Mount Pleasant journal (March 29, 1911)

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VOL. 36.
MOUNT    PLEASANT,    WESTMORELAND   COUNTY,    PA.,    WEDNESDAY,    MARCH   29,    1911.
no. ia
SHERIFF SHIELDS
REFUSES TO STAND
FOR SURCHARGE
As Made by Controller Hitchman Sitting as Auditor
APPEALING TO COURT ON SATURDAY
TO   MAKE   A   FEIGNED   I88UE    TO    BE
TRIED   BY   JURY.
Naturally. John E. Doesn't Like the
Idea of C lughing Up the Forty Odd
Thousand Dollars of Easy Coal
Strike Money as Assessed by John
D. Although It May Be November
Next Before the Case Comes to
Trial, While the Highest Peace
Officer of the County Has Criminal
Charges  to Face at the May Term.
Sheriff John E. Shields on Saturday
last before Judge A. D. McConnell in
court at Greensburg presented, through
his attorney, Hon. E. E. Robbins, an
appeal from the surcharge of $42,641
as made against him by County Controller John D. Hitchman sitting as
an auditor to determine as near as
possible the amount of easy money
the highest peace officer in the county
made out of the deputies he supplied
to the operators during the worst of
the coal strike
In his appeal the sheriff asks that the
court make a feigned issue for trial with
the county as plaintift and himself as
defendant. The reasons set forth are
these:
That the controller audited his accounts monthly and, therefore, all accounts of the sheriff with the county for
the year 1910 were audited and closed
up, except for the month of December.
That the maintenance of the deputy
sheriffs for the protection of the properties of the coal companies was done
under private contracts between him and
the companies, and outside of his official
duties. Therefore, whatever profits he
made out of the contracts belonged to
himself and not to the county, and that
the controller had no jurisdiction to
audit the same.
That the county controller did not
have before him sufficient data upon
which to make an estimate of profits,
which the sheriff had made on the contracts, and that the surcharge is excessive.
In order to be able to make the appeal
at all the sheriff had to give a bond for
$85,282, double the sum involved, the
Baltimore concern on his bond as sheriff
furnishing the necessary security. If
the court grants the appeal it is not
likely the case will be tried until the
November term of common pleas court.
In the meantime, it is said the sherift
will have to face the criminal charges of
extortion at the May term of criminal
court.
GREAT SPORT.
Isaac Overholt Lands an 80 Found Tarpon
in Florida.
J. W. Overholt, who with his brother,
Isaac, spent several months at St. Petersburg, Florida, is home, having been compelled to return earlier than he expected in order to look after his business
affairs. He left the south just as a fishing expedition for tarpon was being
organized and, worse still, hit cold
weather here and wrestled last week
with the grip.
'Ike," however, had the sport for the
whole family as he caught an 80-pound
tarpon at Johns Pass a few days after
"Web" started north. He hooked the
big fish from a boat and in 28 minutes
had it on the shore, but the heat and the
excitement had him almost all in when
he landed the five foot ten inch monster.
His feat has secured him membership in
the Tarpon Club, an exclusive organization of Florida sports.
BRUTAL ASSAULT
CHAS. C. KOUGH
A   Crippled Photographer at
Greensburg Saturday Night
BY UNKNOWN THUG IN DARK ALLEY
MATTHEW   SHIELDS.   SR.
Matthew Shields, Sr., the last of six sons and two daughters of an old
Westmoreland county family and the father of James VV. Shields, Mrs. S. M.
Kennedy and the publisher of this paper, in the quiet hour of the early Sabbath morning at his West Walnut street home, fell into that sleep that knows
no earthly waking. Following divine services conducted at the house Monday
evening by Kev. Mr. Stewart, pastor of the Re-Union Presbyterian church,
and his predecessor, Rev. Dr. Elliott, of Grafton, Ra., the remains were taken
to Chambersburg, Pa , and yesterday laid by the side of his wife and youngest daughter, Miss Agnes Shields.
Mr. Shields was born in Salem township in 1811 and saw all the improvements and inventions from the days when greased paper was u ed in the
windows of a country school house and the lallow candle at night in the home
—the stage coach, canal, railroad, telegraph, gas, electric light, telephone and
so on up to the airship of today. Blessed with a good constitution and temperate habits, one hundred years were given him to live and to enjoy the
things of this life with remarkable freedom from disease. Even when the
beginning of the end came a week ago there was no suffering, no dulling of
the senses, only a gradual weakening of the stout but always kind old heart
whose beats for a full century were true to his Maker and his fellow man.
