In order that he might pay a board bill, free himself from debt and be in a position to marry his fiancee, Miss Bertha SHAFFER, James H. WILSON (picture), a bricklayer of Allentown and a former resident of Pennsburg murdered John P. EBERT (picture), the old pretzel baker of the same city on the evening of February 24. WILSON, who is only 22 years old, has made a confession to the police, in which he says that he did not at first intend to kill the old man, but merely to "knock him on the head and rob him." Then he was afraid that he might be recognized, and thought he had better finish the job while he was about it. Nearly a month has elapsed since EBERT staggered into his house on evening and gasped that he had been shot by an unknown assassin while he was looking about his yard to assure himself that everything was locked up for the night. No suspicion had attached to WILSON. It was his frantic and unneccessary efforts to clear himself that put the charge at his door, and then all his cunning, all his boldness, deserted him. He broke down and told all he knew.
Confession To Robbery
I broke into Jonathan KISTLER's store between 9 and 9.30 on an evening several weeks ago that I do not remember. I think it was on Thursday. I climbed in through a rear window alone. I took two boxes of cigars, a revolver, cartridges, a lead pencil and a writing book. I am a fellow that spends my money freely when I have it and then half the time I have none. I took the revolver over to Mattern's dump this morning and threw it out. I shot three shots into the air last Saturday evening to scare the people. I ran up stairs where I board and hollered that some one wanted to shoot me. I had the revolver at home.
I had the revolver at home most of the time since I robbed KISTLER. At other times I had it in my pocket. I had it in my inside coat pocket the night my girl felt it.
Confession To Murder
I was so hard troubled for money and half crazy with worriment that I could not pay my board and being a frequent visitor at John EBERT's store where I noticed he had considerable money I went to John EBERT's store with the intention to rob him. I didn't go to shoot him but when I was there waiting for John EBERT to leave the store I saw I was discovered and to defend myself I shot him. I would have told this some time anyhow and if on my deathbed.
His Fatal Mistake
If he had not made the fatal mistake of telling the police that he had been shot at shortly after midnight Sunday morning in exactly the same way as EBERT was shot at; if he had not said that he never owned a revolver, it is likely that the murder of EBERT would have remained a mystery for all time. But WILSON devised a fake to protect himself from an imaginary danger. "I had been spending Sunday evening with Miss SHAFFER," he said, "and on my return home I took a walk into the yard to see that everything was all right. I was within a few feet of the back door when a man stepped out of a shanty and fired three shots at me. The man escaped out of the side gate." That threw WILSON into the limelight. Within a block of the scene of EBERT's murder, he had been set upon in exactly the same way, and by an assassin who tallied with the vague description given by the dying baker of the fellow who shot him. It was noticeable, also, that WILSON, in describing this assassin, described himself.
Suspicion Becomes A Conviction
At first it was believed that WILSON was a notoriety-seeker, or that his mind had been temporarily unbalanced by reading about the EBERT murder. His tale was so halting and his statements so conflicting and artificial that the disgust of the police soon turned into suspicion, and suspicion into conviction.
Chief of Police EASTMAN examined and re-examined WILSON, who said positively he did not own a revolver. Police Sergeant KNAUSS learned from Miss SHAFFER that he had recently been carrying a large pistol, and that since the EBERT affair he had acted like a different man. "I think he felt so bad about it that it preyed on his mind," said the girl. "He didn't even like to talk about it." On the strength of the girl's story, the police searched WILSON's room.
The most suspicious thing they found was two boxes of cheap cigars. WILSON was out of work, and they thought it strange that he would by buying cigars by the box. "I bought 'em of EBERT just a few hours before he was killed," said WILSON.
