NEWS: Items from the Altoona Mirror, September 19, 1899, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich & Alice James Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ News Items from the Altoona Mirror, Tuesday Evening, September 19, 1899 DAUGHERTY HELD FOR COURT George alias "Cap" Daugherty and Cyrus Malone, who were charged with robbing Charles Vaughn on the night of September 12, were given a hearing before Acting Mayor DoByne yesterday afternoon. Daugherty was arrested in Johnstown on Saturday and Malone was taken into custody in this city yesterday morning. Assistant District Attorney S. A. McNeal represented the commonwealth and R. A. Henderson, esq., was counsel for Daugherty. There was a large crowd of spectators present. Charles Vaughn was the first witness. He said he was out drinking Tuesday night, September 12, in the company of Gilbert Baker. On Eighth avenue between Seventeenth and Nineteenth streets some one gave him a drink of whiskey which was drugged. He went to a stable in Eighth alley near Twentieth street, but did not know how he got there. He met Daugherty and George Doran there. Daugherty put his hand into Vaughn's pocket and Vaughn told him to leave his money alone. Doran put his hand over Vaughn's mouth and told him to keep quiet. One of the men struck Vaughn in the eye and put him to "sleep." Daughtery, Vaughn said, took his money. Vaughn woke up at 4:10 Wednesday morning. On cross examination the witness said he told Patrolman Keith about the robbery and implicated Cyrus Malone because he sometimes ran with him and had his name on his mind. He did not now, however, believe Malone to be one of the guilty parties. "The robbery was on Tuesday morning," said Vaughn. "I was intoxicated Monday night; Gilbert Baker was with me; he was arrested by the police for pounding on doors with a board. I met Daugherty in Eighth alley, near Twentieth street; I was pretty drunk at the time. I wasn't drunk until I took that drink of whiskey between Seventeenth and Nineteenth streets; I don't know who gave it to me; I couldn't see the man's face; it was too dark; we met the man and he asked us what time it was; we said we didn't know, as we didn't have watches; he walked along with us and asked us to have a drink; my mind was a blank after I went into the alley, but I can mind Daugherty and Doran going through my clothes; Doran [sic] met me in the alley and put me in Mrs. Vaughn's stable; then he went after Doran; I went to sleep and they woke me up; I was lying on my side when robbed; I couldn't see them, it was too dark, but I could recognize their voices; I cried "Murder!" and then Doran choked me; then one of them hit me with his fist in my right eye and put me to 'sleep;' the eye was not blacked; it just skinned me a little under the eye; Daugherty told me the next day he put me in the stable, but did not admit that he robbed me; I lost $19.82; I counted it at Nineteenth street." William Winder, the next witness, said he heard the cry of murder and ran down to the alley. Doran was standing in the alley but when he saw Winder coming, he walked out. Shortly afterwards, Daughtery came out of the alley covered with mud. He said he had fallen off a horse. The three talked together for some time and Winder left. Patrolman Keith testified that he arrested Baker on Nineteenth street that night. There was someone with Baker, but he did not see who he was. Whoever he was, he ran down the alley, skulking along the fence. He met Vaughn just after he left the stable, and Vaughn told him that Daugherty gave him a drink of drugged whiskey and that Daugherty and Malone robbed him. Vaughn also told the officer that he had been hit in the eye with a stone. He wanted the officer to arrest the two men. There being no evidence to connect Malone with the crime, he was discharged. In default of $500 bail, Daugherty was committed for court. Doran has not yet been apprehended. DOINGS OF THE CITY POLICE The case against John Castroner, who was charged with skipping a board bill was settled before Alderman Raymond last evening. Albert Campbell and Ed Mulhollen charged with fighting were arrested by Officer Orner this afternoon. Mulhollen will make information against Campbell, charging him with assault and battery. Word was sent to the mayor's office this afternoon that three children of Mr. and Mrs. Myers, residing at Fifth avenue and Twentieth street, had wandered away from home and got lost. The police will try and locate them. The case against John Kazmaier and Louts Kellar in which they were charged with selling liquor to a man of known intemperate habits before Alderman McCleary has been withdrawn by the prosecutrix, Mrs. Dean. William