The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-08-10
Killed while steallna Potatoes.

CHAMDERsBURG, August 3.-On Sat
urday evening Christian Stouffer bor-
rowed short, single barreled shot gun
from VIM. Rupert, asserting that he
wanted to get rid of some dogs which
had been chasing rabbits through his
corn. Shouldering his gun he trudged
out to his lot and watched. Presently
he saw two men walk along the railroad
and began tramping up and down the
siding. One Of them threw stone at q
board which was standing upright In
his potato patch, and which In the
darkness resembled mans form. Then
the two descended into the patch and
began raising potatoes. Stouffer yelled
at them and they ran. AS they sped
toward the cornheld he followed and
fired as they were all running. He
uttered the command "halt," but he
heard nothing but the noise as they
rushed among the cornstalks. Fearing
that they might return, and not know
ing of any damage he had inflicted, he
feared that the two men might make a
counter charge. He accordingly re-
turned to town and stayed here until
yesterday morning, when, In company
with some children, he went out to the
field to get some roasting ears to sell in
the town. After passing along three or
four rows he came across the dead body.
He came to town, disposed of his corn,
and then went to Hon. John Stewart
and narrated the above facts. A jury
was summoned and proceeding to the
spot found the body lying face down.
ward amongst the cornstalks. The body
was turned over on its back when IL
was recognized as the corpse of Robert
Allison. Decomposition had already
set in and terrible gunshot wound, one
and half inches in diameter on the left
side below the heart, indicated the cause
of the death. Swollen and blackened,
the body lay among the corn prey to
insects and flies throughout the whole
half day until the coroner put in his
appearance.
From the Repository we learn the fol-
lowing additional facts regarding this
case:
Robert Allison was painter by trade
and lived in house in the rear of Wan
amaker's Row, this place. For two or
three days last week he was engaged In
painting at the foundry of Il. b. Wood
& Co. On Saturday evening about five
o'clock he received his pay and started
home were he remained until about nine
O'Clock that evening. At that hour he
left the house. His wife asked him
where he was going but he made no
reply. Nothing more was heard of him
by his family until Monday afternoon,
about two or three o'clock, when he was
found lying dead in corn field along
the Cumberland Valley r. r., just at
the northern end of town. AT eight
o'clock the coroner's inquest was held at
the office of Squire Seiders. A number
of witnesses were examined. William
Rupert testified that when Stouffer bor-
rowed his gun he said that he did not
want very heavy load in it as he did
not intend to shoot any person but only
scare them. Rupert said 1t was dark in
large load he had put in the gun. Geo.
Kyle being called said that Stouffer told
in the Sheriffs office in the jail that he
had gone to the field, saw the men there
and had fired, but did not think he had
killed one. District Attorney Bowers
is very anxious to find out who the
other man Is that was with Allison in
the field, and assures him that nothing
shall be done to him If he comes for
ward and makes an open statement of
the whole affair, as it will add very
much In dealing out justice in the case.
The Jury rendered the following ver-