Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-09-01
COLUMBIA NEWS ITEMS.
rHvn our REGULAR RUoRnrsPrrpESr
Tas tar movement on tho T.. R. R--Opsu-
ing OF tho rabi,o schools .BurkennsI'sr
goptease. to shootinE sentiy,


Tas tar movement on the 4. K. R.--Opsb-
Ing OF tho rabno sohooI-- -Bnr kennsl'tr
Ooniosros TO shooting sentiy.
Tho greatest excitement prevails hero
this afternoon over the con fession OF Emar-
ucl Berkheiser to the shooting Of Charles
Bentley, canal boatmaD, which occurred
on the morning Of July Goth, 1884, on u
canal boat at the Reading ~ Columbis
coal wharyes. 1t was firmly believed by
many that Hcnry Olphin had committed
the deed, as bentley accused him OF it.
A recapitulation of the affair will make
the position OF all concerned more definite.
Charles Bentley, Henry Olphiu, George
Fry and Emanuel Berkheissr, after
indulGinR in q drunken frolic on the
evening Of July 25th, returned to their
boats at tho wharves, all under the
influence Of .liquOr, Bentley especially
being drunk. Tho lattor had boon quar-
relng with q companion during stho entire
evening, and at ono time attempted to
shoot Olphin hftor boarding their boats,
where the quarrel was continued, Bentley
was at that time in some mysterious man
ner shot, and from the effects Of the
wound subsequently died. He however
accused Olphin Of hring the shot. Whilo
in search of "a doctor, after discovering
Bentley'a condition, Olphin, Berkheser
and Fry wcro arrested by Officers Wittick
and Gilbert. The three prisoner and tho
wounded man were taken 10 Lancaster,
the next day the former to Jail, tho latter
to the hospital, where no died q day or
tw" afterwards.
This morning, Olphin, as the murderer,
with Fry aud Borkheiser, as accessories,
were brought to Columbia and taken DO.
foIo Squire Evans 10 bo given hearing
FAr hn
mouwealth, and B. Frank Eshlemau, for
tho defendants, were present, and aided
by Squire Evans, conducted the case.
DR.. w. q. Berntheisol was called to the
stand. He had been called TO attend tho
wounded man on the morning OF July %,
between and 9 o'clock, and upon going
to the boats found him lying on tho deck.
He examined the wound, which was in tho
abdomen, three inches below the umbccellis
and in the medium line. lie made two
unnuCcessful probes for the bullet, but was
unable to find it. While attending Bentley
this wounded man told him Olphin had
shot him, and, later, when Squire
Evans, who had been sout for, took
his (Bentley's) aute-murtcm statement,
heard the same accusation made by
Bentley. He closely examined tho
clothing around the wound, but could not
detect any odor OF powder. But little
blo,i was On the clothing, Their being only
a small hCmOrrhaFc.
Oniccr5 Wit;iok aud Gilbert stated that
they lad followed the four boatmen to
their boats, bat having no search warrants
dared not 20 on the boat to arrest them,
They had arrested Olphin, lleTkhGiscr aud
Fry, while they we're IN search of "A doJtnr.
TL,y heard Bently accusa Olphin of.shoot
ing hfm, at the ante mortom examination.
and ,.l, ,iIa "a yr5V haipr, 70 IN Lon .
master. Several other witnesses also sta'Nd
the same.
Mr. Eshloman, Mr.. Ebcrly and Squire
Evann at this point left the room aud when
theg return. the lattc7 announced that hc
would allow the prisoner to givo IN their
testimony, whcreupOn Bcrkhe.ser made
the following astounding statement.
Bentley, who is his cousin, alter getting
on their boat, threatened to shoot them,
when they Ietreated and concealed them.
selves. Bentley then became calm, but
upon the roappaaranco vi the three boat
men, again sprapg towards them. BeIk
hos,r in retTeating fell, when bentley
sprang at him, with drawn revolver,
excriming : I'll shoot the sun OF n
bitch - He aimed a i}oTkheisor, but
S2f re he could fire Bcrkhciser had drayn
his ~ vclyCr aud hrCd fnll at him. II was
done a solf dctcnsa, Tor Bentley would
undoubtedly have shot his cousin, al least
this is his belief At this tine Oiphin and
Fry were not in sjght, Anh = hen they gave
in their evidence thev stated that they
did not know that Bsrkhpiser had shot
Bentley. All three signed the confession
as evidence.
Olphin and Fry, after giving bail for
300 each, were released, whiio Berkheiscr
was gain taken to jail. He first made his
confession to A, G. Bruner, esq, in jail
SON" time ago, and would have made it
publ c, only he had not tho chance, Tho
mcrly way in which he has acted has made
mary friends for him here, and one and all
hope f,r his release on a verdict of self
deitugc.
Fol-, wing is the car movement over the
l.. L K. Mt Columbia last month
EASTWARD.
Loaded. ............. 4o,4i5
Empty. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1850
iplhI. ''sf iN''
WESTWARD.
holdtu. '.'''......."'''.I '.IS,o.O
ENIlS, S,....,....... ,op, ilo
Total. al.................... AZ, ,GS0
Grand total. ...................Si, 20?
IL oNSA 'ulD Va - S'Aht "h' 49,
increase over August, 1888, of 2,G20.
The number of trains sent from the
yards were !:
Eastward .........., 40U
Westward, Observation-Disclosures. go
lD'ai ..,'..,...... ..''....'.. IUUo
camping Uut
The Rod and Gun club, OF Columbia,
left for tho Seven mountains, near Milroy,
Minlin county, this morning, in y special
car. Thoy will remain in camp ono week
The club is composed By the following
gentemen Drs Alex Craig, j. X. Linsa
weaver and w. G.. Taylor, Messrs. Jno. $
Nichols, X. G. Williams. Jno. A. Boyle,
G.. s. Murry, Jacob Rothschlds II. II.
ueIse, Samuel Filbert, Jno. ID. Forry,
A. Jessel, Jacob Kimes W. II. Fendrich,
Fred. Buchcr, James Perrottet. }. l..
Boyer and Paxton Otty, Of Columbia; W.
j. Rose, Of Harrisburg, and Chas. A.
Baker and s. A. Potts, OF Philadelphia.
Tho following arr ioffioers Of tho club: Com
mandant, DR.. Craig vioe commandant
J. 5. Nichols master of transportation,
II. Il. Williams paymaster, G. S. Murry;
quartermaster, +. Bucher quarLermaster
sergeant, j. Rothschilds cOmmiSsary
sargeant, J. A. Boyle. Tho club is vel
equipped, and that they will have the best
of times does not admit of a doubt.
An