Part2 of 9. On 14 November 1880, Daniel Troutman, a farmer living in Pillow, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was killed at his home during an attempted robbery. Two men, Frank Rumberger and Henry Rumberger were arrested and charged with the crime. They were tried in Dauphin County Court, found guilty, and executed, in March 1882.
In its edition of 24 March 1882, in conjunction with the hanging, the Harrisburg Daily Independent published a summary of the crime and the trials. Here following is the text of that article, in nine parts.
For all other parts of this story, see: The Murder of Daniel Troutman, 1880.
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GOING FOR HELP
The Last Words of the Dying Old Man Were “Henry Rumberger Shot Me.” The Confessions.
Immediately after the firing old Mrs. Rumberger [sic] ran to the nearest neighbor living about one-eighth of a mile away, bringing over Mr. and Mrs. Geiss, who picked up the old man and carried him into the house. Death was rapidly approaching and about the only exclamation Troutman uttered was
“HENRY RUMBERGER SHOT ME.”
This he repeated once or twice and died within half an hour after being shot. The following day it became noised about that a murder had been committed and that old Daniel Troutman was the victim. Mr. Geise the following day proceeded to Uniontown and made information before Squire J. A. Laudenslager, and a warrant was placed in the hands of Constable David Williard, who with D. J. Snyder, Benjamin Dickey, Joseph Troutman, John Weiser, Daniel Shaffer and Charles Messew endeavored to arrest Henry Rumberger. They made a thorough search for him that day but were unable to secure him, but the following morning as he
WAS RIDING ON HORSEBACK
Some distance from Uniontown, to which place he was taken, and at a hearing committed to the Dauphin County Prison he made the following confession in the presence of four gentlemen from Uniontown.
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Henry’s First Confession
DAUPHIN COUNTY JAIL
Harrisburg, November 19, 1880
Frank Rumbarger, started with me at the small bridge, near Savage’s building (below Lykenstown), near dusk on Sunday evening, November 14. A lady residing near Kev Kenker’s in Lykens, saw Frank Rumberger get in the buggy with me. We had a gray horse and carriage, which I had hired at Tower City. Jacob Rettinger met us on the road near John Wallace’s farm. Down below Shadle’s Hotel we met Harry Snyder in a carriage. We left the carriage and horse stand on the hill near the creek at James Troutman’s. William Ferry passed Frank Rumberger near Hiram Bueck’s place in Lykens before we started. We crossed the foot bridge over the creek at James Troutman’s and then went up the creek to Daniel Troutman’s. We entered the door of the dwelling. Went into the room and stood in front of the bed. Frank called. Then the old woman told Daniel Troutman to get up, someone called him. Frank asked him for his money. The old man said “What?” Frank said, “We want your money or your life.” Then the old man said, “I have no money.” Frank replied, “I know you have money of other people’s.” The old man said “he had a few dollars, and then he got up, went toward the door and wanted to go out. We would not allow it and the he (Daniel Troutman) went to the window and hoisted it. When he was done at the window, he walked to the bed and stepped on it. He got his gun and I retreated and run out of the house and turned to the left. I looked back and saw Troutman behind me with a gun. I went a few steps toward the fence and climbed over. Daniel Troutman shot and I left myself fall. The shot missed me. Frank Rumberger told me he had shot at the old man, Daniel Troutman, and Frank said: “That we must get out of this.” I did not see Frank shoot, but heard the shot. We then started for home. Frank got out of the carriage above the railroad crossing at Lykens. We then parted. I then went to Tower City. We were up at Schoffstall’s saloon at Lykens on Saturday, and planned the expedition to rob the old man. We had talked together before this robbery.
ARREST OF FRANK
As there was no Jim Rumberger known to the officers, and from other circumstances surrounding the case, Frank Rumberger was arrested and given a hearing at the alderman’s office at Lykens. On this occasion a young woman known as Ida Haines, or Mrs. Graff, swore that on the night of the murder, Frank was with her, and in this way the prisoner succeeded in proving an alibi and was discharged. The respite lasted but one day when the woman confessed that the story she had told was one concocted by Frank and that
SHE HAD PERJURED HERSELF.
Upon this information Frank was again arrested and lodged in jail.
Both men were given a hearing at Alderman Maurer’s office, in this city [Harrisburg], on November 22, and were committed for court. The first trial was ordered for January 10th, 1881, but was continued until March, when owing to a judicial muddle was again postponed until April 28, 1881.
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News article from Newspapers.com.
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