The Daily News, Hungtingdon, PA, Thursday, October 23, 1931; pg. 2
CUMBERLAND MEN TURN VIGILANTES TO SEARCH FOR SLAYERS
Carlisle, Pa., Oct. 23. - Cumberland County farmers who once chased horse thieves revived their vigilante committee here today to search for chicken thieves suspected of slaying James Eppley, 65, South Middleton township farmer.
Eppley died in Carlisle hospital from a bullet wound in the head, received when he surprised thieves in his henhouse this morning, police reported.
Neighboring farmers called a recently organized protective association together just as state police, accompanied by two police dogs, took up the trail of the suspects, who apparently escaped without leaving any tangible clue.
The police learned that Eppley had been awakened by the continued barking of a dog. He dressed and went outside, arming himself with a revolver. He fired one shot into the air to warn any intruders and walked toward the chicken coops.
Those in the house heard another shot. They investigated to find Eppley lying unconscious on the threshold of the henhouse. A burlap bag such as had been used here in chicken-raiding expeditions lay near by.
They rushed Eppley to the hospital where he died without regaining consciousness. Meantime neighbors and police organized for the search.
Chicken thefts have been very numerous in the Cumberland county (sic) section within the last year and the farmers organized an association designed to pursue and prosecute thieves. It was modeled after the former horse thievery protective association abandoned a year ago because "there were no more horse thieves to chase."
======================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Friday, October 23, 1931
GOES TO SILENCE DOG AND IS SHOT BY HEN THIEVES
SON FINDS HIS FATHER DEAD AT DOOR INTO CHICKEN HOUSE ON VALLEY FARM.
POLICE HERE ARE ASKED TO HELP
Carlisle, Oct. 23, (AP). - James Martin Eppley, a farmer, was shot and killed early today by chicken thieves when he went to silence the barking of a stray dog.
The Eppley family which lives two miles east of here are aroused by the barking of a dog and Eppley told his wife he was going to drive the animal away or shoot it. Soon after he left the house the family heard a shot and a few minutes later another shot was heard from the barn.
A son, Robert, thinking his father was chasing the dog through the fields went out to help. He found his father unconscious as the door of the chicken house. Eppley had been shot in the forehead with a .32 calibre revolver.
State police said they found an empty bag outside the chicken house which they believe the thieves dropped. Mrs. Eppley said about 35 chickens were missing.
The state police at the Gettysburg sub-station were pressed into service in the hunt for the chicken thieves who shot and killed Eppley as he went out to silence the stray dog at his home near Carlisle.
Local roads were watched early this morning for the automobile in which the killers are believes to have escaped. A round of all local poultry dealers was also made warning them to be on the lookout for anyone with chickens to sell which might have been stolen from the Eppley farm.
Two of the local troopers went to Hanover to warn poultry dealers in that place while similar warnings were sent to merchants in Emmitsburg and Frederick.
===========================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Monday, October 26, 1931
OFFER REWARD FOR SLAYERS
No New Clues in Killing of Cumberland Farmers By Hen Thieves
A reward of $500 has been offered for the apprehension of the alleged slayer of James M. Eppley, Cumberland county (sic) livestock dealer and school director. The search was continued Sunday without new clues being developed.
Nearly fifty suspects have been questioned by state police since Mr. Eppley was found fatally wounded with a bullet in his head Friday morning at his home along the Boiling Springs road, about three miles east of Carlisle.
At a special meeting of the Cumberland county (sic) commissioners Saturday it was voted to "offer a reward of $500 for the detection and apprehension of the person or persons found guilty of the murder of James M. Eppley, to e paid upon the conviction of such person or persons."
The autopsy was performed Saturday morning by Dr. E.R. Plank, Carlisle, who found the bullet lodged in the left side of the victim's head at about the same place it had pierced his head on the right side. The bullet of which the calibre was not determined immediately, has been turned over to state police ballistic experts. Cumberland county (sic) Coroner W.S. Ruch announced that the inquest would be postponed indefinitely at the request of the state police.
Two bloodhounds were taken to Carlisle late Friday night from Rockview penitentiary at Bellefonte, but, like the police dogs used earlier in the day, were unable to take a trail. They were returned to Rockview Saturday.
Eight state troopers continued the search. Poultry markets throughout the state and surrounding territory were being watched in an effort to detect the slayers if an attempt was made to dispose of a quantity of chickens alleged to have been stolen from the Eppley coops the night of the fatal shooting. No clues were reported from these inquiries late Sunday.
The farm on which the shooting occurred is owned by the Gorgas estate, Harrisburg. Mr. Eppley was born and raised at the homestead, a 216-acre farm. His father, George Eppley, had farmed the land previous to his taking it over at his father's death about forty years ago.
