NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, February 4, 1878, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Jessica Orr 

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AT LIBERTY AGAIN

  Thomas Engles received his discharge from Warden McClure's boarding house 
on last Saturday afternoon and returned to this city.  Thomas looks well, 
says he had a good time, but will shoot the first man who asks him to take 
another drink of the ardent.  Stick to it Tom, and you will henceforth be 
more happy.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Monday, February 4, 1878, page 3

SAD ENOUGH

  J. H. Westbrook, who was sentenced to a term in the penitentiary for the 
crime of forgery wrote a letter to Judge Dean which His Honor read before 
imposing sentence.  The prisoner plead for mercy, alleging that he was drunk 
at the time of the commission of the crime and did not know what he was 
doing.  He referred to the fact that he was but recently married and that 
his wife was about to become a mother.  He said he would behave as a good 
citizen should in the future.  In imposing sentence the Court remarked that 
the prisoner was the son of respectable parents who have given him every 
opportunity.  Notwithstanding his favorable surroundings, he had committed 
this same crime more than once while under the influence of liquor.  He was 
more guilty, in some respects, than some of the ignorant criminals up for 
sentence, and it would be wrong to extend clemency in view of all the facts.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Monday, February 4, 1878, page 3

COURT PROCEEDINGS.
Sentences Imposed.

  At nine o'clock on Saturday morning court convened for the purpose of 
imposing sentences on those who had been convicted during the week.  The 
prisoners were brought in by the Sheriff and his deputies, and arranged, as 
is the usual custom, in a half circle in the bar, fronting the Judge's desk.  
Various pleas for clemency were put in by the attorneys representing the 
criminals, all of which were heard with attention by the Court.  Sentences 
were then imposed as follows:
  Clement Black, convicted of larceny, was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 
and costs of prosecution, and to undergo an imprisonment at separate and 
solitary confinement at labor in the Western Penitentiary for the term of 
two years and six months.
  George Ehringer, a lad, convicted of larceny from the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company, was sentenced to pay a fine of $5 and costs of 
prosecution, and to undergo imprisonment in the county jail for the term of 
three months.
  Henry Driver, convicted of assault and battery, was sentenced to pay a 
fine of $20 and costs of prosecution and to undergo an imprisonment in the 
county jail for the term of three months.
  William Burkhart, convicted of adultery, was sentenced to pay a fine of 
$20, and costs of prosecution and undergo an imprisonment in the county jail 
for the term of one year.
  Mrs. Annie Young, convicted of adultery, was sentenced to pay a fine of 
$20, and costs of prosecution and to undergo imprisonment in the county jail 
for the term of one year.
  J. H. Westbrook, who plead guilty to the charge of forgery, was sentenced 
to pay a fine of $100, costs of prosecution and to undergo imprisonment at 
separate and solitary confinement, at labor, in the Western penitentiary for 
the term of two years and three months.
  Frank Washington, convicted of larceny, was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 
and costs of prosecution, and to undergo imprisonment at separate and 
solitary confinement at labor, in the western penitentiary for the term of 
one year and six months.  This defendant was found guilty on a second 
indictment for a similar offense, on which a verdict was suspended until the 
expiration of above sentence.
  John Lane, convicted of assault and battery, was sentenced to pay a fine 
of $20 and costs of prosecution, and to undergo imprisonment in the county 
jail for the term of three months.
  James Stewart who plead guilty to the charge of burglary, was sentenced to 
pay a fine of $5 and jointly the costs of prosecution with William Watson, 
and to undergo imprisonment in the county jail for the term of three months.
  William Watson, convicted of burglary, was sentenced to pay a fine of $10 
and jointly the costs of prosecution with Stewart, and the undergo 
imprisonment in the county jail for the term of four months.
  Charles Cromer, Harry Hammers and William Murray, convicted of the larceny 
of various articles from the restaurant of Mr. Custeed, of this city, were 
sentenced to pay a fine of $20 each, and jointly pay the costs of 
prosecution, and to each undergo an imprisonment at separate and solitary 
confinement, at labor, in the Western Penitentiary for the term of one year 
and six months.
  Jacob Mosey and Charles Cromer, convicted of the larceny of powder from S. 
I. Fries, this city, were sentenced to pay a fine of $50 each and jointly 
the costs of prosecution, and to each undergo a imprisonment at separate and 
solitary confinement, at labor, in the Western Penitentiary, for the term of 
two years and six months, the sentence of Cromer to take effect upon the 
expiration of the previous sentence.
  W. C. Smith, convicted of larceny from the shoe shop of Daniel Donat, this 
city, was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 and costs of prosecution, and to 
undergo imprisonment at separate and solitary confinement, at labor, in the 
Western Penitentiary for the term of two years and six months.
  John Ehringer, Jr., convicted of larceny from the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company, was sentenced to pay a fine of $5 and costs of prosecution, and to 
undergo imprisonment in the county jail for the term of three months.
  George Bowsman, convicted of receiving goods stolen from the shoe shop of 
Daniel Donat and B. F. Young, was sentenced in the aggregate to pay a fine 
of $40 and costs of prosecution, and to undergo imprisonment at separate and 
solitary confinement, at labor, in the Western Penitentiary for the term of 
two years and six months.
  W. C. and William Smith who submitted on the charge of larceny preferred 
by J. B. Sickles, was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 each and jointly the 
costs of prosecution, and to each undergo imprisonment at separate and 
solitary confinement, at labor, in the Western penitentiary, for the term of 
two years, the sentences to take effect upon the expiration of those above 
noted.
  William Murray, who plead guilty to the charge of larceny from the 
Pennsylvania railroad company, was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 and costs 
of prosecution, and to undergo imprisonment, at separate and solitary 
confinement, at labor, in the Western penitentiary, for the term of two 
years, to take effect upon the expiration of sentences above noted.
  Morris Conroy, convicted of larceny from the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company, was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 and costs of prosecution, and to 
undergo imprisonment at separate and solitary confinement, at labor, in the 
Western Penitentiary for the term of two years and six months. 
  John Bush, who plead guilty to the charge of larceny from the Pennsylvania 
railroad company, was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 and cost of 
prosecution, and to undergo imprisonment, at separate and solitary 
confinement, at labor, for the term of one year and three months. 
  Mrs. Ann Tierney, who was convicted of permitting gambling on her 
premises, failed to appear for sentence.  Her recognizance was forfeited and 
a bench warrant issued.
  In several cases in which Murray, Smith and Bousman had been convicted, 
sentence was suspended for the present.
  In suspending sentence in the above cases the court remarked that if the 
prisoners returned to this county upon the expiration of their sentences and 
began to lead lawless lives they would be at once arrested upon bench 
warrants, and the full penalty of the law imposed.  If, on the contrary, 
they return to their homes and lead honest and respectable lives, the 
sentences now hanging over their heads will never be enforced.
  When the sentences had all been pronounced the prisoners were removed to 
the jail from whence they came, there to remain until it shall suit the 
convenience of Sheriff Stiffler to remove them to the Western Penitentiary.  
Court then adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Monday, February 4, 1878, page 3

