—
Terms, $2.00 a Year, in Advance.
——r
Belle
fonte, Pa., Sept. 3, 1897.
———= i ts
P. GRAY MEEK, - - EpiTor.
The Democratic Str. e Ticket.
For State Treasurer,
MICHAEL E. BROWN,
of Indiana county.
For Auditor General,
WALTER E. RITTER,
of Williamsport.
The Democratic County [icket.
For County Surveyor.—J. H. WETZEL.
For Jury Commissioner.—J. J. HOY.
TTT
——The Daily News is worrying for fear
the Centre county institute of public school
teachers might he taken to Philipsburg.
Our contemporary seems prone to make a
mountain out of a mole hill. While Belle-
fonte would be pleased to extend her usual
hearty welcome to the. teachers of the
county, when the time comes for them to
meet in institute session, we can see no rea-
son why our people should be asked to
hold out any other inducement than that
of cordial hospitality and courteous treat-
ment after they are here.
The Democratic State Convention.
A Bold, Fearless Stand for Silver. The State Cen-
tral Committee and the Convention Votes Harrity
Out and Goes Wild Over Bryan and Silver.
The Democratic state central committee
met in Reading, on Monday night, and be-
gan the great fight, that was finished in
the convention next day, by voting to dis-
place Mr. Harrity from his seat on the
national committee by a vote of 53 to 26.
The committee met in the rooms of the
Americus club, by direction of the execu-
tive committee, to consider the question of
vacancy in the national committee. The
proceedings were exciting from start to fin-
ish, and at one stage a policeman was
called upon hy state chairman Garman to
eject Timothy O'Leary, of Pittsburg, for
interrupting the speakers. O’Leary is not
a member of the committee. State chair-
man Garman presided, except for a short
time, when he surrendered the chair to W.
R. Brinton, of Lancaster, to speak upon
the resolution.
Immediately after the meeting was
called to order John B. Keenan, of West-
moreland, offered a resolution :
‘That a vacancy has been created and now
exists in the membership of the national
Democratic committee, by reason of the vol-
untary withdrawal from politics and partici-
pation in the deliberations of the committee
of the late incumbent, William F. Harrity,
and that Mr. Harrity, not being in accord
with the principles of the Democratic party,
James M. Guffey, of Pittshurg, who so loy-
ally supported William J. Bryan, is hereby
selected to fill the vacancy.”
Magistrate Charles P. Donnell y, of Phila-
delphia, said the committee would make a
mistake if it adopted this resolution on the
eve of the battle for Governor.
It was the duty of the organization, he
said, to bring about a condition of affairs
that means aggressiveness and harmony in
the party and the democracy cannot £0 be-
fore the populace with the expectation of
winning victories with a divided party or-
ganization. Mr. Donnelly denied the right
of the state committee to create a vacancy
in the national committee.
Thomas C. Barber of Union, argued against
the resolution. He said the party is after
voters in Pennsylvania and not after discord.
Mr. Keenan replied that Mr,
should have resigned from the committee
after the national convention, when he de.
cided not to take part in its councils. When
he refused to resign, he should have been
forced out. Pennsylvania now has no stand-
ing in the national councils of the party, he
declared, and will not have so longas'it is
misrepresented,
Charles S. Duncan, of Adams, rebuked Mr,
Garman for his attack upon Harrity and the
Democrats who refused to support the Chi-
£ag0 Heke and Piston
ohn Cavanaugh, o ester, said i
the first time he had ever Roe i us
chairman to divide the party and denounce
one of its honored members,
Matthew Dittman, of Philadelphia, sug-
gested that the question be referred to Wm,
J. Bryan.
DeWitt C. DeWitt, of Bradford, spoke of
the resolution, after which the
taken with the result indicated.
The vote on the resolution was as fol-
lows :
_Ayes—Hawley and Kobler, of Allegheny ;
King, of Armstrong ; Potter, of Beaver ;
Kerr, of Bedford ;» Rothermel, y
Henderson, of Blair ; DeWitt, of Bradford ;
Lockwood, of Butler ; McGould, of Cambria ;
Hockley, of Cameron ; Howard, of Clarion :
Savage, of Clearfield ; McCoy, of Crawford :
Creasy, of Columbia ; Orr, of Dauphin ;
Crawford, of Delaware ; Smith, of Erie ;
Fulton, of Fayette ; Howlett, of Forest ;
Minehart, of Franklin ; Seitz, of Fulton ;
Smith, of Greene ; Stiles, of Jefferson ; Kep-
ler, of Juniata ; Brinton and Davis, of Lan-
caster ; Porter, of Lawrence ; Hersh, of
Lebanon ; Freas and Boyd, of Luzerne ;
Nickles, of Lycoming ; Connelly, of Me-
Kean ; Reiss, of Mercer ; Staples, of Monroe y
Howery, of Montour ; Kemmerer and Mer.
riam, of Northam ton ; Vought, of North-
umberland ; Dela lanty, of Philadelphia ;
Linton, of Somerset ; Gallagher, Sullivan,
Cargill, of Susquehanna ; Sexton, of Tioga ;
Alexander, of Venango ; Mair, Warren :
Irwin, Keenan and Latta, of Washington ;
Platt, of Westmoreland : Bacon, of Wyom-
ing ; Eppley, of York. Total 53.
