Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-11-21
A PARRICIDE IN INDIANA
COUNTY, PA.
Shoots His Aged and Feebl
Father in Cold Blood.

INDIANA, Pa November l2-"rve kill
ed the old man and I'll kill you now, y
was the salutation with which Joseph
Sarver greeted Belle Kelly, his fathers
housekeeper, as be entered the down
stairs room of the two-story log house
in which the two lived on the township
road Just on the outskirts of New
Lebanon, this county, Saturday night.
Tie Sarvers, sire and son, both of
whom had been farm laborers for years,
had been living at loggerheads for
months past, and the news that the
young one had murdered his father in
cold blood was not a surprise to the
neighbors. The son, who is in Jail
now at Indiana, occupying the same
cell AID fastened with the same shackles
that held Allison, the murderer, hung
in this county year ago, denies his
crime, but there is mass of circum-
stantial evidence gathered by your
correspondent that overwhelms this
denial and will undoubtedly carry
Joseph Sarver to the scalfold.
The story of Belle Kelly, the house
keeper, one of the victims, who is now
lowering between life and death within
10 rods of the scene of the terrible
crime, is to the effect that on Saturday
afternoon Joseph Sarver came home
about 3 O'Clock in the afternoon and
loitered, evidently awaiting the coming
of his father. He did not appear to be
nervous or excited, but on the contrary
was cool and quiet in his actions and
conversation. About 5 o'clock he saw
his father at the head OF the lane lead
ing to the log cabin, and started to
meet him. The exact language that
passed between the two is not known.
Suffice to say that the son began abus-
ing the father, and continued it to such
an extent that the grown up son of the
Widow Foster, residing in the house
adjoining, fearing that blows would be
struck, came out and threatened the
unnatural son with clubbing unless
he ceased his TRADE of abuse.
CoLD-BLooDED PARRIC;DE.
sI am afraid Joe will kill me-" said
the old man, as he entered the single
room that served as kitchen, dining
room and parlor of the cabin. But
Miss Kelly persuaded him to sit down
and wait until the supper-which she
was preparing--was ready. "There's
nothing here for me-" responded Joe
grufIly to a similar invitation, and in
stead of seating himself at the family
table, he went Up stairs and in few
moments returned with g revolver in
MS hand. Fearing the violence Of his
own son, the old gentleman had gone
to the barn, and climbing into the hay
NOW, remained there until summoned
by the announcement that the meal
was ready. Refusing to take q seal at
the board, the son waited till the others
| had risen. Then, as the old gentleman
picked up kitten lying in front of the
fire and started for the door, the un-
natural wretch began his tiendish work
He extinguisbed the lamp on the
mantcl and pulling up the blind that
darkened the window on the east side
of the room, fired shot in the semi
darkness in the direction cf the spot
where his old father was standing near
the halfopan door. The latter flung
the door wide open and started toward
the home of the Widow Foster, the
son following. There was a brief
silence, then the sound of another shot
and in few moments Joseph Sarver
alone, drenched with rain, rc-entered
his fathers house with the revolver
still smoking in his hand.
I've killed the old man and now
I'll kill you" he said to Miss Kelly,
whom he saw crouching in the dim
6re-light in corner near the foot Of
the stairs. He fred at the defenseless
woman, the ball striking her in the left
arm. Then she started to run. He
followed her into the yard and free
again. This time the bullet took effect
in her left cheek, coming upward TO
ward the brain and she fell inseusibie
When she recovered consciousness some
time after, she managed to alternately
crawl and stagger to the house of Mrs
Foster, where she learned for the frs
time that old Mr. Sarver was dead
STUMBLED OVER A DEAD BODY.
The widow Foster, tie neares
neighhor to the Sarvers, speaking of tn
affair, said that she heard a pistol sh6
Saturday evening short distance from
her house She went out on her pore
and stumbled on q body lying near th
threshold Of the door Thinking it wa
her son she hurried off to a neighbor'
house and brought assistance, and no
until the body was carried into he
kitchen did she recognize the feature
of old man Saryer. He had been sho
down at Mrs. Fosters door, as fror
the nature of the wound death mus
have been instantaneous.
After completing his work, as h
| thouOhr Tosenh Sarver diSanpearef