A newspaper photo from the Harrisburg Telegraph, August 28, 1935, showing John Doney, who was arrested by Millersburg Police Chief R. W. Stakley for the murder of Doney’s long-time-friend Michael Barnhart over the right to draw a bucket of water from Barnhart’s well. The photograph was taken by the Telegraph.
The story of the murder is told here in two parts citing news articles that appeared in local and regional newspapers. Part 1, presented yesterday, told of the murder and the arrest of Doney. Part 2, presented today, tells of the trial, conviction and sentencing of Doney.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, September 12, 1935:
AGED MILLERSBURG MAN HELD IN DEATH OF FRIEND
At a hearing before Justice of the Peace H. H. High, in Millersburg, Monday evening, John A. Doney of near Millersburg, was held for court on a charge of murder in connection with the death of his friend and landlord, Michael Barnhart, 71, on August 27 [1935]. Doney entered a plea of not guilty, to the charge.
At a coroner’s inquest prior to the hearing, a jury held Doney responsible for Barnhart’s death, ascribing cause of death as due to a bullet wound of the left thigh, causing shock and hemorrhage.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, September 10, 1935:
JOHN DONEY HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BARNHART’S DEATH
Aged Millersburg Man Accused of Murder of His Neighbor
Given a hearing following an inquest at which he was held responsible for the death of Michael Barnhart, 71, of near Millersburg, John Adams Doney, 72, also of near Millersburg, was held without bail on a murder charge last night. The hearing was held before Justice of the Peace H. H. High, Millersburg.
Doney is charged with slaying Barnhart during a quarrel August 27. The quarrel, police said, developed when Barnhart objected to Doney taking water from a well on his property.
Three witnesses – Irma Zigner, Millersburg, housekeeper for Doney; State Trooper Russell Knies; and Chief of Police R. W. Stakely, Millersburg, who arrested Doney – testified at the hearing.
At the inquest, which was conducted by Dr. Henry Walmer, Millersburg, deputy coroner, the jury returned the following verdict:
“Michael Barnhart came to his death by a bullet wound of the left thigh, causing shock and hemorrhage, and inflicted by John Doney.”
Photos of two of the witnesses who testified at the September hearing were previously published in the Harrisburg Telegraph, August 28, 1935:
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From the Elizabethville Echo, September 26, 1935:
INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE
A Grand Jury in Dauphin County Court last week indicted John Doney, 72, of Millersburg, on a charge of murder.
Doney is accused of having shot and fatally wounded his friend and landlord, Michael Barnhart, also of Millersburg, on August 27th.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, January 17, 1936:
JURY CONVICTS JOHN DONEY OF MANSLAUGHTER
John Adam Doney, 73, of Lenkerville, Upper Paxton Township, was convicted of manslaughter at 3:10 p. m., this afternoon in the death of Michael Barnhart, 71, his neighbor and former friend.
A jury, which deliberated four and one-half hours, returned the verdict to Judge Frank B. Wickersham.
Doney, as a result of the conviction, could be sentenced to serve from six to twelve years in the penitentiary.
Defense counsel and the prosecution finished their argument yesterday. Assistant District Attorney E. Leroy Keen, who prosecuted the case, did not press first degree charges against the aged defendant which would sent him either to the electric chair or to prison for the remainder of his life.
But the prosecutor insisted that there was malice in the defendant’s heart when he took his revolver along as he wended his way to his neighbor’s yard to get a bucket of water.
But Wilhelm E. Shissler, who with Herbert O. Schaeffer defended Doney, pleaded that Doney fired his revolver in self-defense and only after Barnhart, jealous over a woman, picked up a stick of wood and swung twice at Doney, knocking off Doney’s hat. He did not intend to kill him, Shissler argued. Doney fired into the ground, he claimed, but the bullet severed an artery in the leg, and Barnhart bled to death.
Several Lenkerville residents yesterday testified to Doney’s good reputation.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, February 6, 1936:
AGED MILLERSBURG MAN TO BE SENTENCED MONDAY
Convicted on a charge of voluntary manslaughter several weeks ago, in connection with the death of his landlord and friend, Michael Barnhart, 71, John Adam Doney, 73, is to be called for sentence by the Dauphin County Court on Monday.
This became known on Tuesday when Assistant District Attorney E. Leroy Keen advised the court that counsel for the defendant had withdrawn motion for a new trial.
Doney was charged with firing a shot that struck Barnhart in the leg, causing a hemorrhage that resulted in his death, following an argument.
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From the Lykens Standard, February 7, 1936:
JOHN DONEY WILL BE SENTENCED FOR SLAYING MONDAY
John Adam Doney, 73, Lenkerville, convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the Dauphin County Court, nearly three weeks ago, in connection with the death of his friend and neighbor, Michael Barnhart, 71, will called for sentence by the court Monday.
This was revealed by District Attorney Keen on Wednesday when he informed the court that the motion for a new trial, filed by his counsel Herbert O. Schaeffer and Wilhelm F. Shissler, was withdrawn and would not be argued.
Doney admitted that he fired the shot which struck Barnhart in the leg and caused the hemorrhage which resulted in death, Doney claimed he fired in self-defense after Barnhart attacked him as he was on his way to get a bucket of water from the well in the Barnyard yard, as was his custom.
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From the Lykens Standard, February 14, 1936:
LENKERVILLE MAN DRAWS LIGHT SENTENCE, MONDAY
John Adam Doney, 73, Lenkerville, convicted in the Dauphin County Court recently of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of his friend and neighbor, Michael Barnhart, 71, on August 27 [1935], was sentenced Monday to serve eighteen months to three years in the Dauphin County Prison. The sentence, which includes a fine of $100, is to be computed from the day of the crime, when Doney was committed to jail.
“My sympathies were all with the defendant,” said Judge Wickersham, who presided at the trial, as [he] sentenced the aged man. “I thought there would be an acquittal.”
Herbert O. Schaeffer and Wilhelm E. Shissler, counsel for Doney, presented to the court a petition signed by numerous residents in the vicinity, including a nephew of the slain man, testifying to Doney’s previous good reputation and asking for leniency for the aged slayer. The defence counsel also pointed out to the court that the act does not provide for a minimum, which is left to the discretion of the court. The maximum is six to twelve years in the penitentiary.
Barnhart bled to death from a bullet wound in the leg inflicted by Doney, when Barnhart interfered with him while Doney attempted to get water from the well in Barnhart’s yard. There was testimony that the shooting was provoked by Barnhart, who chased Doney with a club, and the defense claimed Doney fired to protect himself.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.