===============================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Saturday, October 24, 1931
GRANGE AIDS IN SEARCH FOR EPPLEY SLAYER
Secret Committee Works To Find Clue To Hen Thieves.
ON WATCH FOR STOLEN FOWLS
Police members of the granges and other members of Cumberland county (sic) have joined forces in taking an active part in the capture of the chicken thieves who are sought in the slaying of James M. Eppley, 65, who was found shot to death on his farm near Carlisle Friday morning.
Cumberland county (sic) farmers, who have been visited by chicken thieves, many times _________, have acted. The secret committee of the Cumberland county (sic) grange formed to combat chicken thieves held a special meeting and set out to assist in the integration. It was summoned Friday by George E. Wilson, Mechanicsburg, route 2.
The Cumberland county (sic) commissioners will be asked to offer a reward for the apprehension of the chicken thief or thieves who killed James Eppley. The announcement was made Friday night in Newville by Luther Gulden, clerk of the commissioners and candidate for clerk of the courts.
Mr. Gulden asked the audience of the Democratic meeting he was attending whether they approved of offering such a reward from public funds. The audience by a rising vote showed its approval.
Meanwhile the state police appear to be without a clue in their search for the slayers. Two dogs used by the police started on a trail and then lost it.
With the slayers went about forty of the Eppley chickens and police believe that by watching for the disposal of the stolen fowls they would detect the thieves.
Eppley, who was a school director and a prominent livestock dealer, died at 6:56 o'clock Friday morning at the Carlisle hospital, where he was taken a few minutes after he was found, a revolver bullet in the right side of his head, several feet from the chicken house door. He was found by his son, Robert.
According to members of the family, Eppley had gotten out of bed at 2 o'clock Friday morning to chase a dog he hard (sic) barking by firing his revolver. Later the members of the family heard two shots and when Eppley did not return started in search for him.
They found him near the chicken house door, which was standing open, the fastening broken. One shot was fired from the man's revolver. A hole was in his hat, ringed with powder burns.
Mr. Eppley was a native and life-long resident of the Carlisle section, having been born and raised on the present homestead, a 216 acre farm. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church (sic), Carlisle.
About two years ago he was elected to the school board of South Middleton township and at the present time was serving as the president of the board. Mr. Eppley was also a member of the Boiling Springs grange and always took an active part in the civic affairs in that vicinity. He was one of the largest livestock dealers in that section.
In addition to his widow he is survived by two sons, Robert, at home; George, at Carlisle; a daughter, Mrs. Catherine Fox, Mechanicsburg; a brother, Reuben Eppley, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; a sister, Mrs. Frank Moist of Lewistown, and by six grandchildren.
=================================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), October 28, 1931; pg. 1 & 2
Family Opposes Suicide Theory In Death of Cumberland Farmer
Son Points Out That Two Shots Were Heard By Three Persons.
With the cause of the death of James M. Eppley, prominent Cumberland county (sic) livestock dealer and school director who was found mortally wounded early last Friday morning at his South Middleton farm yet undetermined, state police and county officials Tuesday continued their investigation without any further developments.
An inquest to determine the possible cause of the man's death was to be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the public rooms of the Cumberland county (sic) courthouse in Carlisle. W.S. Ruch, Cumberland county (sic) coroner, announced Tuesday.
Testimony of the investigators, the physician who conducted the autopsy and members of the family will be heard at that time in an effort to determine the cause of death.
The suicide theory advanced late Monday by state police for the first time since Eppley was at first believed to have been shot down by chicken thieves whom he surprised at their work. Tuesday afternoon was strongly opposed by members of the Eppley family. The opinion that it was a case of suicide was announced Monday when John Funk, ballistic expert, reported that the calibre of the bullet removed from Eppley's head was the same as that of the gun which he carried.
"I have no reason to believe my father took his life." Robert Eppley, son of the victim who made his home on the Eppley farm, stated yesterday. "He enjoyed fair health and had no unusual worries that we knew about. There are several of the phases of the shooting that cannot be explained by suicide and until they are satisfactorily cleared up. I don't see how police can say he took his life," the young farmer who has taken his father's place on the farm said.
"Both my mother and Helen Marsh, who lives with us, distinctly heard two shots before we started the search for father," Robert added. "There was but one exploded bullet in the weapon, the others were intact. There's another problem too. Father suffered from rheumatism and was unable to lift his arm on a level with his shoulder which would have been necessary for him to do to inflict the wound above the ear," the son explained. The autopsy revealed that the bullet took its course directly across the head and on a level, having entered a little above and about an inch back of the ear.
In explaining his belief that his father did not take his own life, the son put the question. "How are we to explain the absence of between twenty-five and forty chickens from the hen house and what about the lock which was forced from the door and the footmarks found on the fence".
