The bold-face, banner headline in the Shamokin Dispatch of September 7, 1926, told of an early understanding of the death of Daniel Ferster, a young farmer from Rebuck, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania:
REBUCK MAN VICTIM OF BRUTAL MURDER.
BODY FOUND ON FARM WITH HEAD PARTLY SEVERED.
COUNTY AUTHORITIES FACED BY BAFFLING MYSTERY IN FINDING OF BODY OF DANIEL FERSTER, 26, NEAR HOME OF HIS PARENTS YESTERDAY
This post presents the story of yet another unsolved murder in the greater Lykens Valley area. The twists and turns were revealed through articles that appeared in the Shamokin Dispatch over a period of days and weeks – when the coroner’s jury concluded that the Ferster was murdered and then having that finding questioned and disputed by the state investigators involved in the case. A reward was offered by the family, but to no avail. No arrests were ever made, and to this day, no one knows for sure whether Daniel Ferster was murdered or whether he committed suicide.
Beginning with the aforementioned article from the Dispatch, September 7, 1926:
Northumberland county authorities today faced one of the most gruesome and baffling mysteries in years following the discovery yesterday at 6 p.m. o’clock of the body of Daniel Ferster, 26, with the head almost severed, on Line Mountain, near Rebuck, about 600 yards from the Ferster home.
Upon the return from the scene of the crime today, Coroner J. K. Fisher, stated positively that it was a case of murder.
On Saturday afternoon Ferster, with his two hound dogs, left his home and started for the mountains, intending to train the dogs for the coming hunting season.
When he failed to put in an appearance on Saturday evening members of the family became alarmed and began a search of the immediate surrounding section.
No trace of the body having been found on Saturday evening, posses of men from the Rebuck section combed the entire hillside and mountains near the home in an effort to find some trace of it, but without avail. The search was continued on Sunday night, but again with no results.
Yesterday a general search was ordered and the county and state authorities notified. The posses were augmented by Boy Scouts from Sunbury.
Last evening about 6 o’clock William Ferster, 30, a brother of the slain youth, came across the body in a clump of bushes not more than 60 feet from the family homestead, and the authorities were immediately notified.
Coroner J. K. Fisher went to the scene of the crime this morning and conducted an investigation.
The condition of the body and the surrounding section where it was found indicates conclusively that it was murder of the most brutal kind.
The head of the Ferster body was almost completely severed with a sharp instrument. One right side of the neck had been slashed into the backbone and all of the muscles and arteries in the neck had been cut. Both legs were badly bruised as was the one arm and a large bruise mark was noticeable on the back.
The clump of bushes where the body was found is in a swampy section of the Preston Fretz farm. Footprints in the mud were at wide intervals, indicating that the murderer ran from the scene.
Marks of a scuffle near a large willow tree and spotches of blood were found. A large blood spot on the tree seemed to indicate, to the authorities, that the youth had been pushed against the tree and his throat severed while he was standing up. The body was later cast into the bushes with the head almost severed, according to the county coroner.
All of the valuable in the young man’s clothing, including his watch, were intact when the body was found, precluding any belief that robbery may have been the motive.
A small knife, which members of the family failed to identify, was found near the scene of the murder, but authorities doubted that it was the instrument used by the murderers, It was too small, they believe, to have inflicted the wounds found in the youth’s throat.
Persons living in that section told authorities they saw a small automobile parked near the scene of the murder on the Fritz farm and the authorities are attempting today to learn the identity of the occupants with the hope that their information will reveal something tangible toward solution of the mystery.
State troopers are continuing the investigation today.
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From the Shamokin Dispatch, September 9, 1926.
NO NEW CLUES IN SLAYING OF REBUCK YOUTH
Authorities Completely Baffled by Mysterious Murder of Daniel Ferster —
Victim to be Buried Friday — Inquest Later
Authorities today declared that they have secured no further clues that may salve [sic] the mysterious slaying of Daniel Ferster, 29, unmarried farm hand, who was found near his home two miles east of Rebuck, Sunday night last, after he had been missing for twenty-four hours. He had gone out to exercise his two hunting dogs, and when he did not return a search was made, with more than 100 persons, including Boy Scouts aiding. When others had abandoned it, his brother, William Ferster, and a small nephew found the corpse.
