The March term of Criminal Court opened on Monday with a slim attendance. District Attorney HENDRICKS had prepared for a busy week and urged the grand jury to be as expeditious as possible in passing on the bills committed to their care. The grand jury organized by electing Edwin P. LONSDALE, of Springfield, as foreman. The first case called was one left over from the last two terms, that of Com. vs. Mabel LEWIS, who was jointly indicted with Sadie PASKINS for the larceny of $550 from Horace FREDERICK at the Pottstown fair in August last. Mabel was released on bail shortly before last October term and was not present when called in October or December. She was brought from New York in January. The jury found her guilty. Frank SHIREY pleaded guilty to the larceny of an overcoat from Adam SHEIRY, fellow boarder at Mrs. WINGER's boarding house in Pottstown. SHIREY was sentenced to sixty days. Albert LONG pleaded guilty to the larceny of a bottle of wine from the cellar of the Junction House at Lansdale. He was detected by a police officer who saw a light in the cellar. LONG was accompanied by a number of companions. LONG said in excuse it was a drunken freak. He will be sentenced on Saturday. James PHOENIX, colored, pleaded guilty to resisting an officer at Bryn Mawr last fall. It turned out that the charge of resisting, although not a grievous affair, was insisted upon to relieve the community of his presence as PHOENIX had just been released from the penitentiary, where he served seven years for burglary. The police records show that PHOENIX has served eleven years of his forty years of life in jails for various crimes. Sentence today. Mordie DAVIS pleaded guilty to the larceny of coats and other articles from O.G. HOSKINS, of Norristown. The defendant would not plead guilty to the larceny of three dollars from his uncle, ATLEE, and was tried by a jury. He was sentenced on the other bills to Huntingdon Reformatory School. Chas. RAUZENHAN pleaded guilty to the larceny of $16 from the office of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company, in Royersford. Sentenced to six months in jail and costs. Thomas JOYCE was indicted as a public nuisance and a tramp. It appeared that defendant had taken possession of Port Providence station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, when Officer HAGERTY arrived and arrested him. JOYCE was half-undressed and had the station in a filthy condition. He also admitted begging in the neighborhood. JOYCE said he didn't want a lawyer to defend him, and took the stand and said that he was only in the station two nights, and was going to work cutting ice the next day. Verdict, guilty. Sentenced to nine months in jail at labor. Daniel QUINN, Martin COUGHLIN and Mike GRIFFITH were put on trial for being public nuisances. They were alleged to have taken possession of Ivy Rock station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, on February 23. They were using it similarly to the previous defendant. Joseph LEWIS, of Pottstown, was charged with carrying concealed deadly weapons. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months in jail. John COLLINS, colored, charged with assault and battery with intent to kill Constable LOCKERT. It was shown that a warrant was sworn out for COLLINS by his sister, and LOCKERT attempted to serve it. While making the arrest COLLINS struck him on the head with a hammer and escaped. He was afterwards captured by Officer O'NEILL, of Jenkintown. COLLINS is a shoemaker, and resided at Fitzwatertown, in Upper Dublin township. After the escape of COLLINS a reward for his capture was offered by the County Commissioners. He was found guilty and sentenced to 5 years to the Penitentary.
Robert WENNER, an Allentown grocer met with an accident on Sunday which may result in the loss of his left eye. He was about to show a visitor some pictures which he had bought but not yet hung up. They were standing on the floor alongside of a low book-case which has turned spindles on the corners. When stooping down to pick up the picture he run his eye into one of the spindles. The pupil was split and he is blind in that eye since the accident and is confined to bed with intense sufferings.
There was something of a sensation in the shops of the Abram COX Stove Works, in Lansdale, last Wednesday, when the order went forth from the head of the company for all employes to submit to vaccination or be discharged. The order ????? of the development of two or three cases of smallpox among the employes during the past few weeks. A man from Quakertown went home a few days before, having contracted the disease from members of his own family. Doctor S.P. SEESE, of the Lansdale Board of Health, last Wednesday vaccinated 150 employes of the COX works. Those who refused to submit to the operation were told that their services were no longer required. The company intends to insist on the order being obeyed. The Board of Health is taking the most stringent measures to prevent the spread of the disease in Lansdale and vicinity.
