1900 PA Census: Blair Co. Juniata Borough, ed 82, p. 1a, lines 6-10
Series T623, roll 1381, dwelling 2, family 2, 1 June 1900

William H. STIFFLER, Head, Nov 1869, 30, marr. 7 yrs, b. Penna., parents b. Penna., Drayman
Jennie, Wife, May 1865, 35, marr. 7 yrs, 1 child / none still living, b. Penna., parents b. Penna.
Hary P., brother, June 1876, 23, single, Laborer: R.R.
Mazie S. BOYLES, servant, May 1886, 14, servant
Earl R. SMITH, taking to raise, Sep 1898, 1
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1920 PA Census: Blair Co. Logan Twp. Greenwood, ed 109, p. 10b, lines 71-77
Series T625, roll 1540, dwelling 185, family 189, 27 March 1920

William H. STIFFLER, Head, age 53, married, b. Penna., parents b. U.S., Teamster: Coal
Mary J., Wife, age 55, married, b. Penna., parents b. Penna.
Earl R., son, 21, Chauffeur: Ice Cream; Violet C., dau, 13
Ivy P. HINZY*, servant, 17
Andrew A. BOYLES, Father-in-law, age 83, widowed, b. Penna., parents b. Penna.
David A. FINK, Boarder, 72, single, b. Penna., parents b. Penna.
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Altoona, PA: Altoona Mirror, issue of 1 March 1954

Couple is Held in Death of Man From Ax Blows

The hacked body of William Collins, 65, was found yesterday morning in the rundown home he occupied near Greenwood, about one and one-half miles west of route 220. He had been slashed 14 times with a double-bitted axe which state police found on the premises.

Gertrude Eleanor Wingert, 56, and William Stiffler, 86, who shared the dilapidated premises with the victim, are being held in the Blair county jail on suspicion of murder, District Attorney Park H. Loose said.

Coroner D. Harold Troxell, who is continuing the investigation with the district attorney and state police, reported that Collins died of traumatic shock as a result of multiple blows by an axe.

An autopsy performed yesterday showed 14 slashed of the head, neck, shoulders and upper breast to indicate, the coroner said, that an attempt had been made to decapitate the victim in a crime which investigators believe resulted from an orgy of drinking. District Attorney Loose said that neither Stiffler nor the woman was in fit condition for questioning yesterday.

State police of the Hollidaysburg barracks were apprised of the crime at 1.30 o'clock yesterday morning by Walter P. Ross, proprietor of a trailer court and owner of the farm on which the house is located.

The call to police came shortly after Stiffler approached John Etheridge, who resides in the trailer camp, and gave him the succinct news that "there's an old man dead; hit with an axe." Etheridge called Ross, who, in turn, contacted state police. Pfcs. Ralph W. Homan and Kenneth P. Thomson hurried to the scene.

District Attorney Loose and investigating officers theorize that the crime occurred before 9 o'clock Saturday night, although Stiffler, they said, told them he had gone to bed "about 7 or 8 o'clock while Collins and the woman were having a friendly card game of seven-up."

The woman, however, is quoted as saying that Stiffler came into the kitchen as late as 3.30 a.m. to awaken her and ask if she wanted to see a dead man lying on the floor.

The home in which the killing occurred contains three rooms on the first floor, investors found, with Collins occupying one end of the floor and Stiffler the remainder. The woman reportedly kept house for both of the men and slept in the kitchen. There are two upstairs bedrooms, also rented by Collins.

Sheriff V. Paul Reed and Deputy Coroner William Crawford also visited the scene of the crime yesterday noon to join in the investigation that is being continued today.

District Attorney Loose reported that the trio had apparently consumed a considerable quantity of sherry wine. A portion of a one-half-gallon bottle was found, also two bottled that had been emptied very recently. That the victim, as well as Stiffler and the Wingert woman, showed a preference for sherry wine was indicated in the finding of many empty bottles in a nearby refuse dump.

Investigators learned that Stiffler and Collins paid $20 each for rental of the house. Stiffler, police said, has resided there for about 15 years. Collins for eight or nine years, with the woman joining the household approximately six years ago. All of them have been dependent upon public assistance.

The Wingert woman told questioners she has been married several times and was known as Blanche when dancing with a carnival. Both she and Collins were arrested in the past June on drunk and disorderly charges lodged by Stiffler following a disturbance in the home. She was jailed because of intoxication to await the hearing before Justice of the Peace C.W. Colyer.

District Attorney Loose said at noon that he and state police officers planned to question the two prisoners further this afternoon to ascertain, if possible, the motive for Collins' death and to obtain further details on events leading up to the killing. Pfcs. Homan and Thomson were at the scene of the crime this morning in search of possible additional clues.
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Altoona, PA: Altoona Mirror, issue of Monday, 31 March 1958, p. 20, col. 1 (obit) & p. 17, col. 1 (funeral notice)

WILLIAM H. STIFFLER

Of Duncansville RD 1, died at 8 a.m. yesterday in the Altoona Hospital after a brief illness. He was born at Poplar Run Nov. 16, 1868, a son of Peter and Amanda (Harlin) Stiffler, and was a retired farmer. His wife, Mary Jane Stiffler, died April 14, 1943. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Viola Ferguson of the city, and two sisters, Mrs. Catherine Miller of Duncansville RD 1 and Mrs. Elizabeth Schneider of Pittsburgh. He was a member of the Greenwood E.U.B. Church. Friends will be received at the Mauk & Yates Funeral Home, Juniata, after 6 p.m. today.
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STIFFLER--Services for William H. Stiffler of Duncansville, RD 1, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Mauk & Yates Funeral Home, Juniata, by the Rev. M.S. Bittner. Interment in Antis Cemetery. Friends will be received at the funeral home after 6 p.m. today.
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