Mount Pleasant journal (September 13, 1911)

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MOUNT   PLEASANT,    WESTMORELAND   COUNTY,    PA.,    WEDNESDAY,    SEPTEMBER    13,    1911.
NO. 37
MEZzumr,
IEMEAN0R
ANDPQUURY
Lre the Charges   on Which
| Sherift Shields is Convicted
CRIMINAL COURT AT GREENSBURG
[fter the jury had deliberated
some 21 hours.
In the Indictment he Waa Found
Guilty on 18 Counts, on Which the
Maximum Prison Sentence is 66
Years. There are Other Charges
Against Him, but Trial of These
was Continued by Judge McConnell Friday When he Learned of
the Defendant's Illness. Notes of
Other Cases Disposed of.
The jury in the case against Sheriff
ohn E. Shields  retired in criminal
lourt  at Greensburg Thursday after-
oon after hearing Judge McConnell's
harge and came back some 21 hours
liter with a verdict finding the defend-
nt  guilty of embezzlement, misdemeanor and perjury on a total of 18
ounts, on which the maximum pen-
|lty is 66 years' imprisonment.
In the indictment against the sherift
\ere 10 counts for failure to make re-
irns of money collected from writs sent
lto this  county from Fayette, one gen-
tal count on the collection and reten-
jn of $54.10, two counts for making
Ise returns, and 10 counts for embezzle-
ent of the $54.10. When the several
sunts   were stricken   out by  the court
Ind   withdrawn the   amount  of   money
as cut down to about $44.
With  the return of the above verdict
lie   prosecution   proposed  to go ahead
jith tne trial  of   Shields on charges of
av ing permitted prisoners to escape from
le jail and for malfeasance in office, but
is attorneys  secured  a postponement
ntil this week   from  Judge McConnell
pon     several    physicians    testifying
iat the sherift was at home confined to
lis   bed   with  a   very  severe attack of
tomach trouble.    The sherift   was yes-
prday convicted of letting prisoners go.
COMERS AND GOERS.
Penitentiary sentences of not less than
line months and not over three years
sch were given Thomas Fallac, Jr., con-
lected with the Penn station riot case
lly 4, and Antony Bagatchan, of Car-
lentertown, convicted of felonious as-
^ult and battery.
Vinton Andrews, of this place, charged
tith   assault  and   battery on Miss Ella
rosby,   a   pretty   Iron  Bridge   girl of
jout 16 and his sister-in-law, was found
xilty.    It  was alleged   that he hit the
Irl   and  choked ber.    Andrews denied
ke allegation and   testified  that during
lie trouble he did not do anything but
How   himself to   be   knocked down by
I is wife.
Liddy Ann Williams, charged with re-
eiving stolen goods, was convicted. She
|ves at Jacobi Creek and was sentenced
30 days in  jail.    Emma Sethman and
/eslcy King, of  the same place and on
he same charge, also got 30 days to jail.
John   Vashaliski,   a   Morewood   Pole,
fined   $25   and   costs   for   having
liumped Luther Teresmeki.
James and Antonio Navorali, brothers,
If New Madison, were placed on trial
hursday before Judge John W. Reed, of
eflerson county, charged with the mur-
!er of Peter Brown, a watchman.    It was
lleged that the Italians had a fight with
rown, during which one of them secur-
1   a shot  gun and killed him.    James
leaded guilty to voluntary manslaugh-
and was  sent to   the workhouse for
months.
| Justice  of the Peace C. E. Berlin and
farry Smith, a coal and iron policeman,
3th of Export, were placed on trial be-
|>re Judge Doty Thursday on the charge
conspiracy.   Their   prosecutor    was
Ilexandro Piazza, who alleged the j usee of the peace and the officer obtained
L0 through a false arrest and illegal impaction of a fine. They got oft with
jsts.
August M. Nemecek, of Suterville, was
jund guilty on two charges of erabezzle-
icat before Judge Doty.    He was prose-
ited   by   Vincent Jarosefsky  and   Jan
|osh, who testified they had given Nem-
cek money to send to the old couniry,
|ut he appropriated it to his own use.
Rabert   Cochran,    of   Jeannette,    was
snvicted   of  larceny and sentenced to
irve six months in the workhouse. He
as prosecuted by Catharine Bishop who
leged that she loaned him her gold
atcb and a ring and that he failed to
ftturn the property.
