NEWS: Cambria Freeman; 1905; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 18 Aug 1905 Volume 39, Number 32 Items Local & Personal Mrs. Charles Schryock of Wilmore who was seriously injured some time ago by being struck by a mail pouch thrown from a postal car at the Wilmore station is visiting her sister, Mrs. Fes Lloyd of Julian street. Mrs. Schryock is in poor health as a result of the accident. J. J. Donnelly of Patton has broken ground for a new residence on Sixth avenue in that place. Attorney F. C. Sharbaugh and family, accompanied by a party of friends drove to the farm of Francis Shettig on Tuesday where they enjoyed a day's outing. Mr. Shettig won the gratitude of the party, especially the ladies by his kindness and hospitality. Messrs. James and Warren Eberline of Pittsburg are spending a few days with friends in this place, having stopped off on their return from Atlantic City where they were enjoying a two weeks vacation. Hon. A. V. Barker and family of this place are expected home today. Judge Barker will spend a week or so looking after his business affairs here and will then take an extended trip through the west. Mr. F. B. Jones, commissioner's clerk, accompanied by his daughter, Miss Laura, departed this morning for Philadelphia and Atlantic City. They will spend about one week at the latter place. Mrs. George Moyer of Johnstown, who had been visiting her sister, Mrs. George W. Porch at the Metropolitan Hotel in this place for the past week returned home Wednesday evening. Walter Jones, Alfred Shoemaker, and Earl Jones, three young men of this place, departed Monday morning on an overland trip to Gettysburg. They expect to be gone two weeks. Miss Mary Blair who makes her home with Deputy Sheriff Bearer departed on Monday for Atlantic City. She was accompanied by her grandfather, George Brown of Altoona. The Hon. Alvin Evans attended the International Elsteddfodd at Mt. Ash, Wales. He is enjoying the best of health and reports to his family as having a very pleasant trip. Dr. Davidson, accompanied by Dr. Butler Roberts, both of Pittsburg, arrived in Ebensburg Tuesday in their automobile and will spend some time in this place with relatives. Misses Sallie G. and May J. McKeever who have been visiting Mrs. J. G. Hasson of Julian street, returned to their home in Philadelphia on Saturday. Mr. George Porch, the music dealer, has returned home from his business trip to Philadelphia and New York where he has been for the past week. Mr. J. R. Kelly and Squire McGonigle, two of Lilly's prominent citizens, paid this office a call while in town on business Wednesday. Misses Leila and Anna Port, of this place, left Tuesday for a two weeks' visit with friends and relatives in Philipsburg and Osceola. Miss Stella Galloway of Altoona who had been visiting her sister, Miss Mary Galloway of this place, returned home on Monday. Miss Marie Farnesby of Braddock and Miss Eleanor Bly of Swissvale are visiting the Eckenrode family on Centre street. Attorneys Harry Doerr and W. David Lloyd of Johnstown were in Ebensburg on Wednesday on professional business. Rev. John H. Lancaster, pastor of the M. E. Church at Conemaugh is visiting old friends in Ebensburg. Miss Carrie Treese of Duncansville is visiting her brother, Mr. Robert E. Treese and family in this place. Mrs. George L. Bearer of Pittsburg is visiting her mother, Mrs. John Fenlon on of Main street. Mrs. A. F. Reese and son, Philip, of Johnstown are visiting friends and relatives in this place. Mrs. Margaret O'Donnell of Johnstown is visiting the Luther family on Horner street. Daniel Davis has returned home from a visit of several weeks at the sea shore. Mrs. Piper of Johnstown was a visitor to Ebensburg on Wednesday. Mrs. George Schittig of Julian street is visiting Coalport. Mr. T. Stanton Davis was in Johnstown Monday. Late News of County Squire C. H. McGonigle of Lilly drove to this place on Wednesday to attend to business matters and incidentally to do a little political work. The squire does not seem altogether pleased with the manner in which politics in the county are conducted in the two leading political parties and proposed to start an organization of his own in which he will not be fettered by conventional rules or assessments. It is said that our friend, A. J. Darragh, was recently seen in one of the western states where roadways are noted for their widths, trying to manipulate the steerage end of an automobile and we are informed he has notified his family that they should not expect him home until he has accomplished the art of controlling the "infernal thing" even if it takes all winter. Norman Seaman of Summerhill had a very narrow escape from being instantly killed last Friday evening by being struck by a PRR flyer near Summerhill and as a result of his experience is now at the Altoona hospital in a serious condition from concussion of the brain. Philip Pritch of Lilly was in Ebensburg on Wednesday attending to business matters. Mr. Pritch will be 80 years old next October and he says he hopes to be good for a hundred. If appearances count, Mr. Pritch's hopes will be realized. Allegheny Township Residence Struck by Lightning The residence of John Dougherty in Allegheny township was struck by a bolt of lightning during a terrific storm which passed over that section one afternoon recently and considerably damaged it. The family were all severely stunned. Mrs. Dougherty was sitting on a chair and was thrown violently to the ground and the children were all prostrated. The dog was sleeping in the cellar and was instantly killed. Mr. Dougherty was absent at the time. Mrs. Dougherty and the children have recovered