ONLY 235 OFFICERS
LICENSE RETURNED.
Brownsville   Hotelkeeper   Gets    Favorable
Order From Court.
At Uniontown Saturday Judge Umbel
made an order vacating the order of
March 6 which suspended the license of
Edward Shikluna at the Pennsylvania
Hotel, Brownsville, for contempt of
court. The costs of the proceedings
were divided between Shikluna and T
J. Underwood, one of the complainants.
The court stated that Underwood is
assessed a portion of the costs because
be is alleged to have remarked that he
would spend $500 to make Shikluna
answer for his alleged disrespect for the
court and bis guests.
Of   State Militia Authorized to Visit Roru-
lars in Texas.
The War Department on Thursday last
announced that only 200 of the officers
of the militia of the different states who
volunteered to go will be sent to maneuver with the regulars in camp at San
Antonio, Texas, and 35 to join the
maneuver brigade at San Diego, California. Eighteen officers from Pennsylvania, 11 from Ohio and three from
West Virginia are to go to San Antonio
for a two weeks' period of service beginning April 5. It is expected that a
larger number will be authorized lor the
second two weeks.
Adjutant General Stewart, of Pennsylvania, was notified at once by the War
Department of the number of Pennsylvania officers to be named by him for
service, the arm of service from which
they should be taken and their grade.
He is authorized to select from the number who have volunteered four field
officers of infantry, one adjutant of in
fantry, two quartermasters of infantry,
one commissary of infantry and six company officers of infantry, one field officer
of cavalry, one battalion officer of field
artillery, one officer of engineers and
one medical officer of the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Captain Wade T. Kline, of Greensburg,
commander of Company T, has been
chosen to represent the Tenth regiment.
He will report at the Texas encampment
by April 5th.
COKE AND COAL.
Of Interest to Soldiers.
Blanks 1 ave been received for certification of name.; of officers and enlisted
men for Certificate of Merit badges to be
issued to officers and enlisted men, including those on retired list, who were
in the military service of the United
States on January 11, 1905, or at any
time thereafter for the folloming services: Civil war, Spanish-American war,
Philippine war, Indian wars, Porto
Kican campaign and Cuban invasion.
For lurther information call on Captain
Kalp any Monday evening at armory
after 8 o'clock.
WHILE THE VICTIM WAS ON HI8 WAY
HOME ABOUT 9 O'CLOCK.
Mr. Kough, Who is a Brother of
Frank Kough, of This Place, was
Not Only Beaten but Had His Gold
Watch end $2 Taken, Although
His Assailant Failed to Get His
Purse Containing More Money and
Valuable Papers.
Charles C. Kough, the well known
Greensburg photographer and a brother
of Frank Kough, of this place, was
brutally assaulted and robbed while on
his way home about 9 o'clock Saturday night.
Set upon in the dark alley that leads
from Railroad street to the rear of his
home Mr. Kough was beaten over the
head, his watch and money taken and
he was left lying almost unconscious by
his brutal assailant where he was struck
down.
Indignation is high among the hundreds of friends of Mr. Kough at the
brutality of tbe man who assaulted him,
the artist being unable on account of
his crippled condition brought about by
spinal trouble to help himself. Another
cause for alarm is the fact that the robbery occurred just a few minutes afler
nine o'clock.
The fellow who assaulted Mr. Kough
evidently knew the habits of his victim
and made the best of them. However,
he made a big bungle of the robbery,
only securing $2 in cash and a gold
watch while he overlooked a pocketbook
containing considerable other money
and checks.
DEATHS Of THE WEEK.
Home From the South.
John A., Samuel and Miss Martha Warden got  home last evening from a very
enjoyable   two   months'   trip   to Cuba,
Florida and other southern points.
Items of Interest Oathered from Both Mine
and Yard,
The heat from the fire in the old West
Overton mines has vegetation well advanced on the surface.
The coke trade holds tbe gain it made
in ovens blown in last week by the
Frick people whose plants will also
make the full six days.
The report of Inspector Charles P.
McGregor shows that tbe output of coal
in the Nineteenth Bituminous District
about Irwin for 1910 was 4,132,663 tons.
Thomas J Mitchell, general manager
for the W. J. Rainey company, before
leaving Uniontown last week with his
wife to visit his plantatian in Madison
Parish, Louisiana, took a hopeful view
of the coke business when he said that
his people were going right ahead making improvements while running most
of their ovens in blast six days a week.
