME COURT AFFAIRS
Two Cases Decided By Judge D. P.
McPherson,
The contest over the office of Sher-
iff has been concluded by the Su-
preme Court of Pennsylvania by a
decision in favor of John C. Shealer,
and against G. D. Morrison. The lat-
ter had been elected by 56 votes not
counting the absentce ballots and
counting these votes Shealer was
elected by 15 votes.
_ Notwithstanding the Supreme Court
in 1924 decided that the absentee vote
was unconstitutional, the law. pro-
viding for a contest prescribes that
certain things must be done in order
to give the court jurisdiction over a
contest.
One of these requirements is an af-
fidavit, in which among other things
the law requires that tive of the con-
testants swear that “the return there-
of is not correct.” These words were
not in the affidavit to the Morrison
contest petition, Judge D. P. Me-
Pherson decided that he did not have
jurisdiction over the contest because
of the absence of these words. The
Supreme Court has affirmed the de-
cision of Judge McPherson as the
law.
The Supreme Court also handed
down a deciston in the case of John
H. Wolt, of Philadelphia. against C.
A: Spencer, of Greensburg. At the
trial the jury had given the plaimtiff,
Wolf. a verdict of $3,000 damages by
reason of damages growing out of an
automobile accident. The defendant
asked for a new trial and this had
been refused and the case went to
the Supreme Court and the opinion
tiled sustanis the Court below and
verdict of the jury. The. case was a
double one, for Spencer sued Wolt
for damages and the result of the
joint trial was in favor of Wolf as
stated.
Robert Fletcher, and one son. S. Rus- «
sell Hollebaugh. both of Washington
Another son, Lieutenant William A
Hollebaugh, Jr.. was killed in Wash-
ington four years ago. Mrs. Frank
Motika and Miss Anne Hollchaugh.
’ both of Hanover street, are nicces of
the deceased. Funeral services were
held in Washington on Thursday,
with burial there.
Hiram A. McCans, a former resi-
dent of Adams county, died Thurs-
day of last week at his home in New
Carlisle, Ohio, from heart trouble,
aged about 60 years. Mr. McCans
was a son of the Jacob and Ma-
rie McCans. of Centre Mills. - He left
Adams County for New Carlisle, O..
about 35 vears ago. where he had
been engaged in farming. He is sur-
vived by his wife, four sons and one
daughter. Also one brother andthree
sisters, Edward McCans, of Mechan-
icsburg; Mrs. David Knaub, of Dills.
burg; Mrs. John Fohl and Miss Min-
nie. McCans, of Biglerville. Funeral
was held in New Carlisle on Sunday.
John F. Woodward, of Gettysburg.
died at the Annie M. Warner Hos
pital on Friday of last week, aged 52
years. He had undergone an opera-
tion two weeks before. necessitating
removal of all of his toes and part
of his right foot. It is said that dur-
ing an exposure on a recent night his
feet became frosthitten and by rea-
son thereof the operation was per-
formed. The funeral was on Sunday
from the H. B. Bender & Son funeral
parlors, with services by Rev. W. C
Robinson, and interment in Ever
green Cemeterv. He leaves _ five
brothers: ¥rederick H.. ot Harris-
burg: James H.. of Mt. Joy township;
George W., Toel M. and Ellsworth
C., of Gettysburg, and three sisters :--
Mrs. Lyle:Benedict and Mrs. Hariy
Massmer, of Harrisburg, and Mr.
John Weaver. of Virginia
George W. Mummert, son of the
late John TD Muimmert, died at his
Telephones For Those
With Impaired Hearing.
A new type of telephone equipment
for persons with impaired hearing
has been developed by the telephone
engineers of the Bell system) which
will make it possible for many per-
sons to hear who are at present cut
ott from the world of telephone
speech."
Tests of this new development have
shown that there are certain kinds
of deafness that can be helped by
such means, and though there may be
mary who cannot use it profitably,
it is believed there are thousands to
whom this new device will be one of
inestimable value.
This telephone equipment for the
deaf has been developed by scientists
who are working constantly on the
problem of the electrical transmis-
sion of speech and whose discoveries
and developments are continuously
incorporated in the general telephone
service. It was by the application of
principles established in this way that
the “deaf set” was made possible, and
is ‘now commercially available for
those who may be benefited by it in
their use of telephone service.
Only a limited number of these sets
Lave .been manufactured as it is so
new that there is no way to estimate
how large the demand will be. :
A wide range of experiments in
the Bell Inboratories has shown that
this special equipment is of no value to
a person with normal hearing whosz
car receives eftectively the sounds
presented on ordinary telephone cir-
cuits. A sitnple increase in loudness
with no other change while it mav
he very important to the sensitive ear
ofthepartially deaf, is not in general
oiany advantage toone with unim-
paired hearing. In fact, say telephone
engineers, under many conditions
the interpretation of words received
would be less accurate on account of
the excessively loud sounds.
The installation of this special
cquipment will therefore be confined
REASONS FOR NEW TRIAL Nz LINCOLN
—-
MURDER IN FIRST DEGREE
WAS FOUND.
The Reasons Go To The Admission
of the Confession Made By The
Defendant,
Hon. Geo. J Benner, counsel for
Philip A. Harman, has filed the fol-
lowing reasons for a new trial:
As To Admission Of Evidence.
1, The learned Court erred in ad-
inittings the statement made by the
defendant while in custody of Major
Adams at the Abbottstown Bank, “I
am the man,” meaning guilty of the
robbery of the bank
2. The learned Court erred in ad-
mitting the statement made to Serg’t
Dahlstrom, the prosecutor, by the de-
tendant, that he, the defendant, own-
ed the belt buckle and small case
found at burned automobile.
3. The learned Court erred in ad-
mitting the statement made by the de-
fendant at the County Jail to Serg’t
Dahistrom, the prosecutor, that he
recognized a revolver as his proper-
tv or “one like it.”
4. Vhe learned Court erred in ad-
mitting the statement made by the de-
rendant to Sere’t Dahlstrom, the
prosecutor, in the car at Graeffen-
Gerg Tan. that he. the defendant.
“Koew that De wos cornered andthat
thet (the shooting) seemed the only
eet oof an”
z The learned Court erred in ad-
mittenge the paner known as the con-
pecan ot the defendant. the testi-
mony with regard to the same not
iEEVUE ting te the clearness and con-
Tustveness required by law as to its
wing been were by the defendant
voluvtarnily without coercion, prom-
tsecey ther inducement
As To The Charge of The Court.
1 The fdearned Court erred in
chorutee thar Mrs. Miller who sat on
the porch oat the Hlotel Corrabersated
an Tehnson in stoting that she
heard the defendant sav, “Take that”
without commenting on the fact of
her distance, her failure to hear any
other expression as hetween the de-
fendant and Private Haley and the
the faet that one man and a trained
nurse, who were close to her and in
intimate conversation failed to hear
any remark at all.
2. The learned Court erred in re-
citing the testimony of G. F. John-
son, who was close to the machines
and who swore that he heard the ex-
pression, “take that” at the time the
shot was. fired without commenting
on the tact that he heard the officer
sav. nothing.
3. The learned Court erred in not
calling the attention of the jury to
their mode of determining the cred-
itibility of a witness, from his man-
rer on the stand and his apparent
truthfulness. The nervousness and
shifting of his hands and legs in
which Tohnson was so noticeable as,
if the jury’s attention had been called
to it. it might have had an effect in
other minds as to his creditibility.
4. The learned Court erred in not
charging the jury with a definite mo-
tive for the assault must be found
by the Jurv before it can safely ren-
cer a verdict of guilty.
s. The learned Court erred in sub-
mitting the confession to the jury as
fully and satisfactorily proved with-
out adverting to the unusual length
of time (over four hours) which was
occupied in the making and obtaining
of the confessison and the defendant
submits that this one circumstance
was greatly in his favor in that it
should have raised a reasonable
doubt as to the legality of voluntary
character of the confession and that
harm was done him by failure on the
part of the Court to refer to it in his
review of the testimony.
]
MARRIAGES.
Chronister—Auchey. -—- Miss Alice
A. Auchev, daughter of Map and Mrs
1D. Ss, Auchey. of Maple rove, and
Pant E. Chronister, of New Oxteee
were tn nite 4 in marriage last Friday
coat be wo eho aura ig ri ceea eee ae by
IN PRINT UNTIL
A Good Story “The Same
lows,” Told In Lincoln’
Style
Lincoln's birthday anniv
the publication of a short
Lincoin never before pub
was the last speech of Lir
campaign of 1858 when
was being waged with §
Douglas for the Illinois §
It was made at Springfie!
the manuscript found was
the immortal hand.
“My friends, today clos
cussion of this canvass.
ing and the culture: are
there remains but the
and the harvest.
‘I stand here surrounded
--some political, all perso
[ trust. May 1 be indulg
closing scene, to say a fe
myself? Ll have borne |:
and, in some respects to
painful part in the contes!
all { have neither assailed
tled with any part of th
tion. The legal right of
crn people to reclaim the
| have constantly admitte
gal right of Congress 1
with thetr institution in t
have constantly denied. |
the spread -of slavery to
tory and with that, what
me to be a tendency to
first principle of free gov
self. my whole effort has
To the best of my judgr
labored for and not agair
ion As T have not felt,
not expressed any harsh
toward our Southern brett
constanly declared, as I
lieved, the only differem
them and us is the differe
cumstances,
“[T have meant to assail
of no party or individua
have in any instance (of *
not conscious) departed ft
pose, [ regret it.
“T have said that in sok
the contest has been pat
Myself and those with ¥
have been constantly acé
purpose to destroy the
bespattered with every!
odious epithet; and some
friends, as it were but
have made themselves m
this. | have cultivated p
made no attempt at a’ ret
“Ambition has been ase
God knows how sincere
from the first that this
bition might not be oper
no insensibility to, polit
but today could the Mis
tion be restored, and the
ery question replaced
ground of ‘toleration’
where it exists, with un
tility to the sperad of it,
I would, in consideration,
that Judge Douglas sho
out, and I never in, an
as we. both or either liv
An Unpublished Linc
The following unpublis
lincoln has come fro
grandson of the man t
addressed:
Springfield, Ills. Mz
ifon Saml Haycraft 4
Dear Sir:
Your recent letter, wit
received. Also the cq
speech on the contemp
Boone monument, whic
yet had time to read
von are right about my
father was Thomas Line
Sally Johnston, was his
You are mistaken abou
Hier maiden name was
I was not born at Eliza
my mother’s first child,
two vears older than
now fong since deceas
was born February 1
where Hogginsville on
Hardin County. I do
coer saw you, though
know who you are, so
vietowiti wane: Randwet
a
IN HARTMAN CASE IN WHICH A SPEECH AND Us LETTE
LG TENE CR PE Coe On STR ne Ge ee ee a ee eee Pee ay ee Seen ES See ne Tee MTS eR mE eS EE SERGT ee AN Oe Se ee OO ee eR, NE AS mr eS TN
Flaming Death and the
Blonde
[Continued from page 27}
to have someone in constant attendance
at Catherine Gelwix’s bedside in case the
girl should be able to answer questions.
The two police officers left for the scene
of the fire after saying they’d be back in
Chambersburg late that afternoon. There
wasn’t much left of the modest home when
Gillan and Snyder got back to Marion.
The stone foundation was intact and an
iron furnace stood in the center of
smoldering ruins. Firemen were still
wetting down the embers.
The investigators spoke with the fire
chief. “The bodies are still in there,” the
chief said« “It’s been too hot to get them
out. The coroner was here, but I told him
to come back later. He’s going to need
help. Something’s wrong here. This house
went up too fast.”
The police officers told him what the
doctor at the hospital had said about
Catherine Gelwix having been hit on the
head with a blunt instrument.
“That fits,” the fireman said. “I believe
somebody poured kerosene around inside
that house and put a match to it. But
what kind of fiend would want to kill
those innocent women?”
Snyder and Gillan couldn’t guess. The
doomed family was well known through-
out Franklin County. Mrs. Gelwix had
been a devoted mother, active in church
work, Catherine was one of the prettiest
and most popular girls in the younger set.
Helen was just a sophomore in high school.
That New Year’s Day 1937, was a sad
one in the little town of 1500 people.
Rumors of arson and planned murder cir-
culated, although nearly everyone found
it difficult to believe such a tragedy could
take place in their peaceful community.
Corporal Snyder informed the State
Fire Protective Bureau in Harrisburg of
the situation. They said arson expert John
Funck would start out for Marion im-
mediately.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Gillan had been
checking on Catherine Gelwix’s fiancé.
He was Ralph Hawk, a young farm hand
employed near Chambersburg. The
county officer wondered why Hawk had
not been with his bride-to-be on New
Year’s Eve.
Gillan went to question him while
Corporal Snyder investigated Henry Nor-
man, the man whose name Catherine
Gelwix had muttered in her delirium.
Henry Norman was a nice looking man
in his mid-20s. Neither he nor his parents
had to be told what the visit was all about.
“How is Catherine?” he asked.
; Corporal Snyder said the girl was still
in a coma.
“You knew her quite well, didn’t you?”
the trooper asked. :
Henry Norman looked first at his
mother, then to his father. “Yes,” he said,
“I used to go with Catherine. She’s a fine
girl. So was her mother and younger
sister. I hope she recovers and tells you
who committed this awful crime.”
Corporal Snyder said he wasn’t positive
a crime had been committed. “But that’s
the way it looks,” he added. “How did you
know the fire was no accident?”
Young Norman said everybody in town
was talking about it.
“Catherine Gelwix muttered your name
in her delirium,” Snyder said to Henry
Norman. “Can you explain why she did
such a thing?”
The young man seemed puzzled. Finally
he said, “No, I can’t. But maybe it was
because we used to go together.”
His father interrupted. “Henry was at
home last night,” he said. “We were all
asleep when the fire broke out. We ran
over there as fast‘as we could. It was too
late. But Henry was present when the
ambulance came for Catherine. It’s pos-
sible she saw him then.”
Corporal Snyder reminded Mr. Norman
the girl was unconscious. Then he added,
“Possibly the motive behind this terrible
thing lies in Catherine’s past. That’s why
we have to investigate every angle, how-
ever unlikely it may seem.”
Snyder talked with Mr. and Mrs. Nor-
man and their son for quite a while. The
young man explained why he had broken
up with Catherine Gelwix.
“There were no hard feelings,” he said.
“Ralph Hawk came along. He’s the best
looking guy around and when he started
dating Catherine, she forgot about me. I
don’t hold that against her. A girl has a
right to pick and choose as she pleases.”
Corporal Snyder got back to the scene
of the fire just in time to see the coroner
remove two charred corpses from the
ruins, Constable Walter Klipp and Private
James Bouse of the State Police were
poking through the ashes while. waiting
for arson expert Funck to arrive.
Sheriff Gillan had located Ralph Hawk
at the farm where he worked, but the
news from Marion had: preceded him.
Hawk, a handsome youth with black,
wavy hair, asked about Catherine’s con-
dition.
Gillan had no further information about
the girl. “Tell me,” he said to Hawk. “Why
weren’t you with your fiancee last night?”
“I was,” the youth protested. “I was
there until midnight. Then I had to go see
my father.” He buried his face in his
hands and sobbed.
Hawk managed to ask the sheriff if
rumors about possible arson and planned
murder were true. Gillan said conditions
surrounding the fire made a complete in-
vestigation necessary. He asked the hand-
some youth what time he had arrived back
at the farm that morning.
“It was about 1 o’clock,” Hawk told the
sheriff.
The people he worked for said they had
heard him come in about that time.
Gillan asked about possible enemies the
Gelwix family might have had. “If this
thing had happened in backwoods
country,” he said, “I’d think a feud was
back of it. That’s not the case. Everybody
has a good word for the Gelwix women.”
Ralph Hawk agreed. He could think of
no one who would want to harm Mrs.
Gelwix, Helen or Catherine.
“Catherine and I were to be married in
a few days,” he added. “I can’t believe
this was anything but accidental. That
was an old house. Catherine and her
mother and sister were asleep. They must
have had windows up in the bedrooms
and once the fire started, the drafts could
have speeded it up.”
Sheriff Gillan said there was more to it.
“Catherine Gelwix was hit on the head,”
he added. “We were suspicious before the
doctor told us about that. The wound
can’t be explained any other way. Our
one hope is that she will recover suffici-
ently to tell us who attacked her.”
The county officer drove back to Marion
after finishing his questioning. He com-
pared notes with Corporal Snyder while
arson expert Funck examined the ruins.
John Funck’s findings added to the
puzzle. “Maybe there would be some
doubts in my mind about this fire if wit-
nesses hadn’t seen the housé completely
dark one minute and in flames the next,”
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‘ (Above) Catherine Gelwix, who was
eens
dragged unconscious from her flam-
ing home. (Circle) Pretty Evelyn {
Harmon aided police. (Below) {
Ruins of the Gelwix home in which
Catherine's mother and sister died
OME men get married peaceably; some because the
prospective father-in-law has an itching finger on the
trigger of a shotgun. Others become bridegrooms with
reluctance, doubting the advisability of the step.
Not so with twenty-year-old. farmhand Ralph Hawk of
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He was to have taken the
eventful “thirteen steps” to the altar with blond Catherine
Gelwix, age twenty. But he “changed his mind.”
Just before the wedding ceremony, this impulsive bride-
groom called on his bride-to-be. “They talked and listened
to the radio probably at the sume time.
Mrs. Hazel Gelwix, mother of Catherine, became tired
of it. She went to bed. So did Helen, fifteen, Catherine’s
sister. Finally Catherine grew tired, too. She turned off
the radio and Jay down on the bed.
With no radio for entertainment, Ralph became tired also.
He lay on the bed beside Catherine, who had fallen asleep.
Whether if, was Catherine’s method of sleeping; whether
it was a dream impulse of his own; or whether it was one
of those quick momentous decisions that have sometimes
skyrocketed men to fame, no one knows.
Ralph’s story, which the police are inclined to disbelieve,
is that he cume to a sudden determination not to marry
Catherine. Jlaving thus made up his mind, he made it
more emphatic by brutally striking her several times on the
head with a flashlight. Kerosene being handy, he poured
128
(Right) Ralph Hawk, twenty-
year-old farmhand, told police
he “didn’t want to marry”
some on the bed and set it on fire. Then he took a walk.
Neighbors saw the house in flames and Catherine’s face
at the window. They were able to rescue her; but Mrs.
Gelwix and Helen burned to death, and the house was
destroyed. Catherine was taken to a hospital where, as this
is written, she lies in a dangerous condition.
Hawk, the prospective bridegroom, was suspected, but he
denied knowledge of the crime. Ile confessed later when
taken to the hospital and confronted with his fiancée.
“T didn’t want to marry Catherine, so T decided to knock
her out and wipe out the whole family while they slept,”
is the way he expressed it.
Hawk’s story is so bizarre and incredible that the police
are baffled. They incline to the idea that Ralph had done
something more than change his mind; he had changed his
girls. They learned he had been paying attention to at-
tractive Evelyn Harmon.
However, there are no witnesses to. the crime and if
‘Catherine dies there will be no one to prove that Ralph even
called on the Gelwix family that fatal night. There will re-
mun nothing but his own fantastic story. Tf Catherine
should recover, she may not be able to identify her lover as
her assailant, since she was asleep when he says he suddenly
made up his mind against matrimony.
It promises to be a pretty problem in cireumstantial evi-
dence. ‘
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“The Gelwix place!” the irl screamed. “It’s on fire!”
Victor turned quickly, “Who's in there?”
the youth said as he dashed across the Street. The front door was locked. Throw-
ing his full weight against the panel, he bounced back. THe lock wouldn't give. He tried to kick in the
door, but couldn’t,
By this timethe could See a solid wall of flame inside andh
ear the ominous crackling of rapidly burn-
“Help me,” a faint voice pleaded, “Help me!”
Victor &rabbed a piece of wood and shattered the glass. A
room was filled with smoke and as hot as a blast furnace.
The girl who had been at the window evidently had fallen t¢
window and saw that her nightgown wa
and stumble to the window. A neighbor reached in and lifted her to Safety,
Someone else helped Victor down. “Get an ambulance,” he gasped.
The whine of fire engine sirens could be heard in the distance
burg, six miles away, were too late. Th
control. Despite heroic efforts by to , the frame dwelling was completely de-
Stroyed in short order.
Mrs. Gelwix and her 15-year-old daughter, Helen
Blonde, 21-year-old Catherine was rushed to Chambersburg Hospital for emergency treatment,
Heroic Victor told what had happened,
© the floor. Victor crawled through the
Son fire. He beat out the flames, managed to pick up the girl
; BY BOB WILLIAMS
26
STARTLING DETECTIVE YEARBOOK #2, 196k
ined of a gay
nent all was
it up like a
Youthful arson mur-
derer above had a most
unusual reason for
wanting to do away
with an entire family
of three women while
they slept in their
frame dwelling after
celebrating the New
Year. Blonde Catherine
Gelwix, right, was
struck from behind by
the killer, but managed
to make her way to a
window where a fast-
thinking and fast act- ho ~
ing man saved her life.
There wasn’t much left to the Gelwix house after the ex-
plosion and fire except the foundation and heating furnace.
condition, between life and death, in Chambersburg Hospital.
The doctor who performed an emergency operation on the
pretty bride-to-be spoke with Cpl. Arthur Snyder, of the
Pennsylvania State Police, and Franklin County Sheriff
Charles Gillan at 6 o’clock that New Year’s morning.
“Catherine Gelwix is lucky to be alive,” he said. “Did you
men notice anything suspicious about that fire?”
Both Snyder and Gillan had been puzzled by the speed
with which flames consumed the house. “Witnesses told us
the Gelwix place was completely dark one minute and ablaze
the next,” Sheriff Gillan said. “I’m no fire expert, but that
doesn’t sound right to me.”
“T agree,” the doctor said. “Fires don’t get going that fast
without some outside help. What’s more, Catherine Gelwix
was hit on the head with a blunt instrument before the
flames reached her!”
‘Although the police officers had been suspicious about
the fire’s origin, this statement came as a surprise.
“Are you saying you think someone set the house on fire
in a deliberately planned murder?” Corporal Snyder asked.
“That’s the way it looks to me,” the doctor said. “Let’s
check the facts: The house went up like a tinder box while
three people were inside. Two of them died. The third,
Catherine, was rescued by a man who fortunately was on
the spot. If he hadn’t been there the girl would have burned
to death. I performed an emergency operation and examined
her thoroughly and that’s when I found the wound in her
head.”
The policemen thought perhaps she had fallen and hit
her head while trying to get to a window.
“That’s not the way it happened,” the doctor said. “The
wound is in the top of her head. Someone hit that girl a
vicious blow. She probably awoke in time to see her as-
sailant.”
Sheriff Gillan wanted to know when they would be
able to question her. “Maybe later today,” the doctor said.
“That’s an optimistic guess. I give her only a 50-50 chance
to live.”
Corporal Snyder asked what kind of weapon the assailant
had used. “I can’t be sure,” the doctor told him. “It was
blunt. Some kind of club. Maybe a heavy piece of wood or
metal.”
Gillian and Snyder figured that whoever had struck the
blow had been surprised when Catherine Gelwix awakened.
He probably had grabbed the first thing he could get his
hands on.
“If it was a piece of wood,” the sheriff said, “we'll never
find it. That would have burned up along with everything
else in that inferno.”
The doctor volunteered more information. “This could
be important,” he said. “In her delirium the girl muttered
somebody’s name.’ She repeated it several times. I did my
best to make out what she was trying to say. The first name
was Henry. I’m sure about that. I think the last name was
Norman or Korman.”
Sheriff Gillan knew Henry Norman. He lived in Marion,
only a short distance from the Gelwix house. “I’ve known
Henry a long time,” the county officer said. “I think he used
to go with Catherine Gelwix. He’s never been in any
trouble.”
Corporal Snyder made a note of the name. No matter what
Sheriff Gillan thought, this young man would have to be
questioned. The doctor promised [Continued on page 63]
58 AMERICAN
The crowd tried the front door. It was locked. Shoul-
ders crashed against it and as it opened, the draft of air
passing from the open door to the open window, caused the
flames to billow up and drive the smoke away.
And in the light of the leaping flames, the crowd at the
door saw the body of Mrs. Gelwix lying on the floor, partly
on her right side, flames enveloping her. Her body twitched
once or twice, as if gasping for breath.
“Who'll help me go in there and pull Mrs. Gelwix out?”
Farren cried.
“She’s dead,” someone answered, “and if you pull ‘on
her arms, they’d come away from the body.”
Farren grabbed his handkerchief, wrapped it around his
face and started to plunge into the burning inferno; but
as he did, there was a crashing roar and the ceiling and
walls fell in.
The crowd leaped back, some barely escaping the burn-
ing crash. Farren’s face and hands were singed. The
Franklin County pump roared up to the flaming house.
But the four-room bungalow was now a blazing mass.
The firemen struggled with the blaze, but their efforts were
futile and the building burned to its foundation, the bodies
of Mrs. Gelwix and her daughter, Helen, with it.
At the Small home, Doctor Buckingham had examined
Catherine Gelwix. He found two depressed fractures of
the skull, one over the left ear and one on the forehead.
She had lapsed into a coma. A truck was commandeered
and she was taken to the Chambersburg Hospital, where
Doctor A. W. Thrush, county coroner, was summoned by
Doctor Buckingham.
“The girl has two fractures of the skull,” Doctor Buck-
ingham said to the coroner. “That is why I called you. It
is my belief that the fire at: the Gelwix home is a case of
arson and murder.”
Catherine Gelwix, below, who was discovered half-con-
scious across a window sill of the blazing house.
DETECTIVE
“Murder?” Doctor Thrust said. “You mean that .
“There is something about Miss Gelwix’s clothes I want
to show you,” Doctor Buckingham answered. “I think it
will convince you that this is a case for the police.”
The two doctors went up to the room where Catherine
Gelwix lay on a bed with the hospital doctors and nurses
working over her. She had lost consciousness and lay with
her eyes closed, her breathing coming in short gasps.
Doctor Buckingham did not go to her. He went to a
table where the blue dress she had been wearing lay with
her stockings and underwear. He handed the dress to Dr.
Thrush.
The coroner took it, put it up to his face, and then looked
quickly at Doctor Buckingham. “This,” he said grimly,
“is a case for the police. This dress has
been soaked with kerosene.”
“The kerosene on the dress,” Doctor
Buckingham replied, “and the fact, as you
can see, that those two fractures were
caused by blows on the girl’s head by some
round weapon with sharp edges, should
interest the state police.”
The news of the fire and the cremation
of the bodies in it, had spread to al] parts
of the town of Marion and crowds flocked
to the scene of the smoldering embers
where the community pump apparatus was
still being used to throw water on them.
The inf
bersburg, t
ly murder
Marion.
Mrs. Gx
were kno\
They had
around M:
Gelwix, N
eral years }
to work fo
moved — fro
Springs to
which was
She worked ;
tory on Wate
worked at the
Street. The y:
Catherine, tl
ried to Ralph
out of Marion,
urday, the day
one had purpos
family seemed
neighbors refus
But the law,
ested only in
happen. Corp.
{ want
ink it
herine
nurses
y with
it to a
vy with
to Dr.
looked
zrimly,
|
|
dress has
|
” Doctor
ct, as you
ires were
d by some
*s, should
cremation
» al] parts
ds flocked
x embers
iratus was
on them.
The information, filtering out of Cham-
bersburg, that behind the fire was a ghast-
ly murder plot, stunned the citizens of
Marion.
Mrs. Gelwix and her two daughters
were known by the entire community.
They had lived most of their lives in or
around Marion. The husband of Mrs.
Gelwix, Norman Gelwix, had died sev-
eral years before, and Mrs. Gelwix, forced
to work for the support of the girls, had
moved from the farm near Guilford
Springs to the home in North Marion,
which was owned by her parents.
She worked at the Chambersburg Tailoring Company fac-
tory on Water Street in Chambersburg, and Catherine
worked at the Interwoven Hosiery mill on North Third
Street. The younger daughter, Helen, kept house for them.
Catherine, the oldest daughter, was engaged to be mar-
ried to Ralph Hawk, a young farmer living several miles
out of Marion, and the wedding date had been set for Sat-
urday, the day following the tragedy. The theory that any-
one had purposely set the bungalow on fire to destroy the
family seemed so utterly absurd, on first thought, that the
neighbors refused to believe it.
But the law, moving with startling rapidity, was inter-
ested only in realities and not| what could or could not
happen. Corporal A.B. Snyder, in charge of the state
“EON MOTUS SORTS NTE Ss aa
Above: The girl, Evelyn, who assisted police in solving the
cose. Left: The charred ruins of the Gelwix home which
became the funeral pyre of a mother and her daughter.
police at: Marion, received Coroner Thrush’s report at 2:05
ASM:
This information was flashed to state police headquarters
at Harrisburgh, and twenty minutes later, Trooper Edward
Bouse, from the state fire marshal’s office, and one of the
leading arson sleuths in the state, was on his way to Cham-
bersburg, a little over forty miles from the state capital.