CUMBERLAND MEN TURN VIGILANTES TO SEARCH FOR SLAYERS
Carlisle, Pa., Oct. 23. - Cumberland County farmers who once chased horse thieves revived their vigilante committee here today to search for chicken thieves suspected of slaying James Eppley, 65, South Middleton township farmer.
Eppley died in Carlisle hospital from a bullet wound in the head, received when he surprised thieves in his henhouse this morning, police reported.
Neighboring farmers called a recently organized protective association together just as state police, accompanied by two police dogs, took up the trail of the suspects, who apparently escaped without leaving any tangible clue.
The police learned that Eppley had been awakened by the continued barking of a dog. He dressed and went outside, arming himself with a revolver. He fired one shot into the air to warn any intruders and walked toward the chicken coops.
Those in the house heard another shot. They investigated to find Eppley lying unconscious on the threshold of the henhouse. A burlap bag such as had been used here in chicken-raiding expeditions lay near by.
They rushed Eppley to the hospital where he died without regaining consciousness. Meantime neighbors and police organized for the search.
Chicken thefts have been very numerous in the Cumberland county (sic) section within the last year and the farmers organized an association designed to pursue and prosecute thieves. It was modeled after the former horse thievery protective association abandoned a year ago because "there were no more horse thieves to chase."
======================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Friday, October 23, 1931
GOES TO SILENCE DOG AND IS SHOT BY HEN THIEVES
SON FINDS HIS FATHER DEAD AT DOOR INTO CHICKEN HOUSE ON VALLEY FARM.
POLICE HERE ARE ASKED TO HELP
Carlisle, Oct. 23, (AP). - James Martin Eppley, a farmer, was shot and killed early today by chicken thieves when he went to silence the barking of a stray dog.
The Eppley family which lives two miles east of here are aroused by the barking of a dog and Eppley told his wife he was going to drive the animal away or shoot it. Soon after he left the house the family heard a shot and a few minutes later another shot was heard from the barn.
A son, Robert, thinking his father was chasing the dog through the fields went out to help. He found his father unconscious as the door of the chicken house. Eppley had been shot in the forehead with a .32 calibre revolver.
State police said they found an empty bag outside the chicken house which they believe the thieves dropped. Mrs. Eppley said about 35 chickens were missing.
The state police at the Gettysburg sub-station were pressed into service in the hunt for the chicken thieves who shot and killed Eppley as he went out to silence the stray dog at his home near Carlisle.
Local roads were watched early this morning for the automobile in which the killers are believes to have escaped. A round of all local poultry dealers was also made warning them to be on the lookout for anyone with chickens to sell which might have been stolen from the Eppley farm.
Two of the local troopers went to Hanover to warn poultry dealers in that place while similar warnings were sent to merchants in Emmitsburg and Frederick.
===========================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Monday, October 26, 1931
OFFER REWARD FOR SLAYERS
No New Clues in Killing of Cumberland Farmers By Hen Thieves
A reward of $500 has been offered for the apprehension of the alleged slayer of James M. Eppley, Cumberland county (sic) livestock dealer and school director. The search was continued Sunday without new clues being developed.
Nearly fifty suspects have been questioned by state police since Mr. Eppley was found fatally wounded with a bullet in his head Friday morning at his home along the Boiling Springs road, about three miles east of Carlisle.
At a special meeting of the Cumberland county (sic) commissioners Saturday it was voted to "offer a reward of $500 for the detection and apprehension of the person or persons found guilty of the murder of James M. Eppley, to e paid upon the conviction of such person or persons."
The autopsy was performed Saturday morning by Dr. E.R. Plank, Carlisle, who found the bullet lodged in the left side of the victim's head at about the same place it had pierced his head on the right side. The bullet of which the calibre was not determined immediately, has been turned over to state police ballistic experts. Cumberland county (sic) Coroner W.S. Ruch announced that the inquest would be postponed indefinitely at the request of the state police.
Two bloodhounds were taken to Carlisle late Friday night from Rockview penitentiary at Bellefonte, but, like the police dogs used earlier in the day, were unable to take a trail. They were returned to Rockview Saturday.
Eight state troopers continued the search. Poultry markets throughout the state and surrounding territory were being watched in an effort to detect the slayers if an attempt was made to dispose of a quantity of chickens alleged to have been stolen from the Eppley coops the night of the fatal shooting. No clues were reported from these inquiries late Sunday.
The farm on which the shooting occurred is owned by the Gorgas estate, Harrisburg. Mr. Eppley was born and raised at the homestead, a 216-acre farm. His father, George Eppley, had farmed the land previous to his taking it over at his father's death about forty years ago.