Their foundry orders, Mr. Mitchell
added, are very heavy, a sure indication
that times are getting better.
The Naomi Coal Company will develop the coal field south of West Newton, bought recently from Mrs. Elizabeth
Moore, of Greensburg. It is said a million dollars will be expended in the
erection of two tipples and the opening
and equipment of new mines.
Jerry Hout, the veteran horseman who
was recently employed at the Scottdale
pipe works and lived at Iron Bridge, is
moving today to Calumet where the
Frick company has secured him for
stable boss.
At a conference in New York Monday
of the officials of the railroad lines carrying coke from Western Pennsylvania
aud West Virginia regions one rate was
recommended to apply on all coke from
these districts to Chicago, viz: $2.50 per
ton, being an advance in the rate on furnace coke and a reduction in the rate on
commercial coke. It was suggested that
this rate be made effective May 15.
 ♦- • » ■	
Grateful Connellsville Girl.
Miss Edna Harmon, of Connellsville,
formerly of this place, wishes to thank
through The Journal the many friends
who sent her one hundred and twenty-
five beautiful post cards on ber birthday.
Mr. Friend, the clever mail carrier,
called her to the door and showered
them all over her.
The Grim Reaper n Work in This Flaoe and
Vicinity.
Michael Kangh.
Michael Raugh, a pumper at Rainey's
Acme coke works, died of pneumonia
last Tuesday night at his West End
home, aged 48 years. He leaves a widow
and several children.
Josiah H. Miller.
'Squire Josiah H. Miller, of Springfield township, Fayette county, died of
dropsy Friday, aged 82 years. He is
survived by one son and three married
daughters.
Mrs. Fred Riffle.
Mrs. Fred Riffle, of  Pittsburg,  whose
husband   formerly   resided   here,   died
Saturday while on a visit to her people
in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
F. M. Null.
Francis Marion Null, one of East
Huntingdon township's oldest citizen?,
died Monday at his Ruffsdale home,
aged 85 years. Funeral services will be
held at 10:30 tomorrow at the Mt. Lebanon church. Tarr, the interment to follow there. He is survived by his widow,
who was Miss Christina Ruff, and seven
children, four sons and three daughters.
COMERS AND GOERS.
Paragraphs About Prominent   People Oathered Daring the Week.
Samuel Dennison, of Uniontown, was
calling on old friends here Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Keller were the
guests of Pittsburg relatives last week.
Miss Mollie Trout, of Greensburg, was
the guest of Mrs. M. S. Kuhn over Sunday.
Miss Roberta Pool, of Pittsburg, was a
guest of Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Marsh over
Sunday.
Mrs. A. T. Collins is spending a few
days in Pittsburg with Mrs. Charles
Kincade.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Mechling, of
Coalbrook, were visiting friends here
over Sunday.
Charles Greene, wife and family, of
Yukon, were here over Sunday with
relatives aud old friends.
Miss Elizabeth Braddock, a student at
National Park Seminary, Washington
City, is home for the Easter vacation.
Miss Irene Hurband entertained at
bridge Thursday evening at her home,
corner of Main and Hitchman streets.
John Wolf and family lelt Monday for
their new home in Illinois. The well
wishes of their many friends follow
them.
Misses Ethel Brinkley and May Stoner,
both of Smithton, spent Sunday here
with the former's aunt, Mrs. William
McMichael.
Misses Elizabeth and Alice Warden,
of this place, were among tbe guests at
the large reception given Mrs. Edwin S.
Young, of Brooklyn, N. Y., by the Misses
Swan, of the North Side, Pittsburg, Saturday afternoon.
Bert Rowland, the steady-going glass
worker who recently sold his College
avenue home to J. W. Swartz, will move
his wife and family this week to a small
place near Hubbard, Ohio, where he will
do truck farming.
John Speigel, of Detroit, Michigan, a
freshman at Lafayette College, spent
part of the Easter vacation here the
past week with his uncle, Dr. F. L.
Marsh. He has already made his mark
as an athlete and plays halfback on the
Varsity football team.
Mrs. James McD. Bryce and Mrs. Kirk
Bryce represented Mount Pleasant at tbe
bridge party Mrs. George A. Markle and
her daughter, Mrs. Frank D Husband,
gave at the former's West Side, Connellsville, home, last Wednesday in honor ot
Misses Ella and Neville Chaplin, of
Easton, Maryland.
