NEWS: Items from The Cambria Freeman, March 25, 1904, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, March 25, 1904 Volume XXXVIII, Number 13 Local and Personal Zach Kaylor of Loretto was here on business Wednesday. The miners in the Patton region have been working only one half time. Johnson Rager of Wilmore who had his leg broken last winter is now able to be around. Miss Margaret Kinkead of Johnstown spent Wednesday and Thursday with her aunt, Mrs. Fergus Lloyd. The house of Ed A. Mellon of Patton has been quarantined, his daughter, Nita, having had scarlet fever. Squire Stephens of Gallitzin who is serving on the jury this week paid the office a pleasant call on Thursday. N. C. Hubbard of Patton is an enthusiast concerning fox hunting having secured several fox hounds that are declared to be beauties by experts. Two new blacksmith shops have been recently established in Wilmore. One by George Crum and the other by Mike McDunn. The L. C. B. A. of Lilly are making arrangements for an Easter supper to be given in the Parochial School Hall for the benefit of St. Bridget's Church. William M. Kimball of this place brought suit against J. Bert Denny to cover $900 with interest from June 1901, the action growing out of dealings in operations between the two gentlemen named. S. O. Thomas, a graduate of the Baltimore Medical College and who had been practicing medicine in Pittsburg for the past couple years, intends opening up offices in this place. Dr. Thomas is a Cambria county man, being a son of Hon. James J. Thomas of near Patton, Pa. The Ladies' Aid Society of the United Brethren Church at Dunlo held a bazaar on Saturday evening and cleared the sum of $67. The quilt which was chanced off fell to the lot of Mrs. Richard Fisher. Twenty-two drawings were made before the quilt was drawn. A large company was present and all spent a splendid social time until about 7 p.m. when the friends wished each other a good night and departed for their various homes. Smallpox at Cherrytree It is reported that the village of Cherrytree is in the hands of a mild epidemic of smallpox, twelve cases having developed there within the past few days. Cherrytree is located at the intersection of the lines between Clearfield, Cambria and Indiana counties. It is a quiet little place with a population of about 300. Its name is derived from the old cherry tree which marked the western boundary of one of Penn's purchases from the Indians. The tree is gone but a handsome granite monument marks the place where it stood. This monument was erected in 1891 by the State of Pennsylvania and marks the highest point to which a canon was pushed up the Susquehanna River, in pursuance of the bargain made by William Penn with the Indians, in which this point was to fix the eastern end of a line drawn between the Susquehanna and Allegheny rivers to form the western boundary of the purchase. The other end of the line was at Killowmay, Armstrong county. Carrolltown Boy Wounded Harold, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Buck, of Carrolltown was shot through the hand with a revolver a few days ago while playing with his three brothers. The boys found a revolver in an overcoat pocket and while they were scrambling for possession of the gun it was accidentally discharged, the boys not knowing it was loaded. Smallpox at Nicktown Four cases of smallpox exist at the home of Thomas Miller, two miles southwest of Nicktown. There are also three cases at the Stiles lumber camp near Nicktown. The quarantine has been lifted from the houses in Nicktown where several cases of the disease existed. Purchased Liquor Business A. Lantzy has purchased the wholesale liquor business of T. A. Delozier of Hastings and has moved the place of business to the building recently purchased by him from the Mountain Supply Company. Pennsy Sued for $25,000 Through his father, David Harlin of Gallitzin, James Earl Harlin has brought suit against the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for damages in the sum of $25,000 for injuries which he alleges he received through falling through an overhead bridge which crosses the tracks at Gallitzin. It is alleged that the younger Harlin, who is 14 years of age, fell through a hole left in the bridge by workmen repairing it, 20 feet to the tracks below and received injuries which will incapacitate him for life. His right leg was broken and crushed