Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-04-17
William H. Painton of S7nestown
Sullivan County Arrested for Murder.
William III. Painton whom we ar

|
| William Ii. Painton whom we an
nounced in our columns last week
as the murderer of Mrs. Elizabeth
Strominger of Lewisberry, York
county, on the night of March 3lst
1891, proved to be the Sullivan
county VIM. Painton who is a resi-
dent of Sonestown. He was ar
rested at his home in Sonestown Oh
Wednesday evening of last week
having come to said place on Tues
day the 7th. The arrest was made
by two detectives of Harrisburg whe
were informed of Paintop's where
abouts by Dan Smith who was ~.
rested on Monday the 9th and Whe
it will be remembered was the per
son who planned to rob the old Mr.
Strominger, but was taken i'll on the
fatal Tuesday night, March 3lst,
and detailed brother to do his
part of the plunder. Painton, how
ever was the one selected to enter
the house and make the demand ot
the old and invalid man who, at the
time was suffering from rheumatism
and could not move from his chair
without assistance. When Painton
made the demand for the old man s
money he was masked and drew a
revolver from his pocket. This
frightened the old lady and she
started for the door but was caught
| by Painton, thrown to the floor,
tied, hand and foot and gagged with
a large red handkerchief, the same
being found on Painton's person and
is supposed to be the identical one
that sutlicated the murdered woman.
Painton while in the squabble with
the old lady, lost his mask which af-
forded the old man a chance to
look upon his countenance and
proved very beneficial to the detec-
tives. After Painton had finished
this job he returned to the old man
and demanded in ernest the where
abouts ofhis money, when he was
told in a drawer in the adjoining
room. Painton made the ransack
and secured eight hundred dollars
in gold and silver. With this COM
pleted he returned to the old lady
and removed the obsticles and found
that she was either dead or nearly
so. lie then in company with Frank
| Smith who remained on the outside
went to a doctor in the village and
summoned him to go as quickly as
possible to the residence of Mr..
Strominger as the Mrs. was in a
precarious condition. On the ar
rival of the doctor, however she was
| found to be dead
Detectives were Immediately set
to work and reward of fifteen hun
dred dollars offered for the capture
of the villain which proved very eff.
| fective.
| The arrest of Painton in his
mothers house at Sohestown proved
very interesting as described by
citizens of that town. The officers
arrived at Sonestown on the 6:20 D.
m. train of the w. Il n. b. drove
down to Muncy Valley and secured
the assistance of Constable Hotfer
and had their warrant endorsed by
Justice of the Peace Thomas S. Sim
mons, from thence they went to the
house of Mrs. Painton accompanied
by Hotfer and station agent Mr..
Hall. On their arrival to the house
they spyed their prey through a
window sitting by table reading in
a book. The two assistance were
stationed at either door and the Of
ficers entered, revoIvers in hand and
commanded him to throw up his
arms. Painton showed grit and in
stead of obeying the command he
sprang for his captors and made a
desperate struggle for freedom. He
was overpowered, however, and vas
made an easy victim by the use oil
hand cuffs. The mother of Painton
joined in the fight. and it is said
made the fur fly for short time
Painton was taken to the Magargle
Hotel and placed in room where
he was watched by the detectives
and oD Thursday morning taken te
Harrisburg and placed in Jail, will
his companion Dan Smith who identi
| fed him as the man who murdered
| Mrs. Strominger. Frank Smith
brother of Daniel Smith, was arrest
| al on Tuac6au fha Tth op5 10 NOW