Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-04-25
AN ATTEMPT
TO MURDER
Stephen Moser Makes Confession His
Revolver and Assisted in Plot

htVOlVeT anu hSSlSI6u III IlOl'
The cold-blooded attempt to murder
Frank Taylor, of Liberty township, on
Thursday night last, which sent thrill
of horror through the community, is no
longer merged in mystery. At least one
of the persons, if not the only person,
implicated in the dastardly act has con
fessed his guilt. This our readers will
not be surprised to learn is Stephen
Moser, the person committed to Jail
Thursday night from the same township
for another ofense, toward whom sus-
picion pointed from the first.
Mr.. Taylor, the intended victim, was
in this city Sunday and was interview
ed by a representative of this paper.
The experience of being shot at,
likely to remember for awhile and it
was not without shudder, yesterday,
that Mr.. Taylor recalled the thrilling
details of the affair. He says the shoot
ing occurred between $50 and 10 o'clock
He was seated in the kitchen with his
wife and an emplOye on the farm named
Daniel Morgan Mr.. Taylor occupied Il
position at the side of the window, lean
ing back against the wall. Either his
wife or Mr.. Morgan would have been a
target, but be himself was out of range.
Finally, the hour for retiring arriving,
he changed his position, leaning for
ward as if in the act of removing his
shoes. This move brought him within
range from outside and the first thing
I he knew there was report of revolver,
/ the sound of broken glass and a bullet
whizzed by his face. Mr.. Taylor says
/ that no one but those who have passed
/ through such an experience has any idea
of what it is like. First of all there is
the sense of extreme peril-the dread of
the second shot. He sprang to his feet
ard as quickly as he could recover him
self he directed his wife to flee to the
other room, in which there was no light,
the door opening near where she stood.
Mr.. Morgan took this advice, but Mrs.
Taylor was too apprehensive for her
husbands safety and too much excited
to do anything. Ultimately the light
was extiDguished and the family with
drew up stairs, but not to sleep. An
attempt had been made on Mr.. Taylor's
life and failed 1t seemed perfectly
plausible that the blood thirsty enemy
plish his purpose All night long they
kept watch, lest an attempt be made to
burn the dwelling or steal in upon
them unawares.
The next morning the bullet-a 80
calibre one-was found lying on the
floor along with lot of plaster disodged
as it struck the solid wall on the side of
the room opposite the window. On the
outside approaching the window strange
footprints were discovered in the mud.
At some distance from the barn a horse
had been tied and from the impressions
| left by the hoofs he had stood there for
a considerable time. After the shooting
! the evening before Mr. Taylor did not
see a man mount the horse and ride
away, as reported. He states that he
even did not see the horse. lie was
( totally absorbed by thoughts of his
safety about that time.
Mr.. Taylor thinks the shooting was
! delayed by the presence of Mr.. Morgan.
The latter occupies tenant house on
the farm and the wouldbe-assassin was
no doubt waiting for him to retire to his
domicie. On Thursday night, however,
his wife was absent, and at the invita-
! ton of Mr.. Taylor he was spending the
night at his house. After waiting in
vain for him to leave it would seem that
the murderous intruder decided to take
his cnances and fired the shot.
Stephen Moser was charged with the
larceny of chickens by Mr.. Taylor and
if any credence is to be given to his con
fession his motive for the attempt on
Taylor's life was hatred and a desire to
escape prosecution. He was arraIgned
before Squire Kerswell, of Washington
vile, some three weeks ago. He was rep
resented by r. s. zimmerman, Esq, Of
this city, while the prosecution was with
out counsel. and the result was that the
defendant was discharged. MOSer was
arrested again on last Thursday and was
to have a hearing before Squire Robert
Auten on Friday.
The bullet, Thursday night, failing to
do its work Mr.. Taylor, represented by
w. H. Hackenburg, Esq, of Milton, was
on hand Friday to press the prosecu-
ton, Moser again being represented by
Mr.. zimmerman. The defendant was
held for court. His father, Peter MOser,
went his bail, but later withdrew and
Moser was committed to Jail.
Before being brought to Danville he
was confronted with evidences of his
completely in the shooting. He was tax
Ell to the Taylor farm where his shoe
was found to fit the foot prints left by
the wretch who tried to kill Mr.. Taylor,
while by measurement the hoofs of one
of the horses in his charge was found to
correspond with the marks made by the
horse tied near Taylor's barn Thursday
night Moser, however, denied that he
had any knowledge whatever of tht
shooting.
While in town Sunday Mr.. Taylol
o. accompanied by w. b. Startzell, callec
upon Moser in the Jail. Mr.. Taylor
again confronted the prisoner with evide
noes of his completely in the shooting
Moser finally affected to yield and de
= tailed the part that he played in the
dastardly plot lie implicated as th'
ring leader a very reputable citizen o
the locality, whose name is withheld.
According to Moser's story this man