and he received other painful injuries. The accident is alleged to have happened in October 1903. Because of the loss of his son's services the father brings suit against the company for $3,000. The plaintiffs are represented by Attorney P. J. Little of Ebensburg. Home From the Army Irvin Luther, aged twenty-five years, son of Theodore Luther of Gallitzin has returned home after a service of three years in the United States Cavalry. He enlisted March 12, 1901, and served in K Troop, Fifth Regiment in New Mexico and Arizona. His term of enlistment expired and he returned home. Mr. Luther has made no plans for the future and may re-enlist. Editor Stineman's Close Call Two Americans, say the Philadelphia NORTH AMERICAN of Tuesday barely escaped with their lives during a return trip from St. Thomas. H. L. Stineman of South Fork, Pa., and J. D. France of Washington came to Porto Rico with President Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor and while he was making a tour of the island decided to go to St. Thomas. Last Wednesday a start was made to return to San Juan and a rough time was experienced. When thirty-six hours out the rudder was lost and the sloop became unmanageable. Saturday and Sunday they were without food except three oranges and a little water. Finally they were discovered by the signalman on Fort San Christobal and rescued. Smallpox at Gallitzin Charles Swarb, aged about twenty-five years, who resides with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Swarb on Portage street, Gallitzin, just across the Tunnelhill line has been pronounced a victim of smallpox by the attending physician, Dr. G. F. MacDonald. The Tunnelhill borough authorities were notified of the case and the proper precautions will be taken by the officials of both municipalities to prevent a spread of the disease. Mr. Swarb does not know how or where he contracted the disease. Gallitzin's Health Board Gallitzin's newly appointed Board of Health was organized with the election of W. H. Weston as President and Will H. Eckenrode, Secretary. The board selected James Lees as Health Officer and sanitary policeman. The members of the board are W. H. West, five years; Samuel Watts, four years; Frank Pfoff, three years; Will H. Eckenrode, two years and Dr. F. C. Ferguson, one year. Will Fight Smallpox At a special meeting of the School Board of Jenner township, held Monday morning for the purpose of taking action to prevent the spread of smallpox, first diagnosed in Boswell Saturday evening, it was determined to maintain a strict quarantine over the eighteen infected houses and to do everything possible to prevent the further communication of the malady. This action was taken pending the arrival of a State Board of Health officer expected Monday evening. Alarmed at the spread of a disease which local physicians diagnosed as chicken pox, a number of citizens of Boswell on Saturday requested Dr. R. S. Kring, Johnstown's city physician to go over to the coal town and investigate. Dr. Kring went Saturday evening and discovered that the place contained at least eighteen case of smallpox with endless possibilities for contagion. At the advice of the Johnstown physician quarantine guards were placed at each infected house, their expenses being guaranteed by Landlord Ed Keane of The Merchants' Hotel and a number of officials of the Merchants' Coal Company. Monday morning's meeting of the School Board commended this prompt action of the citizens. Vintondale Items James Walker, while working in Mine No. 3 here, recently had an arm broken by his coat sleeve catching on the key of the sprocket wheel which runs one of the coal conveyors. Miss. Ida McQuerie of Nant-y-Glo was among friends in Vintondale last week for a few days. Van Marsh who had been suffering from pneumonia for several weeks is now convalescent. The slaters are putting a new roof on the Vintondale Inn. Y. M. C. A. at Barnesboro At a meeting of prominent citizens of Barnesboro held on Thursday evening of last week final arrangements were made for the organization of a local Young Men's Christian Association. This plan has been pending for some time but was due to the efforts of Field-Secretary C. E. Smith, aided by a number of Barnesboro citizens that final action was brought about. The meeting was a very enthusiastic affair, enough membership subscriptions being pledged to defer the running expenses