The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-07-12
SHOT TO DEATH IN THE STREET.
A PROMINENT NANTICOKE BUSINESS
MAN KILLED IN THE PRESENCE
OF FRIENDS.


Frederick +. Blttenbender, one of
the most prominent business men of
Nanticoke, a director of the First Ma
tional Bank and member of the school
board, was shot and instantly killed at
noon Saturday, by Abram Eckert.
The shooting occurred on the main
street, Bittenbender being in his car
riage in front Of the bank. Fckert
was captured. The cause of the af-
fair is hard to determine, although it
seemed that Eckert believed Bitten
bender had a grudge against him and
wanted to do him injury. Eckert is
janitor at the high school, and Bitten
bender, as chairman of the Building
Committee of the board, had the
power of supervising and directing
Eckert's work.
Bittenbender and another director,
George w. Gruver, went to the school
on tour of inspection and found
Eckert was not there attending to lis
work. They were annoyed and drove
to Eckert's house, where Bittenben-
der inquired: "Why don't you do
your work at the school house You
are paid for it and should do it."
The men have been friends for
some time despite their different sta
tons and Eckert laughed as he re
piled: "All right, Fred, I'll go down
and finish up" They chatted while,
all being in good humor, and then
Bittenbender drove away.
The men did not meet again until
noon. At that time Bittenbender,
with his father and George w. Flock,
another bank director, were driving
up the street. In front of the bank
Eckert was standing. He called out
that he wanted to see Bittenbender,
and the latter drove to the sidewalk.
Eckert looked very angry and said
"Something has been troubling me
for week or more; it seems you
have grudge against me. What do
you mean by treating me the way you
have been doing ?" Somewhat sur
prised, Bittenbender replied: "You
are paid to do the work and must do
it." Hardly had the last word left
his mouth when Eckert sprang back
ward from the carriage, drew revol-
yer, and taking deliberate aim, fired.
The bullet entered Bittenbender's
right eye and caused instant death.
The body plunged forward and fell
over the wheel of the carriage at the
feet of Eckert, who despite the cries
of Bittenbender's father and Flock,
who were trying to jump from the car
riage, and Ethe approach of people,
calmly stood over the body and fired
two more shots. The first shattered
the bone in the left arm and the other
missed. Then he started TO run, but
had gone only few steps when he
was overpowered by school director
Thomas Callary and John Reagan.
A crowd gathered Immediately and
some of the friends of Bittenbender
cried, "Lynch him; string him up
Callary and Reagan, however, ran
with the prisoner to Burgess Powelrs
Office and there he was secured and
brought by constables to Jail in Will
kes-Barre.
Eckert is 4S years old and has a
wife and seven children. He has al
ways been a quiet, good natured fel-
low and had many friends, who are
unable to account for the sudden
change in his disposition. 1t appears
that he had some deep-seated griev-
ance against Bittenbender. Two
weeks ago he was heard to remark
''If Fred does not stop treating me as
he is doing he will be sorry"
Bittenbender was proprietor of the
Bittenbender Machine Shops and the
inventor of many mechanical appli
ances. He leaves a wife and foul
children.