In September 1900, Elizabethville and area was besieged with the worst wave of crime and terror it had experienced to date in its history. The Borough Council took the matter in hand and authorized the Chief Burgess to deputize a group of citizens to protect the town. As a result, the posse formed by that authorization tracked down and killed the desperado known as “Shorty Jones” who was believed to be behind the crime wave. Thomas Frohm, alias “Shorty Jones”, met a violent and bloody end at the hands of the posse, but that did not stop the crime wave. The Elizabethville Echo‘s edition of 6 September 1900 chronicled the death of Frohm, described the crimes in which he was believed to be the chief perpetrator, and noted additional crimes that took place after he was killed.
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Fearful Day’s Work
An Inhuman Wretch Riddled With Bullets By Outraged Citizens.
THE VILLAIN DIES GAME.
With Blood Dripping from Filthy Gastly [sic] Wounds and his Brains Splattered upon the Ground, the Bandit Lives Half an Hour after the Shooting.
ROBBERS CONTINUE OPERATIONS IN AND ABOUT TOWN.
Council Authorizes Chief Burgess to Deputize Ten Special Officers for Night Duty.
The terrible excitement caused by the robberies of Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights was further intensified by the running down of the leader of the band of desperados and his horrible end.
When the report reached town about eight o’clock, Monday morning that Frohm, alias Jones, was seen at Romberger’s, near the campground, about half an hour previous, the story was discredited but it was worth an investigation. Romberger was seen, and the description of his early morning visitor left no possible room for doubt. Frohm had spent half an hour assisting him in making cider. He had a quart of whiskey in his pocket, half of which, together with almost a quart of cider he had drank before he left the cider mill. By the time he set out towards the mountain, Romberger declares he was pretty thoroughly intoxicated.
After leaving Romberger’s. Frohm crossed the railroad and disappeared in the woods. Probably fifteen minutes later H. B. Earnest was accosted on the railroad tracks some distance below Romberger’s, and ordered to halt. Earnest recognizing the man as Frohm ran rapidly to the nearest farm house and gave the alarm. Frohm fired a shot at Earnest but missed his mark.
It was the work of but a few moments for Constable Daniel Smith to organize a large posse of men and the search was once more commenced. H. W. Stine and Harry Cooper came upon Frohm near the railroad crossing at Bickel’s, and called upon him to halt. Uttering an oath, he remarked “I’ll halt you” and immediately fired three shots at Stine, the latter answering his fire; neither of the shots taking effect.
Frohm again escaped to the woods, but a hundred or more men, armed with revolvers, shot guns, rifles, and various other weapons hotly pursued him. The posse had been broken up into squads of three, four and five men, and the search was continued more earnestly than ever before.
BANG! BANG! BANG! A dozen shots — a score! The air was filled with stifling smoke as of battle. A cry of alarm, and all was quiet as the tomb. The smoke cleared away and another volley echoed its angry purpose through the woods.
Frohm had fired his last shot. He died game, but what had once constituted, in outward appearance, his human form was not but a shapeless mass of quivering flesh, within which still lingered a few flickering sparks of life.
A WEEK OF TERROR
Never in all its history has Elizabethville and the surrounding community experienced such terrible times as those of the past week. The robberies and murderous assaults, upon the highway and in the home, during broad day light as well as at the dead hour of night, commenced about six o’clock, last Friday evening, and have been kept up almost incessantly ever since.
It was Friday evening that Daniel Miller was held-up near Dietrich Post Office, by Frohm and Venaskie. Miller had been driving along the road towards his home when he was approached by the robbers. He resisted their attack and almost wrenched the revolver from the hands of Frohm. The gun was discharged, but nobody was hurt. Miller managed to whip up his horse and get away. He drove home and with his son started back to the Mountain House to give the alarm. On passing the house of Mrs. Caroline Minnich, whose house the gang was looting, he saw some things which excited his suspicion and stopped, instructing his son to rap at the door and discover whether there was anything wrong.
Instantly Frohm appeared and ordered the boy into the house at the point of his revolver. He then turned to re-enter the house himself and, seeing his opportunity, young Miller fled up the road to his father’s carriage, his speed being accelerated by a bullet fired from Frohm’s revolver.
Mrs. Minnich and her children got out of the house while the bandit was after the Millers and fled to a piece of woods near by, where the poor woman fainted. When she recovered she and the children made their way to Adam Parmer‘s.