of the association for a year. Several tenders of quarters for the new organization were also received. The following officers were elected: President, E. O. Hartshorn; Vice President, Nicholas Russell; Secretary, Henry Williams Jr.; Chairman Finance Committee, Richard Scullen; Membership Committee, J. Q. Kern; Education Committee, M. Spencer; Social Committee, The Rev. A. H. Goetman; Devotional Committee, The Rev. John Kelley. "Billey" Bell Faces Jury Is Charged with Killing Man Named Hill in Johnstown last December - Other Court Matters Before twelve good men and true the Commonwealth and the defense on Tuesday morning sifted the facts that surrounded the fate of C. A. Hill, who on the night of Dec. 23, while on Bedford street near the B. & O. crossing, Johnstown, received a blow upon the head from the effects of which he died and upon the issues of the case hangs the fate of William Bell of Johnstown, who is accused of Hill's murder. The Commonwealth is making a hard fight to secure a conviction while the methods of the defense so far developed indicate that Bell's attorney, Frank Martin, intends fighting the case to the last ditch. The struggle commenced with the selection of the jury. For three hours commencing at 9 o'clock Tuesday morning, counsel examined the regular panel until it was exhausted and then talesmen were called. Just before noon the last juror was secured. The jury selected is as follows: J. S. Stutzman, farmer, Upper Yoder township; N. F. Lambour, merchant, Barr township; Warren Cloyd, carpenter, Hastings; C. N. Lehman, carpenter, Dale; John Simmons, farmer, Jackson township; Albert Wissinger, mill hand, Rosedale; Frank Crissey; William McClarren, contractor, Ebensburg; Philip Flick, Allegheny; William Rigney, Gallitzin; J. T. McClarren, South Fork; James Werner. The first witness upon the stand was Peter Hare of Windber, the man who was with Hill the night he was killed and who suffered in the attack made by the men who assaulted Hill. The witness said that as he and Hill were passing Harshberger's store on Bedford street, he saw three persons approaching them from the left hand side of the street. No attention was paid to them. Suddenly Hill was stuck on the side of the head and Hare was stuck twice in the face and knocked to the ground. Hill also fell and Hare was positive in his assertions that Bell was one of the three who did the striking. Hare said that Gibboney hit Hill and that Bell went through his pockets. He was positive in his identifications and on that assertion the commonwealth is building its case. Hare was followed by Margaret Wilkins and Mabel Ellsworth, two girls from the Bedford street resort. They testified to the visit of Hill and Hare to the house; to the fact that Hill had considerable money and had left the house about half past 10 o'clock. Drs. Hay and Hannan testified in regard to Hill's condition when taken to the Memorial Hospital and that death was the result of the injury caused by the blow on the head. Dr. Hay performed the postmortem examination. Lizzie Callahan testified that a few days after the slugging of Hill she had occasion to go to Cole's on business and saw Bell. In conversation with him she found he was well supplied with the "long green" and in surprise she asked, "Gee! Where did you get all that." He answered: "struck a cinch the other night and got a roll of easy money." Tries to Prove Bell Remorseful Constable Griffith of the Eighth Ward, tried to prove that the matter of Hill's death was weighing heavily on Bell's mind. He found Bell in Cole's one day soon after Hill's fate was known and called him out. Bell asked the officer several questions among them being if it was murder in the first degree if the victim did not die for several days after the wounding. Griffith told him it was murder anyway. Bell said some friends were trying to put him into a hole. He claimed to have an intention of making an information against someone. Burggraf, the photographer of Bedford street, submitted photos of the street where the murder occurred. Miss Martha Kinkead, a nurse at the hospital, said a chain but no watch and only $3.50 were found on Hill's body. The prosecution rested on Wednesday evening. On Thursday the defense had its inning. The line of defense was that of proving an alibi for Bell. Ben Shadle, charged by Tony Wright of Hastings with the larceny of a watch and a