When Corporal Snyder arrived at the Gelwix home,
Sheriff C. H. Gillian, and his deputy, Norman C. Lightner,
and Constable Walter Klipp were already there.
Neither of the bodies of the two women who perished in
the fire could be seen in the burning debris, and there was
nothing for the police to do but wait until the ruins had
stopped burning and cooled off.
“If it was arson and murder,” young Sheriff Gillian said
to Corporal Snyder, “there won’t be any clues or evidence.
left in those charred pieces of wood.”
“If Catherine ever regains consciousness,” Snyder an-
swered, “we'll likely know what happened, but a girl with
two fractures of the skull may never be able to talk. We'll
start questioning the neighbors to see if they saw anybody
around the house or if they know anything.”
Corporal Snyder and Deputy Sheriff Lightner started to
check up on the neighbors, the greater majority of whom
had gotten up and were in the crowd. The sheriff started
to follow. but as he did, a young man pushed his way
through the crowd and rushed up to him, It was Ralph
Hawk, the young farmer who was to have married Catherine
Gelwix within ten or twelve hours.
“What happened, Sheriff?” he gasped. “I just left Cath-
erine at the hospital. She has partly regained consciousness,
but she is too dazed to remember anything.”
59
60
Sheriff Gillian looked at the young man
who was known as “Pud” by his many
friends.
“We don’t know any more than you or
anybody else, Ralph,” the sheriff explained.
“Charley Farren and Margaret Small dis-
covered Catherine half-way out of the
window and the house on fire. Catherine
had been struck twice with blows that
fractured her skull and her dress smelt of
kerosene.”
“That kerosene isn’t important,” Ralph
answered. “I know she had just cleaned
that house dress she was wearing. The
kerosene smell came from that —but those
two wounds in her head. Somebody tried
to kill her.”
“If they did,” the sheriff answered, “we
are going to need your help. Did you or
Catherine have any enemies—any person
that didn’t want to see you married?”
Ralph Hawk shook his head and
shrugged helplessly.
said. “Catherine and I have been
going together for a long time and there
was no third party. There was nobody
that didn’t want to see us get married.”
“Was there any other reason that any
person would want the Gelwix family out
of the way?” the sheriff asked.
EB 2 course, we had no enemies,” he
AMERICAN DETECTIVE
“Well,” Ralph hesitated a moment,
“there is only one theory I can offer and
it isn’t much of a theory. Mrs. Gelwix
and Catherine had a habit of keeping their
pay in the house. They were paid yester-
day afternoon, and last night when I
called to see Catherine, I warned her
against keeping cash in the house. Robbery
might be a motive, but the amount she
and her mother had wasn’t great.”
“How much was it?”
“Not more than forty or fifty dollars,”
Ralph answered. “I was here up to about
ten o’clock last night. We had first in-
tended to attend a New Year’s party, but
since we were planning to get the wedding
ring early in the morning and since we
had a lot of things to do, we didn’t go.
When I left, Mrs. Gelwix and Helen had
gone to bed.”
ND Catherine?” the sheriff questioned.
“She was wearing that blue house
dress,” Ralph replied. “She had taken her
shoes off and was sitting at the radio. She
told me she was going to bed as soon as I
left.”
“All right, Ralph,” the sheriff said.
“There isn’t much we can do until we
know for sure that the house was set on
fire, Corporal Snyder is questioning the
neighbors. In the morning, when — the
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Questioning the neighbors brought no
information. Some of them had seen and
talked to Mrs, Gelwix and her daughter
earlier in the evening and reported there
was no indication that they were afraid of
anything or that they had any premonition
of the tragedy awaiting them.
OWEVER, the parents of Mrs. Gel-
wix, Mr. and Mrs. Shelhamer,
confirmed the statement that Mrs. Gelwix
and Catherine kept sums of money in the
house, refusing to bank it. They believe
there was around fifty dollars there at the
time of the fire.
The theory that somebody had entered
the house when the three were asleep, and
that Catherine had awakened and the robber
had hit her over the head and then set
fire to the house to cover his tracks, was
generally accepted by the neighbors as the
only possible solution to the mystery.
An hour before dawn, Catherine Gelwix
regained consciousness enough to talk a
little. Her mind was still dazed and the
drowsy stupor that hovered over her, re-
mained, Coroner Thrush was at her bed-
side. He questioned her slowly — and
carefully, taking care not to tax her too
much,
The story she told threw no light on
who hit her or who had entered the house,
She said that she remembered going to
her grandparents’ home to have dinner and
then returning home. Her sister, Helen,
had brought Elwood George, the four-
year-old son of Mrs. Vera George to the
house, aml they had played with the
youngster and a toy train.
She remembered Ralph being there and
leaving early. After that she had gone to
her room and laid down on the bed with
her house dress on. The next thing she
remembered was being pulled out of the
window.
A physical examination disclosed that
she had not been criminally assaulted.
Examination of her dress in laboratory
tests, however, disproved the theory of
Ralph Hawk that the kerosene smell came
from her having cleaned her dress. There
were splotches of blood on it and where
these appeared, no traces of kerosene
could be found, showing that she had been
struck on the head before the kerosene had
been poured on her dress.
It was not until nine o’clock that morn-
ing that the police were able to start
searching the ruins of the house for clues
and the bodies. Trooper Bouse, the fire
sleuth, supervised this work. The charred
boards and beams were carefully taken
from the debris and piled at one side of
the foundation.
The remains of Mrs. Gelwix lay directly
under the living room, where she had been
seen by the crowd. Only a charred torso
remained, the arms and legs missing. The
front of the chest had been burned away,
but the heart and liver were intact.
At the south end of the cellar, four feet
from the hot air furnace was the second
body. Only black bones were left of it.
A part of the heart and liver remained,
but these had been charred.
Coroner Thrush and his deputy, Doctor
J. C. Hudson, took charge of the
bodies. They were sent to the Cramer
Undertaking Parlors in Chambersburg
where a post
impossible to i:
but the positior
room caused t!
Mrs. Gelwix.
solely from th
‘who had seen
the living roon:
walls of the bu:
There was
charred bones
of Helen Gelw
organs left en:
mine that the r
but he could g
EN the
moved,
investigation of
two hours to c
he had _ finishec
Sheriff Gillian
He carried a
several charred
part of a_ bed
and Constable \
sheriff when PB
“Gentlemen,”
I can give you «
that fire start:
damage in cove
one thing flam:
the cause of a
leave pronounc:
hetter story tha
the house before
He picked up
had carried int:
and curved at tl
once been the
heavy bottle.
“First we'll ¢
continued, “It
storage reservoi:
sat in the kitche
sene is used to
our first job to .
sene came from.
for the can. In
to note that no
house.
“IT found the
had fallen throug
The first thing |
voir bottle was
rectly under the
Gelwix slept; th
pieces. So we
the bottle of ker:
the stove, carric:
there.
“Look at this
but there is ver
We know there
the fire. The si
manner in which
this theory. So
empty when it wa
floor.
“The person w
into the kitchen
bottle from the c
into the room oy
Helen slept, spil
bed and then we
and did the the
was empty. The
the floor, lit a:
the window and e
“How do Ik:
started with ker
lot of things
hh me.”
s brought no
had seen and
her daughter
reported there
were afraid of
ay premonition
em.
. of Mrs. Gel-
s. Shelhamer,
a Mrs. Gelwix
' money in the
They believe
irs there at the
ly had entered
vere asleep, and
| and the robber
1 and then’ set
his tracks, was
.eighbors as the
ie mystery.
atherine Gelwix
nigh to talk a
dazed and the
d over her, re-
was at her bed-
‘+r slowly and
to tax her too
-w no light on
tered the house.
hered going to
have dinner and
r sister, Helen,
rge, the four-
i George to the
ayed with the
being there and
she had gone to
n the bed with
next thing she
Hed out of the
disclosed that
nally assaulted,
ss in laboratory
the theory of
sene smell came
er dress. There
a it and where
's of kerosene
iat she had been
the kerosene had
clock that morn-
e able to start
house for clues
Bouse, the fire
rk. The charred
carefully taken
1 at one side of
‘Iwix lay directly
ere she had been
a charred torso
us missing. The
en burned away,
‘re intact.
cellar, four feet
was the second
were left of it.
{ liver remained,
ed,
s deputy, Doctor
charge of — the
to the Cramer
1. Chambersburg
where a post mortem was made. It was
impossible to identify either of the bodies,
but the position of the one under the living
room caused the coroner to identify it as
Mrs. Gelwix. This identification was made
solely from the statements of the people
who had seen her lying on the floor of
the living room just before the ceiling and
walls of the burning house caved in.
There was no way to identify the
charred bones of that other body as that
of Helen Gelwix. The small part of the
organs left enabled the coroner to deter-
mine that the remains were those of a girl
but he could give no further information.
HEN the two bodies had been re-
moved, Trooper Bouse started his
investigation of the fire. It took him nearly
two hours to complete his work and when
he had finished, he went to the office of
Sheriff Gillian in Chambersburg.
He carried a large piece of broken glass,
several charred pieces of wall-paper, and
part of a bed spring. Corporal Snyder
and Constable Walter Klipp were with the
sheriff when Bouse arrived.
“Gentlemen,” Bouse said quietly, “I think
I can give you a pretty good picture of how
that fire started. Flames do a lot of
damage in covering up certain clues, but
one thing flames seldom do is cover up
the cause of a fire. In fact, they usually
leave pronounced clues behind that tell a
better story than if you had a picture of
the house before it burned.”
He picked up the large piece of glass he
had carried into the office. It was thick
and curved at the bottom, indicating it had
once been the neck of a very large and
heavy bottle.
“First we'll consider this glass,’ Bouse
continued, “It came from the kerosene
storage reservoir of the coal oil stove that
sat in the kitchen. In a case where kero-
sene is used to start a fire, it is always
our first job to determine where the kero-
sene came from. If a can is used, we search
for the can. In this case, it is important
to note that no can was carried into that
house.
“I found the kitchen stove where it
had fallen through the floor into the cellar.
The first thing I noted was that the reser-
voir bottle was missing. I found it di-
rectly under the room where Catherine
Gelwix slept; that is, I found the broken
pieces. So we know, to start with, that
the bottle of kerosene had been taken from
the stove, carried into the room and left
there.
“Look at this glass closely. It is dark,
but there is very little smudge over it.
We know there was no explosion during
the fire. The side of this glass and the
manner in which it was broken confirms
this theory. So we know the bottle was
empty when it was thrown on the bedroom
floor.
“The person who started that fire went
into the kitchen, grabbed the kerosene
bottle from the coal stove, carried it first
into the room .where Mrs. Gelwix and
Helen slept, spilled kerosene over their
bed and then went to Catherine’s room
and did the the same thing. The bottle
was empty, The murderer dropped it: to
the floor, lit a match, and then opened
the window and escaped into the night.
“How do I know that the fire was
started with kerosene? That is simple.
AMERICAN DETECTIVE
Fires started by kerosene are the simplest
to trace. Take this piece of charred wall-
paper. It is covered with a black soot that
would only come from a fire where kero-
sene burned. Traces of the kerosene smoke
can be found in fifty places out in those
ruins, on beams, half-burned boards and
parts of furniture.”
Bouse then picked up a part of the bed
spring. It was only partly burned and a
trace of cloth was still on it.
“The fire started from the bedclothes.
This piece of sheet caught on this part of
the spring, charred and black as it is, will
disclose traces of kerosene if given the
proper tests. The condition of the spring
shows that it was twisted out of shape
by heat that was over it and close to it.
“So you can start to work on the theory
that the murderer entered the house, found
the three women sleeping, took the kero-
sene bottle from the coal oil stove and
poured it over the bedclothes and started
the fire. Catherine must have started to
awaken while the murderer was in her
room. Anyway, this person was forced
to hit her with some weapon to knock her
unconscious. The smoke and the heat re-
vived her enough to crawl from the burn-
ing bed and to the window.”
This picture of the fire, complete as it
was, served only to mystify the whole case
for the police. It established the fact that
arson and murder had been committed.
But why and by whom?
These two questions left the police
dangling in thin air for some clue, some
reasonable motive for the most dastardly
crime in the history of that part of
Pennsylvania. And the more they searched
in their minds, the more puzzling the
whole thing became.
“The murderer,” Chief Gillian said,
“must have left that house just as Charley
Farren and Margaret Small reached the
front of the Small home. That was around
one o'clock. There were a number of
people on the roads then, returning from
parties, but nobody saw anyone leaving the
Gelwix house.”
/ URDERERS,” Constable Klipp re-
marked drily, “don’t run down
highways and yell that they are coming.
The murderer slipped away in the dark
and took care that nobody saw him.”
Sheriff Gillian and Corporal Snyder
listened to Constable Klipp’s opinions with
considerable respect. For over twenty
years Klipp had served as a peace officer
in that community and it was his keen
mind that had assisted the county officials
and the state police to break many difficult
cases.
“The theory of robbery,” Corporal
Snyder suggested, “is about all we have to
work on—and that isn’t much.”
“Not when a shrewd and clever mur-
derer saw to it that every possible trace
was destroyed by fire,” Sheriff Gillian
answered. “We haven’t one thing to work
on and we haven’t a chance of getting
anything from those ruins.”
“A robber who loots a house for fifty
dollars,” Constable Klipp said, “is not a
shrewd murderer. Only a small-time crook
would do that and it’s stretching the im-
agination pretty far to believe that a small-
time crook would have the diabolical
cunning to burn a house and two women
after he had gotten the fifty dollars.
él
“Even if Catherine awoke during the
robbery and he had to hit her, such a per-
son would instinctively flee from the house.
There was no reason to wait and burn it.
Petty thieves don’t do that. That house
was burned and the two women killed be-
cause the person who did the job entered
the house for that express purpose.”
“You may be right,” Sheriff Gillian
answered, “but the robbery theory is the
only thing we have to work on. Our first
move will be to round up all petty thieves
in the county and question them.”
Sheriff Gillian and Corporal Snyder did
this. By that time additional state police
had been rushed to Chambersburg to assist
Corporal Snyder, and John Funck, state
police ballistician was sent there to handle
any laboratory tests required at the scene
of the crime.
Constable Klipp did not assist in the
round-up of the petty crooks. He went to
the hospital where Catherine Gelwix lay.
He talked to her but the answers he got
came from a girl whose mind was. still
dazed and stunned.
FE left the hospital and went to the
ruins of the Gelwix home. Deputy
Sheriff Lightner was there, supervising
the workmen who were digging in the
debris for human teeth or something which
might enable the police to identify the
second body as that of Helen Gelwix.
“We've found a few more bones,”
Lightner said to Constable Klipp, “but we
haven’t found any teeth.”
Klipp said: “Keep on digging, you
might find something yet.”
Then he went down into the cellar,
crossed over to the space below what had
once been the bedroom of Catherine. The
floor of the cellar was covered with over
a foot of charred embers and broken
plaster.
The constable borrowed a spade from a
workinan and started to dig in the debris.
H{e dug slowly, examining every shovelful
of plaster and charred wood. For over a
half hour he dug. He had shoveled out a
large space of the floor, but he had found
nothing.
Then suddenly his shovel turned up a
piece of charred metal about four inches
long and an inch thick. It was the remains
of a flashlight. Parts of the broken lens
were in the shovel. He picked these up
carefully and then studied the flashlight
closely.
After that he returned to the hospital,
talked again with Catherine. He had the
nurses remove the bandages from her head
so he could study the wounds. He asked
the nurses a few questions and then left
the hospital, jumped into his car and drove
back to Marion. He went through the
small village and out to the farm of Irvin
Bear,
Bear wasn’t home. Constable Klipp en-
tered the house, looked around carefully,
and then went into a bedroom. He ex-
amined some clothes that hung on the wall
and looked in a drawer of an old bureau.
A car drove up to the house and Klipp
went out on the porch and saw Irvin Bear
driving up. Bear greeted Klipp in a
friendly manner. The two men had been
friends for years.
“Hello, Bear,” Klipp said. “I came out
here to ask you a few questions. I think
you can give me help about a man that
62
works for you.”
“Shoot away,” Bear said.
Klipp asked a few questions, seemingly
unimportant, and then he rushed back to
Chambersburg. Sheriff Gillian was back
in his office. The dragnet thrown out for
the petty thieves in the county had netted a
number of suspects, but all were quickly
dismissed when they produced — perfect
alibis,
“Talking to petty thieves,” Klipp said to
the sheriff, “won't solve this case. Frankly,
I don’t know if anything will, but I've
found the one important clue—the weapon
used by the murderer to hit Catherine
Gelwix over the head.”
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AMERICAN DETECTIVE
Klipp produced the charred flashlight
and parts of the lens found in the debris
under Catherine's bedroom.
“TY think if these pieces of glass are
examined,” he said, “you will find blood
on them. Fire, you, know, does not destroy
traces of blood. It cakes the blood but
it remains on the glass.”
The sheriff took the flashlight: and his
face wore a puzzled look.
OU mean this flashlight was used to
hit Catherine?” he asked. “That
doesn’t seem hardly plausible...”
“It is so plausible,” Klipp retorted, “that
when 1 went to the remains of the house,
I had a flashlight in mind as I dug in the
ruins, We know that the person who
entered the Gelwix house worked in the
dark. ‘The women had all gone to bed and
naturally the lights were out. The mur-
derer could not risk turning .the lights on.
So he was working with the aid of a
flashlight to get the kerosene.
“This is the thing he had in his hand
when he heard Catherine start to wake up.
He had to work fast. He didn’t have time
to grab anything else and he struck her
with the flashlight, which when loaded -with
batteries, makes an ideal blackjack, Ex-
amine the wounds in Catherine's head and
you will see that they could only have been
made with such a ‘sharp instrument.”
The sheriff grinned good-naturedly.
“Your brain, Klipp,” he said, “never
stops working. You're right. The natu-
ral weapon the murderer would have used
would have been a flashlight. We'll have
Funck, the state police expert on lab-
oratory tests, examine this glass.”
Funck examined the parts of the broken
lens, subjected them to the acid test that
brings out blood stains, and reported that
there were traces of blood on the lens.
“Now that we have the murder weapon,”
the sheriff said, “where does it lead us?
It doesn’t eliminate the theory of robbery
because a thief entering the house would
have carried a flashlight. In fact, this
flashlight makes that robbery theory a
little stronger.”
“We are dealing with a murderer who
is possessed with an insane cunning,”
Klipp answered. “This person is not a
petty thief. I am sure this person had no
thought of robbery when he entered the
house. He planned one of the most. per-
fect crimes in the history of the state, a
crime wherein this person believed every
possible trace was eliminated. And_ the
most puzzling feature of the crime is the
motive,” :
“Nobody would have any reason to
kill those women,” Gillian answered.
“We have known them practically all
their lives...”
“There is only one thin thread of a
motive,” Klipp cut in. “The dress of
Catherine Gelwix was neither burned nor
singed, There were burns. on_ her
body -
”
“You don’t believe that she...
“Naturally, I don't suspect her,” Klipp
replied, “but this rather amazing fact may
have something to do with the motive of
the murder. Give me until morning and
I think I can figure it out.”
Klipp's first move was to go to the home
of a girl friend of the persons involved,
who lived in Marion, Evelyn was a young
girl of seventeen, pretty in) looks and
pleasant in manner,
“Evelyn,” Klipp said. “I want you to
tell me everything you know about Cath-
crine Gelwix.”
“Why . .. Why ... IT don’t know any-
thing,” she replied.
“What you know,” Klipp continued,
very important in this case, Was she
going to be married?”
The girl looked at the constable, wet
her lips, and answered, “I don’t think she
would have been married.”
“Thanks,” Klipp said and got up and left
the house.
He returned to Chambersburg, talked
with Corporal Snyder and gave him the
charred remains of the flashlight.
“Try to trace the sale of this,” Klipp
said. “If you can’t, get a list of every
person that has bought a flashlight in the
past several weeks.”
Corporal Snyder took the article, and
five minutes later he and Corporal Hart-
man were starting on its long trail.
At ten o'clock that night, Constable
Klipp was hidden in the darkness that
surrounded the grisly ruins of the Gelwix
home. He stood behind a clump of bushes,
his eyes riveted on the gaping black hole
left by the fire,
For over an hour he stood there,
immovable in the darkness. The workmen
had left and the ruins were deserted. Over-
head grey clouds sped past a full moon
that threw a bluish glow over the earth.
Then suddenly beyond that gaping
foundation, a shadow moved, It darted
out from behind some trees and approached
the ruins. It moved swiftly, in a half-
crouching position. Constable Klipp moved
out from behind the bush to get a better
view.
HE crouching figure, warned by a sixth
sense that someone was near, stopped
for a split second and then turned and
disappeared into the night. Constable
Klipp did not follow. He went to his car
and returned to Chambersburg where
Corporal Snyder was waiting with his
report on the flashlight.
“Now,” Klipp said to the corporal and
sheriff, “we are ready to break the case. |
think I could have named the murderer a
few hours after that fire, but we are faced
with the unpleasant necessity of getting
sufficient evidence to force a confession.
“Without a confession, we have a
dificult job. We have located no wit-
nesses who saw this person at or about
the Gelwix home before the fire. We are
faced with the embarrassing facts that we
cannot identify the bodies found in the
ruins. I doubt if the testimony of the
crowd that they saw Mrs. Gelwix lying on
the living room floor would be accepted
as sufficient evidence by the court to
establish a corpus delicti for Mrs. Gelwix.
We have nothing to establish that for
Helen Gelwix.
“The tracks of the person behind this
crime were covered well, so well that even
though we know who it is, we would be
pretty helpless in’ court. We have the
evidence of the flashlight, but that, in the
eyes of the law, has weak points and could
be twisted around by a clever defense
lawyer. In fact, we have nothing now but
the knowledge of who committed — th
crime.
“We don't ex
have a theory ,
play our cards
this person least
we can be ina p
to talk.”
The sheriff ,
know as much n
“There is one
“I want to clear
to Catherine Ge
refresh her mem:
of this mystery,
will ever recover
Klipp went. ba
talked to Catheri
little clearer, but
fitful bursts. An
her, Corporal Ha
and forth in fron:
in Marion.
Out at the Be:
Lightner stood
watched the hou
specially detailed
after Klipp left.
The hours pass
shades of a cold an.
east. Constable K
office. His face
from lack of sk
Trooper Bouse an
waiting for him,
“I think we can
The officers file
office, each grimly
edge that they we
of the most ghastl
teries in the histo:
state. Each knew,
came, would be so
able that the whok
stunned.
“We'll go to the |
said. “If we fail t
cover the hospital a
HEY arrived a:
as the houselhx
light burned in th
‘officers drove up th
house, leaped out «
to the door of the k
The door was pat
Klipp was first insic
young man sat at t!
breakfast. He look
did the amazing thin
at the officers.
“Hello, gentlemen
time for breakfast.”
“You're wrong, R:
retorted. “We are
you for the murder
Helen and the attem
erine.”
Ralph Hawk's fac
He seemed peculiarly
of Klipp.
“Is this a joke?” h
it is, your sense of h:
Sheriff Gillian wal
and said: “You're c
You burned the Gelw:
.the evidence against
Ralph Hawk was
grilled for five hours
through the grilling
played on his face, H
in a glib and carefre:
“Ralph,” Constable
> gy
&
After rescuing the unconscious
girl, the heroic youth returned
to the raging inferno in a des-
perate effort to save the others.
‘ks and
you to
it Cath-
ow any-
aued, “is
Vas she
ible, wet
think she
p and left
w, talked
him. the
is.” Klipp
of every
cht in the.
ticle, and
ral Hart-
ail.
Constable
cness that
he Gelwix
of bushes,
black hole
wa there,
» workmen
ted. Over-
full moon
the earth
at) gaping
It darted
approached
in a half-
<lipp moved
set a better
d by a sixth
ear, stopped
turned and
Constable
uoto his car
murg where
iw with his
corporal and
% the case. I
- murderer a
we are faced
y of getting
confession.
we have a
ated no wit-
, at or about
fire. We are
facts that we
found in the
simony of the
elwix lying on
d be accepted
the court to
« Mrs. Gelwix.
blish that for
con behind this
, well that even
s, we would be
We have the —
but that, in the
points and could
clever defense
nothing now but
committed — the
“We don’t even know why, though I
have a theory of that. We will have to
play our cards carefully and strike when
this person least expects us. In that way,
we can be in a position to force this person
to talk.”
The sheriff got up and said: “We
know as much now as we ever will.”
“There is one small item,” Klipp said,
“T want to clear up first. I want to talk
to Catherine Gelwix again. I want to
refresh her memory. She holds the secret
of this mystery, but it is doubtful if she
will ever recover enough to remember it.”
Klipp went back to the hospital. He
talked to Catherine. Her mind seemed a
little clearer, but memory came only in
fitful bursts. And while Klipp talked to
her, Corporal Hartman was walking back
and forth in front of the home of Evelyn
in Marion.
Out at the Bear farm, Deputy Sheriff
Lightner stood in the darkness and
watched the house. Other police were
specially detailed to watch the hospital
after Klipp left. .
The hours passed slowly and the first
shades of a cold and gray dawn broke in the
east. Constable Klipp entered the sheriff’s
office. His face was pale and cyes red
from lack of sleep. Corporal Snyder,
Trooper Bouse and Sheriff Gillian were
waiting for him.
“I think we can move now,” Klipp said.
The officers filed out of the sheriff's
office, each grimly silent with the knowl-
edge that they were about to break one
of the most ghastly and bewildering mys-
teries in the history of that part of the
state. Each knew, that the solution, if it
came, would be so amazing, so unbeliev-
able that the whole community would be
stunned.
“We'll go to the Bear home first,” Klipp
said. “If we fail there, we'll continue to
cover the hospital and Evelyn's home.”
HISY arrived at the Bear home just
as the household was getting up. A
light burned in’ the kitchen. The four
officers drove up the lane that led to the
house, leaped out of the car and rushed
to the door of the kitchen.
The door was partly open and Constable
Klipp was first inside the small kitchen. A
young man sat at the table, ready to start
breakfast. He looked up quickly and then
did the amazing thing of smiling pleasantly
at the officers.
“Hello, gentlemen,” he said, “Just in
time for breakfast.”
“You're wrong, Ralph,” Constable Klipp
retorted. “We are just in time to arrest
you for the murder of Mrs. Gelwix and
Helen and the attempted murder of Cath-
erine.”
Ralph Hawk’s face didn’t lose its smile.
He seemed peculiarly amused at the words
of Klipp.
“Ts this a joke?” he asked casually. “If
it is, your sense of humor isn’t so hot.”
Sheriff Gillian walked around the table
and said: “You're coming with us, Ralph.
You burned the Gelwix house and we have
the evidence against you.”
Ralph Hawk was taken to town and
grilled for five hours by the officers. All
through the grilling the strange smile
played on his face. He answered questions
in a glib and carefree manner.
“Ralph,” Constable Klipp said, “we have
AMERICAN DETECTIVE
Ralph Hawk's only explanation for the smile is: “It sure feels good to
know that | don't have to get married.”
traced the ownership of the flashlight to
you, You used this flashlight to hit
Catherine. I came out here yesterday and
looked in your room, Your clothes smelled
of kerosene and you must have spilled some
on them. I know that you had no intention
of marrying Catherine Gelwix and that you
had been seeing Evelyn and had told her
that you were terrified with the idea of
marrying Catherine.”
UT the police got no confession out of
Ralph Hawk. They got nothing but
the ghastly smile that never left his face.
For three days they questioned him and
still he denied every charge with a smile.
On the fifth day, Constable Klipp said:
“We are going to take you out to the Bear
home to face your employer. On the night
of the fire, he heard the engines roar past
the house. He called to you that there
was a fire. You answered him that it
was the Gelwix house burning. How did
you know it was the Gelwix house burning,
if you hadn’t been at the fire?”
Hawk was taken to face his employer,
Irvin Bear, who confirmed the story Klipp
told. Hawk said with a smile: “Tf Irvin
says it’s so, it must be so.”
‘And that evening he broke and con-
fessed, A hideous story of stark brutality
was in his confession, one that sent chills
of horror through a dazed and mystified
public. Hawk said that he had gone to
the Gelwix house that night and after Mrs.
Gelwix and Helen had gone to bed, he
went into Catherine’s room and laid down
and fell asleep.
Catherine wakened him about twelve-
thirty, when she went out to turn the
radio off. She went back to the bedroom
and laid down with her house dress on
and went to sleep. ‘
Then it came to Hawk that he could get
out of marrying Catherine by killing her
and the whole family. He stoutly denied,
and the doctor’s examination of Catherine
confirmed this, that there was any reason
why he and Catherine had to marry be-
cause there never had been any intimate
relations between them.
