The small town of Scranton
The article, as it appeared in the Pittston Gazette, read:
Our city was startled yesterday
forenoon by the announcement of the murder of Dr. John D. Durkin, a Lung and
Throat Doctor, having his office in John Zeidler’s new building. The Doctor,
was found about 10 0’clock, a.m. in his room by G. H. Walters, who has an
office on the same floor. When discovered he was lying on his bedroom floor
stiff and cold, with a little pool of blood near his head. He was in his night
clothes and seemed to have fallen from the floor, or been placed there.
Alderman Jay action Coroner, summoned
the following persons to act as a Jury of Inquest, viz: Lorenzo Zeidler,
Patrick Scanlon, Patrick McGovern, Phillip Frier, A. Sweeney, G.H. Walters.
The post mortem examination was
concluded by Drs. Squires, Boyde and Masser. The examination was most thorough
and complete. There were found several bruises about the person of the
deceased, but none that would produce death, except the contusion on the back
part of the head, which was quite large and the skull laid bare. A stone,
weighing about two pounds, was found near the bed with a few drops of blood on
the smallest end. There was no particular evidence of a struggle to be seen
about the room. The blow being on the back of the head, it is more than
probable the wound was made by a person standing behind the Doctor, and the
blow quite or nearly stunned him.
The hall door, which Mr. Zeidler
himself fastened the night previous was opened, the bolt being bent and the
ketch sprung from its fastening. In order to do this it was necessary to spring
the top and bottom bolts, and spring the door inward. It is supposed that the
person committing the deed had either secreted himself in the building before
the doors were locked; had a key to one of the back doors, or entered through a
window in the lower story; then passing up to the Doctor’s room, awakened him,
gained admittance and then killed him. The door to his office was unlocked when
found and the key inside.
The murder is supposed to have been be
tern, standing in front of Zeidler’s building, and remained there when he
passed into his boarding house.
The deceased is about 45 to 50 years
of age; is spare made, and was not of a robust frame; quiet and inoffensive in
his habits, and abstemious in his diet. It is supposed he had considerable
money about him, but when discovered his watch {if he had one,} and money were
missing, except four cents.
The Doctor, until last Thursday had a
Mr. John Thorton, living in one of his upper Wards, as an assistant in his
office. He left him, and on the Monday following Dr. Durkin wishing to visit Wilkes-Barre
The perpetrator of this cold-blooded
murder is unknown and at large. Suspicions are directed to certain parties, but
as yet no arrests have been made. – Scranton
The original article apparently appeared in the Scranton Luzerne County ;
Scranton is in Lackawanna County
Subsequent articles around the area also stated that a
paving stone covered with blood was found on the floor next to his body,
implying that was the weapon. His death was combined with the theft of several
hundred dollars, implying the murderer knew the habits of the Doctor.
In January of the following year, the Pittston Gazette
reported on the “trial of Delemater for the murder of Dr. Durkin.’ Delemater
allegedly admitted to a companion that he had killed the Doctor and made $800.
Sources:
Pittston
Gazette. (Pittston , PA
Pittston
Gazette. (Pittston , PA
Titusville Herald (Titusville ,
PA
Mystery Monday is a
genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.
© Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016
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