revolver, pleaded guilty Tuesday morning. It seems that Shadle who is only nineteen years old was formerly employed by Wright. He left the latter's service some months ago, but later returned and gaining entrance to his former employer's house by means of a window, purloined the articles mentioned. He was directed to pay the costs and remanded to jail pending the Court's further consideration of his sentence. Ben Makin was found not guilty on a charge of larceny brought by John Bittner of Dunlo. It was alleged that the defendant and a brother of the prosecutor took a horse last April from Bittner and disappeared with it, neither being heard of until last October when Bittner was taken. The sealed verdict handed in Tuesday morning by the jury in the case of Gale Heslop vs. F. S. Schultz et al, trustees of the First Evangelical Church of Johnstown, the case being an action in trespass, was given in favor of the defendants, subject to a point of law reserved by the Court as to the admission of certain evidence relative to the corners. Immediately following the announcement of the verdict, Attorneys Williams and Cresswell made a motion for a new trial. The difficulty grows out of the starting point on corners from which the church lot was laid off and if the contention of Mr. Heslop be correct the society has encroached on his ground to the extent of two or three feet while in the rear they have defined their line at a point one foot and three inches over his property hence the suit in trespass. Mrs. Heslop contends that he had notified the church people of the alleged encroachment when they started their foundation but that they paid no heed to him. "Ed" Streams, well known in Johnstown because of the fact that he is the owner of a place on the Frankstown road who was found guilty last week on two indictments of violating the liquor laws was sentenced to pay the costs on both indictments, $500 fine and to serve 90 days in jail. Mike Sporkovich, found guilty of violating liquor laws, was sentenced to pay the costs, $50 fine and serve 20 days in jail. T. W. Woods, convicted of larceny was sentenced to pay the costs, other sentence being suspended as long as he resides out of the county. Monday afternoon, Michael Nightengale, who was released in the morning from the County Jail, decided to see Ebensburg in a proper manner. He proceeded to a saloon and bought himself a "jag" which he was scarcely able to balance with comfort. He then proceeded to the Court House and went to the entrance to the court room, where Constable John C. Bradley of the East Ward is in charge. Mr. Bradley had laid off his overcoat near the ladies' waiting room and Nightengale seeing it in Bradley's absence appropriated the same to his own use and left. Officer John Finn captured Nightengale on the street with the coat and now that young man is again in jail awaiting trial on a charge of larceny. The coat was returned to Mr. Bradley. On Tuesday morning Judge O'Connor made known to the attorneys concerning his decision in the action amicably brought some time ago to test the constitutionality of the law passed by the last legislature forbidding the employment of boys under sixteen years of age in bituminous coal mines and of boys under fourteen about the outside of such mines, except in office work. He decided that the law is unconstitutional and will file an opinion to that effect at argument court. Judge Shaffer of Allegheny county, has already passed upon the act in the same manner. In the case heard here last week, W. J. Drennen of Lilly, prosecuted Evan D. Davis, Superintendent of the Loyalhanna mines at Benscreek for violation of the law. Mr. Drennen represented the miners who were anxious that the law should be declared unconstitutional as they claim boys of fifteen and sixteen who will not attend school are better employed in the mines than idle. District Attorney Stephens prosecuted the case and Supt. Davis was defended by Attorney Leech. Judge O'Connor making known to those gentleman Tuesday morning the decision he had arrived at. Miner's Convention Altoona, Pa., March 23. - The fifteenth annual convention of District No. 2, United Mine Workers of America opened here with 228 delegates representing about 35,000 men. District President Gilday announced a number of committees among which is the scale committee composed of the sub-district presidents, Michael McTaggert, George