NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, December 9, 1879, Blair County, PA

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Items from the Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday, December 9, 1879

ADDITIONAL LOCAL NEWS.

Inspection of Company D.

  Last night an inspection of Company D, Fifth regiment, was held in the 
Opera House under the official eye of Colonel Burchfield, assisted by 
Adjutant W. Sargeant.  About twenty-two members were present, and judgment 
of "all right" was passed on them.  They have not yet decided whether to 
attend the General Grant reception.

A Queer Freak.

  A few days since as Dr. E. E. Goodman was driving past Charley Randolph's 
drug store, he saw a hawk dart at the window and suddenly fall to the 
pavement.  An investigation showed that a chicken hawk had dived down at a 
canary bird in the window, and striking the glass, fell stunned to the 
pavement.  In a moment it recovered and flew away, although the doctor 
states he could have caught it had he wished.

A Cruel Act.

  On Monday morning a farmer was driving a two-horse wagon along the street 
on Eleventh avenue, and a boy was sitting on the tail of the wagon.  He was 
ordered off, but did not immediately comply, when the driver struck him with 
the butt end of a heavy blacksnake whip.  The boy, who was named Charles 
Gerstner, was considerably hurt and fell into the deep mud at the rear of 
the wagon.  It was an unnecessarily cruel act.

Westmoreland Assassin Captured.

  It will be remembered that a few days since Jerry Telford committed a 
desperate assault on John Johnston, of West Fairfield, Westmoreland county, 
shooting him twice. He at the time escaped, but was a day or two since 
capture on the Bell's Gap Railroad extension.  A reward of $250 had been 
offered for his capture.  He was committed for trial.  Mr. Johnston is 
improving slowly from his numerous wounds and will likely recover.

Took the Cotton.

  On Friday night last the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Burkett called on the 
lady and gave her a surprise party in honor of her birthday.  All went merry 
as a marriage bell as fourteen couples made the fun.  As the good things in 
store were brought forward of course somebody had to have a cotton cake, and 
that unfortunate individual was Mr. J. S. Rickabaugh.  He made two bites and 
a sour face out of the whole concern and then told his neighbors.

Sam. Brimmer Arrested Again.

  Samuel Brimmer, arrested recently for threatening to shoot his wife and 
son, fell into the hands of Officer Myers again last night.  He had been 
raising a hullabaloo about the house, and when the policeman arrived Sam. 
was found upstairs lying on a bed.  Samuel has evidently forgotten the 
solemn promises to behave himself made on the occasion of the last family 
jar.  The prospects are that he will not get off so easy this time.

SUIT TO RECOVER POSSESSION.
The Action Brought by Schmitt & Friday Against Mr. Dhrew, of the Maitland 
House.

  A case involving the possession of the well known Maitland House was tried 
before Recorder Greevy yesterday.  The suit was brought by Schmitt & Friday, 
of Pittsburgh, for use H. G. Lomison, of Greensburg, against P. F. Drhew, 
the present lessee of the Maitland House, under the act of 1863.  The 
prosecution is based on the fact that on January 1, 1877, J. K. Maitland, 
now deceased, leased the hotel from Schmitt & Friday for the term of two 
years and two months from February 1, 1877, at a rental of $100 per month.  
In the month of November following J. K. Maitland died, and his widow 
conducted the hotel in compliance with the requirements of the lease until 
the 1st of last April, 1879, or two years.  A special clause in the lease 
was to the effect that if at any time after April 1, 1879, Schmitt & Friday 
should sell the hotel property the lessee was to deliver up actual 
possession of the premises upon three months' notice of the transfer.  In 
the early part of July last H. G. Lomison purchased the property from 
Schmitt & Friday.  Mr. Lomison visited Altoona soon after and found Mr. 
Drhew in possession.  Mr. Drhew claimed to hold possession under a lease 
from Mrs. Millie Rice, formerly Mrs. Maitland, who was in continuous 
possession since the death of Mr. Maitland.  As Mr. Drhew was entitled to 
three months' notice according to the provisions of the lease, the attorney 
for Schmitt & Friday on August 11 served a notice to vacate within three 
months from that date.  Mr. Drhew declined to comply, and suit was 
instituted on the 30th of last month to recover possession.  It was 
continued on two occasions, and was brought up finally yesterday.
  Mr. Drhew in his defense contended that he is a tenant under Mrs. Rice, 
who, it is claimed, is a tenant at will and not under the lease.  Mr. Drhew 
further showed that he paid $75 rent to Mr. Christ. Hauser as agent for 
Lomison.  Mr. Hauser paid this out - except $31 - for taxes, and sent a 
check for the sum that remained to Mr. Lomison, who declined to accept the 
check.  Then it seems that Mr. Lomison instructed the tax collectors to levy 
on Mr. Drhew's personal property to satisfy the claims for taxes.  Mr. 
Drhew, it was alleged, paid these taxes, which up to November 10 amounted - 
including the $75 - to $311.  This, at the rate of $75 per month for the 
rent - the sum which Schmitt & Friday latterly agreed to receive from Mrs. 
Rice before she leased the hotel to Mr. Drhew - amounted to $11 more than 
was actually due on the 10th of November.  Mr. A. S. Landis represented 
Schmitt & Friday and Messrs. Hewitt and Alexander appeared for the defense.  
The hearing, at which there were some interesting developments, occupied the 
major part of the afternoon, and its conclusion the Recorder said he would 
render a decision at 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon.

