Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 6, 1822 Page 3
On the evening of the 25th ult., John Wilson, of Lampeter, stabbed Thomas Burns of Strasburg, with a large knife, who lingered till Monday morning, and then died of the wounds. Wilson had, a few minutes previously, wounded Mr. Bird of Lampeter Square, in the neck, with a sharp instrument; which caused Lockjaw, and he is not expected to recover. Wilson was immediately committed to Prison. - Lancaster Intel.
Lancaster, Pa, Feb. 1
One of our friends has politely furnished us with a minute account of the Trial of John Wilson, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer of this county - for the murder of Thomas Burns, on the evening of the 25th October last. The trial commenced on Wednesday week and continued every day until last Wednesday - at 10 o'clock that evening the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty of Murder of the second degree. On Thursday morning the Court sentenced him to the Penitentiary for 18 years - 5 thereof in the solitary cells. The Council for the Prisoner were Benjamin Champneys and N. L. Boulden, Esq'rs. - for the Commonwealth, W. Jenkins and W. C. Frazier, Esq'rs. Much legal learning was displaying by the gentlemen concerned -- Intelligencer
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
January 22 1823 Page 3
Union, PA., Jan 14
On Friday, the 10th instant, in the court of Oyer and Terminer held for this county, came the trial of Mr. Michael M. Henry, alias Michael M'Kendrick, on the indictment for manslaughter, for killed Neal McKew. John Dawson, Esq, deputy attorney general, for the commonwealth, John Kennedy, Richard Coulter, Thomas Irwin and John M. Austin, Esquires, for the prisoner. After the examination of a number of witnesses, the council on both sides, submitted the case to the jury, under the direction of the court, without any remarks. After a short, but impressive charge from the judge, the jury retired, and in about fifteen minutes returned with a verdict of guilty. The sentence of the court was, that he should undergo an imprisonment in the Penitentiary at Philadelphia, for the term of ten years.
In the same court, George Graham, and George Banks, (the latter a coloured man,) were tried and convicted of the crime of Burglary, and sentenced to an imprisonment in the Penitentiary, the first for four years, and the latter three.
Robert Black, (a mulatto man) was tried and convicted of grand Larceny, and sentenced to an imprisonment in the Penitentiary for two years. -- Genius
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
February 4, 1824 Page 1
Lancaster, Jan. 23
On Tuesday last, in the court of Quarter Sessions of this county, came on the trial of John Walker, for horse stealing. The defendant was arraigned on five separate indictments, for stealing five horses - the property of different individuals in this county. It appeared that for several years the defendant had practiced taking horses without leave of the owners, and selling them in the state of Delaware. Sometime last summer, in consequence of a disagreement between him and his house-keeper, his conduct was disclosed, and he was arrested for stealing a horse, of which, it appeared, he was not guilty; but while in prison, information was received which led to a disclosure of his guilt.
The evidence against the prisoner was very plain, and the jury, after a few minutes consultation, returned a verdict of Guilty on all the indictments. The court sentenced him to seven years imprisonment in the Penitentiary, for each offence; making in all 35 years. The prisoner is now 59 years of age. Should he live, and remain in the Penitentiary the full period assigned him, he will be 94 years old when he leaves it. - Journal.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 21 1824
Another Robbery was committed in this county on Saturday evening last, on a Mr. Sommers, coachmaker of the city of Lancaster. Mr. Sommers was returning from Baltimore. At the Maryland line, he met a man on foot traveling up the road, whom he passed, but found that the footman kept close behind him, till he came on the hill between Dunkie's and Ehrhart's Tavern, the footman came up to him and accosted him thus: "I am a highway robber - deliver your money or you are a dead man." Mr. Sommers, being convinced that resistance to one possessing the physical powers of the assailant, would be unavailing, delivered to him about $85 - among wich was one 50, one 20, and one 5 dollar note and 8 or 10 dollars in silver. Mr. Sommers, although he had several hundred dollars left, said he had no money to bear his expenses home, the robber returned him 4 dollars, and told him, "If I have better luck another time, I'll return all your money again." Mr. Sommers made his misfortunes known to some people he met, and from the description he gave of the perpetrator every one said it must have been Samuel Beidelman, who was apprehended and committed to the jail of York, to take his trial at the next Court to be held on the first Monday of August. - Ib.
Philip Hillinger Robbed
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) Feb 8, 1826
Robbery
We are informed that on the 14th ult. A man by the name of Philip Hillinger of Springhill township in this county was robbed on the National road, a mile west of Smythfield of two gold eagles, two half eagles and seventy dollars in silver by three ruffians. They tied his hands with a handkerchief before him and run a stick through between each elbow behind his back. In this situation he arrived at the house of John Coneway, where he was untied. We understand several persons have been apprehended for the crime but being unable to prove anything against them, they were liberated. We are told that the letters P.H. were marked on two of the pieces of gold. - Union Genius.
