In early November 1977, area newspapers reported the attempted murder of Arlene Hepler which took place in Weishample, Barry Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Miss Hepler was allegedly shot by her brother Arthur Hepler, who went to the Weishample home of another sister, Patricia Batz, to confront her regarding an unresolved family argument. In the confrontation, Arthur Hepler, who apparently had a history of mental illness, produced a gun and began firing it, one of the shots wounding his sister Arlene. She then acquired a gun and fired it in the direction of her brother, wounding him in the hand. Arthur Hepler fled the scene and barricaded himself in his home in Hegins Township. The next day, police surrounded the home and convinced him to surrender. He was taken to Pottsville Hospital for psychiatric evaluation and then arraigned on charges of attempted murder. Arlene Hepler was first treated at the hospital in Ashland, Schuylkill County, and then transferred to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania, from which she was eventually released.
The story of this attempted murder is told here through articles that appeared in area newspapers.
_________________________________
From the Shenandoah Evening Herald, 1 November 1977:
Family feud shooting in Barry Township
Law enforcement authorities are looking into a family dispute that led to shootings Sunday night in the Barry Township village of Weishample.
Arthur Hepler, 50, of R.D. 2 Hegins, described by state police as the suspect, sustained pellet wounds of the left hand and was admitted to the Pottsville Hospital’s fifth-floor where his condition was reported by a hospital spokesman this morning as “fairly good.”
Hepler, according to troopers, barricaded himself in his house following the shooting and was not apprehended until Monday morning after his minister and employer cooperated to get him out.
One of the three people authorities describe as victims, Arlene Phyllis Hepler, e8 of R.D. 1 Ashland, was in satisfactory condition this morning at the Geisinger Medical Center with a .22 caliber wound of the left leg.
The other victims were Alberta Hepler, 67, of R.D. 2 Hegins and Patricia Ann Batz, 34, of R.D. 1 Ashland, the latter a sister of the suspect.
A state police spokesman said Mr. Hepler, after a family dispute, went to the home of his sister, Patricia, and threatened the lives of all three victims, then shot Arlene in the left leg.
Arlene then went inside, secured a .20-gauge shotgun and fired through the doorway, hitting Hepler’s hand.
Hepler then returned to his residence and barricaded himself inside.
By 8 a.m. Monday, state police out of Pottsville and Reading along with Hegins Township officers surrounded the Hepler home.
Hepler was subsequently assisted from his home by his minister, Rev. John Clough of R.D. 1, Ashland, and his employer, Robert Wedde of R.D. 1, Hegins, and taken to Pottsville Hospital.
A state police spokesman this morning said thus far no charges had been lodged.
_____________________________________
From the Pottsville Republican, 1 November 1977:
Shots fired in quarrel
BARRY TOWNSHIP – Two persons received gunshot wounds following a family quarrel Sunday about 11:25 p.m. in Weishample.
State police said that as a result of a family dispute, Arthur Hepler, 50, R.D. 2 Hegins, went to the home of his sister, Arlene Hepler, 38, R.D. 1 Ashland. There he allegedly threatened the lives of his sister, another resident of the home and a visitor, and fired shots into the home.
During a struggle outside, Hepler shot his sister in the left leg with a .22-caliber rifle, according to police. His sister went into her home and fired a .20-gauge shotgun through the door, wounding Hepler in the left hand, police said. Hepler then returned to his home where he barricaded himself in the house.
The injured woman was taken by Hegins ambulance to the Ashland State general Hospital where she was then transferred to Geisinger Medical Center. She was listed in satisfactory condition at the hospital this morning.
At 8 p.m., Monday, state and Hegins Township police converged on Hepler’s home. Hepler’s minister, the Rev. John Clough, of R.D. 1 Ashland, and Robert Wedde, R.D. 1 Hegins, his employer, talked with Hepler and assisted in getting him from his home. He was taken to the Pottsville Hospital where he was listed this morning in fairly good condition. Police say they are continuing the investigation of the incident.
___________________________________
From the Pottsville Republican, 2 November 1977:
Charges in Shooting
BARRY TOWNSHIP – Arthur Hepler, 50, R.D. 2 Hegins, the man who allegedly shot his sister Arlene Hepler, 38, R.D. 1 Ashland, with a .22-caliber rifle on October 30, and was then wounded by her with a .20-gauge shotgun, was charged with several counts including attempted murder after being released from Pottsville Hospital’s psychiatric unit Monday.
State police said Hepler was charged with attempt to commit murder, recklessly endangering the life of another person, aggravated assault and terroristic threats before District Magistrate Joseph Weyman, Ashland, and committed to the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Ms. Hepler, who was wounded in the left leg, was listed in satisfactory condition this morning at Geisinger medical Center. Hepler was wounded in the left hand.