The barn of Frank R. MUMBAUER, about one mile east of Geryville was destroyed by fire early on Saturday morning. The only valuable contents that were burned are two wagons. The origin of the fire remains a mystery. This is the third barn destroyed by fire at this place within a few years. The first was destroyed when Horace KULP was the owner of the premises, and the last two were destroyed since Mr. MUMBAUER owns the premises. This being almost a new and a very convenient barn will be quite a loss to Mr. MUMBAUER. The barn however is insured.
Fanny SHENK, an aged single woman of near Lancaster had no faith in banks and kept her money in an old trunk in the garret. On Monday the money, between $1500 and $2000 was gone. Suspicion pointed to a negro employed on the farm and he was arrested. He admitted his guilt but claims he was waylaid by two other negroes, whom he does not know, and all the money was taken from him.
Robbers on Tuesday night broke open freight cars at Telford and ransacked merchandise boxes and clothing cases. They stole sixteen new coats consigned to A. FRANK. They also broke a window pane at the station to enter it, but were frightened away.
Frank SCHOENLY, of Dillingers, Lehigh county, met with an accident last week while working in the feed house of E. and L. MOYER, at that place. He was raising goods to the top floor with a windlass, when the handle flew out of his hands and struck him on the head, cutting a deep gash.
During the past week William H. RHOADES, of Pottstown, has leased the Pottstown Fair grounds. It is understood that the Driving Club of that town is back of this, and in all probabilities Pottstown will have another fair this coming fall.
Charles T. YOST, a hostler at Allentown, last week received a letter from a relative in Wurtenburg, Germany, which stated that through the death of a relative, he would receive 10,000 marks, over $2000. He does not intend to return to Germany after he gets the inheritance.
Seventy-three automobile licenses were issued in Montgomery county during the year 1903. During the year 1904 only six licenses have been issued. The license, which is only good for the year of issue costs $3.00.
Picture - The above students represented the class of '04 in the debate. They are reading from right to left: T.E. SERFAS, of Effort, Pa.; I.R. KRIEBLE, of Norristown, and J.C. MCCURDY, of Lebanon, Pa.
The Senior and Junior classes of Perkiomen Seminary met in an Inter-Class debate on Friday evening, March 4th, which resulted in a victory for the seniors. The event was long looked forward too by the students in general as well as the classes who contested. The debate was held in the Seminary Chapel which was well filled with attentive listeners. As the classes entered the chapel they were greeted with hearty applause. Public sentiment as usual being with the Juniors. Class spirit ran high and class yells and songs were in evidence. A piano duet by Misses STARK and BARTLEY opened the program, which was heartly applauded. The debate followed. The question being, Resolved: "That Immigration should be Restricted by an Educational Qualification"; the Juniors choosing the affirmative side. The judges for the evening were J.R. KAUFFMAN, Esq., Pennsburg; Rev. C.M. DELONG, East Greenville, and Rev. E.E.S. JOHNSON, Philadelphia. While the judges retired to give the decision, Mrs. Mary Vosberg TYLER gave a reading, "The Honor of the Woods," followed by a violin solo by David CROLL, of Pennsburg. Both of these renditions received prolonged applause. After the judges' decision, which was in favor of the negative, both classes enjoyed a banquet in the spacious dining halls of the Seminary. The hall was artistically festooned and draped in purpel and gold which showed the artistic taste of Charles GRAY who designed much of the bunting. All the judges together with Mr. STEIN, of Pennsburg, responded to toasts. Many of the words spoken that evening will be pleasant memories in the minds of all those present.
Joseph TAGGART and Miss Reba DEAN both, of Norristown, who were in a carriage that was struck by a Reading Railway locomotive on the night of September 6 last, have entered suit against the railway company for damages for the injuries they received and from which they were confined in Charity Hospital for some time. Miss DEAN asks for $15,000 damages. Mr. TAGGART want $15,000 for his injuries and also $250 for the loss of a horse; $10 for loss of harness, $75 for damage to wagon; $25 for suit of clothes, $175 for surgical treatment; $1500 for medicine already purchased and those that have to be purchased. This makes his total claim for damages amount to $17,035.
