On March 21, 1925, the body of woodsman Jefferson Creary was found at his home in a mountainous area near Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Initially, it was believed he had died of natural causes. However, the undertaker, in preparing the body for burial, discovered a bullet hole. He immediately contacted the coroner and and an inquest was held which determined Creary had died of a gunshot wound, the bullet having pierced his heart. Police obtained a confession from Creary’s friend, Victor Lymaster (or Leymaster). A trial was held Lebanon County in September 1925 and Lymaster was found guilty of murder in the second degree. The murder resulted in great anxiety about the safety of the rural mountain areas for the people living there because many believed that an outsider had committed this crime. It was not until Lymaster was captured and confessed that a sense of ease returned to the area.
Jefferson Creary was well-known in the Pine Grove area and was a pensioner, having served in the United States Army in the period between the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. His father, Thomas Creary, who is also found in the records as Thomas McCreary (1837-1926), was a veteran of the Civil War, who served in the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, as a Private and Musician, from November 4, 1862 to August 18, 1863, also received a pension, and, not reported in the obituary, was a survivor when the son was murdered. The father did not die until January 2, 1926., less than a year after his son was killed.
The story of the murder, capture of the perpetrator, and trial, is told through selected news articles from local and regional newspapers. The image at the top of this post is from the Harrisburg Telegraph, March 23, 1925, and features the following headlines:
LEBANON VETERAN THOUGHT SHOT TO DEATH AT CABIN
Jefferson Creary Found in Woods With Bullet Through His Heart
SEEK ASSAILANTS
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From the Pine Grove Press Herald, March 27, 1925:
Jefferson Creary
Thomas Jefferson Creary, timberman, who lived alone in a small house near the Ketner home south of Suedberg, was found dead in his home on Saturday morning, March 21 [1925], by his neighbors who noted his non-appearance in the morning hours and called to find out the reason. He was found dead, having died during Friday night some time. Dr. Walter was summoned who examined the body, no foul play was suspected, and it is believed he died of natural causes, possibly a stroke. Since the death occurred in Lebanon County, the coroner from that county investigated and reached a similar conclusion. The body was released to the custody of his employer, Mr. George Boyer, and turned over to his brother Sherman Creary, who saw to its burial on his lot in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.
Deceased was born near Suedberg, 62 years ago. He is survived by these brothers and sisters: Sherman Creary, Pine Grove; Mrs. Charles Kemmer, Bethlehem; John Creary, Orwigsburg; and Mrs. Erastus Felty, Pine Grove.
He served in the regular army for a time and also visited London, England.
His funeral took place on Tuesday, services being conducted by Harry S. Dollman. Funeral director Henry L. Snyder had charge.
The same newspaper, March 27, 1925, provided another account:
Another And Later Account
Jefferson Creary, age about 60 years, a former United States Soldier, who spent the past twenty or more years as a mountaineer in the Suedburg region, in Lebanon County, was found dead on Saturday outside of his shack in the Blue Mountains, with a bullet through his heart. As no revolver was found there are strong suspicious that murder was committed. Just what could have been a motive for such a crime however, no one seems even able to guess, as he was not known to have an enemy, and he lived in circumstances and conditions which indicated that he had no money to excite the cupidity of a robber.
Little is known about the man. Of the effects was found a grant of a pension from the United States Government of $6 a month granted December 16, 1897. This paper indicated that he had served as a private in Battery H, Second United States Artillery. As the pension was granted before the Spanish-American War broke out. He evidently enlisted in the regular army. The pension certificate shows that his ankle was injured. People around Suedburg say he was never married and his existence was that of the average mountaineer, a hand to mouth proposition.
The fact that Creary was shot might have passed by but for the fact that when undertaker Snyder had the man in his morgue to prepare it for burial, he discovered the bullet hole and immediately communicated with Coroner Shultz, of Lebanon who impaneled a jury to investigate. Snyder took the body to the morgue of undertaker Robland, of Lebanon on Monday where it was viewed by the jury.
Creary was addicted to drinking following pays and his friends asserted he some day might be found dead from alcoholism, but this is not the case, but that Creary was murdered in the late afternoon or dusk of Friday night is the belief of the simple country and has aroused their ire.
Dr. J. Edward Marshall made a post mortem examination. He found that the bullet entered the left breast and coursed through the heart, and then swerved downward to the right side and lodged on the right side fracturing a rib. The bullet was a 32 caliber size and appeared to have been fired from a revolver.
Edward Sherman who lives near the Creary shack, told the coroner that he talked with Creary on Friday night and he seemed in good spirits.
Since the discovery of the crime it has been discovered that a bullet passed through one of the window panes. A bullet was found imbedded in the wall of the cabin.
Guesses and surmises as to the reasons for the murder are a plenty.
Though he may have little or no money at all, robbery is the general accepted reason, and it was not done by any city bandit, robber or traveling highwayman, for why should they penetrate the mountain fastnesses and the life of a moneyless mountaineer.
