The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-19
FOUR MEN TO BE HANGED.

THE MUEpERERs OF JOSEPH RABEE FOR INsUR-
coNFEss1oN-Nor THE Only TRAGEDY OF
THE KIND.
LEBANos, Pa. August Is. 1879.
This borough was unusually excited to-day by the
announcement that Henry +. wes. of the six
murderers old Joseph Raber, to obtain $loOoo in
surance ON his life. had made full confession OF
all he knew of that terrible tragedy. The excite
ment was greatly increased when it became known
that the murderers were be brought into court
to the sentence OF death. Five OF them were
brought through the rain into the court room which
was crowded to OVERLOOKING. Zechman. the sixth
murderer. not brought in. owing to the fact or
his having been granted new trial. Drows. Stich-
ler Brandt Hummel and Wcis took seats in the jury
box. Weis clasped his hands as If in prayer. His
head was bowed ana he wore deeply penitent look
and woebegone expression. Even since his I'M
prisonment he has been nearly constantly
praying. singing hymns and reading the
Bible. He has kept himself away from
his fellow prisoners and they have learned to hate
him because they had suspicious that he intended
TO make u confession. Such the fact. His story
of the murder covers thirty odd pages OF manu-
script. When District Attorney Adams this after
noon moved for the sentence OF death on Brandt
Humnell. Drcws and Stckler. these prisoners stood
up and Weis remained seated They looked upon
him sharply and with seeming contempt Weis kept
his eyes upon the floor.
SENTENCED TO DIE.
When the four asked If they had anything to
say why sentence OF death should not be passed
each in firm and clear tone OF oice:-Drews
said, Cant say any other way than that am not
guilty." Strechler said well, I amt guilty and
didn't git justice here;" Hummel said. az have
nothing to say at this present time and Brandt
said NO have nothing to say when the
the four Ito be hanged until they Dead. Judge
Henderson teelingly advised them to put their
| trust in God rather than men,
WITNESS
Weis then stood up. but his head was bent and his
hands clasped. He was very much agitated., sen,
time All were then sent back to jail Weis is to be
used as witness against Zechman the sixth muir
confession fully duplicates Zechman and tor fear OF
prejudicing his the attorneys object to having
| the confession published In full. The document
duplicates all Of them. Weis admits that he in
the original plot to murder Raber, but ut that time
the plan to have him chloroiormed to death. and
not to drown him. as was finally done; that he sub
| sequently withdrew from the conspiracy. and that
Drews of the murderers engaged to do the deed.
had promised him that 1t should not be DONE
OTHER MURDERS COMMITTED.
The confession takes in all OF the accused and
gives full expose of the startling mania OF those
rough backwoodsmen for specializing in life insur-
ance. 1t gives in detail how number Of elderly
people were mysteriously put out of the way and
Some parties implicated at large. but will be
brought to justice speedily. Until then their
names are withheld. Mr.. Miller, VINO Is
one of the leading counsel for the pros
ecution, was free to say that. in his
opinion. all of the six would be hanged
unless the Board OF Pardons should commute Weis
sentence to imprisonment for life. The confession
he says. entirely voluntary Weis' part, and
no inducement whatever held out to him to say
anything. Brandt, who in his reply to the Judge
clearly indicated his intention to tell what he knows
is expected to make full statement shortly. lie
was the proprietor Of St. Josephs Hotel, where the
conspiracy was coucocted. 1t ~ also believed that
no knows considerable of other startling tragedies
that have been enacted in the wild backwoods region
of ndiantown. where kaber was murdered.