Mount Pleasant journal (September 13, 1922)

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VOL. 47.
MOUNT    PLEASANT.    WESTMORELAND    COUNTY.    PA..   WEDNESDAY.    SEPTEMBER    13,  1922
NO. 38,
VERY LIITLE
DANGER Of
COAL FAMINE
In Any Section of the Country This Year.
OUTPUT IS NEARINQ NORMAL
Even in Coke Region  Where
Strike is Still On.
THERE  SEEMS  BUT   ONE   DANGER
And That Would ComeTrom
Scarcity of Cars.
With the strike settled and
men back at work in the union
fields, there seems little danger of a coal famine in any
part of the country this year,
barring, of course, a car shortage. Even in the coke region
where the strike is still on the
output of both coal and coke
continues to increase. This is
due partly to the importation
of colored labor from the south,
although quite a few strikers
have gone back to work, some
here and others in neighboring union fields. There is
room for belief that these
changes will empty the camps
of strikers before rough weath-
|er comes, just as there is that
when the present flurry is over
local consumers will be able to
get their winter supply of coal
under present prices.
Wholesale evictions of tbe families of
striking miners in Fayette coanty are being made to make room for tbe new men
shipped io. It is said Sheriff Shaw will
fee called upon for 1,500 evictions during
I this month.
The six remaining units of the Pennsylvania National Guard doing strike
Idnty in Western Pennsylvania were
I withdrawn Thursday.
The United Mine Workers of America
J will, it is said, establish two new districts in the coke region, No. 3 in this
|county and No. 4 in Fayette county.
On complaint of George Whyel, presi
Idcnt of the newly organized Fayette-
■Greene Coal Producers Association, the
■ Department of Justice sent six agents
|into the coke region last week to investigate the claim that foreign secret societies, acting independent of the union,
(have, by intimidation, kept miners from
[returning to work.
Early   Monday   morning  a   bomb was
lexploded   in   front   of  Charles Bitner's
■new home   near   the   Claire  Coal   Cora-
Ipany's  plant  in   Mount Pleasant township where the owner is   hoisting   engineer.    None of the sleeping inmates was
mrt but the porch was  badly   wrecked.
IXhe engineer went to work as usual.
Fifty state policemen were moved
iMoaday from Washington county into
|the southern part of Fayette county.
While the family was absent Sunday
lorning the home of J. H. Teets, a Fair-
:hance coke worker, was badly damaged
ay a dynamite bomb thrown from a
neighboring cornfield.
Thomas  Skinkis   is   in jail at Union-
town charged with having shot and ser-
|ionsly wounded  Harrison   Rosenberger,
fellow   mine guard at Rainey's Royal
rorks Sunday, wben wakened from sleep
toy tbe victim.
Ill KLLX KLAN
TO BE EXPOSED
HERE OCrOBER I.
Prominent Pittsbnrg speakers will
I'expose" the Ku Klux Klan in the Grand
}pera House here at 2 p. m. Sunday, October 1. So much has been said or guessed at regarding this rapidly growing secret   society and   its aims that the facts
will be  of   special interest.    Admission
vill be free and tbe local klan cordially
Invites Jew  and   Gentile, Catholic and
Protestant.
Vagabondia Is Secretary Mellon's Week End Home
This 4s the Viigubondia, the yacht of Secretary Mello n, on which lie and his daughter Allsa are spending their
week ends this summer cruising on the "Potomac river.
COMERS AND GOERS.
Paragraphs About Prominent   People Oath-
ared During the Week.
Mrs. Marie Bossart is at Youngstown,
Ohio_visittug her niece, Mrs. John Ros-
ensteel.
Miss Alice Ramsay spent the past ten
days in Pittsburg with her sister, Mrs. J.
P. Clarke.
Louis Sohrey left Monday to resume
his studies at Bucknell University as a
stately junior.
E. M. Kinsbursky, of Oil City, spent
several days here last week with his
brother-in-law, Hymau Glick.
Misses Beatrice Reger and Mary Gag-
liana are home from a two weeks' visit
paid' New York City friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Keller, of Can-
ton, Ohio, were here last week visiting
that gentleman's father, Joseph P. Keller.
Mrs. B, F. Parfitt and sons, Randall
and Raymond, are visiting that lady's
sister, Mrs. George Knox, of Johnstown.
Postmaster Charles A. Graul is spending two weeks at Paw Paw, West Vir
ginia, squirrel   hunting and bass fishing
Miss Genevieve Mullin took her sister,
Miss Emily, and Miss Catherine Loar
ba-k with her Tuesday to Otterbein University.
Commander Harry Fiddler represented
the James E. Zundell Post as last week's
American Legion state convention at
Williamsport.