State police declared that they have checked up a report that a mysterious small coupe had been seen in the vicinity Saturday night. They declared today that they know nothing about it. They also assert that the thought of making any arrest had not occurred to them. They have not given up the suicide theory, but assert it is probable that he killed himself, although the knife wounds which nearly severed the man’s head could probably not have been made with a small knife, stained and rusted, that was found near the man’s body. This has been sent to Harrisburg state police offices for analyzing the spots on the blade. It is expected back some time today, Coroner Fisher said, and then he will say when an inquest will be held. This will be in Sunbury.
Nothing knew [sic] has developed, it was declared, that would indicate that a stranger had killed the farmer.
Neighbors are loath to say it was either murder or suicide. They declare that they do not know what to make of it.
No further action will be taken on the case by the state police until after the funeral Friday, when a further checking up of details may be made. There appears to be something hidden, but just what it is has not been developed in connection with the slaying. Whether anything is expected to develop later that may lead to clearing up the mystery the coroner would not say.
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From the Shamokin Dispatch, September 10, 1926:
BELIEVE FARM YOUTH COMMITTED SUICIDE
OFFICERS OF THIS OPINION AFTER PROBE
Investigation by County Detective Charles Densevich and State Police Indicates Daniel Ferster Ended Own Life —
Was First Thought to be Murder
County Detective Charles Densevich and state police are now under the belief that Daniel Ferster, 28 year-old Rebuck farmer, committed suicide near his home at that place Saturday evening last.
After four days of investigation, during which almost every adult inhabitant of the section was interviewed, the officials gave up the work last night to rest today, when Ferster was buried. They will resume their investigation tomorrow morning.
County Detective Densevich said this morning that it was his personal belief and that of the state police now that Ferster tried first to end his life by handing, using a dog chain thrown over the limb of the willow tree near the spot where his body was found and when he failed in this he used a small knife, which was also found near the body, to cut his throat on the right side from the thorax to the backbone. He then staggered away from the tree to the clump of bushes, where his lifeless body was found Monday night by his brother, William Ferster.
There is some foundation for the theory, according to the county detective, that Ferster may have been temporarily unbalanced due to deep religious study. His health was the best, according to reports obtained by the detective and state police; his family life was free from friction and his habits were good. Neighbors of Ferster and his family are against the suicide theory and only one has come forward to intimate that the young farmer was inclined to be slightly simple.
County Coroner J. J. Fisher, after hours of investigation, gave out the statement that Ferster had been murdered. Sergeant Kauffman of the state police also had this opinion after he made an investigation. Sergeant Kauffman, however, only spent several hours on the scene and delegated the work to Privates Harmon and Walsh. The latter and the county detective, who had an opportunity to go into the case after Tuesday, have come to a different theory of the death of Ferster.
Ferster left his home about 5 o’clock Saturday evening to train two dogs in the woods. His brother, William Ferster, who found the body, Ferster’s father, Levi Ferster, A. B. Schreffler and another neighbor left home about an hour later to purchase cattle from a farmer by the name of Witmer nearby. The dead man’s brother, father and neighbors returned to their homes about 8:30 that night, but Daniel did not return. William Ferster went for his wife and children, who were visiting the neighbors, and returned home. His mother said: “Daniel didn’t come home.” Then, according to the police, William retired for the night and about 11 o’clock awoke his mother and told her he couldn’t sleep while his brother was on the mountain. He started out in search of him and returned at midnight without any knowledge of his whereabouts.
According to Detective Densevich 200 neighbors and friends of Ferster were in the search for the youth and many of them at times were within 18 feet of where the body lay. His hat was discovered first and then his brother, William, found his body.
The willow tree, which bore a blotch of blood on the trunk about five feet from the ground, has a limb around which the chain taken from a collar of one of Ferster’s digs must have ben tied, according to the county official. The bark was pealed [sic] from the limb where it joins the tree indicating that the movement of the chain caused this. The chain was found at the bottom of the tree. The police believe that Ferster first attempted to end his life by hanging and when he failed in this cut his throat.
Ferster was very religious, his neighbors near Rebuck say. He was a close student of the Bible and used his Sunday school helps to pursue his studies of the scripture. He was a regular church attendant and lived a life above reproach. It may be, police say, that he was so thoroughly obsessed with his religious studies that he may have been temporarily deranged and decided to take his life.
On the other hand, County Detective Densevich said this morning there can’t be found any motive for murder. He never carried money with him and was not known to have had any with him the night he met his death. His watch was in his pockets when the body was found. He had no enemies nor any one who had designs on his life, the police say and they are at a loss to establish a motive for murder.
