NEWS: Cambria Freeman; 22 Jun 1906; 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, 22 Jun 1906 Volume 40, Number 24 Late News of County The Hon. Ed James, who had been spending a week or two in Atlantic City on account of the impaired condition of his health, has returned home. His condition has greatly improved during his brief vacation. Mrs. W. D. Port of this place spent several days this week visiting her mother, Mrs. Sarah Garber, who is seriously ill at her home near Port Matilda, Center County, Pa. Miss Hattie Humphreys, daughter of E. J. Humphreys of this place, is home on a visit to her parents. Wallace Humphreys of Conemaugh also spent Sunday with his parents. St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Hastings, has committees arranging for a Fourth of July celebration in East End Grove. Patton has now only two livery stables, the Northern Cambria Trolley line being responsible for the proprietors of the other going out of business says the "COURIER." John Little and family have moved into Loretto where they will reside in the future. Mr. Little has purchased an interest in the William Phelan livery and the new firm has put in additional rigs and horses to be in position to serve a growing demand. Frank McMullen of St. Boniface had the misfortune while engaged in cutting timber on the Davis tract the other day to sever three toes from his left foot. He was in the act of making a stroke when the ax caught in a limb, causing it to glance and strike his foot. Philip Reis of Barnesboro has a team of broncos, which attract considerable attention and whenever they stop along the street a crowd soon assembles. They are swift goers when they go, have excellent staying qualities when they take a notion to stand, says the Barnesboro STAR. White Men Kill Negro Joseph Smith, "Shorty Cole," "Red" Price and Ed Bortman, all of Portage, are in Jail Charged with Killing John Alexander, Colored, at Portage Monday Portage again came to the front with another of its startling wild west brawls about 1 o'clock Monday and as usual there was a job for the county coroner. John Alexander, a negro, had his neck broken in a fight with four white men at the Portage Hotel and his assailants, Joseph Smith, "Walter ("Red") Price, Ed Bortman and Fred ("Shorty") Cole are locked up in the county jail on charges of murder and riot, preferred by County Detective E. H. Knee. Alexander and two other colored men, William Powell and John Henry Golf, went from the Miller shaft where they were employed to Portage proper shortly before noon Monday. They were drinking heavily. Price, Cole, Bortman, Smith and Harry Croft were together drinking in a side room at the Portage Hotel. One of the negroes asked the white men to join them in a game of pool. "Go to hell." Price is alleged to have said to Powell, the colored man. "We don't associate with niggers. You are not in our class." The negroes resented the remark and a quarrel began. The racket kept up until finally the five white men went out to the barroom. Then the quarrel was resumed and a fight was threatened. Landlord George Yeckley was in the dining room at dinner. Hearing the racket, he went out and ordered the whole bunch outside. They went out. When they reached the street, it is said, Alexander called one of the white men a vile name. Someone struck the colored man. He went down over a pile of boxes and beer kegs on the sidewalk. The other negroes mixed in and a general riot followed. In the melee some one threw a big stone. The instrument struck Alexander on the breast and the colored man fell forward on his face. Before he could regain his feet, Cole and Smith, it is alleged, were upon him. One witness at the inquest said Smith kicked the fallen negro three successive times on the back of the head. Other witnesses saw Cole and Smith both kicking the man. When the fight was stopped the colored man still lay face downward in the street in front of the Bell Telephone exchange. "Watch that nigger, he's foxing, he's got a gun!" Some one in the crowd called out. Fully a hundred people had gathered about the place when the fight started. One, two, three minutes elapsed and the negro did not move. Then some one went forward and tried to raise him up. The head fell aside limply. The negro's eyes were upturned and glassy and his mouth was wide open. "He's dead!" was the horrified exclamation. The crowd scattered. Merchant Thomas Pringle, whose store is only a few feet from the scene of the trouble, called up the Sheriff's office by telephone and told Deputy Bearer of the affair. Exactly one hour later County Detective E. H. Knee was in Portage investigating the fight. Bortman, Smith, Cole, Price and Croft had been arrested by Borough Officer "Punch" Legel, together with the two other negroes and were confined in the lock up. County Coroner W. B. Prothero arrived at 4:30. Dr. Miller of Portage had in the meantime conducted an autopsy, which revealed the nature of the injuries inflicted upon the negro. The neck was found to have been broken at the first cervical vertebrae, a severe contusion at the base of the skull and another on the breast, where the stone struck, were found. The lower lip was also cut through. Martin Madigan, Thomas Cullen, F. W. Eicher, A. F. Tickerhoof, O. J. Stricker and J. L. Berkebile constituted a corner's jury and the inquest was held at Tickerhoof's undertaking establishment where the autopsy was conducted. The witnesses who testified at the inquest were eye witnesses of the affair. They were George Yeckley, proprietor of the Portage House; Ed Flynn, who saw the stone hurled by one of the men; Merchant Thomas Pringle, who saw Cole and Smith kick the fallen man; William Parker, G. A. Haney and Hugh Fern. The latter testified that he saw Smith kick the negro three times after the colored man had fallen. Dr. Miller who conducted the autopsy also testified. The verdict of the jury was: "We find that John Alexander came to his death through a broken neck and other injuries inflicted at the hands of Joseph Smith, Walter Price, Ed Bortman and Fred Cole." County Detective Knee at once went before Justice J. C. Lauffer and made a county information against the four men, charging them with murder and riot. They were taken to Ebensburg Monday night, together with the two negroes, Powell and Golf, against whom charges of assault and battery and riot had been preferred in order to hold them as witnesses. Harry Croft was released. The dead negro was about 25 years of age, and was powerfully built. He came to Portage from Cannonsburg about two week ago and was employed at the Miller shaft.