Charles Bennett was acquitted yesterday   on tbe charge of   having shot and
iljed   George   Zimmerman,   a   deputy
jfrift, at Export.
Paragraphs Abont Prominent  People Gathered Daring the Week.
J. W.   DeVaux  has gone to college at
Westerville, Ohio.
Miss Sara Hood spent the past week
with Pittsburg friends.
Mrs. W. D. Mullin is spending a week
with Ligonier relatives.
Lloyd Fishell, of Altoona, is here visiting his cousin, Ewing Pigman.
Miss Bertha Springer hns entered tbe
California State Normal School as a student.
Miss Lydia Edwards left Wednesday
for Boston, Mass., to resume her work as
a teacher of piano.
Jesse Cochran, of Stauffer, returned
returned home Wednesday from a trip
to the Pacific coast.
Homer R. Rnmbaugh, Clair Smith and
Charles Penn visited New York and
Atlantic City last week.
George Overholt, the rising young
Pittsburg pianist, was here several days
last week with old friends.
Miss Emma Miller, of Glencoe, Somerset county, was here the past week visiting her cousin, Miss Mabel Boyer.
Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Miller, Sr., are at
Meadville, Pa., visiting their son and his
wife, City Engineer and Mrs. B. F. Miller, Jr.
Mrs. W. B. Wiley, who was here visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W.
Mechling, returned yesterday to her
Chicago bome.
Register of Wills Divid A. Miller.who
is out on the Republican ticket to succeed himself, was here Friday looking
over his political fences.
Misses Nellie Ramsay, Mabel Stephens,
Ola Stoner and Adelaide Ramsay left
Monday to resnme their studies at the
Indiana State Normal School.
Harvey Wible, a former Mount Pleasant boy now with the Westinghouse
company at East Pittsburg, called on a
few old friends here Wednesday.
Mrs. Samuel Miller and daughter, Miss
Bessie, have returned to their Columbus,
Ohio, home after an extended visit paid
Mount Pleasant relatives and old friends.
Mrs. James Albert was called to Dix-
onville, Indiana county, by the illness
of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Earl Albert,
who was Miss Rachael Galley, of this
place.
Postmaster H, J. Jordan left last evening for St. Albans, West Virginia, to
look after the settlement of the estate of
his aunt, the late Miss Watt. He is one
of the executors.
John A. Warden and his sisters, Misses
Elizabeth and Alice, returned Wednesday from a delightful seven weeks' trip
into Canada and points in the White and
Catskill mountains.
H. C. Heeter, C. S. Herr and L. Fleck
with their wives, former Altoona parishioners of Rev. G. L. Graham, came
down Sunday to pay their respects to
him and bis family.
Miss Emma Miller, the obliging head
of the money order department at the
local postoffice, returned Sunday from a
week's visit paidLewistown and Harrisburg relatives and old friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Van Orsden, of
Pittsburg, spent last week here with Mr.
and Mrs. H. J. Shupe. The two ladies
are sisters. Mrs. Shupe also entertained
Monday evening for her sister, Miss
Violet Sweet, who returned yesterday to
her Wilkinsburg home after a week's
visit here.
Parents Honored.
When Robert Russell, the veteran
night engineer at the Mount Pleasant
Water Company's Eagle street pump
station, returned to his Eagle street home
Sunday morning it was to find that all
his children and grandchildren, a goodly
company of twenty-four people who had
gathered to do honor to him and his
wife, the special.occasion being his 66th
birthday. Tbe unexpected, but none the
less welcome, guests bore not ouly stacks
of good things to eat but neat sums of
coin of the realm for happy parents.
DISSEMINATION   OF POLITICAL INFORMATION
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES
FOR WESTMORELAND TAXPAYERS.
Taxpayer!   of  Westmoreland   county   will   find   substantial   food   for   real
thought  In   the  appended  figures gathered  from  the  county  records.    These
a have not been manipulated for political   or   selfish   purposes.     They
are a part of the county records and should   be   carefully   studied   by  every
taxpayer   in   the  county.
FINANCIAL  STATEMENT.
Management of affairs of Westmoreland county by John D. Miller, J. L
McWUllams and H. Albert Lauffer, present Board of Commissioners, since
Jan. 4, 1909—Reduction of $538,452.86 of the county debt—Reduction of one
mill of the county tax levy.    Cash in Treasury,  $397,678.38.