Mrs. Charles Hetzler, who was here
visiting her mother, Mrs. Martha Binga-
mau, has returned to her Fairmont, West
Virginia, home.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Bossart motored their son Charles and two of his
Greensburg chums to their Mercersbnrg
school yesterday.
Dr. and Mrs. William A. Marsh left
Wednesday on a week's motor trip to Indianapolis, Indiana, where they visited
their nncle, Meade Spiegel.
Samuel Schindel, wife and two children returned Friday from a week's motor trip to Warren, Ohio, where they
were guests of Mrs. Schindel's people.
Miss Helen Cort, of this place, was
one of the honor guests at a reception
give» Thursday by Miss Sarah Porter, of
Conellsville, for Miss Phyllis Jayne, of
Pittsburg.
Frank Leonard, wife and three children, of Washington City, were here the
past week as the guests of that gentleman's mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Leonard,
of the West End.
Mr. and Mrs. George Eogle were among
the 125 people who attended the More-
land family reunion at Whistle Park
near Connellsville Saturday. An excellent dinner was served.
Mrs. Rice Freed and son Orrel spent
last week with Pittsburg and Pitcairn
friends. The latter graduated last year
from the local high school and left Monday to take a commercial course at Indiana Normal.
Clyde Kuliu and Charles Bnrkholder
represented Mount Pleasant among tbe
twenty-eight guests at the handsomely
appointed dinner given Friday eveoing
by Miss Mara Louise McDonald at her
Connellsville home.
Miss Marie Loucks gave a shower at
her Scottdale home last Tuesday evening
lor Mrs. James Harkins, Jr., of this place,
who before her recent marriage was Miss
Sara Inghram, one of Scottdale's fair
daughters. She was the recipient of
many nice presents.
TWO KINDS OF LIBERTY.
Engagement Announced.
Mrs. Yative Rakusin, of Greensburg,
announces the engagement of her daughter, Miss Sara, to George H. Stern, of Al-
toona. The bride-to-be has many Mount
Pleasant friends made while staying here
with her brother, William Rakusin, the
Leader Store proprietor.
Was it not Carlisle who said, "There are two kinds of
liberty, liberty to do what we please and liberty to do what
we ought?" It is the latter that our fathers sought when
they founded this land. They established this nation as a
home for those who longed for "liberty to do what they
ought." It is this liberty which our Sabbath laws protect,
and which the enemies of the Sabbath are striving to cast down.
SIGN OF THE CROSS.
Items of Special Interest to Local
Church* Goers.
Despite unusually hot weather the
Mount Pleasant-Donegal Sunday school
district convention at the Mouut Pleasant Township High School Auditorium
Sunday afternoon and evening was well
attended. Dr. H. B. Vanormer, of Juui-
atta College, delivered two fine addresses, while excellent music was furnished
at both sessions by Prof. Elmer Morrow,
of Scottdale. Tbe banner for the largest
attendance was awarded tbe Fairview
Church of God Sunday school. The officers to serve the ensuing year are: President, Percy C.  Hartzell; vice president,
C. M. Metz; secretary, James I. Kalp; division superintendents, children, Miss
Elma Neiderhiser; young people,   Frank
D. Barnhart; home, Mrs. T. A. Marsteller;
teacher training, C. M. Metz; O. A. B. C,
Proi. John C. Haberlen; missionary, Mrs.
C. R. Fausold; temperance, Ray Stairs.
The local United Brethren people are
being congratulated upon the overhauling just given their church.
There will be preaching at the Mount
Joy Church of tbe Brethren Sabbath next
at 11 a. m, and 8:15 p. m. with Sunday
school at 9:30 a. m. and Young Peoples
meeting at 7:30 p. m. The public is cordially invited to all these services.
Rev. A. L. Austin, of Michigan, a
World War chaplain, will preach for the
Middle Presbyterians Sabbath morning
next at 11 o'clock.
Knnkle-lleaiman.
James A. Kunkle and Miss Ella May
Sleasman, young Indian Head people,
were married here Thursday by Rev. R.
T. Hull at the Mount Joy Church of the
Brethren parsonage. Mr. and Mrs. Kunkle went at once to housekeeping near
Indian Head.
REV. DR. E. J. KNOX
INTENDS RETIRING
i ROM M. E. MINISTRY
The many friends of Rev. Dr.E. J. Knox,
made here during his six years' pastorate
of tbe Methodist Episcopal churcb, will
regret to learn that not only does be intend to leave here but to retire from the
ministry at tbe approaching close of the
conference year. He will eventually buy
himself a home elsewhere, but he aud bis
wife plan to travel extensively before
going to housekeeping again. Dr. Knox
has labored 43 years in the Master's vineyard.