The funeral of the ill-fated young farmer was held today, the coroner having withheld the inquest until after the services. The jury has examined the body and noted the nature of the wounds in the throat, which caused death. They have been over the ground, but will probably go over it again before finishing their deliberations.
The jury will make one of three verdicts, depending on the nature of the evidence presented to them. They may find that the mean was slain by some person as yet unknown, and recommend that the district attorney’s office proceed with all its resources to find the slayer. They may express their opinion that it weas a case of suicide, in which event further efforts to find a slayer would be fruitless. Finally, they may refuse to venture any opinion at all and leave the case as shrouded in mystery as it is now.
Warden C. J. Reitz, of the county prison, who found the knife near the body, went down yesterday with County Commissioner Charles Kline, William Forney and William H. Lentz, to see if any other weapon could be found. He hoped that they might disclose, a razor, or some sharper knife, which would be more likely to be the instrument of death. However the nature of the wounds was not such as would naturally be inflicted with a razor. The cut of a razor is smooth, while the cuts in Frazer’s throat were jagged. The knife found near the scene is held at the state police barracks at Sunbury. It will not be sent away for examination as s to the nature of the stains on the blade unless an arrest is made and the case goes to trial. The knife lay in the mud and rain for two days before being picked up by the warden.
The smaller blade, which is the sharper, was open. It is two inches long and a half inch wide. The larger and duller blade was sheathed. It is an inch wide and about three and a half inches long. The knife is old fashioned, with a bone handle and a plate for the owners initials and was well worn.
The fact that the family of Ferster never saw the knife before is one of the strongest supports to the murder theory. Bruises and abrasions on the hands, legs and back of the man are also unexplained.
Another support to the theory was the fact that no note has been found. It was natural that should the young man decide to end his life he would have left some message. But when he left home he had said to his mother, “I’m going out with the dogs. Don’t worry.”
Whatever value may have been set on the recovery of the dogs was destroyed by their return, by Daniel Shreffler, a brother-in-law of William Ferster, the latter being the victim’s brother.
The dogs, utterly fagged out, came to the Schreffler home some twenty miles away, toward Gowen City, on Tuesday. Shreffler brought them over when he heard they were an important factor in the case.
The dogs had been heard for two days barking on the mountains, by George Long, of West Cameron Township. He reported that he had heard them both Sunday and Monday. They were completely exhausted, but that may have been from chasing game, and from their long drive through the underbrush.
The facts which do not support the murder charge as brought out by state and county officers are these:
The body lay within 50 yards of the home of Preston Fretz, who conducts the farm adjoining that of Levi Ferster. In the quiet valley on an early evening any call for help would have been heard at the house, and had Ferster been attacked, he would have called for help.
The body showed no sign of attack other than the thrusts in the neck. Had there been a struggle, the knife would have cut into the arms or other parts of the body, before reaching the vital spot.
The officers have thus far been unable to question the parents on the past life of their son. Whenever the subject comes up they burst into violent weeping. The brother, William Ferster, however, has given some information on the character of Daniel.
The ill-fated man was very religious, and spent much time reading the Bible. He did not go out often, or associate with many people. He had never paid attention to any girl except to one for a couple of months, about five years ago. The friendship was dropped and the girl married a short time later, and now has a couple of children. Daniel said, however, that he would marry if he ever “found the right woman.”
In temperament he was quiet and not quarrelsome. He stayed at home, paid attention to his own business, and as far as is known had no enemies.
With reference to the finding of his hat, the officers say that it was on a woodland lane, running directly to his home, while the body was in the brush a hundred yards or more off the line. Had be been running away from an assailant when he dropped his hat, he would have headed homeward, and not wandered into a thicket. His bandana handkerchief was found in his pocket.
These facts and others which may be developed in the investigation today and later, will be brought before the coroner’s jury at the time of the inquest.
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From the Shamokin Dispatch, September 11, 1926:
INVESTIGATION INTO MURDER IS HAMPERED
State Troopers Intimate Residents of Rebuck Not Telling All They Know
State police working on the case in an effort to establish a motive for the death of Daniel Ferster, 26-year-old youth of near Rebuck, whose body was found in a clump of bushes near his home on Monday, after having been missing since the previous Saturday, intimated today that valuable information is being kept away from them and that their investigation was being hampered.