For weeks, he said, he had viewed his
approaching marriage with a gnawing fear.
He didn't have the courage to cause
Catherine any mental pain, and that night
he saw a chance to get out of the whole
thing by killing the family.
His story of how he burned the house
dovetailed in almost every detail with
Trooper Bouse’s theory of how the house
had been burned. Hawk said he went out
to the kitchen and got the coal oil bottle
from the stove and went into Mrs. Gel-
wix’s and Helen’s room and threw kerosene
over them.
Then he went to Catherine’s room. She
was sleeping lightly. The lights were out
and he had a flashlight and he hit her
twice with this, Then he poured oil over
her bed, threw. the bottle to the floor,
rushed into Mrs. Gelwix’s room and lit
« match to the oil-soaked bedclothes and
fled from the house, going through an
open window in Catherine’s room.
H* fled on foot through the night,
staying away from the roads and
returned to his room at the Bear farm,
sneaking in through a window so that the
Bear family did not know what time he
got there.
It took the police several days to get the
whole story from Hawk. The text of the
confession was not revealed to the public.
Hawk was rushed to the Harrisburg state
police barrack prison to protect him from
the feeling that rose against him in
Chambersburg,
His trial is set for April of this year.
In his cell he now talks freely of the
crime, explaining every detail. The strange
and enigmatic smile that was on his face
when first questioned by the police still
remains.
His only explanation for the smile is:
“It sure feels good to know that I don’t
have to get married.”
Tne Enp
BY DAVID R. GEORGE
M idnight had come that New Year’s Eve and
the orchestra was playing Auld Lang Syne at the
Ace of Hearts night club in Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania. Happy couples embraced fervently
as the music rose above the din of shrill whistles
and tolling bells across the town.
But Margaret Small and Charles Farran al-
ready had left the club, where they had spent the
evening. Reluctant to bid his sweetheart good-
night, Farran had parked his car in the driveway
beside the girl’s home in Marion, three miles
from Chambersburg.
As the clamor of the bells and whistles died
away, he noticed an eerie glow inside the small
bungalow next door and funnels of white smoke
spurting out from beneath the eaves.
“The Gelwix house is on fire!” he shouted,
jumping from the car.
Farran rushed to the burning building. He
pounded frantically on the locked front door to
arouse the Gelwix family—Mrs. Hazel Gelwix
and her daughters, Catherine hnd Helen Louise.
But there was no response.
Above the crackling of the flames Farran
heard a low moan. He left the porch and ran to
the side of the house, from where the cry came.
One window had been pushed open and a young
girl hung limply over the sill, silhouetted against
the glare within. ;
Farran grasped the unconscious girl by the
arms and pulled her through the window. He
carried her a safe distance from the burning
house and gently laid her on the ground. While
Margaret Small rushed to her own home next
door to phone for help, the youth returned to the
front porch and battered in the door.
Smoke seared his lungs as Farran battled his
way through the house in a desperate effort to
“I set that fire!
| wanted to kill them all!"
the monster babbled.
But the sheriff wasn't satisfied
with this confession; he had
plans of his own to exact
the full penalty of the law
for this horrible crime!
TRUE POLICE CASES, JUNE, 195).
see “Dr.” Robert
is often difficult :
a charge against
ivict. In order to
nce game charge,
y states to have
aS 2qmmlse token.
edi iplomna, a
on CS or a fake
the love swindler
icriminating evi-
le. A glib tongue,
se token.”
‘r false pretenses
1 most often the
But then it must
made phony rep-
his past, present
ly, make gaudy
<ing the law, tell
les on the Rhine
a million bucks
aunt. He can lie
ure and he won't
retenses statute.
most of the con
Husiastic at the
they lie about
[That gives us a
dler isn’t simple.
ehended a lot of
success has not
ims. The crooks
when captured.
arter’s worth of
claim.
1ese high-flying
e case history of
an is practically
s take the story
ison since he has
ris
igul 946. He
lavish offices of
hort, round, his
brown hair. His
behind rimless
ulately dressed,
ins Allison, from
n your club,” he
looking young -
be in Colorado
is left chest.
nt forward anx-
May I help—-”
anly, shaking his
lla dream! But,
more gorgeous
yu, dear, YOU!
stered—are you
incredulous girl.
, you darling! I
2 doc patted her
-I shall return!”
ozen American
rk was
minute she had
1 him. Two days
an engagement
n) on her finger
were married in
» had relatives.
st produced an
yOX era. The |;
to at first,
it camera finally -
‘ with that,” he
°
Yenver, Dr. Alli-
over- .
son prevailed on his bride to give him her
$2,500 savings—to invest in a Texas sani-
tarium.
“The trip to Dallas will tire you, honey
bunch,” he'told her. “And men don’t like
women around in big deals. I must not
offend the men selling me this bargain.
You wait here.”
She waited three days before she be-
came suspicious. Then she phoned the
Dallas sanitarium he had named. They’d
never heard of him. She called the Dallas
hotel where he was supposed to be. They’d
never heard of him either. The Colorado
State Medical Board informed the
frantic bride that there really was a Dr.
Donald Dawkins Allison, but he was a
very old man and didn’t answer the de-
scription of her groom.
Then the girl came to us. We got a good
description of the culprit, and, after de-
tailed questioning, the lady recalled the
camera in Raton. I got the roll of film,
had it developed, and then we got our
first glimpse of the scheming bridegroom.
It was a clear enough picture. We had it
blown up and sent out circulars all over
the country. We broadcast his descrip-
tion, ran his mug in newspapers and maga-
zines, had the co-operation of every law
officer in the nation.
But it was eleven months before we
caught “the doctor.” After we had nailed
him—right in Denver where he had wan-
dered back for another romance, he ad-
mitted a number of arrests for matrimo-
nial swindles.
Illinois and Utah rushed warrants for
his arrest to us. In his car we found cur-
rent license plates for Georgia, Missis-
sippi, Texas and Wyoming. He said he
always picked an alias from the rolls of
the American Medical Association so that
if a girl checked up before he actually
got her dough, she’d be thrown off the
track. He pleaded guilty and drew seven
to ten years.
Sometimes a matrimonial swindler will
get rid of a wife or a dangerous victim
as Alfred Cline did not long ago. This
sinister fraud used drugs and poison—
and marriage—to trap wealthy elderly
females. Cline was closely linked to the
mysterious deaths of nine persons. Seven
of them were women, three of whom he
had married. Two others who died were
elderly men. Cline benefited financially
from all these deaths.
He was convicted on nine counts of
forgery and was sentenced! to a total of
126 years in prison. Earlier in his career,
he had served time for drugging and rob-
bing an old man. But that time the victim
pulled through and prosecuted.
Another time, Cline swindled thousands
of dollars from a woman and was nabbed
by police. But he paid all the money back
and persuaded the gal not to press
charges.
Other men of Cline’s caliber undoubt-
edly are on the prowl today. How many
unreported swindles ? How many murders
have they committed? Nobody knows.
It all proves that a girl has to be careful
of strange men—especially if she -has
money in the bank.
Flaming Betrayal
[Continued from page 44]
of the neighbors figure the furnace was
bad and set the flue on fire.”
“It doesn’t look like a chimney fire to
me,” Snyder said bluntly. “Don’t forget
the house burned so fast that nobody had
a chance to get away. If young Farran
hadn’t pulled Catherine through that win-
dow, she’d have been gone, too.”
Before the coroner could press the cor-
poral for a further explanation, Snyder
strode out to his car and drove away. He
headed for the Irvin Baer farm. where
Hawk worked, a mile down the road.
Lights were burning and the family was
awake when h@arrived.
“Guess it’s too late for us to help out at
the fire,” Baer said apologetically. “We
were just getting ready to leave, but the
flames seem to have died down.”
“That's right,” Snyder snapped. “Noth-
ing left of the place now.’
“Whose house was it?” the farmer
asked. He and his wife stared anxiously at
the corporal as he glanced about the
warm, well-ordered kitchen. In a corner
near the stove, a good-looking youth with
dark wavy hair was busily lacing up a
pair of high leather shoes.
“It was the Gelwix home,” Snyder said.
Mrs. Baer clapped a hand to her mouth
to stifle a scream as she glanced toward
the boy. He sprang to his feet, his face
suddenly white. “Catherine— !” he
gasped. “No!”
“She’s in the hospital,” the corporal
said. “Her mother and sister were burned
to death.”
Tears welled in Hawk’s eyes as he cov-
ered his face with his hands. In a moment
he straightened up and looked at the law-
man beseechingly. “How bad is she
rk he begged. “How soon can I see
er?”
“Tt would be best not to see her now,”
Snyder said. “She wouldn’t know you,
anyway. Her skull is fractured.” He
paused, then added, “I understand you
were to be married today.”
Hawk nodded and sank back into a
chair. “I wanted it to be yesterday,” he
said bitterly. ““Maybe if I had had my way,
this wouldn’t have happened.”
The youth looked up as Mrs. Baer
crossed the room quickly and placed a
comforting hand on his shoulder. “Don’t
worry, Ralph,” she said soothingly.
“Everything will be all right.”
Her husband cleared his throat
nervously. “Any idea what caused the
fire?”
“Apparently it wasn’t accidental,” Sny-
der declared. “I think somebody tried to
murder the entire family.”
“How terrible!” the woman gasped.
Hawk stared at the police officer, wide- .
eyed. “You mean that someone wanted to
burn them to death?”
“Just that, son,’ Snyder assured him.
“But before we can find the person re-
sponsible, we must learn why the crime
was committed. Maybe some suitor de-
cided he loved the girl so much that he’d
rather see her dead than married to some-
one else.”
Hawk shook his head. “No, Catherine
was in love with me. She never even
looked at another fellow.”
“I didn’t say she was in love with this
other man,” Snyder reminded him. “Some
of the neighbors were afraid you’d been
trapped in the fire. Did you spend the eve-
ning with her?”
“I was over there for a few hours, but I
left about 10 o’clock and went to see my
father.”
The youth was close to tears again, and
Snyder hesitated to question him, but
there was no way of avoiding it. “I’ve got
to check on your story as a matter of rou-
tine,” he said simply. “If you’d like to
account for your activities after leaving
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Reconstructing the crime, the lawmen
figured that the murderer had entered the
bungalow through the unlocked door
while the occupants were sleeping—Mrs.
Gelwix and Helen Louise, who had re-
tired for the night, and Catherine, who
dropped off while lying on her bed.
The killer had splashed kerosene
around the house. But Catherine, they
reasoned, had awakened or stirred when
the prowler was in her room. He had fore-
stalled her screams by clubbing her over
the head with the flashlight.
Startled and fearing discovery, he had
locked the doors to insure annihilation of
the trapped women, touched a match to
the oil and fled into the night. But he had
failed to close Catherine's bedroom win-
dow and she had managed to stagger to
it in time to be rescued.
“The only person who knew the house
was unlocked is Ralph Hawk,” Snyder
said grimly. “He had asked Catherine to
leave the door open.’
Sheriff Gillan, who had also talked with
the injured girl in the hospital, disagreed
with the corporal. “I’ve known Ralph
Hawk for years, and he just isn’t the type
who'd do a thing like that,” Gillan in-
sisted. “After all, he was going to marry
this girl the next day. He wouldn't have’
any reason not to go through with it.
When he comes of age, he’s due to inherit
several thousand dollars, so he would
have had no difficulty in keeping a wife.”
Snyder nodded understandingly. “You
know these people better than I do,” he
said. “I’m merely going on the evidence
we have so far. But what’s your theory?”
“Catherine told me that Ralph wanted
to be married a day or: two before this
happened,”
couldn’t get a license right away so they
had to wait. They intended to drive down
to Maryland for the ceremony. For my
money, that lets Hawk out completely.
But how about this fellow Dan Carter?
The girl was mumbling his name when
they brought her to the hospital. The doc-
tors think she might have recognized him
on the way over. Maybe that’s not so.
Maybe she saw him when she woke up in
the bedroom!”
“I was thinking of that,” Snyder said.
ee see what he has to say for. him-
self.”
Bouse and another trooper drove at
once to Carter’s home and brought him to
the barracks for questioning. He was a
slender youth with sandy hair and green
eyes that flashed indignation at being
taken into custody.
_“You’ve got no right to arrest me!”
Carter declared. “I’ve done
wrong.”
“There’s no charge against you,” Sny-
der assured him. “We just want to ask
you a few questions about the fire that
killed Mrs. Gelwix and Helen Louise.”
“I don’t know anything about it,” the
youth insisted. “I’ve already told the po-
lice that.”
The corporal tried a sudden long shot.
“Weren’t you jealous over Ralph Hawk’s
engagement to Catherine Gelwix?” he de-
vr aie “Didn’t you try to date her your-
self?”
Carter. paled at the- double-barreled
question. “Sure, I went out with her a
couple of times,” he admitted. “But I
wasn’t jealous, and that was before they
were engaged. After that, Catherine
didn’t bother with any other fellows.” He
paused and looked up suddenly. “Not that
Ralph would have cared,” he added. “If
you ask me, he liked to play the' field!”
The lawmen studied the youth as he lit
a cigaret with trembling fingers. Carter
was putting up a bold front, but he was
clearly worried.
the sheriff continued. “They —
nothing
“Let’s get this straight,” Sheriff Gillan
spoke up. “Are you telling us that Ralph
Hawk didn’t want to get married?”
-“You can draw your own conclusions,”
Carter countered. “But I happen to know
that Ralph had a date with Sally Martin
just a couple of nights ago. For a guy who
expected to marry somebody else in a
few days, that looked mighty funny to
me.”
At the sheriff’s request, Carter fur-
nished the Martin girl’s address in Cham-
bersburg. Two officers went to her home
to verify the story.
Sally Martin, a pretty redhead, readily
admitted her association with Ralph
Hawk, but seemed reluctant to make any
statement against the good-looking farm-
hand. It was obvious that she was as
much in love with him as was the blonde
girl he expected to marry.
“I don't want to do anything to hurt
him,” the redhead said huskily. “Ralph
knows how I feel, and he was just trying
to let me down easy.”
Confronted with this latest revela-
tion, young Hawk sheepishly admitted
having had several recent dates with his
fiancée’s shapely rival, but denied any
ulterior motive. It was, he explained, his
last fling before settling down to the re-
sponsibilities of married life.
“I’m still not sure about Hawk.” Sny-
der told Gillan later. “If he was home a
few minutes after midnight, however, he’s
in the clear.”
“His employer did vouch for him,” the
sheriff recalled. “But do you suppose Baer
could have been mistaken about the
time?”
The corporal shrugged. “Baer seemed
pretty certain that the New Year’s whis-
tles had blown only a short time before
Hawk came home. Still, he could have
heard the whistles and then dropped off
to sleep. He wouldn’t have realized just
how much time had gone by when Hawk
wakened him by coming in the house,
unless he looked at a clock. We might ask
him if he did.”
The lawmen went back to the farm
where Hawk worked and confronted
Irvin Baer, a gentle, easy-going man. He
was eager to co-operate, but could not
make a positive statement about the time.
“I thought it was around midnight
when the boy came home,” he said ear-
nestly, “but frankly I didn’t pay too much
attention. Maybe you ought to talk with
my wife about this whole affair. I remem-
ber her saying something about a letter
Ralph got that seemed peculiar at the
time.
_ Mrs. Baer showed surprise when pare
der told her what they wanted. “Why, I
didn’t think that was important at all,”
she declared. “I don’t even recall just
what the letter said. I saw it lying inside
the stove and picked it up. I didn’t know
it was Ralph’s until after I read it. I guess
he intended to burn it up, but there was
no fire in the grate. I mentioned some-
thing about it to my husband at the time,
but I’d forgotten all about it.”
“Can you recall any part of the letter?”
the corporal pressed. “It may be a great
deal of help to us now.’
The woman wiped her hands nervously
on her apron as she strove to remember
the missive. “T’m sure it was from Mrs.
Gelwix,” she said. “I don’t recall the date,
but she asked Ralph to come over to their
house that evening. It seemed as though
she was worried about something con-
cerning Catherine, but she didn’t come
right out and say what it was.’
Snyder would have discounted the let-
ter as insignificant if it had not been for
the disclosure that Ralph Hawk had been
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Left, Catherine Gelwix narrowly
escaped death at the hands of the
ruthless killer, below who poured
kerosene on two sleeping women
and then set their bedroom afire.
rescue the other members of the family. But the blaze had
gained too much headway, Choking and half-blinded, Far-
ran staggered outside only moments before the roof col-
lapsed with a crunching roar.
A number of gaping spectators had quickly gathered.
‘They helped Farran to safety, put him and the girl he had
a into a car and rushed them to the Chambersburg Hos-
pital. :
There doctors found that Charles Farran had suffered
oN minor burns and smoke poisoning. But the girl, identi-
fied as Catherine Gelwix, had sustained injuries that
threatened her life. Her skull had been fractured—and there
was a strong odor of kerosene on her clothing. Hospital
authorities immediately became suspicious and’ called the
state police,
Corporal Arthur B. Snyder responded to the call, The
resident physician handed him the girl’s dress and under-
garments,
“Saturated with kerosene,” Snyder declared grimly.
“Somebody wanted to burn her alive.” He handed back the
clothing. “If she’s conscious, I’d like to question her.”
“T doubt if she’s rational,” the doctor said, “but you can
try.”
te led the corporal to the Gelwix girl’s bedside. She lay
swathed in bandages, eyes still closed, moving her head
from side to side and mumbling something over and over.
Snyder leaned close to her swollen lips and listened in-
tently, “She’s repeating a name,” he said. “Dan—Dan
Carter. Who's that ?”
“One of the men who drove her to the hospital,” the
doctor replied. “She’s been muttering his name ever since
she got here,”
“Maybe he knows something about this affair,” Snyder
suggested, glancing at the girl on the cot.
The doctor shook his head. “I doubt it. She probably had
a flash of consciousness on the way over and recognized him.
His name naturally would be on her mind.”
“You may be right,” the officer said, “But have a nurse
stay with her. If she does talk later on, I want to know what
she has to say.”
Snyder left the hospital and drove to the Gelwix place.
Every. available piece of fire apparatus had responded to
the alarm, but the blaze was beyond control. The bungalow
had been entirely consumed, leaving only the cellar, half-
filled with smoking debris. The furnace still stood intact,
banked for the night with door ajar. Ironically, red coals
glowed inside the fire box.
The corporal made his way through the crowd to the
wreckage, where firemen were playing their flashlight
beams downward into the smouldering ruins. He caught his
breath as he saw a blackened skull and ribs. Obviously, Mrs.
Gelwix and her younger daughter, Helen Louise, 15, had
perished in the inferno.
Snyder obtained details of the tragedy from the stunned
and grieving neighbors. Tears in her eyes, Margaret Small
told how she and Charles Farran had discovered the fire
and how Charles had pulled Catherine Gelwix through the
open window. .
“It’s such a pity,” she murmured. “Tomorrow was to be
Catherine’s wedding day.”
Snyder looked up abruptly. His examination of the in-
jured girl’s clothing had convinced him that the blaze had
been set with intent to kill. But the motive was still a mys-
tery. Perhaps it had some connection with her impending
marriage.
‘‘Who’s the man she was to marry ?” he inquired.
“Ralph Hawk,” Margaret Small replied. ““He works over
on the Baer farm. He’s been engaged to Catherine for some
time.”
Hawk often visited Catherine Gelwix on Thursday eve-
nings, the girl added, and probably had been at her home
that night. It was entirely possible that he, too, had been
burned to death. ;
Snyder crossed the yard for another look into the smoking
wreckage. Shouldering his way through the growing crowd,
he found Coroner A. W. Thrush staring grimly down at the
bones in the embers. Thrush had been hastily summoned
from his home.
“T understand the older Gelwix girl escaped,” the coroner
said, “Is that correct?”
“She's in the hospital,” Snyder replied. “But she may not
live. I’ve just learned that her fiance may be a third victim.
They were to have been married tomorrow.”
Thrush shook his head sympathetically. “Soon as that
mess cools off a bit, I’ll be able to tell you how many there
were, How do you think it started ?”
“I’m not sure yet. It could have been any one of a number
of causes.”
The coroner nodded. “Some [Continued on page 69]
Charred ruins of home which became funeral pyre of
Mrs. Hazel Gelwix and her daughter, Helen Louise.
—s
the Gelwix home, it may save us some
time later on.”
“Of course,” Hawk said. “What do you
want to know?” —
“What time did you get home?”
“A little after 12. I had to be in by then
because I didn’t get new license plates for
my car—the old ones expired at midnight.
I heard the cops were on the lookout for
violators.”
Baer and his wife backed up their em-
ploye’s story. “We were in bed when
Ralph came home,” the farmer said, “so
I don’t know just what time it was. But I
heard him come up the steps and I’d say
it was shortly after 12 o’clock. I believe
the New Year’s whistles had blown just a
few minutes before.”
Until their story‘could be further veri-
fied, Snyder accepted it at face value. The
first gray streaks of a dismal dawn were
beginning to light the sky as he left the
farmhouse.
Early that day, January 1, 1937, officials
of the state fire prevention bureau at Har-
risburg arrived to check on the possibility
of arson. With them was John Funck, a
state police laboratory expert.
Coroner Thrush meanwhile had the re-
mains of Mrs. Gelwix and her younger
daughter removed to the morgue. No full
autopsy was possible, but a medical ex-
amination of the blackened skeletons
showed no marks of violence. Obviously
they had been suffocated and then burned
to death as they slept.
The skull fracture suffered by the sur-
viving member of the family, Catherine
Gelwix, was a different matter. Surgeons
at the hospital reported that the injury
had been inflicted by a blow with some
blunt instrument.
Acting on this information and the re-
port of Corporal Snyder that the girl’s
clothing had been drenched with kero-
sene, a coroner’s jury found that Mrs.
Gelwix and Helen Louise “came to their
death by partial cremation in a fire that
totally destroyed their home, said fire of
incendiary origin.”
The jury’s verdict was a mandate to the
police to find the murderer—a ruthless
killer who had set out to destroy the en-
tire Gelwix family and almost succeeded.
The slayer evidently had battered Cather-
ine’s head to make certain she died, but
oddly it was she who had survived.
The first job facing the arson squad was
tedious and messy. They had to sift
through the vast pile of debris left by the
fire in an effort to find the weapon with
which Catherine had been bludgeoned.
While this work was going on at the
scene, Snyder and State Trooper James
Bouse returned to the hospital to question
Catherine Gelwix. She was still in a criti-
cal condition and had not been told that
her mother and sister were dead for fear
of a relapse. But she mustered a smile as
the officers approached her bed. She asked
them why they had come.
“We want you to tell us about the fire
last night,” Snyder said. “Just what hap-
pened?”
The irl closed her eyes momentarily.
“It’s hard for me to remember,” she re-
plied weakly. “I do recall that Ralph
Hawk was with me during the early part
of the evening, but he left about 10
o'clock. Right after that Mother and
Helen Louise went to bed. I must have
fallen asleep, too, because I don’t remem-
ber anything after that until I woke up
here in the hospital.”
“You were still fully dressed when you
were pulled out of the house,” Snyder re-
minded her. “Were you waiting up for
someone?”
A blush suffused the blonde’s pale
cheeks. “I did lie down on the bed for a
while. You see, Ralph had said he might
be back if his father wasn’t home. He
asked me to leave the door open for him.
If he didn’t come, then I was going to
retire.”
Snyder glanced at Trooper Bouse, then
turned back to the girl. “Do you think
Ralph could have had anything to do with
this?” he asked bluntly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Someone deliberately set your house
on fire—and even tried to kill you first.”
Catherine Gelwix lifted a trembling
hand to the bandages around her head.
“You mean this?”
The corporal nodded. “You didn’t get
hurt in the fire.”
A look of wild alarm in her eyes, the
injured girl made a feeble effort to pull
herself erect. “What about Mother—and
Courtroom practice, like most types
of ceremonial, changes much more
slowly than ordinary customs. Hence
the lawyers of Britain continued to
use Latin long after it was abandoned
for everyday speech. Even.when a
good English equivalent was available;
the learned counsel of the 17th century
was likely to prefer some ancient
phrase. ;
Criminal cases involved frequent use
of the term alibi—Latin for “else-
where.” Many a defense attorney
Forty-third of a series
rested his case upon showing that his
client was alibi at the time of the crime.
In a famous trial of 1730, the jury dis-
regarded instructions and instead of
“not guilty,” returned the verdict,
“We, the jury, find that the accused
was alibi.”
Use of the centuries-old term was so
common that it entered modern speech
without change in spelling and came to
stand for any evidence proving absence
from the scene of a crime.
—Boyd G. Wood
70 ray
Helen Louise?” she demanded. “Are they
badly hurt?”.
The doctor had warned she was not
strong enough to stand the shock. “You
don’t have to worry about them,” Snyder
said. “Just take it easy.” ‘
The girl slumped back against the pil-
lows. “What happened to the house?” she
asked weakly.
“Tt was burned to the ground.”
Catherine’s eyes filled with tears. “I
don’t understand. Who would want to
hurt me—or my family?”
“That’s what we want you to tell us,”
Bouse countered. “Can you think of any-
one?”
“Tt certainly wasn’t Ralph,” the girl de-
clared. “Maybe the whole thing was an
accident after all. When the house
burned, perhaps a beam fell and struck
me on the head.” .
It was a possibility which could not
be overlooked, but Snyder could not for-
get the girl’s kerosene-soaked clothing.
“You may be right at that,” he said cau-
tiously. “And I want you to know that we
have nothing against your fiancé. But he
was the last one to see you before the fire
and the sooner we rule him out as a sus-
pect, the better.”
“IT understand,” the girl replied with a
faint smile. “I do hope you clear it up.”
She was too weak to be questioned fur-
ther, and the two lawmen left the hospital.
Outside, Bouse turned to the corporal.
“In spite of what the girl says, this still
looks bad for Hawk,” he remarked. “We'd
better have another talk with him.”
“She didn’t say he promised to come
back to her house,” Snyder pointed out.
“But I’m going to make sure he really
was with his father after 10 o’clock. You
get in touch with young Farran and find -
out for certain if he got the girl out of the
fire before the house collapsed.”
Ralph Hawk was not at the Baer farm,
but Snyder found him at his father’s
home. The dark-haired young man was
reluctant to talk about the tragedy. The
corporal studied him closely to determine
if this merely was the result of his grief.
But Snyder decided not to mince words.
“T’ve talked again to your fiancée,” he
said bluntly. “She told me you thought ‘
you night be back after you left her last
night. Is that true?”
Hawk looked up quickly. “I didn’t
promise,” he said. “I told her if no one
was over here I might see her again. Now
I wish I had gone back. Maybe I could
have saved them all.”
Ralph’s story was veriffed by his father
and brother. They declared he had been
with them the rest of the evening, except
to go to a nearby store for a pint of ice
cream.
Their stories were straightforward and
sincere. The storekeeper confirmed that
Ralph Hawk had stopped in at about 11
o’clock for the ice cream. Snyder was sat-
isfied that the statements were truthful.
He returned to the barracks to compare
notes with the other officers.
Bouse reported that,Farran definitely
had rescued Catherine Gelwix before the
roof and walls had collapsed. He told
how, after pulling her through the win-
dow, Farran had broken in the front door
and made an unsuccessful effort to save
the mother and younger daughter. At that
time, the beams were still intact.
Further proof that Catherine’s injury
was no accident was unearthed by the
arson squad. Half-buried in the ashes,
they found a battered flashlight which
they believed to be the weapon used in
the brutal assault. The hospital surgeons .
examined the case and reported it
matched the contour of the skull wound. 4
Se AP NEN aa Bic eS Nt Se ey
&
dating Sally Martin. Mrs. Gelwix, he
realized, might have heard that her pros-
pective son-in-law had been out with an-
other girl. With her daughter’s marriage
so close, that could have been a real cause
for concern.
The lawmen decided there was only one
way to find out—the use of a lie detector,
providing Ralph Hawk gave his consent.
If the young man had nothing to hide, as
he contended, then he hardly could ob-
ject. Such evidence was inadmissible in
court, but if Hawk showed a negative
reaction, he would be cleared of all sus-
picion.
Snyder and Gillan were a little sur-
prised, however, when the young farm-
hand readily consented to the test. He
seemed strangely unmoved.
The examination was conducted by
John Funck, the state police laboratory
expert. When it was concluded, he
studied the recordings carefully while
Hawk watched him with a detached
interest.
“Let's try it again,” Funck said non-
commitally. Hawk submitted to a second
test, and a third.
There was no doubt about the results.
“You're lying, Ralph,” Funck said evenly.
“You set that fire!”
