The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-04-06


body 1t was removed from The water and
taken to the murdered mans home. James
beal was the only witness who appeared be-
fore the jury. His story corresponded with
the one already told Is coming from him.
and after giving II he was Permitted to ~
having promised 10 appear before the court
e. Somerset when wantet as 4 witness. Drs
Moore and Gardner, Who made The post
mortem examination, say that Hochstefler's
skull was mashed with stone. A three
eornered stone vas picked up BY n member
OF the jury at the scene Of the tragedy and
It fitted into the fise wounds in the victims
head. !, was certainly this stone that kill
ed Hochssetler, but who used it is not
known. Both Bob Miller and James
Beal, who witnessed the murder deny that
stone was used They claim that the vic
tim was dubbed TO death.
The jury rendered verdict that Hoch-
steiler had come to his death at the hands Of
parties unknown.
SOB sILLER's coxEEssIos.
Between and O'Clock Friday evening,
constable Milton Berg arrived at Trent with
Bob Miller in custody. Bob made full
confession 10 Squire Miller, in private. and
afterwards made the following statement
under oath.
SomerSei County, IS.
Before me, John II. Miller one Of the
Justices Of the Peace in and for the county
Of Somerset, personally came Robert G. Mil
Ter, Of the township OF Middle Greek. who
made confession as follows:
On March 80, 1892, about O'Clock 2. NJ.
VIM c. Miller my father, came 10 my house
and told me detectives were amer me for IL
licit distilling. He took me oct ard We
met Vim. PTitts, Of Fayette county. who
told me was the man the detectives want
ed, but they would save me. We went in
10 the woods near Rachel Nicklox's farm
and, watching, saw three buggies- Pritts
said
There goes the detectives When / tell
you they are coming you may rely upon il.
We proceeded short distance further and
arriving At Crab run. Pritis and father had
a conversation which ] did not overhear
| We crossed the road and hid behind trees,
and then they informed me OF their plan,
which was 10 capture Jonathan H0chstetler
; | think they knew be was on the road
| While they were talking looked down the
/ road and said: There comes a man"
Father said, shall we try il or not?"
Pritts laughed and said, go ahead, let Us
/ ali stick together.
Father said, = / viii stop him. You two
catch and tie him
With that he walked nearer the road and
called
Halt l want to talk to you.
Hcchsteuer, who was just coming up the
bank, said, - your souls, I'll halt
you Then he threw stones at father, but
/ missed him, and father discharged his gun
in the air. HOchstetler ran across the road
got another stone, and threw ii a. father
striking him this time on the shoulder.
had an old army gun. and Hochssetler ran
toward me- saying
Bob, shoot me. d you -
Father struck him with the but of his
gun, bringing him 70 his knees. He struck
a second time, and then Hochs;etler begged
me not to let them hurt him any more.
Father raised the gun 70 strike again, and /
ran out and received the blow on the arm.
failed to ward off fourth blow, and Hoch-
ste;ler fell with groan. Pritts got on him
and commenced to beat him. ! cou.d bear
no more, and saying / was going home
4 started. looked up the road and saw a
man coming down. He stopped a moment,
| then be turned and ran. told them, but
1 they said
a-Oh, you were just scared and thought So
/ Hurry up now. Let Is take him OF the
rosd-n
They started with him, still alive and
| grcaning. They took him down Crab run
| and threw him in. From where / was
could see him lying over log, still groan-
ing and with his head touching the water.
ran back and pulled bis head out of the
wster. They wanted me 10 90 and put it in
/ again, bat / would not do IL ! said. :.
will go home and tell this and give myself
up
They answered: Don't De afraid We
viii stick TO you, 60 you viii not get into
any trouble"
They finally persuaded me not TO give
myself up. ROBERT c. MrLLtR.
The above statement was Iistened to with
brssthless attention by the 80 or more persons
who had collected in the store. When he had
concluded bis recital Of the brutal slaughter
be had witnessed, young Mile. who had been
standing dropped into chair snd remarked
to an acquaintance, this is an awful crime
for mans father TO lead him into"
The prisoner was then discharged on his
own recognizance. HeretGrned to his home
and the next morning set out TO attend
Jonathan Hoehste,ler's funeral. Hestopped
at the house of Allen Forespring and We:
eating dinner with the Nickiow's family
wien constable Leroy Scott arrived and
placed Kim under arrest Scott seated Mil
Ter in front OF him on horse snd started fol
lockwood. Here they took the $50 train
for Somerset.