The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1885-11-19

y aeeks. The sight Of his birthplace
aud his aged father, active and in
good health, seemed to appease the
upbraidiugs of his heart anil he was
content. Still ha would not return
home.
On the 7th OF December, 1877.
John Kinzler and wife. of Troxel-
vile, were murdered Icy four men
and their house set on FIRE. The
deed was the most atroc:ous 10 the
annals Of the Co. aud for while the
public generally were thrilled by the
horrible details OF the trcat Suyder
county murder. The four murder
ers were afterwards apprehended,
two OF whom were hanged, one was
sentenced to life imprisonment in
the peni.eptiary, aud the other died
of self-poisouing. The arrests,
However, were not made until three
years later, and then only with the
greatest difficulty. A detective Of
the pinkerton Agency took mp his
residence 10 the vicinity of Troxol'
vile as prospector Of ore, aud
worked ont the facts OF the murder
by ingratiating himself into tue cou.
fideLce of the parties connected
with the crime. s. The detective was
often encountered by young Brauch-
er 10 his wanderings over the noun
tain, and the people OF the neigh
borbood began to sus pect him also
of being a detective. Accordingly
he deemed il advisable not TO be>
come in any way implicated IN the
affair, aud suddenly took his departs
ure. Again he went West, where
he travelled extensively, encounter
ing many strange adventures, and
finally turned up at lumber camp
on the shores of Lake Michigan
Hero lie found employment, and re-.
NAMED until the beginning OF last
winter He corresponded occasion
ally with his father in a perfnnctory
way. Then he began to grow
homesick again, and determined &c
come East His funds were sranty
, hut, as he has ready wit eqnal to
any emergency, he managed to exc
out the expenses OF his homeward
journey by selling stationery aud
corn medicine of his own mauufac-
ture.
He reached Miilliutown,iu Juuiata
county, in the middle Of March last,
having Travelled on foot great part
OF the way. He registered as
Charles Brooks at the SJacobs
House, Mifflintown's largest hotel
which just at that time happened to
lack stable. boy, Cbailes learned
of this vacancy and promptly Sc
cured the job. Strange to say, the
menial work Of this position was not
irksomo to him, although bis father
was 80 wealthy, and was only SO
miles distant, ready and willing to
help him il he had known. But
Charles concealed bis real name,
aud would not reveal his straighten-
ed circumstances to his family. On
the contrary, by an indirect corres-
pondepce, he made his father believe
he was still in the Michigan lumber
camp. lie would send letters to a
chum of his at Huron, who would
then write them anew, and the old
man would receive them bearing
the Huron postmark. The fathers
letters to Charles in like manner
went first to Huron, and were there
transmitted to him here, so miles
from where they started. The old
man would repeatedly counsel bis
son not to work so hard numbering,
since that was altogether unneces>
sary, and he had ample means Of
supporting him without work. This
correspondence continued until June
;; lst, when Charles left the employ of
, the Jacobs House, and abandoned
, the rubbing-down of horses, aud res
turned home, after voluntary abr
! sence OF eight years. The prodigal
was joyfully received by his father.
The reconciliation is said to have
been most affecting.
! Charles soon again bade adieu,
though this time amicably, to the
ancestral homestead, and once more
driited westward. This time be has
. achieved a happy and sudden sue
q cess. TO one OF his acqnaintances
7 here he has written from Flagstaff,
Arizona, that be has secured q min-
!, ing claim worth many thousand dol
n.