Part 8. 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, March 24, 1876 (continued):
Other Testimony.
Solomon B. Wary – a very suggestive name, indeed – then slipped forward, but only for a short time, and the only fact of importance to which he testified, was the seeing of George Levans in the neighborhood of Henninger’s house before the robbery was committed.
John Hornberger merely corroborated the statements of Solomon the wary.
Benjamin [?] now made for the bench, but fining that already occupied by the Court, he was forced to satisfy himself with the witness stand, and, as he informed the council that he preferred Dutch, he was allowed to depart in a few minutes.
Joseph Ditchfield, of Coal Township, knew the prisoners, Delaney and Haley – by name for some years, and knew Farrell and Levans but a short time, as they were newcomers, and had only been in Shamokin some months; witness testified to seeing Reitz, Delaney, Hughes, Galvin, Farrell and Levans in company again on the following Monday. A short cross examination satisfied all hands that Joseph had told all that he knew; So Martin Markle took the stand, but he advanced nothing new.
Peter K. Weikel – a gentleman bearing in slight resemblance to the Father of his Country – did not seem to be possessed of much knowledge of the case and was quickly disposed of.
William Bergstresser lives about a mile from Boyer’s Hotel, in Cameron Township, but does not know anything interesting about the case. Neither did William H. Long – at least so it appeared – but had he been handled in a different manner he would have made a much better witness.
Aaron Deimer testified that he treated Gilbert Reitz and two others in Hack’s Saloon, on the Monday of the robbery; but strange to say, although he remembered Reitz he didn’t seem to have any idea of how the other parties looked.
Thomas Gillespie didn’t appear to know anything about the case, and from appearances, wished to know less.
Noah Long testified to seeing Hughes, Levans and other parties together in Shamokin on the day the robbery was committed.
James McKinney swore to seeing Farrell and two other men on the road between Shamokin and Henninger’s at about half past 5 o’clock in the afternoon of the robbery.
Paul Roth swore to seeing Levans and two other men in the mountain going towards Weikel’s Hotel in Cameron Township, on the afternoon the robbery occurred. George Meartz swore substantially to the same thing.
Al Weaver testified to the arrest of Farrell in Pottsville, and recognized the cap found at Henninger’s as similar to the wone he saw worn by Levans.
Esq. Heim testified to having found spots of blood on Farrell’s boots, when the latter was arrested. Other testimony of minor importance was produced by the Commonwealth.
Testimony of the Defence.
Martin Brennan swore that he and Haley quit work together in the mines at 5 o’clock on the afternoon of the day the robbery was committed. James Foley, Patrick Kearney, John McQue, and Thomas Bush swore they saw Haley in Shamokin, about the same time. The latter swore that in the evening he saw him going into his house.
Testimony of Bridget Hughes, the Wife of the Burglar That Was Killed
I live in Shamokin, on Franklin Street, Washington Row; am the widow of Philip Hughes. Recollect the Cameron Township robbery; was at home on the afternoon and evening of the robbery; live under the same roof that Haley does; live in the back part and Haley in the front; saw Haley come home from work and enter his house at about half past 5. He changed his clothes and went over to Johnny Larkins‘ to get a drink of whiskey. He was gone about ten minutes; saw him go to bed about a quarter of 7; saw him about 5 o’clock next morning. I called him. He went to work at 6 o’clock, and returned from work at half past 9 o’clock, as near as I can tell. He was sent for and after he returned he washed and went over to Newtown, to call Mr. Hughes’ sister that her brother had been killed.
Cross Examined – Brennan lives on the upper end of Market Street; George Levans went with Haley over to Brennan’s. and got back about 10 o’clock or a little after. There are two rooms on the lower floor and four on the upper. Galvis boarded with us. Levans and Farrell boarded with Haley. It wasn’t dark when Haley came home the night before. Haley’s wife is a cousin of mine. Levans is related to me. Have a distinct recollection of what took place the morning after the robbery, as to the time, etc. I sent Haley over to Brennan’s; Mrs. Brennan came over. I was alone that morning. Galvin boarded with me.
John Burk, Patrick Cahill, William Williams, and John Larkins swore to seeing Haley in Shamokin between five and six o’clock in the afternoon of the day the robbery was committed.
Elizabeth Golden, James Holan, Mary Ann Delaney, Michael Delaney, Bridget Golden, and Mrs. Ann Delaney swore to seeing Philip Delaney at home at 5 o’clock in the afternoon and later in the evening of the robbery. After an amount of other testimony on the part of the defence, of not much importance, the evidence in the case closed, and the court adjourned till Wednesday morning.
From the Sunbury Gazette & Northumberland County Republican, March 24, 1876:
Testimony of John Delaney
I lived on Scotch Hill in January. I did not own a property at that time. Philip Delaney is my brother. He boarded with me. I seen Philip Delaney on the evening of the robbery going up to my brother Mike’s I saw him on the evening of the 12th of January last about half past 3 o’clock. Seen him on the railroad about 5 o’clock. Had a conversation with him about 12 o’clock in the morning. I was in bed and he was sitting by the stove. He locked my door and went to bed I first heard of the Cameron Township robbery on the 13th of January I asked Philip what kept him out so late because I left the door open for him. Philip was in the habit of going up to my brother Mike’s and staying till 9 and 10 o’clock.
Cross Examined. On the 12th of January I was in my own house. I was well that day. I was fixing up around the cellar of my new house on the 12th. I did not tell Paul Roth that Philip Delaney helped me put the props on the day of the robbery. Do not know Paul Roth – Didn’t tell no man that. Did not see him between about 5 and 12 o’clock in the night. Did not think it strange that Philip stayed so late, as he used to walk up to my brother Mike’s I generally left the door open for him for I knew he would be in. When I seen him on the the Reading Railroad it was in or about 5 o’clock I judged it to be 10 o’clock when he came in I seen my brother on the Friday preceding the robbery. He was in my house on that day. The day after the robbery he was in my house. He had breakfast then. He took his breakfast with me on Monday. He didn’t help me put any props on the 12th or 13th. I don’t know Paul Roth….
[Following testimony by Samuel H. Rothermel who explained from a draft the scene of the robbery and the neighborhood, the defence closed and the Commonwealth began its rebuttal. The rebuttal included the recalling of S. B. Boyer, testimony from Dr. Krickbaum, Jacob Wagner, and William Haupt.]
At 4:40 o’clock the testimony in the case was closed and the witnesses discharged, some of whom went to their homes, others staying to see the trial out.
Court adjourned till tomorrow at 8 o’clock.
To be continued….
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Articles from Newspapers.com.
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