A stove plate made by the Durham Furnace Company, at Durham, Bucks county, in 1774, is one of the treasured possessions of Thomas A. RICE, of Dillingersville, Lehigh county. It is 130 years old.
Frank SCHULTZ, of Clayton, purchased the farm of the late Dr. Jonas K. GERHARD, of Kraussdale, at private figures. Mr. SCHULTZ will take possession of the farm in spring.
During the latter part of last week three houses in East Greenville were quarantined on account of one of the children in each house having diphtheria. Those quarantined were Daniel MILLER, Jacob HARTZOG and Daniel HERBEIN.
Robert OHL, of Centre Valley, last week found an old raccoon among the grain, while assisting a neighbor in thrashing. The animal was killed after a lively scrimmage among the sheaves of grain.
It costs Montgomery county just 33 8-9 cents a day to maintain each prisoner at the county jail. Last year the total number of days' subsistence for inmates was 36,690. The cost per day was 7 2-3 cents.
Ex-County Commissioners Clerk Daniel H. HITNER, of Norristown, was taken seriously ill with ptomaine poisoning. His condition was critical for several days.
Over $7500 has been collected by Rev. J.H. RAKER, superintendent of Topton Orphans' Home, to wipe out the debt of that institution.
Governor PENNYPACKER has fixed April 8 and April 28 as Arbor days, the two days having been designated because of differing climatic conditions in different parts of the State, and in order that a selection may be made between them. In his proclamation the Governor says. "The Forestry Reservation Commission of Pennsylvania have secured up to the present time 622,571 acres of land and are zealously engaged in the work of preserving and renewing our forests. Their efforts ought to be encouraged and supplemented by those of every thoughtful citizen. Many an arid and barren piece of land may be made attractive and profitable by planting of trees."
Sellersville will have the dictinction of having two Carnegie pipe organs. The New York millionaire contributed toward the organ fund in St. Michael's Lutheran church and last week he offered to pay the last half of a $2000 pipe organ for St. Paul's Reformed church.
James FULLERTON, of Manayunk, was struck by the Williamsport express, at that place on Saturday morning and was almost instantly killed. He was working on the southbound track when he stepped out of the way of a southbound train, directly in front of the express.
William H. BAUER, Sr., of Pennsburg, last fall planted over two hundred fruit trees of the plum, peach and apple variety and during the winter the mice and San Jose scale have destroyed all but forty-five of them.
Henry D. HERTZOG, of near Barto, was appointed Assessor of Washington township in place of Horace S. SHELL, who recently moved to Bechtelsville and caused the vacancy.
The Perkiomen Railroad Company is literally covering the road with ashes for ballast, and have their force of section men out on work trains nearly every day unloading them.
Wilmer H. JOHNSON, the editor of the North Wales Record, is being boomed as a candidate on the Republican ticket for Register of Wills. Mr. JOHNSON would be capable to fill the office with entire satisfaction.
State Treasurer HARRIS has selected the Royersford Trust Company for the deposit of State funds.
Peter MILLER, a farmer residing between Bally and Dale, Berks county, met with an accident on Saturday evening, while he was on his return trip from delivering apples in Pennsburg. At the junction of Dotts and Main streets, he drove into the hay flat of Jefferson BITTING, in charge of Harry R. BREY. Mr. MILLER did not notice the team coming as it was too dark. He was thrown from his wagon and received an ugly scalp wound. His horses ran away towards the railroad and followed it to the Pennsburg cemetery, there they turned up the street and were caught by William HARING. Mr. MILLER's express wagon was badly wrecked and one of the horses was severely cut about the legs. George BOYER, of Pennsburg, later conveyed Mr. MILLER to his home, leading the horses after the team. The wagon was so badly wrecked that it had to be removed to a repair shop.
Dr. John H. FUNK, of Boyertown, the well known horticulturist will give a field demonstration on March 16, on spraying fruit trees with a formula of lime, sulphur and salt to destroy the San Jose scales which have badly infested the trees in the orchards of Berks county. Illustrations will also be given how to check other diseases and insects of fruit and fruit trees.
