The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-05-16
EXECUTION OF r E6GLERI
he Makes = Full Confession
F.lI History Of the Case.

Mr.. A. L. McheiVey, OF tnis CITY, toE Inc
following dispatch, giving the details
of the execution Of Robert lFogler, at
washington, yesterday: sHaa.
WASHINGTON, Pa, May Il, 1867.
The execution of Robert FogIer, con-
demned for the murder of Mr. Dins-
more, took place in the Jail yard to-day.
The prisoner-dressed in new suit OF
black broadcloth, white shirt and black
nee -tie-was conducted to the scaffold
at II o'clock P. NJ. He appeared per-
fectly calm, expressing trust in Cod
About fifteen minutes after one o'clock
the Sheriff entered, his cell and told
Fogler that the time for his execution
had come. Fogler maintained COM
plete composure, extending his hands
! to the Sheriff with smile, saying
"Cheer up, Sheriff, am prepared" He
was then conducted to the scaffold, sup
ported on either side by Revs. Watkins
and Herr, the latter of whom offered a
prayer upon the seaffold. The trap fell
at twenty-seven minutes past one, and
thirteen minutes later life was extinct.
The body remained suspended over
twenty minutes, ut the end of which
time Drs. Clarke, MckeNnan, Brisbine
and Wilson examined the body, and
finding all signs of life extinct, it was
taken down twelve minutes before two
o'clock. The remains of the condemned
will be conveyed to Georgetown, Beaver
county, Pa, the former residence Of his
parents, for interment.
The following is Fogler's speech upon
the gallows:
Gentlemen and friends Il have
made true and full confession, before
God and my fellow men. am about TO
pass through the dark valley of the
shadows of death, and will die with the
full assurance that an all-sufficient Re-
deemer will receive my spirit. thank
the Sheriff and these reverend gentle
men for their many acts of kindness. l
hopo to meet the Sheriff, as well as all
here present, in heaven. j have here q
written statement which would like
to have published in the Washington
and Pittsburg papers, also in the Beaver
papers. l bid you all goodbye"
His confession occupies twenty-seven
pages of foolscap, and was written by
himself in clear and concise manner,
hiding neither his own guilt nor that of
his associates. He rciterates his former
confession before the Coroner's jury,
and also gives some account of his
trea tInent by the counsel and friends of
Montgomery, in order to insure his ST.
lence on the trial of the latter.
Below we give full account of the
crime for which Fogler was executed,
his confession before the Coroner's jury,
and his trial.
'. THE CRIME.
Robert w. Dinsmore was wealthy
farmer, fifty-six years Of age, residing
with his wife and two daughters in
Hopewell township, Washington coun-
ty, six miles north Of Washington bor-
ough. About ten o'clock OH the night
of December 4th, he had concluded
family worship and sat by the window
reading. The two daughters had gone
to their room up stairs and Mrs. Dins-
more was about retiring i'll the room
where her husband sat in the front of
the house ON the first floor. A rap came
Mt the front door. Before opening the
door Mr.. Dinsmore asked who was there.
A voice outside replied that Mrs. Miller,
neichbor, was sick and help was want
ed. Mr.. ID. then opened the door and
found two men, apparently negroes,
standing without. They both pushed
past him into the house, the first one
saying, "YOu are the man We want;
give us your money! Mr.. Dinsmore
replied, "What do you want with me,
YOU rascals ?" Both the men then
seized him, and severe struggle en-
sued. He soon freed himself from
them and went out into the hall. Both
men pursued him, caught him and
brought him back into the room, where
Mrs. Dmsmore was standing in the bed.
One of the men now held large re-
velver in his hand and the other a
drawn knife. A fresh struggle between
Mr.. Dinsmorc and the tallest man, who
held the pistol, ensued. Mr.. ID. wrested
the pistol out of the hands of his assail-
ant hut the other got hold of it again,
and fired two shots, at the same time
calling OH his companion to knock the
old man down. The accomplice then
stuck the knife into Mr.. iDinsmore,
threw at him large stone which he
held in his other hand, and knocked
him down by blow over the head with
q chair. The old man arose and ran out
into the hall, exclaiming, "Pm shot"
"I'm killed. One of the murderers
called to the other. Giles gone for his
gun. Rum and both fled from the
house and escaped. 40 -
Mr.. Dinsmore tainted and fell in the
hall, but after a short time was able,
with the help of his Mortified wife and
daughters, to return to the room.
There he tainted again, falling on the
hearth. He fingered until one o'clock
in the morning, when he expired. An
examination OF his injuries showed one
bullet wound, stab, and the bruises
from the blow with the chair.
THE ARREST OF SUSPECTED PAkIlES.
At four o'clock, on Wednesday morn
ming, Z. r. Smith, Sheriff of the county,
was notified of the murder and went
Immediately to the house, for the pur-
pose of getting such facts as might lead
to arrests. Mrs. Dinsmore remembered
tnat her husband had, some time pre-
yiously had some words with Abraham
Smith, colored man, who he ,discharg-
ed, from his service, and Smith had
threatened revenge. This man was
promptly arrested and lodged in Jail.
She also remembered that some time
previously, man about the size and
appearance Of the tall man who had
the pistol, and like him dressed in
dark military overceat and cape, had
been at the house and sold lamp burn
or from the store of Mr.. Montgomery, in
Washington. She had also heard that
this man had enquired about her hus-
bands wealth, and said that he had
seen him at Montgomery's store, try
ing to get o 81, 900 note changed. These
faots, together with the heel of a boot
and o button found near the door, were
the only clue to the identity of the
murderers. Sheriff Smith went imme-
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