The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-12-03
A PENNSYLVANIA MURDER.
Confession Of the Tool of a Gang who MUIR
dered an Old Man to Secure the Insurance.
His Life.
LHarrisburg Pa.) Cor. Chicago Times.l
lhal-Ins Draws, o1od o14o44E An vns


dered an Old Man to Secure the Insurance.
on His Life.
Harrisburg Pa.) Cor. Chicago Times.1
Charles DreWs, aged about so years,
Who was employed to kill Joseph Raber
at IndiantoWn gap, Lebanon county, has
confessed his connection with the tntlt-
der. Five men had an insurance on
Raber's life of $4,000, and they prom
ised Drews 81, 800 to put him out of the
way. The t1trderef, in his c6nfessi6hJ
says:
"I went to Brandt last summer, and
we sat on the porch. He treated me to
beer, and both felt its effects. He said
we could make money, and he told me
how. l said [ would consider it. Finally
asked Il he was a1Gte. He replied
there were three others with him. He
mentioned Hummel and Wise, and I
said / did not know them. He then
offered to bring them up. ] saw them,
but I only knew Wise; from boyhood
up knew him. I then agreed, and
they insured Raber. I said it was a
hard thing to kill Raber. He said they
could make money. When they again
met, Brandt said there were five inter
ested. Hummel also spoke about It.
Wise came and asked whether I was to
kill Raber. I told him I was not GER
tain. He urged me to 90 ahead, and
said they would shoot me if I didn't. I
promised, but I never intended to do
it, as the insurance had all been effect
ed. Brandt afterward said they had
plan ready, and if I did not kill him
they would shoot me, and to save my
life I promised. A week or two after
ward Wise said that should not do is,
so far as he was concerned, as he said
he did not like the job. Think it was
on The same day he said I had TO kill
Raber. then asked Frank StichIer to
do it because I could not. Stichler said
he did not care. He could kill anyone,
but ne bargained That should go along,
which promised, but declared I would
not touch Raber. Then Raber came to
my house, and we went off together with
Stichler. was first; Raber was in the
middle, with Stichler following. I went
o4er the plank and Raber got on 1t.
SGchler got Raber by the legs, threw
him in and jumped ON top of him. Ra
Der fell below the plank. I then went
back to the fence. tt was first intended
to drown Raber in the dam. Brandt
had planned that Rabet was to go fish
ing at Kitzmiller's to catch fish for
Brandt and wife, and then / was to
drown him. We went, and Peters went
with us. When L saw the dat1 / could
not do it, and said we would return,
when Raber replied, yes, it was too cold,
anyhow / pitied him. The drowning
at the plank aftstward was also the plan
OF Brandt's. Brandt had promised me
$500, and that others should get the
same. He promised Stichler nothing.
I had tried to coax Elijah Stighler, but
he would not go with me. said to
Frank that I would give him $500 after
7 was paid. When it was done they
tried to swindle me out OF all and kill
me. This was planned behind the shed
at Brandt's. This they told me in jail
When they asked me to go via Ranks
town I thought they wanted to kill me
then. Brandt always urged me in jail
to keep quiet about this matter, rs they
hoped to get clear. I did not see the
conspirators so very often about the
matter. I engaged Frank Stichler to
do the job after KitEmiller's plan failed.
I did not go into the water. After the
drowning Stchler walked up to my
house aud went to Brandt I did not
see the old mans struggles. The plank
was made wet by the splash when Raber
fell. Brandt had Raber insured in an
other company, to kill him, but the
company failed, and with it the plan.
Brandt told me what to say before the
inquest. It was part OF the
general plan. Brandt often urged me
while in jail not to confess, He called
at my cell to-day for that purpose. I
am afraid of him, but not of the others.
If you hang me you will hang an inno-
cent man."