The horse of John R. HUNSICKER, of Lederachville ran away while he was on his way to market. The animal became scared from the noise of an artesian well boring machine at Butcher Henry CLEMENs' place. He broke the shafts and in his efforts to get away he smashed twenty-three dozen of eggs. Mr. HUNSICKER received slight injuries.
John HACKLEY, an impostor who gave his name as James MURPHY, was arrested at Norristown for begging. He had in his possession a self written letter, "To whom it may concern" and with this he solicited charity on the plea of being unable to work because of a recent illness of pneumonia. He admitted that he thus averaged $2.50 a day since December. The Burgers sentenced him to jail for thirty days.
Thieves entered the granary of Granville SCHAEFFER, of Chestnut Hill, one night last week, filled a bag of corn and carried it away. Mr. SCHAEFFER has since oiled and loaded his old flint-lock, with which he vows will give the culprit a warm reception should he call again.
Bigler HUFFERT, proprietor of the Astoria saloon at Allentown, is a cyclonic oyster opener. He being capable of unshelling 100 primes in six minutes. He will make a wager of $100 that he is capable of performing the feat in even a few seconds less.
G. Frank DIETERLY, of Telford, has purchased the site of the coal and lumber yard and railroad siding destroyed by fire at Telford, of Mrs. Moses SHELLY for $1650. He will rebuild the place and continue the business.
The will of the late Mary FLUCK, of Telford, directs that a thousand dollars be paid to the Solomon's Reformed Church, of near that place. It also directs that a monument be erected over the family burial plot.
Prospect Terrace property at Collegeville has been purchased by a Philadelphia client of A.W. BOMBERGER for $6000. This property has a frontage on Main street and adjoins the grounds of Ursinus College.
Store proprietors at Stowe, have been notified that prosecution will follow if the selling of cigarettes to minors is not discontinued.
Probably having smothered to death, a little child of John IRWIN, of Pughtown, near Pottstown, was found a corpse beside its mother when the latter awoke.
A stone crusher not used for fifteen years, and valuable only as old iron, is carried along by Pottstown's Council as a $2700 asset and specimen of humorous financiering,
William WIEST's clothing, at Shamokin, was caught against a buzz saw, which cut him to pieces.
Nathan WAMBOLD, teamster for Farmer James GREEN, of Almont, near Tylersport, had an exciting experience on Tuesday, while he was unloading a load of hay at the press of A. KOOKER, of Sellersville. Sparks from a freight engine on the Reading Railroad set fire to the load. The horses were still hitched to the wagon and were saved with difficulty. The quick action of the fire company saved the greater part of the wagon and also the hay press for it looked as though the building would be ignited. The burning mass was heroically pulled away from the building to save it. It is claimed that several serious fires have narrowly been averted by the careless throwing of hot cinders by engineers on the railroad while passing through the borough.
The Rev. D.K. LAUDENSLAGER, pastor of the Reformed congregations at Worcester and Kulpsville, will preach in the Seminary chapel on Sunday night, March 13th, at seven o'clock. Rev. LAUDENSLAGER is the second graduate of Perkiomen Seminary and has had a successful career in the ministry. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College and afterward from the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at Lancaster. He is now filling his second charge, his first charge being at Palmyra. Music will be furnished by the Seminary choir.
The house of Augustus PANNEPACKER, of Bally, narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire Saturday morning. Mrs. PANNEPACKER had a small stove in use in a room up-stairs and some clothing hanging nearby was ignited from the heat of the stove. Had not her son Leo just come to the scene, who quickly gave the alarm, the house would have been destroyed, as the flames had already gained considerable headway.
The funeral of Mrs. Mary DIGLEY, aged 86 years, at Limerick Square, was remarkable for the attendance of aged brothers and sisters of the deceased. They were Enos NACE, 90 years old, of Sellersville; John NACE, aged 85, of Trappe; Paul NACE, aged 76, of Ironbridge; Mrs. BOSS, of Blue Bell, 83 years of age. Mrs. DIGLEY's husband survives at the age of 86 years.
