Part 2. 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 a sketch of the place where the crime occurred. From the Sunbury Gazette, January 28, 1876.
From the Sunbury Gazette, January 28, 1876 (from the Shamokin Times of last week):
DEVELOPMENTS SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE – THE EXCITEMENT AND INTEREST IN SHAMOKIN – HUGHES’ FUNERAL – LATEST PARTICULARS
No event has occurred in this vicinity in a long while which has created such intense interest and excitement as the Mahanoy robbery. It has been the topic of conversation everywhere, and large numbers have crossed the mountain to view the spot where Hughes was killed. Our office was besieged all day Friday for the news and about noon we issued an “extra,” giving particulars, in order to quiet the clamor for our paper. These extras were disposed of in a short time. After running off our regular edition of the “Times” on Saturday we issued a half-sheet extra and they were taken from the office in less than one hour. We then issued another edition of the small extras and they were nearly all gone by evening.
The “Miners Journal” and Shenandoah “Herald” of Saturday had full particulars of the robbery, taken from the “Times” extra, and those journals were all sold in a very short time.
On Friday word was received that one of the wounded robbers was concealed in the direction of Mt. Carmel and a posse of men was sent to look up the individual but no captures were made. We omitted to mention that in addition to the arrest of Healy, and man named Smith was also arrested on Thursday of last week but there was no evidence to hold him and therefore he was liberated.
Hughes’ Funeral
The funeral of Philip Hughes, the robber who was killed, took place on Saturday afternoon. At two o’clock the body was taken from Hughes’ former residence on Franklin Street and was conveyed to the Poor House graveyard, two miles west of town, where it was interred. The remains were enclosed in an imitation rosewood coffin. There was only one carriage in the funeral procession, and that contained Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Brennan (sister [of] the dead man) and several whose names we did not learn. About two dozen persons followed on foot. Arriving at the graveyard the remains of Hughes were lowered in a grave that was dug in the northeast corner. Some objection was at first made to the locality of the grave, it having been made in the lower corner, and the friends of Hughes also thought that the grave was shallow, but the coffin was finally placed in the grave just as it was made.
Father Koch’s Sermon on Sunday
St. Edward’s Catholic Church was crowded on Sunday morning, a number being unable to get seats. It was expected that Father Koch would probably refer to the death of Hughes and hence the audience was unusually large. Father Koch discoursed on “Crime – its Cause and the remedy.” He spoke of the manner in which children are brought up in the coal regions. As soon as they are large enough they are sent to a breaker to pick slate. Money is the chief object. Children are without parental restraint and become accustomed to scenes of drunkenness in their own families, until they finally follow in the footsteps of those who set the evil example. They are brought up in a manner that takes away all respect for civil and religious law. They learn to drink and drunkenness engenders laziness; then they look about for some way to make an easy living and eventually robbery and theft is resorted to. And, said the speaker, robbery and murder go hand in hand. The robber is prepared to take life if he is interfered with. This was illustrated in the Mahanoy affair. There the robbers began firing into a building filled with men, women and children – caring nothing for the lives of the inmates.
The speaker enumerated many causes of crime and then suggested the remedies to be applied. Temperance, education, watchfulness over children so that they are kept out of bad society, – these and many other remedies were suggested.
The discourse of Father Koch was excellent throughout and was listened to with the greatest attention. When the speaker warmed up and condemned in several languages such violations of the law as have lately disgraced this vicinity, the audience seemed spellbound and the vast congregation was so quiet that a pin could have been heard to drop.
In concluding, the pastor referred to the order forbidding the body of Hughes to be buried in a Catholic graveyard. He said so long as he was pastor in this place, he would permit on one guilty of such a heinous crime to be buried in a Catholic cemetery or burial ground. The Potter’s Field, he said, was the proper place for all individuals who violated all the laws of God and man.
The Wicked Flee When No Man Pursueth
As we said from the circumstances surrounding this robbery it is very evident that it was planned by some one who was perfectly familiar with the Henninger and Billman families. It was known by the one who planned the business just where the money was kept and at what hour the family took their supper away from the main building. Various rumors came to the ears of the authorities and on Sunday morning Coroner Taylor and Esquire Heim started for Mahanoy to inquire into some of the reports that were afloat. They arrived at the Brick Tavern, at foot of the mountain, about eleven o’clock. There they found Constable Jacob S. Heisel of Cameron Township, and the Constable was accordingly pressed into service. He was informed of certain suspicions that the officers had and was cautioned to keep quiet until the Coroner and ‘Squire Helm had returned from Nathan Henninger‘s house.
