In late March 1912, Israel Zuckerman, a Jewish dealer of junk living north of Millersburg, went out to his stable to feed his horses. When he did not return his neighbors went looking for him and found him dead. Death was assumed to from a stroke or heart attack – or caused by a kick in the head by one of the horses. Family members did not believe the reason(s) given by the authorities, and his body was exhumed for closer examination. Three bullets were found in his head and the cause of death was changed to homicide. Also, an amount of money believed to be in his possession at the time of death, was also missing. After extensive investigation, a local man was arrested, but later released for lack of evidence. A reward provided by the county commissioners and the Jewish community of Harrisburg was never claimed. Later, rumors spread that a man then currently serving time in the Eastern State Penitentiary had confessed, but this was disputed by the warden. The crime was never solved.
The story of the death of Israel Zuckerman is told through local and area newspapers of the time.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 28 March 1912:
Israel Zuckerman
Israel Zuckerman, aged almost 45 years, a Hebrew junk dealer, who lived at the home of Mr. John Nissley, half mile north of Millersburg was found dead in the stable last Saturday night. The man had gone to the stable to look after his horses and when he did not return in a reasonable time neighbors went to look for him and found him dead lying under one of the horses. Dr. Hottenstein was called and said that death was caused by apoplexy or heart failure.
Coroner Coover was summoned and a verdict of accidental death rendered.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 6 April 1912
Zuckerman Post Mortem To-morrow
It was reported to-day that railroad detectives in the vicinity of Millersburg arrested three men in connection with the mysterious death of Israel Zuckerman, a Millersburg junk dealer, who was found dead on March 23.
County Detective James Walters talked over the long-distance telephone this afternoon to Mrs. Zuckerman. A post-mortem examination will be held to-morrow afternoon or Monday. County Detective Walters and Coroner Coover will be present. When Zuckerman was found it was thought he had been killed by wounds inflicted by his horse. Later the county commissioners were asked to make an order to have the body exhumed. This was granted. Zuckerman, it is said, had $200 on his person before his death.
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, 8 April 1912
Think Man Was Slain
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania , April 8 [1912] – Because of a suspicion of foul play, the body of Israel Zuckerman, a Millersburg man is to be disinterred. Zuckerman was found in his stable and was supposed to have been trampled to death by a horse. A nephew has found evidence indicating that death may have resulted from other causes. The money be usually carried was missing. The district attorney has ordered an investigation.
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From the Philadelphia Inquirer, 8 April 1912:
HARRISBURG – The body of Israel Zuckerman, the Millersburg junk dealer, who was found dead in his stable and was supposed to have been kicked to death by his horse, is to be disinterred for further examination of the wounds. A nephew who believed foul play was the cause has brought the case to the attention of the district attorney and sensational disclosures are expected.
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From the Mt. Carmel Item, 9 April 1912; the Lebanon Courier & Semi-Weekly Report, 9 Apr 1912; the Gettysburg Times, 8 April 1912:
Think Man Was Slain
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, April 8 – Because of a suspicion of foul play, the body of Israel Zuckerman a Millersburg man is to be disinterred. Zuckerman was found in his stable and was supposed to have been trampled to death by a horse. A nephew has found evidence indicating that death may have resulted from other causes. The money he usually carried was missing. The district attorney has ordered an investigation.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 11 April 1912:
The Echo has been informed that there is no truth whatsoever in the wild stories concerning the death of Israel Zuckerman at Millersburg. The takes about foul play being suspected, and men being arrested are all untrue. Lovers of sensation no doubt began the circulation of these fabrications.
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From the Wilkes-Barre Semi-Weekly Record, 12 April 1912:
The body of Israel Zuckerman, the Millersburg junk dealer who was found dead in his stable and was supposed to have been kicked to death by a horse, is to be disinterred for examination. A nephew believes his uncle was murdered.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 13 April 1912
Investigating Death of Israel Zuckerman
Although no arrests have been made as yet, District Attorney Michael E. Stroup has ordered a rigid investigation of the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of Israel Zuckerman, the Millersburg junk dealer in whose brain a 32-caliber bullet was found on Wednesday afternoon when the body was exhumed in the Jewish cemetery near this city [Harrisburg]. County Detective James Walters returned last evening from the scene where he spent the past two days inquiring into the case. The maiden ladies with whom Zuckerman made his home could throw no light upon the mystery, Zuckerman, the night he was found dead, took a lantern out to his barn to feed the stock. When he did not return, the women became alarmed and began a search for him. They found his lifeless body in the barn. No theory as to how he met death other than that he had been kicked by his horse, was advanced, and he was buried. More than a week ago, his nephew petitioned the county commissioners to exhume the body. The request was granted and on Wednesday the physicians found the bullet.
