Clippings from the Reading Times and Dispatch, Tuesday, September 24, 1872

Notice to Ward Clubs

The Presidents of the different Ward Clubs will report this evening at the Hartranft Invincibles' Headquarters the number of men who intend to go to Allentown, so that arrangements may be made for cars, tickets, &c.

Sudden Death.--Robert A. Bell, son of James Bell, who was so brutally beaten at Harrisburg a few weeks ago, that his life was despaired of, but who had since recovered, died suddenly last evening at the residence of his father, No. 38 North Eighth street, of, it is supposed, heart disease.

Sale of Real Estate

A.R. Koenig, auctioneer, sold last Saturday the real estate of Elizabeth Schmeck, deceased, as follows: No. 1 to Wm. Herline for $6025; No. 2 to Daniel Schmeck for $311 per acre; No. 3 to Jonas Shalter for $51.50 per acre; No. 4 to Jonas Shalter for $20 per acre.

The collections in the A.M.E. Church, North Tenth street, amounted to the handsome sum of $643.49 in cash, and $60 in subscriptions. Of the $643.49, John Corni-- raised $40, Enoch Sanders $18.90, Samuel Underhill $71, Aaron Orrick $200, and Rev. Amos Wilson $180.10. Rev. Benjamin Haywood, of Pottsville, will give his check for $100, having already contributed $125 in aide of this church.

Cruelty to Animals

John Hemmig, residing about five miles from Topton, was arrested yesterday by Officer John Lawrence, representative of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, charged with cruelty to a horse. The animal was somewhat stubborn, and Hemmig lighted a bundle of straw and placed it under and severely burned the animal. He was taken before Alderman Schoener, who held him in $1000 to answer the charge.

German International Money Order System Established

On and after October 1st, 1872, money orders can be obtained at the Reading Post Office upon Post Offices in all parts of the German Empire, at the following rates of commission: Orders not exceeding $5, 15 cents; over $5 and not exceeding $10, 25 cents; over $10 and not exceeding $20, 50 cents; over $20 and not exceeding $30, 75 cents; over $30 and not exceeding $40, 1.00; over $40 and not exceeding $50, $1.25.

An Unhealthy Place for Democrats

On last Saturday morning a wagon with bay ladders, nicely festooned with evergreens, dawn by four horses, stopped in front of the Washington House in Birdsboro for the purpose of taking the Democrats of that village to the Greeley meeting held that day at the Yellow House. After waiting about one hour and getting out the Birdsboro Band to get up some enthusiasm, they were compelled to drive off with only two recruits. Birdsboro is not a healthy place to recruit for a Democratic meeting.

Seventh Ward Republican Meeting

The Seventh Ward Republicans met last evening at Dreibelbies' Hotel, Fifth and Washington streets, and organized by the appointment of Capt. J.C.A. Hoffeditz as Chairman, and F.M. Banks, Esq., as Secretary. On motion of Col. Sands, it was resolved to form a Grant, Wilson and Hartranft Club, and to equip the same as the Republican Invincibles. An adjournment then took place to Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock.

Republican Meetings

There will be a meeting to-night at John B. Shaeffer's General Taylor House, on North Eighty street which will be addressed by a number of speakers. The different Republican Clubs of the city are invited to be present. This meeting in the Ninth Ward should be made an enthusiastic demonstration.

A meeting will be held tomorrow evening in the Sixth Ward as Christian Rickert's hotel, corner of Front and Washington streets. Addresses will be delivered in English and German. Let there be a grand rally of the Republicans of the West End.

Accident

Frederick Lauer, Esq., met with a painful accident at his Brewery, North Third street, on Friday afternoon last. He had gone there for the purpose of giving some directions in reference to the building of his new refrigerator, and was upon a scaffolding when a loose board gave way and he was precipitated to the ground, a distance of about ten feet. His left leg was badly bruised from the knee down, but no bones were broken. He was immediately conveyed to his residence, on South Third street, and medical aid summoned. The injury is a severe one, but Mr. Lauer is getting along so well that he expects to be about again in a day or two.