The Constable was directed to proceed to Charley Boyer‘s tavern and await further orders. At this tavern was Gilbert Reitz, a father-in-law of Boyer, who lives but a short distance from this hotel. Reitz was very restless and uneasy, and went to the door quite frequently to watch the carriages that were constantly passing. As Taylor and Heim were returning from Henninger’s, Reitz watched them approaching and inquired who they were. Some one remarked that they were the Coroner and Justice from Shamokin. Just then the carriage stopped at Boyer’s and the two gentlemen alighted. Reitz made some remark about going out the back door. The Coroner saw him but did not recognize him. Messrs. Taylor and Heim went into the hotel and after talking awhile the name of Reitz was mentioned and inquiry was made if he was about. Some one said he had just gone out and would be back soon.
As he didn’t return they went to look for him when it was discovered that he had fled. A witness states that Reitz came around the house, watching Taylor and Heim very closely, and as soon as they had gone into the hotel Reitz struck across the road, jumped across a high stone wall and disappeared behind a barn, making for the woods as hard as he could run. Nothing has been seen or heard from him since then.
There was only a vague suspicion that Reitz had anything to do with the planning of the robbery, and the officers hadn’t even sufficient evidence at the time to justify an arrest, but the man’s conduct was very strange and so it was thought proper to watch him pretty closely. His sudden flight, before there was any warrant out for him, only confirms what was nothing more that suspicion before.
Waiting until evening, the officers had the necessary papers prepared and searched the residence of Reitz, but nothing was discovered that had any bearing on the robbery.
Reitz was formerly a butcher but quit the business three or four years ago. He had been sold out by the Sheriff sometime ago and had little or nothing left. He has a wife, but no children, if we are correctly informed.
Hughes’ Change of Name
We stated last week that Hughes, the man who was shot, had changed his name some years ago on account of former unpleasant transactions of his. We gave this statement as we heard it. Since then several persons called on us to correct this statement. An old Irish lady called in on Monday and stated she had known Hughes from childhood and Hughes was his correct name. We asked the old lady who she was, but she declined to reveal her identity as she “didn’t want to be mixed up in the scrape.” A gentleman from Trevorton also called and stated he had known Hughes when he had lived in that place, many years ago. He also denied that Hughes had changed his name. As our purpose was only to give facts we regret that we were in error in regard to this matter.
Reitz Arrested But He Isn’t Gilbert
As the Monday noon train left Shamokin for Pottsville the police discovered a man on board who was pointed out as “Reitz” and the man was immediately taken into custody. The train was stopped above town and the man brought back to the office of Justice Caldwell, where he was identified as a man from the vicinity of Dornsife Station. His name was Reitz, but his front name was not Gilbert and so he was allowed to depart. The man was very indignant because he was arrested, but his friends explained to him how mistakes can occur in the best regulated families.
Part of the Money Found
While some boys were out in the woods they found sixteen silver quarters, not a great distance from Becker’s Hotel. Fourteen quarters were found in one place and two in another. The gold and silver that was taken away weighed between eighty and ninety pounds and as it was in two bags it is supposed that the coin was too bulky and heavy to be carried far in the hasty flight of the robbers and they may have buried part of it. The place where the money was found looked as if one of the bags had been accidentally dropped and bursted open. A careful search of the locality is being made to see if any more of the money can be recovered.
Another Talk With Henninger
Mr. Nathan Henninger, the farmer who wasn’t afraid to shoot was in town on Wednesday, and we had quite a long conversation with him concerning his “late unpleasantness.” He says that the valley is still very much excited over the event of last week, and very little else is talked of. Strangers are eyed very closely by the farmers, and it wouldn’t be healthy to make late calls when one is not well known. He states that additional traces of blood were found in the woods where the money was discovered.
