A mysterious death occurred in Valley View, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in October 1925. Two boys, Harry Etzweiler and Norman Bixler, went looking for a dog and one of them, Bixler, ended up dying from a gunshot wound. The original verdict was that Bixler had accidentally shot himself in the breast. Conflicting information given by Etzweiler led to further investigation resulting in a confession that the surviving boy was the one who pulled the trigger, and that the gunshot was accidental. Additional research in newspapers of the time found that the “accidental firing” statement was the one that was finally accepted by the authorities.
Here’s the story as told in local and area newspapers:
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From the Lykens Standard, October 16, 1925:
MYSTERY SURROUNDS DEATH OF YOUTH SHOT AT VALLEY VIEW
Mystery is surrounding the death of Norman Bixler, 19 year-old Valley View youth, who met death accidentally Sunday afternoon, according to the story given the Coroner’s jury Sunday evening, by Harry Etzweiler, 15 years old, also of Valley View, who was with Bixler when the accident occurred.
Giving testimony to the jury and Dr. I. E. Sausser of Valley View, deputy coroner. Harry Etzweiler said that he and Bixler had taken a stroll along the mountain in search for a dog which one of them had lost. When they reached a point about two miles north-east of Valley View at the foot of the mountain they sat down to rest and the accident occurred which caused instant death to his chum.
According to Etzweiler’s testimony there was no grievance or malice between the young men which would lead to the suspicion that the act was done wilfully.
Etzweiler had in his posession two revolvers and when the chums sat on the rock to rest, he gave one to Bixler who he said placed the muzzle to his breast and said “What would happen if I pulled the trigger?” He stated that immediately after Bixler made the statement, the revolver discharged and he fell ovedr dead. In the excitement of seeing his chum killed, Etzweiler relates that he picked up the revolver and started running toward Valley View, and in his running threw the revolver away. He could not tell where it went.
Investigations during the afternoon following the shooting lead no trace to the revolver and Etzweiler’s story was accepted as logical by the jury, who reserved their decision and did not give a verdict.
Monday morning, the day following the shooting, William Herb of Valley View visited the scene and in strolling about the vicinity found the revolver stuck under a stone, where according to investigation it would have been impossible for the revolver to land if it had been thrown while Etzweiler was running toward Valley View.
This clue led to suspicion and the case was handed over to the State Police who are making investigations and their decision of the fact is expected within a day or two.
An autopsy was made Tuesday evening and it was found that the bullet had entered the body high on the right side of the chest, took a downward and left course and was found laying loose in the left pleuial clavity.
Harry Etzweiler is 15 years of age and is the son of Mrs. Wilson Morgan of Valley View. He is a well thought of young man of the town and general opinion is that regardless of how the shooting occurred, it was accidental, because of the close friendly relatonship between the youths.
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From the Lykens Standard, October 16, 1925:
OBITUARY
Norman Bixler, aged 19 years, came to death Sunday afternoon by a shot from a revolver while on the mountain two miles northeast of Valley View. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Bixler and is survived by his parents and nine brothers and sisters.
His funeral will be held this morning with services in the United Brethren Church, Valley View, the Rev. H. M. Mentzer, pastor, officiating.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, Hegins News, October 16, 1925:
Harry Etzweiler, aged 16, was taken into custody by the State Police following the accidental shooting on Sunday afternoon in which Norman Bixler, aged 19 years, 24 days, lost his life. The shooting occurred in the woods near the home of William Herb in Hegins Townshop supposedly at the hands of Etzweiler, who is a step-son of Wilson Morgan, living neighbors to the Bixler family. His arrest followed the many conflicting stories advanced by young Etzweiler following the shooting. A post-mortem was made on the body of the deceased Tuesday afternoon by the Deputy Coroner Dr. I. E. Sausser of Valley View, assisted by Dr. Guy Barnd of Valley View, when is determined that it was almost impossible for the shooting to have been self-inflicted as first stated by young Etzweiler, who had first been exonerated by a jury composed of Gurney Smith, Elmer Scheib, James Bixler, Jacob Schwartzlander, William Herb and Charles Minnich late Sunday afternoon on the strength of the evidence then obtainable after the body had been removed to the home of his parents Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Bixler on the mountain road north of Valley View.