John Weidle Steals from Columbia Bridge Company
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) March 1, 1826
A man named John Weidle, was on the 11th ult., entrusted with a package from the Columbia bridge Company containing $1305 in notes and 2528.93 in drafts to be delivered at the Office of Discount and Deposit in Lancaster. Instead of so delivering it, the man absconded and took the packet with him. He has been traced to Philadelphia and is supposed to have gone to New York. Mr. Hull of Lancaster is in pursuit of him and the assistance of the Mayor and police officers of New York has been requested by the Mayor of Philadelphia. Three hundred dollars reward are offered for apprehending the villain. Payment of the drafts having been stopped, the loss is confined to the $1305, the amount enclosed in notes: which sum we have learned from good authority, Mr. M'Kissick (the Cashier) has paid to the bank out of his private funds. - York Recorder.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) March 22, 1826
Marietta, Pa., March 8
Rogues Caught.
It is with pleasure we state that John Weidle has been arrested in the city of N. York, and is at present in custody. He was taken before the mayor and made ample confession of the circumstances. He appeared very penitent and stated that he was in liquor at the time he went off - that he would not have done so had it not been for Isett - that Isett opened the package and kept for his own use the 100's and 50's which amounted to more than the moiety of the money and that they destroyed the drafts at a public inn in Soudersburg. He was searched in the mayor's office and but few cents were found in his possession. His accomplice has also been apprehended in Lebanon and we are happy to state that $515 have been found with him. - Pioneer.
John Sowers Wanted for Murder
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania December 7, 1826
We published a proclamation by the governor, last week, offering a reward of fifty dollars, for the apprehension and security in jail, of Thomas Dumm, Jr.; who is charged by the grand jury of Berks county, with the murder of John Frey. We have another in this paper, offering a like reward for the apprehension of John Sowers, against whom a bill was returned a "true bill," by the grand jury of Lancaster county, on the charge of murder. We have really great cause of alarm, in the multiplication of this kind of crimes; more especially when abhorrence of such deeds is not sufficient, without a promised reward in money, to incite the members of an outraged community to vigilance, to secure and bring to justice the perpetrators. - Pennsylvania Intelligencer
Benjamin Franklin Poor Swindles Mrs. Eve Schaeffer
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania April 4, 1827
Successful Swindling
A few months ago a vender of lottery tickets at Lancaster established an agency in this place and entrusted the management of it to a person named B. F. Poor (Benjamin Franklin Poor). This man, it appears, sold a quarter ticket in the Washington City Lottery, Class No. 1, to Mrs. Eve Schaeffer, of Shrewsbury township, which at the drawing became entitled to the fourth part of a thousand dollars, or $212-50 discount deducted. The sale of the prize ticket was announced by Poor in due form; but when the quarter was presented, he took it, threw it into his drawer, and told Mrs. Schaeffer that the ticket had drawn only five dollars, of which he tendered her the proportional part. This sum she would not receive, alleging that she was entitled to the fourth of a thousand dollar prize, which being still denied, she desired him to return the ticket to her. He then handed her one which she refused to take, declaring it was not that which she had given to him.
As he maintained the contrary, Mrs. Schaeffer procured the interference of friends, but without effect, Poor persisting in the declaration that the ticket offered her was the same that had been presented to him; whereupon Mrs. S. instituted suit against him for the recovery of the ticket, the combination numbers of which she said she was able to prove. Poor procured bail, and being in consequence suffered to remain at large, terminated his agency here in the following night by taking "French leave!" - thus adding "leg bail" to his other securities. It has since been ascertained that he went to Baltimore, presented at one of the offices of that city the quarter ticket described and claimed by Mrs. S. and received the cash for in just a few minutes, before an account of his villainy reached the office. His guilt is thus placed beyond doubt.
Poor is a small man, of genteel appearance and is commonly rather "slow in the motion," though for one he has been so "quick on the trigger" as to move even before "moving-time." His voice has much of the nasal twant and his countenance gears an aspect of stupidity which, if not natural, sits very naturally upon him. He is said to be a Yankee by birth, a shoemaker by trade, and a ticket-vender by chance, while he is evidently a swindler by design, and a villain by practice. - York Rec.
Christian Shenk Kills Henry Riggle
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania April 27, 1827
Murder
The attention of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which commences this day, will be drawn to a case of homicide of considerable magnitude. The melancholy occurrence, as far as we think it right to relate the circumstances, took place as follows: Christian Shenk and Henry Riggle, resident of the upper end of this county, met at Gamber's tavern on the Marietta road on Saturday the 7th inst., both somewhat intoxicated. A scuffle arising out of an old dispute ensued, and Riggle got the better of Shenk, when they were separated. A proposition was then made to drink friends which was acceded to by both parties, and while Riggle, having approached the bar, was in the act of drinking Shenk got a large billet of wood from the fire place and coming up behind him gave the fatal blow. Shenk then left the house, but was taken on Tuesday and brought to the Lancaster Jail to await his trial. Riggle survived but a short time after receiving the blow. - Sentinel.
Christian Shenk Found Not Guilty of Murder
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania May 2, 1827
Lancaster, April 24.
The Court of Oyer and Terminer and Quarter Sessions closed its sittings on Saturday last. The most important
trial that took place was that of Christian Shenk, against whom the grand jury had returned a bill for manslaughter.
He was prosecuted by the deputy attorney general, Mr. Wright, on the part of the commonwealth, and the defense
was conducted by Mr. Porter. The trial lasted about two days and after an able charge from the president, Franklin,
the jury retired to their room. They were out about sixteen hours and then returned to their box with a verdict
of not guilty. - Intel.