Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-01-20
TPIAL OF PERRY HAAS FOR THE
MURDER OF MARTIN OBER-
DORE.
The Prisoner found Guilty of Murder in the
first Degree.
A Motion for a New Trial.


Terminer of Northum-
VS.. land County.
1st Count Murder LIST deg.
Perry Haas. End g End g
3rd Manslaughter.
Case opened January 6, 1872. Jury
Empaneled. Evidence commenced Mon
day, Jan. 8, 1872. Attorneys for Common
wealth, Gen. J. X. Clement, District At
torney, and A. N. Bricc, Esq; for the
defendant Geo. w. Zieglcr and l.. L. Rohr-
bach, Esqrs.
Mrs. Hannah Campbell, sworn.-I am
the wife ofIsaac Campbell. We live near
Klinesgrove, in this county. l was at
home on the night of October 4, 1871.
was not very well. l heard no disturbance
on the public highway that night. / did
not hear any in the neighborhood of the
wagon house. The condition ofmy health
kept me awake. could not go to sleep.
did not sleep any during that night. The
weather was clear. 1t was moonlight, but
did not stay up long enough to see the
moon. L went up stairs to bed 10 minutes
after O'Clock. The family were not up
stairs. Martin Oberdorf was at our house
before l went to bed. He came in just as
we were going to set down to supper. AZ
ter supper he, and Henry Oberdorf and
Haas was there. He was at supper after
the men went out. don't know exactly
what time the men went out. 1t was pro-
baby about u O'Clock. My husband was
in Sunbury that day. lie returned home
sometime after s O'Clock that evening.
Martin Oberdorf was there when he return
ed. My husband and Martin Cberdorf
were not in the house together alter his
(lsaac Campbell's) return. L think Mr..
Campbell came in the house 10 or Is min
utes after 8 O'Clock. After Mr.. Campbell
came up to bed heard the report of gun.
l heard only one report. Perry Haas was
living with us at that time. know where
Perry Haas slept. He slept in the kitchen
or shanty. Our two boys and Mr.. Koker
slept in the shnnty- The shanty is not at
tached to house. 1t is across the yard. We
have been recently building a new house.
The family occupied the new house, all but
those four. The doors of the new
house were pushed too and chairs set
against them. The first first thing l
heard was the report of a gun out
side, after we had been in bed. When l
heard groan, and then three times more
am certain l heard it -four times. After /
heard this gun shot Mr.. Campbell got up
and went to the window. In a very short
time after that L heard some person come
into the house. l don't know which door
he came in at, but heard him come in.
Perry Haas came up the steps. / saw him
after he came up the steps. Mr. Camp.
bell said to him Perry is that you -
Perry answered. Mr.. Campbell asked
him if he shot Perry said, ''he did >,
When Mr.. Campbell was at the window he
called to know what was the matter out
there. He called three or four times. lie
got no answer 1t was not long after this
that Perry came into the house. 1t ap-
pears to me that it was about five minutes.
Mr.. Campbell called in loud tone voice,
Perry told Mr.. Campbell that he shot,
when ne came up the stairs. Mr. Camp
bell said, Perry, am afraid you shot
somebody" Perry said: Il shot low on
the ground Il don't think hit him.n
"lf did, L have money enough to pay the
funeral expenses" Mr.. Campbell said,
Il am very sorry, but l am afraid you
have killed somebody" Perry said he seen
TWO men. He said one ran across the or
chard, up along the fence. The other one
jumped out Of the wagon house, lie said
he called to the one who ran up through
the orchard. He said the man had a bag
on his shoulder The instant the other
man jumped out of the wagon house, Perry
said he shot. Perry did not give any rea-
son for being armed with his gun. lie did
not say anything about calling to the man.
Mr.. Campbell proposed TO go down and
see what was the matter. Perry told Mr.
Campbell to put the window down. He
said it would be best for US to stay in. He
Perry Haas told me to blow out my light
quick, for fear might be shot through the
window. l did blow out my light. 1t
was moonlight. did not hear Perry say
anything about the weather. Perry said
they might shoot. Perry said he would 90
down and see what was the matter. He
told Mr. Campbell to stay up. He said
when he started, 81 wish l had another
load in my gun; but if they do come can
knock them down with the butt.n lie had
his gun with him at the time up stairs.
Perry then went down. After a while
Perry, came up stairs again. cannot tell
how long it was. The second time he
came up, he went on through up stairs to
the garret. Perry was not in the habit of
sleeping on the garret. His proper sleep
ing place was down in the shanty with
Mr.. Koker. Perry usually did his work
and went to bed when the rest did, as far
as L know. When l next seen Martin
Oberdorf he was dead. They were laying
him out.
Cross-ex.-When Perry Haas came up
stairs he spoke as if he was scared. He
spoke of two men. One man ran by me
with bag on his shoulder. Perry said he
shot low TO the ground. | did not look
when the moonrose. cannot tell whether it
was up or not. don't know that Perry
always went TO bed Perry said when
he came up to our room that the man who
ran was running very fast. He said he
called to him to stop, and while he was
calling to him the other man jumped out
of the wagon house. Perry said something
about dog. l know nothing else that
was said about it. Martin Oberdorf lived
about half q mile from our house. Mar
tin did not eat supper at our house. He
came to see Mr.. Campbell. Perry was
out helping Lemuel Campbell to put away
the mill team. While the men were eating
they were unhitching. Perry and James
ate their suppers after the men had eaten,
and had gone out. Martin Obedorf
had gone out After the first shot
had been fired and Perry came up stairs,
he went down. don't know how long he
staid down till he came up the second time.
l had the lamp lighted when Martin Ober-
dorf came in at. supper time. He was in
the room talking while the men ate. Perry
Haas had eaten and gone out when Mr.
Campbell came home from Sunbury. We