HARRY HUSFIELD AND THE "REGULAR" DEMOCRATS

  "Well, I am going to run, that's a sure thing," said Mr. Harry Husfield, 
the independent Democratic candidate for Alderman in the Second district, 
the a Tribune reporter yesterday.  "The man who gets four hundred votes will 
surely be elected.  I think my chances are as good as those of the rest of 
them, and I am going to try to get the necessary number of ballots."
  "The City Executive Committee sent a sub-committee after you to induce you 
to withdraw, did they not?" asked the reporter. 
  "They did; but that is not going to influence my action.  I intend, as I 
said before, to remain in the field."
  Mr. Husfield is sanguine, but he has not been able to get around much 
among his friends.  Besides the suffering he endures from a wound he 
received in the left shoulder a year and a half ago he has been ailing 
otherwise for some days.  He is not able to do manual labor on account of 
his arm.
  The City Executive Committee of the Democratic party will, we understand, 
make another effort to have the independent candidate retire from the field, 
but from Mr. Husfield's manner we doubt very much if the effort will be 
successful.  There are appearances of a secret dissatisfaction with Mr. 
Bradley, the regular Democratic candidate, but exactly for what reason does 
not appear on the surface.  If Mr. Poffenberger should take it into his head 
to come out independently, as it is rumored-though the foundation appears to 
be slight-it would mix up things in a manner that it would be difficult to 
tell who would be elected.  Well, nous verrons!

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Monday, February 4, 1878, page 3

LOGAN TOWNSHIP GREENBACK-LABOR TICKET.

