The Axe and the Droot Family, How They Fared

Good evening. This is Crime Classics. I am Thomas Highland. I'm going to tell you another true crime story. Listen a man writing Listen closely because it's a quiet sound and intimate sound The year is 1,795 and the man who is doing this quiet intimate thing is named Peter Drute He is writing his will, making with Bruce Quill and parchment his bequest to his children.

When he is done, unknowingly he will have made certain the death of his two sons. And now he is done. Now he has made certain. And tonight, my report to you on the Axe and the Droot family.

How they fared. Crime classics. A series of true crime stories taken from the records and newspapers of every land from every time. Your host each week, Mr. Thomas Highland, connoisseur of crime, student of violence, and teller of murders.

Now once again, Thomas Highland. The place is Heidelberg Township, Dauphin County, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

During the closing years of the 18th century, Heidelberg snuggled against a bend of the Susquehanna. Its chief product was people who were sent downstream to Harrisburg and Overland to Philadelphia. So great was the margin of export over import that I can no longer locate Heidelberg Township on a very good map of Pennsylvania.

However, during the time that it flourished, it was noted chiefly for its rocks, which were used all over the county to build churches, sheds, barns, and gravestones. The Droot family lived in a stone house, and Peter Droot was so wealthy that he was buried in a coffin imported from Bavaria, which was decorated with cherubs painted on porcelain.

and other sad scenes. His shroud was of genuine black Westphalian lace. His lawyer was of 100% Saxony stock and came from Philadelphia. And to my daughter Elizabeth I. Peter Drew do well and bequeed the sum of 1,000 pounds.