One of the saddest events that ever happened in Shannon occurred last Friday afternoon carrying its deep distress to one household at least , much inconvenience for much of our business men and a tendency to shake confidence in humanity which is worse then all –were it not for the fact that the occasion demands publicity that the public may judge for itself of the importance of protecting its own interest against a repetition of this sort of thing we would gladly refrain from mentioning the matter at length and draw over the sad event the mantle of silence but public good demands that the facts be made know to the world and whatever lesson it contains be learned. The whole matter is as follows: Last Tuesday morning Mr. Henry Hoy entered the Banking house of Messrs. Sherwood and Cook and asked if Mr. George Bixler has passed a note upon which he was security. Mr. Cook informed him that he had not but had renewed it and showed him the note renewed with Mr. Hoys signature upon it. Mr. Hoy then informed him that he had not signed a new note with Mr. B. and that the signature was a forgery. Mr. Cook expressed surprise and as he had other notes in his possession of Mr. B’s with Mr. Jefferson Barnes name as security, he examined them and after having visited Mr. Barnes found that they too were forgeries. He then in company with Hoy and Barnes went out to Mr. Bixler’s and to them he confessed that he had signed both names.

They then asked him if that was all the notes he had forged. He told them it was. They then supposing that Mr. Bixler was ignorant of the crime he had committed (he being an illiterate man) supposing he had become pinched for money and as a temporary relief until he could thresh resorted to this means to help himself through compromised the matter with him and took a chattel mortgage on his property to secure themselves against loss he however maintained that these notes included all his forgeries. Thus the matter rested until last Friday noon. when Mr. Paley of Lanark bank who had been informed by Mr. Cook of these circumstances came down with three notes for $ 600.00 in the aggregate with Mr. Barnes name as security, which Mr. Barnes at once pronounced forgeries. Mr. Bixler then being confronted with this additional evidence of his guilt became almost frantic his feelings being heighten by the fact that Mr. Paley was taking steps for his arrest.

However before that Mr. Cook questioned him again and again if this was all his transactions appealing to him to confess if he had anymore because it would be found out in less then 24 hours. He however, repeatedly denied that there was anything else but at length when pinned to the point confessed that there was a $ 400.00 note in Freeport with J. Banes and J. Mastin’s names on it. He then left the bank went upon the street walked down to Turk and Schauers store, purchased a common pocket knife walked through the store and opened his vest and plunged it into his heart three times. Mr. Schauer who had followed him but was too late to render any assistance gave the alarm and in a few minutes a large crowd had congregated. Dr. Smith was immediately summoned but could do nothing for him.

He never spoke after leaving the store and died in a few minutes. Dr. Mastin was informed who summoned a jury it then transpired that there were two notes in Freeport for $ 400.00 each with J. Barnes and J. Mastin as security. Mr. Bixler had hitherto born a good character and was thought to be an honest man. His supposed honesty was his passport as some of the forged signatures are misspelled. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders and was considered by them a good member. Now however the supposition is that his fraudulent transaction have covered the space of five or six year beginning small at first and finally becoming indifferent got beyond his control. He leaves as wife and eight children.

His life was insured for $2,500.00 in the Protection Life of Chicago. Mr. Bixler was forty years old and a native of Lycoming County Pa. (The testimony before the coroner was too lengthly for publication but the jury rendered a verdict in accordance with the above facts - Ed)

Contributed by John Sharp from the Shannon Express 14 September 1876