Hawk sprang to his feet, his handsome
features twisted in rage. “I don’t care
what that thing says!” he shouted. “I’m
— If you don’t think so, prove
it ”
Gillan refused to be moved by the out-
burst. Turning to Snyder, he spoke for
the benefit of the defiant suspect.
“This boy deserves to burn for what he
did,” the sheriff said calmly. “We don't
want a confession. With the evidence we
have against him, we’ll send him to the
chair. If we give him a chance to plead
guilty he’s liable to throw himself on the
mercy of the court and get off with life
imprisonment. You know what that
means—10 or 12 years in jail and then out
on parole.”
Gillan faced the suspect again. “Take
him away!” he snapped. “We don’t
need a confession. And we don’t want
one!”
As Ralph Hawk was led from the room
in a daze, the corporal shook his head.
“I hope you’vé got all this evidence you
JESSE JAMES APPREHENDED
Jesse James Roberts Jr. (right) leaves the Jackson County jail at Marianna, Florida,
with Deputy U. S. Marshal Adam Lewis for arraignment. Roberts, a notorious auto
thief and jail breaker, was captured on January 3 by FBI agents at a Wewahitchka,
Florida, tourist court. As the 6-foot 4-inch, 265-pound criminal was being. stripped
and searched, he pulled a gun from between his legs and started shooting. Although
two shots were fired, no one was hit and Roberts was almost immediately overpowered,
The FBI—and other law enforcement agencies throughout the South—had been
hunting for Roberts since December 20, when he overpowered a jailer half his size
and broke out of the Greene County jail at Eutaw, Alabama, where he was being held
on charges of forgery. Federal authorities said it would require at least a month to
sift down all the charges against Jesse James; prosecutors in four states are vying
to get him into court first, for trial on charges ranging from auto theft to counter-
feiting.
72 ras
talked about,” he told the sheriff. ““With-
out a confession we don’t‘stand a chance
of hanging a thing on that fellow.”
Gillan nodded. “We'll get our con-
fession,” he assured Snyder. “I know that
boy. He’s stubborn as a mule. He
wouldn’t have admitted a thing, and
without evidence he'd be acquitted. But
he doesn’t know we can’t prove his guilt.
When he thinks over the difference be-
tween a few years in jail and the electric
chair, he’ll be ready to talk.”
The sheriff's strategy was successful.
Less than an hour later, Hawk sent
word that he had something to say.
pe hae ordered him brought in from his
cell.
The young man’s face was haggard,
but there was a sly glint in his dark
cory “I want to make a statement,” he
said.
“Nothing doing,” the sheriff declared.
“We want no confession from you.”
Hawk’s expression turned to one of
frantic fear. “Then I'll talk anyway!” he
babbled. “I set that fire. I wanted to kill
them all!”
Gillan sent for a stenographer, who
took down Ralph Hawk’s words as he
-dictated a full confession.
“I went back to the Gelwix house after
I left my dad’s place,” he said. “They were
all asleep. I sat there for a while wonder-
ing what it would be like to be married,
and all of a sudden I didn’t want to go
through with it. I had a feeling that I was
being trapped.
“Tl can’t say just what it was that .
changed my mind. I’d been begging
Catherine to marry me all along. Maybe
it was that letter her mother wrote—I
kept thinking how she would boss me
around afterward.
“Anyway, I tried to figure what I could
do, but I couldn’t see any way out. All
the arrangements had been made and I
just couldn’t call the marriage off on the
wedding day; a trick like that would
damage my reputation. So I decided to
kill them and make it look like an acci-
dent.”
Hawk said he got some kerosene from
the oil stove in the kitchen, poured it over
the sleeping women and splashed it
arouttd the rooms of the bungalow. He
set fire to the bedroom where Mrs.
Gelwix and Helen Louise were sleeping
and then locked the door so they couldn’t
get out if they awakened.
“I was going to do the same to Cath-
erine,” he said, “but I saw a flashlight on
the dresser and decided to hit her with
it instead. That way she would never
knqw what happened.”
The youthful killer seemed relieved to
get the confession off his chest. Booked
on a charge of murder, Hawk laughed
and joked with his jailers, consoled by
the belief that he would escape the full
penalty for his crime.
But it was a futile hope. The cruel
brutality of his act brought the case wide
publicity. His defense counsel discovered
that Hawk’s mother had died in a burning
house while he still was a child, and
psychiatrists were called in to decide
whether this might have some bearing on
the Gelwix murders. Their opinion was
that it had not, and Hawk was pro-
nounced sane. .
He was convicted and sentenced to die.
The verdict was appealed, but his plea
for a new trial was denied. On March
28, 1938, Ralph Hawk was electrocuted
at Rockview Penitentiary in Bellfonte,
Pennsylvania.
(The names Dan Carter and Sally Martin are
fictitious to protect the identity of persons innocently
involved in the investigation.)
ee ae |
HAWK, Ralph E., white, 20, BX% elec. HB PA (Franklin) Mar, 28, 1938,,,
inside
girl é
carrie
By
and 2
Depa:
BY TONY FIELD
T HAD BEEN A BIG NIGHT. Jaime Martin and
Della Buck had seen the New Year in ata big party
at the Buck home on the edge of Marion, Pennsylvania.
Most all their friends had been there. There had been
music, dancing, punch, much horse play and laughter
and a sumptuous spread of food around 2 o’clock, just
before the party broke up. Everyone had had a mar-
velous time. The year 1937 had been properly launched.
Now, at a little after 3 o’clock, Jaime and Della
tarried for a moment in the shelter of the porch for a
last farewell. It was never said.
From the house next door came a dull, booming roar,
followed instantly by screams and the eerie glow of
raging flames.
“Heavens!” exclaimed Della. “It’s the Gelwix place.
Mrs. Gelwix and the two girls.”
Jaime did not wait to hear her out. Leaping from
the porch he raced across the snow covered ground
to the burning home 100 yards away. When he reached
there a minute later the place was an inferno. He
tried the front door, found it locked. Darting toward
the rear of the house, he was arrested by the swaying
figure of a girl behind one of the ground floor windows.
She was silhouetted by a glow. of ominous red and
he easily recognized her as Catherine, the 21-year-old
daughter of the household.
Without hesitating he shattered the window, crawled
inside the flame and smoke filled room and caught the
girl as she. collapsed. Staggering under his burden he
carried her out through the broken casement.
By now help was at hand. The neighbors had rallied
and a call had been put in to the Chambersburg Fire
Department. But there was precious little anyone
could do. The house was doomed and along with it,
its occupants.
How. many had there been? Two for sure—Cather-
ine’s mother and her 15-year-old sister, Helen Louise.
And there might have been a third, the neighbors said,
a young fellow by the name of Ralph Hawk, who was
Catherine’s fiance. For it was known that he had been
visiting the girl that New Year’s Eve.
How had the fire started? No one knew.
But the doctor at the Chambersburg Hospital to
which Catherine had been rushed had a: dark and
ugly suspicion. At 6 a.m. that New Year’s Day, fresh
from the operating room where he had been working
on the girl, he elaborated on it to Corporal Arthur
Snyder of the Pennsylvania State Police and to Sheriff
Charles Gillan.
“Gentlemen,” he reiterated firmly, “‘there’s no ques-
tion about it. The girl was struck down before the
flames reached her.”
“You’re saying, then,” commented Snyder slowly,
“that murder was attempted?”
“Yes. Attempted murder on the girl and accom-
plished murder on the mother and sister who, I under-
stand, never escaped the house.”
“What makes you so positive?’’ asked the sheriff.
“Maybe the girl was groggy from the smoke and fell.”
“Impossible,” snapped the doctor. “When a person
falls he strikes the face or the back of the head. The
girl had been felled by a heavy blow delivered to the
crown of her skull. It’s a miracle she’s alive at all.”
“When can we question her?”
“Not until late this afternoon.”
“What kind of instrument was ‘used to strike her
THE NEW YEAR CAME IN WITH A ROAR
AND THE SCREAMS OF A_ BRIDE-TO-BE
36
Catherine Gelwix sensed someone in her room but arsonist
knocked her unconscious and set kerosene-soaked bed ablaze
down?” asked Snyder. “Care to hazard a guess?”
The doctor shrugged. “The usual blunt instrument.
A club—a piece of kindling wood—an iron bar. Here’s
something that might help you. In the girl’s delirium
she kept muttering a name over and over again. Peter
Verick. It’s not a common name. He ought to be easy
to find.”
“We'll find him,” said the sheriff tersely.
Snyder climbed slowly to his feet and hitched pur-
posefully at the gun holstered at his hip. “Thanks,
Doc,” he said. Then he turned to the sheriff. “Murder
is a hell of a way to start off the new year. But the
sooner we get out to the Gelwix place, the better.”
Firemen were still wetting down the smoldering
ruins when Snyder and Gillan arrived on the scene.
Nothing remained of the home. In a final eruption of
sparks and flame the framework had collapsed into
the cellar.
Gillan spoke to the smoke-grimed fire chief. “Did
you get the bodies out yet?”
The other shook his head wearily. “Still too hot.
It’ll be hours before it cools off enough to work down
there. The coroner said he’d be back at 10 with a
couple of helpers.”
“Good. I’ll be here.”
The two officers now turned to the group of stunned
neighbors who still hovered near the tragic scene.
Swiftly they singled out Jaime and Della for ques-
tioning. The couple told of discovering the fire and
how Jaime had rescued Catherine. :
“Tell me,” said Snyder when they had finished.
“The house went up awfully fast, eh?”
“Yes,” replied Jaime. ‘“‘There was a kind of explosion
—a dull boom—and the place was a mass of flames.”
“How long were you.and Della on the porch before
the fire?” ;
“Maybe ten minutes.”
“Did you see anyone leave the Gelwix home? Did
you see anything suspicious at all?”
“No, sir. Not a thing.”
“About Catherine,” put in Gillan. “She had a lot
of boy friends?”
“Oh, no, sir,” replied Della. “Catherine was popular
and all that. But she didn’t go out a great deal. You
see she was to have been married today—at 2 o’clock
at All Saints Church.”
“Married to whom?”
“Ralph Hawk.”
“And where is he?”
The girl swallowed at a lump in her throat. “We're
afraid that he got caught in the fire, too.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, I happen to know that Ralph was visiting
Catherine last night. They were making final ar-
rangements for the wedding.”
Gillan glanced at Snyder significantly, then turned
back to the girl. “Maybe Catherine didn’t go out a lot
since she was engaged. But who else was sweet on
her? Who did she go with before she became engaged
to Hawk?” ;
The girl thought a moment, then shook her head.
“No one she was really serious about. She had a few
dates with Peter Verick a year ago but then she met
Ralph and Peter met Nellie Hillman, and that’s all
there was to it.”
“Where does Verick live?”
“Third house down the (Continued on page 75)
At midnight auto licenses of
young man (r.) expired and
he left home of his bride-to-be
early—thereby avoiding blaze
which trapped sleeping women
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“Why did you leave so early?”
“I was taking a chance as it was,”
explained Hawk. “My car license ex-
pired yesterday and I didn’t have new
plates. I knew you fellows were pick-
ing up cars with old tags so I got off
the roads as fast as I could.”
“What time did you get home?”
Hawk looked at his boss. “I don’t :
know, exactly. I didn’t look at the
clock when I got in. But it’s only a
half hour’s drive to Catherine’s place.
It couldn’t have been much after 1.”
“That’s right,” verified the boss. “I
heard him come in.”
“Can—can I go now?” asked Hawk
nervously. “I want to get to the hos-
pital.”
Gillan nodded. The young man’s
nervousness was understandable and
his answers had been simple and
straightforward. Furthermore, his
story had been verified by his boss.
“Go ahead,” he said. “Maybe you’ll
help that poor girl pull through.”
When Hawk left, Snyder asked a
few more questions and learned that
the couple’s bedroom was on the sec-
ond floor while young Hawk slept in
a small room off the kitchen.
“What made you ask those ques-
tions?” asked Gillan as they climbed
into their car.
Snyder shrugged. “I just didn’t want
to overlook any bets. After coming
home at 1, Hawk could have left the
a again without them knowing
i ”
“Just like Verick,” grunted Gillan.
“But where’s the motive? Verick’s got
himself another girl and Hawk was
making plans for his wedding. It
doesn’t add up.”
“No,” admitted Snyder. “But there’s
a motive someplace. We've got to
find it.”
The autopsies were performed early
that afternoon. And curiously enough
the findings showed that no physical
attack had been made on Mrs. Gelwix
or Helen Louise. Only Catherine had
been clubbed into unconsciousness.
As the crime was reconstructed by
arson expert Funck, the three women
had been asleep when the killer en-
tered the house—the mother and
younger daughter in one bedroom,
Catherine in an adjoining room. For
some reason neither Mrs. Gelwix nor
Helen Louise awoke, even when the
intruder saturated their beds with
kerosene. They had probably stayed
up long beyond their normal bed-
time to ring in the New Year and as
a consequence were deep in slumber.
But Catherine, with her wedding only
a few hours off, must have slept more
lightly. She awoke. The intruder
struck her down—set the fire and
fled, ‘hoping the flames would burn
away the evidence of his crime.
“Tf Funck’s theory is right,” said
Gillan as he and Snyder headed for
the hospital, “Catherine saw the kill-
er. That ought to solve all our prob-
lems.”
But Funck’s theory was only partly
right. Catherine had not seen the kill-
er—at least, enough of him to recog-
nize him.
Even though asleep, she explained,
she had sensed that someone was in
her room. She had started to sit up in
bed—there was a blurred movement
beside her—and then a terrible blow
on her head. That was all she knew,
until she regained consciousness some
time later to find the room in flames.
She had staggered to the window and
screamed and by some miracle had
been rescued by Jaime.
“When you were first brought to the
hospital you were in some sort of
delirium. You kept repeating the
name ‘Peter Verick’ over and over
again. Why?”
The girl looked at him wondering-
ly. “I don’t know. Peter helped bring
me to the hospital. His was the last
face I saw before I became uncon-
scious.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t Peter you
saw_in your bedroom?”
“Oh, yes. I’m sure.”
“Ralph was here this afternoon?”
“Yes. He left just a few minutes
before you came.”
“Did you ever quarrel with him?”
“No. Never. Well—hardly ever.
Nothing ever serious.”
“How serious?”
The girl’s tears became uncontrol-
lable for a moment. Between heart-
broken sobs she continued. “The only
quarrel we ever had was last week. ~
He wanted to move up the day of our
wedding. He didn’t seem to under-
stand that I just couldn’t. All our ar-
rangements had been made for the
church, the invitations sent out.”
“And that’s all you ever quarreled
about?”
“Yes,”
Gillan took the battered flashlight
from his pocket and handed it to the
girl. “Did you ever see this before?”
Catherine turned the torch over in
her hands and studied it closely. “I’m
not positive,” she said. “It’s all burnt
and broken. But I think it’s the flash-
light mother used to keep on the stand
by her bed.”
When Gillan and Snyder returned
to the sheriff’s office they found Klipp
waiting for them. Tersely the deputy
reported on his investigation into
Verick’s background and movements.
From all the testimony he had thus
far gathered there was nothing to
connect the young man with the
crime. He had an excellent reputation
for honesty and good humor and all
his friends had said that there never
‘had been a romance between him and
Catherine Gelwix. :
With Verick seemingly in the clear
and no other possible suspect, Gillan,
as a matter of routine, started a check
on Ralph Hawk. As was the case with
Verick, Hawk had an excellent repu-
tation, and from all accounts was des-
perately in love with Catherine.
“Why, you should have seen the
ring he gave her for Christmas,” ex-
claimed his boss. “It must have set
him back a pretty penny.”
“You mean an engagement ring?”
asked Snyder.
“No. It was just a present. Extrav-
agant, it was. I saw it-on his dresser
one morning. He became kind of flus-
tered when I said it must have cost a
lot of money. But he said that nothing
was too good for Catherine.”
“T hope he still feels that way,” said
Snyder, as he and the sheriff left the
house.
Gillan was thoughtful as he climbed
behind the wheel of his car. “That’s
funny,” he muttered to himself.
“What's funny?”
“That Catherine never asked wheth-
er her rings were recovered from the
fire. Both the engagement ring and
the Christmas: present. She wasn’t
wearing either of them when we
talked to her a while back.”
“Maybe she gave them to Hawk to
keep for her while she’s in the hos-
pital,” suggested Snyder:
Gillan shook his head. “A girl hates
to part with her engagement ring—
especially to give it back to the man
who gave it to her.”
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ing at’
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GIRL IN THE FLAMES
(Continued from page 37)
road,” replied Jaime. He surveyed
the crowd swiftly. “He was here just
_a few minutes ago. He must have gone
home. He helped me take Catherine
to the hospital.”
After a few more questions the of-
ficers dismissed the couple, then
walked swiftly to the Verick home.
They found Peter, a good-looking
young man of 24, sipping a steaming
cup of coffee in the neat kitchen.
“J understand that you used to go
with Catherine,’ began Gillan after
the usual formalities.
“Yes, that’s right,” admitted Verick.
“Poor kid. How is she?”
“Pretty well banged up but she'll
pull through,” replied Snyder. “Why
did you and she break up?”
Verick grinned. “She met Ralph
Hawk. I couldn’t meet the ee oi
tion I guess. Then I met Nell Hill-
- man.”
“You weren’t sore about it, were
ou?”
“Sore? No. Why should I be?”
Sean no fellow likes to lose his
r Ss
For the first time Verick got the
drift of the questioning. He pushed
back his coffee and looked at the
officers sharply. “Why all the ques-
tions?” he asked soberly.
In an attempt to surprise him into
some sort of an admission, Gillan let
him have both barrels. ‘Because
someone tried to murder Catherine
last night,” he said flatly. “They suc-
ceeded in murdering her mother and
sister—and maybe Ralph Hawk.”
“You mean the fire was set? You
think I——”
“Were not thinking anything yet,”
replied Snyder. “We're just asking
questions. How about giving us an
account of your movements last night
—say from midnight until three?”
Verick was momentarily confused.
“Why—why—I was in bed, I guess,
till Dad woke me up and told me
about the fire.”
“You mean you were in bed on New
Year’s Eve?” asked Gillan doubtfully.
“Yes, sir.”
“How come you weren’t out with
Mis: Hillman?”
“We did have a date. But a couple
of days ago she came down with the
flu. And I didn’t want to date any
other girl.”
Verick’s parents were next ques-
tioned and they verified their son’s
story in every detail. Getting per-
mission from the old folks the officers
searched the house, giving special at-
tention to Peter’s room. They failed
to uncover a single drop of kerosene
or anything that might tie in the
young man with the crime.
“Of course,” said Gillan as the two
officers trudged back to their car, “he
could have left his house, attacked
Catherine, set the fire and returned
home without his parents knowing it.”
“And he could have found the kero-
sene in the Gelwix kitchen,” added
Snyder. “There must be some reason
for the girl muttering his name in her
delirium.”
“We'll ask her about that as soon as
she can talk,” promised the sheriff.
Back at his office in Chambersburg,
Gillan contacted the State Fire Pro-
tective Bureau in Harrisburg and was
assured that arson expert John Funck
would leave for Marion at once. Then
after checking the hospital and learn-
ing that Catherine was still uncon-
scious, he called in Deputy Walter -
Klipp and assigned him the job of
digging into Peter Verick’s move-
ments both past and present. These
matters attended to, he headed back
with Snyder to the scene of the fire.
They arrived at the still smoldering
ruins just.as the coroner and his men
were carrying a sheet-covered figure
from the wreckage. A second similar
figure was already laid out by the
shiny black hearse. :
“Two,” commented Gillan grimly.
“Do you need a hand with the third?”
“There is no third,” said the cor-
oner. “Two’s enough.”
“Are you sure?” pressed Snyder.
“Double sure. We turned over every
charred stick and timber. There’s no
other body. But we found this.” From
his hip pocket he removed a flash-
light. It had been blackened by the
flames. But it was not this that inter-
ested the two officers as they ex-
amined the torch. Far more interest-
ing—and_ sinister—was the fact that
the lens had been broken out and the
end flattened.
“The heat wouldn’t have battered it
up that way,” commented Gillan.
“No,” agreed Snyder. “But if it had
been used as a club to strike down
that girl——”
“That’s what we thought,” said the
coroner. “Here’s wishing you luck.
We've got to get along with the
bodies.” .
When the hearse had driven off,
Snyder turned to Gillan with somber
eyes, “If Hawk wasn’t trapped in the
fire as we supposed, where is he?
Surely he must have heard of the fire
by now. The whole town’s talking
about nothing else.”
“It’s a good question,” replied Gil-
lan. “Let’s see if we can locate him.”
The officers’ task was easier than
they had anticipated. They found
Ralph Hawk at the farm where he
worked as a hired hand. At the mo-
ment of their arrival he was in his
room, dressing to go to the hospital
to see Catherine.
“We just heard about the fire,” ex-
plained the farmer’s wife. “It’s simply
awful. Poor Catherine. And her moth-
er and sister!” She wiped her eyes
with the corner of her apron. “How is
Catherine?”
“With luck she’ll pull through,”
replied Gillan. The husband shook
his head. “It’s been rough on Ralph.
He’s taking it hard. And on his wed-
ding day, too.”
A moment later Ralph Hawk
stepped into the kitchen. Despite his
drawn face he was a handsome youth,
clean-cut, blue-eyed. “You—you’re
the sheriff, aren’t you?” he said ner-
vously, facing Gillan. “How’s Cath-
erine— We just heard——”
“She'll pull through,” replied the
sheriff sympathetically.
“We just heard——” repeated
Hawk. “I’m on my way to the hos-
pital now.”
“We'll only keep you a moment,”
replied the sheriff. “We understand
you visited Catherine last night.”
“yes, sir. We were talking over
last minute plans for the wedding.”
“What time did you leave?”
“Right after the whistles blew at
midnight.”
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(All correspondence confidential. No salesman
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“Well, so what? What are you driv-
ing at?”
“Probably nothing. I guess I’m just
fishing—grabbing at anything. But
just the same, I’m curious about those
rings.”
As it turned out, the sheriff had
never been curious about a more im-
portant matter. Deftly, he questioned
Catherine later that afternoon and
without arousing her _ suspicions,
learned the surprising fact that Hawk
had never given her a ring—engage-
ment or otherwise.
“I didn’t want him to,” she ex-
plained with a tender smile. “I
thought it best we save our money to
set up house.”
“Of course,” agreed Gillan blandly,
as he left the room.
The sheriff was a thoughtful man as
he drove away from the hospital. If
Hawk had not given the ring to his
intended wife, then to whom had he
given it?
Early the next morning he started
on a round of the jewelry stores in
Chambersburg. At his third call the
proprietor of the establishment re-
membered perfectly the sale of a
lady’s ring to Ralph Hawk. He had his
records to prove it. The transaction
had taken place a few days before
Christmas.
“Do you know who the ring was
for?” asked Gillan hopefully.
“Why, yes. I do,” replied the jewel-
er. “The day after Christmas the
young lady came in to have the band
made smaller. It was the Borger girl
—Betty Borger.”
Swiftly Gillan jotted down the
girl’s address, then asked one more
question. “What did the ring cost?”
“A hundred and ten dollars. It was
quite nice.”
A short time later Betty Borger
ushered Gillan into the living room of
her home. She was a very attractive
girl and at the moment her large
brown eyes were wide with curiosity.
She indicated a chair for the sheriff,
sank into one herself and looked at
the officer questioningly.
For his part Gillan was squinting
at the exquisite ring on the third fin-
ger of the girl’s left hand. “I under-
stand,” he began carefully, “that
Ralph Hawk gave you that ring.”
Miss Borger smiled, held up her
hand and gazed admiringly at the
jeweled circlet. “Yes,” she said. “Isn’t
‘it lovely?”
“It is indeed,” agreed Gillan. “It
must have set him back a lot of
money.”
The girl flushed and dropped her
hand. “It’s our engagement ring,” she
said with a proud lift of her head.
“Engagement ring?” exclaimed Gil-
lan. “Didn’t you know he was already
engaged to another girl?”
Miss Borger paled. “Another girl?
That’s impossible.”
The sheriff shook his head sadly.
“Tm afraid not. He was engaged to
that girl who was burned in the fire
New Year’s Eve—Catherine Gelwix.
They were to have been married yes-
terday. But now, since the fire, and
the death of Catherine’s mother and
sister, I imagine the wedding has been
indefinitely postponed. It was lucky
that Catherine didn’t die in the fire,
too.”
Slowly, as the sheriff spoke, the
color had been draining from the
girl’s face. It was clear that she had
caught the hidden meaning of his
words. “I don’t want to hear any
more,” she said in a shocked voice.
Swiftly she twisted the ring from her
finger and dropped it into Gillan’s
palm. “Here. Take it. Give it back to
him. Tell him I never want to see him
again.” "
Gillan tucked the ring away in his
pocket. “I don’t think you will.”
Ralph Hawk put up a good front
when Snyder ushered him into the
sheriff’s office at two that afternoon.
“I saw Catherine this morning,” he
said with a confident smile. “She’s
coming along fine. We’ll be able to
get married after all.”
“T don’t know about that,” said
Gillan. “There are a few things that
you have to clear up first.”
“What?”
“Well,” replied the sheriff, “maybe
you’d better start off with this.” From
his pocket he produced the ring that
Betty Borger had given him and laid
it before Hawk.
The suspect caught his breath.
“Where—where did you get that?” he
asked. :
“From the girl you gave it to—as an
engagement ring—just a week before
+ you were to marry Catherine Gel-
wix.” The sheriff’s voice became °
hard. “Is that why you tried to kill
Catherine? Because you had fallen
for Betty Borger?”
“No. No,” said Hawk.
Gillan’s fist smote the desk. “You’re
lying.”
“No. I love Catherine.”
“Yet you gave the other girl an ex-
pensive ring, just a week before your
wedding.”
“Betty and I were just friends.”
“That’s not the way she tells it.”
With an effort Hawk got a grip on
himself. “I know it looks bad for me,”
he said. “But you’ve got to believe
me. I love Cathy. I tried to get her to
me: up the date of our wedding—
“It won’t wash,” snapped Snyder.
“That was part of the alibi you were
building up before the crime. You
got yourself engaged to two girls at
the same time and the only way out
you could see was murder. You were
mad.”
Hawk suddenly slumped forward in
his chair. “Yes,” he said in a choked
voice. “I was mad.”
Later that day Hawk dictated a de-
tailed confession. He had left Cath-
erine’s home shortly after midnight
on New Year’s Eve on the pretext of
visiting his father but with the prom-
ise of returning shortly. Catherine
was to have left the door open for
-him. However, he had not returned
until just before 3. He had deliberate-
ly waited until Catherine would have
given up hope of his return and, like
her mother and sister, retired to sleep.
A quick survey of the house had
showed him that all lights were out
before he stealthily entered the un-
locked door. It had taken but a mat-
ter of seconds to get the kerosene can
from its place by the kitchen stove
and to douse the two bedrooms with
the explosive fluid. Just before he had
struck the fatal match, Catherine had
sat up in bed. It was then that he had
struck her down with the flashlight.
Two people had burned to death in
the fire he had started. And on March
28th, 1939, Ralph Hawk also burned—
in the electric chair at the State Peni-
tentiary at Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Eprror’s Norte:
The names, Betty Borger, Jaime
Martin, Della Buck, Nell Hillman
and Peter Verick, are fictitious.
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sealed envelope. Ralph had read it and
thrust it in the stove.
But there was no fire in the range.
After Ralph left the house, Mrs. Rogus
retrieved the piece of paper and read it.
As nearly as she could recall it read:
Dear Ralph;
Will you come to the house this °
evening? | am not feeling well. I
couldn’t go to work today. Please
come.
Mrs. Rogas said the note had been
delivered on December 28th, tliree days
before the tragedy.
The note, arriving at that time, sug-
gested a connection with the case. But
even so, things failed to make sense.
Ralph had planned to marry the girl
the following day. But had he doubted
his own willingness to marry and settle
down after giving the girl his promise?
“Ralph,” Marilyn had said, “had
wanted to be married the previous day.
But, due to our inability to obtain a
license just then, they had decided to
drive to Maryland for the ceremony.”
At no time had the youth shown the
slightest reluctance to stand by his
promise.
The police had their doubts on that
score by now but nothing was said.
Marilyn’s condition was still precari-
ous; so much so that she had not yet
been told the full extent of the trag-
edy, although the crime was now four
days old.
Further delving into Ralph Hawk’s
past elicited the information that the
handsome youth was restless under the
restrictions placed upon him by his en-
gagement to Marilyn. The boy was to
inherit several thousand dollars on
reaching his 21st birthday and this fact,
coupled with his appearance, made him
a much-sought-after suitor.
