Copied from a newspaper clipping-- no date.
[Possibly from a Johnstown, PA “Tribune” issue of late February 1896]
CRAMER’S AWFUL TRADEGY,
A Rejected Lover Kills His Sweetheart and Himself
Daniel Ressler, a Dissolute Character of southern Indiana County, Fatally Shoots His Cousin, Ella Ressler, Who
Rejected His Suit, and Then Kills Himself--He Was of a Good Family, but Drink Had Ruined Him--A CarefullyPlanned and Cold-Blooded Deed.
Because his cousin--Ella Ressler--would not marry him and rejected his constant attentions, DANIEL RESSLER, of
Cramer, Indiana County, shot and fatally wounded her yesterday afternoon, near that place, and then turned the
revolver with which he did the deed to his own forehead and sent a bullet crashing into his brain, dying almost
instantly.
Ressler was about twenty-six years old, and had of late borne anything but a good reputation, drinking heavily. On
several occasions he had been in the hands of the Johnstown police, the most recent being last week, when he served
three days at the Central Station for being drunk and acting disorderly in the city. His home was the village of
Cramer and that of his cousin about two miles from there.
Miss ELLA RESSLER was aged about twenty years. The attentions which her cousin had been paying for her for
some time were very distasteful and repeated offers of marriage which he made had been rejected. He still,
however, insisted on intruding his company upon the girl whenever opportunity offered. Only a few weeks ago, it is
said, he went to a church where she was attending services, and waited around on the outside with a gun. Some
acquaintances took the weapon from him, fearing he would do injury, as he was intoxicated at the time. It is now
believed that it was his intention to shoot his cousin that night if his plans had not been frustrated. At another time
he went armed to a neighbor’s house where the girl was, fully intending to kill her, but again the fun was taken from
him.
His opportunity came yesterday again and he made awful use of it. After dinner he went to the home of his cousin
and her mother, and had a long conversation, during which they apparently arrived at a settlement of all their
troubles, including an action for surety of the peace which the girl had instituted after the actions noted above.
About 1:45 o’clock Ressler and his cousin JAMES M. BOWERS, of the Twelfth Ward, this city, started to go to
Conemaugh Funrace, expecting to board Mail Express there for Johnstown. They were coming here to make some
purchases and to visit the family of Mr. JOHN T. BOWERS, of the First Ward.
When they had proceeded about half a mile, Mrs. Ressler and her son-in-law were startled by a shot. They turned in
time to see the girl sink to the ground, and Ressler raise the revolver again, apparently to shoot Bowers. He seemed
to change his mind, however, and turning with his back toward them, shot himself in the middle of the forehead.
Mrs. Ressler and Bowers hurried back to the former said with the two ( ), while the latter went for assistance.
Those who came found that the girl was still living. She was taken to her home and the body of Ressler to his
mother’s home at Cramer. It was found that the bullet had entered the girl’s temple and there was not the least hope
of her recovery. She lingered in an unconscious state until 12:19 o’clock that night, when she passed away.
Ressler’s attentions to his cousin began several years ago, while she was keeping house for his mother, who, as well
as the girl’s mother, is a widow, and whose Christian name is also Sarah. Two of his sisters--Sadie and Ella--were
killed at Conemaugh Furnace, while crossing the P. R. tracks in 1892. Mrs. Ressler sued the Railroad Company and
secured $3,000.00. She also receives a pension, her late husband--DAVID RESSLER--having been a soldier. She
has now no living children.
The funeral of Daniel Ressler will take place to-morrow morning at 10 o’clock, and the remains of his cousin will be
interred Sunday at 2 p.m.
The murder and suicide came of a family that has been prominent and respected in the community. He was a
nephew of the Rev. STEPHEN HILDEBRAND, of East Taylor Township, who will conduct the funeral services,
Ressler was well thought of himself until he began to drink, which was immediately on the receipt of the money
mentioned above by his mother. Indeed up to that time his attentions were well received by his cousin, and had his
course been different there is not doubt they would have been married before this.
There is every evidence that the deed was deliberately planned and that Ressler left home yesterday with the full
intention of killing his cousin and perhaps, also her mother and brother-in-law. Wednesday night he did not retire,
but stayed up and read a novel in which, it is said, there is the story of a tragedy similar to that of yesterday. The
forenoon was spent largely in writing on several sheets of foolscap paper, which had not been discovered up to this
morning. Toward noon, he shaved, took a bath, and dressed himself with more care than he had observed for some
time. After dinner, and just previous to leaving for his cousin’s home, he took a drink of whisky and said to an aunt,
who was standing by, “This is my last drink.” After the shooting a pint bottle of whisky was found in one of his
pockets, but none of it had been drunk.