Part 1 of 9. On 14 November 1880, Daniel Troutman, a farmer living in Pillow, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was killed at his home during an attempted robbery. Two men, Frank Rumberger and Henry Rumberger were arrested and charged with the crime. They were tried in Dauphin County Court, found guilty, and executed, in March 1882.
In its edition of 24 March 1882, in conjunction with the hanging, the Harrisburg Daily Independent published a summary of the crime and the trials. Here following is the text of that article, in nine parts.
For all other parts of this story, see: The Murder of Daniel Troutman, 1880.
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THE DEED
GREED OF GAIN DOES IT
CRIME AND ITS SEQUEL
History of the Troutman Murder
IN THE NIGHT
The Old Man is Robbed and Murdered
THE TWO TRIALS
Life, Confessions and Letters of the Rumbergers With Other Narrative of Incidents
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AS TO THE CRIME
That Carriage Drive in the Dark of the Evening
First Visit After the Sale to Secure a Loan
The Final Visit to Rob and Kill
This crime, which is the highest in the land – murder, and for which the two lives too-day paid the penalty, was committed November 14th, 1880.
It is dusk and a closed carriage drawn by a grey mare, is being driven from the road a few miles near Uniontown, Dauphin County, across the fields and up toward the foot of the mountain. The team comes to a stop
AND TWO MEN ALIGHT,
and after tying their horse skulk away in the shadow, afraid apparently to let the light of even the pale new moon shine on them, and well they might, for in less than half an hour their hands were dyed deep in the blood of an old an innocent man. Leaving them there let us go back a few days.
The scene is a farm sale and an old grey haired man named Daniel Troutman, as an executor of the estate sold, receives a sum of money for what is known as the Bush farm. Three or four persons see the trembling fingers of the old man as he takes and
TIES UP THE MONEY
in a bag and starts for home. One of these witnesses is a heavy set fellow about thirty years of age, with no enviable reputation for honesty. The feeling of covetness and greed at once takes possession, and he determines to have that sale money. Cowardly by nature he lays plans so that no possible harm may come to him, and visiting the home of old Troutman the following day he asks the executor to lend him fifty dollars. He is told that cannot be done and he cannot have it. Then it is he makes up his mind that another visit and that one of robbery must and will be carried out. As Daniel Troutman has several children and these must be gotten away, they are told to make it a point and be sure
AND COME TO SINGING SCHOOL
the next evening (Sunday) and it is not until he has gotten their promise to go that he leaves.
Returning to Lykens, Henry Rumberger hunted up a man by the name of Frank Rumberger, knowing full well that in him he could confide his dastardly proposed attack and robbery, and these two have a meeting to better lay their plans. Then Henry goes ten miles further to Tower City and hires a horse and carriage of Joel Shadel, who owned a livery stable. This team was the one above referred to, drawn by the gray mare. Returning, Henry passed through Lykens, secures Frank and both drive about fourteen miles to this isolated spot, the solitude of which was seldom penetrated by wheel or hoof. The end of their destination is reaches, a low one and a half story log house is just a few hundred yards up from the creek, and the two men reconnoitre, finally entering at the back door, which offers no resistance. Why should it: the time is early Sabbath eve, the
OLD FOLKS HAVE RETIRED
but the children true to promise have gone to singing school and have not yet returned; it will be time enough to lock the door, when they come home. Not so – the door should have been doubly barred on this night, but it was not and the intruders enter. Passing through the first room they enter the one adjoining, where the old folks are peacefully sleeping. Henry’s nature asserts itself. He produces a rope and wants to bind the old man, but the other will not do. So the managing is given to Frank, who drawing his revolver walks boldly up to the sleeping man and rouses him.
“What do you want?” said Troutman.
“We want your money,” was the reply.
“I haven’t got any, and can’t give you none,” said the old man trying to get up.
“Yes, you have; you’ve got other people’s money and we want it.” This was said by Henry, who occupied a place in the farthest part of the room.
Frank and the old man were having a little altercation at the time, but as the former kept his
PISTOL IN CLOSE PROXIMITY
to the breast of Troutman he was unable to do much. After walking across the room and back again to the bed, however, he suddenly jumped up and seized his gun, at the same time crying, “Now, get out!”
Both men carried loaded revolvers but taking the injunction cleared out, one running one way and the other in the opposite direction. The old man followed the one who had gone to the left, Henry, and fired a shot at him. Frank coming around the house saw Troutman with his gun leveled at his companion,
AND AT ONCE FIRED,
the ball striking the old man in the region of the heart. At this point old Mrs. Troutman made her appearance and the two murderers fearing help would come made all possible speed to their wagon and drove rapidly home.
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News article from Newspapers.com.
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