Fatal Railroad Accident

A young man named Edward Miller, a bricklayer by trade, was killed on the Lebanon Valley Railroad near Bushongs' Furnace, yesterday morning. He was on his way to work at the new furnace of the Messrs. Bushong, and when near the water station at that point there was a freight train on the road. To get out of the way he stepped on the other track, and just as he did so the Western Express cam thundering along, the engine of which struck him on the head, crushing it in and breaking both legs. Of course death was instantaneous. Mr. Miller was about 24 years of age and had only been married three months. He resided on Neversink street, this city. His remains were taken in charge by Mr. Charles Henninger, undertaker, and they were removed to the residence of the deceased's parents near Yocum's Church in Cumru township.

List of Assessors

The following is the list of Assessors of the city of Reading with their respective places of residence:

1st Ward--J.B. Maxton, No. 446 Laurel street.
2nd Ward--Wm. Z. Becker, No. 827 Muhlenberg street.
3d Ward--Daniel G. Knabb, No. 928 Franklin street.
4th Ward--Samuel J. Potts, No. 209 S. 5th street.
5th Ward--David A. Drake, No. 217 s. 3rd street.
6th Ward--William Keen, No. 310 Washington street.
7th Ward--Isaac Laucks, No. 211 N. 6th street.
8th Ward--Joseph Malsberger, No. 115 N. 8th street.
9th Ward--John B. Klemer, No. 416 N. 10th street.

The lists of registered voters are hung up at the different polling places in the several Wards, where they can be seen at any time.

Messrs. Birch, Parvin, & Shalter, are offering at private sale a large number of eligible building lots situate between Centre Avenue and the Reading Rolling Mill. They offer inducements to purchasers that every mechanic, laborer, and workingman can in a short time secure his own homestead.

Building Improvements in Reading

The following new buildings are in course of construction, or are about being commenced in that section of the city south of Penn street ad west of Sixth. It is proper to mention that this is the most compactly built portion of the city, and consequently building has not been so extensively carried on, as in the newer sections. Some houses which were completed early in the Spring, and have been occupied a number of months are not included in the list.

John R. Bechtel has built two large three story brick houses on the south side of Penn street above Fourth, to be used entirely for mercantile purposes. The buildings are nearly completed and will be ready for occupancy early in October. The store-rooms are 17 feet wide by 100 feet deep. No. 418 will be occupied by James O. Koller & Co., Clothing, and No. 420 by Messrs. Illig & Sprecher, Dry Goods.

B.F. Oblinger is converting the Nicolls Mansion at the corner of Fourth and Penn Streets into store-rooms, and for this purpose has removed the northern and western walls of the front building which will be rebuilt.

The West Reading Opera House, in course of construction by the West Reading Market House Company is being rapidly put under roof. A full description of the entire building will be given hereafter.

A.W. Potteiger has built a large three-story brick building on Cherry above Fourth street, having a front of forty-one feet, the whole being used for a glass ware-house.

George Yeager is building two two-story brick dwelling houses on South Second street, Nos. 15 and 17.

William B. Hertzel is building a two-story brick residence, No. 40 South Fourth street, with French roof and all modern improvements.

Lewis Koch is building a double two-story brick dwelling house, with French roof, No. 12 South Fourth street.

James O. Koller has built a three-story brick house on the northeast corner of Fourth and Franklin streets, with two store-rooms on Fourth street.

William I. Clous is building two three-story brick dwelling houses, Nos. 115 and 117 South Fourth Street.

Mrs. Elizabeth Hepler has built two two-story brick houses on Carpenter street, below Franklin, Nos. 111 and 113, and has also altered the adjoining houses Nos. 107 and 109, so as to correspond.

Levi K. Moore has enlarged his Machine Shop and Foundry on the southwest corner of Cherry and Carpenter streets, by the erection of an additional building, having a front of 40 feet on Carpenter street by 18 in depth.

Levi Quier is re-modelling and enlarging the building no. 232 South Fifth street. The same will be two stories high with French roof, pressed brick front and lintels and sills of handsomely carved Pictou stone.

Keffer & Bro., have extended their building upon the northwest corner of Fifth and Spruce streets, by an addition of a three-story brick back building with two store fronts on Spruce street, so as to have each branch of their business, dry goods, groceries, and liquors in separate departments.

William B. Albright is building two three story brick houses, Nos. 333 and 333 1/2 South Fifth street.

Dr. Samuel Kurtz has built a three-story brick residence on the north west corner of Fifth and Bingaman streets.

George Hoffmaster is building a two-story brick dwelling house, No. 434 South Fifth street.