Arrested For Robbery
It turned out that EBERT did not sell cigars of that brand, but Jonathan D. KISTLER, whose store, in the vicinity of the EBERT home, had been robbed a few nights before the murder, did sell them. It was from KISTLER's store that a revolver was stolen on that same night, subsequently found in a clump of bushes and giving unmistakable evidence of having been discharged. The police have believed all along that this revolver was the one used by the slayer of EBERT. KISTLER identified the cigars as his. Thereupon WILSON switched his story and said he had bought the cigars from a tall man answering the description of EBERT's murderer, and that he paid $1.10 a box for them. From this was only a step to fastening the KISTLER robbery on the bricklayer. He was arrested by order of Mayor LEWIS at 6.30 o'clock Monday evening, and when charged with the robbery, he said: "Give me time to think it over." They put him into a cell. Half an hour later he said he was ready to talk about the robbery, but when he got to talking the robbery and the murder were so unextricably jumbled in his mind that he finished by making a breast of both of them.
How Crime Was Committed
On the night of February 24, according to the confession, WILSON had been in EBERT's store, but left a short time before the old man started to close the store. No one saw him walk into the yard from the street, yet this is how WILSON says he entered the place. Lurking behind an outhouse, he waited until his victim came nearly opposite to him, then opened fire. Frightened by the noise of his own revolver, he took to his heels, and ran to his boarding place, less than a block away. When suspicion seemed to have been directed into another channel, WILSON became emboldened, and, according to his own confession, forced an entrance into a butcher shop in broad daylight and robbed the till of $80 in cash.
Revolver Found
WILSON told the policemen that he had buried the revolver on the dump in Mattern's brickyard and they went in search of it and found it. All the chambers were loaded.
Employer Had Accused Him
Ed. MATTERN for whom he worked, had accused him of the murder and of Saturday night's shooting in fun. After the murder he came into Mr. MATTERN's office and sat down and Mr. MATTERN said "Well Jim what did you do over there to kill this old man" and laughed. WILSON got a little nervous then but Mr. MATTERN of course, did not think he was accusing the right man and said what he did in a joking manner and soon forgot about the matter. On Monday he again jokingly asked him what he meant by firing these shots in their back yard but this also passed off as a joke.
Warrant Served
Two warrants were sworn out by Chief EASTMAN before Alderman BERKEMEYER, one for burglary, the robbery of Jonathan KISTLER's store on February 23 and the other for attempted robbery and the murder of John P. EBERT on the night of the 24th and served on WILSON in his cell.
Knew Ebert Carried Money
WILSON, who has always been a spend-thrift, was out of work during the winter, he said he was desperately hard up. He boarded within half a block of EBERT's home, and was a habitual loafer in KISTLER's cigar shop. He knew EBERT always carried from $100 to $200 in cash, which was the motive that caused him to lie in wait on the fatal night of February 24.
Brief Sketch Of Wilson's Life
James WILSON, was born near East Greenville about 23 years ago in the house now owned and occupied by William SCHOENLY. The parents later moved to Pennsburg and lived in the house where George FOLK now resides near the Pennsburg Reformed Church. His mother, whose maiden name was HUBER, died at this place in 1888 and afterwards the father kept the family together with his only daughter as the housekeeper. Several years later they moved to near Palm and from there they moved to near the State Fishery near Allentown. While they resided here the boys grew to manhood and left home. The daughter was soon married and also left home when James, who is the youngest and his father quit housekeeping and secured a boarding place in Allentown. The father and son lived in Allentown for the past two years, and as James had no trade he worked at different jobs. For a while he was hostler for Dr. Milton NEIFFER of Wyncote, Philadelphia who is son-in-law of H.K. WALT with whom Calvin, another brother had a similar position and they were virtually under one roof, but about a year ago James returned to Allentown and for a while worked for the West End Brick Company and later for David MATTERN in a brick yard. Young WILSON was always considered a quiet and model man. He visited his brother in this borough the last time about a year ago. His father, George Washington WILSON, is a veteran of the Civil War and besides the son in jail has four other children, Charles, a United States Marine, stationed at Boston; George, cigarmaker of Pennsburg; Calvin of West Point and Mrs. Peter NONNEMACHER of South Allentown.
His Fiancee Prostrated
Miss SCHAFFER, his fiancee, is prostrated by the knowledge of her lover's confession. He had never hinted to her of his crime. Before startling revelations had been made she told a reporter that WILSON had left her a little before 12 o'clock Saturday night, and that they had no quarrel. They had decided not to go to church, as was their custom, because they thought the weather would be unpleasant. The young woman has an inheritance of $300 coming to her, with which she intended to furnish their home. WILSON said it had been his intention to carefully guard his crime throughout his life, and eventually, on his deathbed to confess that he killed EBERT.
