The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-08-02
VIM. Kiser, Near Elk City, Found Mur.
dered in his Bed-Lived Alone and
Was Supposed 10 Have Money,

| nrst discovered on Sunday morning last:
William Kiser, aged about 55 or so
years, a bachelor, and one OF the best
known residents of Clarion county, was
found dead in his bed about 10 O'Clock
Sunday morning, the victim of one of the
most atrocious murders in the annals of
that county. So far. not the least trace of
the murderer or murderers has been
found
The scene of the murder is near Elk
City, and about two miles from Eden
burg. The house is located about 100
yards back from the Mongtown road,
which, during the oil excitement in that
vicinity, was much used, but of late
years is not the scene of much travel.
The house is two-story frame, and the
murdered man lived alone. The last he
was seen alive was on Friday night when
he attended church at Elk City. On Sun
day morning Emanuel Kiser, young
man, relative of the deceased, passed the
house and noticed that the door was
partly opened. He was in hurry and
did not stop, but ON his return went up
to the house and found that the front
door had been broken in by using a fence
rail as battering ram. In the bed he
found the body of William Kiser. The
hands of the dead man were tied behind
his back, and he lay face down upon the
bed. Turning the body over he found
that the features had been hacked and
battered almost beyond recognition. The
young man then called in the neighbors,
and search for a possible clue was taken
up. The only thread of evidence was in
the fact tlat pair of horses owned by
Jacob Youkers, had been stolen, and the
supposition is that the murderers stole
the team in order to make tn cir escape.
The motive is supposed to have been
robbery, and that the murderers were
frightened away before securing any
thing of value, two guns, a Winchester
and rifle, were found on the floor of the
bed room, and both of these weapons
were the property of the dead man. They
evidently had not been touched by him
on the night of the murder. The deceased
was highly respected, had few if any
enemies, and was especially noted for
his charity and kindness, although rather
eccentric. He was reputed to have been
man of wealth, and current rumor had
it that he Kept great deal of money in
safe in his bed room. This safe had not
been touched by his assailants, and in
the pocket of his coat, in his bed room,
was found S73 in bank notes.
From view of the body and its sur
roundings, there were two or more con-
cerned in this atrocious murder. The
men evidently broke open the door with
the fence rail, and rushed into the house,
finding their victim asleep or only rous-
ing from slumber. They overpowered
him and bound his hands behind his
back, and probably were infuriated at
his refusal to give them the combination
or key of the safe, and beat him about the
head. or possibly they were recognized
in this struggle by their victim, and
killed him to escape prosecution for the
crime of burglary. There were little
signs OF a struggle outside of the bed it.
self. Squire Hack, of Shippenville, en-
panneled jury on Sunday, which rem
dered verdict that the deceased had
come to his death by external violence at
the hands of person or persons not
known.
aFN1 rnA
near the place where his life was taken
in such an atrociOus manner. Previous
to 1876, he was engaged in farming, and
he and other relatives of the same family
name owned a large amount of farming
land in that neighborhood when oil was
found at Elk City. The deceased sold
and leased most of his farm property,
and has been credited with having a nice
income from royalties he also farmed
that portion of his land which was under
lease. He was good citizen and held in
esteem by his community. The deceased
was a cousin of E. M. Kiser, of Elk City,
formerly engaged in the banking bust
iness at Sanbourne, Dakota, and also
cousin of George B. Kiser a prominent
Clarion county merchant.
THE STOLEN TEAM.
Jacob Yonkers, the gentleman above
referred to as having had team stolen
on Friday night last, was through this
section on Monday and Tuesday of this
week trying to follow up the trail of his
lost team. At Jack Mills place between
Lickingville and Newmansville he found
one of the horses in a field, the fence
having been laid down and again put up.
Two working brides were also taken
from the stable in which the horses stood.
The funeral of Mr.. Kiser was held
Monday at Shippenvile.
Additional particulars OF the horrible
tragedy, and an autopsy of the body, re-
veals that he had been hit on the head
with blunt instrument, presumably an
iron wedge found near by, his skull be-
ing shattered to fragments. Evidence
indicates that he had terrible fight tor
his life, his body being terribly bruised
from head to foot, and that he had been
first bound and tortured to make him re-
veal the hiding place of his money, his
feet being badly burned. and that, break
ing his bonds or recognizing his assail
ants, he was then murdered.
1t is supposed the robbers got very lit
tie money, as 81 900 were found sewed