William Hiester is building a two-story frame house no. 432 Spruce street.

Messrs. High and Geiger have commenced five two-story brick houses on South Fifth street above Willow, Nos. 543, 545, 547, 549 and 551.

Joseph Rebholtz is building two three-story brick houses, No. 220 and 222 Franklin Street.

Jesse Hinnershitz is building a two-story brick house No. 218 South Canal street.

Emil Hoffman, has commenced a three-store brick building on the northeast corner of Third and Spruce streets.

John B. Grissinger is building five two-story brick dwelling on South Pearl street below

Chestnut, Nos. 225, 227, 229, 231, and 233.

A Reading Hardware Company (Harbster Bros. & Co.) are commencing the erection of an additional ware-house, adjoining their present ware-house and office building on South Sixth street, near the intersection of Canal street. The new addition will have a front of 35 feet on Sixth street and be 70 feet deep. It will be three stories high and built of brick, so as to conform with the present building.

The Anniversary Exercises of the "Young People's Association: of the First Baptist Church, were very largely attend last evening, the audience room of the church being completely filled. Addresses were made by Rev. George Frear, of Norristown, and by Rev. A.H. Sembower, pastor of the church. The solos by Mr. Daniel Shaaber, Mrs. B.F. Owen and Miss Sue Morgan were very finely rendered, as were also the quartettes by other members of the Association. Miss Hannah E. Johnston presided at the organ. The recitation of "The Moneyless Man" by Mr. John M. Stephen, and the readings by Misses Mattie Seiders and Clara Gossler are also deserving of honorable mention.

From the Annual Report we learn that the Association numbers at present 97 active and 40 honorary members. During the year past there were held under the auspices of the Association, one temperance meeting; 51 prayer meetings, with an aggregate attendance of 2127; and 8 social meetings; eleven hundred pages of tracts were also distributed by the Association. The monthly social meetings, held on the second Monday evening of each month, have been very largely attended, special effort being made to have attractive literary exercises and music.

The officers of the Association for the ensuing year are: President, Andrew Shaaber; Vice Presidents, L.H. Griffith and John H. Rankin; Secretary, John M. Stephen; Treasurer, James S. Hill. After the singing of the hymn "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name," the meeting was closed with the benediction.

Court Proceedings

Quarter Sessions - Sept. 23rd. A special Court of Quarter Sessions commenced yesterday morning at 11 o'clock, Judge Hagenman, and Associates Bruckman and Buskirk upon the bench.

The list of jurors being called four absentees were noted, and two were excused on account of deafness. Various petitions were presented to the Court, and naturalization papers were granted to a number of applicants.

In the matter of the Bill in Equity of the city of Reading vs. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, Judge Van Reed, counsel for defendants, stated to the Court that they had been informed that the Commissioner of Highways was about removing the sills and tearing up the track along the line of the West Reading Railroad, and asked for the issuing of an order enjoining and directing the agents of the city of Reading not to proceed any further until the Court had rendered their decision in the application for an injunction; the plaintiffs having appealed to a Court of Equity they cannot resort to their original right but must take them from the tribunal to which they have appealed.

Geo. F. Baer, Esq., associated with E. Shalter, Esq., City Solicitor, as Counsel for the plaintiff objected to the issuing of any such order upon a mere motion, as the matter had not been brought up in such form that any action could be taken.

The Court took the latter view, that there was really nothing before them of which they could take any notice or action; that they could not interfere upon a mere motion, and that they could not see how they could make any order or suggestion to the city authorities. The order was therefore not granted.

The case of the Commonwealth vs. Dr. Edward Hottenstine was then called up and a jury empanneled and sworn. The defendant was formerly Cashier of the Kutztown Savings Bank, a banking institution at Kutztown, this county, which was incorporated in 1869, and he is charged with having embezzled the funds of the bank while acting in that capacity. Messrs. Schwartz, Baer and Sassaman appeared for the prosecution, and Young, Smith and Guinther for the defendant.

The specific charges are that on the 29th of April, 1870, the defendant issued a draft on the Union Banking Company, of Philadelphia, with which banking institution the Kutztown Savings Bank had some business connections, payable to the order of Samuel Transeau, for $400, and on the 8th of November issued a draft upon the same institution for $1000, payable to the order of E. Hanford & Co., for neither of which amounts the Kutztown Bank received credit, the Bank being obliged, subsequently, to pay the amount of the drafts. The prosecution based their bill of indictment upon the three charges of (1) issuing drafts without the authority of the Directors of the Bank; (2) of converting the moneys of the bank to the use of Mr. Transeau and E. Hanford & Co., and (3) of obtaining and receiving money as an officer of the bank and fraudulently neglecting and refusing to enter the same upon the books of the bank.