Mrs. Minnich’s Pathetic Story
“I am a widow with four small children. From our house we saw the robbers attack Mr. Miller. After he drove away, the robbers came towards our house, and we quickly locked the doors and ran up-stairs. In a few moments we heard the rear door come crashing in. We heard the robbers search the lower part of the house and then come upstairs. There was but one man entered our room; it was “Jones.” He asked me for all the money in the house, and I told him I didn’t have twenty-five cents to my name. He didn’t believe me at first but finally he credite my story, and saying that it was too bad he gave each of the children ten cents. He told us he was going to remain all night and said he would have the door fixed again. After holding us prisoner at the muzzle of the revolver, for over half an hour, and compelling us with upraised hands to take a solemn oath that we would never tell what happened, he was attracted to the outside by the call of the Millers.”
Strayer’s Next
From Mrs. Minnich’s, the man went to Lafayette Strayer‘s home and burst open the front door. The family retreated to an inner room and locked the door, refusing to open when the robber ordered them to do so. Then it was that Frohm fired thro’ the panels of the door three times, one bullet finding lodgment in Strayer’s head over the right eye. This bit of lead was extracted the same evening by Dr. Allen and he will probably recover.
As the bandits were leaving Strayer’s house a woman in an upper story opened a window and began to shout for help. Frohm fired a shot at her, but it did no damage.
Roush Visited
Farmer Roush, a short distance from Strayer’s was next visited. He offered no resistance, but was threatened with his life by Frohm, if he did not hand over his cash. Venaskie interceded for Roush and prevented Frohm from shooting him. Dietrich Post Office was threatened, but was not visited.
At Frank Grimm’s
Frank Grimm resides a mile from the scene of the former operations, but his turn came next. He thinks there were three men at his house,but he saw only one. He concealed himself along a fence near the house, and when Mrs. Grimm saw him, about dusk, she ordered him away. He refused to go and threatened her. She went for her husband, who was also driven into the house at the point of a revolver. When the door on the first floor was broken down, the Grimms retreated upstairs, and then Frohm fired several shots through a window and inner door, two of them striking Grimm in the back. Dr. N. W. Stroup was summoned next morning, and found that Mr. Grimm’s injuries were but slight.
Della Harman Assaulted
On Sunday morning Della Harman, a sixteen-year-old girl, residing with her grandmother, Mrs. Edward Hoffman, at a lonely… in the upper end of Jackson Township, made complaint against a man whom she thought was Venaskie, for having assaulted her, at about 9:30 o’clock on Friday night, while on her way home from Elizabethville. She was carrying a sack of flour. the foul wretch accomplished his purpose at the point of a revolver, and then accompanied her to her home. Mrs. Hoffman hearing a noise on the outside and suspecting trouble went to the door and called the girl. The man threatened to shoot the old lady, but she finally frightened him away. Mrs. Hoffman also insists that Venaskie was the man in company with her granddaughter when she arrived at home, altho’ she only saw him in the dark. In this she is contradicted by Mrs. Lawley and her two sons, who declare that Venaskie came to their home about dusk and remained there during the entire night.
Venanskie Apprehended
The news of the depredations of the robbers, on Friday night, reached this place by telephone, and spread over the community like wild fire. Everybody was aroused and it was at once apparent that a determined effort would be made to capture the desperados.
The search, on Saturday morning, was just about to begin, when a man of about thirty years came boldly down the mountain road from the direction of Dietrich Post Office, and entered the red Tavern. His actions excited suspicion, and a warrant was quickly issued for his arrest, which, with a score of guns trained upon him, was quickly effected. He was searched and an ugly looking revolver was taken from one of his pockets. He gave his name as Frank Venanskie. He was taken to Harrisburg on the two o’clock train, and committed to the county jail, to answer the charge of carrying concealed… weapons.
Before being taken to Harrisburg, Venaskie stated to the Editor of the Echo that he had came to this town from Sunbury, on Tuesday morning, 28 August, in company with a man by the name of “Shorty” Jones, and that together the proceeded across the mountain where as Jones asserted he knew some “people”. Venansie insisted that he was not present at the shooting of Strayer, but admitted that he was by when the attack was made upon Miller and Mr. Roush. He described Jones as being a man of dwarfish stature, weighting [sic] about 150 pounds, rather red in his face, and with one of his description of Jones corresponded exactly with that given by many Jackson Township people, who seem to have known him for a number of years. Jones, or more correctly speaking, Frohm had no fixed home, although he spent part of his time with a brother at Sunbury and a sister at Shamokin.
The Coroner’s Inquest
Coroner Krause arrived on the 5:20 train, Tuesday evening, and at once empaneled the following jury: W. H. Bowman; H. H. Weaver; M. E. Stroup, Esq.; Philip Hawk; F. W. Fickinger; and A. H. Smith.
After the jury had viewed the body, these witnesses were heard: Daniel Miller; Sallie Strayer; Jane Minnich; Irvin Minnich; H. H. Snyder; Della Harman; Frank Grimm; Frost Lawley; and Aaron Paul, all of Dietrich Post Office. [Also] H. A. Bressler, of Lykens.