===============================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Saturday, October 24, 1931
GRANGE AIDS IN SEARCH FOR EPPLEY SLAYER
Secret Committee Works To Find Clue To Hen Thieves.
ON WATCH FOR STOLEN FOWLS
Police members of the granges and other members of Cumberland county (sic) have joined forces in taking an active part in the capture of the chicken thieves who are sought in the slaying of James M. Eppley, 65, who was found shot to death on his farm near Carlisle Friday morning.
Cumberland county (sic) farmers, who have been visited by chicken thieves, many times _________, have acted. The secret committee of the Cumberland county (sic) grange formed to combat chicken thieves held a special meeting and set out to assist in the integration. It was summoned Friday by George E. Wilson, Mechanicsburg, route 2.
The Cumberland county (sic) commissioners will be asked to offer a reward for the apprehension of the chicken thief or thieves who killed James Eppley. The announcement was made Friday night in Newville by Luther Gulden, clerk of the commissioners and candidate for clerk of the courts.
Mr. Gulden asked the audience of the Democratic meeting he was attending whether they approved of offering such a reward from public funds. The audience by a rising vote showed its approval.
Meanwhile the state police appear to be without a clue in their search for the slayers. Two dogs used by the police started on a trail and then lost it.
With the slayers went about forty of the Eppley chickens and police believe that by watching for the disposal of the stolen fowls they would detect the thieves.
Eppley, who was a school director and a prominent livestock dealer, died at 6:56 o'clock Friday morning at the Carlisle hospital, where he was taken a few minutes after he was found, a revolver bullet in the right side of his head, several feet from the chicken house door. He was found by his son, Robert.
According to members of the family, Eppley had gotten out of bed at 2 o'clock Friday morning to chase a dog he hard (sic) barking by firing his revolver. Later the members of the family heard two shots and when Eppley did not return started in search for him.
They found him near the chicken house door, which was standing open, the fastening broken. One shot was fired from the man's revolver. A hole was in his hat, ringed with powder burns.
Mr. Eppley was a native and life-long resident of the Carlisle section, having been born and raised on the present homestead, a 216 acre farm. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church (sic), Carlisle.
About two years ago he was elected to the school board of South Middleton township and at the present time was serving as the president of the board. Mr. Eppley was also a member of the Boiling Springs grange and always took an active part in the civic affairs in that vicinity. He was one of the largest livestock dealers in that section.
In addition to his widow he is survived by two sons, Robert, at home; George, at Carlisle; a daughter, Mrs. Catherine Fox, Mechanicsburg; a brother, Reuben Eppley, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; a sister, Mrs. Frank Moist of Lewistown, and by six grandchildren.
=================================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), October 28, 1931; pg. 1 & 2
Family Opposes Suicide Theory In Death of Cumberland Farmer
Son Points Out That Two Shots Were Heard By Three Persons.
With the cause of the death of James M. Eppley, prominent Cumberland county (sic) livestock dealer and school director who was found mortally wounded early last Friday morning at his South Middleton farm yet undetermined, state police and county officials Tuesday continued their investigation without any further developments.
An inquest to determine the possible cause of the man's death was to be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the public rooms of the Cumberland county (sic) courthouse in Carlisle. W.S. Ruch, Cumberland county (sic) coroner, announced Tuesday.
Testimony of the investigators, the physician who conducted the autopsy and members of the family will be heard at that time in an effort to determine the cause of death.
The suicide theory advanced late Monday by state police for the first time since Eppley was at first believed to have been shot down by chicken thieves whom he surprised at their work. Tuesday afternoon was strongly opposed by members of the Eppley family. The opinion that it was a case of suicide was announced Monday when John Funk, ballistic expert, reported that the calibre of the bullet removed from Eppley's head was the same as that of the gun which he carried.
"I have no reason to believe my father took his life." Robert Eppley, son of the victim who made his home on the Eppley farm, stated yesterday. "He enjoyed fair health and had no unusual worries that we knew about. There are several of the phases of the shooting that cannot be explained by suicide and until they are satisfactorily cleared up. I don't see how police can say he took his life," the young farmer who has taken his father's place on the farm said.
"Both my mother and Helen Marsh, who lives with us, distinctly heard two shots before we started the search for father," Robert added. "There was but one exploded bullet in the weapon, the others were intact. There's another problem too. Father suffered from rheumatism and was unable to lift his arm on a level with his shoulder which would have been necessary for him to do to inflict the wound above the ear," the son explained. The autopsy revealed that the bullet took its course directly across the head and on a level, having entered a little above and about an inch back of the ear.
In explaining his belief that his father did not take his own life, the son put the question. "How are we to explain the absence of between twenty-five and forty chickens from the hen house and what about the lock which was forced from the door and the footmarks found on the fence".