Leaper was arrested yesterday afternoon by Constable John Roe for being drunk and fighting school children. The latter charge is one that can be laid at the feet of several high school boys as they taunted the drunken man. The case of Edith Piper and Grace Nipple against Marie Bloutz and Sadie Isenhour, for disorderly conduct at Bellwood was heard by Alderman Raymond yesterday and the defendants were discharged with a reprimand. The alderman also dismissed the case against David Powley who was charged with assault and battery. The bicycle which was stolen from Mr. Joseph Plummer of Fifth avenue, between Eighth and Ninth streets, one day last week was recovered in a repair shop in Tyrone this morning. The man who took the wheel tried to sell it for $6 when he was arrested. Mr. Plummer, this afternoon, made information against the man before Alderman Crampsey, charging him with the larceny of the wheel. Mr. and Mrs. George Miller were arrested and locked up last night on charges of drunkenness and disorderly conduct. "Foxey" was a candidate for captain of the Salvation Army, but was defeated He then filled up with booze and went to the barracks and raised a disturbance in which his wife is said to have participated. Mrs. Miller was discharged on her own recognizance but "Foxey" was locked up. They are having a hearing this afternoon. CORONER IS INVESTIGATING Last evening word was sent to Coroner McCarthy that an illegitimate child had died on the east side and that its death was surrounded by suspicious circumstances which required an investigation. The infant died on Sunday night. Its mother was employed as a domestic in a family residing on Thirteenth street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues. The girl's mother lives in Tyrone. It is alleged that when the infant was born there was no doctor present. The mother claims that her babe was of premature birth and that it was dead when it came into the world. The physician who was called in subsequently is said to have expressed a different opinion so the coroner is investigating the case. The mother of the girl who gave birth to the child has made information before Alderman DoByne charging William Jacobs of this city with being the father of the child. The remains were given into the charge of Undertaker Lafferty but they have not been interred yet. NEWS IN RAILROAD CIRCLES. Items of Interest to Railroaders all Along the Line. Mr. Henry Stitzell, who runs the Rockerarm lathe in the railroad machine shops in this city, has been running this lathe ever since 1889, nearly nineteen years. Mr. Stitzell turns rockerarm left shafts and water scoop dinges. Mr. Stitzell entered the shops in 1863 to learn the trade of a machinist, and has been working for the company thirty-seven years. He is next to the oldest man in the railroad shops. A track thrower, by which a stretch of rails 1,000 feet in length can be moved twelve inches either way with the assistance of but a few men, was given a trial on the Pennsylvania road at Conway, last week. D. C. Reese, an employe of the Pennsylvania company at New Brighton, is the inventor of this device, and from the results obtained at the test it is probably that it will soon be put to use on all the roads. The trial was made before M. A. McFadden, foreman of the maintenance of way departments of the Pennsylvania lines on that division, who is of the opinion that the invention will prove to be a great success to the inventor as well as being an important thing to the railroads in regard to the construction and relaying of tracks. ELECTED OFFICERS. W. C. Westfall Chosen Captain and Samuel Roberts First Lieutenant. Las night at the regular monthly meeting of Company No. 26, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, Sir Knight William C. Westfall, the well known haberdasher, was elected captain, vice William Valentine, resigned on account of removing to Pittsburg. Sir Knight George Shultz resigned as first lieutenant and Sir Knight Samuel Roberts was elected in his place. Both Mr. Westfall and Mr. Roberts are ex-captains of the company and it is needless to say that the high standard of the company in drilling will not be lowered, but raised, if possible. There was a large turnout of members of the company and several communications from regimental and brigade headquarters that are of interest to the members were read. There are at present over eighty members in the company and a class of twelve or fifteen waiting to be initiated. FOR NATIONAL DELEGATE E. M. Beale, the energetic young business man of Altoona, is a candidate for delegate from this congressional district to the next Democratic national