The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-10-05
A FORGOTTEN CRIME.
A Murder Committed Twenty. five Years Bgo
Tragically Recalled.

Quite sensation was sprung in the
county courts last week, when Eliza
beth Delamater, who was suing her
husband, James H. Delamater an aged
resident of Ashley, for support, sud
denly turned upon the lawyers and
screamed: "Who killed DR.. Durkin2"
Before the Court recovered from its
amazement the old man faced Judge
Woodward and calmly admitted that
he had killed DR.. Durkin. The de-
claration brought back old memories
TO Judge Woodward and he remem-
bered having heard the case twenty
five years ago. He made no further
comment but advised the old people
to go home and try and spend their
remaining days in peace.
twenty-five years ago doctor by
the name of Durkin registered at a
hotel kept by John Zeigler in Scran-
ton and was assigned to room for
the night. Later in the evening a
stranger called at the hotel, asked for
the doctor and was sept to his room.
Next morning the doctor was found
dead in bed, his skull crushed with a
cobble stone and $500, which it was
known he had carried, was missing.
The brutality of the crime and the
boldness of the murderer attracted
general attention and the authorities
of the county offered a reward for the
capture and conviction of the mur
derer.
The authorities kept sharp look
out for the murderer and finally an
arrest was made at Lake Champlaln
The man arrested was Delamater. He
was brought to Wilkesbarre and plac
ed in the county Jail, which at the
time stood on the site now occupied
by the Lohmann restaurant.
Hon. Garrick M. Harding, who ha:
since been president judge of the
courts, was district attorney. Land
lord Zeigler employed the most emln,
ent counsel of the day to assist in the
prosecution Hon. Stanley Woodward
now the president judge of the Luz
erne county courts: Hon. Fred c
Westbrook, who has since been ;
Judge in one of the New York STATE
courts; Gustave Hahn, the presen
United States commissioner, and T
II. B. Lewis assisted the district at
torney. For the defense were tw'
young lawyers, Hon. Henry w. Pal
mer. who has since been attorne.
general of the State, and Charles Pix
eminent as criminal lawyer at tha
time. =
Judge Conyngham presided. Th
case attracted widespread attention
and the court room was crowde
daily. The evidence was damaging
to Delamater. Landlord Ziegle
identified him as the stranger who ha
come to the hotel on the night of tn
/ murder and asked for DIR. Durkir
The bookkeeper identified him as tn
man whom he had arrested at HaW
| ley, and who escaped, little bo
who worked with him in brick var
$ at Lake Champlain. identified him q
, the man who confessed to havin
killed DR.. Durkin and robbed him (
| $500.
6 The defense put Delamater on I'll
, stand. Delamater said he had bee
: working in Hazleton and walked
q Berwick, thence to Wilkesbarre, an
s finally to New York and drifted
!, Lake Champlain. On the night
!. the murder Ne said he was in Wilke
barre. The jury believed the eN
c dence of the Commonwealth and I
v turned a verdict of murder in the fir
v degree.
l. Messrs. Palmer and Pike, attorne
for the defense were not satisfe
Neither was Judge Conyngham. Tt
attorneys went to the Jail and intt