Mr. Bressler testified that he had viewed the body of the dead man, and identified him as the same man that had broken into his store on Saturday night last.
The inquisition was adjourned until Tuesday morning at ten o’clock, when these additional witnesses were heard: Dr. N. W. Stroup; H. W. Stine; A. M. Tschopp; [and] M. E. Byerly, [all of] Elizabethville.
The hearing was then closed and the jury retiring to a private apartment found the following verdict:
“Thomas Frohm of ‘Shorty’ Jones, came to his death on the 3rd day of September 1900, by being shot by the Constable’s posse on Berry’s Mountain, in Washington Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, while resisting arrest on the Constable’s warrant, issued by A. H. Smith, J. P.; that the Coroner’s Jury also commends the citizens composing the Constable’s posse, for their bravery in bringing to bay a desperado of the worst kind. The Coroner’s Jury respectfully begs leave to state to the court that there are a great many suspicious and irresponsible people carrying concealed deadly weapons in our county, and we would most respectfully urge upon the Court the enforcement of the law, as it seems to have been the cause of a great many murders and shooting affrays during the past year.”
Venanskie’s Hearing
After the close of the Coroner’s inquest, County Detective Walters brought in Venanski and he was arraigned for a preliminary hearing on the charge of carrying concealed and deadly weapons. At the same time warrants were served upon him for Attempted Highway Robbery, Criminal Assault, and Assault and battery. Della Harman identified him as her assailant; Daniel Miller testified as to the assault made upon him and M. E. Stroup, Esq., testified as to the finding of a loaded revolver in one of the pockets of the prisoner. Venanskie was held for court.
Subsequent Attempts to Rob
Sunday night Weaver’s Bonded Whiskey Warehouse was broken open, presumably by Frohm, and probably about a gallon of whiskey was stolen. Wine and canned goods was also stolen the same night from the cellar of the Misses Bender. The outer cellar doors at S. B. Romberger‘s and M. R. Keiper‘s were also forced open but nothing was stolen.
While Prof. A. R. Deibler and lady were driving through Uniontown Gap on Monday evening, they were approached by a suspicious looking person, supposed to have been the fugitive H—- [name not given in Echo article]. He called upon Deibler to stop and at the same time fired a shot into the air, but having a fleet horse Mr. Deibler succeeded in escaping.
Two highwaymen held-up a Jew peddler at Lenker’s Bridge north of town on Monday evening but secured very little booty. As usual several shots were fired, however none taking effect. Peddlars [sic] are becoming a minus quantity in Northern Dauphin County. No wonder! [Note: This curious remark by the Echo is not explained any further, but seems to blame the victim because he was Jewish].
An attempt was made to enter the enter the residence of John Snyder who lives in the last house up the Mountain Road, on Tuesday night. The family fled to the attic and the noise frightened the intruders away. An alarm was given and the whole southern portion of the town was arroused [sic]. Only half an hour later another attempt was made to enter the residence of Isaac Mattis, which also proved unsuccessful.
NOTES
During the excitement on the “Hill,” Tuesday night a certain partially deaf male citizen walked down the road to a point near Isaac Mattis’. He stopped in the darkness, and being mistaken for one of the robbers, was asked to state what he was after. Thrice he was asked but he made no reply, and he was about to be fired upon when his identity was revealed.
Two robberies occurred at Fisherville on Tuesday night of last week which are charged to the Frohm gang.
When the Constable’s posse came upon Frohm or Jones he was sleeping. They called to him to surrender, but he sprang to his feet and with a self-acting revolver in each hand he began pumping lead in the direction of the posse. He had emptied both guns and was reloading when the second volley was fired. His aim was bad because of his drunken condition, and none of his shots took effect.
It is said that a gang of six or eight robbers are encamped at Woodside Station, near Millersburg, and it is believed that s certain character well acquainted in the Upper End is directing their operations. The others are supposed to be strangers here.
The excitement occasioned by the shooting of Frohm, and the hearing of Venanskie brought hundreds of people to town on Monday and Tuesday. The hotels fed more people on Tuesday noon than they did on July Fourth last.
The urgent need of a lock-up for this place was probably never more apparent than during the past week. Will Council not provide some suitable place for detaining prisoners temporarily? [Note: At this writing it is not known when a “jail” was provided for Elizabethville and whether the editorial comment by the Echo was even considered].
A press dispatch to the Philadelphia Inquirer, this morning says:
“Whitey Strausser, the Shamokin burglar, who was with Thomas Frohm near Elizabethville, when the latter was shot to death by farmers, cor committing a series of burglaries, came here last night. As soon as he was recognized an alarm was given and in a short time 500 men armed with guns and revolvers, started in pursuit of Strausser. The latter escaped, however, and went to Shamokin.”