convention. Messrs. T. H. Greevy and A. V. Dively are also candidates for the same position, but Mr. Beale seems to be by far the most popular among the masses and will doubtless be chosen. Blair county is entitled to a delegate in the national convention next year and no better man could be selected for the position than E. M. Beale. The gentleman is an upright citizen and a staunch Democrat, one who has never bolted his party ticket. Mr. Beale is the logical party ticket. LOST BOY FOUND A small son of John Plunket, an employee of the White Hall hotel, got lost yesterday., having wandered away from home. His parents became frightened and instituted a search, which resulted in the lad being found and taken back to his home in the afternoon. COMMISSIONED ORGANIZER. Past Archon George B. Evans has been commissioned organizer of Altoona conclave 132, Improved Order of Heptasophs, of this city, and with the aid of the other 450 odd members expects to make a substantial increase in the size of the conclave before the end of the year. Their ambition now is to reach the 500 mark. LATE NEWS PARAGRAPHED John Lloyd went to Philadelphia today. James Hartford will got to New York to welcome Admiral Dewey home. Mr. Will Such has returned home, after playing ball with and residing at Dubois for the past six weeks. Dr. Frank Robison of Philadelphia is in town shaking hands with his many friends. Mr. Thomas McClain and wife left for Philadelphia, New York and Atlantic City last night. Miss Monihan of Greensburg is the guest of Miss Genevieve McGuire of 1711 Seventh avenue. Mr. Martin Moyer, the well-known Hollidaysburg gardener, left today for the east to spend his vacation. Ray Lockard, a clerk in Derb Hughes' grocery stone, Sixth avenue and Seventh street, cut the end off his middle finger while clipping dried beef on the cutter on Saturday evening last. Miss Lillian Carey and Miss Minnie Carroll of Rome, N.Y., who have been visiting the past nine weeks at the home of Lawrence Carroll, 802 Eighteenth avenue, departed for their home last night, after a pleasant visit. Rev. Henry Howard Stiles, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, returned home on fast line last evening. He and his family spent a ten days' vacation, partly at the seashore and partly with friends in Vineland, N.J. Mr. Stiles will occupy his pulpit as usual next Sabbath. SPECTATORS DISAPPOINTED A large number of people went to the mayor's office yesterday afternoon to hear the case against Thomas Cox, the aged man who is charged with assaulting and attempting to rob Albert Gardner on the public highway. The spectators were disappointed however, as Cox, when arraigned before Acting Mayor DoByne, waived a hearing and in default of $500 bail was committed for court. Albert Gardner, the man assaulted, was present and was about to be sworn when Cox interposed and said: "You don't need to swear the witness, your honor. I will waive a hearing." Last evening Officer Carney paid another visit to Cox's cabin which is located in a field near Beale avenue and Thirty-third street. A Mirror reporter accompanied the officer. The silver knives and forks, belonging to P. McCann, proprietor of the Rising Sun hotel, were found in the cabin on a shelf. Cox had laid in a good supply of provisions and fuel for the winter. In the collection were hams, potatoes, a large quantity of coffee, spices, jellies, etc. There was also a number of books in the cabin, among them being a fine bible. The interior of Cox's domicile is decorated with pictures of all kinds. Pictures were used instead of wall paper and the ceiling is covered over with them. There are religious pictures, pictures of leading actresses and some of the big American war ships. One of Cox's numerous suits of clothes, a fine white shirt and a pair of new socks were, at his request, brought in for him to wear when he makes his appearance in court. Mr. Pinkleson, of the firm of Pinkleson & Bregman, general storekeepers of Gallitzin, came down to the city to see if he could identify any of the clothing in the possession of Cox. Their store was robbed on June 13 of about $500 worth of clothing and shoes. He did not see the goods but from the description he got of them he does not think any of the clothing belongs to him, as all the suits but one, show evidences of having been worn. TYRONE NEWS ITEMS A. F. Stratiff, of Pittsburgh, is visiting his brother, Henry H., 1128 North Washington avenue. Mr. and Mrs. James B. Lemon, former residents for the past five years of Braddock, are visiting in this section. