Newspaper Report of John Lawrence Leroy Eichelberger’s Murder

Newspaper Report of John Lawrence Leroy Eichelberger’s Murder

A woman’s frenzied jealousy, coupled with her determination to prevent a reconciliation between a husband and wife, who had become estranged, was the direct motive which resulted in a tripled tragedy yesterday at West Grove, where three persons were slain.

The man killed was John Lawrence Leroy Eichelberger, aged thirty-two, and the dead woman was Fannie Dunlap, aged thirty-five. After murdering Eichelberger as he lay asleep in a bed alongside his wife at their home on Summit Avenue, West Grove, Mrs. Dunlap returned home, about one mile distant, where she shot and killed her eleven year old daughter, Ruth, and then turned the weapon upon herself.
This solution to one of the most shocking crimes ever perpetrated in Chester Co. was arrived at following an investigation by District Attorney W. Butler Windle and county Detective William Mullin, of West Chester. Evidence, as uncovered bit by bit, served to clear up all mystery attached to the triple killings, as well as to fasten responsibility upon the woman who committed suicide, and to effect complete exoneration of W. Robert Dunlap, husband of the woman.
For two and one half hours yesterday afternoon a coroner’s jury, empanelled by Deputy Coroner R. Jones Patrick of West Chester, listened to the testimony of several witnesses including the husband of the dead woman, who had been under surveillance of the authorities. The inquest resulted in the jury rendering a verdict that Eichelberger, Mrs. Dunlap and her daughter, came to their deaths from wounds caused by bullets fired from a revolver in the hands of Mrs. Dunlap.
After the verdict had been rendered, Dunlap who had been in the custody of Constable Forrest McNeal of West Chester was given his release, and Mrs. Eichelberger, widow of the deceased man, returned home to join her three small children, who had been made fatherless by the shooting.
Evidence unearthed by the county officials disclosed the fact that Mrs. Dunlap and Eichelberger had been friendly for some years past, that this friendship has caused Mrs. Eichelberger to leave her husband three weeks ago, and that the reconciliation between the Eichelbergers on Monday so around the jealousy of Mrs. Dunlap as to cause her to commit the double murder and then kill herself.
Leaving her home removed about one mile from West Grove, Monday night Mrs. Dunlap drove into a little borough. She took her eleven-year-old daughter and left with the intention of murder. Mrs. Dunlap waited on the street adjoining the Friends Meeting House in West Grove where she remained seated in such a way as to where she could command a clear view of the street leading to the house of Eichelberger.
Shortly before ten o’clock a motor truck pulled up in front of the Eichelberger home on Summit Ave. In this vehicle were Eichelberger, his wife, and their three small children, also the personal effects of the woman. Mrs. Dunlap, the investigation revealed, must have seen the family alight from the motor truck, and witnessed that which she had endeavored to prevent—Mrs. Eichelberger reunited with her husband. After leaving her husband three weeks ago, Mrs. Eichelberger and her three children went to Bel Air, MD. During her stay frequent letters passed between the woman and her husband, with the result that she agreed to return to West Grove on Monday, Whereupon Eichelberger motored to Bel Air and then returned with his family.
The reunion of the Eichelberger family upon their arrival at their home on Monday Night was witnessed by Mrs. Dunlap, in the opinion of the police authorities. Upon retiring the Eichelbergers, as was their custom, did not lock the doors of their home. Evidently taking advantage of this, Mrs. Dunlap, it is believed, stealthily entered the Eichelberger home. Just where the woman left her daughter when she crept into the house is not definitely known. However, it is possible, that the little girl may have fallen asleep in the wagon, where she was left by her mother for sufficient time for the latter to murder Eichelberger.

Wife Sees Murder

A bright light from a lamp on a bureau burned in the room occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Eichelberger. At one side of the bed, next to her mother, lay a four-month-old daughter of the couple. With a .25 Colt automatic revolver in hand, Mrs. Dunlap, after entering the Eichelberger house, made her way tot he room occupied by the husband and wife. Walking to the bed and pointing the gun close to the right temple of Eichelberger, Mrs. Dunlap pulled the trigger. She then made her way out of the house in a hurry, not swiftly enough however, to escape the observation of Mrs. Eichelberger, who awakened by the gunshot, saw a feminine figure clad in a long dark coat and a light hat, walking past the foot of the bed out of the room.