We inquired of Mr. H. what was his opinion in regard to Gilbert Reitz, the man who is missing and who is supposed to have planned the robbery. He replied that he had been very reticent to believe that Reitz had anything to do with it, until some of the citizens began to whisper about Reitz’s strange movements. It is reported that Gilbert Reitz was seen in company with five or six suspicious men, only a week before the robbery. The movements of the whole party were observed by persons living in the Valley. After Farrell was arrested in Pottsville, Reitz became very much interested in him, and wanted to know whether it was supposed that Farrell would confess and tell who his companions were.
Mr. Henninger related other circumstances bearing upon the part Reitz is supposed to have taken in the affair, but whether all that is reported can be proven, will be developed at the proper time.
Gilbert Reitz Heard From – His Father Take Him to Sunbury – The Father Arrested
Mr. Isaac Reitz, the father of Gilbert, is a citizen of Washington Township [Northumberland County], and a man of considerable means. He stands well in the community, and is generally respected. On Monday night the old gentleman was in Shamokin and remained over night. While here he heard reports concerning his son Gilbert and was much distressed at the rumored conduct of his son. When the father arrived at home on Tuesday, he found Gilbert at the house, he having reached there during the night previous. The son was taken to task about the reports that were afloat but denied that he had anything to do with robbery and said he could prove his whereabouts on the night that the robbery took place. The father informed him that he (Gilbert) had been implicated in the affair he should at one be tied and delivered over to the authorities. Gilbert stoutly denied everything and explained his running away by saying that he was afraid to fall into the hands of the Shamokin police because they “sometimes shot people here” and on account of the excitement here he did not think it safe.
Gilbert requested his father to take him to Sunbury as he wanted to see Mr. Solomon Boyer, his brother-in-law, who is an attorney. The father at first objected, but as he had some business in Sunbury himself he finally concluded to hitch up and drive him over. They left home a little after noon, and on the way they spoke to a number of people who knew them both. It was generally supposed that the son was about to deliver himself up at Sunbury, and hence no attempt at arrest was made. When the father and son arrive at Zerfing’s Mill, two miles from Sunbury, Gilbert got out and said he wanted to see some of his friends there. He promised to go to Sunbury in the evening, or next morning, and said he would then go home to Mahanoy. The father continued on his way, but found that Mr. Boyer was not at home. He remained in Sunbury but a short time and then started home. Passing Zerfing’s Mill he found Gilbert still there and that was the last that was seen of him.
The above circumstances having come to the knowledge of the officers in Shamokin, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Isaac Reitz, the father, the document charging him with aiding Gilbert to escape, well knowing that his son was a fugitive from justice. The warrant was placed in the hands of Coroner Taylor, who, assisted by one of the Coal and Iron Police, brought Mr. Reitz to Shamokin, Wednesday evening. At the hearing before Justice Heim, the father related his connection with Gilbert’s going to Sunbury, the facts as stated by him in accordance with what we have given above. He disclaimed any attempt or desire to aid Gilbert in escaping, and stated that he was not aware that he had done anything wrong. He said he would not have gone to Sunbury, if it had not been that he had business of his own there.
The father keenly felt the position which he was placed and was naturally very much distressed at the conduct of his child. The Justice thought the evidence sufficient to hold the old gentleman in the sum of $5,000 for his appearance at court. The bail was promptly furnished.
Whether a case can be made out against Mr. Reitz, we leave for the Court to determine. In our opinion however, it does not seem as if the father had meant to do anything wrong, or that he believed that he was committing any crime by taking his son to Sunbury. The trip was made in broad daylight, with no attempt to keep his son concealed on the way, and the reason why the father did not mention the facts of the case to more people in Sunbury, can easily be accounted for by all who can appreciate a father’s feelings under the same painful circumstances. In our conversation with the father he made no attempt to screen the son and admitted that he had been a wayward youth in the past; but still he could hardly realize that his boy was guilty of the terrible crime now charged against him, although the evidence appeared to be very strong.
What course Gilbert Reitz took from Zerfing’s Mill is not known at the time we write.
The Amount of the Money Stolen
We stated last week that the total amount of money taken by the robbers was $2,075. Mr. Henninger informs us since that the amount is $2,335, three hundred collars more than was first supposed. The robbers also carried off a silver watch which was in one of the chests.
To be continued….
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Articles from Newspapers.com.
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