Fire! Fire! Just before going to press this afternoon the alarm of fire was given and for a short time excitement reigned supreme. In a short time the fact was made known that the barn of Mr. John Evans (tanner) in the East ward was on fire and the boys of the Dauntless Fire Company accompanied by a large number of town people hurried to the scene of the blaze, but owing to the building being located a considerable distance from the limit of the city water, the fire company was unable to act as promptly as it otherwise could have done and as a result the building was totally destroyed. Mr. Evans' loss will be several hundred dollars. Hotel Was Set on Fire Former Proprietor of the Summerhill House Charged with Doing the Job As the result of a hearing before Squire E. W. Hull Wednesday, E. P. Jones, formerly proprietor of the Summerhill House, was placed under arrest at Huntingdon, Pa., where he had been making his home. On Friday, Sept. 25, 1902, the Summerhill House took fire. It was easily overcome at that time. The next night however at about 10 o'clock the hotel was discovered to be on fire again and this time it was destroyed. The circumstances were suspicious but no steps toward an investigation were taken at the time and it was generally supposed that the matter had died out. But all this time the work of getting evidence against Jones has been under way. District Attorney Leech who was present at the hearing before Justice Hull states that from the testimony introduced there is not a question of doubt regarding the guilt of Jones. Among other things it was brought out in the hearing that a few days before the first fire, Jones had hired a new bartender who was a stranger in the place and who disappeared on a freight train the night after the blaze. He returned to Summerhill once since on which occasion he confidentially told a citizen that the hotel had been set on fire. It was also testified that Jones locked the doors leading to the place where the fire was and they had to be broken in order to get at the flames. Neither Jones or his bartender done a single thing to aid in extinguishing the flames. The Summerhill House was formerly the property of John D. Wentroth, now of Johnstown. He sold it to E. P. Jones and John Tappin for $12,000. Later Tappin transferred his interest to Jones who assumed the balance due to Wentroth, some $8000 or $9000 and who took out insurance on the building to the amount of $10,000 with $3000 on the contents. This insurance was regarded as liberal in the extreme. After the fire Jones set about at once to collect the insurance. He succeeded in compromising with the companies in which his personal property was insured for the sum of $1800. The several companies which carried the insurance on the building, however, refused to pay any part of the amount until satisfied that the building had not been set on fire. Instead, they quietly set about investigating which work they have kept up ever since and last week they were prepared to act. They called the attention of Justice of the Peace E. W. Hull to an old law of 1869 which makes it incumbent upon a justice of the peace upon the filing of a proper affidavit to conduct an investigation into a suspicious fire much after the manner in which a coroner is supposed to investigate suspicious deaths. In compliance with their request following their affidavit, Justice Hull impaneled a jury of three consisting of Michael Tulley, Milton Sherbine and Isiah Myers, who visited the scene of the fire, which has never been disturbed and summoned witnesses for the hearing Wednesday. As above stated the testimony which was produced at this hearing was so strong that the three jurors were unanimous in calling for the arrest of Jones and a warrant was sworn out and placed in the hands of Constable White who went to Huntington on Thursday and there took Jones into custody. Interesting developments are expected before the case comes to trial which will likely be at the next term of court. Widow of Harrisburg Wreck Victim Sues the Pennsylvania Railroad Pittsburg, August 11 Margaret E. Phillips, widow of James R. Phillips, of this city, who was killed in the Harrisburg wreck on the Pennsylvania railroad has sued the company for $100,000 damages. In the bill Mrs. Phillips says her husband left New York for Pittsburg on the night of May 10th. The facts connected with the wreck, Phillips' injury and death are then recited. She avers that her husband was of sober habits, of large earning capacity and was earning an income of $25,000 a year. Boys Break Camp Arthur Stephens, the lad arrested some time ago for breaking into the office of Bloom & Hopfer of this place and who was sentenced to the Boys' Industrial School at Williamsport, escaped from that institution last Monday. He has not turned up in Ebensburg and his whereabouts are unknown. Charles Degraw, a Johnstown boy who was also confined at the above named institution, escaped with young Stephens. DEATHS Altoona Man Dies in Denver Denver, Col., August 12 Alonzo Potter McLeod of Altoona is dead here and considerable mystery surrounds his case. Several days ago he entered an office in a downtown block and began calling each of the eight women stenographers in the room "sister," and attempting to embrace them in succession. He was arrested and the discovery was made that his mind was almost gone. MacLeod (sic) was well connected, his father having been an Episcopalian army chaplain. He practiced law in Clearfield county and 10 years ago came to Altoona, serving a term as United States Commissioner. He was elected justice of the peace of Coalport. The body will be brought home.