NEWS: Items from the Cambria Freeman, December 12, 1902, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright July 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, December 12, 1902 A BIG COAL DEAL A deal was concluded last week by which J. L. Mitchell disposed of his large holdings of coal lands and improvements in Cambria county to the Webster Coal and Coke company. The deal includes the mines of Bennington, Blair county; Hastings, Moss Creek, Nantyglo and other places. Details of the sale could not be obtained, but it is said that the general stores conducted by the Mitchell interest go with the deal and that the stores in Gallitzin will be consolidated. The consideration is not given. Mr. Mitchell's plans for the future are not known, but it is intimated that he will take steps to develop some of the new territory he has purchased recently. The Webster people are contemplating a number of improvements to their newly acquired possessions. They are now the owners of one of the largest bituminous operations in the state and are spending a large amount in improvements, notably at Cresson, where they are preparing to erect a number of coke ovens. COURT PROCEEDINGS The following cases in the criminal court have been disposed of in addition to those already reported in last week's FREEMAN: Commonwealth vs. Adam Keith, assault and battery. Jury find defendant guilty. Commonwealth vs. Harry Merrill, malicious mischief. Commonwealth vs. Frank Lawson, malicious mischief. Jury find defendant not guilty. Commonwealth vs. Levi Hite, malicious mischief. Jury find defendant not guilty but that he pay one-third of the costs and R. C. Sweeney, the prosecutor two-thirds of the costs. Commonwealth vs. Anthony Hershberger, assault and battery. Jury find defendant not guilty and Julius Raymay the prosecutor to pay the costs. Commonwealth vs. Charles B. Lity, assault and battery. Defendant acquitted and the costs divided between the defendant and Cecelia Fox, the prosecutrix. Commonwealth vs. Sandy Sodak, assault and battery. Jury find defendant not guilty but that he pay 5-12 of the costs and Valentine Soritunis, the prosecutor, to pay 7-12 of the costs. The following bills were ignored by the grand jury: Joseph Wright, felonious assault, Thomas Helsel, prosecutor; John Brolley, larceny, James Brolley, prosecutor. Commonwealth vs. Stephen Caslar, felonious assault and battery. Jury find defendant guilty. Sentenced to pay the costs, $10 fine, and three months in jail. Commonwealth vs. Joseph Wherry, assault and battery. Defendant plead guilty and was sentenced to pay the costs, $25 fine and six months in jail. Commonwealth vs. Susie Williams, colored, larceny. Jury find defendant guilty. Sentenced to pay the costs, $50 fine and one year and six months in the Western penitentiary. Commonwealth vs. Francis Allison, assault and battery. Jury find defendant guilty. Motion made for a new trial. Commonwealth vs. James Pfeisticker, James Erzel, Louis Krentzberger, Michael Papish, John Enderline, John Hannekan, Fred Dorrish and Jacob Kimmel, violation of liquor laws. Krentzberger and Erzel plead guilty and were sentenced to pay the costs, further sentence being suspended, while the case against the other defendants was not pressed upon the payment of the costs. Commonwealth vs. Stiney Shodroski, aiding a prisoner to escape. Defendant plead guilty. Sentenced to pay the costs, $10 fine, and six months in jail. Commonwealth vs. David Galfend, assault and battery. Defendant was acquitted but required to pay one-third of costs, and the prosecutor, Andy Sherterick, the other two-thirds. Commonwealth vs. Charles Hammers, false pretense and larceny. Jury find defendant not guilty and the prosecutor, W. J. Griffith, to pay the costs. Commonwealth vs. A. B. Manspeaker, larceny. Jury find defendant not guilty. Commonwealth vs. John Sterko, assault and battery. Jury find the defendant guilty. Sentenced to pay the costs, $25 fine, and 60 days in jail. Commonwealth vs. John Tamko, larceny. Nol pros entered. Commonwealth vs. John Rotak and Vassil Helnge, selling liquor without license and selling on Sunday. Defendants plead guilty and were ordered to pay the costs, further sentence being suspended. Commonwealth vs. Frank Perkins, larceny. Bill ignored by the grand jury. Commonwealth vs. Werzula Schrader, Joe Work, Simon Crevadoe, Frank Bendore, Dimoni Lagonis and John Kowzdy, assault and battery were tried together. Werzula Schrader was found guilty and was sentenced to pay the costs and $25 fine, further sentence being suspended. Joe Work, who was the leader of the attack on Mendin, was found guilty and was ordered to pay the costs, $100 fine and serve one year less one day in jail, to date from commitment. Crevydoe, Bendre, Lagonis and Kowzdy, who were also convicted, were ordered to pay $100 fine and the costs jointly and serve six months