The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-21
BRUTAL MURDER
OF JACK PEPPER
Unknown Assailants Crush the Skull Of
an Aged Farmer.
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY HORROR
A weII-Known Citizen of Rush Goes
Out to His Barn to Husk Corn and
Is Found Some Hours Later Dying
from the Effects of Wounds Inflicted
by a Cruel Assassin.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Montrose, oct. 20.-The little hamlet
of Rush is known to the residents Of
Susquehanna county as the Sleepy
Hollow of this section. The town itself
reminds one of an old Hudson river
burg, and the side walls of the hills
which bank the valley through which
beautiful Wyalusing creek winds In
classic symphony are beginning to as
sumo the sere and yellow leaf.
In "A pretty farm house located on
the side hill, west of the Auburn road,
lies an old man clasped in the arms of
death. His aged features are drawn in
the lines of death. His lineaments
evidence peace, for he has passed into
that state where the heart still throbs
in weak pulsations, but consciousness
has long departed.
Again has the murderer's hand been
thrust against the fair name of Sus-
quchanna; again has a respected and
beloved citizen, a man devoid of enc
mics and with an entire township OF
friends. been the mark of the bastard
ly hand of the assassin.
LIVED ON AUBURN ROAD.
"Uncle Jack" Pepper was sixty-eight
years of age; he lived with his step
mother on the Auburn road, about half
a mile from Snyder's hotel. Yesterday
afternoon Aunt Sallie" Pepper went
to the village, a short distance, and
returned in time to prepare tea. Uncle
Jack" was in excellent spirits and after
the evening meal in his eXuberance,
said: Il am going over to the barn
and husk some corn" He lighted
lantern and in his "rowdy," a light
pea jacket, wended his way from the
farm house down the beaten path,
across the road to the barn, which
stands alongside the beaten thorough
fare. This was between and o'clock.
Aunt Sallie," after having cleansed
the dishes, retired and for while slept
soundly, as she is an old woman over
ninety years of age, and her efforts for
the day had exceeded her ordinary
labors, for she was very tired.
She awoke at about half-past eight
or nine o'clock and in looking into the
outer room noticed the lantern did not
hang in it's accustomed place. She
arose, dressed and went to the barn.
She saw no light of his lantern and
looked around, but owing to darkness
saw nothing.
She returned to the house filled an
old lantern with oil and went again to
the barn. The sight which met her
gaze was awful in it's entirety. There
lay Uncle Jack, his head battered and
bruised beyond recognition and rest
ing on a loose pile of husked corn
stalks. BY his side deep, red pool of
blood marked the spot where his head
had rested when punishment had been
| III l,.,g Il
! been spattered with blood and the ad-
| jacent crisp white corn husks were
| dyed a deep crimson.
The weapon used was lying near the
| pool of blood-an old whiffletree from
which protruded an iron nail and the
| steel clasp. An ugly. bloody weapon,
| a reminder of barbarism and clearly
| the weapon of a hellish tiend.
GAVE THE ALARM.
Aunt Sallie" mediately ran as
| fast as possible to oliver Wilbur's, her
nearest neighbor, and gave the alarm
| Mr.. Wilbur states that she aroused
! him at 10 o'clock. Uncle Jack" Pep
! per still lived and DR.. Warner did all
! that science and medicine could do tC
! preserve the life of the injured man
|
| never again regained a normal state
! and at five minutes before o'clock to-
day he died. His death was without
a struggle, and he died as he had lived
| in peace.
There are many theories rife as tC
how and in what manner he was at.
tackled, and who attacked him. Dis.
| triCt Attorney William d. b. Ainey was
at the scene as soon as the writer. anC
his research is covering every possible
| point
| have just returned from Rush, anC
! my opinion is that he was seated OF
his launches husking corn, his Ian
tern hung from a fork handle which
protruded from a bag Of hay. The das
tard who perpertrated the outrage en-
tered bound and gagged him, and thei
he, Pepper, struggled and undOubted
| ly tried to free himself This angereC
the brute Calthough there may hav,
been more than one), who. being out
side, seized the whifletree used I,
prop and hold open the barn door, ant
entering he mercilessly beat out OLE
Jack Peppers brains.