The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-04-11
A MYSTERY NO LONGER.
A MURDER DATING BACK NINE
YEARS,
The Story Told by an Eye.Witness-HOW a Young
Telegraph Operator Was Killed for His
Money and His Body Thrown
Into an Old Mine.

Allentown, April 4.-AbOut nine years ago the
little village Of Alburtis on the line of the East
Pennsylvania railroad, was intensely excited
over the disappearance Of a young telegraph op
orator named Mckinney. II was known that he
had considerable money on his person the night
before he disappeared, and as he failed to carry
away with him any of his wearing apparel or
other effects, and no cause for so sudden depar-
ture appearing 1t was at once believed that he
had been murdered, but the crime could not be
established against any one. Nor could the body
be found. He was last seen entering the Ameri-
can House. near the depot then kept by man
named Blank. The house had bad reputation
and there was a strong feeling against the Blanks
at the time But proof positive was not to be
found time wore on and Mckinney was almost
forgotten. He had but one friend in the neigh
borhood with whom he had been in any way init
mate his mother lived away Off in Illinois and
was too poor to put detectives TO work In the case
But the old adage that murder will out" is prov.
ing true In this case There seems to have been
an eye witness to this murder. This witness is
Lizzie Long, who was a servant girl in the house
at the time She has, after many years, given up
the secret and her story is as follows:
Mckinney, who had lost an arm in the Rebel
lion, lAU JubJ uThWu ulh pGuhlOu anu dlbO his
monthly pay from the railroad company, and was
out on spree. He came to the American House,
and late at night, after all the people had depart.
ed, was assaulted by the proprietor of the hotel
and made gallant defense The one-armed
man proving too much for his antagonist son
came to the assistance, and, though pleading pit
eously for his life, Mckinney was brualy mur.
dered and robbed The body was taken from the
basement saloon since closed up, carried into the
barn and hid in the hay NOW. When the smell
became offensive the body was carried some five
hundred yards across the fields and thrown into
an abandoned iron mine. This mine was located
on the farm of Blanks father and has since been
filed up, 80 that TO day sixty feet OF clay rest up
on the body of Mckinney.
This story by Lizzie Long Is c0rroborated IN
many important particulars. McKinneys hat
was found In the fields, about midway between
the hotel and the deserted shaft three or four
DAYS after he disappeared. Three men have been
found who give important testimony In reference
to matters about the barn. but this, together with
other facts the officers who are working up this
case desire suppressed for the present. The at
tentiOn Of the officers was drawn to this case by
family feud. which brought out most OF the facts
Detectives Joe, of Bethlehem, and Chief of Police
Gift of this city are working up the case and will
probably make the arrest in day or two, so soon
cOuragement. The woman Long is now residing
in Reading. The Blanks claim that she will not
repeat her story. There are dozen people at
Alburtis to whom she has told the horrible tale,
and should she fail 10 speak out will be arrested
as an accessory. There Is plenty Of evidence to
hold her and those whom she duplicates. Should
the Commissioners vote the money a search for
the remains of the murdered man will be insli-
tuted at once.