The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-19
sboching, Murder in Huntingdon, PA Far.
mcr, HIS Wife, and SON ali Bnichered.

Hcf, Wues una son all butChereO
HUNTINGDON, Nov. 18.-This unusually quiet
neighborhood has been startled from its pro-
priety by one Of the most cruel and brutal mur-
ders in the annals of crime. The crime was per-
petrated near Pleasant Grove, about seven miles
from this place.
The victims were farmer named John Pergh-
tai, his wife Sarah and his son Scott Gardner,
the latter boy of about ten or twelve years of
age. The deceased were universally known and
respected by all in the neighborhood, and none
but will individually feel their loss greatly.
Between six and seven o'clock last evening the
victims were quietly seated at the table enjoying
their evening meal after hard days work on
the farm. All unconscious were they of the inn
pending fate hanging over them. Thinking of
nothing but the work of the morrow, and quietly
chatting together, they were progressing with
their meal when Perghtal and his son were shot
through the head and instantly killed. Mrs.
Perghtal was also shot, but not fatally, and the
villains-for there were two of them-sprang for
q hatchet which appeared to be lying conve-
niently close at hand, and with that despatched
the wounded woman.
After perpetratiag their bloody deed the
villains proceeded leisurely to ransack the house
from top to bottom, securing all the money in
the house, amounting to several thousand dollars,
which was in coins and greenbacks.
Securing all the booty they could beside the
money, they deliberately set to work to cover
up their traces Placing the bodies side by side,
they piled on top of them all the old clothes and
bedding which they could conveniently lay their
hands on. Striking match, one of the villains
then set fire to the whole. But, fearful that
they would be discovered by some neighbor,
who might by accident visit the house to see the
Perghtals, they made speedy exit and fled
from the neighborhood In their haste, the fire
was but imperfectly lit. Instead of blazing up
and destroying everything, as they had fondly
hoped, so as to create the impression in the
neghborhood that the Perghtals had been
burned up in their dwelling by an accidental
fire, 1t smouldered on and on until some persons
atn1 L..
volumes of smoke which were issuing from the
house, and ventured in and discovered the true
state of affairs on investigation.
AS all bad news does, this flew on the wings of
the wind, and soon for miles around every one
was acquainted with the fearful deed of blood
which had been perpetrated in our very midst,
and which, but for the timely discovery of the
flames and smoke, might never have been dis
covered. The community was startled and
knew not what to make of it. Many who had,
and many more who had not known the victims,
focked from all quarters to the farmhouse to
see the murdered family. Old and young gave
| vent to their feelings of sorrow for the three
victims who had thus been cut off untimely in
| their career by the hands of assassins.
Rumor was quickly at work, and many were
| the surmises as to the cause of the deed, and
| who had committed it, but suspicion at once
| rested upon two sinister-looking men who had
| been seen lurking in the neghborhood during
| the day. AS soon this suspicion gained
| ground messenger was hurriedly despatched
| to the depot and by dnt of inquiry, soon ascer-
| tanned that two persons answering the descrip-
| ton which he gave had taken the night train
| West. lie then telegraphed to Altoona to inter
| cept the parties on the train, if they had gone
| that far.
Not long after the train arrived at Altoona he
was gratifed by the reception of a telegram an
nouncing that his request had been complied
with, and the parties placed under arrest. AT
noon to-day they were brought to this place
where they were recognized by number of per-
sons as the men who had been lurking about the
premises of the murdered family. On the per-
| sons of the prisoners was found two hundred
and seventy dollars, part IN gold and part in
| greenbacks. ... ..... ...
The balance of the money is supposed to be
| concealed in the neghborhood of the murder
where, it is thought, they intended to return fol
| it after the excitement attendant on the deed had
blown over. The men are Germans. Theil
names are Oliver Badenburg and Gottleit
Bohrer, alias Charles Moore. The latter was
convicted here three years ago for larceny, and
| served his time in the penitentiary. Badenberg
has made partial confession but without this
the evidence is sufficiently strong to convic
/ them. ..H r