Election of Vigilant Fire Company.

  A meeting of the Vigilant Steam Fire Engine Company was held last night in 
their engine house at the corner of Thirteenth avenue and Twelfth street.  
The meeting was called to order by Mr. B. F. Rose, and an election of 
officers for the ensuing year was entered into.  About fifty members were 
present.  After the usual general business of the company the following 
officers were elected: For President, W. H. Johnson; First Vice President, 
W. H. Renner; Second Vice President, J. B. W. Ickes; Treasurer, John 
Espenlaub; Secretary, W. M. Rose; Assistant Secretary, B. W. Story; 
Directors, Charles Szink, George Bennett, W. H. Johnson, J. Hopkinson, 
Lucius Levan, J. B. W. Ickes, Charles Herr and B. Bennett; First Engineer, 
Edw. Lippett; Second Engineer, B. W. Story; Third Engineer, Thomas Story; 
First Fireman, George Maxwell; Second Fireman, Elijah Cassiday; Third 
Fireman, R. Stehle; Investigating Committee, Edw. Lippett, Charles Szink, 
Thomas Story; Team Committee, Frank Copley, B. W. Story, W. W. Trout, W. H. 
Bennett, B. F. Rose; Representative to Board of Fire Department, George B. 
Bennett; Auditing Committee, B. F. Rose, J. B. W. Ickes, W. H. Johnson.  
About the only business transacted was the election, and the large ticket 
required a long time to count off.

STATE NOTES.

  Jerry Telford, the murderer of farmer Johnson, of Westmoreland county, has 
been captured, and is now in jail.
  The case against Mrs. Weatherhood against Judge Edwin Albright, president 
judge of the Lehigh district, for embezzling pension money belonging to the 
plaintiff, was decided in favor of the defendant.  The woman may go to jail 
for perjury.
  The large barn on John F. McCombs' place, near Wilkinsburg, Allegheny 
county, was burned with its contents, consisting of 40 tons of hay, 4 
horses, mowing machines, and other farming utensils on Saturday night.  Loss 
$3,000 to $4,000; no insurance.  Cause of fire unknown.

A SWINDLER SCOOPED.
The Mild-mannered Henry Clausen in the Clutches of the Law.

  On Saturday a man passing under the name of Henry Clausen, but 
subsequently before the Mayor gave his name as George T. Miles, was arrested 
in Harrisburg for obtaining money under false pretenses.  He was carrying 
around a subscription paper for the relief of the family of Mr. Keohler, a 
fireman killed in the discharge of his duties, which represented his wife 
and children in destitute circumstances.  To this paper were appended the 
names of a number of prominent Harrisburgers, purporting that they had 
contributed liberally for the relief of Koehler's family.  He presented this 
paper to Father McBride, of the pro-Cathedral, who was struck with the 
liberality of the amounts subscribed, and never having seen the man before 
his suspicions were aroused, and he sent out his clerk to a member of the 
fire association to know whether the paper was genuine.  Mr. Etter, the 
gentleman to whom the paper was shown, pronounced it a forgery.  He hastened 
to the residence of Bishop Shannon to confront the bold swindler, but 
Clausen, not liking the turn of things, took his departure before the 
arrival of Mr. Etter.  However that gentleman followed the swindler to the 
barber shop of Mr. Murphy, on Third street, and after a vigorous tussle - 
during which a large plate-glass window was broken - succeeded in capturing 
the man and marching him to the Mayor's office.  Clausen has been practicing 
this game in various parts of the State.  With a subscription paper signed 
by prominent citizens for liberal amounts for some charitable object he has 
been enabled to ingratiate himself into the feelings of the benevolently 
inclined.  His objective point seems to be the clergymen, whose tender 
sympathies are easily excited for the poor and unfortunate.  He was in this 
city last Friday, and practiced precisely the same game here in which he has 
been detected in Harrisburg.  He presented a subscription paper to a number 
of our ministers for the same charitable object, to which was appended names 
of parties contributing clever sums; among others the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company was set down for #30; Hon. John Reilly, $5; John R. Garden, Chief of 
the Fire Department, $10, etc.  We hear that several [of] the clergy 
subscribed small amounts - some of whom paid their subscriptions, and others 
did not.  So that if the Harrisburg authorities want further evidence to 
convict this scamp they will have no difficulty in getting it here.  Revs. 
Sherlock, Foster, Hamlin, Baker, Spangler, Shearer, and perhaps all the 
other clergymen had a call from this imposter.  He also took in Rev. Pardoe, 
of Sunbury, and Rev. Sears, of Lewistown, we are informed.  The fellow is a 
bold, impudent swindler, and from papers in his possession it would appear 
has but recently liberated from the jail in Cleveland, Ohio.

