Part 1. The Nathan Henninger farm was located in Cameron Township, near Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. While four to six men were burglarizing Henninger’s stone house, a gunfire exchange took place, and one of the robbers was killed. Four men were later captured and put on trial in Sunbury in March, 1876. All four were found guilty and sent to prison. Another man, who testified against the burglars, was believed to have been involved but was never charged.
Follow the story as reported by newspapers of the time.
Featured photo (above) is of the Henninger stone house as it appeared in 1975. From the Sunbury Daily Item, September 12, 1975.
From the Sunbury Gazette, January 21, 1876 (from the Shamokin Times of last week):
HEAVY ROBBERY IN MAHANOY VALLEY
A PLUCKY MAHANOY FARMER KILLS ONE OF THE ROBBERS – THE DEAD MAN IDENTIFIED AS BEING FROM SHAMOKIN.
On Wednesday night Coroner Taylor was called out of bed between one and two o’clock and was informed that a man had been killed in Mahanoy Valley, Cameron Township [Northumberland County, Pennsylvania], and that the presence of the Coroner was required to hold an inquest on the body. The Coroner at once proceeded across the mountain and arrived at the place where the dead man was awaiting him, at about two o’clock. Having summoned a jury the Coroner returned to Shamokin after hearing a portion of the evidence, the jury being notified to convene again at ten o’clock Thursday morning.
In Cameron Township, Mahanoy Valley, about two miles west of “Brick Tavern,” or Pennsylvania Hotel, lives a farmer named Nathan Henninger. He is a man about 37 years of age and has a wife and five children. Henninger lives on what is known as the Billman Farm, the property having belonged to David Billman, who died about two years ago. Mrs. Billman, Henninger’s mother-in-law, an old lady of 83 years, lives with him, as also do two sons of Mrs. Billman by her first husband, whose name was Maurer. These two sons, George Maurer and Philip Maurer, are both pretty well up in years, George being 63 and Philip 60 years of age. Almost a year ago Nathan Henninger purchased the Billman property, having arranged to buy out the heirs. The farm… was appraised at about $9,000. Henninger owns another farm, adjoining this one, of about 160 acres.
The Robbery
On Wednesday, two relatives, Jacob Billman of Roaring Creek and Solomon Billman of Washington Township, arrived at Henninger’s on a visit. About half past five o’clock the family and visitors sat down to supper. The dining room was in a small frame building about forty feet away from the main building. The dwelling, or main building, is built of stone and is a large roomy house, but the family have been using the small frame building for a kitchen and dining room, although it is a little distance from the dwelling.
About six o’clock or a little after, supper was finished and Mrs. Henninger got up from the table and remarked that she would o out to the barn and feed a calf. She had just stepped out of the door when a man stopped her and ordered her back, saying that if she didn’t stay in he would shoot her. Her husband, Nathan Henninger, then came out, but a large man with a black moustache ordered him to halt and return, at the same time putting a gun at the farmer. Henninger and his wife both stepped back into the building and then only began to appreciate what trouble was. Looking out the window they saw several shots were fired into the door of the building in which Henninger, his visitors and family were staying. About seven shots in all were fired, nearly all of which passed through the door or out through the window on the other side, but doing no injury to the inmates.
After the firing outside had commenced Henninger started upstairs where he had a rifle and a double-barreled shot gun, and quickly loading these in the dark, he began to take measures to defend his castle. Two balls were put in each barrel of the shotgun and one ball in the rifle. Taking aim through the window at several of the villains who were about off at about twenty yards he had the satisfaction of seeing one man drop. The the robbers opened fire in earnest, shooting promiscuously into the windows and door but luckily hitting none of the twelve persons who were buddled together in the small space inside.
Henninger again too aim this time at one of the robbers was stationed on the wood pile, and this shot took effect, leaving spots of blood all over the wood, but the robber was no so badly hurt but what he could get away. Once more a volley was returned, shattering a looking glass, picture frame and window panes, but again miraculously missing the inmates.
