News: Albert Kessler, 1909, York County, PA

Contributed and transcribed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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MURDER IS SUSPECTED

Albert Kessler, Dead From Injuries Received in A Supposed Railway Accident, is Now Believed To 
Have Been Murdered – Young Man’s Money is Missing And He Raved About Murder.

Albert Kessler, about 23-years old, was struck by a N. C. freight train Saturday night near 
Hanover Junction and hurled down an embankment, where he lay unconscious until Sunday morning.  
The body, covered with blood, was discovered by Emanuel Fishel, of Seven Valleys, while 
returning home from his night’s work at the coal yards.  Kessler was revived and assisted to 
Hanover Junction.  Dr. G. M. Fickes was summoned, who after giving the injured man temporary 
relief, brought him to the York hospital.

An examination of Kessler’s injuries revealed a broken nose, gash in forehead, injured back and 
internal injuries.  His condition is serious.

Young Kessler Saturday night attended a festival at Seven Valleys, which is about one mile from 
Hanover Junction, his home.  Late at night he started for home and had almost arrived when he 
was run down by the locomotive of a freight train.  That he was not killed is considered 
miraculous.     

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Albert Kessler, of near Hanover Junction, died Tuesday morning at the York hospital.

Kessler, it will be remembered, was brought to the hospital Sunday, June 13, suffering from 
severe injuries sustained by being struck by a train on the N. C. Railway early that morning.

While at first believed to have been an accident, the opinion is now general among people of 
that section that Kessler was murdered.

All the facts surrounding the death indicate murder.  Kessler with a number of companions, 
attended a festival at Seven Valleys Saturday night, where he displayed a roll of bills 
amounting to $15.  This money he said he intended to wager on the result of the baseball game 
Saturday at Glen Rock, between the team from that town and Seven Valleys. 

Kessler was seen to leave Seven Valleys for his home at Hanover Junction, unaccompanied.  
Several of his friends who had preceeded him saw a man with his hat pulled over his eyes, 
loitering near the place where the injured youth was found Sunday morning.  It is said that no 
train passed Hanover Junction at the time Kessler was supposed to have been struck.  An 
operator in a nearby tower recollects that he heard cries of “murder” from the direction of the 
spot where Kessler was found.

On Sunday morning when the injured youth was discovered by Emanuel Fishel, he had in his 
pockets only 12 cents, the roll of bills having disappeared.  Fishel revived Kessler and 
assisted him to Hanover Junction, where he was placed in charge of Dr. G. M. Fickes, railroad 
physician, who took him to the York hospital.  While placing him on the train, he was heard to 
exclaim, “Murder! Murder! You’re a liar.”

Body Of Kessler Buried.

The funeral of A. T. Kessler, of near Hanover Junction, who died in the York hospital Tuesday 
morning after being found along the N. C. Railway tracks, near Hanover Junction, severely 
injured, was held Thursday morning at 9 o’clock, interment being made at Sheaffer’s church. 

Despite the fact that many believe the young man was killed by design, and not accidentally, no 
official investigation was made.

The Hanover Herald – Saturday, June 19, 1909