Selected An Attorney
James WILSON on Wednesday afternoon engaged Ex-District Attorney LICHTENWALNER, of Allentown, as his attorney and he was closeted in his cell for several hours on that day. Since the lawyer had been in his cell WILSON began to hold his tongue. LICHTENWALNER declares that he is confident that he can save James WILSON's neck. Whether he will be able to accomplish this in the face of the written and signed confession which WILSON made to District Attorney SCHANTZ, is a question.
The family of Frank SMITH, a farmer residing on the Tobias MOYER farm in Lower Pottsgrove township near Skippack, is sadly bereaved by the death of a child, through the eating of a poisoned biscuit. In the early part of last week Mr. SMITH received a poisoned biscuit from a friend with whom he had a conversation relative to the best manner of killing off rats. He placed it in his coat pocket with the intention of using it when he came to his home, but forgot all about it. Last Friday morning his four year old daughter, Ethel, found the biscuit in the coat pocket during the father's absence, and asked the mother if she could have it. Mrs. SMITH, thought it was a soda cracker, and innocently said yes, after eating it the child was taken ill and gradually grew serious. The father was told of the biscuit eating affair and he remembered that it was poisoned and physicians were hurriedly summoned who did everything in their power to prevent a fatal result, but the child's life could not be saved. It died the same evening.
FARMER'S WIFE HAS RIPE TOMATOES
Mrs. John L. ZIEGLER, of Lederachville, has succeeded in raising tomatoes during the winter months. At present she has a stalk with a number of tomatoes on it that will be ripe in course of a few days. This plant has been viewed by many of Mrs. ZIEGLER's neighbors and she has often been congratulated upon her success.
An entertainment will be held at Warner's school, in Upper Hanover township near East Greenville, on Friday evening, March 31. The entertainment will be given by the scholars under the instruction of the teacher, Miss Susan C. JONES. It will begin at 7.30 o'clock and no addmission fee will be charged. A collection however will be taken in order to pay the expenses incurred in getting up the program.
John F. SEASHOLTZ, of Red Hill, will offer two carloads of horses at public sale at C.F. MOTZ's hotel, Red Hill, in the near future. The first load will be sold on Thursday, April 13, and the second load on Easter-Monday, April 24. The latter will be an express load containing thirty head. Mr. SEASHOLTZ's son Frank left for the west this week in order to buy up the horses.
Charles DERR, a carpenter of Pennsburg, on Saturday met with an accident while working at the Red Hill hotel stables. He was cutting a board with a rip saw when his left thumb was caught by the teeth in the saw and a portion of it as well as the mail was cut off. Dr. W.H. HUNSBERGER, of Pennsburg, dressed the injury.
Alvira, the eight-year-old daughter of William BARBER, of Lake Carey, Luzerne county, died on Friday night from the effects of a severe fright caused by stepping upon a blacksnake last fall. The happening brought on hysterics and nervous attacks, which continued all winter despite the efforts of the physicians to cure her, and which gradually sapped her vitality away.
A.S. KRIEBEL, a prominent farmer residing near Hereford, Berks county, this week purchased a self-feed, belt-power hay press. It is known as Detrick's Pet. Mr. KRIEBEL intends to use it in this locality. It is a portable press and can readily be taken from one farm to another.
The dwelling house on the farm of A.W. GERHART, situate near Morwood, was on Tuesday night destroyed by fire. The house was untenanted at the time and the origin of the fire is a mystery.
Mrs. Lizzie RITTER, of Allentown, spent Sunday with the family of Augustus SHANKEL, of this borough.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles SCHOLL, of Philadelphia, spent a week with the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hermann ROTH, of this borough.
Thos. E. MARSTELLER, of this borough, has rented the house on Main street, East Greenville, of Harwin FOX, executor of Mrs. FOX. It is situate directly opposite the Fire House.