Farms Change Owner.
Glenn Miller has purchased the J. W.
Overholt "Emma Place" adjoining his
Iron Bridge farm and containing 146
acres for $18,500 cash, giving him some
700 acres of surface and considerable
valuable coal. Tbe purchaser began his
successful business career as a stable boy
for tbe late G. H. Hogg at Iron Bridge.
Edward Hostofter, the local butcher,
has bought the old Jacob Sfrohm farm
west of town from the heirs. It is underlaid with top seams of coal and also
several  acres ot the Connellsville vein.
Fayette County Criminal Court.
Edward Endsley, a prominent Revere
farmer, pleaded guilty to second degree
murder in the Fayette county criminal
court last Tuesday for having shot and
killed Mrs Mary Lape while she was
picking berries in hfs patch last June.
Homer W. Long, convicted of criminal
assault upon Florence McCune near
Broad Ford last June, was sentenced to
the penitentiary to from 9 to 15 years.
REV. IL LEATHERMAN FINALLY
DETERMINES TO ACCEPT THAT
CALL TO REYNOLDSVILLE, PA.
The Lutheran people of Reynoldsville, Pa., having renewed their call to Rev. R. L. Leatherman, of this place,
that reverend gentleman finally decided to accept it and will
leave this week to take charge of his new pastorate, having
preached his impressive farewell sermon Sabbath morning
last. In severing his local relations he told how all the members of the congregation, Sunday school and Ladies Aid Society had his best wishes for continued prosperity and success
with prayers that "we all may finally win for ourselves the
crown of everlasting life."
When Rev. Leatherman came here July 1, 1905, he had three parishes,
Trinity here, St. Johns Middle and Zion at Ruffsdale. The latter two were
made a separate parish some six and one-half years ago, leaving him in charge
of the West Main street church from that time.
During his pastorate of 17 years and 4^ months he conducted 491 baptisms. 332 being here. He received 437 persons into church membership,
293 of that number being here. He officiated at 59 marriages, 43 of that
number here. He conducted 188 funerals. Of that number 129 were members of the local church whose present enrollment is 210 and ot that number
180 communed and contributed to the support of the church the past year.
Trinity also gave $18,780.36 of the $36,147.15, the total amount of all
monies collected during Rev. Leatherman's pastorate here.
COKE AND COAL.
Itemi of Interest Gathered from Both Hint
and yard.
The    administration   auti profiteering
coal bill will  be  limited in its effect to
six months.
Steps are being taken to merge Western
Pennsylvania coal interests whose annual production is some eight million
tons with assets of $35,000,000. Io the
big consolidation are the John A. Bell,
Carnegie, Verner, Bnrgettstown, Henderson, Chartiers Creek, McClanet, Mead-
owlands, Pittsburg & Eastern, Pittsburg
and Erie, Youghiogheny and Ohio companies.
The Brush Run coke plant had to suspend Monday on account of a scarcity
of water. Other works in the northern
end of tbe region are depending on Itme-
treated mine water.
GRATEFUL FIREMEN.
West Newton Department Thanks Local Laddies for Timely Aid.
The services rendered by the Mount
Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department at
the late big fire in West Newton have
been acknowledged through a resolution
passed by the West Newton Hose Company and sent Chief Arthur Gearhart as
well as all the departments of neighboring towns that responded to "Robbs
town's" S. O. S. calls on the night of August 19.    The resolution reads:
"That we acknowledge with pride as
well as gratitude the remarkable willingness of each to cooperate with all
throughout the long battle against tbe
aggressive ruin which threatened the
town; the efficient resoursefulness of
the fighters, and the success attained in
preventing the spread of the flames.
"That these resolutions be pnblished
in the West Newton Times-Sun and that
copies be forwarded to each of the cooperating fire departments in grateful acknowledgment of Iheir assistance in our
utmost need."
Chief Gearhart regrets that he and his
men were unable to accept the invitation
sent them to attend asocial given by the
West Newton ladies Saturday evening.
EATAL Aljfo
ACCIDENT
NEAR UNITED.
Mrs. R. E. McBeth, of Beuna Vista, Allegheny county, while going home from
the funeral of her father in Fayette
county, with her husband and Mr. and
Mrs. William Veach, was almost instantly killed Sunday evening at the
sharp curve on the Greensburg brick
road beyond United where their auto
broke a wheel off and upset. The other
three occupants escaped with slight injuries. Walter Davis, of this place, who
happened along in bis car, helped tores-
cue the dying woman from the wreck.