The Farmer’s Third Shot
By this time several robbers who were ransacking the stone mansion had joined their companions outside and a consultation was held over the fallen comrade who was lying on the ground. Henninger saw this and last shot with the effect he thinks, as they left suddenly carrying away one of the wounded.
After
As soon as the robbers had started away an examination was made in the dwelling and it was found that two chests were broken open and $2,075 in gold, silver and bank notes taken. About six hundred and seventy-five dollars of this was in bank notes and the balance in coin. The premises outside were then examined and very soon one of the robbers was found on the ground dead. There were traces of blood across the hill to the east of the house showing that one or two more had been wounded and helped away.
The Dead Robber from Shamokin
After the Coroner arrived he summoned [a] jury…. As the jury was about to view the body one of them recognized the dead man as being from Shamokin. His name was Philip Hughes and he lived in Withington’s Row on Franklin Street, Hughes has a wife and two children and has been employed at Cameron Colliery. On Wednesday afternoon about four o’clock he left his house in company with two men named Martin Farrell and Thomas Galvin and nothing further was heard from him until Hughes was killed that night. On the body of Hughes was found a white handkerchief, a small round tin box, a clay pipe, a muslin tobacco pouch with tobacco, and powder flask. Galvin boarded with Hughes and Farrell boarded with Michael Healey, Hughes’ next door neighbor. Mrs. Hughes states that a strange man was at her house to see her husband during Wednesday but she does not know who it was.
An Arrest
The house in which Hughes lived is a double one, the one side being occupied by a Michael Healy. On Thursday Healy was arrested as probably knowing something about the robbery but he brough witnesses to prove that he was home that night and he was therefore discharged. There were six men in the party who committed the robbery, and of these several are well known. At the time we write, the villains have not been captured but enough evidence was produced to show that their flight was in the direction of Pottsville.
The robbers left two guns and a cap, which are in the hands of the Coroner.
A Visit to Mahanoy.
Securing a conveyance we made a trip to the scene of the robbery on Thursday and after driving about six miles we reached Henninger’s Farm. We arrived there about noon and found the Coroner’s Jury about closing their investigation. Quite a crowd had collected from the surrounding neighborhood and each farmer was armed with a rifle or shotgun. The crowd looked terribly warlike. Hughes’ body was lying on a bench in a wash house that had recently been built. He was stripped to the waist and in his breast was a hole made by the fatal bullet. Another ball had entered his left shoulder, he having been struck by both balls out of the one barrel of the shotgun. His eyes were only half closed and his mouth was partly open. His body and clothing were terribly bloody and his whole appearance was ghastly and sickening. No one had appeared yet to claim the body, but on our way back we met an undertaker with a rough box going to bring the remains to Shamokin. Where he will be buried we do not know at this writing, the Catholic Clergy having forbidden his body to be interred in any of the Catholic cemeteries.
The Probabilities
From what we heard and saw on the premises we feel satisfied that this daring robbery was planned by someone who was perfectly familiar with the house and with the family. They only entered the rooms where the two chests were that contained the money ad did not disturb a chest or trunk in another room that contained no money. A large old-fashioned clock was opened ad searched, where some money had been kept at one time, but nothing was in that. Henninger lost nothing, the money having belonged to George Maurer, $800, Philip Maurer, $950, and Mrs. Billman, $325.
The Verdict.
The jury returned a verdict that Hughes had been killed by Nathan Henninger in self defense and fully exonerating Henninger from all blame; or, in other words, it was justifiable homicide. Henninger was quite a lion among the crowd who had assembled and the Mahanoy farmers all seemed proud of their plucky neighbor. Henninger came to Shamokin with us and before he returned home he supplied himself with a good revolver at one of our hardware stores.
