Leo SISLER, of Bridgeport, an employee of the Schuylkill Valley Traction Company, on Saturday shot and fatally wounded his sweetheart, Miss Flossie HAMPTON and then turning the deadly weapon upon himself sent a bullet crashing through his brain. The tragedy occured at the home of the girl's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isiah HAMPTON, of Norristown. Both the participants were removed to the Charity Hospital and are still in a dangerous condition. STORY OF THE TRAGEDY. That the shots were prompted by jealousy is not questioned. Miss HAMPTON to whom SISLER had been paying attention, is quite pretty, and was employed in the paper mill at Lafayette. Among her friends was James RAMSEY, of Spring Mill, who was employed in the same establishment. As they both went to their homes in the same train, they were often thrown together, and at times RAMSEY called at the HAMPTON residence. No attempt was made to keep the calls of RAMSEY a secret, and when SISLER heard of them he flew into a rage. Miss HAMPTON was working at night and when she arrived at the DeKalb street station of the Reading Railroad Saturday morning a few minutes before 7 o'clock she found SISLER waiting for her. What passed between the two from the time they left the station until they reached her home will probably never be known. They chatted a few minutes on the sidewalk and then entered an enclosed proch, where a few minutes later the tragedy was enacted. Two pistol shots brought Mrs. HAMPTON to the porch. Her daughter lay in a hallway in a pool of blood, and on the porch lay SISLER, within six feet of the girl, a pistol close by. A bullet had pierced Miss HAMPTON's head an inch or two above the ear. SISLER was shot in the face. He had held the revolver so close that the skin was burned and blackened by the powder. Miss HAMPTON's father who is a watchman at the DeKalb street bridge, and was within forty feet of the lovers when the shooting occured was the second to reach the scene. Taking in the situation at a glance, he summoned an ambulance, and had his daughter and SISLER removed to the hospital. Chief of Police RODENBAUGH arrived a few minutes after they were admitted, and had an interview with SISLER. "What did you shoot Miss HAMPTON for?" asked the Chief. "I did not shoot her," replied SISLER. "Who did fire the shots?" was asked. SISLER hesitated for a while and then said, "James RAMSEY did the shooting." When he was getting ready to leave the hospital Chief RODENBACH said, "I will come this afternoon and have a talk with you." "I hope I am dead the next time you see me," replied SISLER. SISLER, who is 23 years of age, five years older than Miss HAMPTON, was employed on the electric cars, after a somewhat erratic career. One day last week he told a motorman, it is alleged, that he had about made up his mind to end his troubles. "In what way?" inquired the motorman. "I will do it with a revolver," was the reply. SISLER also informed the motorman that he was on his way to Spring Mill to locate the man who was the cause of the trouble. He left the car at Conshohocken. Not the slightest importance is attached to SISLER's denial of the shooting.
Jonathan P. HILLEGASS, of Pennsburg, met with a mishap on Sunday while returning home from the New Goshenhoppen Reformed church. He was accompanied by Allen DIMMIG, of East Greenville, and when they were driving out Jefferson street in East Greenville the horse started to kick and made a dash over a five foot embankment. Both the occupants were thrown out. The horse was caught in the fence and thrown in a heap. After considerable difficulty the horse was extricated. The shaft of the wagon was broken and the harness badly torn. Both occupants escaped without injuries.
The members of the New Goshenhoppen Reformed church, near East Greenville, donated twenty-five bushels of potatoes and one hundred and twelve dollars to the Orphans Home at Womelsdorf. The money is to be used in the purchase of potatoes when the Home gets in need of them. The donation was sent last week. This move on the part of the congregation is one worthy of commendation as the potato crop at the Home was not near enough for what is required during the year.
The consignment of Jersey cattle, the largest ever brought to Lehigh county, which T.S. COOPER purchased in the Isle of Jersey, were released from quarantine at Athenia, N.J., on Saturday, and were shipped to Mr. COOPER's stock farm at Coopersburg, Lehigh county. There are 135 head in the lot, including the $10,000 bull "Flying Fox," the prize winner on the Isle of Jersey for the past two years. Mr. COOPER estimates the value of the importation at over $100,000.