in jail from date of incarceration. The parties are all from South Fork. Commonwealth vs. Joseph Wright, assault and battery. Jury find defendant not guilty. Commonwealth vs. Victoria Salkeld, assault and battery. Grand jury ignored the bill. Commonwealth vs. John O'Brien, robbery. Defendant plead guilty. Sentenced to pay costs, $50 fine and nine months in jail. The grand jury before their discharge made the following report: We, the members of the grand jury have examined the condition of the county buildings and find them generally in good repair, except the roof of the old part of the county poorhouse. We recommend that a new slate roof be put on to remedy this. We also find that the hospital at the poorhouse is hardly large enough to answer its needs. We recommend that the District Attorney's office be divided by the erection of a railing, that the general public may be separated from the office force. We understand that this has been recommended by a former grand jury, but never attended to. F. S. HYDE, Foreman F. B. Conlogue, Clerk Ebensburg, Pa. Dec. 5, 1902 COURT PROCEEDINGS - SECOND WEEK Commonwealth vs. Mrs. Kate Sterling, selling liquor without license and keeping a bawdy house. Defendant plead guilty. Sentenced to pay a fine $50, costs and three months in jail. Further sentence suspended. Laura Griffith vs. S. B. Martin, criminal libel. Jury find defendant not guilty but that he pay one-half the costs and the prosecutrix the other half. Commonwealth vs. J. D. Freeman, Mike Delahey, Peter Larkin and John Reardon, burglary and malicious mischief. Jury find defendants not guilty. Commonwealth vs. J. D. Freeman, pointing a pistol. Jury find defendant guilty. Sentenced to pay a fine of $50, costs and six months in jail. Commonwealth vs. Charles Sellers, embezzlement. Defendant plead guilty. Sentenced to pay the costs, $50 fine and eleven months in jail. Commonwealth vs. Telesfor Milscak, mayhem. Defendant plead guilty. Sentenced to pay the costs, $200 fine and eleven months in jail. Commonwealth vs. Charles Kretkofsky, violation of mining laws. Defendant plead guilty. Sentenced to pay the costs, $50 fine, and five months in jail. The following civil cases were disposed of: J. R. Aschcroft vs. E. J. Straw, feigned issue. By agreement of counsel verdict given for plaintiff. Charles Kreamer vs. Executor of E. J. Straw and E. J. Straw estate, feigned issue. By agreement of counsel verdict given to the plaintiff. Joel A. Gates and D. Strayer, Executors of John Osnell, deceased vs. Thomas Evans, deceased, ejectment. By agreement of counsel, verdict given plaintiff of the land to be released upon the payment of $75 within three months. Margaret Kaine et al. vs. John Yeaglin et al., continued. David D. Blough vs. James W. Dick, trespass, continued. Barbara Wirt et al. vs. Anton Schlereth and Adam Schlereth, ejectment, continued. By agreement of counsel a verdict was rendered for the plaintiffs in the four feigned issues of John Stewart, Elmer Stewart, Maggie T. Cain and Maggie E. Flemming vs. Sarah E. Tomlinson, et al. J. G. McCrorey vs. Mary Beilstein, assumpsit; Jury finds for plaintiff $5,962.75. Commonwealth vs. John Finn, aggravated assault and battery. Jury find defendant not guilty and divide the costs between the defendant and the prosecutor, James Rhue, Sr. Commonwealth vs. James Rhue, Sr., carrying concealed weapons. Jury finds defendant guilty. Sentenced to pay a fine of $20, costs, and enter into recognizance of the sum of $400 to keep the peace. Commonwealth vs. Conrad Baker, malicious mischief. Jury find defendant not guilty and divide the costs between the defendant and August Mayer, the prosecutor. Commonwealth vs. George Matchasick, burglary. Jury find defendant not guilty. Commonwealth vs. Ellen Carle, false pretense. Jury find defendant not guilty but that she pay two-thirds of the costs, and the prosecutrix, Mary Perkins, one-third. Commonwealth vs. A. A. King, robbery. Jury finds defendant guilty. Sentenced to pay a fine of $50, costs, and one year and six months in Western penitentiary. Commonwealth vs. Louis Callowich, felonious assault and battery. Jury find defendant guilty. Sentenced to pay a fine of $50, costs and seven months in jail. Commonwealth vs. Charles Williams, assault and battery. Jury find defendant not guilty and the county to pay the costs. FOR THE JOHNSTOWN HOSPITAL The members of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Johnstown Memorial Hospital Association request the ladies of Ebensburg to help to make up a box for that institution, consisting of sheets, pillow cases, towels, night gowns for bath, men and women and anything that may be needed for the comfort of the patients. It is desired that all the ladies of Ebensburg who possibly can, give something. The box is to be packed at the residence of Mrs. A. V. Barker, Monday evening, Dec. 22nd inst., and