AN ALMOST INCREDIBLE CRIME.

Dunstan Times, Issue 949, 25 June 1880, Page 3

AN ALMOST INCREDIBLE CRIME.

Governor Hoyt, of Harrisburg!), D.S., has just issued the death warrants of Israel Brandt, Henry Wise, and Josiah Hummed, three of four men who employed Charles Drews (executed last November) to murder Joseph Haber, in Lebanon county, to obtain 10,000dols insurance on his life. The date of the hanging is Thursday, May 13. Baber was murdered by drowning in a sma'l creek in December, 1878. The murder originated with Brandt, who is a onearmed man, and was for years noted as an outlaw. He communicated the plot to Wise, Hummed, and George Zcchman, who joined him in a conspiracy to first heavily insure old Baber, and then have him put

out of the way. The conspirators agreed to give Drews ISOOdols of the insurance money for the death of Haber, and Drews agreed to carry out their wishes. A short time before the old man was drowned, Drews took him to a dam into which he lad resolved to throw him, but bis courage failed. Drews was severely upbraided for bis cowardice, and bis life was threatened by Brandt if lie did not kill the old man. Ho then employed Frank Stickler, only 19 years of age, for lOO.lols to assist him in the murder of Haber, and, on the afternoon ol December 7, 1878, Stickler threw him in a creek, and with the assistance of Drews, held him under the water until he was dead. The ciime was witnessed by a daughter of Drews and a son in-!aw, who afterwards gave the principal testimony in the trial of the six murderers, all of whom were convicted. Zechman was awarded a new trial, ami owing to the contradictory statements of Wise, one of the conspirators whom the Commonwealth had used as a witness, ho was acquitted. Wise strongly implicated Zechman, lint lot no opportunity pass without screening himself. Judge Pearson, who tiied the cases, said he did not know what a Lebanon County jury would do, but he would consign him to the gallows. For his testimony Wise supposed that he would not bo sentenced to death. Applications for commutation of the sentences were beard and refused, and there is no chance for interruption of the hanging.