From the statements of Sergeant Kaufman, in charge of the Sunbury detail, it was concluded that several residents of that section are not telling all they know in connection with the case and a severe grilling of some is in prospect in the near future. The investigation will be continued, the state troopers intimated until a solution or a motive is found.
The state trooper, also are still working in an effort to locate the “phantom coupe” which was seen near the scene of the murder.
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From the Shamokin Dispatch, September 16, 1926:
DENSEVICH CONVINCED FARM YOUTH ENDED LIFE
County Detective and State Police Tieing [sic] Up Loose Ends in Probe of Young Man’s Death
“Suicide, nothing else,,” County detective Charles Densevich said this morning about the death of Daniel Ferster, 28-year-old Rebuck farmer, who was found dead near his home several weeks ago with his throat cut.
Detective Densevich started this morning with state police from Sunbury to investigate several reports about Ferster’s death that have reached them since the funeral of the young man. Their trip will also be made to tie up the loose ends of their thorough investigation which commenced the day after the finding of the body and continued until the time of the funeral.
Mr. Densevich advanced several theories why he and the state police are still in the belief that Ferster’s death was caused by his own hand. Murder by throat cutting is very rare, said the detective, and usually in cases of murder with a knife the wounds are inflicted somewhere else than in the case of Ferster.
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From the Shamokin Dispatch, September 17, 1926:
INVESTIGATE A NEW CLUE IN THE DEATH OF FARM YOUTH
Blood-Covered Man Reported To Have Hailed Autoist on Night That Daniel Ferster Met His Death
The weird story of a blood-covered man who was alleged to have hailed an autoist along a lonely country road near Rebuck on the night of September 4, when Daniel J. Ferster, a 27-year-old farm hand, met his death, was being investigated by county and state officials today.
The story, which County Detective Charles Densevich today admitted had been given him by a resident of the vicinity, has thrown the Rebuck section into a new state of excitement after twelve days of fruitless investigation.
State police, however, adhere to the theory that Ferster, whose body, with the head almost severed, was found in a lonely spot near his home, was a suicide. County Coroner J. K. Fisher is insistent that the man could not have inflicted the wounds which caused his death. A small rusty pocket knife found near the body, the coroner said, could not have been used in the deed.
The man alleged to have driven the car in which the “blood covered” man left the scene of the tragedy was to be questioned today by the authorities.
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From the Shamokin Dispatch, September 18, 1926:
DISTRICT ATTORNEY EDWARD RAKER TAKES HAND IN DEATH PROBE
County Prosecutor Also Expresses Belief That Daniel Ferster, Rebuck Youth, Killed Himself
District attorney Edward Raker was in Rebuck and vicinity Thursday making an investigation into the death of Daniel I. Ferster, 28, who was found with his throat cut near a small stream a short distance from his home near Herndon Monday a week ago. Mr. Raker believes that it is a clear case of suicide. He has looked into all phases of the case and can see no motive for murder. Every detail has been examined and suicide seems to be the only answer to the question. State police are also of this opinion. A bloodstained knife was found about seven feet from the dead man’s body and this has been thoroughly examined. It was found that the smaller blade of the knife, which is about two inches long, was the one used. There was a larger blade in the knife but this was not even opened. The knife was taken to the parents of Ferster and they claim that he never owned such a one. Thus Ferster’s family are of the opinion that he was murdered.
Friends and relative s of the dead man have been questioned endlessly, but most of them are very reticent. However, it is the opinion of the countryside that he committed suicide; whereas his immediate family stick to the supposition that he was murdered. Another interesting phase in the developments is that the church to which Ferster belonged refuses to bury suicides in their burial ground and Ferster’s body was not buried in the church grounds.
It was learned that Ferster was of a highly emotional nature. He read the Bible whenever he had any free moments and he was somewhat of a religious fanatic. Moreover, prior to his death, his friends noticed that he had become melancholy. Thus, there is every indication that, suddenly seized with an attack of melancholia, he took his life.
There are no other marks on Ferster’s body when it was found except the deep gash in his neck and bruises around his ankles. His clothes were not disarranged and his money, watch and other belongings were found in his clothes. He was not known to have any enemies in the neighborhood. Because of these reasons Mr. Raker is positive that Ferster was not murdered. It is one of the most baffling cases that authorities in this vicinity have had to fathom for many years. Investigations will continue, however, until every clue is cleared up.