Bernice Starrin, a 17-year-old girl
who lived in another town nearby, vol-
untarily informed the police that Ralph
had “dated” her the night of December
26th, four days before the attack on his
fiancée. As a Christmas present, she
said, Ralph had given her a box of
candy.
Ralph Hawk displayed no particular
emotion when told that his statements
were to be verified on the lie detector.
Outwardly calm throughout the entire
procedure, he was unable, however, to
still the sudden leaping of his heart
when asked about the fire and the sub-
sequent death of the two women. Ralph
ran a bad record and the police told
him so.
Hawk eyed them coolly and took a
deep breath. “I guess you’ve got me,”
he said. “I might as well confess.”
The statements made at that time and
signed by the youth were, for sheer
brutality and complete callousness, un-
surpassed by any other case in their
years of experience as police officers.
To those who knew him from boyhood,
_ Ralph Hawk was no different from any
other youth of the neighborhood. Quiet,
unassuming, slow to anger, he would be
considered anywhere as a respectable,
up-standing, young man. Yet he had
turned overnight into a beast.
“T went to the Gelwix home,” Ralph
told us coolly, “about ten o’clock. Mrs.
Gelwix and Louise were already in bed
and Marilyn was in her room. I went in
and stayed with her for a while.
“T don’t know how long I was there
but I got to thinking about our mar-
riage and how I didn’t want to go
through with it.
“T just sat there and thought and I
knew I couldn’t go through with it. I
could see the flashlight on the bureau
and suddenly I decided to do away with
the whole family. I struck Marilyn with °
the flashlight just above the ear. She
didn’t move. Then I went into the kitch-
en and got the can of oil from the coal-
oil stove and took fttinto Mrs. Gelwix’s
bedroom. I splashed some over the bed
and set fire to it. Then I stood there a
moment to see that it burned. When I
saw that it was going to catch, I locked
the door so they couldn’t get out.”
That was what got the police. The
absolute cold-bloodedness of his crime.
And even now Ralph’s voice showed not
a trace of remorse. ®
“TI went back to Marilyn’s room,” he
continued, “and poured kerosene over
her. But I lost my nerve. I couldn’t set
her on fire. I took the oil can back to
the kitchen, locked the front door and
returned to Marilyn’s room. The fire
was burning pretty fast by now, so I
kicked a window out of the bedroom
and crawled out. Then I got in my car
and drove to the Rogas farm. I had just
_ reached my room when the fire engines
went past and Mrs. Rogas awoke and
called me.” .
Now that he had confessed to the
fiendish crime, Ralph was thoroughly
examined by famous psychiatrists, who
wanted to know just where the wheels
went wrong.
It was brought out that Ralph’s moth-
er had perished in a burning building
while he was still a child. Could that
explain his crime. A jury didn’t think
so. They brought in a verdict of guilty
and the youthful slayer was sentenced
to die in the electric chair at Pennsyl-
vania’s Rockview Penitentiary.
His case was appealed but without
results. And on March 28th, 1938,
Ralph Hawk paid his debt to society.
EDITOR’S NOTE: To protect persons in-
nocently involved in this case the names
Marilyn Gelwix and Bernice Starrin are
fictitious as used here.
THE END
(continued from page 45)
Frank Costello, the murder of Anas-
tasia, and the now-famous meeting at
Apalachin.
At 57; Al Anastasia was still on top
of the heap when he strode into a hotel
barber shop that morning, settled in a
chair, and ordered a shave and haircut.
His eyes were closed as two dark men
approached on either side of him and
pumped five bullets into his body. He
lay dead on the barber shop floor,
drenched with bay.rum from a bottle
he had knocked over when he lurched
from the chair.
The killers left swiftly—as did every-
body else in the place—and disappeared.
It had been a highly professional job.
The police questioned hundreds of un-
derworld characters, but nobody knew
from nothin’.
The nicking of Uncle Frank Costello’s
noggin was much less satisfying. But
the shot was heard around the under-
world and recognized as an unmistak-
able signal that something of a sensa-
. tional nature was afoot.
For until that night, Costello had
been the very embodiment of the “un-
touchable” mobster, a potentate of such
far-reaching influence that an attack
upon his sacred person was out of the
question. It was the first time anybody
had taken a shot at him since his rum-
running days back in the 1920s.
Although he has served jail sentences
in recent years for contempt of the |
Senate and income tax chiseling, Cos-
tello still remained the biggest boss
racketeer of them all—and he stands in
the way of the new mob.
Whether Costello considered himself
a blight on the ambitions of some gang-
land youth group, he naturally hasn’t
said. But it became evident on the night
of November 15th that plenty of mid-
dle-aged mobsters have been unhappily
reading some wall-writing. For it was
generally agreed that 60 aging leaders
of the national crime syndicate would
not have assembled for a strategy meet-
ing at Apalachin if there were no basis
of fact in the underworld grapevine re-
ports that the youngsters were getting
ready to attack.
Gathered in the fieldstone mansion of
51-year-old Joseph Barbara, the racket
bosses didn’t get very far with their
parley. For a raiding party of State
Police descended upon them before
they really got started. They scattered
into the woods and fields, but all even-
tually had to return for their Cadillacs.
None of them was armed. The police
Lire WLS yg oe Lis {ly & 1,
EOL
blonde girl lay across the
the bright moonlight that filtered
f through the bedroom window
| and fell in broken patches on the
In the shadows, a dark figure moved
1 silently. It stealthily approached the
bed on which lay the sleeping girl. A
i, moment the figure hesitated, a blunt
fi: weapon clutched in the fingers of one
= “hand. Swiftly it glided across a moon~-
elit space and reached the bed.
B.* The girl stirred restlessly in her
Ng “sleep. The man raised his arm. Sud-
i)’ denly, viciously he struck, crashing
= weapon against the side of the
if head. There was the dull thud
i ‘of the blow, then silence. —
HE
bed, her slim form outlined in
|
i
ie moved more swiftly now, the
a for caution gone. Quick steps
HF
-.. carried him to another bedroom where
\ mother and daughter slept peace-
} fully. A can of kerosene was in hi
i} hands. With a gurgling sound the
|} inflammable liquid saturated the
He. sleeping forms. | -
We A. swiftly struck match. Flaring
a flames. The killer stood in the door-
| »> way, listening for a moment, as the
woman awoke screaming. Then, de-
liberately, he turned away, closed and
locked the door, deaf to his victim’s
frantic cries.
More kerosene in the room of the
‘unconscious girl. Another match, but
The Gelwix bungalow
flared into flames a
about midnight. Sor
said it wag@etaulty’?
IER geet cok
nace Dat thers: sa
some unexplainable impulse stayed
his hand. Cursing, he hurled the un-
lighted fragment of wood from him
and raced to a window. Kicking out
the pane, the killer leaped through
and fied.
* * *
EW YEAR’S morning, January 1,
1937. :
I was alone in the Chambersburg
sub-station of the Pennsylvania State
Police. It was 2:30 a.m., a clear moon-
- light night. The New Year, born
amidst shrieking whistles and clang-
ing bells, was now oddly qiet. Only
the low, monotonous humming of the
electric clock-.om” all broke the
silence. i
The telephone jangled harshly.
“State Police Barracks. Corporal
Snyder speaking.”
It was the Chambersburg hospital
calling. Eleanor Vincen, a nurse there,
wanted to report a suspicious occur-
rence. I sighed and reached for a pad
and pencil. On New Year’s day any-
thing could happen.
Miss Vincen was worried. A girl had
been admitted to the hospital at 1:35.
, we
certain peculiar
prompted the nurse to inform the po-
lice; For example, she said, the girl
had been rescued from a burning
building, and there was a strong odor
of kerosene on her clothing.
fire and a fractured skull!
Calling one of the boys to relieve
me, I hurried to the hospital. The
_ night superintendent was there with
Miss Vincen, who had called me. The
superintendent led the way into her
office and gave me the story, missing
none of the gruesome details.
The patient had been brought to the
hospital from Marion, a small town
three miles east of Chambersburg.
Her name, so far as the nurses were
able to ascertain, was Catherine Gel-
wix.
“What about the kerosene?” I asked,
“and the fire?”
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“How's that for a mouthpiece —
ninety-nine acquittals out of a 100.”
“| Touched A Match to Her
(continued from page 19)
2 .
silence and the officer picked it up.
“State Police Barracks. Corporal Sny-
der speaking.”
It was the Chambersburg Hospital
calling. Elly Ronson, a nurse there, was
worried. A girl had been admitted to
the hospital at 1:35 a.m., suffering from
a fractured skull. The patient was still
unconscious but certain peculiar cir-
cumstances prompted the nurse to in-
form the police. For example, she said,
the girl had been rescued from a burn-
ing building and there was a strong
odor of kerosene on her clothing.
Snyder hurried to the hospital. The
night superintendent was there with
Miss Ronson. The superintendent led
the way into her office and told Snyder
the story.
The patient had been brought to the
hospital from Marion, a small. town
three miles east of Chambersburg. Her
name was Marilyn Gelwix.
“What about the kerosene?” Snyder
asked, “and the fire?”
“From what I have been able to
learn,” the superintendent said, “the
Gelwix home burned to the ground
Boe. 46
some time around midnight. Apparently
it was a bungalow with all the bed-
rooms on the ground floor. Neighbors,
attracted by the flames, saw the girl
kneeling by her bedroom window. They
lifted her out and, on the advice of a
physician, rushed her to the hospital.
“Our examination showed her to have
suffered a fractured skull.
“The injuries may have been sus-
tained in a fall, though that’s doubtful
and she stands a good chance to re-
cover. But what aroused our suspicions
was the strong odor of kerosene on her
clothing. Her dress and slip were satu-
rated with the fluid. The whole thing
seemed very suspicious to us.”
“May I talk to the girl now or is she
still unconscious?” Snyder asked.
“You can talk to her but she won’t
be entirely rational. The anesthesia
hasn’t had time to wear off.”
Snyder decided to talk to the girl
anyway, but Marilyn Gelwix could give
us no information on what had occur-
red. In her semi-conscious condition she
could only mumble incotterently.
Snyder left the hospital and hurried
to the scene of the fire in Marion. The
little town was seething with excite-
ment when he arrived. The burning of
the Gelwix home was the only topic of
conversation.
Snyder parked his car a short dis-
tance from the smouldering ruins and
shouldered his way through the crowd.
Reaching the foundation of the -build-
ing, he looked down into what had been
the cellar of the Gelwix home.
The fire had done a thorough job. No
part of the building remained standing.
The cellar was cluttered with debris
that had fallen from the upper rooms.
One of the spectators pointed down
into the ruins. “Several people burned
to death, officer. Look you can see part
of a body down there now.”
He was right. Half buried in the red
hot embers, Snyder could see a portion
of the ribs and skull of a human being.
Questioning of witnesses disclosed that
the fire had been discovered by a young
couple ‘returning from the Ace of
Hearts night club in Chambersburg
about 1:15 a.m., after celebrating the
New Year.
They had parked for a few minutes
near the Gelwix home when they saw
the flames. They rushed toward the
burning building, only to find that the
doors were locked. Circling the house,
they looked in a window and saw Mar-
ilyn kneeling on the floor with her
head on the window sill.
Together, the couple lifted the un-
conscious girl outside to safety.
Police located Ralph Hawk, Marilyn’s
fiancée, at his father’s house. He was
questioned regarding his movements on
the night of the fire.
Ralph took a long time to tell his
story. He appeared unmoved and in-
different. Apparently the death of his fi-
ancée’s mother and sister and the near
death of his girl, had had little effect
on him.
“T didn’t see Marilyn the night this
happened,” Ralph said quietly. “I
loafed around town the early part of
the evening. Then I bought a pint of
ice cream and took it home. My brother
and I ate it. After that I drove my
brother’s car out to the farm where I
work. I left early as he didn’t have his
new license plates and I didn’t want to
be caught on the road after midnight.
When I got to the farm I’ put the car
in the garage and went to bed.”
“Have you seen Marilyn since this
happened?” Snyder asked him.
Hawk said he hadn’t.
“Would you like to visit her now?”
Snyder asked. “We'll drive you over.”
The youth offered no objection and
was driven to the hospital. Squar-
ing his shoulders, Ralph walked into
the room where his fiancée lay on a bed.
Marilyn looked searchingly at the
boy she hoped to marry. “Ralph,” she
asked, “what happened to me?”
Hawk stirred uneasily. “I don’t know;
. honey,” he said. “I wasn’t there.”
The girl stared at him unbelievingly.
“Why, yes, you were, Ralph!”
The youth managed a sickly smile.
“Tf I was there,” he muttered, “I didn’t
know it.”
After a few minutes with his sweet-
heart, during which time he expressed
no concern over the girl’s escape from
death, Ralph indicated that he was
ready to leave.
Sheriff Gillan, with the aid of the
State Fire Bureau, sifted the ashes and
debris in the cellar of the burned
home. It was a long and tedious job
but it paid off when the blackened case
of a flashlight with a damaged base was
discovered. Police experts stated that
the flashlight was the instrument used
in striking Marilyn Gelwix above the
right ear and fracturing her skull.
Ralph’s presence in his room, how-
ever, was corroborated by two young
men of the neighborhood. Knowing
Ralph to be a frequent visitor at the
Gelwix home, they had left the fire and
driven to the Rogas farm, where he
worked, to see if Ralph was all right.
Ralph answered their call and in-
formed them coolly that he most. cer-
tainly was alive and well,
The police went to the Rogas home
and questioned the farmer more close-
ly. He was positive that he had not mis- -
understood Ralph’s remarks concerning
the fire but it was Mrs. Rogas who
supplied our first clue to a_ possible
motive.
Several evenings before, she said, a
neighbor’s child had arrived with a
note for Ralph. The note was in a
MOST HEARTLESS
KILLER EVER!
This story of murder nearly
verges on the unbelievable! Not
4 only was the killer’s method
cruel almost beyond belief. He
inflicted it on those who should
| have been nearest and dearest
to him. To see exactly what hap-
pened and how, we suggest you
_ read this story.
FERED ori
© room with her.
“* ‘In the shadows, a dark figure moved
"silently. It approached the girl. For a
_ moment the figure hesitated, a blunt
5 hand.:
Mins! The man raised his arm. Sud-
denly, viciously he struck, crashing his
weapon against the side of the girl’s
ya blow, then silence,, : aR
od
3 onosey, policet
HE moonlight filtered through
_ the bedroom window upon the |
beautiful, young girl lying on |
~ the bed. She slept quietly, un-.
ware ‘that danger was close at hand —
... that there was someone. else i in the —
weapon clutched in the fingers ¢ of one
The ick stirred’ restlessly in Sher
~ head. There was the dull bud. of the ‘ oe
He moved more swiftly now, the need
for caution gone. Quick steps carried
him to another bedroom where a mother
‘A and daughter slept peacefully. A can of
kerosene was in his hands. With a
gurgling sound the inflammable liquid —
saturated the sleeping forms.
A swiftly struck~-match. Flaring
flames. The killer stood in the doorway,
listening for a moment, as the women
awoke screaming. Then, deliberately, he
turned away, closed, and locked the
~ door...
More kerosene in ‘he room of the un-
conscious girl, Another match but some
unexplainable impulse stayed his hand.
Cursing, he raced to a window. Kick- © _
- ing out the pane, the killer: leaped -
- through the window and fled..
‘New Year’s morning, yeotary Ast,
- 1937. An officer was alone in the Cham-
'» bersburg sub-station of the Pennsyl-
~ vania State Police Tt was 2:30 a.m., a
clear moonlight night. The New Year, —
- born amidst shrieking whistles and
clanging bells, was now oddly quiet.
Only the low, monotonous humming of
the electric clock on the wall broke the
silence. : ae,
pihe ae rang, reali’ the © a
continued on page 46) ©
He'd never expected to see her alive ¢ again— a
now he must face both her and the probing, _ |
by William Cluet
ee RN RE ee ee
| HAWK, Ralph E., white, 20, electrocuted Pennsylvania (Franklin Co.) on 3-28-1938,
Chambersburg, Pa.
“| TOUCHED
A MATCH
TO HER,
AND
OCKED HER
DOOR!”
=
GRETHER, Cyarles, white, hanged S,roudsburg,
MINOR v. MINOR, Appellant. 208
1902.] Opinion of Court below—Opinion of the Court.
To this paragraph Mrs. Minor made answer that she ad-
mitted it.
The agreement of sale was made September, 1883, before
the decree annulling the trust in August, 1885, although the
bill was filed after the date of that. decree, and the decree
annulling the trust was not before the court.
CONCLUSION OF LAW.
From the foregoing facts found it seems clear that the
" plaintiff has failed to prove any of the material allegations in
the bill, such as would entitle it to review the decree of the
court made in August, 1885. The bill must, therefore, be dis-
missed. The bill is dismissed at the costs of the plaintiff.
Error assigned was the decree of the court dismissing the
bill of review.
Denna C. Ogden, with him George W. Flowers, for appellant.
Harry L. Goehring, with him Edward B. Goehring, for ap-
pellee.
PER CurtAm, November 11, 1902:
The decree is affirmed on the findings and opinion of the
court below.
Commonwealth v. Grether, Appellant.
Criminal law—Murder—Felony—Arrest by citizen without warrant.
Where a citizen in fresh pursuit of a person who has committed a fel-
ony, attempts to arrest the malefactor without a warrant, and the latter
deliberately and intentionally shoots and kills him, the malefactor is guilty
of murder in the first degree.
If u prisoner, in resisting arrest, intentionally discharges a revolver at
his custodian, he intends to do either great bodily harm, or to kill, that
he may escape, and, in either case, malice is to be presumed, and it is
murder, not manslaughter.
Criminal law—Murder—Evidence—Exhumation of body.
It is no ground for setting aside a conviction of murder of the first de-
gree that the district attorney, and not the coroner, exhumed the body of
err ESE
~tss oS
8
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SBURG, PA., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1f
(NO.CHANCES TO BE TAKEN
Constable Kinney Engaged By
; _ Sheriff to Guard Prisoner,
Ph a woe:
| Detective Johnson Gets Part of Reward and £E1-
' penses Incurred In Capture—Telis of Grether’s
Criminal Record-—Slick and Crafty to the Highest
~ Degree, aie at
Constable ‘Tom Kinney, of “East
j Stroudsburg, has) been éengawed. by
©, Sheriff Fisher to Watch the Grether cell
until the trial has finished and the sen-
tence of the Court. whatever ic may
e, Carried out. rad “
“Grether has entirel recovered tis
> fomposure and says he will be a rodel
a
‘prisoner.
“I aint going to make You no trou-
ible," maid Grether ta the sheriff.
ei
Aa
nae
“Youll find ll do just what vou
WANE, Bern gteeren 2 ins
Sheriff Fisher is going to take ny
chances, however. Grether’s food wilf
be handed him through the little w ieket
jin his cel! door and no one will be ul-
lowed to see the prisoner unless an
Officer is at hand.
After placing Grether in jail on
Thursday afternoon, detective John-
Son went to the office of the County
;Commussionera and claimed the re-
200 affered for Grether’s vap-
;ture, The officer presented a bill of ex-
penses incurred. Er
ibeen fully identified, only a part of the
«reward and expenses were paid. the
oft
cf
‘dist.ct attorney Vouching for Mr.
Johnson, a es ee. pF
! A Times reporter had a long inter-
‘View with the Easton detective con-.
cerning Grether and his “pals.”
“There are five of them in the gang.”
said Mr. Johnson, “three of them yet!
to be captured and I'm going to get
is
eH them. Here are just a few of the.
“~ gang's operations, Grether being the
_ leader and Blaekey his lieutenant:
ieee
Lm,
f
“At New Village, near the Edison
Cement plant, a month ago, they en-
tered an Italian's shanty: at 11 o'clock
‘in the morning, bound and. gagged the
women, Becured about $175 In gold, pa-
pers, etc., five or six eilver watches and -
i@ half dozen razors.
. “About the same time tn the morning
|
jot the day following three men entered
the home of a lone woman, near Plain- i
field, N. J., bound and gagged her and i
secured about $150 in gold. The thira
person, this time, was a tall, slim
young man with a smooth face. °*
“At Washington, Ni J.. a few days
Jlater, they entered a Chinese laundry
ishanty, near Bloomsbury,-N. Juccowhere |
,
.
Chinaman and took about $60.
Chinaman struggled when the
ves tried to tle him and screamed
inurder, causing them.to fee.
“The next robbery waa at an Italian
5 tra my, other Foods and about 390 In money.
i. 'From a private house, near Pitters-
iville, Lehigh county, they secured a
Valuable watch, which they disposal of :
‘in Phillipsburg and whieh wae after-—
ei Warda recurvered by Simons ana Fial-
eiley, 7: ee a SEE nee xt
“Davis Leyen'a general store. at
Hampton. Junction, Nod. was the next
e
As Grether had, at ‘the time, not.
.perkon, this time, war..a Shim
YOUN man with a smeoth face: _
“At Wuashingeton, N, J.. a few davs.
later, they entered a Chinesé laundry
ut about 11 o’clack at night, assautred
theocthinaman. and -teok- sheut’ $6
. The Chinaman Struggied when the
2 tifewes tried to tie him and Sereamenl
murder, causivg them to flee,
, The next fobbers was at an Irtalind
“shanty, nearp Bloomsbury, N. wk. where
i they stole txlo telescopes, same . Inthe
“other goods ana about $8) in money
~ oRrom a private Rouse, near Rairters-
Ville. Lehten POUTIEY, thes secured
Valuable watch, whick they disposeai ar
in) Phillipsburg end 1a hithwas ar
\ Wards recovered by Suttams and tia)
ii Tey,
ROM Tiis” Leaven's generat
Na :
upon Bejyg >
ASRaUlted omni hers
Sa badiy that they fetgeout hy
Portlarst ¢x-
i ; h haul Ata heuse
where man was supposed 4 pase 4
tarzée sum of money.) He had deposit.
ed the moner-in bank the day beforn,
J however. and the tobbers were ‘gg en
j Faged they tore the Marr's hank bask
FO piewes.. The “robbery -fin’ “Menrne
COUNTY Was next cammit ~ and then
followed the murder. ‘ ee
rebbing of
in Monroe TMUIY ang ~@
(in Bloomebery, X. 3 _ohesittae ghe
holding up of a treasurer of the Lehigh
» Manley. Traction- Company -Phese st
‘schemes failed as the shooting at Mar-
Sshall's Creek made Grether and
Blackey skip quick. gl ‘
“There is not a eraftier, criminal ia
jJafl than ‘Easton Harry. the alias of
Grether. He ts as slick as they make,
em. Tn order ta Fain sympathy. while
in the Easton jail a year aro. he eat
,*0ap and reduced himscif to a living
'skeleton. Grether also Played ths
‘crazy dodge’ once and performed same’
| tricks that were filthy beyond extreme.
; The Monroe county offictals cannot he |
too careful of him.” - cee
Johnson had a two hour talk with:
Grether in the jail on Thursday after |
jnoon. The officer would not tell what:
“the prisoner said. «— Audi.) pera
| A brother, Lewis, of Grether,
caped from the Easton jal once.
fis now “doine time’ in. Trenton jail.
afi but his ‘Rentenee expires in a tew
i weeks.
ell woul SET atte
gem
PRA RE eg
¥
THE PITTSBURG
ee RACE EEE LEE LT NE IR
>. - jen
DISPATCH. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 190L
mie 3
COMMISSIONERS MEET =|
State Association Chooses Center |
Mae for President.
. BELLEFONTE, Sept. 24—(SpectalJ— |
County commisstoners from all over the
Bate were present at the opening of the
| annual convention of the Btate Associa-
thon here to-day. President FF. J. Lott
of Busquehanna called the vention to
D order. The election of officers for the
ensuing year resulted:
President. J. Calvin Meyer. Center
‘> | eounty; Vice Prestdents, Samuel 8. Pat-
terson, Fayette: Jacob Henderson, Lan-
caster, Secretaries, O. R. Brownfield.
Fayette, with A. M. Brumgard. D. K.
Graber, W. D. Devine and W. N. Hostler,
eg Treasurer, R. F. Hopwood,
ette. With the opening of the after-
pooh session the address of welrome
was delivered by Senator W. C. Heinle.
and the response by A. C. White of Jef-
ferson county.
SEARCH FOR MURDERERS
Menree County Officers Hunting for
Pajr of Desperadeoes. .
EASTON, Sept. %—The Monroe county
authorities are after two men who
thi morning killed Adam Strunk at
Eldenberger's mill, a short distance above
the Delaware Water Gap.
The men wanted are believed to be
Charles Grether of Easton and “Long
Island Blackey,”’ a pair of desperate,
Gangerous fellows, who are wanted for
attempting to rob a store at Hampton
Junction, N. J., last Thursday morning
i
euerrTra
-
when the proprietor of the place, his
wife and his daughter were badly beaten
by the thieves.
PREPARING FOR REPAIR
Bethichem Steel Company to r
=atah Material for Brookliya Brid#e.
}
f
BSFeBTERR A
Ld
”
"NEWS OF THREE STATES —
A
| returned.
j and arguments have no eficct
flames extinguished. When an orter was i
given to work poly % miners out of we!
Nearly all those who refused |
to resume say the mine Js hostooed,
Over 1s
minera and thetr familice left town jase
night. The mine ts pronounced perfertiy
safe by mine experts.
Wire Workers Strike.
AKRON. ©. Sept —[Bpecta! J--The
electrical wire workers of this city. in
and Peoples Telephone
the Northern Ohio Traction Company
atruck to-day. Bome time ago they made’
not been granted. About 100 men are af-
fected.
Trying the Moser Claims.
POTTBVILLE. Sept. 4—The trial of
the case of two hundred of more heirs
of the Moser estate against the Lehigh
day before Judge Becnte!. The suit is
| brought to recover valuable lands tn por-
session of the defendant company In
‘Yamaqua and the Panther Creek valley.
valued at many militon dollars.
ee ee
STATE TO HAVE BLILDING
Structure Cidetinds O8.480 to Be Batit
at Charleston Exposition.
HARRISRURG, Sept. 4. —The Pennsy!-
vania Commission to the Charleston Ex-
Pe TERY I
position has determined to erect & bulld-
not to exceed $25,000.
The building will be of the Spanish styie
of architecture, according to the plans
and specifications prepared by Philip H
Johnston, a Philadelphia architect. and
will be erected by a Charleston builder,
to be selected by the Legislative Com-
mittee of the Commission.
BACK WAS BROKEN
eluding the linemen of the Central Untor ,
Companica and |
a demand for shorter hours and thie has |
Coal & Navigation Company began to- |
ing on the Exposition grounds at @ cost :
me
Ne
i“ hae ed
Weather— Fair
JOSEP!
|
- Fromthe most reliablein-
‘formation the Sun crossed |
the Equator last Monday’
on schedule time. |
This means that Autumn |
‘has setin. To the casual -
|observer this may not be
| apparent, but the cool
‘evenings and chilly morn-
‘ings give timely warning '
that Summer is on the
wane and to prepare for.
, Winter's chilly blasts. |
Over 30 years’ experi-
jence has taught us that |
September first must see_
‘all Fall goods instock, and
‘experience has taught or
‘should teach you that early”
choice is the most desirable.
| Our special offering for this:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
week js an incomparable line |
HR eG eo ame RG a
He $ "a
AUTUMN
ILLINERY OPE!
DAYS:
To-Day,
Thursday,
Friday,
Saturd
An Exhibition of Stylist
Executed
HATS,
TOQUES.
AND
|
LA eanye
4
‘ud HDA
Bits nm aes Ts
Vd ‘singspnodie pesuey feqgtTum ‘fseTteuy
e/e
*€06T/1
T8e—he esti.
Q. made by a
—but the fact
deeper than
‘am indicated
mind that
t either was
& was carry~
rt made im-
for compari-
ound,
scene with
7@ was con-
in_ had
the adjoin-
'S revealed
ending
d they told
ot seen
ous nature
kK any pos-
not
the
or
n, Taggert™ °
‘elves, _He
nesty and
he could
ond ‘and *
°y Street,
he actual
the im--.
ohrmann’
ayout of
Derties.
est al<
1 Ork. ©
about...
n the .'
‘Mann
een it _
hood,
f the
* thing possible would be
several residents and talking with every-
one he met, on the chance that he might
find someone who could supply a logical
lead, Taggert came upon. John Hanlon,
a friend and neighbor of the Mohrmanns,
whose house was on Fifth Street just
south of the alley. 2 ;
He told the detective that he had been
awakened about three o’clock Monday
morning by a strange shuffling sound in
the alley alongside his house. Curious,
he got.up and, without making a light,
looked out of the window of his bedroom.
He said he saw a tall man carrying a
somewhat shapeless bundle which, judg-
ing from the stranger’s gait, was quite
heavy. Hanlon, watching him until he
turned north on Fifth Street, caught a
glimpse of a pointed beard or goatee in
‘the moonlight before the tall man with
his ‘mysterious burden disappeared in
the darkness,, . : .
