NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, January 16, 1891, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ Items from the Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Friday, January 16, 1891 COUNTY COURT. Proceedings of Yesterday's Sessions at the County Capital. The Blair county criminal courts re-convened at Hollidaysburg yesterday morning at 9 o'clock, Hon. John Dean presiding. Following is the record of business transacted during the day: Woodcock, W. L. - In the estate of Nancy J. Stewart, deceased, certain moneys were directed to be paid to W. L. Woodcock, attorney for administration. Same - A rule was awarded to show cause why mechanic's lien of Joseph Grass vs. W. L. Woodcock should not be stricken from the record. Same - C. B. Clark, esq., was appointed receiver for the Altoona Brush company. Same - A decree of specific performance of contract with D. K. Howe was made in the S. M. Woodcock estate. Woodcock, W. I. - Frank Cassaly was discharged from imprisonment in the county jail under the insolvent laws. The grand jury made return of the following bills of indictment: Commonwealth vs. Joseph Hirt. Larceny; receiving stolen goods. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. William Darby and Emma Darby. Larceny; keeping a disorderly house. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. Tony Pompell. Selling liquor without license to minors. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. Donimico Stravoli. Selling liquor without license to minors. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. Boyd Gilmore. Murder. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. David Wonderly. Violation of boarding house act. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. Giacamo Semards. Assault and battery. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. Elmer Weaver. Malicious mischief. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. Thomas Baird. Aggravated assault and battery on C. Garber Lowry. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. Joseph Kandlebrinder. Fornication and bastardy. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. George Houser. Perjury; three counts. A true bill. Commonwealth vs. George Collier. Unlawfully acting as a detective. Not a true bill, and the prosecutor, William M. Baker, was directed to pay the costs. At 5.30 the grand jury completed their labors, and after receiving the thanks of the court for their rapid and efficient dispatch of business, were discharged. During the past four days the grand jury passed upon fifty-one bills of indictment, out of which number only three were found not to be true bills. Final disposition was made of the following criminal cases on the list for trial: Commonwealth vs. Charles Reed and William Denniston. Robbery of the coal office of J. A. Canan, in Altoona. The trial of this case consumed the time of the court yesterday morning. At 2 o'clock the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty. Commonwealth vs. Anton Buckberger. Assault and battery on Charles Teufel. A jury was sworn in this case and the defendant was found not guilty, and the payment of the costs was divided between the prosecutor and defendant. Commonwealth vs. James McGibbony and Ray Keith. Larceny of a livery rig from the livery stable of John A. McCoy, in Altoona, and maliciously breaking the buggy. The defendant pleaded guilty. McGibboney was sentenced to pay $25 fine and the payment of the costs was divided between the defendants. Commonwealth vs. Harrison Ware. Assault and battery on John Zentmyer. A jury was sworn and the defendant found not guilty, and John Zentmyer, the prosecutor, to pay the costs. Commonwealth vs. S. W. Opelinger. Defrauding Landlords G. G. and J. Snyder, and H. D. Smith, of Altoona, out of the amounts of their board bills. This case was on trial when court adjourned. Commonwealth vs. William Kockenderfer. Participating in a riot on a passenger train between Hollidaysburg and Altoona. The defendant pleaded guilty and submitted. Court adjourned to meet on Friday morning at 9 o'clock. Local Brevities. If Thomas Lane, who in 1889 sent a money order to England, payable to Eliza Chipperfield, will call at the postoffice he may learn something to his advantage. In our Wednesday morning court proceedings, in the case of the Commonwealth vs. John Bauer, the name of Jessie Everhart should appear instead of Mrs. Kate Heinsman - Mrs. Heinsman being the prosecutor. Yesterday Mr. F. L. Schneider, special agent of the New York Mutal Life Insurance company paid Mrs. Annie J. Jaggard the sum of $21,398. The amount represents the value of the life insurance policy held by her husband, the late Clement Jaggard. Rev. A. R. Miller, pastor of the Chestnut Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, who was called to Bedford on Saturday last on account of the serious illness of his