Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-11-14
r r SCHWEIER..
The Goodis.e Msrder Case.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

SOOOllO& murder case on w eOneS08'
afternoon, when Absalom Barner, VIII
is charged with the murder of Adam
GoOdling in Susquehanna township
was given a hearing before Justice G. B
HOrning, and again sent to Jail for tria
at court Prosecuting Attorney Howe
Esq. and J. II. Nicely appeared for tn
commonwealth, and J. n. Keller 70
the defendant.
Squire Levi Light Of Susquehann,
township was the first witness called
He went into detailed account, hov
he was called to the scene Of the murde
by neighbors Brown and Carstetter OF
the night of the tragedy. He 'showet
posture in his chair how the murdered
man sat dead when he arrived at tn,
house. He described the wounds il
GOOdling's face, how his arms rested OF
the arms of the rocking chair, and how
his one leg was crossed over the other
While the Squire was giving testimony
woman witness WAS announced at the
door and as she crowded her way in
his chair and made way for her to pass
through. If the prisoner is guilty his
face and manners showed no sign of it.
Mrs. GOOdling, wife of the murdered
Adam Goodling was sworn, and as
she speaks English indifferentiy Ger
man interpreter was asked for. John F.
Strawser was proposed but was objected
to on account of relationship to defend
ant. Eli Portzline was appointed in
terpreter. She testified to the noise of
the shooting and the smoke Of the pow
der and the gun wads in the room, and
as to the appearance of her husband as
he sat dead in his rocking chair. How a
man named HOffer had been at their
house that afternoon, and that he left
the house about dark How her sons
had gone to bed and how she creased
ones head. How Goodling could be
seen sitting in his chair from the hill
side north of the house through the
window. She said the shooting took
place about $50 in the evening Abso-
lem Barner was their next neighbor, he
and Goodling were not big friends. The
last time she knew of them being in
each others company was about one year
and half ago. Goodling owed Barner
little note and when the note was
paid, her husband told Barner he ac-
cused him of being too intimate with
his wife. GOOdling said he could not
feel safe. Barner wanted to shoot him
on account of his wife. She told where
she and her sons went that night TO ar
rouse the Eeighbors and that when she
returned home il was about II o'clock.
Barner was not present when GOOdling
told her of Barner's accusation.
Samuel GoOdling, was the next wit
ness. He was in bed about quarter
of an hour before he heard the gun, had
not slept His brother came to bed
shortly after he retired. He had talked
to AbsOlem Barner on the Sunday pre-
vious TO the murder. He wanted to ar
range with Barner, that he and his
brother and Barner,s SOD John should
play trick on Mr.. Beale John Samuel
and Austin were TO play the trick on
Beale some night that week. Barner
lives about a quarter Of a mile from
their house. Troutman is next nearest
neighbor. Barner did not come to the
house after the murder. Barner blamed
his father with being to intimate with
fp ae1 J.; oh
ago. On cross examination Samuel
said, his father told him about Barner
blaming him and Mrs. Barner. He
told him in the barn, told him a couple
of times, could not fix time he told him.
Wasn't year ago. He is 10 years old.
Barner and | talked about the trick on
Beale on Sunday night before the muir
der. We were to carry corn shocks into
the road. Barner said we should play
the trick some night that week
Arthur Goodling. was sworn. His
testamony was brief. He went to bed
about s O'Clock. Was in bed about 10
minutes before the report of the gun.
Had supper about 7o'clock.
Mrs. Magdalena Stroup, was sworn.
She had a conversation with Barner
about hay-making time 1900; talked
about his wife. He said she was going
with GOodling. Who would think she |
woald 60 with, and whore with such a |
dirty son of bitch as Adam |
Goodling. The conversation took place |
last summer. He said his brother John |
had told him, GOOdling and his wife |
had been seen in the woods together. !
She was seen get up and shake her dress
down in front He said they had been |
- Barner said he took her to the |
place. asked her whether Goodling had |
not beeen there, she said ne had met |
her. He called her whore. He would
not live 20 years more like the past.
He and his wife talked about his init
macy with Mrs.--wife of F.. He !
said his wife before marriage had kept
house for.
Cross examined, the witness and
Barner came TO talk a. they did by |
stopping on the road where they met.
and talked about school teaching.
They talked about what mad been told
TO Barner about his wife meeting Good
ling.
Clay SheafieI, was worn. He is =
son OF F. G. Sheaffer. In June 1900
talked with Barner in his fathers Store
barner said his wife was intimate with
t]oodling- One Sunday he went up in
the fields 10 see the grain. Saw Good
ling and his-RarBer's w-ife-cone ou1
81 the woods Old man Rsr7Ier. father
OF 4 absalarp sslzas If he a-,,.,,- =.