The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-01-10
A MURDER IN GARRETT.
George w. Bittinger Strikes Down hi
Brother-in-LaW, Geo. Burkholder.

George w, BlIIlnSST OlIlhSS OOWfi MS
Brother-in-Law, Geo. Burkholder.
On Monday morning news reach
ed Oakland that a murder had been
committed near Bittinger, this
county, on Saturday afternoon
about 4 o'clock, but at the time the
report reached Oakland nothing
definite could be learned, except
that man named Geo. w. Biting
err had struck his brother-in-law,
George Burkholder, on the head
killing him instantly.
1t appears that Burkholder vas
charged with stealing some corn
from a nelghbor and that a few
days ago warrant had been sworn
out for his arrest and placed in the
hands of Constable Charles Beachy
for service, who went to arrest
Burdholder. Beachy went to the
house of Geo. Bittinger, father Of
the man who committed the muir
der, where Burkholder was on Sat
urday afternoon. Burkholder saw
the officer coming and dashed into
the house and up to the attic where
Bittlnger had gone to get piece Of
leather with which to pynaif his
boot. The attic was Very gfbSssss:s2iy
and Blttinger had no way of know
ing who the man was that came up
on him in the dark. He command
ed him to halt which command was
unheeded and the homicide re-
suited.
Bittinger was brought to Oakland
Tuesday night and placed III jail.
Yesterday morning q REPUBLICAN
reporter went to the jail and was
accorded an interview with HIM,
He is a small man, of light, ford
complexion and seemed to be rather
intelligent. When asked for the
particulars OF the affair he was
ready to talk and said, verv much
affected: ut was all an accident.
| did not intend to kill anyone.
Burkholder was my friend and rel
atiye, but not knowing who the
man was | did what almost every
one else would do under the cir
umstances.
81 am thirty-two years old, mar,
ried, and have three children. My
fathers name IS George Bittinger.
and | liye in the same house with
him. On Saturday afternoon about
dusk, | went up into the attic Of
the house to get piece of leather tc
sole my boot and while there l heard
something strike the door and il
burst open. My wife and some
others were down stairs and they
all commenced screaming. In the
confusion | di not know what was
the matter, but in a few seconds {
man appeared at the head of the
stairs leading to the attic with {
club about two feet long III hi
hand. 1t was too dark up there t.
distinguish who the man was, and
told him not to come any further
but he kept on advancing. TheI
| said: why don't you speak?
to which he made no reply. B,
this time he was quite near me.
did not know but what he had kill
ed some one down stairs and wa
coming to kill me. | picked up /
piece Of wood that was lying in tn,
attic and which my father had pu
up there anumber of years ago.an(
struck the man on the side of tn,
head. He fell down the stairway
| went down and saw that it wa
Burkholder. He was unconsciou
and was lying where he fell. | car
ried him to a bed and went for
doctor. Before | got back he wa
dead"
The above statement was mad,
in a Straightforward manner and dur
ing its recital Bittlnger's eyes Otter
filled with tears.
His trial will come up at tn
April term of court.