On 3 March 1966 two men got into a fight at a home in Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, which resulted in the death of one of them. Charged with the murder was John Carl Swartz. The victim was Arthur Machamer. The murder weapon was a wooden potato masher.
News articles pertaining to the murder are presented below.
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From: The Express, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, 5 March 1966; and The Evening Times, Sayre, Pennsylvania, 5 March 1966; Indiana Gazette, 5 March 1966; and other newspapers via the Associated Press:
Man Killed by Blow with Potato Masher
HARRISBURG (AP) – John Carl Swartz, 69, of Lykens is being held in $1,000 bail here on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Arthur Machamer, 73, of Lykens R.D. 1. Machamer died in Polyclinic Hospital here Friday of what police termed a blow on the head inflicted with a wooden potato masher during a fight in Lykens Thursday night.
Swartz was arraigned Friday night before Justice of the Peace Wilbur Hawk in Carsonville. A further hearing was set of next Wednesday.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, Tower City, 9 March 1966:
Lykens Man Jailed in Death Following Argument
John Carl Swartz of Lykens is in Dauphin County Prison in default of $1,000 bail for involuntary manslaughter following the death of Arthur Machamer, a 73 year old companion whom he allegedly struck on the head. Police say the two men engaged in an argument following an all day drinking spree Thursday.
Machamer, who died in Polyclinic Hospital Friday, was allegedly struck on the head by a wooden potato masher in the kitchen of his home Thursday night.
Lykens State Police said Dauphin County Coroner, Dr. Thomas Fritchey of Harrisburg ordered an autopsy to be performed at the hospital.
Originally charged with aggravated assault and battery, Swartz will be given a hearing on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. on the new charge of manslaughter before Justice of the Peace Wilbur Hawk of Carsonville, Halifax R.D. 2.
A third man identified as Thomas Daniel, 60, of the Commercial Hotel, is reported by troopers to have witnessed the attack.
Machamer, a native of Wiconisco, was a retired miner.
Surviving are his wife, the former Elsie Smeltz; seven sons and two daughters; four brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services were held Monday morning from Schaffstall Funeral Home, Lykens. The Rev. Thomas A. Berg, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lykens, officiated. Interment was made in Wiconisco Cemetery.
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From the Lykens Standard, 10 March 1966:
LYKENS MAN CHARGED IN DEATH OF FRIEND
An elderly Lykens man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a friend from injuries suffered in a fight Thursday night, police said.
Committed to Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $1,000 bail was John Carl Swartz, 69, who told police he lives at 127 S. Second Street, Lykens.
He is charged in the death of Arthur Machamer, 73, of Lykens R.D.1, who died at 5:30 p.m. in Polyclinic Hospital, Harrisburg, where he had been admitted Thursday night with a scull fracture.
At an afternoon arraignment Friday evening before Justice of the Peace Wilbur Hawk in Carsonville, Lykens Police Chief Raymond E. Forney said Swartz had repeatedly struck Machamer in the head with an old fashioned wooden potato masher.
Forney said the two men, and a third, Thomas Daniels of the Commercial Hotel, were drinking at Swartz’s home where they got into a fight.
Machamer and Daniels were later found lying in an alley off Market Street, he said. The two were examined by a physician and Machamer was taken to the hospital.
Before Machamer died Friday, Swartz had been arraigned on a lesser charge of aggravated assault and battery before Justice of the Peace Charles Henninger, Lykens, who released Swartz, on his own recognizance for a further hearing.
Forney said Swartz and Machamer had been friends “for at least 10 years.”
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From: the Reading Eagle, 29 March 1966; Pottsville Republican, 29 March 1966; Gettysburg Times, 30 March 1966; Evening Sun, Hanover, Pennsylvania, 29 March 1966; and other newspapers via the Associated Press:
Lykens Man Held on Murder Charge
Harrisburg, March 29 [1966] – John Carl Swartz, of Lykens has been held for grand jury action on a murder charge in connection with the death of another Dauphin County man.
Swartz is charged with both murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Arthur Day Machamer, 73, of Lykens R.D. 1, after a fight at Swartz’ home March 3.
Police charge that Machamer died after Swartz struck him on the head with a wooden potato masher during the fight.
Wayne Township justice of the peace, Wilbur Hawk, ordered Swartz held for court at a preliminary hearing last night.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.