“— TAGGERT MADE more notes in his
. black book, paced the distance from
the Mohrmann home to the pond where
Mary’s body was found, estimated that it -
was approximately 1,000 feet, and, keep- |
ing a sharp lookout for a bearded man
who might bea possible. suspect, re-
turned to the Orkney Street neighbor- .
hood. He found the streets rapidly filling
withan angry crowd of men, women and —
teen-age boys and girls who, having —
heard details of the brutal crime, were
‘discussing it in a manner that promised
no good for the killer, if they could lay
their--hands on him. So great was the
feeling aroused among residents of the
vity that officials considered the advis-'
- ability ‘of’ dispersing the crowds .but
wisely decided that it might be better to
*~ permit them the safety-valve’of talk to
--yelieve their outraged feelings.
‘Mayor McMichael called on Mrs,
Mohrmann that afternoon; expressed his’
sympathy, and “assured her that every-
done to appre-
hend the slayer. :
Immediately: upon his return to his
office in City Hall he issued the following
proclamation:
MARY MOHRMANN’S
HOME
. Thousand Dollars for such information as will
’.. As scores of detectives and
ET ee
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Whereas, Mary Mohrmann has been’ mur-
dered under circumstances of fiendish atroci
bd ae unknown, now,- therefore
‘orton McMichael, Mayor of the Cii
adelphia, do hereby offer a reward of One
lead to the detection and _ conviction of the
perpetrator of this unparalleled crimé. ;
“ ” In‘addition to the Mayor’s reward, Dis-
trict Attorney William B. Mann posted
an-offer of $500 for information leading
to the arrest of the slayer.-
. While the excitement of the angry.
crowds increased by the~hour, . police
’
_ made several arrests, taking care to keep -
the fact from the populace lest-mob_ac-
tion get.completely out: of control.” It
was fortunate that they did, for careful
‘investigation proved the suspects to be
entirely innocent. . Sie chy
uniformed
policemen worked on the-case, Taggert,
playing a lone hand ‘so far as his fellow
officers were concerned, kept tirelessly
‘on the job. He seemed to be here, there,
everywhere, asking questions, occasion-
‘ally making a notation in his black book,
The Mohrmann home was the
second house from right of picture
nodding gravely as he listened to some-
one who thought he might have a clue.
On Tuesday, the day after the body
was discovered, he found a young woman,
Caroline Dinglocker, who was sure she
-had seen Mary Mohrmann with a strange
man on Sunday evening. . The girl lived
in the vicinity, said she knew Mary well
and ‘was positive that she could not be
mistaken in her identity. Miss Ding-
locker told: Taggert that she came face to
face with the Mohrmann girl, walking
beside a man who had a small pointed
beard or goatee, on Orkney Street near
Susquehanna Avenue, only a short dis-
. tance from Mary’s house. :
With this clue, the detective contacted
John Hanlon at once. When he heard
the description Miss Dinglocker had
given, Hanlon said he was convinced that
the stranger was the same bearded man
he had seen carrying a bundle through
the alley several hours later. :
After receiving this confirmation, au-
Of Phil
again, alone:'this time,’ at Howard and. — 7
‘Dauphin Streets, ‘and, still later, came. -.- —
~ a,
thorities immediately sent.out.adescripe ©. 1
tion of the-bearded man to police de- -.:°.
partments in all-parts of the country and.“ :"- "°
Canada. Every citizen of Philadelphia~ «©. *-
- was asked to codpérate with officials and
‘keep a sharp: lookout: for..the suspect.
Most of them, of course, needed no urg-
ing, for their interest had been spurred -
‘by the reward offer as ‘well’as by the
natural resentment which they. felt’
against the perpetrator of the crime. _
: While the search was at its height, ;
the man_with the pointed beard entered,
the picture again.’ This time Miss Emma -—-.’~
Stringer reported to-Taggert that she had tM Saad
seen- the mysterious. stranger walking ie
arm-in-arm with —Mary Mohrmann .at =
Fifth and York Streets; four blocks from—-- . -
the girl’s home, on the fatal. Sunday |.
night. Later that evening she saw him~
upon him at‘ Water and Callowhill —._-
Streets, near the Delaware River, almost ~~
three miles from the intersection of
Orkney and Diamond Streets. .
From still another source, Taggert ob-
tained further reports. Mrs. Louise Rice
told him that she saw Mary with the
bearded man on Reese Street, north of
Susquehanna Avenue, on Sunday night.
She had a good look at his face, she said, i
and it was so sinister that it reminded |
her of the devil, referring, of course, to
the pointed beard which is always pic-
tured as one of Satan’s distinguishing .
marks. The bearded man had now been
reported by four witnesses. |
Yet the authorities seemed to get no- ;
where, despite their long hours of. work.
Then the entire city was cheered by the «
announcement that the elusive bearded
man had been taken into custody. Not
only was the suspected slayer safe in
jail, but he had confessed. ' }
When he heard the news, Taggert
hastened to call on John Hanlon, Miss |
Cer.
’ Dinglocker and Miss Stringer and took |
them to the uptown station where the’
prisoner was held. He tried to locate
Mrs. Rice, too, but learned that she al-
ready had started uptown. ~
Arriving, the’ detective and his wit-
nesses had to force their way through
the crowd that, hearing the news, had
gathered. The little party heard cries
for vengeance, shouts that the killer be
hanged. Once inside, they could still
hear the noise of the throng. The con-
fessed killer could hear them, too, as he
cringed, terrified, in his cell.
Hanlon and the two young women
looked at the prisoner carefully, study-
ing his size and features particularly.
He was tall, thin, and had a pointed
beard, just as each of them had described
the mystery man to Taggert. And now,
-as they observed him in the cell, they
said they were convinced.that he was
the same man, the man they had seen
the night Mary Mohrmann was slain.
Hearing that important witnesses had
identified the prisoner, which seemed to
confirm his confessed implication in the
crime, the mob cried anew for vengeance.,
Men carrying a heavy telegraph pole i
shouldered their way through the crowd
and, approaching the barred door of the
station house, prepared to go into action T
with the primitive: battering ram. 8.
Others, carrying coils of stout rope,
joined them. | (Continued on page 67)
‘
.
_ a priest.
mother went back to her home to wait
and pray for the girl’s safe return.
Some six hours later, shortly after
dawn next morning, Caroline Landman,
twelve-year-old daughter of Yost Land-
man, a milk dealer, went on an errand
for her father. Passing a brickyard pond
on Sixth Street, below Susquehanna
Avenue, she noticed a bundle half sub-
merged at the water’s edge. Prompted by
a child’s natural curiosity, she inves-
tigated. At first, as she gingerly ap-
proached, the object seemed to be a
cloth-wrapped package, but closer in-
spection showed that it was more than
~ that.
It was the body of a girl.
Caroline screamed in terror, and her
cries soon brought a crowd running to
the spot. One of the first to arrive was
the policeman on the.beat. He took a
quick look at the body and, from the
appearance of the hair and clothing,
knew it to be that of the missing Mary
Mohrmann. °
“Sure, and she was reported missin’
only last night,” he told a man who
stood beside him,- gazing down at the
crumpled figure. “She’s the Mohrmann
girl who lived with her mother-only two: ;
blocks over there on Orkney Street.”
He hesitated, thought a’ moment, then —
turned back to the man. “I’m askin’ you
to take word to the stationhouse,” he
said, “while | I say here and keep . this
crowd back. :
find a starting point in his investigation. —
She was confident that Mary would not
have gone willingly with any boy or
man.
Looking ‘about the house in search of
clues, Taggert noted no sign of a strug-
gle, no indication that any untoward in-
cident had taken place there. In fact,
he was impressed by the complete order-
liness of the rooms.
Assuring Mrs.. Mohrmann that he
would keep in close touch with her, and
that the Police Department would do-
everything in its power to bring her
daughter’s slayer to justice, Detective
Taggert left the house and mingled with
the crowd that had gathered in Orkney
Street as soon as the news got about.
Within a. tats minutes, detectives. ar--— 4
rived. After examining the scene care- ..
fully, they lifted the body from.the shal-.
low water and placed it on dry ground...
It was evident to the officers, from their :
first hasty inspection, that the girl had-
been dead several hours,:. And, judging
from the marks of -powerful fingers on *
her throat, they were convinced that she. ¥
had died. before her body was tossed into
_ the pond. ’ e.
’ Subsequent. findings at the , auispay” :
‘confirmed this first theory. It also was.
revealed. that the girl had. been the vic-_ ~
tim of.a criminal attack. ¥:
~ Mrs. Mohrmann, tired from her night-
long vigil, fainted when kindly neigh-- «
ors told her, as gently as possible, of
'Mary’s fate. They carried her to her
“bed and“some.of them worked to revive.
her while others summoned a doctor and.
It.-was while the latter was’
praying that a heavy-set man, clad in
- somber black, quietly entered the room.
He waited silently until the prayer
was finished, then introduced himself as
Detective Joshua Taggert of the Phila-
‘delphia Police Department. -His voice
courteous but firm, he asked the others
to step outside and, when only Mrs.
Mohrmann and the priest were left, he
drew up a chair, laid his black derby
carefully on the floor, and expressed his
sympathy to the bereaved woman. Then,
- drawing a small leather-covered note-.
book from an inside pocket, he began
to ask questions.
Mrs. Mohrmann could give him little
information. She told ‘the detective that
when she left the house a few minutes
before seven to attend Vespers, her
‘ daughter was seated in the living-room
with a book. Mary was in her usual
happy, carefree spirits, and her mother
had no suspicions and could offer no sug-.
gestions: that would help the detective
‘sharply’ defined than the others.
+ When he Moighiby was killed, Mrs.
Mohrmann_ was attending this church -
‘As he walked thoughtfully down the
street, his black derby pulled well down:
over his eyes, he was turning over in his:
mind the few known facts in the case.
One of the first things he hoped to do
was to discover where the crime was.
committed. As the girl’s body was found
such a short distance from her home, it
was logical to assume that the actual.
murder scene was somewhere in the im-
mediate neighborhood—but to find ex-
actly where this was presented a difficult
-problem,:./ ‘+. f
He immediately made his way to the
brickyard pond where, only a little while
‘before, the body had been found. Walk-
ing slowly along the water’s edge he ex-
amined every inch of the terrain. As
might be expected, the bank on the Sixth
Street side of the pool was trampled into
a maze of footprints where the crowd
had stood, but the detective was able to.
distinguish .one. pair of prints more .;
They °-
were not particularly large—he esti-
mated that they had been made by a
man’s number eight shoes—but the fact
that they .were so much deeper than
other prints in the soft loam indicated
to the investigator’s trained mind that
the man who;made them either was
unusually heavy, or that he was carry-
ing a heavy burden. Taggert made im-
pressions of the footprints for compari-
son ‘in case suspects were found.
After going over the entire scene with |
the utmost care, the detective was con-
vinced that Mary ;Mohrmann_had not
been killed at the pond or in the adjoin-
ing brickyard. Questioning revealed
that, workmen~had been. attending the
kilns all through the night, and they told
the’ officer that they had not seen or
heard anything of a suspicious nature ©
in the vicinity, Not to overlook any pos-.
sible angles in the investigation, Taggert™
checked on the workmen themselves: He
found them to be men of honesty and
reliability. :
When he was satisfied, that he eoudel ;
learn nothing more at the pond ‘and
brickyard, he returned to Orkney. Street,
more than ever convinced that.the actual
crime scene was ‘somewhere in ‘the im- -
mediate environs of the © Mohrmann
home. +
In order to have the physical layout of
the neighborhood’ before him, Taggert .
made a crude but fairly accurate sketch --
’ of the streets, alleys, houses-‘and other.
landmarks of the. section. Orkney. Street,
he noted on his diagram, ran north and ows,
south, just east of Fifth Street, .a heayily
traveled thoroughfare, and parallel to it. :
’ Across them, east and west, ran. Diamond“ .
Street on the south sidé’of which there * —
were several houses, These properties.
extended south’ ‘to. an east-and-west al- .--* »
ley which also connected Fifth and’Ork- © ..
ney Streets. South of the alley. and about.” --
175 feet from Diamond Street, on the -
west side of Orkney, was the, Mohrmann
home. Only one hae stood between x.
and the alley. .
‘As he checked over the neighborhood,
noting on Cer: chart the names. of the
BRICKYARD POND
WHERE BODY
' WAS FOUND
ROUTE OF
BEARDED MAN
AS DESCRIBED
BY HANLON
JOHN FRANCIS
HANLON'S HOME
yeral residents
poe he met, on t
find someone W
lead, Taggert ©
a friend and nei
whose house ¥
south of the alle
He told the ¢
awakened abo
morning by 4
the alley alon:
he got up and
looked out of t
He said he S'
somewhat she
jng from ‘ne
.the moonlig}
his : -mysteri’
the darknes
m TAGGEF
plack bo
the ‘Mohrm
Mary’ s pod:
was appro:
ing a shar)
who mig
turned to
hood. He
with an 2!
teen-age
heard de
-discussin
no good
‘their ‘ha’
feeling ®
‘city tha.
“+. gbility |
wisely ¢
* permit '
-. relieve
May‘
Mohrm
sympa
thing !
hend 1
Imn
office
procle
strong
trators
them
great- —
‘gently
ressed
s well
2ctive-
giving
“e pre-
ait will
varity,
n most
vadfast
ito ex- .
in the
:d Na-
tion of
vy and
ve on
estab-
posals
ude by
itative..
otured
escap=
cbreak
3 con-
‘ussels
of the
aes of
have
ration.
le we
South
ianent
ission
7
(Continued from page 9)
Calls were sent out for reenforcements
as the officers inside the station prepared
to defend their captive who, to judge from
his appearance, already was half dead from
fear. As police riot squads headed for the
scene, fire engines were rolled into place
and firemen, prepared to play powerful
streams of water on the crowd. But no
such drastic action was necessary. When it
seemed that the mob could not be re-
strained. another minute, two blue-uni-
formed. men forced their way through the
packed street to the entrance. Once inside,
they asked to see the prisoner. They took
one look and burst out laughing.
“We're guards at the House of Correc-
tion,” one of them said. “This fellow was
released only yesterday, after having been
locked up for six months. He’s a common
panhandler, and a half-wit, at that. He
couldn’t possibly have killed this girl. He’ll
confess anything for a shot of liquor.”
@ IT WAS true. And the officers who had
sighed with relief when they thought they
had solved the Mohrmann mystery, . were
right back where they started. Quickly the
news was carried to the crowd in the street
and it gradually dispersed. The men with
the telegraph pole and the ropes, suddenly
realizing that they had come close to making
a tragic mistake, faded sheepishly from the.
scene. There was no more talk of lynching.
Days passed into weeks, weeks became
months, and still there was no further clue
in the case. Gradually the public discus-
sion of the crime died out as people turned
to other things. Even the newspapers, which
had made quite an issue of the affair, no
longer mentioned it in their columns, But
there was one man in Philadelphia who did
not’ forget. He was Detective Taggert.
Presently to his aid came City Magistrate
William Hines, whose court was at Fifth
and Berks Streets, a few blocks south of the
Mohrmann home. He had known the widow
and her daughter for years, respected them,
and had been deeply shocked by the crime.
Noting that interest in the case seemed to
be ebbing as the months passed, he deter-
mined to do something to keep the inves-
tigation alive and, getting in touch with
Taggert and John Hanlon, he proposed that
they form a committee of three and pledge
themselves to work on the mystery until
it was solved.
_ Discussing their project, they agreed upon
a course of action. Taggert was to continue
with his regular police work, devoting as
much time as possible to the Mohrmann
case. Hines, who had considerable means,
was to visit various. penal and other insti-
tutions throughout the East on. the chance
that the.man they sought might now be an
inmate of some prison or insane asylum.
Hanlon, who was regularly employed, was
to devote all the time he could spare from
his duties to keep watch in the vicinity of
his home and the brickyard pond on Sus-
quehanna Avenue. It was possible, they
reasoned, that the murderer, as other killers
had been known to do, might return to the
sene of his crime, perhaps because of re-
— curiosity, or some strange mental
t,
As.the months passed, Detective Taggert
found that he could spend very little time
on the Mohrmann case because of the press
of other work. There was no scarcity of
crime and his superiors were constantly
.
assigning him to new investigations,: Han-
lon, while there were no such demands on
his time, gradually lost interest in the proj-
ect after many days and nights ot fruitless
watching.
But, regardless of what ‘happened to his
associates, Judge Hines kept faithfully on
the job. The more he thought about the
mystery, the more firmly resolved he was
to solve it. Whenever he visited a jail, peni-
tentiary or asylum, which was often, he
made it a point to consult their records, to
ask if they had received an inmate who an-
swered the description of the man: wanted
in the Mohrmann murder. And,.too, he al-
ways took occasion to look over the prison-
ers himself. So persistent was he ini his
search that wardens and superintendents
of the institutions he visited came to regard
him as a man with an obsession. Actually,
they were not far wrong, for he literally
lived and ate and slept the case, .
So the case dragged on, unsolved, month
after month without results — until . three
long years had passed.
Then one day Judge Hines walked into
Moyamensing Prison, the grim old jail in
the southern part of Philadelphia. He
greeted Superintendent William B. Perkins
pleasantly, handed him a cigar... °
“There’s been no tall man with a pointed
beard here to date, Judge, but look around
for yourself,” Perkins told him, gentting.
“And thanks for the smoke.”
Wandering about the prison, . Hines
chanced to glance through a glass partition
at the end of one of the building’s long
wings. Startled at something he saw, he
stood motionless for a moment, then, to
avoid being observed, drew back into the
gloom of the corridor. After a few minutes,
he withdrew quietly and sought the Super-
intendent to whom he related his suspicions.
“Well, he has no goatee and probably
never had one,” Perkins reminded him.
“But we'll have a look at the book,"
Together they went to the office and
consulted the records. The prisoner who
had: attracted Hines’ attention’ the” files
disclosed, was Charles E. .Harris. : He -had
been admitted only three weeks before.and
was serving a five-year sentence for. .at-
tempting to attack a young woman in ‘the
yard of the Tabernacle Chureb « on Eleventh
Street. : 4h fsoey
| ADMONISHING THE Sipe tian
not to’ mention the incident’ to anyone,
Hines, promising to return within an hour,
hastened to Police Headquarters where he
contacted Taggert. They talked in low tones
for a few moments, then hurried to the
prison. The magistrate conducted Perkins
and the detective to the spot from which
he had first seen Harris, and they watched
the prisoner for some time without being
observed by him.
Back in the Superintendent’s office, the
three men sat silently for several moments,
deep in thought.
“It will be a hard nut to crack,” Perkins
observed finally, “but we’ll do our. best.”
Then, their voices subdued as if they feared.
someone might overhear them, they . dis-
cussed the situation. Presently the prison
head excused himself and withdrew. He
returned in a few minutes with a man in
the regulation garb of a prisioner...,.,.
“This is Michael Dunn, gentlemen,” he
said, “I have asked him to come in.”,,, ..
Hines and Taggert, remaining; silent,
looked sharply at Dunn. He was of middle
age and had a frank, open countenance that
seemed strangely out of place in the Prison
atmosphere.
“Sit down, Michael, ” the Superintendent
said kindly. “I have brought you here on
an important matter. It may mean a great
deal to you—freedom, money;;.,in; . your
pocket, a new life. Itisa matter that.must
not be discussed, except with us,. And. I
want you to remember that no one in the
ee, AP cin treet eee
De at a iain nid bs . mA © ~
world, except these two gentlemen and me,
know that you are in this room.” He paused
to emphasize the significance of his words.
“You know Charles Harris out there?”
he continued. Dunn nodded. “Well, we sus-
pect him of a crime in addition to the one
that sent him here—a very serious crime.
We want a confession from him, and some-
thing tells me that you are the one to get
it—that is, of course, if he is guilty. I am
not telling you any more. I will not tell
you what the crime was, where or when
it happened, so that if you are called later
to appear in court as a witness it cannot
be said that you were prompted.
“I will arrange for you to be Harris’ cell-
mate. Cultivate his friendship and confi-
dence, and try to get a confession from him,
even if it takes you until the very last day
of your stay here. This is a splendid oppor-
tunity for you, to perform:a great service
for the State and to give yourself a new
start in life. Do you think you can do this
for me, Michael?”. .
Dunn was quick to reply. “I will do my
best, sir,” he promised. -:
M WHEN THE convict had gone, Perkins
. struck a match, touched it to a cigar, and
turned to the others. “Gentlemen,” he said
confidently, “I feel we are going to get re-
sults—if you are on the right track. This
man Dunn is a sharp one. He’s an English-
man, in here for burglary, and has three
more years to go. I have watched him, per-
haps attracted by the apparent honesty in
his face, and I don’t think he’s all bad. How-
ever, we'll wait and see how things turn
out. You may be sure that I’ll keep you
posted on developments, and I’ll be ex-
pecting you to call around as often as you
can. No one will know what we're about,
and that’s certain.” «
As the prison official had planned, Dunn
and Harris became cellmates. The English-
man played his part well. He feigned spells
of deep melancholy, rested his head on his
hands for long periods, gazed intently at
the floor for hours without speaking, and
by these and other indications endeavored
to give the impression that he was a man
whose mind was sorely troubled by some
act in a checkered past.
As might be expected,’ Harris noticed
. these periods of depression and inquired
as to the cause, But Dunn’s only answer was
a convulsive shudder or an elaborately
vacant stare. Then, one night, there came
‘a startling climax.
The prison was asleep, only the heavy
breathing or the occasional snore of a
slumbering convict breaking the silence.
Even the guards dozed at their posts. Sud-
denly the stillness was shattered by a
scream, a weird, wild cry so piercing and
terrible that everyone in the place was in-
stantly awake. Keepers, running through
the corridors,: presently determined that
the unearthly sound had come from the cell
occupied by Dunn and Harris. They flashed
their lights inside and asked, in not too
pleasant tones, what the. trouble was.
Dunn, sitting on the edge of his bunk,
his. body shaking as. if in a chill, replied
somewhat sheepishly that he must have
been yelling in his sleep.
Cautioning him not to do it again and
muttering imprecations at being so rudely
disturbed, the guards returned to their
quarters and soon were dozing again.
When the prison once more was silent
and darkness had ‘settled around them..
Harris whispered to his cellmate: “Why did
you make all that.-noise? It even frightened
me.”
“Don’t ask me now,” Dunn replied in an
undertone. “Maybe I’ll tell you later on.”
But a week passed: before he consented
to explain his actions, and even then he did
it reluctantly. It was late one night after
lights were out and the two men were re-
laxing in their cell. Pressed for an explana-
= ° = a aes aed
ee 1 ee re
tion, the Englishman made quite a show of
it. Before he began talking, he listened care-
fully at the cell door, holding his ear close
to the wall. “You. know,” he whispered in
hollow tones that would have done credit
to a radio mystery actor, “walls sometimes
have ears.” Then, apparently satisfied that
no one was listening, he began his story.
“Harris, I know you are a friend of mine
and I can trust you,” he said, his voice so
low that his cellmate had to lean forward
to catch the words.. “What I’ve been worry-
ing about, and what made me make all
that noise the other night, ’isn’t that I’m
here—there are many places a great deal
worse—but that I’m afraid of something
else, something that may be fastened on
me.” He stopped for a moment, listened
cautiously at the door again, then turned
back to his companion and whispered,
“Come closer, Harris.”
Harris, all attention, drew closer.
“You know that I’m a burglar,” Dunn
went on, ‘and there’s no use trying to deny
it. But the thing that bothers me is a job
I was mixed up in some years ago in Liver-
pool. It’s now nine, no, ten years ago. I
‘ was robbing an old mansion when a woman
got in my way and began to scream. To
save myself—and I know you would have
done the same, Charlie—I grabbed her by
the throat. I must have pressed a little too
hard for the next day they found her dead.
Of course, the police said I strangled her,
and the Coroner agreed with them. They’ve
been looking for me ever since, and there’s
no way in the world I could hope to prove
that I didn’t intend to kill her. You can see
the fix I’m in if they ever catch up with
me.” na Wea
The Englishman paused and remained
silent for a time. Was’ Harris following, and
swallowing, the story? Dunn was convinced
he was. Again there was a long ‘pause with
no sound except their breathing.’ Dead
blackness enveloped them; the prison was
as silent as a grave. if tn
“You've heard.of Scotland Yard,” Dunn
resumed in a whisper, barely audible to the
man who sat opposite him. “It’s the head-
quarters of the London’ detectives, and
they’re a hard lot. They’re noted for stick-
ing to a case until it’s solved,'no matter
how long it may take. You may not know
it, but they don’t confine their activities to
England—they prowl all over the world
when they’re looking for a. man. Every time
a stranger comes ‘in here, and as you know
there have been a number of them recently,
I break into a cold sweat, fearing that he’s
from the Yard. If one of them should find
me here I’d be through. There’s nothing but
the rope waiting for me’ in England.”
Dunn let. that thought sink in for a mo-
ment, then, with timing that would have
done credit to an experienced actor, he went
on. .
“when I yelled out in my sleep the other
night, I was dreaming that I stood on the
gallows in Wormwood Scrubbs—that’s an
English prison—with a rope around my
neck. It was so real that it didn’t seem like
a dream at all. Can you blame me for
screeching like I did, Charlie?”
He hesitated only a moment. Then, his
emotions apparently getting away from him,
he uttered a low moan. The hand that
clutched at Harris’ arm in the darkness was
shaking violently. «
“Charlie, maybe you can help me—give
me some advice.” The Englishman’s voice
quavered and he clung desperately to his
cellmate. “I’m afraid they’re going to get
me! What shall I do?”
“Listen, Mike,” Harris said calmly in a-
guarded whisper, “it’s no good blowing
your top. Take it easy, fellow. You don’t
see me getting excited, and I have just as’
good a reason to, for I’m in the same boat.”
Dunn gripped his arm even more tightly.
“What do you mean?” he ‘whispered in-
credulously.’ = | o
Ne
“The Philadelphia cops are just as smart
as your Scotland Yard dicks,” Harris told
him. “But'I’m not afraid of them—I think
they’re alot. of chumps. Why? Because
they’ve been :running circles around me for
three years and instead of catching me all
they’ve done is bump into each other.” He
chuckled’ so’ audibly at the thought that
Dunn cautioned him, fearing that they
might be overheard.
- “Yes, sir,” :he continued, a boastful tone
creeping into his voice despite that fact
that he was speaking barely above a whis-
per, “if I hadn’t been fool enough to get
drunk and grab that girl in the churchyard,
I’d be walking the streets right now and no
one would be’ the wiser.
“J was drunk when I grabbed the other
girl, too,:Mike, the one I strangled three
years ago. Her mother had gone. to church
and my folks were away, SO I enticed her
to a place 'where we were alone. I didn’t
intend to kill her, but she started to make
a noise so I choked her. When I saw she
was dead, I carried her body in the dark
‘TO ALL STATE AND
POLICE OFFICIALS
The Line-Up Department is
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Send in photos and descriptions
of. badly wanted criminals.
- When we publish a picture in
TRUE DETECTIVE, 2,000,000
readers immediately become
your aides. So far one out of
_every five fugitives published
in the. Line-Up has been cap-
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‘to date by TRUE DETECTIVE
and its associate magazine,
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to an old brickyard pond and threw it in
the water.
. “That ‘was one night I used my head,
Mike. I disguised myself with a pointed
beard’ and ‘strolled around, managing to
walk by the side of some girl now and then.
It was great stuff, the way I threw the
police off the trail. They picked up all sorts
of stories from people who said they had
seen a tall man with a pointed beard with
the girl before she was killed—putting all
the stories together I must have been in
at least’a dozen places at the same time.
Some of them told of having seen me with
other girls that night, too—if I had been
half the places they mentioned, or had been
with half’ the girls they named, I would
have been a very busy man that night,
Mike. Some of the witnesses even spoke to
me about the tall man with the beard, and
I took it all in and tried to look wise. I got
a kick out of it.” :
Harris chuckled again at how smart he
had ‘been to throw the police off the trail.
“You know,” he added, “Josh Taggert’and
f af 9ho 6
old Judge Hines have been playing detec: ©
a
tive with this case ever since, and still they 9)
haven't tagged me, So, you see, you really 9}
have no cause: to worry about detectives «
from London when these chumps right here
2 town can’t find the man they’re looking |
‘or.’ ~e
Dunn sighed deeply. “You've made me
feel a lot better, Charlie,” he said, “My 4
nerves will be steadier tonight and Im”
sure I’ll get a good sleep.” 4
“Sure,” his cellmate agreed, “all you have —
to do is just take it easy.” :
But Dunn didn’t sleep. Instead, he lay
awake reviewing in his mind the details
of the story he had just heard. Harris, in >
contrast, slept soundly. :
As opportunities were available in the
next few days, the Englishman picked up
additional information about the murder of
Mary Mohrmann and, as rapidly as possible,
passed what he learned along to Super-
intendent Perkins. He, in turn, relayed it
to Taggert and Hines, who had been spend-
ing all their spare time at the prison in the
hope that the long-awaited break in the
case might be due. Checking every detail
of Harris’ story, as it came to them, with
the official record of known facts, the in-
vestigators found that they all dovetailed
- perfectly.
