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Foully slain by his scapegrace son -- Emanuel Breist meets a terrible fate at Kikngerstown, Pa. |
The family heard nothing from Henry for four years; then, on
December 4, 1884, the prodigal son returned. The hatchet was buried, the fences
were mended, and Emanuel welcomed his son with open arms. He was so happy to
have his son back that he gave Henry all the money he asked for.
Henry, however, had not changed his prodigal ways. He spent
his father’s money on wild women, and he became notorious around Klingerstown for
drunkenness and dissipation. Henry became intimate with Mary Heckman, the wife
of William Heckman, proprietor of the Klingers Gap Tavern. The Heckmans had always
borne a bad reputation. Mary Heckmen was
described as “34 years of age and very ugly.” William, apparently, had no problem with his
wife’s dalliance with young Henry.
When reports of this relationship reached Emanuel, he was
livid. He told his son to have nothing more to do with Mrs. Heckman. Henry
agreed, but later that evening, he and Mary Heckman went on a sleigh ride and came
home intoxicated. Emanuel drove his son out of the house. After some friends
intervened and Henry solemnly vowed to cease intimacy with Mrs. Heckaman, Emanuel
relented and let Henry back in.
On December 29, Emanuel’s son-in-law, Isaac Mock, told him
that Henry and Mrs. Heckman were enjoying themselves at the Klingers Gap
Tavern. Emanuel did not believe him, so Isaac took him to the tavern. William
Heckman told them that Henry was not there, but Emanuel pushed his way into the
back room. There, he found his son and Mrs. Heckman sitting at a table with a
bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
“This is no place for you,” Emanuel said to Henry, “Go home.”
“I guess I know what is good for myself. I’m old enough now,”
Henry replied and burst out laughing.
Enraged, Emanuel struck a sharp blow across his face. He was
ready to strike again when Henry drew a revolver and shot his father, point
blank, in his right side. The old man fell to the floor. Henry dropped the
pistol and fled the scene.
Emanuel Breist died at 11:00 the following morning. The search for Henry proved fruitless; he was never apprehended.
Source:
“Killed by His Rake of a Son,” Illustrated Police News, January 17, 1885.
“Killed His Father,” Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News, January 1, 1885.
“Killing His Father In A Tavern,” New-York Tribune., December 31, 1884.
“A Rake Kills His Father,” New York Herald, December 31, 1884.
“Shost by a Prodigal Son,” Alexandria Gazette, December 31, 1884.
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