Dr. Jesse Z. HILLEGASS, the proprietor of the Red Hill Hotel, contemplates making some alterations at the hotel this summer. The rear portion will be razed to the ground and a large part added, a basement for a saloon will also be another improvement. The roof will be taked off and a new one of the French design put thereon.
Ellis H. SOUDER, of the firm of Landis & Co., of Souderton, presented the Zwingli Reformed church of that town with a 1400 pound bell. This was the first church bell in the town and the members of the congregation compliment themselves on this fact. The doner of the bell is a member of the church.
For three years J.C. DUNBAR, of Wilkesbarre, treated his right arm for rheumatism, and medical men were puzzled at the change in the base of trouble. Last Friday the pain shifted to the tip of one of his fingers, and he found a section of a needle half an inch in length protruding. He has spent $200 for treatment and medicines.
A charter was last week granted to the Floyd-Wells Stove Manufacturing Company, of Royersford. The capital is $210,000. This company is one of the old-established industrial concerns of that thriving borough. The firm has almost 150 employes, nearly all skilled men earning high wage rates.
David HUNSBERGER, of Boyertown, has a chicken that hatched out 14 young chicks from 15 eggs the other day. Rather early birds, but evidently they wanted the worms that come early.
Thomas L. YERGEY and wife, of Pottstown, are the parents of 21 children. He has been a mason for 62 years and was in the Civil War.
Prof. J. Horace LANDIS, County Superintendent of Schools, is completing arangements for the first annual meeting of the School Directors Association of Montgomery county, which will be held in the public hall of Daniel KLINE, Limerick Square, Thursday, March 17. The program will be as follows: Morning, at 10 o'clock - Devotional exercises; music; organization. Subjects for discussion - 1. Are We Teaching Too Much in Our Public Schools? by John H. GOTTSCHALK, Esq., Mr. J.S. JONES, Mr. H.M. LESSIG, Mr. Jesse S. KRIEBEL. 2. Is It Feasible to Allow Teachers to visit Other Schools to Observe Methods of Instruction and Discipline? by A.R. PLACE, Esq., Mr. C.H. BEAN, Milton H. WALTERS, Esq., Mr. Irwin FISHER. Afternoon at 1.30 o'clock - 3. Are We Ready for Centralization of Our Rural Schools? by Mr. Enos S. SCHWENK, Mr. Thomas COULSTON, Mr. S.J. GARNER, Mr. Isaac Z. REINER. 4. Should the Physical Condition of Our Schools Be Improved? by Cyrus H. CALEY, Joseph H. JOHNSON, Rev. F.W. LOCKWOOD, Henry I. RITTER. Subjects will be opened for discussion by the Directors named on the program and followed by general discussion. Superintendent LANDIS hopes that all Directors will attend in order that the School Directors' Association of Montgomery county may form a useful and effective organization to the end that a public sentiment in favor of the public schools may be fostered. In the evening Superintendent TRYDEMEIER, of Wilmington, Delaware, will deliver a lecture on "The Functions of a Director."
Although he could drink beer and chew tobacco, a pet billy goat belonging to Lewis HEIST, of Reading, was up against it when he ate a peck of dried "apple snitz" and death resulted.
During an altercation on Ford street bridge, at Norristown, John BRUSKI was shot in the wrist by a Polander, who escaped.
Constable Clement SCHLICHER, of East Greenville, prevented a fight in an alley in the borough of East Greenville, last Friday evening, in which one of the participants was yielding a revolver. He heard a noise in the alley back of W.O. BIELER's butchering establishment and he walked up the where it came from. He found two hoboes quarrelling. He told them to move on and quit their noise, when one of them raised his arm as though he would strike at Mr. SCHLICHER, when he knocked something out of the man's hand. He heard something drop on the frozen ground and after he had made the men move on, he lit a match and he was amazed to find a thirty-two calibre revolver with five loads in it. He then followed the hoboes but could not come near them any more for they ran after they were relieved of the revolver.
James GORDON, a contortionist, threatens to sue the borough of Bridgeport for damages for falling into a hole on the pavement in Bridgeport in trying to avoid a dog fight. In his overture to Town Council for an amicable adjustment of the trouble, he alleges that by the fall he sustained injuries that rendered him unable to accept an offer of $25 a week as a contortionist, and is still aflicted.