Captain John D. Hitchman and Lieutenant Gerard S. Bryce, both of this
place, represented the Tenth regiment
headquarters at Somerset Wednesday
evening when Captain Dalton made the
regular army inspection of the new
Company C. They do say that the Dutch
are going to the front.
Fayette Sentences.
Jndge J. Q. Van Swearingen at the
close of criminal court at Uniontown
Thursday imposed sentence on two men
convicted of second degree murder.
Edward Whalen, aged 20, found guilty
of the murder of Harry Sokolowsky, a
Russian peddler, was sentenced to 20
years in the Western Penitentiary. Peter
Belich, convicted of the murder of
Frank Parch at Oliver, a mile north of
Uniontown, on the afternoon of last
February 9, was sentenced to serve seven
years in the penitentiary.
MCUNNIGhWS
STRIKING ADDRESS
HERE ON SUNDAY
Before Associated Men's Bible
Classes of Mount Pleasant.
BIG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FILLED
WITH OLD FRIENDS OF THE TALENTED
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL.
His Subject was the Relation of the
Sunday School to National Ethics
from Which He Drew a Striking
Lesson Showing How Character,
and Not Sentiment or Theory, is
the Remedy for the Crises of Got-
ernment as Well as Persons That.
Are the Result of Sin.
A very impressive meeting of the
Associated   Men's   Bible   Classes of
Mount  Pleasant was held in the Re-
Union Presbyterian church last Sunday afternoon,  at which time Hoir.
Jesse E. B. Cunningham, formerly a
Mount Pleasant boy and now Deputy
Attorney General of the state, delivered a fine address on "The relation
ot the Sunday   school   to   national ~
ethics."
A large audience of men, many of
whom had been his boyhood friends*
greeted tbe speaker, and told by their
fixed attention that they were in hearty
sympathy with him and his message.
With his characteristic force he made
the point that all crises of government
as well as persons are the result of sia.
and the remedy lies not in theory or
sentiment, but character. Claiming te
be unable to define properly the tenia;
he aptly illustrated its meaning in the
lives of Washington and Lincoln whe
had made and saved our conntry at
times when the abuses of men rather
than of law had made tremendous disaster imminent.
He further pointed out that politic*
is not an institution to be avoided a>
too unholy for honest hands, and the,
politician is not a person to be looked
upon with an eye of suspicion. He
submitted that politics as an instrument
for social organization is the highest
calling of good citizenship, and the
politician or placeman today—the postal'
official, tbe policeman, the judge, aad
tbe legislator—is, as a rule, governed by
correct motives for service; and that alt
exceptions can be traced to dishonest
business men who have used public
office to accomplish their recreant pax-
poses.
He urged a closer attention to those-
things that make for the cultivation amsM
development of true character as the.
greatest essential of right living whether'
in public or private life, using the state
capitol prosecutions to illustrate the.
truth of his point; and declared that the-
Sunday school, for adults as well ao
children, is one of the best agencies sT
character building.
Following tbe address an informal reception was held in which the heartiest"
kind of greetings were exchanged; after
which Jesse, as he asked to be called.
returned to Greensburg, leaving behiaaV
a host of friends and, on their minds, aa*
impression for good that will make.
Mount Pleasant better for his coming.
DEPUTY SHERIFF FUSS
U.   G.   WEIMER.
The above is an excellent cut of Mr. Weimer, the East End merchant,
who on last Wednesday, March 22nd, rounded out his quarter of a century
in local meacantile business.
Abont Division of Honey Hade in floardiagg
Their Fellow Officials.
Edward M. Kepple took his fellow*
deputy sheriff, Ross Feightner, iah*
equity court at Greensburg Thursday to»
recover $869.33 which he alleged wasp-
due him as his share of a boarding home
they ran as partners at Manor last sua-
mer for the accommodation of their fellow officials appointed to keep the peaee-
in that section of the coal strike zone.
Feightner admitted having paid Kepple.
money at different times, bnt held that"
he did so to jolly Edward along aad
keep on his good side so that if any ait
the boarders got to kicking about the-
grub all they would get would be the
bounce from the posse.
Kepple was prosecutor of Feightner
in an embezzlement case over %t,~
425.70 in the November, 1910, crimin
court term. He lost out, however, i
half of tbe costs were placed upon hiaa.
Bids for New Church.
The Lutheran and Reformed congregations of St. Johns church are ready to*
receive bids for the erection of a near
place of worship, to replece that destroyed by fire last fall. Contractors*,
can see plans and specifications that are.
in the hands of D. B. Fisher on North-
Diamond street.