Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-02-13
The Landparter Case.

EDITOR CITIZEN:-ln speaking OF tne
Biddles case reference has been made IN
the papers TO the now almost forgotten
Landparter homicide case, happening
in this county in the year 1858, and as
some of these references are incorrect
and some of your readers desire to know
something of the particulars of that
case. we submit the following brief ac-
count of the same.
The cases against Landparter and
wife can be found at Nos. l, 2, and
of the criminal records of the county at
June Sessions, 1858.
In one respect at least the Landparter
case more resembles the Riddles case of
any vet happening in the county, from
the fact, that Pittsburg officers were en-
gagged in both; the difference being that
in one an officer was killed by the
fugitive and in the other the fugitives
were killed by the officers.
Casper Landparter ana Emeranza, his
wife, came from Pittsburg to this coun-
ty in. probably, the spring of 1858. They
had no children. He bought small
piece of land down the Freeport road
about five miles from Butler. The
house on the land could not be seen
from the road, but the ground must
have extended up to the road (soutn
side). as Landparter was excavatlng for
the foundation of blacksmith shop on
the Freeport road at the time the Pitts
buro officers came to arrest hlm. he
was smith by trade, worker IN brass,
iron and other metals. and was SAID TO
have been a skilled workman. While
living in Pittsburg he was charged, IL
seemed. with some irregularity in con-
nection with gas pipe. An 1nforrna-
ton was made there against him OF a
criminal nature, and two constables
came with warrant for his arrest,
April 21, 1853 Their names were Sam
uel FL. Ferguson and John +. X. Jones:
Ferguson was large, or rather tall
men, and said to have been personally
very good and mild natured man. Jones
was a small, well built man. Land
parter must have had some knowledge
of their coming. for he was concealed IN
a chimney of his house when the two
officers went to it. The story Jones told
was that they searched the whole house
carefully, and were about to depart,
when something suggested that they
look up the big, old fashioned country
chimney On doing so Landparter was
discovered. and came down on demand
But unfortunately for the officers he
was armed with large knife, or sharp
pointed instrument, with which he i'm
mediately began an attack upon them.
and so speedy and fatal was his work
that before the two officers could check
him Ferguson fell to the floor and ex-
pired in few minutes. He had re-
ceived three stabs, one in the breast,
piercing away in, and one in the abdo'
men, of like nature, either of which two
was necessarily fatal Jones was also
badly stabbed and cut, but not fatally.
He had strength enough to get TO
neighbors and give the alarm. In the
meantime Landparter fled, passing up,
same dav and night, through what is
now Summit and Oakland townships,
reaching and crossing the Allegheny
river and getting, somehow, to the CITY
of Buffalo. as afterwards appeared
Neal Duffy, then Constable OF Clear
field township, in which this happened,
(buJ now Jefferson township pursued
him, but lost all trace of him at the
river. 1t was some three months before
any certain news was heard OF him.
Finally letter came TO the postoffice
here from Buffalo, addressed to his
wife, Emeranza Landparter This letter
gave the clue to his whereabouts.
Arthur McGill was then Sheriff of this
county and ne deputiZed John Mckee,
afterwards also Sheriff, and Robert j.
Gregg, the father of our present Mr.
William Gregg, the hackman, to go 10
Buffalo and bring Landparter here
They arrested him without harm or
trouble as they had the name of the
street and the number of the house in
which he was. He was brought here
and indicted for the murder of Fergu-
son. The trial would have been at the
then November Term of Court, 1865.
But he was in Jail but short time be-
fore he made his escape from 1t. lt was
supposed he had help and many were
the stories and rumors. 1t was some
three or four years before it was known
that st. Louis. Missouri, was where he
had gone to- OF course there could be
no trial of him and the cases stand open
vet. Mrs. Landparter was also indicted
and tried, both for aid i'll murder OF
Ferguson and felonicus assault and
battery of Jones But she was acquitted
of both charges No one felt like pu1-
ishing her after his escape. Two sons
of Mr.. Ferguson came to prosecute for
the killing of their father. Mr.. Jones
was the only witness in the cases, and
after the escape of Landparter was not
inclined to punish the woman.
An inquest was held on the body of
Ferguson at the time and of all those
holding it, April 81, 1858. but one now
is living, Mr.. Samuel Johnston, now of
Summit township OF the twelve men
composing the jury that tried Emeran-
"a Landparter all have passed away ex-
cept Mr.. Thompson Kyle, of Harrisville,
unless Mr. James Milford, who went
west. is living.
Those composing the Inquest on the
body of Ferguson, held by James Glenn,
ESQ, then Justice of the Peace in But
Ter, were John Mckee, Matthew Harbi-
son, William HARRISON, john Fair, Will
liam Mehaffy. Andrew Burtner, r. j.
Gregg, Daniel Malarky, Richard Mar
tin, Sameul Johnston David Logan and
David Strawick.
The names of the men composing the
Jury who tried and acquitted Mrs Land
parter, were: William Conway, Jr.,
John Gill, George Daubenspeck, Robert
Campbell, William McClymonds, Joseph
Doueghey. James Milford, Robert Bel
ton. John Gibson, Thompson Kyle, Will
liam Cunningham and John Pollock
The writer was then District Attorney
of the County.
Feb. 10. 1902. j. II. NEGLEY.