Daniel John Hendricks was found murdered in 1857 on a mountain path near Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. William Williams was arrested and tried for the crime. In 1858, Williams was hanged in Harrisburg.
The story of that murder, the trial and the execution, is told here through the pages of area newspapers.
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From the Pittsburgh Gazette, 23 November 1857:
ANOTHER MURDER TRIAL – An individual named William Williams is on trial now in Harrisburg, charged with the murder of a man named Daniel Hendricks in the upper part of Dauphin County. The Harrisburg Telegraph says Williams is a man about 30 years of age and not a bad looking man. His father is an old man, entirely blind, who feels the situation of his son most keenly. It is thought that Williams will be convicted.
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From the Public Ledger, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 18 February 1858, reprinted from the Harrisburg Union.
CONDEMNED TO DIE – William Williams, convicted of the murder of Hendricks, will, in all probability, have to forfeit his life for the awful crime committed. His counsel, who have been laboring incessantly to save his life, have again been defeated before the highest judicial tribunal of the State – the Supreme Court having affirmed the decision of the Court below.
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From the Carlisle Weekly Herald, 25 November 1857:
NEWS OF THE WEEK
William Williams was tried in Harrisburg last week for the murder of Daniel Hendricks, and convicted of murder in the first degree. The murder was committed in May last near Lykenstown.
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From the Star of the North, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 9 December 1857:
William Williams was convicted for the murder of Daniel Hendricks, in Dauphin County, last week. He is a young man of about 28 years old, and is married for the second time. His father is blind, and feels the awful situation of his son.
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From the Lewistown Gazette, 10 December 1857:
The Harrisburg prison now contains two persons convicted of murder in the first degree: viz Simon Green and William Williams. The former has been respited by the Governor without date, and latter awaits his sentence. Both of the prisoners are in the enjoyment of excellent health.
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From the Sunbury American, 12 December 1857:
CONVICTED MURDERERS – The Harrisburg Telegraph says, there are now in the jail of that city two persons who have been convicted of murder in the first degree; Simon Green, who has been respited by the Governor without date, and William Williams, who is awaiting sentence.
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From the Lewisburg Chronicle, 18 December 1857:
William Williams, aged 26 years has been convicted of the murder of Daniel Henieh [sic], in the upper end of Dauphin County. Williams has a blind father living.
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From the Pittsburgh Daily Post, 12 March 1858:
Governor Packer has issued the death warrant of William Williams, convicted of murder in Dauphin County. He is to be hung on the 21st of May.
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From the Bedford Gazette, 19 March 1858:
Brevities
GOV. PACKER has issued the death warrant of William Williams, convicted for the murder of Daniel Hendricks, near Lykenstown, Dauphin County. The execution is to take place on Friday, the 21st of May next.
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From the Shippensburg News, 20 March 1858 (republished from Harrisburg Herald):
Confession of a Murderer
William Williams, now in our jail under sentence of death for the murder of Hendricks has voluntarily made a full and free confession of his guilt. He states that on the fatal Sunday of the 3rd of May, Daniel Hendricks came to his house and asked for something to drink. They drank together three times and both became intoxicated. Hendricks offered to sell the watch – alluded to so frequently in the testimony during the trial of the case – but Williams had not the money to buy it. They went together up the mountain as far as the spot where the body was afterwards found, Hendricks having requested him to go over the mountain with him. Williams declares that when he first accompanied Hendricks he had no intention of not the most remote idea of committing murder. But when they reached that part of the road where Hendricks was killed, Williams from an evil impulse threw him down and began to choke him. Whilst doing so, Hendricks asked him, “what he had done that he should do so?” and Williams replied, “nothing,” and still continued to —– him, until he became —– in the face. He then released his hold, and got on the dead, or dying man and thus finished the diabolical work. He then tore the watch from the guard chain, rifled his pockets, and took off a ring, which he had on at the time of his arrest, and afterwards secreted it in the drawer of the table at which he took his meals, in Miller’s tavern, while under arrest. One week after that, he went up the mountain where the corpse lay and looked at it but did not touch or disturb it. He states that at the time they left the house, he had no gun, nor did he at any time fire one off near the body. He says he cannot account for the holes and the pebble in the body, unless the former were made by bugs – The fact now of the justice of his conviction, is rendered beyond all doubt, and will tend to remove many prejudices against the propriety of convicting on circumstantial evidence – From this conviction, it appears that the only reliable testimony in the case is the circumstantial, whilst the positive – that relating to the holes and the pebble – is the doubtful. However, this may be cleared up or be reconciled by future developments. As the matter stands now, William Williams was legally and properly convicted of crime for which he will suffer death on the 21st of May – just about one year after he so ruthlessly took the life of his unfortunate victim. We understand that a full statement of his confession is being prepared by one of his attorneys, will be published in a short time.
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From the Adams Sentinel, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 24 May 1858:
William Williams, convicted of the murder of John Hendricks, in Dauphin County, was executed at Harrisburg on Friday last. He exhibited an almost entire indifference during the whole solemnities of the occasion.
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From the Carlisle Weekly Herald, 26 May 1858:
EXECUTION – Last Friday, William Williams, convicted of the murder of Daniel Hendricks near Lykenstown, Dauphin County, was hung at Harrisburg. He was a native of Dauphin County.
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From the Perry County Democrat, Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, 27 May 1858:
WILLIAM WILLIAMS, who was convicted last fall of the murder of DANIEL HENDRICKS, near Lykenstown, Dauphin County, was executed within the prison walls at Harrisburg on last Friday afternoon. – He manifested very little concern for his spiritual welfare and when the drop fell was instantly launched into eternity, scarcely moving a muscle.
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From the Altoona Tribune, 27 May 1858:
William Williams, convicted of the murder of Daniel Hendricks, was executed at Harrisburg on the 21st inst.
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From the Clearfield Republican, 28 May 1858:
A man named William Williams, who was convicted last fall of the murder of Daniel Hendricks near Lykenstown in the upper part of Dauphin County, was hung in Harrisburg on last Friday afternoon.
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From the Sunbury American, 29 May 1858:
Execution of a Murderer at Harrisburg
HARRISBURG, 21 May [1858] – William Williams, convicted of the murder of John Hendricks, at the upper end of this county in May last, was executed today in the prison yard. The occasion drew a large crowd of people to town and about seventy obtained admission into the jail to witness the melancholy spectacle, among whom was William A. Crabb , of Philadelphia, who occupied a position close to the scaffold.
A large crowd were outside, and the roofs of the houses overlooking the prison yard were filled with people anxious to witness the execution. Some of the positions were rented at fifty cents and a dollar each.
The prisoner was attended by the Rev. Messrs. Bartine, Marty and Marquet.
The wife, three children, and sister of the condemned visited the prisoner yesterday and this morning. He exhibited but little feeling evincing a stolid indifference.
The prisoner was brought out of his cell and placed on the scaffold at ten minutes of twelve o’clock, dressed in a shroud of white flannel, and wearing a cap. He uttered not a word, except to reply “Yes,” when asked whether the minister should pray for him.
A brief prayer was then made by Dr. Bartine, after which an appropriate hymn was sung.
The drop then fell and the prisoner was launched into eternity.
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