NEWS: Cambria Freeman; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA; Dec 1908 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 18 Dec 1908 Volume 42, Number 49 **[Paper extremely faded] Local and Personal Mrs. John Kirschner and family will depart next week for California where they will make their future home. Their many friends here will follow them with good wishes. Mrs. F. A. Shoemaker has gone to Vineland, N. J., where she will make her future home. Mr. Shoemaker will follow her there later on. Carpenter Richard S. Tibbott visited his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Treese of Saxton, Bedford county, last week. Walter N. Bolsinger suffered a relapse from grip last week after having been about again. Lilly Man Has Leg Broken Here While walking up the hill at the east end of Ebensburg Monday night about 8:30 o'clock, Augustine O'Connel, an old man of Lilly, was run into by some boys who were coasting down High Street and had his leg broken just above the ankle. He was assisted to a doctor's by Mr. John F. Long, who was going home at the time and the injured member was attended to. Gallitzin Contractor Sick Gallitzin, Dec. 17 -- James Hall, a well known contractor of this place, who has been sick for several days was taken to a Pittsburg hospital last Friday. His doctors think he has appendicitis and that he will have to undergo an operation. Pays Insurance Money Mrs. Martha Catherine Hile, widow of the late Greer Hile of this place, has received a check for $1,000 from the Equitable Life Insurance of Iowa in which Mr. Hile was insured. A. G. Saxman of Latrobe is the agent of the company. Mr. Hile took out this policy last July 2. J. L. Berkebile is Not Guilty – Extracts Jury Which Heard Cases Against Him in Court Decides In His Favor but Puts Costs Partly on Him In Court Thursday morning the jury which tried James L. Berkebile, former county detective, on charges of extortion, bribery and accepting money from bawdy house keepers, returned a verdict of not guilty. On four indictments the costs were divided between Mr. Berkebile and Chief of Police Mulhollen and Mayor Wilson of Johnstown, the prosecutors. On another indictment he was found not guilty and the costs placed entirely on Johnstown's mayor. Chester Gibson, Slayer of Two Men, Virtually Sentenced for Life to Pen It was a solemn court room which listened Tuesday afternoon to the sentencing of Chester Gibson who pleaded guilty to a charge of murder. Gibson was accused of the murder July 21 last of Frank Padeaux and Bert Bland near Nant-y-Glo. It will be remembered that he was examined by a commission several days ago at the request of his attorneys, Lemon Reed and Frank Hartmann. The commission found him to be perfectly sane and Tuesday he was before Judge O'Connor for his sentence. Gibson limped into the courtroom on crutches. He is a cripple and his limbs are barely under control. He hobbled to the bar and stood quietly while Prothonotary Kinked read the two indictments against him. Gibson pleaded guilty to both indictments. Judge O'Conner sentenced him on that, charging him with the murder of Bland. "It is the intention of this court," said Judge O'Connor, "to place you where you will not again be a menace to humanity during your lifetime. We direct that you pay the costs, a fine of $100 and undergo separate and solitary confinement at hard work in the Western Penitentiary for 19 years and 6 months. When that term has expired our predecessor on the bench may sentence you on the other indictment so that you will return no more to menace society." Gibson was very pale but walked out of the courtroom in as firm a manner as he could, considering his crippled condition. Judge Lectures Erring Officer - Extract H. L. Miller of Hastings, in Dire Straits, is Handed Severe Jail Sentence Must Serve for Nine Months A case of interest throughout the county especially to tax collectors was that heard by Judge O'Connor Monday when Henry L. Miller of Hastings, convicted some months ago of embezzling county funds, was brought up for sentence. He was given the costs of prosecution, ordered to make restitution, pay a fine of $10 and serve nine months in the county jail. [snip] The Court said he realized that Mr. Miller was in dire straits. He is a husband and the father of three children and his children are ill at the present time. To send a man to the penitentiary under such circumstances must seem harsh, explained the Judge, but he felt that his crime justified such a penalty. Attorneys for both sides, however, recommended clemency and the Court imposed the sentence as stated. The Court gave Mr. Miller to understand that, if he were not in such bad straits at the present time, he would surely have to serve a term in the "pen." Noted Indian Chief Dead Pine Ridge, S. D., Dec. 17 Chief American Horse, age seventy-six, a noted Ogalalla Sioux chief, is dead on Pine Ridge reservation. Since leaving the war path in 1868 he had rendered valuable services to the government in subduing the Sioux and other hostile tribes.