William J. HOCH, a trolley conductor on the Allentown and Reading Line met with a painful accident at Kutztown. He went on the rear of the car to put the trolley on the wire, which had come off, and held it while the car was in motion. Firey sparks flew in all directions and some entered his eyes. He was rendered almost totally blind. His sight is improving and he expects in course of a week to resume his duties.
Mamie THELEN, a three year old child of Hokendauqua, took a bottle containing quinine pills from a bureau on Saturday and thnking it was candy took 42 grains of the medicine. Several physicians were at once summoned but could not sa ve the childs life. It died in the evening.
John REICHSTETTER, aged 15, is the champion pretzel seller of Reading, and disposes of from 800 to 1000 every day in the streets.
Mrs. Washington LEIDY, of New Hanover Township who was buried on Saturday was a woman who was known not only in the community in which she lived, but also throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and even in New York State. She was known as one who could cure hydrophobia, and she will be mourned by many who, through her kindly acts were saved from that frightful and agonizing death that follows the dreadful malady-hydrophobia. The cure she administered was known to herself only during her lifetime. Shortly before her death she passed the secret to her eldest and only daughter, in the same manner that she, the eldest daughter of her family, had received it from her mother. The remedy that Mrs. LEIDY employed and which was never known to fail, even in the most virulent cases of hydrophobia that she was called upon to attend, is a secret that has been with the maternal side of her family for many generations, and was in each case handed down to the eldest daughter. The cases of rabies that Mrs. LEIDY cured during her lifetime were many. The patients came from many points in Pennsylvania and New York and all were healed.
Antiona DELELLO, an Italian who was killed on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad near Pottstown last week had money underneath his clothing. He had $35 in bills tied tightly to his leg. It was also ascertained that he had a trunk neatly packed full of new clothes which he contemplated taking with him to his native country shortly. He wanted to return to visit his wife and children and they are anxiously awaiting his home coming. His body was buried in the Catholic cemetery at Pottstown.
Irwin K. COPE, who has been connected with the Ellis Mills store, at Pottstown for some time, assumed a new position on Monday in the hardware store of J. Fegely & Son. He took Howard W. GILBERT's position as traveling salesman. Mr. COPE formerly was a clerk in Horace ROHN's general store at Perkiomenville.
Judge ERMENTROUT, at Reading, has signed a decree of distribution of the largest forfeiture of bail that ever took place in Berks county. It is $1,000. Forfeiture of bail is a frequent occurrence, but it seldom amounts to more than several hundred dollars. Over a year ago John WELLBANK was arrested for policy selling. He gave $1,000 bail for court, but was not present when the case was called and his bail was forfeited. John ROURKE, his bondsman, paid the money to District Attorney WAGNER, and Judge ERMENTROUT now makes this distribution: Costs of the suit to recover the money, $18; costs of WELLBANK's arrest, $7; costs in connection with the trial, $32.42. This leaves a balance of $944.58. Half of this goes into the county treasury and the other half, $472.29 to the Berks Law Library Association.
The clothing firm of SHANKWEILER & LEHR, at Seventh and Hamilton streets, Allentown, is making changes and contemplating alteratiens which when finished will make their establishment one of the finest and largest in the Lehigh Valley. The entire front will be torn out and be replaced by modern up-to-date windows with a depth of seven feet. The entire front floor will be lowered so as to place it on a level with Hamilton Street. The basement will be converted into a store room. A large entrance will be placed on Hamilton Street and the others will be closed up. A seven foot vestibule will be a new feature. The store room proper will be extented twelve feet, and numerous other interior improvements will be made. The large awnings on Hamilton and Seventh streets will also be removed. Work will be started this month and when the Messrs. SHANKWEILER and LEHR are finished, they will be better enabled to display their goods to greater advantage.
Mrs. Horace B. FENSTERMACHER, wife of a teacher in the Skippack grammer school, who had been suffering with a sore throat for several days, was said to be suffering from diphtheria. Her home has been quarantined.
Phoebe Ann MAUGER, 60 years old, committed suicide at the home of her brother, Sylvester MAUGER, in Warwick township, Chester county, by taking paris green.
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