The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-09-06
HOW RABER was MURDERED.
THE FULL AND FREE CONFESSION OF ONE OF
THE BLUE-EYED SIX.

THE BLUE-EYED SIX.
LEBANON, Pa.j Sept. If any doubt as
to the guilt of the men accused of numbering
Joseph Raber existed in the mind of any
one that doubt has been expelled to-day by
the full confession of the crime by the oldest
of the prisoners, Charles Drews. The con
fession was made to the District Attorney,
Mr. Adam, and to Messrs. Miller and Weld
man, attorneys for the prosecution. The
Lawyers Went to the Jail on Sunday night,
in compliance with the request of old Drews,
and to them was given the full and COM
plete confession ofthe terrible tragedy which
was intended to net to its prosecutors about
100000 insurance money.
Drews, the coniessor now, is about 65 years
of age, stands five feet eight inches high,
weighs $50 pounds, and is a type Of ignorant.
backwoodsman, genial, good-natured, easily
persuaded, and fond of meney. His head is
bald his skin yellowj eyes blue, small sharp,
and piercing; very prominent nose, high
cheek bones high forehead, well-tUunded
skull, small chin, and small ears. In out
line, his face and head strongly resemble
the familiar features Of &. l.. Fox in his
paraphernalia. lie speaks German. Drews
is the father Of number of children, and
lived in a small cottage near the scene Of the
murder, in December last. He went th rough
the late war as a color bearer, and was hou-
orably discharged. Raber, the murdered
man was near neighbor of Drews, the vic
tim living in hut several hundred yards
back of Drews's house on the edge Of the
| forest.
Since the conviction ofthe murderers they
| have been very uneasy in Jail. Before their
| sentence ofdeRth they were restless, but reti-
cent. When Zechman was granted new
! trial, and Weis made hiss confession it fell
/ like a bombshell among them. When all
were sentenced except Zechman and Weis,
| the remaining four murderers stood up and
| heard their death warrants with looks OF des-
peration and determination that no guilty
man should escape. Drews, Stechler Brandt
and Hummel were sentenced to be hanged
Drews said he was not guilty, Stechler that
Justice had not been done him, Brandt that
| he would tell all he knew at the right time,
and Hummel had nothing 10 say.
Old man Drews listened to the words Of
Brandt to the Judge in which he declared
his intention to tell the whole story when
the proper time came. Theredt Drews re-
solved 10 get ahead Of Brandt and tell the
story first. Brandt was the landlord Of ST..
! Joseph's Inn, a tumbiedowp backwoDds den
where rum and beer were sold 10 the char
coal burners and woodchoppers. The inn is
about 100 yards from Drews's house. Raber's
hut, Drews's house, the inn, and the place Of
murder are all in Il bunch, nearly within
sight OF each other. Lofty cedar trees sur
round the houses. Drewss confession is as
follows:
81 went to prardt's last summer and we sat
| on the porch Hetreated me to beer. We both
felt the effects of it. He said we could Wuke
money, and told me how. Before be told
me he asked me 10 drink again, and then
he said he and others would insure Raber's
life and work him out of the way He
told me how TO do il. | said | would con-
slider it. Finally | asked il he was alone.
| lie replied that there were three others with
him. He mentioned Hummel and Weis,
aud ] said dh not know them. lie then
offered to bring them up and have the see
them. / saw them but / only knew Weis.
From boyhood W | had known him. l
then agreed and they insured Raber. ! said
it was a hard thing to kill Raber. He said
thev could make money. When they again
met Brandt said there were five intereeed.
Hummel also spoke about it. Weis came
and asked whether | was to kill Raber. /
told him / was not certain. He urged me
to 90 ahead, and said they would shoot me
il didn't. / promised, but never intend
ed to do it. They alterward OF en- urged me
10 do it, as the insurance had all been effect
ed. Brandt afterward said they had the
plan ready, and if did not kill him they
, would shoot me, and to save my life prom
ised. / knew not what 10 do, as my life was
in danger A week or two atterward Wes
said | should not do e, so far as he was con-
cerned, as he said he did not like the job
think it was the same day he said had TO
kin Raber as testified. / then asked Frank
! stchler to do il because could not, Stich-
Ter said that be did not care he could kill
any one, but be bargained that / should 60
along which | promised, but declared /
would not touch Raber. Then Raber came
? 10 my house and we went oil together with
Stichler / was first Raber was in the
middle with Stch,er following. ] went
over the plank and Raber got on IL. stitch.
, Ter got Raber by the legs with his hands
: threw him in and jumped in on top of him
5 Raber fell below the plank. l then Went
back 10 the fence. IL was first intended IA
drown Raber ia the dam, Brandt had
planned that Raber was to 60 fishing az kltz-
miller's 10 catch lsh for (blauk) wife aud
then ! was TO drown him. We went and
{ Peters went with us. Wslen | saw the dam
) ! could not do %, and said we would return
Raber replied Yes, twas too sold, anyhow
/ pited him. Tue drowning at the plank
] aferward was also the plan Of Brandt
Q Brandt had promised me $500 and that The