FROM HOLLIDAYSBURG.

  Miss Maud Patterson, of Yellow Springs, is visiting Miss Jennie Over.
  The ladies of the Presbyterian Church held their weekly prayer meeting 
last evening, at the residence of Mrs. McKinney.
  Miss Emma McFarlane and Jennie Irwin, whom the Tribune noticed as the 
guests of Mr. Ritz, are at home again.
  Messrs. D. B. and Walter E. Lindsay will in a few days open out a tinning 
establishment in the Lovett building on Allegheny street.

DOWN ON THE WOMEN.

  On Saturday evening, Adam Stufft, of Eldorado, entered Law's store, 
greatly under the influence of liquor and walked against one of the dummies, 
and hitting it with his fist, demolished its handsome face, and said that he 
wanted "no d----- women to stand in his road."

FROM TYRONE.

  The descriptive story of Tyrone sights, in our news yesterday, was badly 
mixed up.  Who shall we kick?

FROM ROARING SPRINGS.

  Mrs. J. K. Templeton is very ill with fever.
  Colonel John S. Morrison is now in New York.
  James P. Detrick has been appointed assistant agent at Rodman furnace.
  Mrs. Wallace, of Sinking Valley, is visiting her daughter Mrs. Templeton.
  We are informed that the United Brethren have purchased the old Methodist 
Church at East Freedom, and also have purchased a parsonage there, and also 
in Freedom.  The pastor, Rev. Fulton, proposes to move from Duncansville to 
Freedom.

CITY AND COUNTRY.
Things Briefly Told.

  Mr. P. T. Drhew, of the Maitland House, has just returned from a visit to 
Pittsburgh.
  Register in Bankruptcy J. I. Brotherline, Esq., of Hollidaysburg, was in 
the city yesterday.
  Dr. H. G. Lomison, of Greensburg, was in town yesterday looking after some 
of his property.
  Mr. Charles Kellner, of the firm of Kellmer & Ochsenhirt, malsters 
[maltsters], of Pittsburg, paid his Altoona friends a visit yesterday.
  James Greenwood, who was injured at Mines Friday last, died yesterday 
morning.  The funeral will take place this afternoon.
  The rector of St. Luke's Church did not subscribe $5 to the object 
represented by Clausen, as was stated in the Call yesterday.
  Mrs. J. S. Rickabaugh, we are pleased to see about again after a severe 
attack of illness.  Mr. Rickabaugh is janitor of the Eighth ward schools.
  Major Dern is laid up at the Central Hotel with his old complaint 
rheumatism.  The Major had a several days' fight with it, but it got the 
better of him.
  Rev. J. F. Shearer had an overcoat stolen from his residence last Friday 
evening.  As Henry Clausen was there for a subscription perhaps he laid 
violent hands on it.
  James J. McGrath is building a two-story frame house on Eleventh avenue, 
near Sixteenth street.  The upper part will be used as a dwelling and the 
lower part for business.
  Samson Taylor, one of the city's veteran hunters started on Monday 
afternoon for the camp about Lloydsville.  A jolly set of fellows are laying 
thereabouts, watching for deer.
  Rev. S. W. Duffield yesterday performed the duties of engineer on the 
branch local arriving at the depot at 1:45 P.M.  We won't tell the 
comparison the conductor drew of his preaching and engine-driving.
  Joseph Lesley, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, has gone to 
Florida for the benefit of his health, which has been so poor during the 
past few months that his physicians deemed this step expedient.
  Mr. John Tuffs, passenger brakeman on the Pittsburgh division, was taken 
down Sunday night with a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism.  He is at 
Mrs. Elizabeth Dougherty's, 1020 Green avenue, where he rooms.
  George W. Palmer is selling J. Russell Young's "Tour of General Grant 
Around the World," in this city and county.  Mr. Palmer is a worth gentleman 
and we commend him to the public.
  George A. Patton may be a benefactor to the small boy by the introduction 
of a new fangled invention which emits a noise between the squawk of a duck 
and the he-haw of a mule, but we take it that nervous people will vote him 
an enemy of mankind.
  The Church Extension Society of the Central Pennsylvania Conference, 
composed of ministers and laymen, have passed upon the claim of Chestnut 
avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, of this city, for a donation of $1,000 
from the funds of the Church Extension Society, which will be duly presented 
and no doubt granted.  It is given in no sense of relief because the church 
is in debt, but simply on the ground that the church will do its part toward 
releasing itself from the burdens pressing it.
  Examinations are now being held in the public schools of this city, of 
pupils preparatory to the Christmas promotion.  The transfers are made about 
the 1st of January.
  Ex-dog catcher Noonan was seen yesterday with a goat in tow, and as the 
two had not agreed on their plan of procedure there was much difference of 
opinion manifested.
  Among the new arrivals in town yesterday might be mentioned a bouncing 
fifteen-pound boy baby, presented to George Lafferty, of Eighth avenue.
  Gum Hop Lee, that heathen Chinee, does not now live in Altoona, although 
two of his associates do.  These two have engaged an English teacher, and 
will study their adopted country's lingo.
  Mr. J. A. McCahan, a clerk in the Department of Internal Affairs, was in 
town yesterday.  He was on his way from Hollidaysburg, where he had been 
paying a brief visit home.
  Pat. Rooney's star combination troupe will to-night hold forth in the 
Opera House.  Pat. is well known as a first-class Irish comedian, and when 
here last summer made a favorable impression.
  The Citizens' Cornet Band now numbers eighteen members and is in a 
flourishing condition.  Mr. A. B. Goss is an efficient leader.  They are 
learning new music and improving rapidly.  It is the intention to hold a 
fair and festival shortly.
  The productive capacity of Cambria Iron Company is at present 100,000 tons 
of steel and iron rails, 8,000 tons of wire rods, and 10,000 tons merchant's 
steel.  The aggregate amount of wages paid is $1,500,000.  The number of men 
employed in the mines and coke yards, 350; blast furnaces, 400; Bessemer 
steel works, 475; rolling mills, 1,000; shops, 500; Blair Iron and Coal 
Company, 900; Wood, Morrell & Co., 500; total, 4,075.