A. Eugene BISCHOFF, of Norristown, spent Sunday with his friends in this borough.
Miss Annie BENNER, of Boyertown, formerly of this borough spent Saturday and Sunday with Miss Alice RUMMEL, of this borough.
Rev. Frank DECHANT, of Philadelphia, spent Saturday and Sunday with his mother and other relatives in this borough. He is a solicitor for Hapgoods, the Brain Brokers, of Philadelphia.
Miss Katie ROEDER, of East Greenville, spent Sunday and Monday at Allentown.
Mrs. Salome HOFFMAN who has been attending to the household duties of Alfred WELDER of this borough since the death of his wife, left that place on Monday. She will after April attend to similar duties for David HUBER of Niantic.
Mr. and Mrs. J. William GILBERT of this borough on Monday changed their boarding place from Henry SPAAR's to Alfred WELDER. Mrs. GILBERT will have charge of the household duties for Mr. WELDER.
John B. FRANK of Lebanon formerly of Fruitville, made a business trip to this borough on Thursday.
Clarence HARTZOG, a clerk in the grocery department of the W.R. LAWFER store at Allentown spent Thursday with his parents and friends in East Greenville.
E. Holmes SCHWARTZ, a student of Lafayette College, Easton, is spending a vacation at his home in this borough.
Thomas E. MARSTELLER of this borough made a business trip to Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Henry A. KNEULE, editor of the Bauren Freund of this borough made a business trip to Norristown on Wednesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Erwin LONG of this borough will start housekeeping this spring. They will move into a portion of the house of Mrs. Mary BECHTEL in the lower end of the borough.
Miss Celesta TRUMBORE of this borough on Monday made a business trip to Philadelphia.
Mrs. C.A. KNEULE and son Charles of this borough spent Sunday at Lansdale with the family of her sister.
Allen RITTER of this borough was in Allentown Saturday and Sunday.
Ocsar FOX of this borough spent Saturday and Sunday in Allentown.
Miss Ida GILBERT and Mrs. Annie EISENHARD of this borough spent Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia.
Emanuel SNYDER of this borough spent Wednesday in Allentown.
J.A. BAUS of East Greenville on Thursday moved to Finland.
Miss WAAGE of this borough spent the latter part of this week visiting in Philadelphia.
Samuel SMITH, of Woxall, attended to some business in this bourough, on Thursday.
Frank K. WALT Jr., of Reading, spent Thursday in Pennsburg among friends.
Mrs. Ella SHIMER, of Bethlehem, visited her father Dr. J.G. MENSCH of this borough in the fore part of the week.
Plumber Victor H. STECKEL, of this borough, and his brother, Marcus STECKEL, of Siegfrieds, Northampton county, this week spent several days at the Trades School in New York, of which the former is a graduate.
Charles A. KNEULE and wife, of Pennsburg, Henry C. ROEDER, of East Greenville, on Wednesday attended the funeral of Frank KING, of Lansdale.
Miss Pearl MUSE, of Allentown, visited the family of Clement U. GERY, of East Greenville, the latter part of last week.
N.B. KEELY, of East Greenville, made a business trip to Kutztown on Wednesday.
Charles A. TITLOW, of Pennsburg, spent Monday in Philadelphia.
Clinton BOYER, of Niagara Falls, returned to this borough on Tuesday. He will remain with his uncle, Milton T. KLINE. He was employed in a paper mill at the Falls for some time.
Peter HEBEL, of East Greenville, will in a few weeks move to Philadelphia from which place they came.
Illness and old age constrained Rev. Wm. B. FOX, of Sumneytown, to resign the pastorate of the Lutheran charge composed of Sumneytown and Keelor's churches after serving for thirty-seven years. In 1862 Rev. FOX entered the ministry. His first charge was at Berwick, Columbia county, Pa. He served the Berwick charge six years and then assumed the pastorate of the Sumneytown charge. The charge, as then composed, consisted of Sumneytown, Pennsburg, Sassamansville and Keelor's congregations. Two years ago Rev. FOX relinquished the Pennsburg and Sassamansville congregations and retained the other two with the hope that he might serve them for some years to come. But being advanced in years and suffering from illnes, he tendered his resignation, as he thought it would be to the advantage of his parishoners. During the long pastorate of forty-three years Rev. FOX officiated at 1607 funerals, baptised 2733, performed the marriage ceremony 905 times and confirmed 896 catechumens. While stationed at Sumneytown two new churches were built in his charge, one at Sassamansville and the other at Pennsburg. Both of these congregations had formerly worshipped in union churches.