The Daily News, Hungtingdon, PA, Thursday, October 23, 1931; pg. 2
CUMBERLAND MEN TURN VIGILANTES TO SEARCH FOR SLAYERS
Carlisle, Pa., Oct. 23. - Cumberland County farmers who once chased horse thieves revived their vigilante committee here today to search for chicken thieves suspected of slaying James Eppley, 65, South Middleton township farmer.
Eppley died in Carlisle hospital from a bullet wound in the head, received when he surprised thieves in his henhouse this morning, police reported.
Neighboring farmers called a recently organized protective association together just as state police, accompanied by two police dogs, took up the trail of the suspects, who apparently escaped without leaving any tangible clue.
The police learned that Eppley had been awakened by the continued barking of a dog. He dressed and went outside, arming himself with a revolver. He fired one shot into the air to warn any intruders and walked toward the chicken coops.
Those in the house heard another shot. They investigated to find Eppley lying unconscious on the threshold of the henhouse. A burlap bag such as had been used here in chicken-raiding expeditions lay near by.
They rushed Eppley to the hospital where he died without regaining consciousness. Meantime neighbors and police organized for the search.
Chicken thefts have been very numerous in the Cumberland county (sic) section within the last year and the farmers organized an association designed to pursue and prosecute thieves. It was modeled after the former horse thievery protective association abandoned a year ago because "there were no more horse thieves to chase."
======================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Friday, October 23, 1931
GOES TO SILENCE DOG AND IS SHOT BY HEN THIEVES
SON FINDS HIS FATHER DEAD AT DOOR INTO CHICKEN HOUSE ON VALLEY FARM.
POLICE HERE ARE ASKED TO HELP
Carlisle, Oct. 23, (AP). - James Martin Eppley, a farmer, was shot and killed early today by chicken thieves when he went to silence the barking of a stray dog.
The Eppley family which lives two miles east of here are aroused by the barking of a dog and Eppley told his wife he was going to drive the animal away or shoot it. Soon after he left the house the family heard a shot and a few minutes later another shot was heard from the barn.
A son, Robert, thinking his father was chasing the dog through the fields went out to help. He found his father unconscious as the door of the chicken house. Eppley had been shot in the forehead with a .32 calibre revolver.
State police said they found an empty bag outside the chicken house which they believe the thieves dropped. Mrs. Eppley said about 35 chickens were missing.
The state police at the Gettysburg sub-station were pressed into service in the hunt for the chicken thieves who shot and killed Eppley as he went out to silence the stray dog at his home near Carlisle.
Local roads were watched early this morning for the automobile in which the killers are believes to have escaped. A round of all local poultry dealers was also made warning them to be on the lookout for anyone with chickens to sell which might have been stolen from the Eppley farm.
Two of the local troopers went to Hanover to warn poultry dealers in that place while similar warnings were sent to merchants in Emmitsburg and Frederick.
===========================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Monday, October 26, 1931
OFFER REWARD FOR SLAYERS
No New Clues in Killing of Cumberland Farmers By Hen Thieves
A reward of $500 has been offered for the apprehension of the alleged slayer of James M. Eppley, Cumberland county (sic) livestock dealer and school director. The search was continued Sunday without new clues being developed.
Nearly fifty suspects have been questioned by state police since Mr. Eppley was found fatally wounded with a bullet in his head Friday morning at his home along the Boiling Springs road, about three miles east of Carlisle.
At a special meeting of the Cumberland county (sic) commissioners Saturday it was voted to "offer a reward of $500 for the detection and apprehension of the person or persons found guilty of the murder of James M. Eppley, to e paid upon the conviction of such person or persons."
The autopsy was performed Saturday morning by Dr. E.R. Plank, Carlisle, who found the bullet lodged in the left side of the victim's head at about the same place it had pierced his head on the right side. The bullet of which the calibre was not determined immediately, has been turned over to state police ballistic experts. Cumberland county (sic) Coroner W.S. Ruch announced that the inquest would be postponed indefinitely at the request of the state police.
Two bloodhounds were taken to Carlisle late Friday night from Rockview penitentiary at Bellefonte, but, like the police dogs used earlier in the day, were unable to take a trail. They were returned to Rockview Saturday.
Eight state troopers continued the search. Poultry markets throughout the state and surrounding territory were being watched in an effort to detect the slayers if an attempt was made to dispose of a quantity of chickens alleged to have been stolen from the Eppley coops the night of the fatal shooting. No clues were reported from these inquiries late Sunday.
The farm on which the shooting occurred is owned by the Gorgas estate, Harrisburg. Mr. Eppley was born and raised at the homestead, a 216-acre farm. His father, George Eppley, had farmed the land previous to his taking it over at his father's death about forty years ago.
