Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-05-15
All FUWna rHilty or Murder I'm the
FIrxf bPgrre.


FIr<t Dcgrce.
LEBANON, Pa, April ~. 1879.
MKssRs. EDTroRs 1T is impos-
slide I'm the snort SPACE allotted TO a
correspondent. TO give n minute re
port Sf The proceedings in one of
the most notable murder trials that
= up0n The recolds OF the courts,
Hnd also endeavor TO writs a synop.
SIS Of the mcst important points
As the press has generally given
N FUN history of the life the home
and surroundings Of J sepht Raber,
The drowned man, il is unnecessary
llere. The dead body Of Raber was
found in the IEdisEtown Creek on
tie Sih Of December last, and at the
time Of the finding 1T was supposed
thRf he came to his Ueath by falling
into tie creek and accidentally
drowning, he being man of st'me
sixty years Of age. 1t is alleged by
tie commonwealth that Joseph Ra-
her cane TO his death at the hands
Ct Charles Drews and Frauklin
Stickler, two OF the prisoners, as
testified TO by Peters son in-law of
ChHrles DreKS. Some time after
The drowning of Raber suspicious
were aroused and an investigation
made Nv the insurance companies.
resulting in the arrest of Josiah
Humnel. Henry Wise, Israel Brant,
and George Zechman, who held in
surance policies ON the life of Ra-
Ter, also Charles Drews and Frank
jim Stickler, employed by the con-
spiratOUs 10 commit the foul muir
der. The arrest was made upon
the information of Joseph Peters
and hearing had before q Justice
OF The Peace, who bound them over
70 be tried at Court for causing the
death Of Joseph Raber.
Joseph Peters was tbI principal
witness FOR the commonwealth. He
testified substantially as follows
That Rzber was drowned on the 9TH
or Sth of December. an d that at the
time he lived with Drews that
RaIer was drowned on Saturday af-
fernoon sDout half-past four O'Clock;
that when ne was drowned he was
up STAIRS in DTeEs' house with his
wife and Ten rose Drews that be
lnew Raber, and he was at Drews'
when he went UP stairs heard him
talk below Drews and his family
were with him heard DreWs ask
Raber whether he had any tobacco
Drexs said he would give hun some !;
there was no one on the first floor
hut RaLer, Drews and his family !;
then Stickler came heard theU
leave The house went to the win
dow AID saw Raber, Stickler and
Drews 10 through a corn field
Stickler flrst, Raber in the centre
and DTews in the rIer they went
TO tie plank when in the middle
or tie plank Stickler turned around,
knocked a. Ea5ers' feet and then
threw him into the creek Raber
then disappeared afterwards went
10 the window again and saw Stick
Ter and DTews returning through
tie corn Geld tnen 1 talked with
my wife /; Shckler and Drews came
towMds the house / then went
down stairs with ny wife found
the two men there with the whole
family : Stickler took OF his wet
clothing and Drevs gave him some
Of lis own to put on I; Stickler ask
I'd to haze his wet clothes hung W
10 dry, and hid If any one came in
70 the house then Stickler went
away 10 get a team to take Brandt
10 Zethman's he then came ir
shortly afterwards and asked Drew;
whether it was true that Raber was
drowned, when they bad CONVEX
EaLion about 1t ; Drews stated that
he saw Raber fan in, and when hC
went 10 see him he was dead LhaI
Drews said as his children otter
Fen into tlIe stream and got oui
themselves without any assistance
me thought Raber might do the
same.
These were tie salient points il
the testimony Of Peters, with cor
rObOcation by other witnesses, tina
effected the conviction Of the pri
souers, and rs he was put to a sc
yeIe and rapid cross examination
occupying nearly q day, it would b
impossible To give the details in
newspaper reP9Tt.
Lenah Peters, wife OF Josepl
Hcters, and daughter of Charlie
Duexs, one Of tie prisoners. tssti
led substantially to the same effeci
and state of facts with the exeep
ton of witnessing the drowning
Wien SIZE was on tlse stand be-
failsus occupied a position in tll