Parks, William Currie, Morris Young, John Sullivan, William Davidson, William Tyler, W. E. Patterson and Davies Estop. In his annual report President Gilday reviewed the work of the past year and recommended the observance of the 8-hour day, the establishment of co-operative stores, the lengthening of the school term to 11 months a year, the opening of night schools in mining towns and changes in the mine laws for the benefit of the miners. These committees were appointed: Grievance - F. X. Yohner, William Campbell, James Hamilton, Albert Divine, Thomas Hammond, John Kinney and Edward Fisherman. Constitution - James Burns, David Irwin, James Robison, John Judge, S. Keating, W. E. Selkeld, Timothy Pitchford, Thomas Dale and Henry Dermott. Resolutions - William Owens, Thomas Powell, Thomas Reighard, Alexander Archbald, David Cowen, John Abbott, John Williamson, George Turnbold and J. H. Holmes. The scale is being prepared and efforts are being made to clear away several local differences. When formulated it is expected that the Pennsylvania Coal and Coke company intends joining with other operations in its concurrence. It was announced that National Secretary Treasurer Wilson will reach this city on Thursday in time to participate in the joint conference. It is believed the 8-hour day will not be insisted upon by the convention. McClarren Not Named There are hunters [transcriber's note: referring to the following fox hunters] who hunt and don't talk and then there are hunters who talk and don't hunt. No one in the county however has a greater fund of anecdote than Uncle William McClarren. The following list of persons contain the names of those who have recently been paid bounties by the county commissioners. Lawrence Aples L. D. Ranken R. L. Burkart J. W. Hubbard Elias Snedden W. C. Lambery Frank Sanders D. H. Lambery R. S. Tibott D. C. Burk Robert Wess Nelson Stine Andrew Schrift J. M. Stine W. A. Monhin Joseph Elig Hugh McNelly James Marsh Joe Shoemaker Frank Bennet William Jones Amandus Sherry C. C. Kelly Geo. W. Rickerd J. D. McNulty L. J. Litzinger Louis Kring J. J. Beckel Elmer Menth Wm. McGuire Samuel Kelley Frank Sanders Herman Roberts Grant L. Fresh George Brawley W. B. Bracken Lawrence Krise Francis Illig H. C. Hunt Henry A. Snyder Jas. A. Tierney J. W. Buckley H. B. Heffley W. C. Wensel Geo. Gearhart Joseph Lilly Charles Brand Nelson Isenberg A. J. Lieb Letters Lately Issued The following letters of administration have been issued by Register and Recorder Strauss: Estate of William Killian, late of Summerhill township, to Samuel Hess, after the filing of a renunciation on the part of the decedent's sister. Estate of John Cseremsk, late of Johnstown, to E. T. McNeelis, after decedent's widow filed a renunciation. Estate of Michael Noon, late of Carroll township. Will probated and letters issued to Joseph Noon. Estate of Frank Luther, late of Washington township to Charles A. Luther, after decedent's brother had filed a renunciation. Estate of Abel Lloyd, late of Ebensburg. Will probated and letters testamentary issued to Ann Lloyd, J. G. Lloyd, and Mathiot Reade. Estate of Victoria Stineheiser, late of Summerhill Borough. Petition filed for the appointment of H. C. Stinehiser as Administrator. Estate of Henry C. Howard, late of Johnstown. Will probated and letters issued to John M. Rose. Estate of Hannah Smith, late of Johnstown. Letters issued to James Smith. Estate of Grace L. Joder, late of Johnstown to Reuben J. Joder. Estate of James Null, late of Carrolltown to Joseph M. Null Estate of Franziska Horten, late of Johnstown to John Horten Estate of Amanda Lehman, late of Johnstown to William H. Hamilton. Estate of John G. Meyer, late of Dale Borough to Elizabeth Meyer. Estate of Edward Ruschke, late of Johnstown. Will probated and letters testamentary issued to Carolina Ruschke. Estate of Anna Barbara Diefenbach, late of Johnstown, to John Diefenbach. Estate of James M. Burk, late of Portage township to George W. Burk. Estate of George Vorhauer, late of Cambria Township. Will probated and letters issued to Otto Vorhauer. The surreptitious visit of three men in the Pleasant Hill cemetery in West Taylor township about dusk on the 12th of the present month and the depositing there of a new born babe, stillborn, has led to the arrest of Charles Naylor of the Twentieth Ward, Johnstown, on a serious charge preferred by Miss Ida Springer.