The New York herald., 1870-03-10
HISTORY OF THEIR TERRIBLE CRIME
Statements of the Criminals Re-
garding the Tragedy.
A Wretched Atheist and q lie
pentant Sinner.
Scenes and Incidents Of
the Fatal Hour.

HUNTINGDON. Pa. March 0. 1870.
Gottlieb Bonner, alias Charley Moore and Albert
Won Bodenburg were executed here to-day for the
murder OF the PeignIal family, near this place, on
the llth OF last November. The circumstances OF the
assassination were OF the most atrocious character
ana melted puo!ic opinion against the marderers
that not a voice has been heard in sympathy for
them II was deliberately planned. cold-blooded
murder, without one extenuating incident A COM
paratively small sum OF money was the only object
sought by the perpetrators IN the commission OF
their horrd Decd and for the possession OF this the
two assassns butchered grayheaded Old man, his
wife and promising boy.
THE MURDERED FAMILY
consisted Of Mr.. John Peighta, aged sixty five years.
Mrs. Sarah Peghtal, about the same age, and Scott
Garner, lad of ten years, who was living with
them. They resided ihree-qnarters OF mile from
Pleasant Grove station, on the Huntington and
Broad Top Railroad, ana about seven miles from
this place. They had lived there FOR many years. Mr.
PeIghtal owned q snug farm and was considered
worth about $4,000 The produce Of this
place had during the last few years
yielded HIM some $4,000, when he had
boarded In his house. and respecting Which he some
times talked with intimate acquaintance. lie had
several brothers living in the Eeighborhood, one OF
whose farms adJoned his own; and surrounded by
numerous friends and relatives the aged couple
TRANQUILITY finishing quiet, happy life, apparently
in thing that contributed TO their CON-
FORT While this family were thus contcnted!y filling
the measure OF their years
THE TWO MURDERERs,
born and reared In different parts OF the world,
were Fastening along converging paths Of violence
and CRIME meet in this peaceful valley, and
unite in perfecting the blacSness OF their wicked
deeds and hang together upon the gibbet. Cortlieb
Bohner was born IN Wurtem berg on the 10th OF
May, 1850, OF parents in easy circumstances. Re-
naming at school until his fourteenth year. he
then served three years as miller for his uncle,
and thence went to an adjoining province, wnere
he became a guard IN the public parks. Here he
shot and killed two men upon the suspicion that
they were pOachers after which he entered the MILL
tary service, and there shot comrade In duel
about o girl. After punishment by fine for this act
he left the service ut the age twcny-six,
and eight years later both, his parents
having died, he emigrated to America, and IN May,
1so enlssa sata hn ie aao, SeW cn sTmn
the field after the battle OF Deep Bottom Va and
that, receiving shortly afterwards wound In the
lo0t he remained In hospital at City Point until his
regiment was mustered out OF service. After stay
ing IN New York about year he went to PhiIadel-
phla and finally came to Dudley, in this county.
While there he was convicted of stealing goods and
other offences, for whtcn he was sentenced to the
his D CSary Moore ana Il tae Of
his sentence he returned 10 this section ana worked
on The canal between Altoona and Mapleton, during
which period he met hls accompllce III the murder
for which he has jnst surered deaIh
Albert Won B0denburg was born III Hanover on the
18th OF October 1882 At the age OF Six he studied
music, and &C fourteen was sent to university to
prepare him for school teaching. Alter teaching
school about eighteen months ne went into the cabi-
years. In 1857 ne entered the service in the Crimeau
war ana served two years; then went TO Switzerland
and acted as secretary TO his uncle for year, and
then enlisted IN the Schleswig- -H0lsten war; where
he rose to the rank Of captain. After leaving this
service ne was sent to prison eighteen months for
smuggling goods and III 1868 landed IN the United
states He lived alternately In New York, Ellza-
came 10 this part OF Pennsylvania. In 1868 he was
sent to the penitentary Tor stealing carpenters tools
at Hollidaysburg, and at the termination Of ms
prlsonment last year he went to Altoona and OD.
tanned work in a lumber yard. 1t was at this place
tnat he and Bonner became acquainted ana planned
the robbery OF the Pelgnta family.
was probably not decided upon when the SUBJECT
was frst discussed by the two men, and there still
remains q slight shadow Of doubt upon the theory
tnat both intended to Kill the family, but as each
asserts tnat the other committed the deed while he
watched outside, Bodenburg's declarations OF inno
cence OF an intent to commit murder are not re-
celved with much credit The evidence at the trial
showed that on the evening OF the 7tn OF November
Bonner and Bodenburg went 10 Peightars house,
murdered the family while nc supper by shooting
them with pistols and blows with hatchet, after
which they ransacked the house, carrying away
about $1,000 in specie and currency Before leaving
they heaped straw and articles OF bedding upon the
ana a. SET e TO D. them asn. Tor ae purpose Of
tins was done they came 10 Huntington and
fingered about the sMdtS saloons until du, the
came along. In the meantime the murdered family
had peen discovered, and the intelligence reaching
Huntingdon shortly alter the two suspclously acting
men mad left on the train, word was telegraphed to
Altoona thirty miles distant to searcn the train for
them on Its arrival there. At Altoona both men
to this place. An excited crowd of people met the
officers ut the station, aud but for the wise precau
suspected men on the spot. rope was thrown over
BoRner's head, and It was only Dy the most deter
mined efforts on the part of the Sheriff and strong
force OF deputies that the prisoners could be con-
Quoted to the JAIL ON the 18th OF January the two
men tried, convicted, and sentenced to death.
After sentence was pronounced each OF the prison.
ers made written statement, giving particulars OF
the murder, which, as they are now interesting,
coming from the he men themselves substitute @ To ios
statements although conflicting In some respects,
afford as intoeiole an account OF the AFFAIR ~ can
Oe obtained from any source.
B0HNER's CONFESSION
was quite brief and after some unimportant preltm-
mary reuarEs states as folows:-
Twas acquainted with the family Of John Peshta
sa.iaisd WITH goaen0urs :. hs boarding house e Al
the Soon after got S ,g Win him b.
not was. s hs Va
f Huntington Dywy p MsSonnsissoxs f:,sh;sr. iSs'
and ~ night ss In III sS loft on ans:
for work. stayed all night barn further down tn.
road ON Wednesday morning TO Huntington, and
did not want 70 50 back Ths was on tho morning Of he
We started back after dinner and walked ny pegta but
stopped while at AcConnelitcwn station, and while Al
Pleasant Grove We reached about seven o'clock
heard only shot tho wind blowing very hard He
brought out bags Of gold and silver He gave
Of and said Snow let's gom think Albert had about
twice much money ~ had He told mo In the lookup
Altoona that had put the while he down
prvy by digging hole with his hand and buryns IT.
| RODENBIJRG,S CONFESSION
consists more OF report OF Bohners statements tC
| him ia prison, ana Is as follows:-
Every acquainted with affair will recolect that
had a whiskey bottle From the time came away from
that place TO Huntingdon did any
about Had at different times intended Charley, bu
30 far On the 18th of February iylnt
bed In cell thinking affairs how great
few drinks OF wnskey might bring about alst
asked Charley what had become of bottle Oh said he
.that dd irish woman broke to pieces" asked hin
how did this happen dd you not hit her right? Oh, sale
me- ~ don't know" He now continues TO tell :"As can't
the house they all three the table and ate
| and said he "you know where each one had his sea
] at the table; you also have been in at diaeren