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kirk of Wilmington, Del., are visiting the latter's mother and brother, Mrs. Mary A. Piper and son, at 1123 North Logan avenue. Harry M. Dry arrived home Sunday from Denver, Col., where he had charge of the pyrotechnic displays at Chute's park near that city during the summer. Harry A. Stratiff, employed as a salesman in Sam Cosel's clothing store, yesterday had his household goods removed overland from the Mountain City to No. 632 West Washington avenue Ira Dwight Thompson with his wife and two children of McConnellsburg, Fulton county are the guests of the former's brother, Harry A. Thompson and family, 203 West Eleventh street. LOCAL NEWS BRIEFLY GIVEN Mr. S. M. Griffith of 904 Eleventh avenue is painting the front of his wall paper store. Dairyman Pressel lost three cows on Saturday night by their eating too much green corn. J. E. Cole, the Hillside dairyman, has placed in service a new wagon built by I. M. Flick, the wagon maker and blacksmith on Margaret avenue. L. M. Neff who has been transferred to the Pennsylvania railroad shops in Philadelphia from this city is home making preparations to remove his family to the City of Brotherly Love. The Defiance wheel stolen from H. Reighert several nights ago was recovered by Sergeant Weller yesterday morning. It was found by a young man named Duffley in the rear of his home, 313 Sixth avenue. PURELY PERSONAL ITEMS Mr. and Mrs. H. Ross left this morning on No. 7 for Cleveland. Dr. Alex Bruzelius, D. D. S., of Boston is visiting Dr. G. C. Robb. Mr. I. N. Atherton and wife have returned from visiting their daughter in Carlisle. Mr. Mayberry Miller of the Altoona bank is spending his vacation in Philadelphia. Mr. S. H. Stonefelt of Seventeenth street left yesterday to visit friends in Lancaster. Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Woomer of 1210 Sixteenth avenue are enjoying a trip to Denver, Col. Mrs. J. R. Reed and Mrs. James Hackenbery and daughter are visiting friends in Philadelphia. Mr. S. B. Hamilton of 1016 Eighteenth avenue who had been bedfast with pneumonia is improving. Mr. Thomas Miller and family are entertaining Miss Bell A. Whitaker of 1205 Locust street, Philadelphia. Miss Lizzie Probst of Bedford is visiting Mrs. M. J. Lindsey and son of No. 112 Third street for a month. Mr. Charles F. Carpenter, who has been confined to his home for the past week with a severe cold, has recovered. William Baldwin, barber, employed by C. H. Hutchins has gone to Bolivar, Pa., to accept the management of a shop. Mr. Frank Bowers and sister, Miss Mary of Altoona are visiting the family of Mr. Edward C. Hall. [Lancaster Morning News] Mr. C. M. Adams and wife left Saturday night to attend the dedication of the chapel Mt. St. Sepulchre at Washington, D. C. Will Kiefer and family of Florence, N. J., are visiting friends in this city. Mr. Kiefer is a son of Ludwig Kiefer of Thirteenth avenue. Mrs. E. M. Clabaugh, wife of Druggist Clabaugh was taken suddenly ill at her home on Sunday. She was much improved last evening. Messrs. W. E. Smith and George Ernest left yesterday for a ten-days' bicycle trip to New York, Washington and Baltimore. Charles Runk goes with them as far as Hagerstown, Md. Miss Margaret Coall of Tonis River, N. J., arrived in the city last evening on fast line and left shortly afterwards for Hollidaysburg, where she will teach in the seminary this term. Miss Minnie Fisher and Mrs. Marguerite Hennal and two children, Clarence and Mildred of Scottdale, are the guests of the former's brother, Mr. Joseph Yahner and family, of Willow avenue. Drum Major Herbert O. Kelley of the Twenty-eighth volunteers arrived in the city last evening on a three-days' visit to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel E. Kelley, of Walton avenue and Kettle street. Mr. John Bigley of Garden City, Ks. and J. A. Bigley of Spruce Creek were the guests of their brother, W. H. Bigley of Second avenue and First street yesterday. John was a solider in the Twentieth Pennsylvania volunteers. Mr. Milton E. Springer, formerly employed by the Goodfellow-Melvin Hardware Co., of this city and who enlisted in the 23d U.S. regular infantry now located at Manila, has been promoted to sergeant in company C, 37th U.S. volunteers and also regimental clerk. He is now located at Jolo, Jolo Island ANOTHER SITE FOR OIL PLANT Mr. John Kazmaier, proprietor of the Germania brewery, says that as soon as the ruins of the late fire at the oil plant have been removed, the site will be converted into a lawn. Mr. Kazmaier feels very grateful to the Altoona fire department, through whose excellent service his property was saved. Mr. Reighard has not yet decided where the new building will be erected, but it is likely it will be a short distance farther west along the branch railroad.