The sworn official report of the Controller of Westmoreland county for
tho year 1908, contains the following statement showing the assets and liabilities of the county on January 4, 1909, when John D. Miller, J. L.. McWUllams and H. Albert Lauffer, the present Board of Commissioners went Into office:
IlESOURCES.
Cash   on   hand   Jan.   4,   1909 $30,555.99
Recorder,   outstanding fees     54.75
From Commonwealth of Pennsylvania       7,374.48
Outstanding  County  Tax        45,070.07
Outstanding Building Tax           7,578.48
Sinking  Fund 155,000.00
From  Fayette County     62.55
Total   Resources    $245,696.32
LIABILITIES.
Bills  unpaid   by  the  County  Jan.  4, 1909    $     10,120.00
Borrowed  on Account new Court House      352.500.00
furrowed on  Account General  Fund       167,000.00
Amount   due on completed building  1,360.00
Six months'  Interest on bonds          20,000.00
Bonded   Indebtedness    1,000,000.00
Total  Liabilities    $1,550,980.00
Total   Resources       245,696.32
Liabilities In excess of resources $1,305,283.68
(Continued on sixth page.)
JOHN S. SELL'S PLATFORM.
John S. Sell goes before the voters at
the Republican primaries, September
30th, for Controller of Westmoreland
county, on this brief platform: "If elected I pledge to the people that I will
give the personal, competent, careful and
faithful administration of the affairs of
tbe office which its importance deserves."
David P. Hudson, for County Treasurer,
commends itself strongly.
Mr. Hudson has unquestioned ability
and integrity and his many years of
banking experience in one of Westmoreland's leading financial institutions make
him a fully equipped man for the position of County Treasurer. Personally,
Mr. Hudson is a clever gentleman, with
a host of friends throughout the entire
county. He has always been a straight
Republican and is treasurer of the
County Committee.
DAVID A. MILLER
FOR REGISTER OF WILLS.
JOHN S. SELL.
Nothing more need be said, except,
perhaps, that he is well fitted by experience to fill ihe place that means so much
to the tax payer. Mr. Sell is a native of
this county and started on tbe farm and
is still a farmer. In 1894 he helped to
organize the Westmoreland National
Bank of Greensburg and was elected
cashier and has held the position ever
since. He was also Burgess of Greensburg for' two terms. In either place he
gained the reputation of giving its affairs his best efforts and he may be relied
upon to bring tbe same ability to the
office of Controller,
RIGHT MAN FOR RECORDER.
Mill Ran Suicide.
Ross V. Marietta, a prominent merchant and timber operator of Mill Run,
Fayette county, drove from bis home
early Friday morning to the Indian
Creek reservoir of the Mountain Water
Supply Company, jumped into the basin
and was drowned. Wealthy at one time,
Marietta suffered reverses until all was
gone. For several weeks he had been
despondent. Last week a receiver was
appointed to take charge of his business.
He conducted a general store at Mill Run
and was heavily interested in timber.
He wa? 55 years of age and leaves a
widow and seven children.
Familiarity with the duties of the office of Recorder commends Edward R.
Felton strongly for the place. He was
chief deputy for a number of years and
this training fits him to discbarge the
duties imposed upon him right from the
start. Besides, Mr. Felton is a young
man of irreproachable character aud
business reputation.
He has always been an active Republican and a vote for him will be cast for
tbe right man, say those who know him
best.
David A. Miller is a candidate fpr renomination for Register of Wills and
ex-officio Clerk of the Orphans' Court
on the Republican ticket at the approaching primary. His present term
has been efficient in every particular,
and he is being encouraged in his candidacy by practically every member of
the Westmoreland bar. Having been a
practicing attorney for over twenty
years, he has brought to the office of
Register  a   thorough   knowledge of the
WEDDINGS OF THE WEEK
In   Which  the   Principals   are   all   Well
Known Here.
Zimmerraan-Bnrns.
Ruius Eicher Zimmerman, youngest
son of Mrs. Mary Zimmerman, of this
place, and Miss Anna Burns, one of Lancaster's fair daughters, were married there
Thursday evening in the First M. E.
church. The maid of honor was the
bride's sister, Miss Mary Burns, and her
bridesmaids Misses Marjorie Bradford,
of Portland, Maine, and Ruth Frantz, of
Lancaster, while the groom's best man
was bis oldest brother, Clarence E. Zimmerman, who, with his mother, represented Mount Pleasant.