After recovering from the shock attending the shooting, Mrs. Eichelberger, so badly frightened as to fear making an outcry from an upstairs window, tried to revive her husband. Looking at the clock she saw it was 10 minutes of twelve. Finally she found a flashlight, and without arousing the older two children who lay asleep in another room, she went to the home of Dr. William B. Ewing nearby. The Physician accompanied the woman to her home. Upon examining the husband, he announced death must have been instantaneous. News of the shooting was immediately telephoned to District Attorney Windle and County Detective Mullin, at West Chester. These officials left for the scene of the shooting immediately, arriving at West Grove at about 4:30, where they started an investigation. After learning from Mrs. Eichelberger that her husband had been friendly with Mrs. Dunlap, and that the latter husband W.R. Dunlap, had been separate from his wife for some time, but was living near West Grove, District Attorney Windle took steps to issue warrants for the arrest of both Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap. Efforts at once were made to shadow Dunlap. Before he or his wife however, could be taken into custody, the double murder killing of Mrs. Dunlap and her daughter had been discovered.

Kills Daughter as She Slept

In the opinion of the police, following a rigid probe, Mrs. Dunlap, after killing Eichelberger drove to her home. Evidently in haste and fearing suspicion would quickly fasten upon her, the woman did not take time to unhitch the horse she drove. Instead she tied the animal under a shed adjoining the barn. Entering the house, Mrs. Dunlap, it is believed, first undressed her daughter and put her to bed. It is likely the woman waited until the daughter was asleep before she shot and killed her. Three bullets were fired into the body of the daughter. Then throwing herself across the bed, with her head hanging down over the side, Mrs. Dunlap placed the revolver to her own head and pulled the trigger. One shot caused her death. When found, the woman’s right arm extended to the floor, and the revolver, with every chamber empty, lay nearby.

That bullets from the same revolver killed all three persons was ladicated by the finding of empty shells near the bodies of the trio. In addition, evidence was submitted at the coroner’s inquest to show that the horse and buggy always driven by Mrs. Dunlap was absent at 11:30 Monday night and also that the woman and her daughter, in this team, were seen to drive into the sheds of the Friends Meeting House at West Grove, Further is was disclosed, that Mrs. Dunlap possessed a long dark coat and light hat, such as Mrs. Eichelberger said was worn by the feminine figure she saw leaving her room following the shooting of the latter’s husband. What was also regarded as evidence that the killing was premeditated and carefully planned, was the testimony of one witness to the effect that Mrs. Dunlap had declared on Monday that she intended to murder Eichelberger and herself and the little daughter.
Among the witnesses called to testify at the inquest were: W.R. Dunlap, husband of the slain woman; Mrs. Harry Boyle, wife of the farmer on the Dunlap place; Mrs. Florence Crandell, sister of Mrs. Dunlap; Mrs. Alice Bettinger, a friend of Mrs. Dunlap; Mrs. Marguerite Eichelberger, wife of the murdered man; Clyde Pyle, Harry Boyle, Dr. William B. Ewing, Dr. Joseph Scattergood, Constable Forrest MacNeal, and Charles McCarter, a farm hand employed on the Dunlap place.

Widow on Stand

“My God, what’s happened,” were the words of Mrs. Eichelberger, according to her testimony, when she was awakened by the report of the revolver shot, which caused the death of her husband. She declared her married life had been filled with troubles, especially after her husband went to farm the Dunlap place.