===============================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Saturday, October 24, 1931
GRANGE AIDS IN SEARCH FOR EPPLEY SLAYER
Secret Committee Works To Find Clue To Hen Thieves.
ON WATCH FOR STOLEN FOWLS
Police members of the granges and other members of Cumberland county (sic) have joined forces in taking an active part in the capture of the chicken thieves who are sought in the slaying of James M. Eppley, 65, who was found shot to death on his farm near Carlisle Friday morning.
Cumberland county (sic) farmers, who have been visited by chicken thieves, many times _________, have acted. The secret committee of the Cumberland county (sic) grange formed to combat chicken thieves held a special meeting and set out to assist in the integration. It was summoned Friday by George E. Wilson, Mechanicsburg, route 2.
The Cumberland county (sic) commissioners will be asked to offer a reward for the apprehension of the chicken thief or thieves who killed James Eppley. The announcement was made Friday night in Newville by Luther Gulden, clerk of the commissioners and candidate for clerk of the courts.
Mr. Gulden asked the audience of the Democratic meeting he was attending whether they approved of offering such a reward from public funds. The audience by a rising vote showed its approval.
Meanwhile the state police appear to be without a clue in their search for the slayers. Two dogs used by the police started on a trail and then lost it.
With the slayers went about forty of the Eppley chickens and police believe that by watching for the disposal of the stolen fowls they would detect the thieves.
Eppley, who was a school director and a prominent livestock dealer, died at 6:56 o'clock Friday morning at the Carlisle hospital, where he was taken a few minutes after he was found, a revolver bullet in the right side of his head, several feet from the chicken house door. He was found by his son, Robert.
According to members of the family, Eppley had gotten out of bed at 2 o'clock Friday morning to chase a dog he hard (sic) barking by firing his revolver. Later the members of the family heard two shots and when Eppley did not return started in search for him.
They found him near the chicken house door, which was standing open, the fastening broken. One shot was fired from the man's revolver. A hole was in his hat, ringed with powder burns.
Mr. Eppley was a native and life-long resident of the Carlisle section, having been born and raised on the present homestead, a 216 acre farm. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church (sic), Carlisle.
About two years ago he was elected to the school board of South Middleton township and at the present time was serving as the president of the board. Mr. Eppley was also a member of the Boiling Springs grange and always took an active part in the civic affairs in that vicinity. He was one of the largest livestock dealers in that section.
In addition to his widow he is survived by two sons, Robert, at home; George, at Carlisle; a daughter, Mrs. Catherine Fox, Mechanicsburg; a brother, Reuben Eppley, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; a sister, Mrs. Frank Moist of Lewistown, and by six grandchildren.
=================================
The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), October 28, 1931; pg. 1 & 2
Family Opposes Suicide Theory In Death of Cumberland Farmer
Son Points Out That Two Shots Were Heard By Three Persons.
With the cause of the death of James M. Eppley, prominent Cumberland county (sic) livestock dealer and school director who was found mortally wounded early last Friday morning at his South Middleton farm yet undetermined, state police and county officials Tuesday continued their investigation without any further developments.
An inquest to determine the possible cause of the man's death was to be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the public rooms of the Cumberland county (sic) courthouse in Carlisle. W.S. Ruch, Cumberland county (sic) coroner, announced Tuesday.
Testimony of the investigators, the physician who conducted the autopsy and members of the family will be heard at that time in an effort to determine the cause of death.
The suicide theory advanced late Monday by state police for the first time since Eppley was at first believed to have been shot down by chicken thieves whom he surprised at their work. Tuesday afternoon was strongly opposed by members of the Eppley family. The opinion that it was a case of suicide was announced Monday when John Funk, ballistic expert, reported that the calibre of the bullet removed from Eppley's head was the same as that of the gun which he carried.
"I have no reason to believe my father took his life." Robert Eppley, son of the victim who made his home on the Eppley farm, stated yesterday. "He enjoyed fair health and had no unusual worries that we knew about. There are several of the phases of the shooting that cannot be explained by suicide and until they are satisfactorily cleared up. I don't see how police can say he took his life," the young farmer who has taken his father's place on the farm said.
"Both my mother and Helen Marsh, who lives with us, distinctly heard two shots before we started the search for father," Robert added. "There was but one exploded bullet in the weapon, the others were intact. There's another problem too. Father suffered from rheumatism and was unable to lift his arm on a level with his shoulder which would have been necessary for him to do to inflict the wound above the ear," the son explained. The autopsy revealed that the bullet took its course directly across the head and on a level, having entered a little above and about an inch back of the ear.
In explaining his belief that his father did not take his own life, the son put the question. "How are we to explain the absence of between twenty-five and forty chickens from the hen house and what about the lock which was forced from the door and the footmarks found on the fence".