The funeral was held Friday morning, October 16 [1925], and burial made in the U. B. Cemetery at Valley View, conducteed by Undertaker C. F. Miller. Rev. Mentzer of the U. B. Church of that place officiated. Out of a family of ten children four girls and six boys this is the first death.
The story of the shooting as first given by Mr. Bixler, the father of the deceased and young Etzweiler, is that Etzweiler came to the Bixler home shortly after 1 o’clock in the afternoon with two revolvers and asked Norman to go with him to look for his dog which someone had shot. Norman reluctantly went along and at a point in the woods near the home of William Herb both sat down on some stones and started to make an examination of the guns when the one in the hands of young Bixler exploded instantly killing him. Instead of reporting the matter to Mr. Herb, he went to his home and there accompanied by his step-brother in a Ford touring car hurried to the Bixler home and reported that Norman had accidentally shot himself. Mr. Bixler, the father, in the meantime had walked to the home of Jacob Schwartzlander, several miles distant, where he was also informed by the boys. A large crowd immediately gathered and the body was brought to his home.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, October 16, 1925:
AUTOPSY SHOWS BOY DID NOT KILL SELF
The autopsy in the fatal shooting of Norman Bixler, 19, of Hegins, on Sunday afternoon, became more involved today when the result of the autopsy performed Tuesday night was made public. After the examination it was the opinion of Dr. I. E. Sausser, of Valley View, that the boy could not have shot himself, as his companion Harry Etzweiler, had stated.
The boys left early in the afternoon, according to Etzweiler, and Bixler was carrying the gun. He said that Bixler placed the muzzle of the gun against his right chest and discharged the gun.
Dr. Sausser’s autopsy showed that the bullet entered the boy’s right chest punctured the lung and entered the pleural cavity of the heart. The bullet was found loose in this cavity.
Dr. Sausser stated that there were no powder marks on the body of the dead boy. A small black spot was found on his shirt but the deputy coroner stated that this was probably caused by the bullet as it entered the body.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, October 17, 1925:
MYSTERY SHROUDS FATAL SHOOTING NEAR VALLEY VIEW
Valley View, October 17 [1925] — State Police and Schuylkill County officials are continuing their probe into the death of Norman Bixler, 19, of this place who was shot last Sunday. After a week of investigation theyt have reached no conclusions.
Young Bixler and Harry Etzweiler, 15, were walking in the mountains near here and according to Etzweiler’s story, when they sat down to rest Bixler placed the muzzle of a revolver to his breast and the gun was discharged. Etzweiler told authoities he picked up the revolver and started running toward Valley View. While fleeing from the scene of the tragedy he tossed the weapon away.
The revolver was found the next day under a stone. When local authorities became suspicious they called the in the State Police. The coroner’s jury has not yet given its verdict. Friends of young Etzweiler say the two boys were close companions.
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From the Lykens Standard, October 23, 1925:
VALLEY VIEW YOUTH CONFESSES TO ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTING HIS CHUM
Harry Etzweiler, 15-year-old youth of Valley View, who was taken to the State Police headquarters in Pottsville, Tuesday of last week, made a written confession at that place the larrer part of last week that he accidentally shot Norman Bixler, 19, also of Valley View.
With the evidence given the State Police and the District Attorney of Schuylkill County were certain and Etzweiler was allowed to return to his home in Valley View until further investigations are completed. He was not placed under arrest nor required to furnish bail.
Etzweiler and Bixler had strolled to the mountain near Valley View Sunday a week ago and while there resting on a stone, a revolver held by Etzweiler was discharged, the ball entering Bixler’s right chest causing instant death.
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Note: Newspapers outside the area of the Lykens Valley reported the name of 15-year old boy as Harry Estweiler, Edward Edwitzer, and Harry Edwitzer. and the place where the death occurred as Regins and Tegins.
News article from Newspapers.com.
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