This was about three years ago. She had noticed the friendship, which had grown between her husband and the Dunlap woman, she testified. Several months ago she had persuaded her husband to leave the Dunlap farm and to move to West Grove, where Eichelberger purchased a motor truck and engaged in the hauling business. Various reports reached her, she declared, about Eichelberger meeting the Dunlap woman, and unable to withstand it any longer, she testified, she left her husband and with her three small children moved to Bel Air, MD. three weeks ago. While in the latter place she received several letters from her husband imploring her to return home. She also received several letters from the Dunlap woman, and the latter of these, endeavored to widen the breach between the couple.
One of the most important witnesses at the hearing was Mrs. Harry Boyle, wife of the farmer on the Dunlap place. On Monday Mrs. Boyle was at the Dunlap farmhouse. At the request of Mrs. Dunlap she said she telephoned Sloan’s Garage to learn if Eichelberger’s truck was in the place. She testified, Mrs. Dunlap told her that she though Eichelberger had gone to Maryland to bring back his wife, and that she (Mrs. Dunlap) spoke of intending to kill him if he did this, as well as end her own life and that of her daughter. “I am going to Eichelberger’s tonight to see if he returns with his wife.” Were the words of Dunlap, according to Mrs. Boyle’s testimony. This witness also testified that Mrs. Dunlap showed her the revolver, which figured in the shooting. Upon being asked why she did not warn Eichelberger, Mrs. Boyle said she did not believe Mrs. Dunlap meant what she said. “I knew Mrs. Dunlap, some years ago, had tried to commit suicide, but I never for one moment thought that she would try to kill Eichelberger or end her own life,” testified Mrs. Boyle. “She told me however that if she couldn’t have Eichelberger, his wife couldn’t.
Mrs. Florence Crandall, a sister of Mrs. Dunlap, testified she came to live at the Dunlap place about one year ago. On Monday, she said, she went to the cemetery at Kennett Square, being requested to make the trip by Mrs. Dunlap. She spent Monday night in Kennett Square. The sister admitted Mrs. Dunlap had attempted suicide several years ago. She identified the revolver, which figured in the shooting as one Mrs. Dunlap has exhibited to her.

Relations “On the Level”

“My sister was interested in Eichelberger only as a friend,” testified Mrs. Crandall. “Her relations with him were on the level and I am sure nothing was wrong. I know my sister kept her life clean for the sake of her little daughter, whom she loved dearly. It was her husband’s brutal treatment that caused her to do this. Dunlap and my sister never seemed to get along well, but in the spring of this year she had intended to take him back. The attempted reunion, however, was not successful. Dunlap struck my sister and knocked her down, injuring her. I was sick at Kennett Square at the time and she came to visit me after this fight. I had no doubt, however, that my sister committed the triple killing. She had apparently been rather despondent recently, and this I noticed because I was her only real confidant.”

Clyde Pyle, of West Grove, testified he saw Mrs. Dunlap driving her dark bay horse, hitched to a buggy, into the Friends Meeting House about 9 o’clock Monday night, and that she was accompanied by her daughter.
Charles McCarter testified he discovered Mrs. Dunlap’s horse and buggy missing from the stable at 10 o’clock Monday night. He had been out driving and returned to the barn at that time.
Harry Boyle, the farmer, in his testimony, declared he found this team hitched under a shed at the barn early Tuesday morning when he reported for work. It was Boyle, who becoming suspicion upon seeing the team here, went to the Dunlap house. Unable to arouse any person, he finally forced the door to the house and found the dead bodies of Mrs. Dunlap and her daughter.

Mr. Dunlap Testifies

Dunlap, husband of the dead woman, testified he purchased the revolver, which figured in the shooting. “I bought the gun and sent it to my wife after I learned she was being bothered by night prowlers,” said Dunlap, who lives on the farm of Miss Emma Peacock, about three miles south of West Grove. To prove that he had no part in the triple slayings, Dunlap testified that he spent Monday in Randor, returning by way of Media and arriving at West Grove about 7 o’clock that night. Going to the Peacock place, he ate supper, chatted for a time with Miss Peacock, and retired at about 9 o’clock. He declared he slept soundly until about 5 o’clock when he arose and went to work. He did not hear his wife had been killed, he testified, until about 7:30, when he was driving in to West Grove and met Dr. Ewing, who told him of the slaying.

