From the Lykens Standard, May 22, 1925:
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WILLIAMSTOWN TRIO FOUND GUILTY OF SERIES OF NEARBY ROBBERIES
In Default of $1,000 Bail Each, Three Were Lodged in Jail; Working Other Clues
Through the efforts of Attorney H. E. Buffington, law counsel for the Cabin Protective Association, Constable Sidney Muffley of Lykens, State Troopers William Miller and Henry Stone of the Harrisburg Station, assisted by other members of the Cabin Association, three Williamstown men were arrested on Tuesday on charges of a series of robberies in the Powells Valley Hunters’ camps, and were arraigned before Justice of the Peace William L. Sansom in the law office of Attorney Buffington, Wednesday afternoon.
The young men under arrest and who during the hearing confessed being implicated in recent robberies are J. W. Adams, Paul Kehler, a former employee of the Pennsylvania railroad station at Lykens, George Messner and Cyrus Miller, all of Williamstown. Miller received word in some way that arrests were about to be made and left this section. State Police are close on his heels and his arrest is expected momentarily.
THREE PLEAD GUILTY
Kehler, Messner and Adams plead guilty to charges of enering three camps in Powells Valley, viz: White Oak Run Club, Mattis Club, and Bozedeau Camp. The charges preferred were “with intent to commit felony and did wilfully, maliciously and feloniously take and carry away….”
WERE INTOXICATED
Messner, while giving testimony, stated the party at the time of the robberies were under the influence of liquor and also that they risked thei lives after robbing the Bozedeau camp by staying in the immediate vicinity for almost three hours awaiting darkness to make a getaway.
ADAMS TELLS OF THEFT
Adams upon testimony stated he and Kehler were in his garage working on his car on the morning of May 10th [1925] when Miller came there to have the brakes adjusted on his car. After the adjustment was made Miller suggested a ride into Powells Valley. The party agreed but said they would not go until after they had dinner. Between 1:30 and 2:00 P. M. Miller came, got Adams and Kehler and later called for Messner.
RAIDED MATTIS CAMP
The party drove to Powells Valley and went to the Mattis Camp. According to Adams they were on the premises but a short time when Miller climbed the porch and broke into the building thru a second story window. He came to the first floor, opened the door and the others entered. The three held at the hearing stated ther only loot was a few shells. They described that Miller had blankets, Victrola records and a knife. Miller also wanted to take the Victrola, according to the testimony given, but the others objected stating they would walk to their homes if he took it.
WENT TO WHITE OAK
After ransacking the Mattis Camp the party went to the White Oak Run Club, where a similar entrance was gained into the building. Miller, it is alleged, leading and ransacking the building. Here Miller also wanted to take the Victrola, Adams said, but again the party objected. From this camp, according to the testimony, Miller took blankets and records.
MILLER WANTED TO RETURN
The party, on information given, returned to Williamstown between 7 and 7:30. Adams stated Miller came to him again between 8 and 8:30 on the evening of May 10 and wanted him to go along back to the cabins. Adams said he and the others imnplicated refused and Miller said, “I’ll go if I have to go alone.” He left and none of the men saw him until the next day.
PROPERTY MISSING
Property amounting to nearly $500.00 was stolen from the camps. A Victrola, taken from the Miller home in Williamstown by Trooper Miller was recognized by members of the White Oak Club as their property. Identification was made by “W. O. C.” being carved on the back and a Victrola needle being driven on the right hand front corner of the lid. The machine, when in the club house, was mahogany. Miller in trying to avert being caught with the machine, repainted it grey, took the serial plate from the machine and placed another plate with different serial number, the one originally on the machine being found in a trunk in his home by Constable Muffley. The initials which were carved on the back were sandpapered off the machine, and “W” was the only part which gave trace to know the letters were carved.
Among the articles listed from each of the camp as stolen were:
From WHITE OAK CLUB – Victrola, Victrola records, one light cotton blanket with initials :DW” sewed in corner, khaki blanket, canned goods and various other articles of personal property.
From MATTIS CAMP: Columbia Talking Machine, 25 ponds White Lead, one gallon Simmons Varnish, coffee can, twelve Victrola records, 3 bags or almost a barrel of blue rocks, one file with black handle and one kettle of soap; the whole amounting to a loss of more than $175.00.
From BOZEDU CAMP – While enamel plates, cups, saucers, soup plates and other dishes, one fishing rod, 750 .22-long rifle cartridges, 25 .12-guage shells, more than 30 Winchester cartridges, fish reel and line, first aid material, six or seven comforts and other property, the bulk amounting to more than $100.00
HELD OVER FOR COURT
Justice of the Peace William L. Sansom who sat on the case, after hearing the testimony as brought out by Attorney Buffington, found Adams, Kehler and Messner guilty of the charges preferred against them and bound the men over for court under $1000 bail each. They were unable to secure the required amount of bail by Wednesday evening and were take to Harrisburg where they will be lodged in the county jail to appear at court.
MILLER STILL AT LARGE
Cyrus Miller, who is alleged to be the leader of the band, is still at large and efforts to close in on him have been without avail until Wednesday evening. He drives a Marmon car, the paint of which is badly wor. He is tall, slender and light complected; has a rather fine voice, is aged about 24 years and has a pleasing manner.
REWARD OF $100
The Cabin Protective Association of Lykens offers a reward of $100 for informationleading to the arrest and conviction of Miller, who is at large.
MUCH IDENTIFIED GOODS
Following the hearing given the men Wednesday afternoon, search warrants were issued for other robberies in this section which were reported. The office of Attorney Buffington was the scene of much goods identified which was taken from the homes of the three men.
PROBABLE FORMAN CLUE
Silk underwear and other articles of wearing apparel were also found and may give a clue to the recent robbery at the Forman Brothers Lykens store in which goods amounting to more than $1000 was taken. No charges for this offense are as yet lodged against the trio being held for court, but it is expected the case will develop whin a few days and charges will likely be made.
TWO IN OTHER ROBBERY
Kehler and Adams, both who plead guilty on the charges preferred in the case of the Cabin Protective Association by their attorney H. E. Buffington, are also guilty of breaking a lock on the gas tanks at the Golden Garage, less than a month ago. The men drove up to the tank at an early morning hour, and thinking no one about set to work breaking the lock on the tank. James Golden Jr., happened to be at the garage and stood inside the door until he was certain what the aim of the men was. Finally, they broke the lock, when Golden, with gun in hand, held the men and recognized both as Kehler and Adams, implicated in the present series of robberies.
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