The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-12-30
BRUTAL ATTEMPT AT MURDER.
John H. Bittner Stabbed 20 Times
by Two Fellow Miners.-Both
Now IN jail.

Bs far the most brutal and blood thirsty
crime ever committed within the limits Of
this county occurred near HooversvilIe at
an early hour Thursday morning.
James Turner, an Irishman, 2S years Of age.
and David salmon, an EnglishmaD, 81 years
of age, had been engaged At digging coal for
Frank Rodgers, a well known farmer OF that
neighborhood. for several months past
They boarded with Rodgers, and but for the
fact that they would go on occasional sprees,
were considered first-class vorkmen-
Wednesday they got keg of beer from
JehnstOwn and drank freely during the
evening, retiring about half past O'Clock
An hour afierwards Rodgers heard them
dressing in their loom and few minutes
later heard them leave the house
Between three and four O'Clock in the
morning they returned and knocking on
the door Of Mr.. Rodgers bed room, aroused
him from his slumbers.
a What do you fellows want at this time
Of night" inquired Mr. Rodgers. as be
opened the door and struck light.
I'VE want TO tell you that we have killed
old Biitner, replied Turner
No you havn't," said Rodgers, incredu-
lousy.
"Yes We have was the response. "snd if
you don't believe Us look at our clothes and
this knife. We ripped the tongue out of
the he---n
Rodgers saw that the clothing of both
men were smesred and that their hands and
the knife which Turner exhibited were drip
ping with human blood.
." bad good notion to kill Salmon be
cause he didn't want TO help said Turner.
After little further conversation. Turner
and Salmon left the house and Rodgers re
turned to bis bed.
The night was inky black and a cold rain
was falling Early in the morning Rodgers
went TO his barn to feed his stock and found
that Turner and Salmon had slept there
They begged him to go to Bittners, three
miles distant, and ascertain whether he was
still living. Rodgers agreed 10 do 50, but
instead Of going direct TO Bittner's he went
TO Hooyersville and informed Constable
Harshberger and ex constable Boyer Of
what had happened, when the three proceed
ed TO the scene Of the tragedy.
In a rude miners hat one-half mile east
Of HOoversville. they found John H. Bit
ner, all alone. lying on the floor covered
With blood, his head resting on the end OF
his bunk. His mouth was split back 70 the
ear on the right side Of bis head and his
tongue was cut almost in two near the root.
An ugly cash under his chin showed that
the fiends had endeayOred TO cut his throat,
while the flesh on his left arm was laid bare
to the bone from shoulder - elbow. A
number Of ugly wounds in his breast disclos-
ed where the veremous knife had plunged.
Fourteen cuts had been made in the attempt
70 take his life. He was in q very weak con-
dition aud could only talk in a faint tone
he said that he was awakened about ;
O'Clock in the morning by Turner and Sal
mon, who broke into his shaDty and said
that they had come 10 kill him. He begged
them not TO but hey insisted that they had
/ come to cut his tongue out The next mo
ment Salmon knocked him down and held
him while Turner did the cutting. They
would certainty have killed me, said Biit-
ner. but the blade of the knit. must have
closed when they were cutting at my
throat"
Bi;tner was too weak to make his cOndi-
ton known, the nearest neighbor being
half mile distant, and had it not been for
the timely arrival Of Rodgers and the officers
be would have died.
As soon as the officers heard Bittner's
story they sen, for a physician and then
proceeded to the home Of Rodgers where
they found Turner and Salmon in the sum
mer house.
Turner offered some resistance when plac-
ed under arrest. but blow from Constable
Boyer convinced him that he had better
submit quietly. Turner and Salmon had
both donned new voolen shirts after careful
IL washing the blood from their faces and
hands and from their clothing. Investiga-
ton failsd to show what had become Of the
shirts they had taken OF. A search was al
50 made for the knife but it could not be
found.
The prisoners were taken 10 Hooversville,
and justice Of the peace was sent TO Biti-
ners shanty, where the injured man made
information against them. The prisoners
were brought to Somerset on the afternoon
train. Both we're still under the influence
of liquor and asked the officers to conduct
them through the main streets on the way
10 the Jail in order that tbeg might see the
| Christmas goods. TIE officers compiled
with their reqUes; and both expressed child
isb delight st seeing the toys aud candies
When our reporter visited the prisoners IN
the Jail Christmas morning, they both de-
MED all knowledge of The crime. 1t is
very serious charge, | must confess said
1 Turner, but know nothing aboutit. Meth
er Of Us bad anything against Bittner and
coald Of had no reason for assaulting him.
We had both been drinking good bit that
day; don't know how much We drank, but
we had large sized keg Of beer aud did the
best we could TO get outside Of it. l am
very sorry if we did anything out Of the
way. Two Of my sisters, both married, live
in Brooklyn"
How long ean they send us up on
charge Of this kind p asked Salmon after he
had been told that Bittner was alive and
would recover
The reporter told him that 1t was Q very
serious offence and that the penalty was
from one to seven years.
Turner is rather good looking fellow,
about five feet eight inches tall with black
mustache and dark eyes. He is said to De
skillsl boxer and was regarded with fear
by many people living about Hooyersvills
Salmon is several inches smaller than Tur-
ner With light eoIored hair aud eyes and
with smooth face. He is a vicious looking
and seems uuconcerned as to the outcome Of
the charge against him
Friday morning il was reported that Bit
ner had died during the night but investi-
CATION failed 70 confirm the report He has
/ been removed from the shsnty where TIE as
| sault took place. TO the home of his aunt,
in Hooversville Bittner is a very
poor man and the citizens Of HOoveTsville
have contributed sum Of money to help
care for him. He is about s. years Of sgs
| and a native Of this county. The latest re
ports from Hooyersville say that be viii re-
Z cover.
No mStiFe Cor the crime has been assign
/ IL Tnrnar and SalH.cn had worked for