Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-03-30
A BLACK FRIDAY.
Five NurdereFs Hung IN Pennsylvania.

less than five murdererS paid the
dread penalty of the law for the bloody
crime of murder. At Harrisburg
Frank and Henry Rumberger were eX-
ecuted for the murder of an old man
named Daniel Troutman, near GratZ-
town, Dauphin county, Nov. 18th 1880
Mr.. Trourman was highly respecta-
BILE man and useful citiZAn. He was
murdered for money which he had in
his,poSsession at the time as theexecutor
Of neighb0ring estate. He was sixty
eight years of age at the time Of his
murder, and had family Of fourteen
children, the youngest of whom is nine
years. The Rumbergers are not related
to each other, although they bear the
same name. They had two trials and
were convicted as both. The state
nents of the two men differed materi-
ally, and Rev. Lee II. Heilman,
Franks spiritual adviser, has poor
opinion Of Franks truthfuiness. To a
Patriot reporter the minister said: "He
has become so accustomed to telling
untruthful stories that i really believe
he does not know when he is telling
the truth. have much sympathy for
the man and hope that he may yet give
US the truthful story about the sad
affair.""
At Pittsburg Edgar Frank Snail
was hung for the murder of Nicholas
Jacoby. lie protested that he was an
innocent man to the very last. The
execution was strictly private not more
than hundred people being present..
At Clearlield John A. Neveling paid
the penalty of the law for the murder
of Samuel Pennington, Feb. nth 1880.
His mother came to see him last Sun
day. The meeting between them was
very affecting. ack told her that his
death upon the gallows was but the
natural end of the life he had led, and
eXhOrted her to warn his brother be-
fore it would be too late. His friends
have treated him coldly since his con-
viUtiou; neither his father nor the No-
man with whom he lived as his wife
has visited him in his cell. lie en-
ployed himself for several days writing
sketch Of his life, which is quite
lengthy. He lays the whole blame Of
bis crime to whiskey.
AT Middleburg, in our neighbering
county Of Snyder, Jonathan Meyer,
one Of the four mu:derers of the old
Kintzler couple, was launched into e.
ternity from the gallows. To the very
last he stuck to the story he has told
all along, that he knew nothing of the
murder until the day after it was COM
mittej, when he was told of it by Et-
finger, with whom and Uriah 1f0Yer
he then went to rob the house. They
burned the old peoples bodies in the
building and divided between them
seyentv-iive dollars in money, which |
they obtained. He concluded by saying
that "two committed the murder and |
three went TO rob-" After he had been |
bound hand and foot there took place |
one Of the most remarkable scenes that |
ever occurred at an execution. Au-
gustus Meyer, one of the principal |
witnesses for the prosecution and a
cousin Of Jonathan's, in an effort to
vindicate himself in his connection |
with the case, availed himself of the |
sheriff's general permission for, anybody
to ask the prisoner questions. He ask
ed several questions in regard to the
testimony, which Jonothan answered
readily, apd presently persons from all
sides began to PROFOUND queries, MoY-
er had already been standing on the
platform for nearly half an hour and
the terrible strain was beginning to tell
upon him. Suddenly Nj. Wunderly, (
one Of TIE counsel for the defense,
cried ont dramatically, yet with voice
unsteady with indignation and emo
tion. "In the name of God and hu-
manity protest against cross-examin.
ing this poor man on the scaffold !"
The crowd at once took up the cor
demned mans cause and loud cries of
"Shame! shame!" compelled the ques-
tioners to cease. Just as the moose
was being placed around Moyer's neck
he looked calmly at the crowd and said
''good bye" Good bye'' cane back
from d number of persons, 'and may
God have mercy on your SOUL" added
one. 'Thank you," replied Meyer.
The trap was sprung at l.29, out ow-
ing to some mismanagment, only one
side fell, leaving Moyer struggling to
keep his balance. Ins stantly the sheriff
struck the trap again and the body fell
t thirty-two in ches. With but little
Meyer strangled to death in
niue minutes, after which the body |
was cut down and consigned to the
care of one of his brothers for inter-
ment.