Many of the residents of Vera Cruz, Spinnerstown and vicinity, have of late been receiving letters from strangers to them from the State of Indiana, asking them to send 25 cents to Rev. Elmer D.S. BOYER, of Lafayette, Indiana, and write three similar letters to a many friends. The money is to be devoted to the building of a new church in the Indiana town. It will be remembered that Rev. BOYER was a former resident of the section in which the endless chain letters are now circulating. The letter states that when number 50 in the chain is reached the collecting of quarters will be discontinued. A number who have received such letters have taken the time to figure out how much money would be received should every one respond with twenty-five cents and they find it would amount to $269,157,930,686,940,713,413,790. This in all probability would be enough to build a church and a parsonage for our worthy friend.
H. WEISS the Quakertown merchant who recently leased the storeroom of Tobias FREED, on Main Street Pennsburg, will open for business on April first. Mr. WEISS wishes to inform the general public that he will in future issues of Town and Country, advertise some bargain sales.
The frame dwelling house of Hiram C. WICKERT, of Pennsburg, situate on 4th street, that borough was yesterday sold to Dr. Chas. Q. HILLEGASS, of Pennsburg. The property adjoins the Town and Country printing office. Possession will be given on July first.
Richard FOX and Harry ZERN, of Hillegass, on Sunday killed a spotted snake between Reuben BAUERs place and the iron bridge across the Perkiomen Creek. The reptile measured three feet and ten inches and showed fight.
Rev. David HARBISON, a retired Presbyterian clergyman, of Easton dropped dead on Wednesday while he was engaged in cutting ice from the gutter in front of his house. He would have been eighty-one years old in May.
During the past two weeks there were six interments made on the Franconia Mennonite Burial Grounds. This has been a rare occurrence.
Rein G. GODSHALL, of Morwood, was kicked by a horse on Sunday morning, while getting him ready to hitch to a wagon. The injury proves quite painful.
The city, of Allentown, was crowded in the early part of the week with Methodists who attended the Methodist Conference held there. The subject of camp meetings was brought up on Monday morning and those which keep open gates on Sunday were especially mentioned. This caused a warm debate. A discussion was caused by the reading of the report of the Committee on Sabbath Observances by Rev. T.T. MUTCHLER, corresponding secretary of the Philadelphia Sabbath Association. Dr. MUTCHLER prefaced his report by saying: "Camp meetings which keep their gates open on Sunday do more harm than good. It is true that large crowds attend the meetings coming by trains from the cities and that the collections are thus greatly increased, but it is inconsistant, and, in my opinion, not Christian." A dozen ministers were on their feet in a moment to protest against the remarks. Presiding Elder KYNETT said that this was a case for the use of a little common sense. Dr. J. SAYERS, of Trinity Church, Chester, said that as president of the Simpson Grove Camp Meeting, he was anxious to see men and women converted whether they came on Sunday trains or walked. The offending clause that all such camp meetings should receive no recognition from the conference was stricken out of the report by a rising vote. The remainder of the report was adopted, condemning the sale of candy on Sunday claiming that many children spent their money for candy instead of putting it in the Sunday school collections. Sunday papers were also condemned as not having enough religious news. The sale of tobacco and cigars on Sunday was also condemned.
John SMITH, of Stemton, Lehigh County, met with a serious mishap while on his way to Vera Cruz to look for a position. He came to Allentown by trolley and from there intended to take the train for Vera Cruz, while descending the steps at the terminal at Allentown he made a misstep and fell landing heavily on the railing. He came near fracturing several ribs. Mr. SMITH is an expert blacksmith but is out of work and he was going to Vera Cruz to try and secure work at the Lehigh Granite Quarries for whom he worked several years ago. Mr. SMITH is at present staying at the public house of B.H. STOUDT, until he fully recovers from his injuries.