Samuel MENSCH, who for several years conducted the Windsor Hotel at DeKalb and Washington street, Norristown, has disposed of the property to Benjamin C. KEYSER, of Allentown. The price paid for the hotel was $55,000 and the new proprietor will take charge on March 1st of next year. He comes well recommended from Allentown, where he has been in the hotel business for some years, being at present the proprietor of the Cross Keys Hotel. Mr. MENSCH will retire from business and take up his residence at No. 318 West Marshall street.
Six Reading men have been digging for gold on the farm of Charles Tracy, near Monocacy, Berks county, every night for the past week. The first operation was started six months ago. The other morning they struck a rock. They now believe that they will soon reach the coveted prize. The party in charge of the diggers believe that the hidden treasure lies beneath the rock, and it is probable that dynamite will be used in removing the obstruction, which they believe, now holds down the yellow metal. They declare that the amount of cold cash aggregates in the neighborhood of $50,000, which was buried by the ancestors of one of the men. The owner of the place receives $5.00 each night they dig. He says that it pays better than raising vegetables.
Lehigh County's first victim of vaccination, six-year-old Ellen FAUST, daughter of Peter FAUST, of Lower Milford, died of lockjaw Sunday. The girl was vaccinated 10 days previous to her death.
Peter FAUST, of Sigmund, father of Helen C. FAUST, who was reported to have died of lockjaw after vaccination, states the little girl died of cerebrospinal meningitis. Drs. GERY and ROTH attended. An article also appears in this issue stating that Miss FAUST died from lockjaw as a result from vaccination. This story is denied by the girls' father.
[Picture - William EBERHART]
Probably one of the most deplorable gunning accidents that ever occured in this vicinity happened last Saturday morning when, Simon J. CROLL, proprietor of the Eagle Hotel, Pennsburg, accidentally shot and seriously wounded William EBERHART. The unfortunate man was removed to the German hospital, Philadelphia, for treatment, but the physician pronounced him to be beyond all medical or surgical aid. He died about 45 minutes after he was admitted to the institution. Mr. EBERHART was a single man twenty-eight years of age and boarded at the Eagle Hotel. He was a cigar-maker by trade and was employed at the L.B. MILLER cigar factory, Red Hill. Several days previous to the occurance of this sad accident Mr. CROLL, who is an experienced gunner, had given him a gun to try, and if found as represented, he was to recommend it to a prospective purchaser. The ground being covered with snow Mr. CROLL early Saturday morning, proposed going out in his field in quest of rabbits and trying the new gun. Mr. EBERHART being present expressed a desire to accompany him. Mr. CROLL gave him his gun and the two men started out little thinking of the serious accident that would result from this short gunning trip. The men crossed Mr. CROLL's land and had just entered on adjoining field when Mr. CROLL noticed a rabbit trail close to a pile of fence rails. Upon closer investigation he found that the trail only led a few feet from the rails. This convinced him that the rabbit was still under the rails. He told Mr. EBERHART that there was a rabbit under there and asked him to stir it up. He then suggested tearing away the rails, but Mr. CROLL objected to this. Nevertheless with the remarks, "I will replace them" he began to tear them away. When probably two thirds of them had been removed Mr. CROLL noticed the rabbit on the ground between the rails. Mr. EBERHART was at the East side of the rail pile and Mr. CROLL at the South side, when the rabbit ran out between Mr. EBERHART's legs. Mr. CROLL shot at the rabbit but missed it and in order to shoot again was obliged to run around his companion. While in the act of doing this he was re-loading the gun, when it was accidentally discharged, the full load entering Mr. EBERHART's side just above the hip. Mr. EBERHART was but a few feet from him when the gun was discharged and he fell to the ground, at the same time exclaiming, "Simon, you have shot me in the leg." Mr. CROLL dropped his gun and ran to the injured man who asked him to take him into the house as soon as possible, as his wound was bleeding profusely. He then placed the unfortunate man on his shoulders and carried him until he gave out and fell to the ground with his friend. He then ran into the hotel, dispatched a man for a physician and at once returned to the field with three men, who removed Mr. EBERHART to a room in the house. As soon as this had been accomplished he sent for another physician, but during the messengers absence the first physician, Dr. C.T. WAAGE, of Pennsburg, arrived, who upon examination found the man's injuries to be of a serious nature. While he was examining the wound the second physician, Dr. W.H. HUNSBERGER arrived. The full charge of shot had entered the man's side, making a wound probably an inch and a half in diameter. In order to determine the full extent of his injuries