Another Arrest – Farrell Found in Pottsville
Thursday noon Councilman J. A. Weaver went to Pottsville on private business and while walking down Centre Street he saw Martin Farrell, one of the parties supposed to be concerned in the above robbery, walking along on the other side of the street. Mr. Weraver was at the time in company with Lieutenant W. H. Moyer, of the Coal and Iron Police, and calling Lieutenant Moyer’s attention to Farrell, the officers at once arrested him. Farrell was taken before a justice ad was committed to prison until evening when he was brought to Shamokin.
Farrell’s Little Story.
When Farrell was taken before ‘Squire Helm he made the following statement of his movements on Wednesday night. He admitted having been with Hughes up to four o’clock Wednesday afternoon but left him at that hour on Shamokin Street. He (Farrell) and Galvin then started to walk up the Northern Central track, having concluded to “go to Philadelphia.” They went to Centralia on foot, arriving there at two o’clock in the morning; continued walking to Girardville and arrived there at six; from Girardville took the train to Pottsville; left Galvin in Pottsville but didn’t know just where. Farrell hesitated in answering questions and seemed to feel very uncomfortable. Two woodchoppers who had seen the gang on the mountain were present and partly identified Farrell as on the the party. Ther was other evidence pointing to this man as being of the gang who committed the robbery and so Justice Helm demanded $5,000 bail for his appearance at Court, and as he could not furnish the security he was sent to Sunbury on Friday morning. On Friday morning as Farrell was putting on his boots several spots of what seemed to be blood were found, and he was given a pair of shoes to put on and the boots retained as evidence. Part of his clothing also looked as if it had been washed, indicating that he had assised in carrying away one of the wounded men.
What the Woodchopper Saw
Two woodchoppers who were employed on the mountain between this place [Sunbury] and Mahanoy, quit work about five o’clock on Wednesday evening and started to come home. They had come a little way along the summit of the mountain when they saw a party of six men alongside of the public road. Two were standing up and four were lying down. Those who were reclining on the ground tried to hide their faces and refused to look up at the woodchoppers. The two workmen passed on but thought the movement of these men very strange and commented on the matter to others when they got back to Shamokin.
Hughes’ Antecedents
The report that Philip Hughes, the dead robber, is a Welshman is incorrect. He is an Irishman. It is reported that Hughes is not his correct name, he having found it necessary to change his name sometime ago on account of former acts of his. He bears the marks of a bullet wound in one of his arms and is known to have been implicated in unlawful transactions since he came to this place.
Henninger Under Bail
In giving the verdict of the Coroner’s Jury we omitted to state that Coroner Taylor thought it advisable to hold Henninger, the farmer, in the sum of $500 in his own recognizance for his appearance at Court if he should be required. Henninger, who is a German and talks English imperfectly, did not understand this proceeding and the reporter of the “Times” was called upon to act as an interpreter and explained why this was done. Henninger expressed himself as perfectly satisfied with the arrangement and said to us that he would be glad to appear at court and have a jury decide on his action. The whole Mahanoy Valley would have gone to his security if it had been necessary.
A Mahanoyer’s Opinion
While we were standing by the side of Hughes’ body, examining the wounds, a German farmer came up and nudging us remarked, “Des vos ein verdommt gooder trick” The smile on his countenance showed how heartily he approved of Henninger’s conduct in shooting the robber.
Unclaimed Property
Coroner Taylor has the two guns and cap in his possession, which were left by the robbers, and he wishes that the owners would “come forward, prove property, and take them away.” No assurance is, however, given that “no questions will be asked.”
The Latest
Traces of the wounded robbers, it is rumored, have been found in the direction of Mt. Carmel and officers have been sent to investigate, but at the hour we go to press, we are without further particulars. Whether there is anything in the reports of not we cannot tell. Owing to the great excitement occasioned by this affair we have carefully guarded against giving anything except what was reliable. By request we omit any mention of the movements of a part of the police force who are working up the robbery, but a reasonable hope is entertained that several more captures will follow soon.
To be continued….
_______________________________________________________
Articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.