Lebanon County PA News
Crimes

Murder of Mrs. Quinn

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) June 14, 1826

Lebanon, May 30.

A Coroner's inquest was held on Sunday morning last, by R. K. Doebler, Esq., over the body of Mrs. Quinn who resided about two miles from this place on the Jonestown road. Her arm and several of her ribs were broken and she had received other injuries. A surgical inquisition of the corpse was made in the presence of the jury by Doctors Reidenaur, Mish and Gloninger. We understand that the verdict of the Jury was that she came to her death by violence inflicted by some person or persons unknown. We forbear any further remarks in this case as the husband of the deceased has been committed to jail under the charge of having taken her life. - Republican.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania December 27 1826

Harrisburg, Dec. 19

The warrant has been issued for the executive of James Quinn, who was sentenced at the last court in Lebanon county. The execution will take place on Friday the 9th day of February, between the hours of ten and two o'clock. - Penn. Intel.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania February 21, 1827

James Quinn was executed in Lebanon, on Friday the 9th inst., for the murder of his wife. He walked to the place of execution, nearly a mile and mounted the scaffold, and prepared for his exit with all the calmness that might characterize the stepping into a carriage to make an ordinary visit. By giving the rope too much extension, it unfortunately broke the moment the trap fell and brought the prisoner to the ground, but being very little hurt, he immediately rose and as soon as the rope was adjusted he again ascended the scaffold and was launched into eternity without a struggle.

An immense concourse assembled to witness his execution, probably ten or twelve thousand persons, but all conducted themselves in the best manner. - Penn. Intel.

Murder of Jacob Swineford

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) July 12, 1826

A drover by the name of Swineford from Union county, Pennsylvania was murdered in Lebanon on the evening of the 4th instant. He had four or five hundred dollars in two pocket books, 30 dollars in the smaller one and the remainder in the larger. He was passing in company with an acquaintance, Mr. Greenawalt, along an alley on his way to the house of the latter. When a number of persons rushed upon them and knocked them both down. Mr. Greenawalt recovering from the effect of the blow, rose from the ground and affected a retreat and procuring assistance, returned to the rescue of his companion. But it was too late; Mr. Swineford was dead and horribly bruised with clubs and stones. All his money with the exception of the smaller pocket book which escaped the hasty search of his murderers was gone and they themselves had taken flight. They have not yet been apprehended but it is impossible that the perpetrators of the offence, under such circumstances should long elude detection and apprehension.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania July 26, 1826

A negro has been committed to the jail of this county on suspicion of being the person who murdered a Mr. Swineford in Lebanon, on the 4th inst. We are not acquainted with the circumstances that led to his arrest. - Franklin Republican

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania July 26, 1826

The Lebanon Republican contains a circumstantial account of the late cruel murder committed there on the fourth instant. From the testimony produced by this statement, it is evident that the foul crime has been committed b some unknown persons, who favored by the darkness of the night, have made their escape. The citizens of the town have offered 200 dollars for their apprehension. - Penn. Intel.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania August 2, 1826

The Governor has offered a reward of $200 (in addition to $200 offered by the corporation officers,) for the apprehension of the person or persons who murdered Jacob Swineford in the borough of Lebanon on the evening of the fourth of July last. From the testimony of Mr. Swineford's family, it appears that he was not robbed and it is said he had a dispute with some person in Lebanon on the day of the death; from which it is inferred that probably the intention was to beat him without depriving him of life.

Gazette Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
March 10, 1876

The Dunker Hill and Jonestown depots on the Lebanon and Tremont railroad, were robbed last night.  The thieve got little if anything.

A Lebanon dispatch of yesterday is as follows. "Considerable excitement was created this morning at Myerstown, a small station on the Lebanon Valley railroad, by the news that one of its citizens, John Stoever, who recently died, made a confession on his death bed, to George Beffelfinger and Percival Daub, two intimate friends, that during the last twenty five years he had been party to four murders.

Years ago a boat captain in the employ of the firm of Wm Eckenrooth & Bros., was missed  while on a trip up the river, which circumstance is well remembered in this community, and it has always been suspected  that he was foully dealt with, for the reason that he nearly always carried a considerable amount of money with him.

Stoever stated that he helped kill this man and that the five hundred dollars in money was taken from his person and his body sunk in the canal, as also a little boy, who, making the discovery of the crime, was struck on the head with a hatchet, and his body also thrown into the canal. The other two of his victims were disposed of in this way. One was thrown into a brick kiln and his body burned to ashes, and the other was laid beside a lime kiln, so as to creat the theory that while sleeping near its mouth he was suffocated with gas.

The request of the dying man was, that after the burial a statement of his confession should be given to the public, but even that was kept secret until several days ago, when one of the witnesses  and a relative of the deceased said to a resident of Myerstown that he could not endure it any longer, and then revealed the crimes as above. Two of Stoever's alleged accomplices  in two or three of the murders are still at liberty and residents of this county.  Heffelfinger and Daub will be taken before a constable on Wednesday next, and give a full sworn statement of the above affair."

The Bucks County Gazette (Bristol, Pennsylvania)
February 23, 1882

A dispatch from Reading, Pa., dated on Monday, clearly showed that a gang of expert safe burglers were at work in at least four different points between Reading and Harrisburg on Sunday night.  The safe of Kreider & Co. at Lebanon was blown open and robbed of seventy-five dollars. At Lebanon, two mills, Eureka and Stricker's were entered  and the safes were blown open, and money and valuable papers were secured. An effort was also made to blow the safe at Daub's grist mill, near Myerstown, but the thieves were frightened off. It is supposed to be the work of a regular organized band of robbers that has been carrying on bold and extensive operations all winter. One of their leaders is in jail at Lebanon, but a new head has apparently been chosen.

Taken From the Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
May 20, 1884

Lebanon, May 19 - the house of Michael Schaeffer, near Annville, was entered last night by three tramps, who bound, gagged and robbed Schaeffer of a watch, money and clothing. The house was then set on fire and burned. Shaeffer escaped with difficulty from the burning building.

Jonestown, PA, March 4 - Burglers broke into the residence of Mrs. John Wagner, near this place. Her adopted son, aged 12 years, heard them moving about in the house, and obtaining a revolver opened fire upon the intruders.  He emptied every chamber of ther revolver and wounded one of burglers, but they escaped.  Blood marks were traced for some distance from the house.

Harrisburg, Nov. 12 - The postoffice at Myerstown, Lebanon county, near here, was entered early this morning and the safe dynamited. The robbers escaped with several dollars in money, a quantity of stamps and a bundle of letters. The force of the explosion was so great that the front windows in the building were blown out and the furniture badly damaged.

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