The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-10-11
TRAGEDY IN A sQUIRB's OFFICE.
A Man Shoots the Justice and the gallia
and Escapes to the Woods.

Justice Henry Newberger, of Tafton.
Pike county, was shot in the head and
fatally wounded, ard Henry Quick
was dangerously wounded on Wednes
day Oct and, by Christopher House
man. The latter, who lives near
Tdfton on farm, had been sued by
Henry Won Frank, a neighbor, for
damages for railroad ties burned by
Houseman's setting the woods on fire.
The case was called for 3 o'clock in
the afternoon before Justice of the
Peace Newberger, and when House
man and Won Frank arrived the
squire thought to do Houseman a
Kindness by suggesting that they had
better settle the matter amicably and
save the costs. The words were no
sooner out of his mouth than House.
man jumped upon chair and cried
out: " Yes; l will settle all damages. +"
With that he drew his revolver from
his hip pocket and began shooting.
He first tried to shoot Won Frank.
who lodged the bullet, and it struck
Justice Newberger back of the ear
just as he was attempting to leave the
room. The ball entered the skull.
penetrating the brain. He fell for
ward, and, as he was near the door,
he struck the stone steps, badly bruis.
ing and laceratlng his face.
AS Newberger fell a second shot
was fred, hitting Henry Quick, a
brother of the constable who had
served the summons In the suit. The
ball struck Mr.. Quick in the nose,
between the eyes, and passed down
ward through the mouth and cheek,
intllcting a dangerous wound. Three
other shots were fired, which did no
harm. In the confusion Houseman,
the would murderer, escaped to
the woods, and, although men tried
to stop him, they were intimidated by
his weapon.
Before goingto Newberger's, House.
man went to the school house and
bade good. bye to his children. Wednes-
morning, when at Hawley, he said
goodbye to several of his friends,
telling them he could stand it no
longer. He threatened to kill Won
Frank and Newberger and then kill
himself.
1t is believed he went to the squire's
office with the intention of blowing
up the house, with the people and
himself in it, with dynamite. He went
there armed with two cigar boxes
supposed to contain dynamite, with
fuses attached. They are still un-
opened on the premises. He pur-
chased dynamite last Friday of E.
Kimble. Nothing has been heard
from Houseman since he disappeared
In the woods, except that he went to
his home and bade his wife good bye.
An armed posse started in search
OF him, but returned late Wednesday
evening with no clue. 1t is believed
he has committed suicide. Houseman
has had a great deal of trouble lately,
having been arrested several times on
various charges. The last charge was
that of having poisoned his neighbors'
cattle, but none of the accusations
were ever proved. He believed him.
self the victim of persecution.
Thursday Newberger was reported
still alive, but DIR. Plum, of Hawley,
says he will die. Justice Newberger
is 70 years of age, and has been
justice Of the peace 80 years. His
rule on law suits was invariably to
endeavor to persuade the litigants to
come to friendly settlement, and
this finally cost his liie.-Lancaster
Il1keXinoalco