NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, February 7, 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/ _________________________________________ Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Saturday, February 7, 1891 A MISSING BRIDEGROOM. QUITE A SENSATION IN HUNTINGDON COUNTY. He Goes Away with $50 Belonging to His Intended Bride and $150, the Property of the Woman Who was to be His Mother-in-law. He has Been Searched for but is Still Missing. HE MAY HAVE GONE TO THE FAR WEST. The Supposition Being That He Belongs to the Regular Army - Many Telegrams Sent Out. Special to the Tribune. HUNTINGDON, Pa., February 6. - The cruel abandonment of an estimable young lady, the breaking of a marriage engagement, and the hasty flight of the author of this wreck and ruin are the main features of a sensational drama in real life which occurred here yesterday, and of which Charles Gordon played the role of the heavy villain. Besides this Gordon has decamped with $200 in money belonging to his fiance, and her mother. Three months ago Charles Gordon, who is the son of very respectable parents, returned to his home here after a long absence. It is said that he had joined the United States army with headquarters in one of the far western states, and that he had obtain a three months' leave of absence from his command. Soon after his return home he renewed the acquaintance of Miss Mary Kephart, the estimable daughter of a well-to-do farmer living about three miles from this place. Gordon's acquaintance with Miss Kephart dates back several years to the time when they were living on adjoining farms. Recently Gordon's parents moved to Smithfield, a suburb of Huntingdon. Gordon is about 21 years old and Miss Kephart two years his junior. Since his return from the west Gordon's deportment has not been especially conformable to the requirements of good society, but this delinquency on his part seems not to have been observed by either Miss Kephart or her parents. In a short time Gordon was recognized as Miss Kephart's accepted suitor; the dates of the nuptials was finally agreed upon and love's halcyon day was appointed for yesterday, the minister was engaged and all the preparations for the consummation of the lovers' hopes had been carefully attended to. The rural neighborhood about the Kephart residence was all agog over the coming nuptials and the wedding promised to be the event of the season in that locality. Yesterday morning Mr. and Mrs. Kephart, Miss Kephart and her fiance, Gordon, started for this place with the view of making some additional purchases for the momentous event of the evening. Just before reaching the town limits, however, Gordon, on some undisclosed pretext, suggested that he alone should proceed and that the money intended for the purchases should be given to him. He would attend to everything necessary and thus avert the public comment that the presence of others might invite. This proposition was readily assented to, and young Gordon was dispatched on his mission with $50 belonging to his fiance, and $150 belonging to her mother. This unusual amount of wealth seems to have turned the young man's mind, for regardless of his approaching nuptials in the evening, he has disappeared as completely and effectually as if the earth had swallowed him up. Officers who have been employed on the case have discovered that the faithless Gordon hastened to town, after getting possession of the $200, and with a convivial companion went to Tyrone. There all trace of him is lost. It is thought that he is heading for the west to rejoin his company in the regular army. But this is simply conjecture, as no definite information can be gleaned of his ever having enlisted in the army. If he can be intercepted by the numerous telegrams that have been sent out the festive but faithless young Gordon will be called upon to confront a criminal prosecution instead of a marriage ceremony. HOLLIDAYSBURG HAPPENINGS. Miss Mollie Whittington, of Ridley Park, near Philadelphia, is visiting Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Baldrige. The Belle Shekel Memorial band will meet at the home of Mrs. Reamey this afternoon at 2.30 o'clock sharp. On the docks on the site of the old boat yard at Frankstown may be seen the skeleton of a vessel which, when finished, will be launched in the waters of the Three Mile dam and propelled by steam. It will be a pleasure boat for the use of the cottagers and visitors at Point View. The children of Robert Walls, of Frankstown township, an account of the death of whose wife under distressing circumstances appeared in the Tribune some days ago, have been removed to the county alms house. There are eight of these unfortunate little ones, the oldest a girl of 13 or 14 years. They were living in a hovel on the side of the mountain and were objects of pity, being in utterly destitute circumstances. Several families who concluded that some place else was better than the county capital to live in, have learned by experience their mistake and will return in the spring to resume residence at the good old home. Among these mention may be made of