the doctors were obliged to cut the wound open, when they found that the bone was shattered and the wound under the surface was of enormous size. After a thorough examination and a consultation on the part of the physicians they decided that the case was beyond their aid and they advised that he be removed to the German Hospital, Philadelphia, at once. The injured man was then consulted and he said that he would consent to anything the physicians deemed best. Mr. CROLL made arrangements to remove him at the earliest possible moment and he was taken to Philadelphia on the 10:30 train. They arrived at the German hospital about 2:15. The physicians examined him at once, but pronounced his case to be beyond all medical and surgical aid. The man was too weak to stand an operation should it have been at all necessary to perform one. The hip bone was shattered to such an extent that the surgeons saw at a glance the man's life could not be saved. The accident happened about 7 o'clock in the morning and the unfortunate man died at the German hospital, Philadelphia, at three in the afternoon. Mr. EBERHART's parents who reside at York, were at once notified of the accident and his mother and brother visited the hospital, but were too late to see him alive. The body was removed to York for interment. It was purely accidental and cannot even be attributed to the careless handling of fire arm as the charge was exploded in the act of re-loading. A Winchester Repeating shot-gun is re-loaded by a sliding cylinder and the shell was discharged in the act of drawing back the slide. Had the gun worked perfectly, no accident would have happened as Mr. CROLL was compelled to pass around Mr. EBERHART to shoot at the rabbit and it was while running around him the gun was discharged. Mr. CROLL was exonerated from all the blame by the injured man in the presence of several persons as well as by the Coroner at Philadelphia. But nothwithstanding this the accident has been a heavy blow to him. He has the sympathy of all who are acquainted with the accident and derives great comfort from the fact that he did all possible for the injured man.
Butcher E. WEISS, of this borough, on Thursday slaughtered the heaviest hog killed in this vicinity up to this time. It was raised by Enos SCHANTZ and tipped the scales at five hundred and twenty pounds.
Jesse N. HAAS, of Finland, is the champion partridge shooter in that section of Bucks county. The other day he shot eight partridges on one shot. He would like to hear of some one who made a better record.
The large tailoring establishment of Ephraim S. RENNINGER at Zieglerville early Wednesday morning was broken into by thieves and two hundred and fifty dollars worth of ready-made clothing were stolen. About one o'clock Wednesday morning Mr. RENNINGER was awakened by the barking of his dog. Thinking probably something was wrong he went to the window, but as all was quiet he returned to bed. Upon entering his factory the next morning the first thing he noticed was that several cases containing valuable clothing were missing. Upon investigation he found that the thieves had gained an entrance through the cellar wall where they had made an opening eighteen inches square. The thieves evidently were in a hurry to depart with their stolen goods, as they left their tools in the factory. There is no clue which could in any way lead to the detection of the guilty parties, but Mr. RENNINGER will have the matter fully investigated.
The horses of Isaac STAHL, a farmer residing near Fruitville, ran away on Saturday while he was on his way to MUMBAUER's mill near Palm.. While coming down the steep hill at Christian BIELER's place the horses became unmanageable and started to run away. Mr. STAHL jumped from the wagon and the team ran towards East Greenville. On the road beyond the pumping station of the East Greenville water plant several trenches had been recently dug and covered up. One of the horses came in this loose ground which caused it to fall. The pole of the wagon was run into the ground to the depth of about four feet. This halted the horses in their mad flight. Only slight damages were the result of the runaway.
The three county commissioners could not agree upon a mercantile appraiser on Wednesday and as a result they decided to postpone the election until next meeting. Among the candidates for the position are the following: Gideon NYCE, Upper Hanover; Jacob LEIDY, Mingo; Frank SAYLOR, Ironbridge; Jacob B. NYCE, Franconia; Charles SCHWENK, Providence Square; Charles JOHNSON, Bridgeport; John KINZIE, Bridgeport; William MITCHINER, Ogontz; H.R. THOMAS and Geo. KIBBLEHOUSE, Ambler; Thomas COULSTON, Plymouth.
Hon. Jere. ROTH, of Allentown, president of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, and one of Lehigh County's most extensive and prosperous farmers, has decided to give up the business and to close out at public sale on Monday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 26, his entire stock of horses, mules, cattle, machinery, farming implements, etc., on his large and valuable stock farm. He expects to retire and enjoy the fruits of his well-doing in ease and comfort.
