"The Manheim Tragedy. A complete history of the double murder of Mrs. Garber & Mrs. Ream: with the only authentic life and confession of Alexander Anderson, together with a correct account of the arrest, trial, conviction, sentence, death-warrant, and execution of Anderson and Henry Richards, his accomplice; to which is appended some brief reflections on the causes and consequences of crimes."
Published by H. A. Rockafield, in trust for the benefit of Anderson's wife and children. Second edition, printed at the Evening Express Office, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
George Steinman Papers, Series 1 (MG0184_S01) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/786b3ffc-7908-40de-9362-817467455650
George Steinman Papers, Series 2 (MG0184_S02) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/6c7e11c6-f3ca-469c-891a-145832196710
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), George Steinman Papers (MG0184), Series 2, Object ID, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
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Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-184, Series 2
Other Number
MG-184, Series 2, Folder 28, Item 1
Classification
MG0184
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Added to database 12 February 2024.
Digitization of this document was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # C980002119, 2021-2024.
A Correct account of the trials of Charles M'Manus, John Hauer, Elizabeth Hauer, Patrick Donagan, Francis Cox, and others; at Harrisburgh -- June Oyer and Terminer, 1798. For the murder of Francis Shitz, on the night of the 28th December, 1797, at Heidelberg Township, Dauphin County, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Containing, the whole evidence, and the substance of all the law arguments in those celebrated trials
"The following is the last speech and dying confession of Charles M'Manus ."--Page 161-163.
Half-title: Trials and confessions of John Hauer, Charles M'Manus, &c. for the murder of Francis Shitz.
Parentheses substituted for square brackets in imprint transcription.
Handwritten contents on front flyleaf.
Jasper Yeates's Colonial Law Library.
Book number 606 as assigned by Yeates.
ESTC
Evans
Summary
This is an account of the first murder trial in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, for a crime that took place just outside of Harrisburg in December 1797. "The will of Peter Shitz left most of his estate to his sons Francis and Peter, but if they died without children, part went to his daughter Elizabeth. Hauer was the husband of Elizabeth, and he hired four Irishmen, newly arrived in the country, to kill his brothers-in-law. Two masked men raided the house one night and killed Francis with an ax, but Peter escaped. M'Manus and Hauer were hanged." [Williamreesecompany.com]
Information files are created for specific subjects that are associated with Lancaster County, e.g. "Rebman's scrap pile", "Ten-hour house". The files contain newspaper and magazine articles about the subject.
Executioner's hood, or cap, of "black Albert twill serge", was made by John C. Dinan and mentioned twice in the June 29 New Era article "MURDERERS PAY PENALTY." It was worn by Lee Furman, convicted murderer, for his hanging on June 29, 1905.
Hood is form-fitted to a round head shape, with a protrusion at the middle of side (for nose?). Hood narrows at the neck and flares strongly out to shoulders and extends to mid-chest in length. Vertical flap extends from bottom to perhaps jaw line, where there is a small, circular opening, likely to accomodate the rope. Flap is secured by 3 cloth-covered buttons. Expertly sewn, likely by a local seamstress or tailor.
Also included with gift is a postal card postmarked Sept. 9, 1905 from H.S. Eckels & Co. in Philadelphia to Mr. J. Fred. Fisher at 128 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA. message is handwritten in black ink: "Hood use(d) on Lee Furman Hung Thursday June 29, 1905 for the killing of Samuel Ressler "Toll gate Keeper" July 1, 1904." See NOTES on Fisher.
Provenance
Hood was purchased by Mayor Smithgall for $100 from a woman whose father reportedly had acquired it from the mortician. Postal card is unexplained (J. Frederick Fisher was a clerk for the P.R.R. and boarded at 504 N. Queen St. according to the 1890 Directory.
The life and confession of Daniel Shaeffer, who was found guilty, in the Court of Quarter Sessions of the County of Lancaster, Pa. in November, 1831, of the murder of Elizabeth Bowers and sentenced to be executed on the 13th of April, 1832