Lawrence A. SKINNER, a farmer living near Easton, Md., who is in the habit of counting his geese, and putting them in his stable over night, says that when he fastened them up on the night of the blizzard one goose was missing, and was not found until a few days ago, when he was shoveling a lot of snow out in the rear of the barnyard. He came across the goose, still alive, but somewhat poorer than it was before, owing to the fact that it had been covered up in the snow for the last six weeks, without anything to eat or drink.
Thinking that perhaps he had secured a nights' lodging at "Hobos Retreat" James WATSON, a tramp, on Saturday night proceeded to take a nap on Mill street, Norristown. WATSON was intoxicated and this probably caused him to make a mistake. When he arrived at the above spot he wore four coats and as many vests. He removed all of these and hung them upon a fence. Next he proceeded to enjoy rest in the arms of Morpheus. An officer however, disturbed his dreams and when WATSON awoke he was taking a ride in the patrol.
The explosion of a 150 horse power boiler in R.B. GROVER & Co's. large four story shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts, on Monday, killed 43 employees, injured half a hundred others and destroyed property valued at $250,000.
The mystery of the numerous robberies of Kutztown hotels recently was solved on Sunday with the arrest of Wm. MAUREY, of Allentown, and Milton FRITCH, of Kutztown, charged with the robbery of the Keystone House on Sunday morning of a case of whiskey. In their confession they implicated Howard GEIGER, another young man of Kutztown, who had skipped the town. GEIGER was arrested in Allentown on Monday evening when word reached the police station that he was playing cards in SNYDER's livery stables. Officers JACOBY and SMITH arrested him and he was turned over to the Kutztown authorities on Tuesday. Entrance to the hotel was effected by a window leading into the cellar beneath the porch of the hotel. The three young fellows had been hanging about the town for a few days and aroused the suspicious of George ANGSTADT, of the Pennsylvania House, who expected they would attempt to rob his hotel and kept close watch, discovering these three men leaving the house. GEIGER, is known in this vicinity having several years ago worked for Dr. Jesse Z. HILLEGASS in taking care of race horses at the Red Hill hotel. While in the doctor's employ it will be remembered he collected the winnings of over a hundred dollars at the Orwigburg Fair and absconded.
The case of Mrs. Jessie HOPKINS of Chicago, Ill. on trial for the murder of her husband, was taken out of the hands of the jury on Monday by Judge George W. KERSTEN, by whom the charge against her was summarily dismissed. Judge KERSTON declared that a woman "is not her husband's chattel." He held Mrs. HOPKINS was justified. Mrs. HOPKINS shot her husband at their home on New Year's Eve. HOPKINS had attacked her and had threatened to kill her. Judge KERSTEN said in his decision: "If a woman is unfortunate enough to marry a brute, she has a right to defend herself, even to the point of taking his life."
Having swallowed a quart of brandy in 20 minutes, Charles BUTLER, aged 31, of Williamsburg, Pa., died Tuesday night, and several arrests are apt to follow. BUTLER bet he could drink a quart of cognac in an hour without feeling it. After drinking the liquor he collapsed and was taken to his room in a stupor. Later he was found dead.
Minnie RUGLER, of South Scranton, was fatally burned on Friday night while making ready for a church service. As she struck a match the flame ignited some celluloid combs, and in trying to smother the fire her dress ignited.
The bite of a pet cat nine months ago caused the death on Saturday by hydrophobia of nine-year-old Henry PFLASTERER, of St. Louis, Mo.
David HUNSBERGER, of Boyertown, set a hen with 15 eggs, and each egg hatched a chick. Same time William GRABERT of the same town put 100 eggs in an incubator and only 5 chicks were hatched.
The farm of the late Charles KEMMERER, of Emaus, Lehigh County was offered at public sale on Tuesday and up to $20,000. The price was considered insufficient and it was not sold.
Josiah and John G. YERGER, of New Hanover, were appointed administrators of the estate of their mother, Mary Ann YERGER, deceased. There are several properties in Boyertown, belonging to said estate.
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