  The Greenback-Labor party of Logan township have nominated the following 
ticket:
  Judge of Election - William Shaw.
  Inspector - Thomas Morgan.
  School Directors - John McKnight, Henry Maurer, William Alexander.
  Supervisors - J. T. Brown, Peter Fogle.
  Assessor - H. A. Boyles.
  Auditor - J. N. Tillard.
  Township Clerk - Henry Stover.
  Justice of the Peace - Samuel Orr.
  Constable - Robert Harris.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Monday, February 4, 1878, page 3

CITY AND COUNTRY
Will Apply for a Patent.

  William J. Stratiff, of this city, is the inventor of a novel and useful 
door for grain [f]reight cars, for which he is about to apply for a patent.  
The points about the invention are the security it affords in the shipping 
of grain over railroads, and the facility and ease attending the unloading 
of the same into elevators.  The door is intended to work inside the outer 
one, and is fastened by fall locks, which become more secure by the jolting 
of the car.  We hope he may reap a good reward for his invention.
  
Morning Tribune, Altoona, Monday, February 4, 1878, page 4

A Young Woman's Distress.

  Ellen Ede, a girl of evident German descent, passed Saturday and Sunday 
nights in the female department of the lock-up.  She arrived in this city 
from Pittsburgh on the Atlantic express.  She had been living with her 
sister in Pittsburgh, and when the family removed to Cincinnati, being poor, 
she was thrown upon her own resources, and resolved to go to her parents' 
home in Hartford, Conn.  She obtained a charity pass from Pittsburgh to this 
place, and she will be sent on her way from here to-day through the efforts 
of Mayor Gilland.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Monday, February 4, 1878, page 4

Distressing Accident to a Little Girl.

  On Saturday afternoon a little daughter of Allen McGlathery, jr., residing 
at the lower end of Chestnut avenue, was standing on the seat of a child's 
"high chair," looking out of the window.  While thus engaged another smaller 
child approached and in attempting to climb up pulled the chair over, 
breaking off the back.  Leaving the sharp wooden supports standing.  When 
the chair fell the child who was standing upon it fell also, and struck upon 
one of the supports, which entered the upper part of her thigh, cutting an 
ugly and severe gash about four and a half inches long.  The little girl was 
picked up and cared for and Dr. Allen was called in.  She was somewhat 
feverish yesterday, but was not considered in danger.  The cut caused by the 
chair back was near the femoral artery, and if it had been a little closer 
the child must have bled to death.
  
Morning Tribune, Altoona, Monday, February 4, 1878, page 4

PERSONAL.

  R. Pitcairn, Superintendent of the Pittsburgh Division, P.R.R., and George 
Huff, backer of Greensburg, breakfasted at the Logan House yesterday 
morning.  They came from the east and were wending their way westward.
  G. Clinton Gardner, General Superintendent, returned home yesterday 
morning on the Pacific Express.
  John E. Bell, ex-Democratic candidate for Representative honors, was in 
this city on Saturday.  John bears his defeat manfully, but says his books 
are still open for more names of those who didn't.
  To the public generally we can commend the Central Hotel, at the corner of 
Eleventh avenue and Eleventh street.  The proprietor, Mr. A. C. McIntire, 
who had charge of the well-known Ward House at Tyrone for a long time, is a 
genial, whole-souled gentleman, and he and his estimable lady are as 
attentive to the desires and needs of their many guests as though they were 
of their own family.  Mr. McIntire is a successful hotel man, and he 
deserves it all.
  Mr. Albert F. Brandt, a former resident of Altoona, where he was engaged 
in the mercantile business, and later a resident of Harrisburg, was in the 
city on Saturday.  Mr. Brandt has been a student at the Pulte (Homeopathic) 
Medical College of Cincinnati, the commencement exercises of which 
institution took place on Thursday evening last.  Mr. Brandt was among the 
graduates.  He will locate in Harrisburg to practice his profession.
  Col. Williams, at one time connected with this paper, has taken a position 
on the Harrisburg Independent.
  Mr. James Bingham, of Philadelphia, chief carpenter of the Main Exposition 
building, is in this city visiting friends.
  On Saturday, the Feast of the Purification, Miss Maggie Rooney, for more 
than a year past organist of St. John's Catholic Church, commenced her 
novitiate in the order of Sisters of Charity, in this city.  Miss Rooney, 
though young in years, is well known in this city for the rare talents with 
which she is endowed as well as for her many virtues.  Her beauty of 
character and gentle manners have attracted to her hosts of friends who wish 
her happiness in her vocation.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Monday, February 4, 1878, page 4