It was a gloomy day, some three weeks
after his exchange of confidences with his
cellmate, that Michael Dunn collapsed while
working in one of the prison shops. He was
removed quickly to the institution’s hos-
pital, apparently suffering from a heart
attack. The prison grapevine had it that he
was seriously ill, actually at the point of
death. But the grapevine was wrong. Mike
had never felt better in his life. Sol
Sitting in the Superintendent’s office sur-
rounded by District Attorney Furman
Sheppard of Philadelphia, Superintendent
Perkins, Magistrate Hines, Detective Tag-
gert and an official stenographer, he was
telling the story that Charlie Harris had
related to him. On and on he talked, going
into the most minute detail on what had
passed between the two of them during their
weeks as cellmates. With only an occasion-
al prompting question from one of the of-
ficials, he told it all. Not only had Dunn
proved himself to be an effective actor, by
the impressive and entirely imaginary story
of the crime that supposedly had haunted
him, but his report of what had gone on
between himself and his cellmate showed
him to be the possessor of an unusually
retentive memory.
It was dawn when the account ended,
Farmers’ wagons were rumbling along
Passyunk Avenue, past the prison, on their
way to the city markets, when the. story
had been reduced to writing and signed
and sworn to by Dunn.
Later that day the people of Philadelphia
were electrified by the news that the slayer
of Mary Mohrmann not only had been ar-
rested but that he had been indicted by
the grand jury. Instantly, as if a turch had
been applied to a pile of dry leaves, the mob
spirit flamed again, jist as it had done when
a suspect was taken into custody three years
before. Crowds thronged the streets de-
manding that the murderer be turned over
to them. But they soon learned that the
man they sought was safe behind the
stout walls of Moyamensing Prison where,
strangely enough, he had been found.
Seeking to learn something about the
prisoner who was charged with one of the
most brutal crimes in Philadelphia’s history,
the newspapers sent their best men to get
his background, to dig up anything that
might be of interest to their readers. They
were unsuccessful. Not a biographical note
could be turned up. The name wasn’t known
in the Orkney’ Street neighborhood, or
anywhere else, so far as the reporters could
learn.
But the biggest surprise of all, in’ this
‘Case th
surpris:
Magist:
thorou;
matic ¢
E. Har:
that th.
Francis
Mohrm:
vengear
. time, he
to brin;
! Gradi
tigation
“while v
: glimpse
-records
sociate i:
mittee |
attack o
. Similarit
to suspe
'. It sho:
point, H
lon’s wif
had dis:
«actually
under ar
attack, ]
without},
trouble |}
. tigators ;
- that her
The tr
_the crim
-dn the ¢
House Ri
George \
as he sta:
-of the U
days.
. M@ HANL'
came t,
to provid:
sel. The c
hired we
» Brewster
.come fre
» Pennsylv::
Early i:
. Startled tc
ness box.
“Do yo:
District 4
‘1 do,”
“What i.
“Charle
There -
: questions
they shov
. been pron
not know
John Han!
Frankly
the story
sion. Onc
torneys di
had serve:
: he had co
-But throu
Voice nev:
the lawye:
When H
he flatly ¢
He swore
mann. Sev
in an effo
But, when
ing the ey
of murder
Michael |
and othery
the State,
And on
four years
in 1866 w
John Fran
in historic
policemen
' throngs oj
against the
~ iY
—————
105™" YEAR
Weekly $1.00 a Year.
GETTYSBURG, PA., SATURDAY,
THE MURDERER CONFESSES
TAKEN OVER ROUTE OF CRIME
FOR VERIFICATION OF FACTS.
Some of the Unexplained Features of
the Case—A Special Court For A
Speedy Trial Should Be Held. .
Philip A. Hartman. murderer of
State Policeman Francis. A. Haley.
was placed in the Adams county jail
on last Friday evening shortly before
six o’clock. He had been taken over
the route of his desperate acts of the
preceding Tuesday. He was accom-
panied by Major Lynn G. Adams,
commander of the State Police. Cap-
tain Wilson Price, Chief of the Bu-
reau of Criminal Identification, Ser-
geant A. F. Dahlstrom, District At-
torney John P, Butt in one car, and
in a second machine, Detective Chas
H. Wilson. Captain Paul B. Stout and
Sergeant Merrifield.
The start of the trip was made at
Abbottstown. Cashier Stambaugh
could not identify the man, as his
face was masked. Hartman, adinit-
ted. however, he was the man.
_ The route Hartman took was th:
Lincoln Highway to Cross Keys.
There he turned on the Carlisle pike,
went through Hampton to the church
north of that town. He turned west-
ward on road through Heidlersburg.
Biglerville, Arendtsville, through the
Buchanan Valley to the Lincoln High-
way at Newman's. Then turned to-
ward Chambersburg and at Graeffen-
burg Inn he makes a statement about
intending to wound State Policeman
‘Haley in the shoulder, and being sor-
ry he had killed him.
From Graeffenburg
brought to the jail.
Part of the confession written hy
Hartman in the Reading police sta-
tion is as follows:
“T drove through Abbottstown at
1:30 Tuesday
to rob one more bank and quit. I
was desperate and needed money.
They also needed money at home,
“T put on a raincoat and left the
car standing around the corner. [
Inn he was
fought with myself for about an
hour. Then I went in the bank.
One man was on duty. I pushed
the gun at him and took all the
money I could put in my _ pocket.
Then I ran from the place. jumped in
the car and drove down the Lincoln
Highway.
“T went about two miles and then
turned off toward Piney Mountain
Inn. At that place I went back on
the Lincoln Highway again and be-
fore | had gone very far I saw a
State policeman following me.
“T saw he was catching up to me,
' w dein ‘ Treet thin
afternoon, I decided °
So much of the confession as has
been made public, does uot explain
or answer questions that ask them-
selves, for instance. his landlady at
Rochester says that Hartman arrived
at her place Sunday, October 5th,
in company with a desperate looking
man. Who was he and what became
of him? The State Police say that
in the burned car abandoned by
Hartman was tound a purse bag such
as women carry and finger rings of
a woman. Who was the woman lost
in the car with Hartman—owner
of purse and rings? Who was the
owner of the dope outfit found on the
ear? Hartman has said he does not
use dope. These questions ask wheth-
er he was the sole oceupant of the
car.
Hartman was net born in Gettvs-
burg, but in Hamilton township, near
Pine Run School House, When 4
small boy the family lived in th.
tenant house on the Cress farm on
the Bonneauville road, and the bov
went to Rocky Grove School house
when William CC. Storrick was. the
teacher. The family moved from
there to a farm of Waiter Deckert.
below Hunterstown and trom. there
to Dillsburg, and trom there to Ann-
ville. where Hart:inan has a wife and
eight-monihs’-old baby.
CIVIC NURSING ASSOCIATION
—_—_— —
Makes Splendid Report For The
Past
The Civic Nursing Association will
call on our people on Monday, No-
ember 3rd. At the annual ineeting
of the association held Monday of
last week at College Church, the of
fleers were re-elected for the coming
vear. i
President J. A. Singmaster and
Treasurer J. 1. Taylor submitted the
iollowing reports:
Report of the Board of Directors
ci the Civie Nursing Association of
Gettysburg. Pa. for the year ending
October Ist, 1924:
As President of the Civic Nursing
Association it gives me anuch pleasure
to render the following report of the
Directors to the Association.
The work of the Assoctation has
gone on inits usual unobtrusive way,
rendering very. valuable service to
the community.
: The Work of the Nurse
Miss Mary Grove, R. N,, has tust
completed her fourth year with us,
Ciigently performing her allotted task
to the satisfaction of all concerned
During the year she made 924 profes-
sional calls to 149 different families.
In the twelve years of the existence
of our Association, our nurses have
made 15,887 calls on 2,655 families—a
record of which the Association inay
éwell be proud, and which justifies tis
“continuance. ~ -.
DP ke
2 AAI Aw
Year.
ta the nrofessional
DAVIS GRMS OF SPRRCE
CAMPAIGNING AS THE DEMO-
CRATIC CANDIDATE.
John W. Davis Has Shown That He
Is a Good Campaigner and Al-
ways Fair.
The press of the country have con-
ceded that John W. Davis has made
a fine campaign, that he is strong of
heart and strong of arm. That he
has fought « good fight and deserves
success.
lie has had the advantage of the
best talker sent out against him,
Secretary Hughes. When the latter
asserted that the Democratic party
Was “shot to pieces’ Davis came
back taking up Western State after
State and showing amusingly and ef-
fectivery What party it is_ that is
really shot to pierces in the West and
that it is net the Democratic.
Some of the gems in recent
speeches of John W. Davis are the
following. :
“In all seriousness and earnest-
nesx, I submit to you that there is In
this. country a great unrest,” Mr.
Davis said. “There is stirring in the
public mind of the United States a
evreit proiost, uninformed in part and
unintelligent in part, and yet which,
like all such things, may mount and
grow until it becomes an onrushing
storm, uncontrolled and uncontrol-
lable, carrying us on its bosom to
ports we cannot know. :
“VY hat brought it about? Why this
political uneasiness? Why this so-
cial revolt? It must have come from
sume auatter and arisen from some
caurc. Is it not the last three and a
half years of inefficient government,
of corruption in government, — of
privilege in government, against
which the American people are rising
to protest?) And if that protest this
year goes unheeded, and those who
have misused the power we gave
then: are returned to places of au-
thority, what insurance have we that
when the wind rises again it may not
reach the proportions of a tempest
and sweep us and all that we hold
dear inte the irretrievable and crash-
ings ruin?
“1 helieve myself in safety valves
in government, and I believe if you
want to cure evils and prevent them
you must meet them in time and ap-
ply, not reprehension, not deafen
your ear to the cry of the people for
relief, nut repeat abuses that have
been complained of, but correct them
while you may, and the democracy
offers itself to the Amcrican people
as the agent and machine through
which that correction may be ap-
lied.” ;
* Picturing the United States as a
Clavarn.
never |
not tha
“Whi:
holder
board?
the thr
all the
have c
But, af
know, :
of you
that?
where |
and go
“In y
campal
questio
my ju
could «
than ¢
race ©
whet he
any 1
that cl
erious
Americ
proved
self, ir
“But
me to
that s
specch
hope t
lican |
lar e
that t!
dresser
Refe
tain p
Mellor
eight
of tix
Mellor
Ph
“provi
had *
should
cent.
he ha
have :
Demo.
netly
shall
year
Mello
all vu
feren
Dem
NT
a thu
giver
vote
Ge
the !
plave |
had4
twee
and
tiona
Re
ead’af J. B. R.
“these barn mect-
Underwood,
; County Agent.
SINGS.
—Miss Cather-
Mr. and Mrs
Arendtsville, ahd
r, son of Mr, and
nluber, of near
nited in marriage
Iry 15, at the home
nts by Rev. Geo.
mony being used.
brated in rose anid
was formed of
which the couple
bride was dressed
arried bridal roses.
the couple left for
hington, D. C. The
m the Arendtsville
and has’ been
an Hall,
bom also graduat- /
Atsville Vocational
gtook a course at
is now engaged in
arm near Arendts-
will reside at the
m’s parents until
expect to build a
a
él
4
ger.—Mrs. “Helen 1
Af Mr. and Mrs.
, of Hanover, and
. of Gettysburg, -
esday at the First
Dnage, York, by
e. Mr. and Mrs.
| e¢ at Gettysburg,
mployed in the
| 1 W. Kime, son of
| ys Kime, of Gettys-
. Miss Mayme B.
F {r. and Mrs. Clay-
| burg R. D. 6, were
afternoon of last
iaeeemned parsonage in
| . Theodore Hes-
y Years.
os Griest, of Flora
eir Golden Wed-
4 Wednesday, Jan-
hiversary dinner
n to about thirty
» and Mrs. Griest
ach guest at the
id with a favor in
® reproduced from
mn of Mrs. Griest
Marriage in 1874.
aq Jr.. only grand-
2 favors. In the
rs. Griest held a
st’s maiden name
right, daughter
s and Hannah
; township.
lects Officers.
feel and Rubber
ganization meet-
lected William
‘esident of the
uniouser, former
ed vice president.
er-of the Lincoln
‘and S. F. Snyder,
utive committee
up and report
a manager.
Philadel- /
the
~ mate up as ‘to the guilt oF innocence
of the prison er and as each one of
the 150 jurors were calfed the prison-
er hiad to arise to his fect while the
Clerk of the Court. said. “Prisoner
look upon juror. Juror look upon
prisorer, chailenge or no challenge.”
The
try the case were:
Hugh Mellbenny, farmer, Straban
townslip.
Allen Knouse,. farmer, Highland
township.
William Bittinger, farmer, Franklin
township.
H. T. Brown, shoemaker, Oxford
township.
Wim. H. Sharetts, janitor, Gettysburg.
H.. W. Sowers, farmer, Latimore
| tawnship.
Edward Peters, cement block mfg.,
| Gettysburg .
“mory Sachs, farmer, Cumberland
ere "
oy Watson, truck driver, Gettys-
ibe
|F. J. Rider, hotel proprietor, New Ox-
ord.
Walter F. Foulk, farmer Cumberland
township.
Blaine Walter, electrician. Hioter:
ville.
At 1125 A. M. District Attorney
John P. Butt opened the case for the
Commonwealth, giving a clear. out-
line of the faets to be presented. He
stated that Hlartman would be fol-
lowed from about 1.30 when he was
first seen driving on the Lincoln
Highway east of Abbottstown, how
he drove off the highway on a side
road for a short time, how he went
back to Abbottstown and stopped at
the garage and got all the gas and oi!
car would take for 43 cents, how
he’ drove out the East Berlin road
first’ and then back to the Centre
Square, in Abbottstown
his car in the northwest corner of
the Abbo:tstown square, facing west.
how Altland had taken $800 into- the
bank and as soon as he left and
cashier Stambaugh was alone and
counting the money, Hartman enter-
ed the bank with a bandanna hand-
kerchief over his face.
At this point Hon. Geo. J. Benner
objected to outline of facts proposed
to be proved, that the prisoner was
not being tried for the bank robbery
but for murder and that it would be
improper to offer in evidence in this
case the facts of the robbery. Judge
McPherson answered that the flight
following the robbery was a part of
the circumstances to explain the at-
titude of the prisoner when shooting
was done and would be admissible.
District’ Attorney then concluded
his opening address of the flight of
Hartman to Cross Keys. and then to
Hampton and by Menallen’ road
through Heidlersburg, Biglerville,
Arendtsville to the Lincoln Highway,
where he met and shot Haley, then
the flight to Reading where he was
registered under name of Spreckle,
his purchase of clothes, his telephone
calls to his” wife and finally how he
gave himself up on Oct. 16 and con.
fessed to the police.
The first witness called was Ser-
geant Joe Merrifield. and adjourn-
ment came before he had advanced
far into his testimony and his testi-
mony was continued at opening of
court Thursday afternoon.
Sergeant Merifield detziled how he
was in charge of the Chambersburg
detail of the State Police and had de-
spatched Francis FE. Haley to the cap-
ture of Bank:! Robber Hartman.
twelve men finally selected to-
and parked.
on contbe tte a
“parked her car near the lilac “bushes
on south side of highway and about
that time two motor patrolmen pass-
ed her going west and they were sig-
naled by the State Policeman, who
turned around east of the Inn and
went back to the patrolmen riding on
motorcycles with side-cars.
distance west of the Inn the State
Policeman caught up with the patrol-
men and gave some directions.
patrolmen then continued on west-
ward, while Haley turned once again
and started eastward. The witness
at this point got out of her car and
was on the first tee, when she heard’
the noise of the 10torcycle and saw
the
gas station tollowing a cur with a
New ‘York liccnse, of six figures, the
last one a 7. They came on rapidly,
the policeman gaining on the auto,
unti! at the roadway into the Inn
garage, they were alongside of each
other, when the policeman ratsed his
right hand twice in signal for the cat
to stop, the two machines being then
side by side and the men about four
fcet apart. At this point when she
“heard a shot. the man in the car was
out of sight by reason of two trees
obstructing her Vision,
Heeman wes in sight all the time. Thé
shot was fired when they were forts
or filty feet cast of ‘the dividing line
of the counties of Adains and Frank-
iin marked by a post. The policeman
came on slower and when over the
county line, stepped off his motor-
eycle, dropped it to the side and rats-
ing fis hand to his chest exclaimed,
“Pm shot.” and both hands went up
and he fell his full length, face
dowuward—along the side/ of the
road, off the cement. At same mo-
ment Miss Cox exclaimed “Get that
car, wet that man.” Witness stated
that the policeman fell within three
treet of place she was standing. She
saw the policeman turned over on his
back, and he seemed unconscious.
When suggestion was made that he
be taken tu hospital, she turned he:
car toward Chambersburg alongside
the man. Mrs. Faust. a trained nurse
said it would be fatal to move him
and to get a doctor and it was. at 25
minutes of four she started to go to
Fayetteville for Dr. Holland and came
back at 3 minutes of four. Haley
was still lying along road = dcad.
covered by a sheet, and witness saw
him carricd to the basement of the
Inn. Before leaving stand witness
potnted out on map points ests the
incidents of the tragedy took place.
Mrs. Elsie Miller testified to being
on the porch of the Inn, near porch
steps and saw the car driven by Hart-
man and the motorcycle ridden by
Haley approach and saw Hartman
pick up the revolver from the seat or
out of a pocket and turning the pistol
toward the policeman heard Hartman
“Take. that,” and heard the shot.
She saw the car hurry away, and saw
the policeman go over the county
line, get off his motorcycle and heard
him exclaim, “Get the number of that
car. Get that man. Mv God I’m shot.”
The cross-examination of this wit-
witness was as to the exclamation of
man in car, “Take that,” and witness
gave distance from point where she
was seated to the car as 65 feet.
George F. Johnsen was the next
witness and the last one on Thurs-
day. He is a professional golf teach-
er and told of his engagement with
Miss McClean and Miss Cox for the
afternoon of Oct. 14. That he cross-
(Continued on Page Four)
A little’: : <
“guest of Miss Elizabeth Plank at her
The
State Policeman near the Miller,
while the pos,
. Te a cae Oe a
—Mts. Win. Wo mrucd of Creason’
and Mrs. Foster Fowler, of Youngs-
town, Ohio, have returned to their
homes after a visit with their parents,
Mr and Mrs. 1. C. Hoke. West High
street.
—-Miss Bettv Crouse, of Harrisburg,
stent several
days recently as the
home on Broadway.
—Rev. Frank Fisher, of Phoenix-
ville. and Henry A .P Fisher, Esq. of
Easton, were in Gettysburg on Mon-
dav to attend the funeral of the late
Henry C. Picking.
—Mrs,
Texas, is the guest of Mrs. C. M Iton
Wolf at her home on York street.
—Mrs. Charles Landis and daughter
Miss Ruth Landis. of Fairfiel, were
‘recent guests of Mrs. J. Ellis Mussel-
man, Springs avenue.
—~John Kray, of Lancaster, spent
the past week-end as the guest of Mr.
and Mrs. Edgar P. Hamilton at their
home in the Bender Apartments, Bal-
fimore street.
--Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Bell, Ira
Plank and Preston Tate were busi-
ness visitors in Philadelphia for sev-
eral davs this week.
~-Guyon Miller who has been em-
ploved by the Reds Epley Oil Co., has
resigued his position and returned to
York where he is employed by the
Newman [ce Cream Co.
“Mr. and Mrs. O. F. Miller, of
Graetfenburg Inn. Mrs. Faust, of Al-
toona, and Geo. EF. Johnson, of Phila-
delpliua, are Spending the week at the
home of Mrj and Mrs. Robert C. Mil-
len Raltimore street.
--Mrs. Chas.
Visiting
Mrs. Nuox's
is
relatives in Harrisburg.
sister, Mrs. Dunkle, sail:
Earl Watson, of Galveston,
SBS
et
Knox, Centre Square,
ed on Saturday from New York for ai
three months’ trip abroad.
-~-Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ramer, Cham-
bersburg street, announce the birth of
a daughter on Friday.. Mrs. Ramer,
before her marriage, was Miss Juniata
Ross, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Ross of Littlestown.
—Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Swope
“announce the birth of a
January 25. Mrs. Swope. was <-for-
merly Miss Anna Wintrode of Littles-
town.
—Miss Grace Rinchart has wcarned
daughter on.
to her home in New Windsor after _ oe
spending several days with Mrs, Mar- ~~
garet Trout, Baltimore street.
-—Miss Carrie Hanson, of Wilming-
ton, North Carolina. a student at Gou-
cher College, Baltimore, is spending
several days with Dr. and Mrs. H. W.
A. Hanson, College Campus.
To celebrate the sixth birthday an-
niversary of their son, Charles, Me.
and Mrs. Harry Lackner ent-rtained
the first grade pupils of the Meade
Schoo! with the teacher, Miss Bess K.
Raftensperger, at their home = on
Chambersburg street, Wednesday af-
ternoon.
President of the Bank.
I. L. Taylor, cashier of the Gettys- ;
burg National Bank, was elected
President of the Bank at the meeting
of the Board of Directors on Tues-
day to succeed H. C. Picking.
Tavlor was elected a director before
being elected president. Mr.
resigning as cashier, Charles W.
Stock, the assistant, was advanced
to the cashiership. Mr. Taylor has
been connected with the bank sincs
Mr.
Taylor
Dec. 1. 1901, and has been the cashier
since Apo) 30, 1920, ae an ee
Rht with myself for about an rendering very valuable service to dear into the irretrievable and crash-
Ir. Then I went in the bank.
wie inan was on duty. I pushed
the gun at him and took all the
money | could put in my pocket.
Then I ran from the place. jumped in
the car and drove down the Lincoln
Highway.
“T went about two miles and then
turned off toward Piney Mountain
Inn. At that place I] went back on
the Lincoln Highway again and be-
fore [ had gone verv far I saw a
State policeman following me.
“T saw he was catching up to me,
and tried to shoot ahead. But the
motor missed andI saw it was useless.
The cop pulled alongside of my ma-
chine and velled, “Pull over to a side,
there!”
“T saw I was caught. but I felt I
must get away. Then I remembered
the gun on the seat alongside me
and took it in my hand. When I
pulled up alongside of where the of-
ficer motioned. I pulled the gun and
fired. .
“T pushed the car fast then and
turned in a side road, and ran about
a mile. There the car became stuck
between two stones. I saw I could
not move it, and poured gasoline over
it and tried to burn it,
“From there I walked to Mount
Holly Springs and took a train to
Harrisburg. From there [ came to
Reading.”
The New York Times editorially
commented on the confession in this
fashion:
A Confession Under Suspicion.
“According to the Pennsylvania po-
lice to whom the man Hartman sur-
rendered, he has confessed to the
shooting the trooper who tried to
arrest him after he had robbed the
bank at Abbottstown. He made the
admission, after having told an en-
. tirely different story in which he fig-
ured only as the driver of the car in
which the real robber and murderer
went to the bank. This more than
hints that the confession was made
under one or another of the forms of
pressure which can be exerted in po-
lice stations on persons suspected of
crime. Almost inevitably it will be
repudiated after Hartman gets into _
court, and even if he should stick to
it the chances are that it will not be
accepted.”
There is practically no chance of
the confession not being accepted, for
Hartman has been telling his story in
the jail to fellow-prisoners, to visit-
ors and to any person who will listen
to him and if the confession was lost
or thrown out there would be a num-
ber of witnesses who could testify to
the talk he has been putting through.
ee ee
Hartman can not be tried at the
November court. for the reason that
no Oyer and Terminer jury was
drawn for that court. In the usual
course of events, the trial will await
the January Court
Monday of the month, about a week
less than four months from the com-
mission of the crime.
This antiquated system of proced-
ure which contrasts unfavorably with
procedure in other counties and
States, suggests that a special court -
be fixed by the Court for the trial of
this case and that a special Oyer and
Terminer jury be called for such
special court, after thirty days, say
at the end of November or beginning
of December.
on the Fourth 4
the community.
The Work of the Nurse
Miss Mary Grove, R. N,, has just
completed her fourth year with us,
difigently performing her allotted task
tu the satisfaction of all eoncerned
During the vear she made 624 profes-
sional calls to 149 different families
In the twelxe years of the existence
of or Assoetation. Gur nurses have
immade ra.seary calls on 2.655 familles—a
record of wiech the Association may
well be proud, and which justifies tts
continuance.
In oadditten to the
work, Miss Grove has
garments to 35 families.
Miss Grove has received during the
past vear $227.10 in fees, and paid
for incidentals $21.70, leaving a bal-
ance paid to the Treasurer of $214.40.
The Yreasurer, Mr. I. L. Pavlor, re-
ports receipts from various sources
amounting to $1329.41, and expendi-
tures amounting to $1045.16, leaving
a balance of $284.25,
We would remind the public
through this report that our Associa-
tion is largely dependent on its good-
will for support, and expresses the
hope that it will always merit public
confidence. The annual public can-
vass for funds will be made in the
near future under the efficient direc-
tion of Miss Mary Rainer, to whose
devotion the Association is much in-
debted. We are grateful to all who
have assisted in our noble work, and
are anxious to retain their co-opera-
tion.
professional
distributed
J. A. Singmaster,
President,
Statement
I. L. Tavilor. Treasurer, District
Nurse Association. October Ist, 1923
—October Ist, 1924.
Receipts.
Balance, last audit .......... $ 295.88
Donations, Membership Fees,
etc. (Mary Ramer) ..... .. 438.20
Miss Mary E. Grove
oo See eer $126.40
Miss Mary E. Grove
Metropolitan ....... 88 .00
214.40
Collections ... sees eee eee 133.43
Organizations, Orders, So-
Cleties: Cts 66 vee kbc e dee 205.00
Coupons, $1,000 Fourth Lib-
erty Loan Bonds .........- 42.50
Total Receipts ...........: $1,329.41
Disbursements
Miss Mary E. Grove, II mo,
at $83.34 and I mio. ....... 1,000.07
Charles Hess ...-..+.-e05- oe 16.84
Emma F, Stallsmith ........ 28.25
Balance, October Ist, 1924...
$1,329.41
Respectfuly submitted,
October I5, 1924,
I. L. Taylor, Treas.
DEMOCRATIC OX ROAST
at H. E. Bumbauzgh’s Camping Park
Buford Avenue, Gettysburg
5 to 8, Tuesday Evening,
October 28
Music by Gettysburg Band
DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETING
at 8 P. M. at
Court House
ings ruin?
“I believe myself in safety valves
in government, and T believe tf you
want to cure evils and prevent them
you must meet them in time and ap-
viy, not reprehension, not deafen
your car to the cry of the people for
not repeat abuses that have
heen complained of, but correct them
while you may, and the democracy
offers itself to the American people
as the agent and machine through
which that correction may be = ap-
tied.”
’ Picturing the United States as a
vreat corporation, with the Govern-
ment as the board of directors and
the citizens the stockholders, Mr.
Davis in a specch said that the peo-
ple must bold the directors account-
able for their conduct of the people’s
business and that they must be re-
elected or turned out on their record.
“What is the question you are go-
ine to ask voursclves on election day”
eaid Mr. Davis. “It is going to be
the question of whether or not you
are satisfied with those who have
served you since the last election day.
You are going to regard yourselves
ax the stockholders in a great enter-
prise in which you ali have an equal
share, and be called upon to review
the report of your board of directors,
and cithec re-elect them with your
officers for an ensuing term or_ to
wipe the slate clean and try another
administration.
“Now what are you going to an-
ewer to that problem? What have
vour Board of Directors to bring to
von? There are ten of them in this
particular corporation. And when
they come back to vou this year they
say that one of these directors who
had charge of all the real estate be-
longing to the corporation had dis-
nosed of the most precious part of
the corporation’s holdings, and when
it was looked into it was discovered
that he had taken bribes as a con-
sideration for doing so. They called
him a Secretary of the Interior and
his name was Fall. ;
“And another one of those direc-
tors, whose duty it was to look after
the defense of the corporation and to
see that the navy, so essential for its
protection should never in time of
public war depend on any foreign
power for the fuel without which it
would be as helpless as a painte
ship upon a painted ocean, that di-
rector had received no money, but
had carelessly signed away the deeds
that director number one had made
disposing of the public’s real estate.