Striving for an Appointment.

  The Fifth regiment headquarters are located in Altoona, as is also one of 
the companies.  For some time past a number of the members of the regiment 
have been anxious for a regimental band.  The Altoona City, the Mountain 
City and Junior Grays are all striving for the appointment.  The 
appointment, if they agree to make one, will be by the officers of the 
regiment.

The Artesian Well.

  The great bit is still kept pounding away in the artesian well at the 
Pennsylvania Railroad Company's works.  No water has yet been found, 
although it is down over seventeen hundred feet.  The cutting is through 
hard limestone rock.  Several feet are added in depth every day.  It will be 
continued until twenty thousand feet deep, the length of the present cable.

Swindler on His Travels.

  Las week a swindler paid his respects to some of our hotel-keepers and 
succeeded in victimizing one of them for a board bill.  He first struck the 
Central Hotel, on Eleventh avenue, but did not accomplish much there.  He 
then went to Adam Wentzel's Rising Sun Hotel, where he stated he wished to 
purchase a livery stable and hotel.  The man took great care in examining 
the building, looking through the rooms and appearing well pleased with the 
place.  He had a satchel with him and made himself at home for three or four 
days.  One afternoon he was missing, and an investigation showed that he had 
gone upstairs and got his baggage and departed out of a back window, without 
settling up.  The swindler is described as a middle-aged man with black chin 
whiskers and mustache.  He wore a hat, light pants and a blue coat.  When 
last seen he was hunting a new victim.  He has not, as yet been captured.

A Time-honored Custom Among Hunters.

  The case of Hiram Gardner against Messrs. Riling and Turnbaugh, of 
Eldorado, the men who recently captured a deer near Bell's Mills, the half 
of which is claimed by Gardner, was before the Recorder for a hearing 
yesterday.  Quite a number of Altoona hunters were attracted to the 
magistrate's office, prominent among them being the Taylors and the Frieses.  
The case was continued at the instance of the defendants, who were not ready 
to proceed, and it will be resumed on Friday next.  The general opinion of 
the hunters present was that the claim of Gardner - if there is any 
foundation for it at all - is a just one, and they were united in saying 
that it has been the custom since the time when the "memory of man runneth 
not to the contrary" to permit the hunter who has drawn the "first blood" 
from the game to have half the carcass and the entire hide, no matter into 
whose hands the prize may chance to fall afterward.

Death of Rev. Father Hughes.

  We note in the Pittsburgh Catholic an account of the death of Father Peter 
Hughes, late pastor of the Catholic congregation at Braddocks, which event 
took place on the 26th ult.  Father Hughes was formerly located at Broad 
Top, and was well known to many of our citizens.  He was a most excellent 
gentleman and a zealous clergy, and died while yet actively engaged in his 
religious work, being only 46 years of age.