all garments should be taken there on or before that evening, that the box may be packed and shipped at once. This is a worthy project and one in which all ought to be interested. Mrs. A. V. Barker, Pres. Mrs. T. L. Gibson, V. Pres. Mrs. F. C. Jones, Secretary Mrs. John Lloyd, Treasurer Officers of the Auxiliary LOCAL AND PERSONAL Mrs. T. M. Richards, of this place, visited Altoona on Thursday. F. J. Parrish, Esq., of Gallitzin, attended court this week as a witness. There is some talk that Ebensburg will have a brick plant in the near future. Mr. Joseph Simindinger, of Carroll township, was a visitor to Ebensburg on Saturday. Four new cases of smallpox were reported to the Altoona board of health on Monday, all in one family. Four Dauphin county meat dealers have been arrested upon the charge of selling bologna containing acid. Mr. Frank O'Hara, of Munster township, spent this week in Ebensburg attending court as a juror. Judge Bell, of Blair county, assisted Judge O'Connor for several days this week in disposing of cases in court. Miss Blanche Henry, who has been visiting relatives in Williamsport, Pa., for a couple months, has retuned home. Mr. Wm. Tierney of the East ward, Ebensburg, has sold his farm in Cambria township to Porter Kinports of Cherrytree. On Saturday Judge O'Connor announced January 5th as the date for Motion Court and January 20th for argument court. Mr. William Pryce, residing in Cambria township, four miles north of Ebensburg, had ten sheep killed by dogs one night last week. A short time ago some money was dropped in McBreen's restaurant that the owner can recover by description and paying for this notice. Pay your taxes before Dec. 20th, after that date five percent will be added on all unpaid borough and school taxes in Ebensburg borough. Five cases of smallpox have been discovered at Sonman, a small mining town near Ben's Creek. The houses have been quarantined and one school closed. On Wednesday evening Mrs. Maude Collins entertained the Whist club of this place. The lady's prize was won by Mrs. Johnston and the gentleman's prize by Mr. Buck. Mr. Carl Rivinius, Ebensburg's well-known jeweler, has placed in his establishment two fine plate glass show cases in which will be displayed a handsome line of holiday gifts. Smallpox is quite prevalent in Glen Campbell, Indiana county, and the residents of that place are alarmed over the matter. There are a number of cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever in the place too. Mr. V. S. Barker and son, Austin, left Saturday for New Castle to attend the funeral of Mrs. Edward Jones, a sister of Mr. Barker's wife. Mrs. Barker had been with her sister for several days before she died. David Miller, who was convicted at the recent term of Centre county court for the shooting of his son-in-law, Robert Roach, was sentenced by Judge Love to eight years and eleven months in the penitentiary. A bill was introduced Friday at Washington by Representative Jenkins, to make newspapers or other periodicals unmailable which contain any pictures of suicides or details relating to suicides beyond a simple statement of death by suicide and imposing a penalty. Some two years ago J. H. Kinter, of this place, sold his hotel property by article of agreement to I. N. Rodkey, of Cambria county, for $6,250. Mr. Rodkey failed to make the first or any subsequent payments as promised in the article. A few days since he made a tender of the whole amount to Mr. Kinter, who refused to accept the tender. [Indiana Messenger] A train of 61 heavily loaded coal cars of the Pennsylvania railroad company broke away from a siding on a branch between Lovett and Windber Wednesday afternoon of last week. They made a wild and terrible dash down the mountain, and 39 of them piled up in one of the most marvelous masses of wreckage ever seen. The loss reaches many thousands of dollars. Mrs. William Kimball, wife of the proprietor of the Metropolitan Hotel in this place, is seriously ill from the effects of blood poisoning. A short time ago Mrs. Kimball injured one of her fingers while engaged in hanging curtains but at the time regarded the wound as being of little consequence. Blood poisoning developed and Mrs. Kimball's condition is quite serious. J. H. Glasgow, purchasing agent of the Cresson Supply company, formerly of Altoona, was badly injured in Harrisburg a few days ago. He was crossing the capitol grounds when a bolt fell from a scaffolding where workmen are erecting a wing of the new building. The bolt struck Mr. Glasgow on the right side of the head, splitting the ear and causing scalp lacerations. He was removed to a hospital. Dominick Dunkriski, aged 18, and Adam Lepansky, aged 28, two laborers employed in the Berwind-White Coal Mining company's mine No. 31 at Windber, were instantly killed Thursday of last week, being crushed to death beneath a fall of roof.