“And then there was a third direc-
tor, and we find that that director
had been using the power of the cor-
poration to punish his personal ene-
mies and reward his persona! friends.
And that he had surrounded himself
yrith men who were undertaking to
sell the duties and the functions o
his office, and they called him an At-
torney General. ;
“And then, when we got outside
the Attorney General, we found a
host of lesser officers, who had been
infected by the same disease and had
been selling the privileges and pow-
ers and places and putting the money
in their own pockets.
“And then we turned to the direc-
tors who were left, and said: ‘Did
you never have any directors’ meet-
ings all this time?’ and they said:
‘Oh, ves, we meet regularly every
week.’ ‘Well, did you not know what
was going on?’ ‘Oh, no, we knew
relic’,
nothing about it at all.’ ‘Was it
eee wer ers
who Nave incom:
vear please vote
Mellon plan. T «
all under $67,00
ference, if you
Democratic plan.
“Now,” Mr. D
a thunderous cho
given, “that is >
vote that amouni
George B. Loc
the Republican
Dlaved a bluff,
had denounced 1
tween Attorney
and Lockwood of
tional C-nmitter
States Senator
day or two later
reading into hi
mony of William
Coan:
“Senator Whe
conferred, have
Lockwood?’
“Mr. Burns:
Lockwood and ta
“Senator Whe:
sulted with him
ference to mysel:
“Mr. Burns: ‘
quently.’
“Senator Whe
nun:ber of occasi
“Mr. Burns: ‘
him about your c
“Senator Whe
ferred with him
one was sent to
you not?’
“Mr. Burns: ‘
and again.’
“Chairman
where was it th
erty and talked ®
“Mr. Burns:
Daugherty one }
ment and found
among a number
“The Chairma!
when you talked
Wheeler case.’
“Mr. Burns:
the Wheeler case
“The Chairma)
or after the indic
“Senator Whe
fore.’
“Mr. Burns:
hefore.’
“On the first d
fora the Borah C
c
ted investigating th
Senator Wheelez
fied that he had
March of this ye
tain affidavits
Wheeler, which h
Department of .
to further quest
follows:
“The Chairm
you to go to Moi
“Mr. Coan—‘!
f tional Committee
“Senator Swat
ber of the Repu!
mittee?’ ;
“Mr, Coan—Y
“Senator Swar
interested in the
Committee.”
“Mr. Coan—t
tary of the |!
Committee.’
“Senator Swa
were they inter
“Mr. Ccan—)
connection exact
him when he
whether they ‘%
not.’
A., SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1924
Entered as second class ‘matter at the
‘ Post Office at Gettys
burg, Pa. - .
R FARMERS COM. VS, PHILIP HARTMAN
HEATRE FEB-
ND 5, 1925.
pricultural Exten.
Adams County
id
8. : ;
fa
en and Farms Ac-
fe the Home Farm
y needs by Wal-
mzetable gardening
ege, Pa.
in the Farm
e home econom-
mby Miss Pear! S.
Pe by EO
=m .M. and 1.30
m@ Day. Dairy De-
miomical Milk Pro-
manstead, dairy ex-
mate College, Pa.
pnd Fertilization,
agronomy exten-
College, Pa.
eeduring farmers
meatoes, soy beans,
fifty farmers in
th esessions of
Course and we
proved _ practices
esult. We have
feesogram this year
maf the outsanding
$ in the county.
ha representative
at this year’s
with you a few
Brou are planning
are planning to
who desire it to
y and germina-
interested in the
prk which Miss
uss Wednesday,
pary 6th.
ming at Hartman
mM, at 10 A. M.
eting at J. C.
marg, at 1.30
mad and J. B. R.
hese barn meet-
Bnderwood,
‘County Agent.
GS.
mMiss: Cather:
of Mr. and Mrs.
10 A. M. and 1.30
.the
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER OF
STATE POLICEMAN HALEY.
Took Three Full Days to Secure the’
-- Jury of 12 from 150 Men :
Summoned,
The trial of Philip A. Hartinan,
charged with the murder of State
Trooper Frances L. Haley began in
Over and Terminer Court on
Monday afternoon at half past ten.
The indictinent had been found a true
bill by the Grand Jury at the Novem-
ber Court and had been certified over
to the Oyer and Terminer court. .
Deputy Sheriff B. Ie. Bixler brought
the defendant into court hand-cuffed
together, The first act of the. trial
was the arraignment of the prisoner.
Deputy Clerk of the Court Wm. E,
Olinger read the indictment to Hart-
man charging premeditated murder
Hartman, neatly dressed ine new su t.
listened to the reading and at its close
when asked how he plead. guilty or
rot guilty, ima rather loud voice said
“not guilty.” i
The jurors were next called and
examined. There’ had been impan
neled 60 jurors for the court. The
work of selecting the jury lasted from
about rr o’clock Monday morning un-
til the same hour Thursday morzine.
A few in. the regular panel of jurors
were sick but this panel was exhaust-
ed, avsecond panel. of 25 jurors was
authorized and brought into a court.
a third panel of 50 jurors and a fourth
one of 20 jurors appeared on Thurs-
day morning and about 130 men ha?
been examined until the twelve jurors
were found to try the case.
The jurors called were tested with
questions affecting whether they were
opposed to capital punishment ofr
whether they had fixed opinions that
would prevent finding of a verdict on
the evidence wninfluenced by such
fixed opinion. A few had question;
shot at them whether they belonged
to the Ku Klux Klan, an organization
to which it is said Hartman belonged.
About one third of the jurors called
were opposed to capital punishment
and about two thirds had their minds
made up as to the guilt or innocence
of the prisoner and as each one of
the 150 jurors were called the prison.
er had to arise to his feet while the
Clerk of the Court said, “Prisoner
look upon juror. Juror look upon
prisoner, challenge or no challenge.”
The twelve mien finally selected to
try tie case were: Fas
Hugh Metheny. sfaurmer,. Straban.,
oS SRG < Bete oleate a eae
I<
Dr. Shull, coroner of Franklin
county, described the finding of the
hody on. highway and the autopsy
made, and identified blouse worn by
Haley and the bullet he had taken
from the body.
Paul Krass, undertaker of Cham-
bersburg, described the work he had
done ii taking charge of the dead.
body of Haley aiid the funeral and in-.
terment. Re
Ih B. Butt. who sold Hartman the
gsasoline ane oil cast of Abbottstown.
was next calied but was excused as
Was nent called but was excused as
likewise H. EF. Stambaugh = at- this’
point. ey
Mr. Andermuller, of Westininster,
gave an account of the pistol cart-
ridge shell he found on the pike near
thre piace where shouting touk place.
The shell was given to Forester John:
Ie Willan :
John R. Woifiams totd of receiving
the shell from the previous witness
and passing the shell over to Dr
Shull. :
Dr, Shull going back on the wit-
ness stand identified the shell and
said that the ball taken from Haley’
body exactly fitted into the snell.
H. FL Stambaugh, cashier of the
Abbottstown tank, detailed how 2
tebber held him up whiie alone in
the bank and at the point of a pistol
compelled him to band over $1561 un-
der threat he would shoot him. ° He
described the man daschavinig’ a fred
baodanna bandkerchief over his face,
Several days later Major Adams
brought Hartman to his phiee and
asked whether he could reeognize
hiun and when he failed in this Hart-
nin osatd, Uloanr the, man.”
samuch Grecnawalt, a surveyor of
Chambersburg. was the next witness
and vroduced a map of the Lincoln
Highway at the Graetfenburg lin and
deseribed ail the obiects atong the
road as inavked on map with the dis-
tances.
Miss Frances Metlean was. the
first eye-witness to trugedy ealled to
witness stand and was on the stand
for three quarters of an hour. She
detailed going to her ineuntaim home
with a party oi ladies and then go-
ing back in her car to Gracffenburg
Inn to play golf. On the way trom
the park to the Inn her attention was
attracted by a signal from Policeman
ifaley of wanting to pass and draw-
ing to the side, ale, passed on a
motoreyele. Vhat arriving at Inn she
parked her car near the hlne bushes
on south side of highway and about
that time two moter patrolmen pass-
ed her going west ane they were sig:
naled by tue State Pobeceman, whe
turned around east of tie Inn and
owent back to the patrohmen riding on
motoreveles with side cars. A] litth:
“distance west of the Inn ‘the State
atrol-
fees ee
yhices
Vee eye ~~
nen caught up with the p
PE Tics wy
a eee
ih he ee ed wel as He ON ee Sey
ospent
PERSOANL ‘PUINTS OF VIBW
COMINGS AND GOINGS INTO AND
/ OUT OF THE TOWN.
Social and Other Individual Happen-
: ings and Live Local Items ~
Of Interest.
&
Mrs. George Scare and
burg visitors on, Thursday.
--Miss Ivy Myers, of Spring Grove, ©
Harmon.
is visiting her sister, Mrs,
Sisson, North Stratton stret.
—Herbert S. Bream, of New York
Lil who has been spending a month
with his mother, Mrs. R.
lhotre. .
NO. 35
vith > S.; Bream, =
Seminary Ridge. has returned te-his
Mrs.
Grove. of New Oxford, were Gettys-"
s-Mrs. Cannon. of Pittsburgh, is- —
spending some time at the home of
her) father, Hon.
Wm. H.. Tipton;
Chambersburg street. Mrs. Cannon
was called here by the illness of her ne
son James, a student at Mt. St. Mary’s
College, iminitsburg, who is recover-.
ar tran) itn operation at the Warner.
Hecpital,
--Mrs. Roy V. Derr, of Purnham:; ~
Pas is_visiting her parents, Mr. and.
Mrs. C. Wm. Ziegler at their home
on York street.
Miss Elizabeth Stallsmith, Centre
Sauare, are visiting Mr. and Mrs.
lawrenee Rtis ut Montrose. N.Y.
é Miss Grace Keefe, who hay been
visiting “Mrs. S. F. Lehman, Carlisle
Strect.. has returued to her
Washington. D.C, 2
~Mrs. Frank SJlarner, of Green
Spring Valley. Md. is visiting her
nother, Mrs. J. T. Mahon, East Mid-
dle street.
-P. Ward Stallsmith and daughter
home in—
---Mr. and Mrs. Henry Seigrist ‘of
Philadelphia, spent the week-end with
Dro and Mrs. Milton UH. Valentine at
their bome on Springs avenue.
Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Miller. Balti-
nore street, and Mr. and Mrs..Wm. G.
Weaver. Broadway. spent Sunday
with Mr, and Mrs. Chas. K. Miller at -
thetr iome in York.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Codori, of
York, spent the week-end at the home.
ef Mroand Mrs. Wm. F. Codori, York
‘treet. Ec ieee
Mrs" Win. H. Bure. of Cressone
and Mrs. Foster Fowler, of Youngs-
town, Ohio, have returned to their
homes after a visit with their parents,
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hoke, West. High
street. is — ae
~-Miss Betty Crouse, of.
several days recently as the
guest of. Miss Elizabeth -Viank at her
rome on Broadway. a ee
vet ROME Bean ko Bis
Harrisburg,
w was the
ad won a
in town.”
thing like that,”
lling and scream-
ple. of hours ago,
of maniacs.”
volice car stopped
iat had once been
Marion, Pennsyl-
th her mother and
struck suddenly.
cally injured on a
f her mother and .
e in the blackened
1, people had been
Snyder and Bouse
ield back a milling
en, busy winding
had: been used so
ly. “Any idea how
ly.
m had been turned
eered the informa-
ed in the adjoining
, blaze. “Margaret
: party,” the officers
th her. He was the
2 house.”
argaret Small veri-
_ “We were parked
. sudden the Gelwix
THE RUINS——
of the Gelwix home. The tragedy might have
been called an accident if a fire-blackened
torchlight had net been found in the ashes.
o sae al Wig? PEAY ah ame eet hg “ Ry \ Bins onal
ESRRNIES . od & i > ; fe ars
Mi
'
ongar
. 4 4 ie ‘3
eT ed
Peat A faeces
ar
auld
’ ana cut inane V
} ST Sa As wenin
1 eee
renga
Nh oth
Sah
RL its +
wage. ie yy t4
wget 118 i
Vig Paste } TR
‘
=e
The date was January 1, 1937... ~~
28
HAWK, Ralph, elec. PA 1939
2) ae
e
Was if love or hate that
CATHERINE GELWIX—— — 4
She was supposed to march to the altar to
be married on New Year's Day—but instead _
she just escaped being borne to her grave. —
HE doctor walked quietly down the long hospital
corridor in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. His rub-
ber-soled shoes made no sound as he paused at the
bed of a young girl who lay with closed eyes, her.
slim body motionless under the white sheets. -Heavy .
bandages swathed her face and arms, concealing the”.
-°a home. Here, on the outskirts of Marion, Pennsyl-
horrible burns which marred her features. }
A white-capped nurse approached the bed as the -
doctor looked up quickly. saa Es
“How does she seem since the operation?” he asked. .
“Resting very well, doctor.” The nurse glanced at «
the unconscious figure. “Everyone is talking about the.
terrible accident. Two women burning to death in
their home—and this girl barely escaping with her :
life!” ie A eee
_“Probably it wasn’t an accident,” the doctor said 4
tersely. “It may have*been deliberate ‘murder. I have
already phéned the police.” we :
Corporal Arthur B. Snyder, of the Pennsylvania State
Police, had received the call. With Private James
Bouse, he was preparing to jnyestigate the startling re-~
“I just can’t believe it!” he muttered, adjusting his*-
holster to a more comfortable position. “It seems in-*
credible that anyone would deliberately ‘pour kerosene”
‘over three women and. then set them afire.”. nad 9a
Bouse shrugged into his heavy coat and glanced out
the window. Snow crystals glittered coldly in the re-.
flected light from street lamps swinging in the high ~
wind. ‘But even at three o’clock in the morning, a few
revelers were visible, straggling home from late parties: :
CRIME DETECTIVE, June, 1946
furnished the m
Y X
ofive for
RALPH HAWK——
This handsome young farm worker was the
fiance of Catherine Gelwix and had won a
contest as “the best-looking kid in town.”
“No one but a maniac would do a thing like that,”
Bouse admitted. “But after all the yelling and scream-
ing’ that greeted the new year a couple of hours ago, .
I’m inclined to think the town is full of maniacs.”
Fifteen minutes later, the white police car stopped
before the smouldering embers of what had once been
vania, Catherine Gelwix had lived with her mother and
fifteen-year-old sister. But Death struck suddenly.
Twenty-year-old Catherine lay critically injured gn a
hospital bed, The charred’ bodies of her mother and .
younger sister were buried somewhere in the blackened
Ei VEN at that hour in the morning, people had been
attracted to. the tragic scene. Snyder and Bouse
pushed past the rope barrier which held back a milling
crowd of curious neighbors. Firemen, busy winding
up the long length of hose which had’ been used so
ineffectually, stared at them curiously. “Any idea how
this started?” Snyder asked carefully.
The firemen didn’t know. An alarm had been turned
in, but :the house was beyond saving.
- Other witnesses, however, volunteered the informa-
tion that a Margaret Small, who lived in the adjoining
‘house, was the first to discover the blaze. “Margaret
-had just returned from a New Year’s party,” the officers
were told. “Charles Farran was with her. He was the
one who pulled Catherine out of the house.”
A brief’ talk with Farran and Margaret Small veri-
fied the accuracy of this information. “We were parked
* out front,” Farran related. ‘All of a sudden the Gelwix
atti
- be married today.”
home started to burn. The flames seemed to come Pa
every direction.”
Snyder listened thoughtfully. “That would be the:
kerosene,” he reflected. »He looked’ at -the, youth’s..
bandaged hands, noting the ugly” holés burned inchis |”
comparatively.new suit of clothes. ..“They-tell me you Nie
rescued the girl who is in the hospital,” ’ 7
Farran nodded. “I didn’t rescue her, really,” he sad.
“When the fire started Margaret and I ran-over to the.
house. We saw Catherine at a window, so:I broke the
glass and pulled her out.” ia, ‘Cis
“Charles did more than that,” his girl: friend. inter-; a *
rupted vehemently. “After saving Catherine, he asked
if anyone else was inside. I told him about Mrs. Gelwix.
and Helen Louise. Charles tried to go in after: them,
but: the flames were too hot. “So we got help and took
Catherine to the hospital. Poor kid! - “She ‘was going to
Snyder swung about sharply. “Married?”
“Yes. To Ralph Hawk. They’ve been going together
a long time.”
“Does he know what happened?” Bouse demanded.»
- The girl pressed her hands together unhappily. bad 6
. I don’t know, really. I heard some people say that —.
Ralph and Catherine had a date last night. They. seem. | . 7
to think that-he ... . he burned :to death, too,” ; : weed
Snyder turned away. Inured as he was to sudden es fe Lg } She, ye
4 LN eriff G
death, the tragedy which had apparently taken three . ' Klipp. Si
lives and very nearly a fourth at the: ‘beginning of! the...
new year, did not leave him indifferent. But there was
work to be done, for he knew what these others did not
—that premeditated murder and not an unfortunate ac-
CORPORAL ARTHUR SNYDER——
He wondered why a certain youth
hadn't visited his injured friend.
And his wonder grew into a hunch!
5
h
cident, was at fault. Ierovidine
“There isn’t much we can do until we get the coro- “My the
ner’s report,” -he said as he and Private Bouse left the
home. ‘And he won’t be able to help\us until that fire : aire ‘
cools off enough to permit an investigation.” like the oe
“The girl in the hospital might know something, iy “A pretty
Bouse suggested. “If she’s conscious and able to talk.’ to gum up
. Snyder started the car and backed out onto the road. we find hi
“There’s only one way to find out,” he said. , They dr
tia! gi oincerne y , . is and a few
OS. Gelwix was conscious when they EVELYN HARMON Paul Ross
reached the -hospital, but her: condition: was: still =; Her good looks attracted a young Rena in he:
critical. ‘“She’s inno condition to: be questioned,” the®: suitor, but she flouted him when
hastily anc
doctor informed them. ‘Her, skull was fractured’ - she learned evil side of his nature. call
by a heavy blow, but we managed to save her life \ “How is
by prompt surgery. The burns are severe but not neces-— “Not too
sarily fatal.” 3 He studi
“Then you think she was knocked out first?” Snyder, cut youth
surmised shrewdly. genuine. (
The doctor nodded, his. lips a tight line: eh not < “Ph ak fi
a criminal investigator, but I would say that is’ ctly, gaia siren)
what happened. From-all ‘indications, the girl was.. a
struck over the head. Afterward, kerosene was poured: Pid antne
on her clothing and set afire. Undoubtedly, the same Mond T,
procedure was used. with the other victims.” Mentiid de:
Bouse shook his head. “That’s a horrible way to die, “That's °
I only hope the girl saw and recognized the murderer.” ea
“That may well be,” the doctor agreed. “You can ‘+ ST ian and ©
talk to her tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I'can: Ss deagpally
give you one lead which may. amount to something,?’ »“J don’t
“Every little bit helps,” Snyder assured him. : en. ankin
“I understand. Well, the girl was delirious when she ~ “T don’t
arrived at the hospital. - In her. delirium she kept re- dully. “I
peating the name. Paul Ross over and’ over. -I don’t i that
know who he is or what connection he has. with ° the CHARLES FARRAN—— onsale Catl
case, if any. But, for Some reason. bis; MAME. aan cee It might have been an even bigger § scious the
her subconscious mind. i Eee tragedy if it had not been for the » that’s why
“She’d certainly remember the name. “of ts ( Bei i! daring act of youth shown here. © His pare
\ »
166 NEW LOVE FOR OLD
cials. He’d begged Catharine to marry him before the date that
had been set, to throw off suspicion—and he’d done so, knowing
that she wouldn’t make the change.
The night of the murder he’d left Catharine and gone to visit
his father. On his way back to the farm he stopped at her home.
Everyone was asleep. He found kerosene in the kitchen and
poured it over the sleeping Mrs. Gelwix and her fifteen-year-
old daughter. He picked up the flashlight as a possible weapon.
He set the bed in Mrs. Gelwix’s room on fire and locked the
door from the outside to make sure that she and Helen Louise
couldn’t get out if they did waken.
He had a soft spot in his heart for Catharine, even though he
planned her murder. He didn’t want her to suffer. He’d beaten
her into unconsciousness with the flashlight before he poured.
the kerosene over her, so that she wouldn’t awaken to—fire and
: ® .
horror. He couldn’t foresee that she would be awakened to be
rescued.
“I must have been mad,” Ralph Hawk satd.
Psychiatrists found him sane, however, and a jury found him |
guilty. The penalty was death.
I wonder, sometimes, what ever happened to Catharine
Gelwix. Only twenty—engaged to the handsomest boy in
town—and, on the eve of her marriage, waking up, half
stunned, in a blazing inferno—and then learning that her
husband-to-be was her would-be murderer—and the murderer
of her mother and her sister.
Wherever Catharine Gelwix is, I hope she’s found happiness
—and, forgetfulness.
“ a ee
THE CASE OF THE COMMON COLD
THERE ARE plenty of doctors who will tell you—“You don’t
catch cold from getting your feet wet.” Opinions differ. Frankly
—I don’t know. But the young man in this story not only
caught a cold, but, because he did get his feet wet, he caught
a conviction for a brutal murder, and a life sentence.
It was a cool October night in 1943. Mrs. Walter Reiman
waited anxiously in the pleasant little Reiman ranch house near
Pendleton, Oregon.
Dinner was still waiting on the table. Cold, by this time.
More than three hours had gone by since the search had begun
for her sixteen-year-old daughter, June.
For the hundredth time she told herself there was no need
to worry. June was a crack shot, trained by her father in the
expert use of a rifle since she was a very small child. She’d
gone out carrying her rifle, with the intention of shooting some
rabbits.
Only it wasn’t like June to stay away longer than she had
planned!
The anxious mother reminded herself of what June’s father
had said. “She'll be all right. She knows every inch of the
country around here, and she can take care of herself. Don’t
worry, she'll be home soon.”
But hours had gone by, and there was still no word.
Footsteps outside! Before the anxious mother could reach the
door, it was flung open. It was Walter Reiman, with several.
167
By Wilton Grey
and featuring |
Constable Walter Klipp
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
N
e,
\
+t was 1:15
A. M. of the
morning of
January Ist,
1937. The din of welcoming the New Year had quieted
down in the neighborhood around Marion, Pennsylvania,
five miles north of Chambersburg. Parties were breaking
up and the people were hurrying to their homes.
In front of the home of George Small, on Kennedy Street
in North Marion, Margaret Small stood with Charles Far-
ren at the side of his automobile. The two young people
had just arrived home from a New Year’s Eve party. Con-
56
fetti was still clinging to
their hair and their faces were flushed
with the excitement of the party.
“Well, Margaret,” Farren said, “happy New Year
and...”
“Charley,” Margaret Small’s face suddenly lost its flush
of excitement, “what’s that... listen . . . it’s somebody
groaning.”
Farren turned slowly and stared out into the night, but
only the oppressive: silence of the small country village
greeted him.
“You're hearing things,” he said to the girl with a laugh.
“Maybe you need sleep. You have had an exciting night...”
His words were cut short by a low moaning cry that
came out of the darkness, a wail of terror and pain.
“Tt’s coming from the Gelwix home,” Margaret cried.
Wag (¢397 *
The
daughters
the Smal
strangely
flickering
moved in
And all
from some
Farren
close on h
a few ya:
stared at
The boa
body lay :
and she w
“Tt’s C:
the house
Farren
girl out.
her. Her
linging to
re flushed
‘ew Year
st its flush
somebody
night, but
try village
th a laugh.
night...
g ery that
iin,
aret. cried,
”
“Look, there is a funny
light moving around in the house.”
The home of Mrs. Hazel Gelwix, a widow with two
daughters, was a small four-room bungalow, located near
the Small house. In the night it loomed up dark and
strangely silent, but as Farren stared at it, he saw a light
flickering through the windows, a light that leaped and
moved in a mysterious manner.
And all the time the gasping moans of terror were coming
from somewhere in or around it!
Farren walked toward the house, with Margaret Small
close on his heels. When the two young people got within
a few yards of the bungalow, they stopped suddenly and
stared at an open window in stark amazement.
The body of a young girl was half-way out of it. Her
body lay across the sill. Her face was covered with blood
and she was groaning weakly. ‘
“It’s Catherine Gelwix,” Margaret Small gasped, “and
the house is on fire.”
Farren rushed to the window, pulling the half-conscious
girl out. The girl swayed weakly as the two stood beside
her. Her eyes were dazed and the blood was flowing from
Investigation of a mysterious
fire established the fact that
arson and murder had been
comfnitted. But why and by
whom were the two problems
facing the police
a wound on her fore-
head. The house was a blazing inferno.
“Take care of her,” Farren shouted to Miss Small as
he crawled through the open window and landed in a bed-
room of the small house.
Suffocating smoke drove him back. The flames that licked
the walls sent up a terrific heat. Farren stumbled back to
the window.
He went out of the window, yelled to Miss Small to get
help. and then went to the front of the house, to the window
of the bedroom in which he knew Mrs. Gelwix and her
fifteen-year-old daughter, Helen, always slept. He smashed
the glass and crawled inside.
He darted for the bed. His hands went under the covers,
but they did not touch any bodies. Flames were leaping
from the end of the bed where the bedclothes were on
fire.
By this time, the flames were pouring out of the open
windows and had roused the neighborhood. A crowd gath-
ered around the burning house. Catherine Gelwix, still
dazed and unable to talk, was taken to the Small home and
Doctor Charles ‘T. Buckingham rushed there to examine
her.
Word was phoned to the Franklin County commanit
pumper at Chambersburg. At the house, Farren was forcec
to retreat because of the intense heat and smoke.
57
164 NEW LOVE FOR OLD
But, the flashlight which had been used had been in another
room. ,
And, the police reasoned, even if he had picked up the flash-
light as part of his loot—there was still no reason for him to go
to the trouble of pouring kerosene over the sleeping Mrs. Gel-
wix and fifteen-year-old Helen Louise, and set them on fire. A
prowler would have struck Catharine down, picked up his loot
(or maybe even discarded it), and fled.
The maniac theory? The double murder didn’t fit into any
maniac theory known to police or psychiatrists. Nor were there
any possible suspects to fit such a theory.
The police didn’t give up. They never do. Snyder paid one
more visit to the farm where Ralph Hawk had been employed.
He explained that he wanted to eliminate Ralph as a’ suspect
—completely. Did the farmer, or his wifé; know of anything
which might have caused trouble between Ralph and Catharine?
After a moment’s thought, the couple told of a letter the good-
looking youth had received. Ralph had tossed it into the kitchen
stove, but the fire had been low, and it hadn’t burned. The
farmer’s wife, cleaning the stove, had glanced at it, seen that it
didn’t belong to her, and destroyed it.
The letter had come from Mrs. Gelwix. It had stated that
Ralph was having dates with a girl in a nearby town, and that
she wanted to talk with him about it. The letter named the
girl, and the farmer’s wife remembered the name.
Corporal Snyder followed up, fast. He located the girl, a
lovely, blue-eyed brunette. She admitted willingly that she had
had dates with Hawk. He’d brought her a Christmas present.
Corporal Snyder—a pretty shrewd judge of human nature
—asked the girl how she felt about having dates with a young
man who was just about to marry another girl. Her face
turned pale. Then anger flared in her eyes. “What other girl?”
NEW LOVE FOR OLD 165
It was Sheriff Gillan who broke the news to her,
The girl took it bravely, “But—Ralph was the one boy I
». thought I could trust... . I haven’t seen him since our last .
date, at Christmas. . . . I’ve wondered why...”
Corporal Snyder drove back to the farm where Ralph Hawk
was employed, and placed him under arrest. Murder was the
charge. He was taking a chance, and he knew it. If Ralph
‘were innocent, there would be a suit for false arrest: And for
a few worried moments, he wondered if he’d made the right
move.
- Ralph denied everything. He’d had a few dates with the
other girl, sure. Wasn’t a man entitled to a few dates before
he got married? But Catharine was the gitl he’d planned to
marry.
Would he consent to a lie detector test?
Sure, why not? He had nothing to hide.
The handsome young man sat with the sensitive instruments
“«« Strapped to his hands and head, and answered the first ques-
tion—“No! I didn’t kill anyone!”
The needle he was watching on the machine jumped sud-
denly. |
“Does that mean that I told a lie?”
“Yes.”
In a sudden rage, Ralph Hawk tore himself from the ma-
chine. But, he knew that he had given himself away. Burying
his head in his arms he moaned “I must have been insane. I
>
meant to kill them all.” -
_ Motive? The other girl. He’d planned to marry Catharine,
wedding preparations had been made, the date had been set.
“Then he’d met the new love and his only solution of the prob-
lem was to murder the old love. — fr ee
His story of the crime shocked even experienced police ofh-
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