There was general rejoicing all over the community when the news of the death was made known; not a single word of pity was ever heard to escape the lips of anyone – not even of women. [Note: Another editorial comment by the Echo, this time seeming to indicate that women, who did not server on juries, and could not vote or hold office, were generally sympathetic to perpetrators of crimes.]
H. A. Bressler, hardware merchant of Lykens, testified that he had seen the remains of the dead man. It was the same man who had broken the large glass front of his store on Saturday night about twelve o’clock and stolen two revolvers. After having procured the guns he held up several men on the street and demanded their money.
M. E. Byerly, A. M. Tschopp, and Joseph Shadle were the first three men to come upon the sleeping outlaw, and their position was a very perilous one. They are all good marksmen, however, and they answered his fire with telling effect. The man was concealed in a thick clump of bushes.
In an attempt to jump upon the platform at the [railroad] depot [in Elizabethville] on Monday evening, while the corpse of the bandit was being exhibited, John M. Harman was thrown to the tracks and had his left arm broken. Hundreds of persons crowded to the depot to look at the gastly [sic] form of the dead robber.
At a special meeting yesterday afternoon council authorized the Chief Burgess, M. E. Byerly, to appoint ten special night watchmen for the town. It will be their duty to patrol the various streets and arrest any person suspected of being “crooked.” The following were sworn in: Daniel Smith; Samuel Stine; N. Shutt; John Dubebdorf; Joseph Shadle; Wiliam Reist; J. C. Holtzman; F. W. Fickinger; Harvey Lehman; [and] George W. Lenker.
When the news of the whereabouts of Frohm was telephoned to Jackson Township, on Monday morning, about a hundred farmers shouldered their guns and ascended the mountain on the south side, determined to cut off any possible means of escape.
Venaskie’s brother from Williamstown, was present at the hearing on Tuesday afternoon. He has the appearance of being a fine young man, and those who know him speak highly of him. Much sympathy was expressed for him.
Several armed men followed a stranger down through Armstrong Valley, on Tuesday morning, but did not succeed in capturing him. He was supposed to be Whitey Strausser.
The corpse of Frohm was taken to Harrisburg on Monday evening, where it was viewed by several hundred people, including the prisoner, Venanskie. “Sure enough, its [sic] Shortie” exclaimed the prisoner when he looked upon his dead pal. Tuesday morning it was burie in the Potter’s Field. Thomas Frohm of Sunbury, arrived at Harrisburg, on Tuesday noon, and after having the remains exhumed identified them as those of his dead brother. They were shipped to Sunbury. [Note: The statement that the brother’s name was Thomas Frohm is most likely in error, since in several places in the Echo, “Shorty Jones” is referred to as Thomas Frohm].
The demand for revolvers and ammunition during the past week has been enormous, and at several times the supply in the stores was exhausted.
County Detective James Walters of Harrisburg, spent several days here, having been detailed for the purpose of capturing Frohm. Mr. Walters went to Harrisburg Monday morning expecting to return again in the evening. “Jim” is a good officer and we are sorry he could not take part in the final chase.
Court Stenographer Frank Roth of Harrisburg, was present and reported the proceedings for the Coroner.
Frank Snyder and Fred Donner came to town tonight with a vagrant whom they picked up in Jackson Township. The man certainly did not have a very pleasing appearance. He was committed to prison by S. A. Dietrich, Justice of the Peace.
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A second, but much shorter article appeared in the same newspaper, the Elizabethville Echo of 6 September 1900, but on an inside page. This article did contain some additional information, so it is also presented here:
DESPERADO’S WILD CAREER ENDED
Shot Him Down
Enraged Farmers Near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Bring a Bold robber to Bay and a Fierce Battle Ensues.
Thomas Frohm, alias “Shorty Jones,” of Sunbury, member of the band of robbers who shot and seriously wounded Lafayette Strayer and Frank Grim, farmers, last Friday night near Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, was shot and killed Monday on Berry’s Mountain by a posse of Dauphin County farmers. Frohm was detected by Harry Stine, of Elizabethville, in the morning, hiding behind a log on the mountainside and was ordered to surrender. He refused and fired eight shots from two revolvers at Stine, none of which took effect.
A posse was quickly organized and the robber was soon surrounded by a crowd of armed and determined men. He again refused to surrender and fired several shots at the party. The farmers opened fire on Frohm from every direction, literally riddling him with bullets from head to foot. He fell and died soon thereafter. He was 38 years old and formerly lived at Shamokin.
Frohm is alleged to have been at the head of a trio of robbers who have been terrorizing the farmers in the vicinity of Elizabethville for some time. One of his companions, Frank Venaski, was arrested Saturday and is in jail at Harrisburg awaiting the result of the injuries of Strayer and Grim. The posse is scouring the mountains for “Whitey” Streusser, the other member of the party.
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Articles transcribed from Newspapers.com.