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from the Shamokin Dispatch, September 21, 1926:
CORONER’S JURY FAILS TO SOLVE DEATH MYSTERY
Murder is Intimated, However, in Verdict Rendered By Jury Following Inquest Held at Sunbury Last Evening
While the coroner’s jury inquiring into the death of Daniel Ferster, 26-year-old youth whose mutilated body was found near his home at Red Cross, failed to state that the youth had been murdered, yet the verdict as rendered by them during the hearing inquest at Sunbury this morning, tends to imply as much.
The verdict is rendered by the jury at the conclusion of the testimony presented to them was to the effect that the young man had met his death by his throat being cut by an unknown person.
William Ferster, a brother of the dead man and William Snyder, a cousin, were the only two witnesses called. The corroborated statements made to the coroner on the day following the finding of the body.
Coroner Fisher, in testifying before the jury still clung to the belief that Ferster had met death at the hands of the murderer but he was unable, as yet, to establish a motive for the crime.
The two wounds in the neck of the youth, according to the coroner could not have been self-inflicted. The head was only left hanging by the muscles on the left side of the neck, indicating that a wound of that size could not have been self-inflicted. He also told the jury that on the side of a large willow tree where the body had been found he had noted a splotch of blood and tangled mass of hair about six feet from the ground. He also told the jury the knife found near where the body had been placed could not be identified as belonging to the dead youth and that it was not used in the commission of the crime. Near the tree, also he said, there were footprints indicating someone had taken flight and the underbrush in that vicinity had been trampled down.
Additional testimony to strengthen the belief of the coroner that the youth had been murdered was given when he stated that wounds had been inflicted on the nose and back and that the young man’s hands, arms and legs had been bruised and lacerated.
State police, following an investigation at the scene of the crime expressed the belief that the youth had committed suicide.
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This story may have nothing to do with whether Daniel Ferster was murdered or committed suicide – other than the coincidence that Ferster’s uncle was involved in a legal controversy regard a large sum of money given over to an individual for his care. From the Shamokin Dispatch, September 29, 1926:
INVESTIGATE DEAL OLD MAN MADE FOR CARE
Judge Lloyd Holds Case Against Man Under Avisement [sic] Pending Probe
The case of David Ferster, of Washington Township [Northumberland County], was held under advisement by Judge Albert Lloyd in the county court Monday after the testimony was concluded.
The man is the uncle of the late Daniel J. Ferster, whose body with the throat nearly severed was found near his home several weeks ago.
The testimony in the case showed that the elderly man had given Edward Otto between $6,000 and $7,000 cash in return for which Otto was to keep him the rest of his life and bury him.
The action in court was brought by the township poor district which has to look after the three daughters of Mr. Ferster, and they want the court to pass on the legality of the large sum of money.
Before taking action, the court will inquire about the agreement between the old man and Mr. Otto.
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From the Shamokin Dispatch, October 1, 1926:
NO NEW EVIDENCE FOUND AS TROOPERS VISIT DEATH SCENE
A visit to the scene of the mysterious death of Daniel J. Ferster in Washington Township [Northumberland County] was made by troopers S. J. Walls and J. P. Herman of the Sunbury detail of the state constabulary on their return from a trip to the lower end of the county Monday.
They found no new evidence of any kind, and the people resigned to letting the mystery go unsolved.
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From the Shamokin Dispatch, December 15, 1926:
PROBERS HOLD TO SUICIDE THEORY IN FERSTER CASE
State Police, After Unceasing Investigation, Convinced That Washington Township Young Man Was Not Victim of Slayer
County and state officers who spent days investigating the mystery surrounding the death of Daniel F. Ferster, young Washington Township farmer, expressed the belief today that nobody will ever be able to claim the reward of $1,000 offered jointly by Levi Ferster, the young man’s father, and the county commissioners, to shed new light on the affair.
County Detective Charles Densavage, who accepted the theory of suicide after a couple of days on the scene, and the state police of the Sunbury detail, who were there a number of times in the subsequent weeks, declared nothing has developed to change their early conclusions.
Diligent effort by them disclosed the absence of all motive for possible murder. They found it could not have been robbery, as his money was not taken; inquire among all his acquaintances showed that he had no enemies, that the few with whom he associated were warm friends and that he had to entanglements with women.
The father of the dead man was never satisfied with these conclusions of the case. The investigators were satisfied that death was due to suicide and welcome a thorough investigation by others, confident that close inquiry will result in the same decision.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
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