NEWS: Otto HERMAN Held for Sedition, 1918, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Donna Thomas Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ GERMAN IS HELD FOR SEDITION; WARN WIFE Otto Herman, 1716 Fourth Avenue, Arrested Under Marshal's Orders Talking too loud and too long about the United States government, brought the arrest of Otto Herman, 1716 Fourth avenue, a German alien, employed as a driver by a local ice company, for sedition Saturday afternoon at the behest of the federal marshal at Pittsburg. Herman was apprehended at South Altoona by City Detective W. J. Hauser, at 1:30 o'clock. A warrant had been telegraphed here by United States Marshal Joseph Howley, stating that Herman was an alien enemy, making seditious statements and that his presence at large was a menace to the public peace. The message read further, "Warn his wife any further disloyal statements on her part will result in her arrest." Mrs. Herman was duly warned, under instructions from Chief Tillard and she will have to walk the straight and narrow patriotic way if she wants to keep her freedom in the land of the free. A deputy marshal is expected here today to take her husband to Pittsburg. Specific charges against Herman were not made public, but it is hinted that his offense was of sufficient gravity to warrant his arrest and transfer to Pittsburg for further investigation. A deputy marshal spent last week in the city investigating the case and returned to make his report, which culminated in the arrest. The couple have frequently appeared in local aldermanic courts for keeping vicious dogs or possessing firearms illegally. Herman is detained at police station pending the arrival of the federal officer. Altoona Tribune, Monday, August 26, 1918, page 5