OBIT: James ESTEP, 1873, Williamsburg, Blair County, PA

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Homicide in Williamsburg.

  We clip the following account of this sad affair from the Standard of 
this week.
  Perhaps the people of Williamsburg were never so profoundly shocked 
since the memorable eighth of June, 1856, when one of their fellow 
citizens were [sic] stabbed to death in a drunken brawl, as they were 
on Friday night, or rather Saturday morning last, when it became 
generally known that James Estep had been struck on the head by a 
murderous instrument in the hands of some sneaking assassin, and so 
badly injured that he remains, so far as we can learn, up to the 
present writing, in a dangerous condition.
  So soon as it was discovered that Estep's condition was so extremely 
critical, the necessary steps for discovering and apprehending the 
assassin were taken.  From certain circumstances, which will be noticed 
directly, a young man named Daniel Amhiser was arrested and arraigned 
before Justice McKiernan as the author of the dastardly outrage.  After 
a full hearing of all the evidence in the case, which was entirely 
circumstantial, it was determined to commit Amhiser to the jail of this 
place, to await the result of Estep's injuries.  He was accordingly 
brought up on Saturday morning and lodged in the jail, where he now is.
  The facts brought to light by the preliminary examination before 
Justice McKiernan, and which were deemed sufficiently criminating to 
justify the detention of Amhiser, are substantially as follows:  Both 
Amhiser and Estep were, up to a recent date, employees of the 
Williamsburg Manufacturing Company, and were engaged at the furnace, 
the former being in somewhat superior position.  Some time ago Estep 
quit work, alleging that Amhiser was entirely too arrogant, impedrious 
[sic] and quarrelsome, and that could not and would not submit any 
longer.  Shortly after some seven or eight other men went to George 
Fay, general manager, and represented to him that Amhiser's conduct was 
unbearable and that he must be discharged or they would be obliged to 
give up their positions.  Mr. Fay probably thought that where there was 
so much smoke there must be a little fire.  He told the men to go to 
their work, assuring them that the proper remedy would be applied.  
This came shortly after in the form of Amhiser's discharge.
  Whether Estep, who seems to have resumed work immediately after 
Amhiser's discharge, was particularly obnoxious to the latter or not, 
we do not know, but it is alleged in the testimony at the preliminary 
hearing that he (Amhiser) had been seen several times during Friday 
carrying a "billy;" that he was under the influence of liquor, although 
how a man could get liquor in a town which prohibits the sale of cider 
is a mystery to us; that he had indulged in threats of a sanguinary 
nature toward several persons, and toward Estep in particular.
  On Friday evening Estep, who was at his usual work about the Furnace, 
stepped out for a moment.  At this point our informants disagree, one 
asserting that nothing more was seen of the unfortunate man until he 
was picked up in the neighborhood of the furnace, insensible, and 
suffering from a fractured skull, while the other says he ran into the 
furnace, fell into the cinder hole and was immediately picked up by his 
fellow workmen who immediately discovered that he had been the victim 
of murderous assault.  In addition to the circumstantial evidence 
implicating Amhiser in the commission of the outrage, it was further 
alleged that he had been seen about the furnace shortly before Estep 
was assaulted.
  We have been unable to get the prisoner's side of the story, or we 
should gladly print it, by the side of that which weighs against him.  
So far as we are concerned it is not our duty to declare him guilty or 
innocent.  We hope that he is innocent, and trust he may be able 
triumphantly to sever the chain of circumstantial evidence which has 
been drawn around him.
  Our latest intelligence from the injured man indicated his speedy 
death.  From the moment he was stricken down he has laid in an 
insensible state and it is to be feared ere these words shall see the 
light his spirit will have taken its everlasting flight.  We sincerely 
trust, however, that he may speedily recover, not only for his own 
sake, but for that of his family and of all who are concerned in this 
distressing affair.  
  We regret to state that Estep is dead.  He died about three o'clock 
on Saturday afternoon, never having regained his consciousness.  He 
leaves a wife and six children whose only dependence for their living 
has been upon his exertions.

Altoona Sun, Altoona, Pa., Friday Morning, February 28, 1873

1870 Penn Township, Huntingdon County census -
James Estep, 28  
Sarah Estep, 29  
Mary Estep, 9  
George Estep, 7  
Jacob Estep, 5  
Nancy Estep, 3  
Thomas Estep, 9/12