The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-08
THE MURDER or AN ocroGENARIAM
Probably the Work Of Some One who had
Mere Revenge In View.


on CITY Pa, June GA murder was COM
mittcd near Pioneer. dead oil town eight miles
from hero. on Tuesday Of this week. The
victim was James Howe. 50 years Of age.
who lived on n large farm within mile Of Pio-
nccr. Early on Tuesday morning he went 10
pasture about sixty rods from his house for the
purpose Of sailing his cattle. He was gone 40
long that his son. n man aged 80 years went in
search OF him. Tho old man was found in the
pasture short distance from the fence where
he entered the field. He was lying on his face
with two bullet wounds in his head and many
bruises about bis body. made by fence rail
which lay near him. A trail OF blood led from
largo stone near the fence TO where tho body
was found thirty feet distant.
Tho ncighborhood was aroused and search
was made for the murderer. Several clues were
obtained which pointed TO a stranger who had
been seen in that vicinity for several days but
who since the murder has not been seen. The
evidence given before the Coroner tells tho fol-
lowing story;
James Howe. tho murdered man. was
widower. and though so years Of age was noted
for his gallantries -Four years ngo. 1t Is
said. he was intimate with Mrs Miller who
lived near his house. She was IA prepossessing
woman. who had several children and loving
husband, but she would leave them TO take late
drives with Howe and frequently sho stopped
with him in the hotels Of neighboring towns as
his wife. one day Mrs. Miller and Howe were
together. ana then Mrs. Miller started to walk
the two miles 10 her home upon the railroad
track In the course of this walk she was struck
10y train and killed. The accident. with tho
discovery OF his wifr's fathlessness. drove the
husband nearly crazy. He threatened to shoot
Howe on sight and Howe kept ont of his way
About a month after the accident Miller sold
out and LETT Pioneer since which time his
whereabouts have been unknown.
On the 2lst Of last month n medium-slzed
man. wearing large black beard. stepped into
a store at Ttusyiile. six miles from Pioneer.
and traded n small revolver he had for another
Of larger calihre. on the day following one of
Mr.. Howo's sons. while ploushinE IN n held
saw medium-sized stranger with n black
beard coming down the rond. He stoppcd sew
eral rods away. and. calling TO the son asked
whore the old man was. The son directed i'm
10 where Mr.. Howe was mending fence. and the
the son asked the father n he saw the stranger
Howe was much excited Mt the description
given, but said he had not seen the man. rs no
had broken his axe soon after going to the
fence, and had then gone 10 tho village TO get n
Two days later tho same stranger was again
seen by the son. though nj n distance. and again
tho man with the black beard inquired for Mr.
Howe. The son asked. Who are you 2" The
man replied, Your father will know, when ho
sees me-" The son again asked, Where do
you liver The answer was. Where night
overtakes me. The son then walked toward
the stranger. who at once turned and ran in tho
opposite direction. This was the last seen Of
On the morning OF the murder. after Howe
had sailed his cattle, he returned 10 the entrance
OF the field and sat down on n large stone by tho
fence. rs was his habit. The murderer stole
up behind him, unperceiVed. and reaching over
the fence fired. the ball entering at the base OF
the brain and passing In nm upward line to-
ward the forehead. indicating that Howe was
sitting with his head hanging downward, pos
| sibly resting on his hands. The wounded man
sprang 10 his feet. when another shot was fired.
which struck his cheek. Howe staggered along
| for several rods and fell. The murderer eaped
| over the fence and Selling rail. beat his vic
tim about the head, crushing his skull in n
| frightul manner. He also picked up IL large
| jumping over the fence probably. the murderer
! lost the rod which held the cylinder Of the
revolver in place, as such n rod was found in
| the grass near the trail Of blood. This pre-
| vented him from firing further. and probably
led him TO finish his work with the rail and
stone
The cylinder rod found in the grass corre-
| spends with those in therevovers OF the pattern
| sold 10 the stranger in Tltusville on the 2lst
| and could not be mistaken for any other.
This Is tha story OF the murder ms told by the
evidence, There is a strong theory AS TO who
| the murderer was. Miller. whose wife was
| killed is believed 10 have owed Howe grudge.
| Miller WAS med sized. thick set man. with
! light beard. The stranger who bought the
! revolver at Titusville. who inquired for Howe
| on two occasions who seemed to know Howes
! sons by sight Though they do not remember of
! ever seeing him beforel. who seemed TO be- thor
| oughly acquainted with tho neighborhood. and
| who yet shrank from too close inspection. was n
medium sized. thick-set man, with a black
beard. The beard could easily have been colored.