In the room lay a box which covered a pool of blood indicating the position of Creary when he was shot. The gash in the forehead between the eyes was deep and penetrated the bone and was not caused by a fall forward on the brush pile.
It is hoped the Lebanon County Commissioners will offer a big enough reward for the apprehension of the slayers of Creary, so that men of energy will be stimulated to take up the work of detection, so that others on business through these isolated spots may be made safe from being ambushed.
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From the Pine Grove Press Herald, May 15, 1925:
In Jail at Last
Victor Leymaster, 44, born and reared near Stanhope, Pine Grove Township, is in the Lebanon County Jail, a confessed murderer for the killing of Thomas Jefferson Creary, well known in Pine Grove, who lived a recluse, in the wilds south of Suedburg, on the night of March 20. His capture took place last Saturday, near the home of a sister, in a shanty, south of Jefferson. The state police effected his arrest and to them and before Alderman Ulrich of Lebanon, where he was arraigned, he confessed to the crime, declaring he had asked Creary, whom he well knew, both being wood choppers, for a night’s lodging, and being refused, a fight ensued, and he killed Creary in self defense. This no doubt will be his defense when brought before the bar of justice.
Creary was the older of the two by twenty years, inoffensive, less supple and a former regular army soldier, drawing an $8 a month pension, chopping wood for Mr. Boyer when able as an aid to subsist and coming to town occasionally to make purchases, and greet friends.
Down at Suedburg they had suspicions, but talked in a suppressed tone, fearing to show their hand in the open to ferret out Creary’s murderer, for they might suffer bodily harm or the destruction of dwellings, knowing that a dangerous character was prowling about the wilds in that section but now there is a sigh of relief, and now they are telling more of the things they saw and heard. Inquiries as to who murdered Creary would bring an answer, “We believe we can name the man who killed Creary,” or similar replies.
One crime unsolved begets another. So it happens that the finger of suspicion pointed to a character roaming the mountains, not working since last fall, yet subsisting and apparently desiring to avoid contact with humans, that the home of Isaac Barr, at Stanhope was broken into on the morning of Wednesday, May 6 [1925], between 7 and 9 in the morning. Entrance was effected by breaking in through a window. Mr. Barr works near Oley, Berks County. The house stands isolated, near the woods, Mrs. Barr had gone to William Fidler’s, a neighbor, across the wooded hill. Jerre Hummel, a brother, and a boarder, had left early in the morning for work at Pine Grove. When Mrs. Barr returned she discovered the home broken into, eatables taken, and going upstairs saw drawers rifled. Her brother’s small metal money box was robbed of a sum of money, possibly $4, revolver, traveling bag, suit of clothes, etc. Reporting to Mr. Fidler, her discovery, the former hurried to town to tell Hummel, who he found working at Michael Rank’s. Hummel telephoned the state police who responded promptly, and after taking a record of the articles of theft, and ascertaining other valuable data, started on the job.
This crime it is expected, will be fastened on Leymaster. When captured, Leymaster had a traveling bag with a lot of hard boiled eggs and tobacco.
Leymaster with a heavy guard was taken over the route of some of his operations to locate the loot.
His parents are dead.
Leymaster will be tried in the Lebanon County courts on the charge of murder.
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From the Lebanon Semi-Weekly News, September 24, 1925:
VICTOR LYMASTER ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF OLD JEFF CREARY
Victor Lymaster, aged 42 years a burly tow-headed mountaineer of the Blue Mountain region, was put on trial this morning in the September criminal court, on a charge of having murdered old Jefferson Creary, a lumber cutter, in his shack in the mountains near Suedberg, on March 20th, of the year. The jury was selected on Tuesday afternoon, and the trial of the case started off immediately upon the opening of court at 9:30 o’clock this morning.
District Attorney A. Harry Ehrgood opened the proceedings with a resume of what the Commonwealth expects to present in evidence to convict Lymaster of the crime. He told the story of the finding of Jeff Creary‘s body on a brush pile outside of his cottage on March 21 [1925], by the woodmen; how it was sent to Pine Grove to be prepared for burial; how the undertaker found wounds which revealed that foul play had been done; how blood was found on the articles and furniture in the shack; and how criminal sleuths then ferreted Lymaster and arrested him. The District Attorney said that Lymaster at first denied his guilt, but later made a confession which is to be placed in evidence. He said that Lymaster was absent from his usual haunts for six or more weeks after the deed was committed, a serious circumstance taken in connection with the allegation that when he was seen nearing Cleary’s shack on March 20th, he skulked along the roads avoiding people and acting otherwise suspiciously. He asked for a first degree murder verdict in case the charge is proven.