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From the Lebanon Courier & Semi-Weekly Report, 16 April 1912:
BULLETS CAUSED HIS DEATH
Startling Find in Corpse of Dauphin County Junk Dealer
A post mortem on the body of Israel Zuckerman, a Millersburg Dauphin County junk dealer, exhumed on Thursday by the coroner, showed that death was caused by three bullets in the head. He was buried three weeks ago, after being found dead in his stable. He was supposed to have been kicked on the head by a horse. About $200 he carried is missing.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 17 April 1912:
Norman Bowman Is First to Be Arrested In Zuckerman Case
Suspected for being implicated in the alleged murder of Israel Zuckerman, a Millersburg junk dealer, on March 23, Norman M. Bowman, aged 30 years, was arrested this morning at 10:30 o’clock in that town by County Detective James T. Walters.
Bowman was taken into custody at the home of Alvin Rowe, where he was doing household chores, was brought to this city at noon today and locked up to await further investigation.
It is believed that the mystery surrounding the death of Zuckerman will be cleared up in a few days. Since the finding of the dead man’s body in his barn on the night of March 23 ad the exhuming of the body in Shoop’s Church Cemetery, near here, last Thursday, several people, it is said, have been under surveillance.
While en-route to this city Bowman said to Detective Walters that he expected arrest and that everybody in Millersburg was blaming him for the crime. Bowman, it is said, pawned a 32-calibrer revolver and his watch for $5 on the night Zuckerman was found dead.
County physician found a 32-caliber bullet at the base of Zuckerman’s brain when the autopsy was held. Detective Walters said that he will go to Millersburg to-morrow morning to continue his investigation. The 32-caliber revolver is in the possession of the county detective. Bowman is said to have a good reputation in Millersburg. He was formerly employed on the railroad improvement there.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 18 April 1912:
Millersburg Man Is Arrested.
Detective James T. Walters has arrested Norman Bowman of Millersburg and taken him to Harrisburg where he will be accorded a hearing, and there is hope that the man can shed some light upon the mysterious death of Israel Zuckerman, the junk dealer. It is said that Bowman pawned a watch and revolver on the night of the murder. Bowman is a son of Benton Bowman and has a wife and one child.
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From the Philadelphia Inquirer, 18 April 1912:
Special to the Inquirer
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, April 17 [1912] – Norman M. Bowman, aged 30, was arrested today on suspicion of being implicated in the murder of Israel Zuckerman, a junk dealer, who was found dead in his barn at Millersburg. The bullet found at the base of the dead man’s brain corresponded to the one used in a revolver which Bowman pawned on the evening of the shooting. It is expected that the mystery in connecting with the case will be cleared in a few days.
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From the Lykens Standard, 26 April 1912
Norman M. Bowman of Millersburg, has been arrested on suspicion of killing Israel Zuckerman, of the same place on the evening of March 23rd. Zuckerman was found dead in his stable and was supposed to have been kicked by a horse but a post mortem examination revealed the fact that he had been shot, two bullets having passed through the brain and lodged against the back part of the scull. Bowman is in jail awaiting trail at the next session of criminal court.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 27 April 1912:
Zuckerman Suspect Is Released From Jail
Because there was not enough evidence to warrant holding him for further investigation, Norman Bowman, of Millersburg, who on April 18, was arrested by County Detective James T. Walters in connection with the mysterious murder of Israel Zuckerman, a junk dealer, was released from the county jail to-day by order of District Attorney M. E. Stroup.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 26 July 1912
OFFER REWARD FOR ZUCKERMAN SLAYER
Total of $500 Raised for Information in Millersburg Case
Another vigorous attempt to locate the persons who shot and killed Israel Zuckerman, the Millersburg junk dealer, will be made within the next few weeks. The County Commissioners have entered into this movement and this afternoon ordered the clerk to issue notices that the county will pay $250 to the person who will furnish information that will lead to the arrest of the guilty party or parties.
This notice will be filed with a similar one, which has been authorized by a delegation of Harrisburg and Steelton Hebrews, who will also give $250, making the total reward $500.
County Detective Walters has been working on the Zuckerman case since the discovery of the murder, and although one street was made sufficient evidence could not be secured.
Zuckerman was shot and killed when he went to feed his horses on the night of March 14. That he was murdered was not discovered until after he was buried and after relatives applied to the District Attorney claiming that they had reasons to believe that the junk dealer was the victim of foul play.
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From the Lykens Standard, 2 August 1912
$500 Reward for Zuckerman’s Murderer
The County Commissioners on Wednesday authorized the advertising of a reward of $250 for information as to the murderer of Israel Zuckerman, the Millersburg junk dealer. Joseph Claster offers a similar sum on behalf of the Hebrew citizens of Harrisburg.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 3 August 1912; also Harrisburg Telegraph, 6 August 1912; et al.
NOTICE OF REWARD
A reward of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250) will be paid by the County of Dauphin to any person or persons securing and furnishing information which will lead to the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Israel Zuckerman, who was murdered at Millersburg, Pennsylvania, on the 23rd day of March, A. D. 1912.
ISAAC S. HOFFMAN; SAMUEL S. MILLER; JOHN H. EBY – County Commissioners
A sum of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250) has been deposited in my hands by the Hebrew citizens of Harrisburg, and will be paid by me, in addition to the above reward offered by the County of Dauphin, to any person or persons securing and furnishing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Israel Zuckerman.
