Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-11-19
Justice to Two of tsie Eaber
MurGsreEs.

Two Of the Raber murderer., Drews
and Stichler, were hanged at Lebanon
last FRIDAY about noon. A dispatch
trom Lebanon, on the day of the exc
cution, again recounts the history Of
crime as follows:
The crime for which Charles Drews
and Frank Sticbler were executed was
committed on December I, 1873. The
victim was Joseph Raber, aged 80
years who lived in small hat in the
northern portion of the county with a
woman known as Polly Kreiser, Rsb-
had eked out an existense by begging,
and as it was thought his death would
occasion no regret, Israel Brandt, Jo-
siah Hummel aud Henry Z Wise con-
cluded to insure him aud ailerward
murder him. George Iechman also
held policy on the old mans life but
on second trial, conducted yesterday
he was acquitted. The locality In
which the murder was committed has
for years been the scene OF numerous
crimes, in which all the accused took
a prominen. part. At the head of the
gang who sought Rabei's death was
Israel Brandt. one armed fellow who
kept dlsreputsble Tauche at which
Wise, Zechman, Hum.uel, D.ews and
Stichler were wont to congregate OLD
Drews was asked whether he would
work Raber out of the way if he was
paid literally for his services, and be
having jumped at the oportunity to
make some money, the conspiratOrs
concluded to insure their victim 10 the
amount of 10000. As they promised
Raber that he should rot suffer for
any thing while slive, he readily agreed
to carry out their plans. The old man
was insured in August, 1873, after
which frequent meetings were held BY
the parties interested IN the life poll
cies 1T which the contemplated murder
was freely discussed, L was decided
that drowning would be the most feas-
ible methcd of carrying out their de-
signs as it was supposed the insurance
companies would have no suspicion
that bis death was the result of violence.
A dam few miles from the home of
Rsber and two of the conspirators was
originally selected for the commission OF
the crime, and the old man accompan-
led Drews and Joseph Peters, Drews'
son in law, with The understanding that
the party would spend tts ID 49, fishing
Drews had asked Elijah SuchIer, about
% r.crs I'D to form one Of the party
but he refused 70 have anything 20 4"
with the drowning of Raber Ills 81
lence was purchases for the time by a
threat from Drews that if he divu| ged
the secret be would be shot Tue vie
tim would have been murdered that
DAY but for the fact that the instru-
ment selected to do the dreary work
lacked in courage. This trip was ta-
ken few days before Raber was
drowned, and Its failure was much re-
gre:ted by Brandt Hummel and Wise,
who urged Drews with more persis,en-
cy than ever to hurry up the murder.
Drews from the beginning of the ne-
gotiations had not acted as promptly as
they thought the necessities OF The ease
demanded, and Brandt and Wise made
frequent visits to Drews' house, and in
the presence of his entire family dis
cussed the murder of Raber. and urged
its speedy cODsummation. On one oc-
cas.on he upbraided Mrs. Peters, one
Of DreUs' daughters, foc having been
the cause of her fathers tardiness-
stating that If il had not been for her
Influence Raber would have been dead
long ago. Too cowardly to undertake
the drowning himself Drews employed
young Frank Stichler TO push the old
man into the water and drown him.
On the day of the crime Drews paid
two visits to Raber's hut, and in the
afternoon succeeded 10 getting the uu.
suspecting fellow to Drews house
Raber's presence was secured by a
promise of tobacco and meat, the latter
to be obtained ou the opposite side of
lndiantown creek. 1t had been agreed
between Drews and Snchler that while
the old man was proceeding over the
footwaik crossing the stream he should
be thrown into The water. Joseph P,-
tiers beard the parties leaving the house
and looking out of the attic saw Stitch
ler tripping Raber and throwing him
into the creek, where his dead body
was found in the evening, Drews Civ
ing the frs' information of the drown
ing. Soon after the death proofs were
made out by the eOnspirators, but 3