Dr. J. Edward Marshall, who made an autopsy on the body was the first witness. He described the wounds, particularly the course of a 32 calibre bullet which passed through Creary’s heart, and which the surgeon said, killed the man instantly. The last part of his testimony was the only feature which attracted cross examination by Attorney Hickernell for the defense, as it is understood that Lymaster is to plead self-defense, and Mr. Hickernell tried to get the surgeon to admit that persons shot through the heart sometimes walk some steps before falling, which if applied to the Creary case, would have enabled Creary to walk out of his cottage after the fatal shot was fired. The doctor stated that he had heard of people walking a step or two after receiving such a wound.
Charles Kinz, a photographer of the State Police force, presented photographs of the Creary shack as it looked after the murder. George Boyer, owner of the lumber tract, testified to giving Creary a dollar on the day of the murder and of having seen Creary at Suedberg. H. L. Snyder, Pine Grove undertaker, testified as to the finding of the wounds on the body when it was prepared for burial.
Dan Granger, who found the dead body of Creary on March 20 [sic], told of that incident, and then it was that for the first time since the trial began, Lymasaster, the defendant’s name was mentioned.
Granger testified as to the finding of a pair of gold rimmed eyeglasses on Creary’s cot the day following the murder. He was asked whether Lymaster wore glasses, and said that he had seen him with glasses but could not tell whether they were like those found in Creary’s hut. It is said to be the theory of the commonwealth that Lymaster returned to the shed following the murder.
The trial of Lymaster was taken up at 3 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, after the docket of the Criminal Court had otherwise been cleared.
The case was called and the defendant arraigned by the venerable clerk, William S. Bordelmay, in accord with the ancient custom prevailing where persons are on trial for their lives.
When the solemn ceremony had been completed, Lymaster in a clear voice pleaded “Not Guilty,” although he is expected to take the stand and admit that he was responsible for Creary’s death. He denies that it was done with malice aforethought or premeditation.
He says he is 42 years of age. He is close to if not entirely six feet in height and of stocky build. He wore a dark suit, a shirt with collar attached, and a light brown cap. While cleanly dressed he was evidently not done up with a purpose of making an impression upon the jury. he took a deep interest in selecting the jury, but showed no sighs whatever of being “fussed up!” He did not seem even nervous. Seated at the defendant’s table with Lymaster and his attorney, Charles T. Hickernell, Esq., was Detective Harry Steiff, who is said to have made an investigation of the case as a representative of the defense, and who will assist in the defense of the accused man.
District Attorney A. Harry Ehrgood represents the Commonwealth, and had at this table County Detective George H. Carpenter, who ferreted out the case after weeks of endeavor. State Policeman Buckbee, who assisted Carpenter in the closing days of the chase, also had a place at the Commonwealth table.
Of the jury panel of 48 men and women drawn for service at this court, only three failed to respond to roll call. One of the absentees is dead; another could not be located by the sheriff to serve the summons, and the other was excused for cause by the court.
One jury of twelve was out deciding another case and their return to the court room had to be awaited before the selection of the murder jury could proceed. The selection was completed a few minutes before six o’clock. Only 41 jurymen were called in all….
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From the Ephrata Review, October 2, 1925:
GUILTY OF SHANTY MURDER
Lebanon County Defendant Convicted in Second Degree
Victor Lymaster was found guilty of second degree murder by a jury in the Lebanon County Court last week, for the killing last March, of Jefferson Creary, during a drunken quarrel over women in Creary’s lonely shanty above Timberline, in Northern Lebanon County. The verdict was reached after eight hours of deliberation….
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From the Lebanon Semi-Weekly News, September 28, 1925:
10 TO 20 YEARS FOR LYMASTER IN PENITENTIARY
Victor Lymaster, convicted last week of the murder of Jefferson Creary, on March 20 [1925] of this year, near Suedberg, this morning appeared before Judge Henry for sentence. His attorney Charles T. Hickernell, Esq.,, withdrew the motion for a new trial. In imposing the several sentences the law permits- ten to twenty years – Judge Henry said he was moved to that action by his firm impression that it was really a first degree murder. He told Lymaster that he believed Cready was in the corner of his shanty as the Commonwealth endeavored to prove, and was not killed while making an assault upon Lymaster as the prisoner asserted. His Honor was severe in condemnation of the deed and therefore imposed the longest sentence within his power.
Lymaster, as at the trial, manifested no emotion whatever, and said nothing.
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From the Lebanon Semi-Weekly News, October 1, 1925.
VIC LYMASTER TAKEN BY AUTO TO PENITENTIARY
Victor Lymaster, convicted murderer of old Jefferson Creary, the aged lumberman near Suedberg on March 20, this year, was taken to Philadelphia Wednesday to begin his term of from ten to twenty years in the Eastern Penitentiary to which he was sentenced last week by Judge Henry. George Yocum, one of the night guards at the jail officiated as as a Deputy Sheriff and escorted the prisoner, and Herman Louser acted as an additional deputy and chauffer, the party making the trip by auto. To the very time of departure, Lymaster maintained his stolid indifference as to consequences and said nothing to indicate that he had any personal [sic] in the proceedings.
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From Newspapers.com.
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