The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-03-28
BANK BURGLARS CONVICTED.
Rowe and KEEPER Found Guilty Of Murder in
the First Degree.

couit room No. |, at Harrisburg Thurs
day morning, for the attempted robbery
Thursday, March II, Of the Halifax
bank and the killing of Cashier Ryan
The drawing of Il jury and the opening
of the case required all morning, 50
that it was rather late in the afternoon
before the first witnesses were called.
In all siXty-iivc names were drawn
before the jury was secured. Some of
the men were set aside by the defense,
Others hy the prosecution and large
number had either formed an opinin
or did not approve of capital punish
mcnt.
The jury finally secured consists of
the following men: John w. Hoffman,
timer, Graft borough; j. Wallace FL
der, grocer, 9Th ward, Harrisburg; Oil
yer &. Bender baggagcman, 9th ward,
Harrisburg; Hiram Newbakcr, laborcr
lst ward, Stcclton; {. f.. Buscr, steel
worker, Steclton; Frank Slack, cigar
maker, Middlrtown; Samuel Miller,
farmer, Lower Paxton township; John
\. Good, railroadcr, Su>quchanna twp;
Samuel Peter, farmer, Derry township;
B. +. Nauglcy, farmer, Upper Paxton
township; Isaac Tsrhuddy, ~adoIcr,
Concwago township; Thomas Snow,
laburrr, lst ward, Stcclton.
The ease for the prosecution is being
conducted 10y District Attorney Milar,
while Meade ID. Dctwcilor and George
kunklc are defending the prisoners,
who sat between their attorneys.
Both showed considerable interest in
the doings of the day. They differ
materially from any of the many men
who have been tried for murder in the
Harrisburg courts during the past few
years.
Rowe is of rather slight build, about
five feet, six inches III height. He has
brown hair blue eyesand II smooth face
of rather efleminate mould. His hair
he wears pasted tightly and carefully
combed. He was neatly dressed Thurs
day. Rowe looks to he II young man
of less than average country school ed
ucation, and lacking in intelligence.
He has nothing of the appearance of II
wild west desperate and if the truth
he told wears the look of II man who
would rather avoid Il fight than pick u
quarrel.
KEEPER is large, raw-honcd typical
country boy, wearing Il jaw that hctok-
ems Il fondnc-s for iistic encounters. He
was less carcfully dressed than his
companion and was more alert To the
proceedings. The worst that might he
expected from KEEPER from appearances
might he Il rough aud tumble fight on
slight provocaton.
The star witnesses for the prosecution
were EX-Rrprc>cntativr Swartz, of
Duncannon, and Abraham fortcn-
baugh, president and director of the
Halifax bank.
Mr.. Swartz testified of having been
in the Halifax bank on the day of the
attempted robbery, about II o'clock,
and met Mr.. Fortcnbaugh, presidents;
Mr. Ryan, cashier, and Mr.. Lytcr, tel
Ter. Mr. Swartz went at once into the
rear apartment with the president.
After he had been in tn" bank about
ten minutes he was alarmed 10y the cry
of "hands up, d--n you, and that
very quick, too
He looked up and saw Rowe and
KEEPER each with two rcvolvrrs. He
and Fortcnbaugh We're covered and told
to hold up their hands, which they did.
KEEPER held them at bay while Rowe
brought the teller and cashier around
To the rear at the point of his weapon,
he having escaped across the counter
and iron grating.
Rowe then said: GLANDS up and be
d-n quick. We want possession of
this bank and we want it quickly. We
will give you five minutes to yield 10y
the time of your own watch, and the
first who moves is dead man"
Rowe then asked for the cashier and
then compelled him to open the vault
and bring from it all of the money there.
This, ut the command of Rowe, was
placed in telescope opened by the rob
bers. Rowe said: ado you want to
die at once?'
Mr.. Ryan replied: "No, do not"
Thereupon Rowe said: "Then get the
money and the bonds into that satchel
and be d-n quick"
He was told that there were no bonds
and believed the statement only after
some persuasion on the part of Mr..
Ryan.
When all had been DEF osited in the
telescope Rowe laid one, perhaps both,
the witness was not sure, of his revol-