Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-03-15
Uriah Meyer Executed.

MlDDLEBURG, IA, Marcn I.-O IL
nh Meyer was hanged in the Jail yard
here at eight minutes past eleven this
morning, for the murder OF Gretchen
Kinlzler on Decem Der s, 1877. He
passed quiet night, sleeping well.
When led out of his cell to the scaffold
he stepped up firmly and exhibited great
nerve. The prisoner gaz'd calmly on
the crowd Of two hundred people and
stated that the murder was committed
on Friday evening hy him and Eman-
uel Ettinger that rs and his brother
Jonathan and Ettinger robbed and
burned the body and the premises on
Saturday evening. lie said, too, that
it had been said that his bro ther Joseph
was also present, but that that was not
So.
Prayer Has then offered, to which
the condemned made responses. After
this the Sheriff pinioned his arms and
ankles and the rope was adjusted, the
white cap Was placed over his head and
the drop fell. lie died without strug
gle in about seven minutes.
The confession made to R5v. Mr..
Spangler is very damaging to Israel
Erb, whom many people thought might
have been wrongfullY under sentence of
death. Following are the principal
points in Meyers confession
II never thought of murder until Is
rael Erb spoke 10 me about the killing
OF John Kintzler. He said that old
John was mean old devil that he
called him rail thief, aud that lie
would like TO see him killed. lie said
further that he was no good toanybody.
That lie had no friends to hunt it up if
he was killed, and that a person would
be perfectly safe in doing it. He said.
we don't need 20 kill the sold woman.
We can lay in The woods above the
house, aud then when OLD John comes
up To let off the water to run il over his
land We could shoot him aud then tie
our. faces up SO the old woman would
not know us, which w0uldsclTe her,and
she would tell us where all the money
was. | told Emanuel Ettinger OF the
conversation that passed. between Inc
and Erb, and he agreed TO go along and
do bis part. So Emanuel and l were
there and watched IN the woods at DIFF
ferent times, but never got sight Of
John Kintzler."
The coutessio on then refers 10 anoth-
ter attempt to Kill tie old man, when |
Perry Bi ckhart, who has fled to the |
South, was to have done the shooting, |
and had been waiting Il long time to
carry out his purpose. The confession |
then gives an account Of the double
murder. He and EttiDger had gone to
Kintz'er to have lard can mended.
The confession goes on
"Ettin ger was sitting on the grind
stone behind us With the gun lying "a
cross his knees. lie at once pulled at
the hammer with lis thumb, when
Kinizler heard him and asked what he
was doing. Ettinger said L was just
playing with The hammer Kinlfler
said L wan: nobody to fool with a
gun in my house put it down l said,
Yes, Emanuel, put it down. He did
so. After the can was mended, l sAid,
Il think it still leaks Kintzler said,
No, it don't shut all the holes that
were in it, then said, we could see
if we would put water into it, When
| started toward the spring Kintzler
came TO the door little to the right
and stood there. l went TO the spring,
filled the can about half full of water,
and as l was holding it up | said Il
don't think it leaks at ALL KintZler
then came walking towards me: When
he was close to me said, Il guess it
don't Leak Just as | turned the can
to pour out the water, Ettingt fired. |
Kn,Zler turned toward the house i'm |
mediately. Ettinger intercepted him,
and severe struggle ensued. l start
ed to run up through the lot, got on The
fence, and looked back just as Ettinger
dispatched the old man. He then came
running up the lot toward whereI Gas
| beckoned with nv hand to go back ]
meant to kill the old woman, for | knew
size would tell on us. He turned, ran
back, and met the old lady right inside
Of the door. lie struck her once with
the gun, when she sank to the flDoI.
Afterward she breathed heavily, and he
struck her again. That flushed her.
The next night we went and set fire to
the honse."