The Coolidge examiner., 1934-06-22
MYSTERY KILLING
STILL UNSOLVED
AFTER TEN YEARS
Boy and Girl Die In Pennsyl-
vania Mountains From
Single Bullet.

Harrisburg. Pa.-In the top draw
er Of the desk OF Mai. Lynn G..
Adams. superintendent OF the Penn
sylyanla state police, In the state
capitol here are a bullet and its
shsll-the only clews to the iden-
dty OF a riheman who dealt death
TO two persons In a single shot
May II. l924-ten years ago.
The rife has never been found.
Find the rife and It's owner
and we have the guilty man." Major
Adams has said time and again.
The two victims were a high
school senior. Harry Canister. and
bis school teacher sweetheart. Leah
Ellenberger OF HollIdaysburg. She
had come to Aarysyille. about ten
miles from Harrisburg. to visit rela-
tlves and attend the graduation ex-
ercises
In the early afternoon OF May
IL they drove into the mountains
north OF Marysvllle In quest OF
wildhowers TO be used for decorat-
ing the church for the baccalaureate
services on the following day. Sun
day.
They departed amid much merri-
ment and with the warning OF
friends ito hurry home early" ring
Ing in their ears.
Found In Mountains
Dusk came and the young lovers
didn't return. AS darkness came.
young Ganster's parents and the
relatives whom Miss Ellenberger
was visiting became alarmed Sure
ly Canister couldn't be lost-Ganster
who knew these mountains 20 we'll
Something must have happened.
Searching parties were organized.
Their ques, was frultless until 4
a m. the following morning. Jo-
seph Canister. the boys father. and
George Albright. the young lady's
uncle. burs, through the leafy thick
cts In lambs gap on the noun
tain top. beholding scene that
scared Itself lndelibly into their
memories.
A mans body--Ganster's-lay on
the running board; a girrs-Miss
Ellenberger's-slumped over the
steering wheel The tonneau OF the
car was oiled with wildhowers.
They had apparently been about TO
start the homeward journey.
Both had been dead for about
eight hours. each shot through the
heart. Canister had been shot first,
the bullet speeding on its deadly
mission through a trench mirror.
passing through the girls body.
lodging In her arm. Death had ap-
parently been instantaneous
The men were horror stricken. They
stood motIonless. open mouthed,
wide eyed Finally the awfulness
OF the tragedy dawned on them.
The police Albright hurried back
TO Maryville. Canister remaining
with the bodies
Automobiles carried scores OF
state policemen and newspaper men
TO the scene. Hundreds. curious.
came from Marysyille. Harrisburg.
nearby towns, and the countryside.
Find Rifle She'll.
Police hunted footprints-roped OF
the murder scene. kept the crowds
back as they literally sifted the soil
for the shell or any other shred OF
evidence. They found the shetland
the shell was the same that had
encased the death-dealing bullet
They were sure OF this fact then
they are sure OF II now. Ballistics
experts have agreed on this point
Then began the search for the
killer-a search that has never end
ed 20 this day.
Scores OF suspects were ques-
toned 10 no avail.
Houses for miles around were
searched for the rife.
The police listened 10 countless
versions Of the crime by residents
OF Marysville and environA Every
body had a suggestion. All were
heard. checked. No success
Who killed them7 Police have
never answered the question. Per
haps never will. The killer, who
accidentally or on purpose, snuffed
out two young lives with the single
pull OF trigger may have been one
OF the score grilled by state po-
lice. II so, he made no damaging
admissions. He may never have
been suspected.