Dunlap’s story of his actions Monday night was borne out by the testimony of Miss Peacock.
“I am not afraid to testify,” said Dunlap before District Attorney Windle called him to the witness stand. “I have nothing to conceal and am not afraid of incriminating myself.” He was clad in a dark gray suit with soft shirt and black tie. He is a man about forty years in age, of smooth face and slightly bald.
Mr. & Mrs. Dunlap were married in New York in 1906. About 12 years ago they moved to West Grove. Following domestic troubles they separated and Mrs. Dunlap went to Reno, Nevada, where she secured a divorce from her husband in 1913. After living apart for 4 years, they remarried in 1917. They had but on child. Mrs. Dunlap is said to have inherited about $50,000 from her father George B. Tallman of New York.
That Mrs. Dunlap was deeply interested in Eichelberger was indicated by the fact that she loaned him $600 to aid in the purchase of a motor truck for the latter to use when he engaged in business for himself.
Besides his widow, Eichelberger is survived by three small children as follows; Damon, aged 10; Mae Louise, aged 7, and Dorothy, aged 4 months.
When Judge Hause ruled out the testimony of Mrs. Eichelberger, there came an abrupt termination to the case in which the widow was seeking to recover $20,000 damages from the estate of Mrs. Dunlap.
At the very start of the trial, which promised sensational disclosures, it was the contention on the part of Attorney Malone, of Lancaster, chief counsel for Margaret Potter, executrix of the Dunlap estate, that Mrs. Eichelberger’s testimony was not admissible. Judge Hause however, was not convinced on this point. Authorities were submitted late yesterday afternoon and when the defendant rested its case the court ended the proceedings.
Mrs. Eichelberger was chief witness on her own behalf and without her testimony there appeared little on which she might base the claim. Judge Hause ruled she was not competent to testify to what happened in her husband’s lifetime and agreed that her testimony must be stricken out. Then because the jury might be prejudiced by the story of the foul murder and struggle to support herself and three small children, the twelve men were discharged and the case continued.

Defense Springs Surprise

Attorney’s Malone and Parks for the defendant sprang a surprise when they passed their right to cross-examine the plaintiff’s witness and when the plaintiff had rested its case the defense likewise rested without a word of testimony. Had Judge Hause allowed the case to got to the jury not one word of evidence would have been submitted for the defense.

Mrs. Eichelberger presented a pathetic figure in Court yesterday. Still little more than a girl in the point of years, the deep lines, harassed and worried look on her face told more clearly than words the tragedy of her young life. Her slight girlish figure was dressed in deep mourning and throughout the entire proceedings she appeared not a little depressed.
Sitting at the Counsel table with her were her three fatherless children, two girls and a boy, aged two, five and six. The children scarcely realizing the tragedy of their young mother’s life and the seriousness of the occasion, paid little heed to the tale of the crime that not only plunged their mother into sorrow, but cast a blot on their lives that time will never erase. The picture was one that not only made an indelible impression on the jury and the court attaches but on the crowd of spectators present in court.

Tells of Shooting

In addition to the testimony as outlined yesterday in which Mrs. Eichelberger told of being awakened in the middle of the night by a loud report to see Mrs. Dunlap standing at the foot of her bed, her hands gripping the bed-stead and the discovery that her husband had been shot to death with a bullet wound through his temple, his life blood smattering over the bed clothes and the six year old son at his side, the plaintiff introduced the testimony of witnesses who told of good reputation born to Mr. Eichelberger in West Grove and vicinity and of industrious habits. Others told of the discovery later that same morning of the dead body of Mrs. Dunlap and of her twelve-year-old daughter.

Malvin C. Walker told of his acquaintance with Roy Eichelberger and of the latter’s industrious habits. He said that Mr. Eichelberger had never parted from his wife to the best of his knowledge. Others offered the same testimony were, William Deitle, Dr. Ewing, and J.E. Evans, all of West Grove.
After counsel had agreed that Eichelberger was thirty-one years of age at the time of his death and that his life expectancy under the Carlisle mortality table was 33.68 years the plaintiff rested its case. Then came the sudden ending of the trial.