NEWS: Cambria Freeman; 1909; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 19 Feb 1909 Volume 43, Number 8 News Items Miss Margaret Lloyd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Lloyd of Cambria Township, is lying very ill at the home of Jonathan Owens in the East Ward. Mrs. H. E. Meckley has gone to Pittsburg with her father, C. D. Shinafelt, who wishes to consult a specialist in relation to his health. An old wound received at the battle of Fredericksburg in the Civil War is causing the trouble. Locate Negro Wanted Warden Ed Knee of the County Jail has received word from the Ohio State Penitentiary at Columbus that John McGee, a negro wanted for murder in Cambria County, is serving a term in that institution. McGee is doing six years for robbery and his term will expire a few days before Christmas, 1909, when he will be arrested by a Cambria County official and brought here for trial. McGee, it is alleged, killed another negro at Portage about five years ago, during the epidemic of crime which seized that town about that time. His victim was another negro. Both were miners and were working at a new shaft being sunk. Three Men Held Coroner J. C. McMillen Monday night at Barnesboro held an inquest into the death of John Bokuski, killed at a christening fight at Bakerton about 10 days ago. Three men in jail at Ebensburg were held for the murder by the jury. A witness from jail here was taken to Barnesboro where he told the story of the fight which ended in Bokuski's death. Aged Woman Found on Bed of Filth Conditions Past Belief Found By County Officials on Farm Near Summerhill Man Locked Up, Woman in Poor House Living conditions so revolting that they almost beggar belief were discovered in Summerhill Township yesterday by a committee of well— known Ebensburgers who were sent out by the county authorities to investigate complaints concerning the Joseph Goudon place between Summerhill and Wilmore. The investigators thought when they started that they were prepared for the worst. They returned with their appetites spoiled for a week and firm in the belief that they had seen sights that they could never forget. The complaints about the Gouden (sic) place were to the effect that Joseph Gouden, a young man whose sanity was doubted in many quarters, was shamefully neglecting his mother, aged eighty years, who lived with him; that the Gouden house and surroundings were filthy beyond description; that the cattle on the place were abused and that, in general, conditions on the Gouden farm were intolerable in a civilized community. The investigating party was composed of Steward John Gray of the County House; Poor Director John Cunningham and Constable R. D. Davis. They were armed with a warrant for relief from the Board of Poor Directors and another kind of warrant in which Joseph Gouden was charged with cruelty to animals. As the investigators approached the Gouden place their ears were greeted with a pitiful bawling of cattle; and as they approached still near, they began to realize, as one of them has since said, "that the half had never been told." The cattle was found crowded into sheds so small that they were forced to stand day and night. The sheds showed no evidence of having been cleaned for years and the condition of the tortured animals indicated that they were fed and watered only when the spirit moved an apparently irresponsible master. The neighbors had said that the cattle had starved to death on that farm and the investigators were soon willing to believe it. Joseph Gouden had fled into the house at the approach of strangers and, when they appeared at the door, refused to admit them. The door was forced and there greeting the gaze of the astonished investigators a sight that was sickening in its suggestion of inhuman filthiness. On a bed at one side of the room lay the aged woman, almost naked, with her body fairly alive with vermin. The bed itself was a crawling mass of lice and other parasites, presenting a spectacle so revolting that the Ebensburgers were at a loss for a moment what to do. Joseph Gouden, the son, stood sullenly to one side and it was not discovered until a few minutes later that he too was alive with vermin. Making the best of an emergency situation, the investigators first arranged with neighbors for the proper care of the cattle. Then the mother and son were conveyed to Ebensburg, Mrs. Gouden being admitted to the County Home and the son confined to the County Jail. Before being lodged in a cell, Gouden was taken to the jail basement and given such a cleaning as, it is believed, he has not known since he was born. After being stripped he was clipped close and squirted down with a hose. A scrubbing brush and soap were next bought in to play and after that the man was thoroughly sprayed with "bugine." At the County Home the aged mother, although less strenuously scrubbed, received a through bathing and was made as comfortable as possible. Despite the kindly activity on her behalf, however, she does not appear content, declaring that she wants to die on the old place. She objected vigorously to being taken from the filthy bed in the farmhouse, it is said, and prayed that she may die before the Ebensburgers could take her away. The case is inexplicable, even to the neighbors who have known of the conditions for years. The Gouden place comprises ninety-two acres and was willed to Joseph Gouden on condition that he took care of his mother. It is a fairly valuable farm, underlaid with coal and the buildings on it, although in filthy shape at present, are by no means beyond repair. Some time ago when conditions began to get notoriously bad about the place, neighbors used to try to help care for the old lady. Latterly, however, they say the protection of their own homes from filth and disease made this philanthropy impossible. A year or so ago a road was opened near the Gouden place. The son objected and armed with a shotgun, threatened to shoot the school children who passed along the way. Later he threatened a woman and was arrested on a surety charge. A commission appointed to inquire into his sanity is said to have reported him sane, and there is a general belief that the committee erred. Lad Seriously Injured While swinging near his home on Saturday afternoon, Master Fred Lloyd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fes Lloyd of Cambria Township, received a fall which for a time rendered him unconscious. When taken home it was discovered that his left shoulder was dislocated and his left arm broken between the shoulder and elbow. Dr. Harry J. Bennett reduced the fracture and the young man is now getting along nicely. Carrolltown Misses Entertain Carrolltown, Feb. 18 Misses Rose Severin and Helen Huber, two popular young ladies of this town, Tuesday evening at the Severin home entertained about thirty friends at a "500" party. Miss H. M. Sharbaugh played several selections on the piano and Prof. J. B. Overberger sang. Misses Severin and Huber served the guests with an excellent luncheon at the conclusion of the evening's entertainment. Miss Thompson Entertains Miss Frances Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Thompson of Horner Street, entertained a number of young folks at her home Saturday evening. A very enjoyable time was had and dainty refreshments were served at a late hour. Among the guests were the Messrs. Donald Davis, Ira Dempsey and Frank Finlon of Johnstown, who were also guests at the assembly held the night previous in the opera house. Miss Squires Resigns Miss Ruth Squires of this place, who for the past five years has been connected with the Bell Telephone Company's office in this place, has tendered her resignation as private Secretary to Manager Mason to take effect February 25th. Geronimo Dead Great Apache Chief, Captured by Miles, Succumbs to Pneumonia Lawton, Okla., Feb. 18 Geronimo, the noted Indian chief, died of pneumonia at Fort Sill where he had been confined as a prisoner of war for a number of years. He will be buried in the Indian cemetery near the fort today by Christian missionaries, Geronimo having professed religion three years ago. Geronimo, war chief of the Apaches, was captured with his band at Skeleton Canyon, Ariz., twenty-two years ago, having surrendered to General Nelson A. Miles after a 3,000 mile chase.