ex-Recorder J. S. Plummer, who has been living at Cove Forge; Charles Brown, who located at Frugality, and William Dublin, who removed his family to Altoona, and engaged as a marble cutter. We bid them all welcome. Local Brevities. Miss Minnie McGaban, of Oreminea, is visiting friends in this city. Fireman C. E. Bell, who was injured in the wreck at New Florence on Thursday morning, was able to be removed from the hospital yesterday to his father's house in Pleasant Valley. Mr. S. E. Hegenfritz, who is troubled with iritis, left yesterday for Hagerstown, Md., to have an operation performed on his eyes. A goodly number of his friends accompanied him to the train. The 10-month's-old child of Robert Walls, near Frankstown, whose mother died some time ago, has found a good home in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wise at Reservoir station. He is much pleased with his new friends and is getting along nicely. A New Trial Wanted. Hon. Harry White, president judge of the courts of Indiana county, had a hearing in chambers, in the library room of the bar association, in the court house at Hollidaysburg, yesterday afternoon. The case which occupied the attention of his honor was that of A. S. Morrow, assignee of Frederick Jaekel vs. Israel C. Caldwell, in which a jury gave the plaintiff a verdict of $17,325.50. It will be remembered that, when this case was tried before Judge White in 1889, Hon. John Dean was the principal witness for the plaintiff, and the large verdict gained was chiefly due to the zealous argument made by the late Hon. S. S. Blair before the jury. An application for a new trial was made by the defendant on the grounds that the verdict was excessive and not warranted by the facts in the case, and this matter was in hearing before Judge White yesterday. Martin Bell, esq., represented the plaintiff and H. M. Baldrige, esq., and David Caldwell, esq., of Huntingdon, the defendant. At the conclusion of the argument by the counsel the court advised the litigants to settle their contention amicably, if possible. A decision in the case was reserved but will be handed down in time for the unsuccessful party to take a writ of error to the supreme court at its spring sitting, if he so desires. BOARD OF TRADE. The February Meeting Held - What was Done. The February meeting of the Altoona board of trade was held last evening. These gentlemen were present: Thomas McKiernan, W. W. Rudisill, George F. Streit, W. C. Sterns, Charles Lindstrom, William Stoke, T. J. Burke, Alderman O'Toole, B. J. Lynch, E. H. Forney, John Halton, B. F. Custer and C. W. Moore. The minutes were read and approved. Vice President McKiernan presided. William Stoke from the committee of manufacture, reported receiving a letter from John Rich, of Woolrich, Pa., in which he stated that a representative of the firm would be here in a few days to make some investigation as to the establishment of a woolen mill here. Mr. T. J. Burke, made report as to the city map made by Smith & Robinson. He believed it to be a good one as it showed the city and its suburbs - the latter in extensor. Mr. Stoke from the committee of manufactures, said he had interviewed Dr. S. C. Baker relative to securing the old mill as a place in which to locate the woolen mill proposed to be brought here by John Rich, of Norwich, [sic] Pa. Mr. Baker was not willing to make any definite reply, but would wait until Mr. Rich came here and he had an interview with him. The committee was continued. W. W. Rudisill, from the committee on publication and statistics, read a letter from C. B. Clark, esq., in which he stated he would be willing to take charge of the matter if the board would desire him to do so. After some discussion the committee was continued. The subject under debate was the publication of a book relative to Altoona, its advantages, etc. Mr. Burke moved that the committee on publication be authorized to push the book forward and if there were any deficit the board should provide for the same. This was adopted. Chairman McKiernan here stated that he believed something should be done relative to the discrimination shown in the matter of collecting taxes. In other words that Altoona should not be discriminated against. He therefore suggested a committee be appointed whose duty it shall be to have repealed, if possible, the law relative to the said collection of taxes. This suggestion was adopted, and H. W. Andrews, jr., E. H. Flick and William Stoke was appointed as said committee. It is a well-known fact that while citizens of the county can obtain a rebate of 5 per cent. on their county taxes, the citizens of Altoona cannot obtain the same on taxes for the same purpose. It is this part of the law which should be remedied, and with this end in view the committee was appointed. Paul Kreutzpointner and B. J. Lynch joined the association and the board then adjourned. TYRONE TOPICS. Clement Stewart Hiltner, who sails under the nom de plume of "Boomby," ye local editor of the Tyrone Daily Herald, has awarded to himself a rest in the way of an outing, and is visiting friends and his best girl at Homestead, Allegheny county.