Young Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman will
reside at Boston, Mass., where the groom
will teach in the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, of which he is a graduate
as well as of Franklin and Marshall
College.
Fair-Hunsberger.
Paul W. Fair, member of a Pittsburg
contracting firm, and Miss Katharine
Hunsberger, sister of Mrs. J. Lyman
Loucks, of Alverton, where she taught
music several terms, were married last
Wednesday morning at the bride's Bark-
eyville home. Rev. J. L. Updegraph,
pastor of the local Church of God, was
the officiating clergyman.
Pifer-Stonffer.
Rev. George B. Pifer, late of DuBois,
Pa., and Miss Alice Irene Stauffer were
married yesterday at the bome of the
bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John L.
Stoufler, near Hecla, Rev. R. L. Leatherman, the local Lutheran pastor, officiated, tbe guests being limited to immediate members of the family. Rev.
and Mrs. Pifer will make their home at
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, where the
groom has accepted a call to the pastorate of a Lutheran church.
Keister-Karg.
Albert S. Keister, son of Rev. and Mrs.
S. W. Keister, now of Westerville, Ohio,
and formerly of this place, and Miss
Myrtle Karg were married by the groom's
father at the bride's Westerville home on
September 2nd. Young Mr. and Mrs.
Keister will reside at Mt. Vernon, Iowa,
where the groom will teach sociology in
Cornell College.
POLITICAL CAT
HUMPED HERSELF
HERE SATURDAY
Being   Stirred  up  by Judge
Davis's Decision
THAT OFFICE HOLDERS ELECTED IN 09
WOULD BE RETIRED THIS YEAR UNDER
LATE ACT.
CONTINUED MEETINGS
FITNESS AND ABILITY.
When fitness and training are considered by  Republican voters, tbe name of
DAVID A. MILLER,
law, and the duties pertaining to the office have been performed to tbe satisfac
tion of all concerned. Inasmuch as it has
been tbe practice of the Republisan
party to nominate for second terms those
officials who have been faithful in the
discbarge of their duties, Mr. Miller's
renomination is regarded as a certainty.
By reason of the fact that tbe audit list
for the August term of the Orphans'
Court will be heard during tbe week
immediately preceding the primary, Mr.
Miller will not lie able to make the thorough canvass of the county be desires,
and be takes this opportunity to call attention to his candidacy.
Held   by   Council  Wednesday and   Friday
Evenings Last
Council held a continued meeting
Wednesday evening to consider ordinances for the grading and paving of
South Shupe street by the town at large.
The grading ordinance passed, but that
for the paving failed of passage, although
an effort will be made later to revive the
project. There were but seven members
present, Messrs. Stevens, Cunningham
aud Mellinger voting for and Messrs.
Stoner, Henderson and Goodman against
paving. The opposition won out when
President Benford broke the tie. The
Third ward members helped out with
the paving of Standpipe alley in the
rear ot the hospital and thought that
they should have been given the South
Shupe street paving in return as it is a
street much traveled by St. Joseph
church people and school children.
Major Henry Coulter's demand for the
return of the $10 fine he paid tbe borough some time ago for having run his
auto here at night with unlighted tail
lamps was ignored as Burgess Collins
said the major had pleaded guilty.
Judges Doty and McConnell have both
ruled that violators of the law governing
the running of autos must have informations made against them and be taken
before a justice of the peace.
At a continued meeting Friday evening the South Shupe street paving ordinance was reconsidered and passed together with ordinances for paving North
Hitchman street from Main street to
Smithfield street and for the issue of
$25,000 worth of bonds to meet the borough's share of such improvements.
THE COUNTY FAIR.
Good Weather and a Large Attendance were
the Rale.
Barring Friday, the closing day, the
weather man treated the Westmoreland
County Agricultural Society pretty well
and as a result the Youngwood fair has
been set down as a success, the exhibits
being up to tbe management's high
standard.
Tbe races were well contested with
lots of entries. On Wednesday Rosalie
Girl won the 2:27 trot in straight heats
as did View Pointer the 2:22 pace. The
best time in the former was 2:28V, and in
the latter 2:23X. The winners on Thursday were: Free for all, Beaut Kennedy;
2:18 trot, Nundo, O; 2:30 pace, Dunlo.
The winners on Friday were: 2:22 trot,
Virginia Marshall; 2:17 pace, Susie W.
Well Kept Armory.
