OBIT: Joe PATCHIN, 1914, of interest in Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Keith Petenbrink.

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Patchin, Joe

  ANOTHER MURDER. Joe Patchin, a Jerome Miner, Fatally Stabbed Christman Eve, No 
Clue to the Murderer. With absolutely no clue on which to work, officers have 
not yet made any arrests following the murder of Joe Patchin, a miner about 19 
or 20 years of age, who was found about 12 o'clock Christman Eve night with 
three stab wounds in his body, which was still warm. No motive for the crime is 
known except robbery. It is not known that Patchin had any enemies and his 
position at the mines was such that he would hardly have incurred the 
displeasure of other men. That robbery might have been the motive is suggested 
by the fact that the man's pockets were empty when he was found. An inquest was 
conducted Christman Day by Coroner H. S. Kimmel, of Ralphton, but no light was 
shed on the motive for the crime or the identity of the assassin, and the 
verdict was that Joe Patchin came to his death at the hands of a person or 
persons unknown. The body was given over to Undertaker L. G. Hoffman, of 
Boswell. The victim of the unknown slayer was found between two stores, one 
conducted by Max Halpert and the other by Joe Kerry. The find was made by two 
young men named Berkey and Dill, who were returning from a barber shop. The body 
was still warm. The young men at first thought the prostrate form was that of an 
intoxicated man, but on closer investigation they found that life was extinct. 
An examination by Dr. H. S. Kimmel revealed stab wounds in three different parts 
of the body. All were made with the same weapon and were about three-fourth of 
an inch wide. One of the wounds was in the spinal column and was so large that 
the physician could easily insert a finger. The blade of the weapon must have 
been driven into the man's back with great force. To the right and a little 
higher was another deep wound, and a third was on the left side, about three 
inches below the heart. An Italian storekeeper testified at the inquest that 
Patchin came into his store about 10:30 o'clock Wednesday evening and was 
crying. When asked what was wrong, Patchin answered "nothing." He purchased some 
bologna and left the store. The officers believe that Patchin had a quarrel with 
someone at his boarding house. He had been in the employ of the Jenner-
Quemahoning Coal Company for several years. Last year he went to Italy for 
several months and came back only last month. Interment was made in the Jenner 
U. B. Cemetery Saturday in charge of Undertaker L. G. Hoffman.

Meyersdale Commercial, Jan. 1, 1914