Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-01-01
EseHREBEE TRAGEDY.
MURDER OF CORONER HEsSER.

One Of the most attroriOus, cruel and
.a,d-Maadea murders ever pcrpatyatcd was
committed AT Hickory Swamp breaker, ,
nils above >hampkia. on Friday night
last. Coroner TredcricI Hesser. night
watchmau. was fo,nd dead in The engine
house % Saturday morning by a couple oi
workmcn who went in iDr some purpose
before going to labor Squire Caldwell
was sent fyr and summoned a jury; Or.
C. ". Weaver. who was called for the
pprnosr, made an examination and We
have TIE account Of the terrible affair from
the lips Of these gentlemen: lie was found
lying in a large pool Of blood and by his
side lay a heavy club about three feet long,
and a machinisl's hammer all hcsmcared
with blood lis little dog was standing Nv
him covered with blood and had evidently
fought hard to protect his kindhcar;cd
master; the face Of the clock WAS shatter-
cd, likely by the club. There was nothing
10 cynce that the deed had been committed
revenge, ao bis watch was found on his
person and his pockets were undisturbed.
It Is supposed that he was struck with the
club several time and the machimist ham
mer afterwards used 20 make sure the
wo}E. His right forearm was broken
straight of, caused no doubt by his throw
ing il up to shield his head from the muir
dcrous club two ugly cuts across the top OF
his head. besides four lesser wounds, all on
the head. were no doubt made by the ham
mcr which bore evidence Of having been
sunken into his head the length of its pole.
Squire Caldwell has the club and hammer
IN hi possession. Mr.. Hesscr never car
RED arms as he supposed he had uo enc
mics. As be had been an important wit
ness IN several murder cases recently
disposed Of at Court, it is thought by many
that he thus excited cumity of the parties
who took his life, but no clue has been
discovered that would lead to the detection
Of the murdcrcrs could they have been
caught they would undoubtedly have been
lynched. Tbe deed must have been com
mitted before midnight rs the body was
cod and stiff when found.
Deceased WAS flty-seyen years Of age
and leaves a wife aud four children, three
of whom are married and one, boy Of
thirteen, lives with his mother to mourn
his uutimclv death. lie was member q!
the Evangelical church of this place, a
consistent Christian supCrintcndcd sun
day school at Coal Run was noted for his
Quiet uuobtrusivc disposition was much
respected and loved by MI who knew him
bad hosts Of friends, and inGeed va Of all
men the one least suspected Of having ma
Eguant enemies. He was elected Coroner
Of thi- county ln October, 1872. and his
term would have expired January I, lN.".
lie moved from Schuylkill Haven, Schuy!-
kill county, some thirteen years ago, aud
took up his residence 1t Coal Run where
he lived up 10 the day OF his death. His
remains were taken 10 OrwigsEUrg, Schuy!-
Kill county, Tor internent on Tuesday, the
22d inst. and they were followed by large
number Of friends and relatives from this
place. The iunera! was one Of the largest
ever he'd a. OrwiEsJurc. Rev. B. !.
Schmoyer, pastor Of The Evangelical
church, of This place preached i most i'm
pressivc sermon aud the obseGuics were