MURDER
IN EIRST
DEGREE
Is the Verdict Found Against
Fred Stefl
WHO SHOT ANNA YEZEK HERE
But   Failed  to  Follow   that
Crime With Suicide.
MANY OTHER HOMICIDE CASES
Tried   in   County   Criminal
Court the Past Week.
Looal Secret Society Honori.
Two of the three delegates representing tbe Franklin & Marshall Chapter at
the Triennial Council of the Phi Beta
Kappa Society at Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, this week are
Rufns E. Zimmerman, formerly of Mount
Pleasant, and Rev. Paul T. Stonesifer,
pastor of the local First Reformed
church.
New Legislative Candidate.
The Republican County Committee,
meeting at Greensburg Saturday, appointed George A. Smith, of Derry, a candidate tor the Legislature in the First district to fill tbe vacancy caused by the
recent death of David A. Wineman, of
that place. Under a new rule, the committeemen of this district made the selection.   Mr. Smith bad no opposition.
HOW SECRETARY'S
SHARP EYES
SAVED COUNCIL.
A Greensburg motor company would
have unloaded an old 1913 White motor
truck on Mount Pleasant Council for
$1,400, guaranteed to be, it is said, a 1920
model, had it not been for the sharp eyes
of the purchaser's secretary, Frank Overly, who is also stenographer iD Judge
Dom's court at Greensburg. He discovered the truck's age in looking over tbe
license and at once informed President
Frank Simpson just in time to prevent
the latter from attaching his signature to
the contract. The ancient motor vehicle
will be kept, however, as the agent, at a
special meeting of Council Monday evening, knocked $500 ol! the price, guaranteed the truck for two years and promised to then allow the borough $900 for
it io exchange for another truck.
Fred Stefl, who served overseas as a sergeant in Company
E, 110th Infantry, and who
shot Anna Yezek here on
Church street, opposite this office, the night of December
21st last, was found guilty of
murder in the first degree in
the county criminal court at
Greensburg last Wednesday
night at 10:15 after the jury
had deliberated some six hours.
The defendant showed no feeling either when called upon to
hear the awful verdict or led
back to his jail cell. He is
now being closely watched,
however, to prevent him from
committing suicide.
The history of this case is already
known to Journal readers. The Commonwealth, with Attorney P. K. Shaner
assisting Disfrict Attorney Nevin A.
Cort, proved by reputable witnesses bow
Stefl lay in wait and shot his victim, her
death following from paralysis on April
17; how he then tried to commit suicide
with the revolver bought of W. F. Smith,
the local hardware man, but failed, inflicting a harmless wound; how both were
taken to the local hospital from which
he was taken to jail at Greensburg and
she to die at tbe Alice postoffice home of
her prrnnts.
Attorney John J. Kennedy, who conducted the defense and brought home
the company in which tbe defendant
was a sergeant, pnt Stefl on the witness
stand where he said he was under tbe
influence of drink at the time of tbe
double tragedy and did not know what
he did. Tbe charge delivered to tbe jury
by Judge Whitten, before whom the case
was tried, favored the side of the prosecution.
The testimony for the prosecution also
showed that young Stefl had paid his
victim marked attention before going to
war and that he bad tried to renew an
affair of the heart after he had been discharged and despite the tact that he had
married Miss Laura Carson one year ago
yesterday in Columbns, Ohio, while he
was working there. He left her the next
day, claiming she bad tried to poison
him.
On instructions from Judge Dom, the
jury acquitted Abeu Gray who was
charged with having shot and killed
Noah Zellers at Herminie No. 2 July 15.
It was shown that tbe defendant was a
deputy sheriff and that he bad been shot
twice by Zellers, a negro strike breaker,
before he fired the fatal shot.
Alex C. Davis, of Bovard, was tried
before Judge Copeland for having shot
and killed John Farrell.a fellow colored
man, in a quarrel over a game of craps.
He was found guilty of murder in the
second degree.
Judge Dom also heard tbe case of Ferdinand Cicerello, charged with having
murdered D. C Mitchell, a watchman for
tbe Westmoreland Coal Company at Export, some three months ago. The verdict was second degree.
Andy Taylor, of Greensburg, charged
with having shot and killed Mrs. Margaret Ivy at her county seat home last
May, was tried before Judge Copeland
and convicted of murder in tbe second
degree.
m -♦--»	
A Bright Loeal Studont.
Miss Gladys Freed, a daughter of Mrs.
Anna L. Freed, of this place, a graduate
of the local high school and University
of Pittsburg, will leave the latter part of
the month to begin a three years' course
in tbe University of Chicago. Her aim
is to win a Ph. D. in Latin with a view
to teaching that branch in a university.