father-in-law, Judge Hartley, has returned to Altoona and will occupy his pulpit again next Sunday. Mrs. Miller still remains in Bedford. Mr. Hartley's many friends in Altoona will be gratified to learn he is improving and may recover. In Other Counties. Dr. J. L. Crawford, of Greensburg, died yesterday, aged 49 years. Bruce Smith and his 4-year-old son, of Indiana, were precipitated into a swollen stream, at Newville, on Monday, and only rescued from drowning by desperate efforts upon the part of a number of persons who saw the accident. About 6 o'clock Thursday morning a large, double frame house owned by the Westmoreland Coal company at Larimer, caught fire and before assistance arrived, was burned to the ground. The house was occupied by John Butler in the one end, and number of Italians in the other. Mr. Butler lost most of his household effects, and the Italians lost some clothing etc. The origin of the fire is supposed to have been a defective flue. Loss, probably $2,000, with some insurance. Mr. Butler's loss is also considerable. Hospital Notes. Harry Goshen, who was admitted with a crush of the left leg, requiring amputation, was discharged yesterday. Last evening John Curry, one of the men injured in the cave-in at the Old Portage tunnel some time since, was the victim of an unfortunate accident. When the cave in occurred his right leg was crushed so badly as to require amputation. Last evening he was walking through the hospital ward on a pair of crutches, and being blind of one eye it is supposed that he struck the end of one of his crutches against something, knocking it from under his arm. When this happened he fell with his whole weight on the stump of the leg which was not altogether healed and made the injury almost as bad as it was when the member was taken off. His sufferings were terrible and despite the utmost endeavors of the attendants to make him comfortable, the efforts were unsuccessful until a long time after the accident had occurred. Insane and Neglected. From the Johnstown Tribune: Out in the woods from Summerhill, four miles and a half - near New Germany - live Mrs. Stiffler, an aged woman, and her two sons. One of the latter is apparently 40 and the other is 45. Both are insane and one of them - Henry - is blind. The father died four years ago. He had an estate of three hundred acres and some money besides. He left the property to another son - John - to be held in trust for the mother and the two imbecile sons to provide for them during their lifetimes. Recently Humane Agent Moyer was notified that the mother and sons were not being properly cared for and that they were being cruelly treated. He went up last Monday to investigate the case. When he entered the house the old woman was sitting on a chair knitting. The blind son was sitting on the floor, and the other son was walking about the room chattering. The agent had a talk with the old woman and she told a story of ill treatment and neglect. She said that when her son John visited the house he made fun of her and her two crazy sons; that he did not furnish them with the necessities of life, and that when she had a bit of butter or milk about the house he carried it off to his own home. The agent also talked to several of the neighbors about the unfortunate people and learned from them that the statements of cruelty and neglect were true. No action has yet been taken by Moyer, but he is considering the matter and will institute such proceedings as will result in the proper care of the three helpless people. TYRONE TOPICS. Samuel H. Cree, merchant of Roaring Spring, with his best girl, has been spending some days with friends in town. John Curry, engineer on the Tyrone division, at his home on Spring street, has taken a little boy stranger in and added another welcome visitor to the household. Mr. Joseph Hewel, of the Tyrone brewery, yesterday disposed of his personal property at public sale and in a few days will move, with his family, to Fremont, Schuylkill county, where they will make their home. J. S. Benson, conductor of the shifting crew in the main line yard at this place, yesterday, near noon, had his right hand badly squeezed in his efforts to make a coupling. Fortunately, no bones were broken. Dr. J. M. Gemmill did the surgical. On Tuesday afternoon last, Francis, the 5-year-old son of Harry C. Gross while coasting in the vicinity of his home on Washington avenue fell suffering the dislocation of the left arm at the elbow. Dr. D. J. Appleby rendered proper surgical attention and the fellow is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. The Homeliest Man. Porter Orner took the prize as the homeliest man at the Glass Blowers' exhibition last night. To-night a prize will be voted to the handsomest baby under 4 years. Admission ten cents, including vote and present free. Matinee 2 to 4. Evening reception 7 to 10. To-morrow is their last day here.