_____________________________________
From the Pottsville Republican, 2 November 1977
Imprisoned in shooting incident
Arthur Hepler, 50, of R.D. 2, Hegins, the man who allegedly threatened the lives of three women and shot one in the leg Sunday night in Weishample, Barry Township, was committed to the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $30,000 bail Tuesday following his arraignment before District Magistrate Joseph Weyman of Ashland.
Hepler, who according to state police sustained gunshot pellet wounds of the left hand in the shooting incident, was released Tuesday from the Pottsville Hospital psychiatric ward, where he was taken Monday by law enforcement authorities after his minister and employer managed to get him out of the house, where he had barricaded himself following the shootings.
A state police spokesman said Hepler was charged before Magistrate Weyman with attempting to commit murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and issuing terroristic threats.
Information released by authorities Tuesday indicated Mr. Hepler, after a family argument, went to his sister’s home and threatened the lives of three women there: Arlene Phyllis Hepler, 38, and Patricia Ann Betz, 34, both of R.D. 1, Ashland; and Alberta Hepler, 67 of R.D. 2., Hegins.
Mr. Hepler allegedly shot Arlene Hepler in the left calf with a .22 caliber rifle, after which Arlene went into the house, secured a .20-gauge shotgun and fired through the door, with a few pellets striking Mr. Hepler’s left hand.
Arlene Hepler was given emergency treatment at Ashland Hospital and then transferred to Geisinger Medical Center, where her condition this morning remained satisfactory.
After the shooting incident, according to authorities, Mr. Hepler went back to his own home and barricaded himself inside. However, his minister, the Rev. John Clough of Ashland R.D. 1, and his employer, Robert Wedde of R.D.1, Hegins, managed to get him out Monday morning after state and Hegins Township police surrounded his home.
__________________________________
From the Sunbury Daily Item, 2 November 1977:
50-year-old Hegins RD2 man charged with attempted murder
POTTSVILLE – A Hegins R.D. 2 man Tuesday was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and making terroristic threats in a shooting incident Sunday at his sister’s Ashland R.D. 1 home.
State police at Pottsville said Arthur Hepler, 50, was arraigned before District Magistrate Joseph Weyman and committed to Schuylkill County jail in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Police said the 11:30 p.m. incident occurred outside the home of Patricia Batz. They said Hepler arrived at the home and became involved in an argument with another sister, Arlene Hepler, whom police said was staying in the Batz home.
Hepler allegedly produced a gun, fired several shots in the air, then fired on his sister, Arlene, hitting her in the leg.
Police said she then entered the home, got a shotgun and fired at her brother, hitting him in the left hand.
Hepler was released Tuesday from Pottsville Hospital. Arlene Hepler remained in satisfactory condition at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
___________________________________
From the Shamokin News-Item, 2 November 1977:
Hegins man arraigned for attempted murder
ASHLAND – State police yesterday charged a Hegins, R.D. 2 man with attempted murder after he allegedly shot his sister Sunday outside the Ashland, R.D. 1 residence of another sister.
Arthur Hepler, 50, was also charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and making terroristic threats. He was arraigned Tuesday before District Magistrate Joseph Weyman, Ashland.
State police waited until Hepler underwent psychiatric examination at Pottsville Hospital before filing the charges. He is not lodged in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Although the shooting occurred Sunday, Hepler was not apprehended until Monday. After the alleged Hepler went to his home and barricaded himself inside.
State police from Pottsville and Reading and the Hegins Township Chief of Police converged on the house at 11:30 Sunday night and cordoned off the area.
Finally, at 8:00 Monday morning, Hepler gave himself up to police. He was talked into surrendering by his clergyman, the Rev. John Clough, R.D. 1,, Ashland, and his employer, Robert Wedde, R.D. 1, Hegins.
State police said a family quarrel led to the shooting incident. They said Hepler went to the home in Weishample of Patricia Batz, 34, his sister, and threatened the lives of Mrs. Batz, of his sister Arlene, 38, and of Alberta Hepler, 67, of R.D. 2, Hegins.
Hepler was apparently outside the house with his sister when the alleged shooting occurred. He fired several shots from a .22 rifle into the home and during the struggle allegedly shot his sister in the left calf.
After being shot, Miss Hepler went back inside the house and grabbed a .20 gauge shotgun and fired it. Hepler was struck by several pellets in his left hand but was not seriously injured. After that, he went to his house to await police.
Miss Hepler was taken to Ashland State General Hospital and then transferred to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where she was in satisfactory condition this morning.
Hepler was treated for his wounds at Pottsville Hospital after he surrendered.
_____________________________________
News articles are from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.