The prosecution offered in evidence the minutes, draft-book, scratcher, general ledger, weekly reports, and individual ledger of the bank, and called Jonas Hoch, who was engaged in the bank as a book-keeper, and who identified these books of the Kutztown Savings Bank. The drafts were offered in evidence and Dr. Hottenstine's signature to them proved by Mr. Hoch. The draft book upon the Union Banking Company showed that on the 29th of April 1870, two drafts were issued, one to Joseph Kline for $16, the other to Samuel Transeau, of Williamsport, for $400. By Scratcher No. 2 it appeared that on April 29th, 1870, there was a balance on hand at the commencement of that day's business of $16,296.01; that there was deposited the same day $648.50, and paid out $936.57, leaving a balance at the close of the day of $16,007.94. On the same day the general ledger showed credit to the Union Banking company of $16. Scratcher No. 2, and draft book were both offered in evidence for the purpose of showing that under date of November 8th, 1870, no draft for $1000 appears. The account of the Union Banking Company in the general ledger was offered showing that there is no draft for $1000 credited there under date of November 8th.

Frederick L. Preston, clerk in the office of the Union Banking Company, of Philadelphia, testified to the payment of the drafts by that company; that there was a difficulty in the settlement of their accounts with the Kutztown Savings Bank; that an adjustment afterwards made, which adjustment showed an uncredited draft of $1000, one of $400, one of $10, and several minor items; the difference was paid Sept. 21, 1870 by the Kutztown Savings Bank.

The counsel for the prosecution no proposed to show other distinct and independent acts, either of omission or commission for the purpose of showing the defendant's intent, which was objected to by defendant's counsel, and a long legal argument ensued, the Court reserving its decision until this morning.

Nicholas Hunter testified to the signature of the draft of E. Hanford & Co., and upon cross examination stated that the firm was composed of E.H. Mahlen, E. Hanford and himself; that the endorsement was put upon the draft at New York, and the Dr. Hottenstine signed the draft at the same place and time.

Geo. F. Baer, Esq., at this point (4:40 p.m.) stated to the Court that the Railroad war between the city authorities and Reading Railroad Company had assumed a new turn; that Pottsville and Philadelphia lawyers had since been employed, and that a movement was going on which absolutely required his immediate attention, and he therefore asked the Court to adjourn at this time, as they had no evidence to offer in the case pending until the Court had decided upon the point raised in reference to the admission of certain testimony. Court accordingly adjourned to 8 1/2 o'clock this morning.

Arrivals at the Keystone House, up to 12 o'clock Midnight

J. Sheirey, Bowers
D.B. Snyder, Kutz'n
D.S. Trexler, Sham'k
E. Hottenstein, Kutz'n
J. Moyer, Shartlesville
L.S. Schurk, Phila.
A.J. Smits, Harrisb'g
J.A. Bear, Hamburg
R. Reidenbach, Lane
F. Kershner, Phila.
N. Hunter, Moselm
M.L. Thirwechter, Strouchsburg
J.H. Potteiger, H'b'g
M.G. Geiling, Phila.
H.S. Hottenstein, Lyons
S. Miller, Albany
D. Miller, do
C. Deitrich, Greenswich
J. Kaufman, Blandon
P. ehil, Mt. Holly
F. Marah, Harrisburg
J. Feather, Allentown
J. Bechtel, do
D. Snowden, do
S.K. Seigel, Williams'pt
Mrs. I.F. French, Phila.
J. McNey, Boston
W.M. Newman, Phila.
W.R. Rhoads, Pottst'n
L.D. Buckley, Kerecherstettle
L.A. Steiner, Lebanon
A. Thomas, Pottsville
G. Bollman, Adms't
D. Deitrich, Grimsville
P. Lebyeiter, Lan
N.H. DaRue, NY
J.H. Fogel, Fogelsville
S.F. Ruey, Fleetwood
J. Karchel, Wellsboro
F.W. Parker, Phila.

Submitted by Nancy.

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