J. G. Thompson, as janitor, has made
his mark at Company E's local state armory, not only on the inside where
everything is kept shining, but on the
grounds. The closely cut grass and
tastely arranged flowers and plants make
the lawn the handsomest in town. Jack
is being paid many compliments on his
work.
As a Result Mount Pleasant Patriots,
Just Like Their Brothers in Hundreds of Towns in Pennsylvania,
Hushed to the Front with Petitions
Showing Their Willingness to Fill
the Expected Vacancies, Although
There is Some Doubt in Regard to
the Allegheny Jurist's Opinion
Prevailing.
Judge Davis, of Allegheny county,
on Thursday last passed on the late
act of the Legislature that aimed to
end the term of the mayor of Scranton this year, and found that it performed a like service for McKeesport's
chief executive, and my but the opinion stirred up the political animals all
over the state! Somehow or other it
was accepted to mean that all office
holders in the state, especially burgess,
elected in 1909 will have to be reelected this fall, or step down and out
January 1, 1912.
Along with their fellows in many other
towns in the state, Mount Pleasant
patriots rushed to the front Saturday,
the last day for filing, with petitions
showing their willingness to fill the expected vacancies. The county commissioners even extended the term for filing
the necessary papers, but their attorney,
J. A. McCurdy, Esq., says the act will be
ignored in this county.
At the head of the local procession
were three G. O. P. candidates for Burgess Collins's shoes—Former Burgess S.
M. Crosby, ex-Justice S. C- Stevenson
and Charles Shields, tbe well known
barber. The lone Democratic aspirant
for the honor was President of Council
George Benford. Even Justice of the
Peace John W. Hunter, whose commis-
sicn expires in 1914, took the precaution
of filing a petition for re-election. J.
Lloyd Kalp also wants to put J. P. after
his name.
But if the Allegheny county jurist's
opinion shouldn't stand, tbe local campaign bids fair to be full of both life
and uncertainty, as tbe ministers and
possibly the town's Bible classes may
take a hand for better local government.
A combination of this kind that could
plump well on to two hundred votes
could play hob generally with political
schemes.
There sure will be a pretty fight for
Council in the Third ward where "Pete"
Mullen is the Republican candidate and
"Tom" Tighe the Democratic. In the
Second ward Frank Kougb and Smith
Brinker have been taken up by the Republicans, awhile Ernest Wakefield is the
Democratic choice. In the First ward
E. B. Swartz and Charles Evans are the
Republican candidates. The Democrats
let the nomination go by default.
Under tbe new school code seven
school directors, an entire new board,
will be elected this year by tbe town-at-
large instead ot two from each ot the
three wards as formerly. The six old
members "of the board are out for reelection. Dr. F. L. Marsh and John A.
Warden are also in the swim; while the
Civic League will be appealed to to get
two women to run.
A Great Corn Boast.
Despite threatening weather some fifty
people ran up in autos and enjoyed the
corn roast given by tbe Pike Run Country Club Saturday evening out in the
woods near the Laurel Hill monntain
clubhouse. While green corn was honored with the name there were chicken
and many other vegetables served by the
club's clever steward, Mr. Cox, and corps
of able assistants. Another nice feature
of tbe feast was the singing by a splendid Pittsburg male quartette brought out
by Ralph Overholt.
FRANK SMITH CAUGHT.
Jolly Card Party.
Some seventy-five gentlemen attended
the smoker and card social given by Division No. 1, A. O. H., in Kuhn's Hall
Wednesday evening last. The special
features of the jolly occasion were the
addresses made by Peter Mullen and
George Eckman and the piano selections
by James McGuire.
The Escaped Murderer of Father and Brother-in-Law Back in Jail.
B. Frank Smith, who created a sensation two months ago by escaping from
the Uniontown jail where he bad been
confined after being acquitted, by reason
of insanity, of the charge of murdering
his father, Porter Smith, and his brother-
in-law, Evans Moser, at the home of the
latter, near Smithfield, on March 27,
1909, was arrested Thursday afternoon
at the home of his father-in-law, Albert
Johnson, in Betbelboro, by Sheriff Peter
A. Johns and three deputies* After being brought back to jail Smith related a
complete story of how he escaped and
told of bis wanderings.
He was tried on a charge of murder,
but the jury acquitted him on grounds
of insanity. Alter acquittal he was held
in jail because there was no institution
in tbe state for tbe criminal insane. It
was tbe intention of the court to send
bim to a new asylum for insane criminals which was being buitt in Wayne
county.