The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-03-17
PUFS UED 70 DEATH
COLD BLOODED CRIME AND A THRILLING
RETRIBUTION-THE RIDERBEss HORSE.


regions between Chambersburg and Pitts
burgh, presented little more than an un-
broken wilderness, through which the
great road from Philadelphia passed and
at that period it was highway between
the Eastern cities and the great Western
wilderness of Ohio and Kentucky.
About midway of this road, and in a
most dismal locality, was located an inn,
kept by an honest, well to- do German,
named Stottlers. The house was small
one, but the accommodations were amply
sufficient for the travel tha. came that
way. In the spring of the year mentioned
there came from the stock raising region,
around Pittsburgh, drover, who, with his
flock of well fattencd bullocks, was ON his
way to Philadelphia. He was well armed
and mounted on a horse of spotless white
ness. In conversation with the inmates of
Stottlcrs' inn-the most of whom were
ordinary huuters-he stated with reserve
the objects Of his trip, and communicated
the fact that on his return he would stop
at the tavern with the proceeds from the
sale of his cattle in his possession.
On the day following his arrival the
stranger departed. About three weeks
thereafter, or at the time he was expected
to return. two Canadian Frenchmen of vii
famous appearance. and both heavily arm
cd, arrived at Stottlers', and, after break
fasting, continued their journey eastward.
In less than an hour they returned, accom-
panied by third traveller who was mount
ed on a white horse that closely resembled
that ridden by the Pittsburgh drover
The third party, in the course of his con-
versatiop with the landlord, stated that his
name was Pollock, that he lived near the
residence of General Arthur s.. Clair, in
Westmoreland county, and that he was on
his way to reioin his wife and children,
from whom he had been separated for
some weeks. He stated also that he was a
farmer, bat possessed of small means.
The contents of his purse were, however
small they might be, at the d isposal, in
equal shares, with destitute travellers, such
as these whose company he was in, and
whose expenses to Pittsburgh lie expected
to pay.
After partaking OF some refreshments
the three men then took the road westward.
In less than an hour John Stottlcr aud his
brother-in law, John Lambert, a black
smith by trade and n thorough frontiers
man, were startled while in conversation
on the porch outside the inn to see Pol
locks liderless horse approaching them
on n gallop. AS the animal neared them
they saw that he was bespattered with
blood, and Lambert, who had just been
communicating his suspicious of the
Frenchmen insisted that the farmer had
been murdeaed, and urged an immediate
pursuit of his companions.
The servants about the inn were at once
mounted and sent out to scour the country
for assistance, while Lambert and his less
energetic relative busted themselves in pre-
pairing their horses and arms for the chase.
BY MONDAY about dozeu men, residing
nearest the inn, congregated at the general
rendezvous, and, with Lambert for leader,
were soon in pursuit of the murderers.
After Journey of about one mile the party
came to the scene of the murder. Here
they discovered the evidences of a terrible
struggle. Tie snow which lay upon the
ground was much trampled and greatly
6iscolored with blood, and a few feet away
from this scene lay the corpse of the muir
dered man, wedged in between two logs,
and covered with the rubbish of leaves and
broken twigs. Two balls had passed
through the body, aud in the breast were
several gaping wounds that had evidently
been inflicted with large hunting knife.
One of the hands of the deceased was
terribly disfigured, he had evidently
crasped the blade of the knife, which, be-
ing drawn through his fingers, nearly cut
them in twain. His clothing was badly
torn, while his counteuance indicated the
intense agony of his dying moments.
1t appeared from the foot tracks in the
snow leading to the west that the murder
ers had set their horses free or been com
PEELED to part with them, and this seemed
wise precautiou on their part, as the
mountainous condition of the country
ahead of them rendered travel by foot, to
those accustomed to such exertion, Far
more expeditions than by horseback
Lambert and his companions, knowing this
to be the case, determined TO follow their
prey on foot also. Accordingly the major
part of the party at once continued on the
trail, while three or four of the men remov
ed the body and the horses to Stottler's inn.
Shortly after night bad fallen Lambert's
associates became dissatisfied with their
erraud. and in a body returned to the inn.
TIE intrepid blacksmith, notw:thstand-
ing this demoralzing detection, continued
the pursuit alone. After travelling in
northwestern direction for twelve or four
teen miles lie came to an old and disuseG
road, running nearly parallel with the one
lie had left. This was called The ''O,d
Pennsylvania Trace" between Philadei-
phia and Red Stone Old Fort, situated on
the waters of the Monongahela river. 1t
,.e.ad oxor oI,auad heiReen