Mrs. Jonas ROEDER, of Hosensack, died on Thursday morning from the effects of a paralytic stroke. On Tuesday she was stricken but death did not relieve her until a few days later. Mrs. ROEDER died at the home of her son Henry E.E. ROEDER, Esq. Her husband preceeded her in death by many years. The funeral will be held on Tuesday. Interment and services at the New Goshenhoppen church.
Joel SCHIFFERT, a farmer residing near Telford met with a painful accident one day this week. Mr. SCHIFFERT was delivering a load of straw to butcher J.C. RACE of Telford and while walking along side the horses, slipped and fell, the heavy wheels passing over his legs. Fortunately no bones were broken and he escaped with a few painful bruises.
Suit was brought at Allentown against the Perkiomen Railroad for $10,000 damages by Mrs. SAEGER for the death of her husband, who about a year ago was fatally injured in a freight wreck at Palm, this county.
Horace KLINE, a former resident of Sassmansville, on Thursday died suddenly at the county prison, Norristown. The unfortunate man was taken in charge by Patrolman WARREN about 7 o'clock on Tuesday evening, while complaining on the street. The officer took the stranger, who said he was 65 years of age to the City Hall. The Burgess saw that the old man was suffering and directed the officer to take him to the Charity Hospital. The trip was made in a trolley car. At the institution the man was examined and was found to have a "slow" heart, but his condition in the eyes of the hospital people was not such as to made him a subject for the institution. After administering a dose of castor oil the sick man was permitted to go. The officer returned with him to the police station. With a view of obtaining for him what medical treatment was afforded by the jail, the Burgess sent him over for five days, little thinking that he would never finish his sentence. Warden GOTWALS said that the man's sole complaint was about his heart after being addmitted to jail. At the direction of Coroner ASHTON a postmortem was made yesterday afternoon by his physician, which developed the fact that death was due to a rupture of a blood vessel of the chest, proving that the stranger was not feigning illness. No evidence was found that the man was under the influence of liquor, and his condition showed plainly that he was in need of attention when application was made at Charity Hospital.
Sheriff-elect John LARZELERE was in Norristown Wednesday. He made a tour of the Court House, by way of getting acquainted with those with whom he will be associated more or less in the coming three years. He also took a few lessons on the duties that will be expected of him in connection with his office. He was an interested spectator at the realty sales by Sheriff LIGHT in Court Room No. 2. Mr. LARZELERE imparted the information that his nephew, J.B. LARZELERE, Jr. would be his solicitor. It is also understood that Capt. W.W. OWEN will be retained as inside deputy, and that Mr. LARZELERE will personally attend to the outside work, employing additional help when needed. It is also alleged that the new Sheriff will be his own auctioneer, which has been his business.
Edwin K. SCHULTZ, of Niantic, lost a valuable horse this week under peculiar circumstances. About six weeks ago the horse trod in a nail. Veterinary Surgeon KOHLER, of Boyertown, attended to the injured foot but the wound gradually grew more bothersome and in order to relieve the horse of its sufferings the animal was killed. Dr. KOHLER pronounced the horse incurable.
Last Friday evening J.A. ROSENBERRY, of Milford Square, gave a phonographic concert in the school house at Geryville where he is teaching. Mr. ROSENBERRY will use the proceeds of the entertainment to establish a library for that school. This will be a great improvement and will give the children easy access to something that most country schools do not have.
Two Perkiomen freight trains collided at the lower end of the Terminal Railroad at Allentown, on Thursday morning, and 15 cars were demolished. The wreck caught fire, and the destruction of both trains was prevented by the Allentown Fire Department. Five cars were destroyed, one of which was loaded with pianos. The loss is $25,000. No one was injured.
The marriage of Samuel MILLER, of Niantic, to Miss Anna LICK, of the same place, has been announced to take place today.