CUMBERLAND MEN TURN VIGILANTES TO SEARCH FOR SLAYERS
Carlisle, Pa., Oct. 23. - Cumberland County farmers who once chased horse thieves revived their vigilante committee here today to search for chicken thieves suspected of slaying James Eppley, 65, South Middleton township farmer.
Eppley died in Carlisle hospital from a bullet wound in the head, received when he surprised thieves in his henhouse this morning, police reported.
Neighboring farmers called a recently organized protective association together just as state police, accompanied by two police dogs, took up the trail of the suspects, who apparently escaped without leaving any tangible clue.
The police learned that Eppley had been awakened by the continued barking of a dog. He dressed and went outside, arming himself with a revolver. He fired one shot into the air to warn any intruders and walked toward the chicken coops.
Those in the house heard another shot. They investigated to find Eppley lying unconscious on the threshold of the henhouse. A burlap bag such as had been used here in chicken-raiding expeditions lay near by.
They rushed Eppley to the hospital where he died without regaining consciousness. Meantime neighbors and police organized for the search.
Chicken thefts have been very numerous in the Cumberland county (sic) section within the last year and the farmers organized an association designed to pursue and prosecute thieves. It was modeled after the former horse thievery protective association abandoned a year ago because "there were no more horse thieves to chase."
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The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Friday, October 23, 1931
GOES TO SILENCE DOG AND IS SHOT BY HEN THIEVES
SON FINDS HIS FATHER DEAD AT DOOR INTO CHICKEN HOUSE ON VALLEY FARM.
POLICE HERE ARE ASKED TO HELP
Carlisle, Oct. 23, (AP). - James Martin Eppley, a farmer, was shot and killed early today by chicken thieves when he went to silence the barking of a stray dog.
The Eppley family which lives two miles east of here are aroused by the barking of a dog and Eppley told his wife he was going to drive the animal away or shoot it. Soon after he left the house the family heard a shot and a few minutes later another shot was heard from the barn.
A son, Robert, thinking his father was chasing the dog through the fields went out to help. He found his father unconscious as the door of the chicken house. Eppley had been shot in the forehead with a .32 calibre revolver.
State police said they found an empty bag outside the chicken house which they believe the thieves dropped. Mrs. Eppley said about 35 chickens were missing.
The state police at the Gettysburg sub-station were pressed into service in the hunt for the chicken thieves who shot and killed Eppley as he went out to silence the stray dog at his home near Carlisle.
Local roads were watched early this morning for the automobile in which the killers are believes to have escaped. A round of all local poultry dealers was also made warning them to be on the lookout for anyone with chickens to sell which might have been stolen from the Eppley farm.
Two of the local troopers went to Hanover to warn poultry dealers in that place while similar warnings were sent to merchants in Emmitsburg and Frederick.
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The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Monday, October 26, 1931
OFFER REWARD FOR SLAYERS
No New Clues in Killing of Cumberland Farmers By Hen Thieves
A reward of $500 has been offered for the apprehension of the alleged slayer of James M. Eppley, Cumberland county (sic) livestock dealer and school director. The search was continued Sunday without new clues being developed.
Nearly fifty suspects have been questioned by state police since Mr. Eppley was found fatally wounded with a bullet in his head Friday morning at his home along the Boiling Springs road, about three miles east of Carlisle.
At a special meeting of the Cumberland county (sic) commissioners Saturday it was voted to "offer a reward of $500 for the detection and apprehension of the person or persons found guilty of the murder of James M. Eppley, to e paid upon the conviction of such person or persons."
The autopsy was performed Saturday morning by Dr. E.R. Plank, Carlisle, who found the bullet lodged in the left side of the victim's head at about the same place it had pierced his head on the right side. The bullet of which the calibre was not determined immediately, has been turned over to state police ballistic experts. Cumberland county (sic) Coroner W.S. Ruch announced that the inquest would be postponed indefinitely at the request of the state police.
Two bloodhounds were taken to Carlisle late Friday night from Rockview penitentiary at Bellefonte, but, like the police dogs used earlier in the day, were unable to take a trail. They were returned to Rockview Saturday.
Eight state troopers continued the search. Poultry markets throughout the state and surrounding territory were being watched in an effort to detect the slayers if an attempt was made to dispose of a quantity of chickens alleged to have been stolen from the Eppley coops the night of the fatal shooting. No clues were reported from these inquiries late Sunday.
The farm on which the shooting occurred is owned by the Gorgas estate, Harrisburg. Mr. Eppley was born and raised at the homestead, a 216-acre farm. His father, George Eppley, had farmed the land previous to his taking it over at his father's death about forty years ago.