JOSEPH CLASTER
For further information, address all inquiries to M. E. Stroup, District Attorney.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 9 August 1912:
CHECK TAKEN FROM MURDERED MAN IS FOUND UNDER TIES
New Evidence Shows That Israel Zuckerman Was Slain For Money
Millersburg, Pennsylvania, August 9 – Evidence that the person who murdered and robbed Israel Zuckerman, the junk dealer, here on March 23, was afraid of being caught with the spoils in his possession, was shown yesterday when Edward Keel, a Pennsylvania Railroad track repairman, found a check for $50 drawn in favor of Zuckerman hidden under a pile of railroad ties. The check, which was in a good state of preservation, was issued by the Capital City Junk Company, of Harrisburg, was immediately turned over to a Pennsylvania Railroad detective. In the meantime the county authorities were notified and now a county detective is at work on the case.
Zuckerman’s dead body was found in a stable near here on March 22. The late Coroner Coover conducted an inquest and decided that death had occurred by injuries sustained when he was kicked by a horse, the body having been found in a stall with a horse. The body was buried but some of the junk dealer’s friends insisted that he had been murdered and robbed. The body was then removed from the grave and a further examination made, when it was found that there were two bullet wounds in the man’s head. The authorities worked on the case but could find no definite clues, and it was not until yesterday that it was definitely established that Zuckerman had been robbed. One man, Norman Bowman, who was arrested some time ago, charged with the murder, but there was no evidence and he was released.
The place where the check was found yesterday is close to the scene of the murder.
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From the Millersburg Herald, 2 August 1912, via Lykens Standard, 16 August 1912:
Missing Check Found
Another link in the chain of evidence in the Israel Zuckerman case has been discovered, the finding of the missing $50 check. The unaccounted for paper was found last Friday morning by Edward Kiehl, trackman on the railroad. The check was hidden under a pile of ties along the track about fifty feet north of the Cummings crossing. It was sheltered under the ties and was in good condition. This makes it very clear that the parties who committed the crime came to town after the murder. With the liberal reward offered and this additional clue, detectives will be more diligent than ever to ferret out the guilty. Murder will out, and its only a question of time when the mystery will be solved.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 10 November 1913:
Duncannon Man Has Confessed to Zuckerman Murder, Is Report
Special to the Telegraph
Millersburg, Pennsylvania, 1ovember 10 – Israel Zuckerman, who was found dead in a barn a mile north of Millersburg, was murdered by Clyde Mutzabaugh, of Duncannon, if the news of a confession made by Mutzabaugh, that reached Millersburg to-day, be true.
Mutzabaugh is now a prisoner in the Eastern Penitentiary, having been sentenced for robbing an old man about a year ago.
Mutzabaugh was employed at Millersburg on several occasions and got into trouble on account of his bad disposition while here.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 12 November 1913:
THE REPORT WAS BOGUS
Can’t Find Man Alleged to Have Confessed to Murdering Junk Dealer
A baseless rumor is all that can be attached to the story which in effect indicated that an inmate of the Eastern Penitentiary has confessed to the killing of Israel Zuckerman, the Millersburg junk dealer. The District Attorney has closely investigated all fragments of the report and was compelled to give up the chase because of the absence of positive facts.
Clyde Mutzebaugh, a Duncannon man, sent to the pen by the Perry County Court, is said to have made the confession, although Warden McKenty repudiated the rumor in a telephone conversation with county prosecutor.
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From the Chambersburg Public Opinion, 13 November 1913:
MURDERER OF COUNTY WOMAN’S BROTHER CONFESSES
The family of W. V. Zuckerman, 21 North Potomac Avenue, Waynesboro, has received word that the murderer of Mrs. Zuckerman’s brother, Israel Zuckerman, has been found through the confession of the murderer himself in the eastern penitentiary.
Clyde Mutzabaugh is the pentitentiary inmate who is alleged to have confessed the crime, although, although Warden McKenty, of the pentitentiary, says he has no knowledge of such confession.
Israel Zuckerman, an aged Jew, brother of Mrs. W. V. Zuckerman, Waynesboro, was found dead in his barn near Millersburg, Dauphin County, more than a year ago. Marks on his body indicated at the time that he may have met his death by being kicked by a mule. He was buried. Rumors that the old man had been murdered started and relatives had the body disinterred After the body was taken from the tomb, a rigid examination was made. Wounds inflicted by a 32-caliber bullet were discovered and a man named Bowman was apprehended.
There was no evidence against him and he was discharged.
Mutzabaugh is in the penitentiary for beating an old soldier in Perry County.
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From the Lykens Standard, 14 November 1913:
Zuckerman’s Murderer Said To Have Confessed.
An investigation of the rumor that an inmate of the Eastern Penitentiary at Philadelphia had confessed to killing Israel Zuckerman in his stable a mile north of Millersburg last year, was begun Tuesday by District Attorney Stroup. The confession was said to have been made by a former resident of Duncannon, who had worked at Millersburg at various times.
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News stories from Newspapers.com.
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