he son of a Palmerton couple gunned down near their church 60 years ago has responded to a recent Times News Spotlight story to provide more accurate information and a firsthand account of what transpired on a day that changed his life.

Matthew and Mildred Daneker lost their lives on Oct. 3, 1954, at the hands of gunman Daniel Falcone. Their son witnessed the tragedy.Robert M. Daneker Sr. of Fogelsville says he was fully aware that the victims were his mother and father, contrary to published reports."I did recognize my parents," says Daneker, a retired pastor.Daneker offered much additional detail and insight in a written response to the "Passion in the pews" story to correct misinformation and provide a more complete account of an event that shook the residents of the Palmerton area.Tragic mistake"Now somewhere my mother, Mildred, apparently was attracted to that machismo in an older man who was one of her supervisors at the Palmerton Shirt Factory, and the attraction led to a serious, tragic mistake for all of our family, myself, my grandparents on both sides, my mother's sister and brother and their nieces and nephews," wrote Daneker. He said there was no outward indication of trouble."My parents and I lived in a small four-room bungalow that was originally New Jersey Zinc Company housing. It had thin walls, a bathroom my parents could only reach through my bedroom, and an enclosed front porch that was used as my dad's office as an elected justice of the peace, and also for his father before him."In those circumstances I never heard my parents argue or fight with each other. You will never know how shocking the circumstances were the night they were murdered, for there was never a hint of a problem between them."On the night my parents were shot, a rather warm Oct. 3 evening, the windows of our church basement were open, when the youth in the Christian Endeavor meeting heard shouting from people in front of our church building."Our group adviser, Mrs. Detterline, said, 'Two of you older boys go out and see if you can help.' "Daneker says he and friend David Schott raced through the basement, up some stairs, and out a side door where he did, in fact, recognize his parents just as Falcone fired a Smith and Wesson .22 pistol. Falcone then turned and ran.Daneker recalls scooping up some gravel stones to throw at Falcone."As he turned right at the corner with his gun in hand, he briefly turned toward me, then proceeded to his car."Daneker, age 15 at the time, says Falcone first opened the driver's side door, then turned away from the car and ran across the street to what was called the coal bowl, where he disappeared into darkness."Then I ran back to the scene where my parents lay on the pavement in front of the steps which led up to the parsonage attached to the church."Not known to me at the time, my pastor, Rev. Detterline, alerted by the screams, stepped onto the front porch and also witnessed the shootings."Saving for houseDaneker says his mother had taken a job at Palmerton Shirt Company to help save money to build a dream home."It was somewhere during that period that my mother fell prey to Falcone's machismo, though he was an older man. Thus began a brief affair."Daneker says he learned additional details from the Rev. Milton Detterline, his parents' counselor, following the murders.His mother, of Christian conscience, confessed her failure to her husband, who was forgiving, says Daneker.In fact, his mother soon learned that son Robert felt called by God to become a pastor.Instead of saving for a dream home, Mildred then opted to remain employed at the shirt factory to save for her son's college education, says Daneker.Daneker says Falcone never actually joined Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church but visited two or three times "to reignite the affair my mother stopped."He also explained that management at the shirt factory dealt with the issue by transferring Falcone to a different location, possibly in New Jersey."After some time, Falcone was brought back to the Palmerton plant, whereupon he tried to reignite the illicit affair," says Daneker, relying on information provided by Detterline.Early releaseDaneker says convicted murderer Falcone was sentenced to life in prison by Judge Thomas McCready, without possibility of parole or pardon.However, Gov. Milton Shapp commuted Falcone's sentence and he was released after 15 years. Daneker says undue influence may have been the reason for that action although that information remains unclear.Interestingly, Matt and Mildred Daneker left a legacy in terms of their descendants, all of whom have devoted their lives in service to others:• Son Robert enjoyed a successful, 50-year career as a pastor and denominational administrator.• Their oldest grandson is a gifted pastor and preacher.• Their granddaughter is the wife of a former pastor, now a high school head counselor.• Their youngest grandson carries on the family's musical heritage as a contemporary Christian musician performing around the world.Matt and Mildred Daneker now have seven grandchildren, two of whom will make them great-great-grandparents by year end.Daneker says he is reminded of a passage in the New Testament: "we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses," which, Daneker feels, perhaps conveys the concept that forgiven and restored people in heaven can see their survivors on earth."I've dealt with all kinds of sins in parishioners' lives," Daneker says. "I'm also aware of my own sins. But I also know the good that often comes from repentance and God's restoration."