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The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), Saturday, October 24, 1931
GRANGE AIDS IN SEARCH FOR EPPLEY SLAYER
Secret Committee Works To Find Clue To Hen Thieves.
ON WATCH FOR STOLEN FOWLS
Police members of the granges and other members of Cumberland county (sic) have joined forces in taking an active part in the capture of the chicken thieves who are sought in the slaying of James M. Eppley, 65, who was found shot to death on his farm near Carlisle Friday morning.
Cumberland county (sic) farmers, who have been visited by chicken thieves, many times _________, have acted. The secret committee of the Cumberland county (sic) grange formed to combat chicken thieves held a special meeting and set out to assist in the integration. It was summoned Friday by George E. Wilson, Mechanicsburg, route 2.
The Cumberland county (sic) commissioners will be asked to offer a reward for the apprehension of the chicken thief or thieves who killed James Eppley. The announcement was made Friday night in Newville by Luther Gulden, clerk of the commissioners and candidate for clerk of the courts.
Mr. Gulden asked the audience of the Democratic meeting he was attending whether they approved of offering such a reward from public funds. The audience by a rising vote showed its approval.
Meanwhile the state police appear to be without a clue in their search for the slayers. Two dogs used by the police started on a trail and then lost it.
With the slayers went about forty of the Eppley chickens and police believe that by watching for the disposal of the stolen fowls they would detect the thieves.
Eppley, who was a school director and a prominent livestock dealer, died at 6:56 o'clock Friday morning at the Carlisle hospital, where he was taken a few minutes after he was found, a revolver bullet in the right side of his head, several feet from the chicken house door. He was found by his son, Robert.
According to members of the family, Eppley had gotten out of bed at 2 o'clock Friday morning to chase a dog he hard (sic) barking by firing his revolver. Later the members of the family heard two shots and when Eppley did not return started in search for him.
They found him near the chicken house door, which was standing open, the fastening broken. One shot was fired from the man's revolver. A hole was in his hat, ringed with powder burns.
Mr. Eppley was a native and life-long resident of the Carlisle section, having been born and raised on the present homestead, a 216 acre farm. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church (sic), Carlisle.
About two years ago he was elected to the school board of South Middleton township and at the present time was serving as the president of the board. Mr. Eppley was also a member of the Boiling Springs grange and always took an active part in the civic affairs in that vicinity. He was one of the largest livestock dealers in that section.
In addition to his widow he is survived by two sons, Robert, at home; George, at Carlisle; a daughter, Mrs. Catherine Fox, Mechanicsburg; a brother, Reuben Eppley, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; a sister, Mrs. Frank Moist of Lewistown, and by six grandchildren.
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The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA), October 28, 1931; pg. 1 & 2
Family Opposes Suicide Theory In Death of Cumberland Farmer
Son Points Out That Two Shots Were Heard By Three Persons.
With the cause of the death of James M. Eppley, prominent Cumberland county (sic) livestock dealer and school director who was found mortally wounded early last Friday morning at his South Middleton farm yet undetermined, state police and county officials Tuesday continued their investigation without any further developments.
An inquest to determine the possible cause of the man's death was to be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the public rooms of the Cumberland county (sic) courthouse in Carlisle. W.S. Ruch, Cumberland county (sic) coroner, announced Tuesday.
Testimony of the investigators, the physician who conducted the autopsy and members of the family will be heard at that time in an effort to determine the cause of death.
The suicide theory advanced late Monday by state police for the first time since Eppley was at first believed to have been shot down by chicken thieves whom he surprised at their work. Tuesday afternoon was strongly opposed by members of the Eppley family. The opinion that it was a case of suicide was announced Monday when John Funk, ballistic expert, reported that the calibre of the bullet removed from Eppley's head was the same as that of the gun which he carried.
"I have no reason to believe my father took his life." Robert Eppley, son of the victim who made his home on the Eppley farm, stated yesterday. "He enjoyed fair health and had no unusual worries that we knew about. There are several of the phases of the shooting that cannot be explained by suicide and until they are satisfactorily cleared up. I don't see how police can say he took his life," the young farmer who has taken his father's place on the farm said.
"Both my mother and Helen Marsh, who lives with us, distinctly heard two shots before we started the search for father," Robert added. "There was but one exploded bullet in the weapon, the others were intact. There's another problem too. Father suffered from rheumatism and was unable to lift his arm on a level with his shoulder which would have been necessary for him to do to inflict the wound above the ear," the son explained. The autopsy revealed that the bullet took its course directly across the head and on a level, having entered a little above and about an inch back of the ear.
In explaining his belief that his father did not take his own life, the son put the question. "How are we to explain the absence of between twenty-five and forty chickens from the hen house and what about the lock which was forced from the door and the footmarks found on the fence".
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