It may be that the Bechtelsville poison mystery will ever remain unsolved. Detectives have been working on the case but little light has been thrown on the matter. William R. HERB, aged 52 years, died at the home of his mother near Bechtelsville from strychnine poisoning on Monday, and if all the stories which have been told to County Detective McDERMOTT are true, three persons are dead as the result of being poisoned, while the life of one who was poisoned was saved. On last Thursday night HERB was found on what was believed to be his deathbed, suffering from the effects of a dose of strychnine. Physicians were at once summoned and all possible was done to save the poisoned man's life but he died after suffering excruciating pain for several days. All the persons involved are relatives. The first to die was Rose HERBST 23 years old, daughter of Mrs. Sarah HERBST, a widow living near Bechtelsville. Next Reuben REITNER, 62 years old, who lived on the outskirts of Eshbach, died with all the symptoms of strychnine poisoning. Two weeks ago Daniel, the 15-year old son of Mrs. HERBST, lay ill of poison, but recovered. Mrs. HERBST was left a widow, with children ten years ago. She is now 42. For the last five years her cousin Wm. HERB, has been attentive to her. HERB has been a widower for 23 years. He is good-looking, with a heavy white moustache and iron gray hair. On the afternoon of May 19 last Mrs. HERBST left the house to visit a neighbor, a quarter of a mile away, and was gone half an hour. She left at the farm Rosa, her sister Kate, aged 13, and William HERB. According to the testimony of Kate and the mother. HERB asked the child to go out into the road and see if her mother was returning. When she returned five minutes later HERB was gone and the girl lay writhing upon the floor. Katie ran for her mother, but when the mother and daughter returned, Rosa was dead - all within the half hour. Dr. F.R. BRUNER, of Eshbachs who was called in, suspected poison, but the mother told him that the girl frequently had spasms, and he then concluded that death was due to natural causes. Yesterday however, Mrs. HERBST acknowledged to County Detective McDERMOTT that Rosa had not had a spasm for thirteen years before her death. In the latter part of August Reuben REITNER, at whose house HERB was a frequent visitor, accused the latter of stealing from him a pair of gold rimmed spectacles. He did not pronounce HERB's name, but, according to the evidence of his daughter, Anna and of Mrs. HERBST, said to William HERB: "I ain't saying anything but I know who stole my glasses, and so do you. If they are not back here within three days, I am going to have the thief arrested. "On the day Herb is said to have shown Mrs. HERBST a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, which he declared he had bought from a peddler. Two days later REITNER after drinking a glass of beer with HERB was taken violently ill, and was attended by Dr. BRUNNER, who pronounced it a case resembling strychnine poison. HERB and REITNER worked together at the Klein and Hunter ore crusher. Two days after his recovery, on August 27, REITNER was again taken violently ill, after eating his lunch, and died in great agony within a short time. Dr. BRUNER was again called in but this time could do nothing for the old man. He pronounces all of the symptoms indicative of strychnine poisoning. Three weeks ago, Pierre, Mrs. HERBST's second son, aged 17, and Daniel who is 15, concluded that they did not want William HERB about the house any longer, so they took clubs and drove him from the door. Daniel also worked alongside of HERB in the ore crusher. All the men hang their dinner buckets side by side in the engine room. On Thursday of last week Daniel took his lunch pail and began to eat his lunch. He had swallowed about a third of a piece of pie when he detected a bitter taste. The boy threw away the remainder of his pie, and closed his bucket. With in a few minutes he was seized with vomiting and was compelled to stop work. Dr. D. Roy LECHNER was called to attend the boy, and sent for Dr. BRUNER, when he recognized poisoning symptoms. The patient was saved and the remainder of the pie was fed to a dog, which died. County Detective McDERMOTT states that the dog's stomach was submitted to Dr. George KOHLER, a veterinary, of Boyertown, who pronounced the animal's death to be due to strychnine. Last Wednesday the county detective started upon the case. On Thursday night William HERB went to his room in his mother's house, and immediately after was heard groaning. Dr. BRUNER was summoned and at once suspected that the patient was poisoned. But HERB refused to make any statement. He endured great agony but declined to take the medicine prescribed and had to be forced down his throat. It was learned at the Berks county District Attorney's office that arrests will hardly be made, now that HERB has died. It is believed he knew he was suspected. With his death the Bechtelsville poison mystery ends. On the night when he was taken ill he made a visit to Mrs. Emma HERBST, whose son's dinner was poisoned. He was told by Mrs. HERBST that Detective McDERMOTT had visited her house, consulted her son about the whereabouts of his dinner kettel at the time poison was found on his victuals, and that an arrest would likely follow. He replied that if that was the case, it would probably be the last time she would see him. An inquest may be held in the above case after a consultation with the county authorities.
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