Nays—Duncan, of Adams ; Fagan, of Alle-
gheny ; Long, of Bucks ; Mulhearn, of Car-
bon ; Taylor, of Centre ; Cavanaugh, of Ches-
ter : Smith, of Clinton i Shearer, of Cumber-
land ; Healy, of Elk ; Henderson, of Hunt-
ingdon ; Lowery, of Dauphin ; Reedy and
Cadden, of Lackawanna ; Kline, of Lehigh :
Yost, of Montgomery ; Fry, of Perry ; Ryan,
Donnelly, Hicks, Dittman, Boyle and 'Tay-
lor, of Philadelphia ; Moran and Dentz, of
Schuylkill ; Hornberger, of Snyder ; Bar-
ber. of Union. Total 96, :
The members of the committee from
Mifflin, Pike and Potter counties were absent.
On motion of I, A. Orr, of Harrisburg,
chairman Garman was directed to report the
adoption of the resolution to national chair.
man Jones, after which the committee ad-
Journed.
The executive committee met Monday
evening and selected Congressman Daniel
Ermentrout, of Reading. as temporary chair-
man, and Robert W, Erwin, of Washington,
permanent chairman of the convention ;
~Matt Savage, of Clearfield : Wm. Murphy, of
Philadelphia ; John B. Larkin, of Pittsburg,
and R. R. Van Horn, of Wilkesbarre, sec-
retaries,
vote was
THE CONVENTION MEETS.
READING, Pa., Aug. 31.—Walter E.
Ritter, of Lycoming county, for auditor
general : M. E, Brown, of Indiana, county,
for State treasurer, and a platform that
Says something in every sentence of it is a
part of the work accomplished by the Dem-
ocratic State convention to-day. By a de-
cisive vote the convention concurred in the
action of the State central committee and
named James M. Guffey, of Pittsburg, for
the place on the Democratic National com-
mittee, held by William F. Harrity, of
Philadelphia. The latter's friends were
outnumbered by more than two to one,
and he went down amid cheers for William
J. Bryan.
The action of Mr. Harrity’s case was un-
questionably the feature of the convention.
There was more excitement attending the
passage of the resolution against him than
at any time during the day, although the
declaration of principles was received with
great enthusiasm.
Mr. Harrity’s friends admit their defeat
and to-night announce that they have no
grievance. They say they will submit to
the will of the majority and turn in for the
ticket, though they do not believe the
convention acted wisely in disposing the
old leader. Mr. MHarrity’s enemies,
who have fought him incessantly for years,
are wreathed in smiles to-night and pat-
ting one another upon the back. The
delegates are fast leaving the city, and all
will be gone before noon to-morrow.
The convention began promptly at noon.
In calling the gathering to order State
Chairman John M. Garman observed that
there was an almost complete attendance
by the delegates, that the house was well
filled and that the convention should trans-
act its business as speedily and with as
little debate as possible. Hesaid the ex-
ecutive committee had decided that Con-
gressmen Daniel Ermentrout, of Reading,
should be the temporary presiding officer,
and he took great pleasure in introducing
Mr. Ermentrout. He was given a hearty
| ovation.
Chairman Ermentrout promptly named
the officers of the temporary organization.
These were the same as already published
with the exception of Matt Savage, of
burg, among the secretaries.
then ordered called.
challenged.
veloped in Luzerne county.
reached there was considerable trouble over
two sets of substitutions for the seat of
phia, protested.
Gallagher finally relinquished any claim
roll. He was one of the Harrity lieuten-
ants, and the victory sent Harrity stock up
several pei cent, though it seemed from
Harrityites were in the majority.
call, when the committees
made up, that the real fight of the conven-
tion occurred. John T. Lenahan, of Lu-
zerue, claimed to have heen selected by 13
member of the committee on credentials.
This was disputed, and the chairman re-
fused to make him a member of the com-
mittee. Lenahan
hearing, and wanted to take a poll of the
delegates, but this was ruled out of order,
and the chairman was just about to place
another man on the committee, when the
13 members left their seats and marched
down in front of the stage.
ALMOST A GENERAL FIGHT.
Chairman Ermentrout was denounced as
unfair, and there were cries of ‘Fair play?”
when one of the secretaries, John T. Mur-
phy, of Philadelphia, grabbed the gavel
from the chairman’s hands. This was the
signal for a general onslaught. Ermen-
trout’s friends rushed to his assistance and
attempted to regain the gavel. Two ser-
geants-at-arms caught hold of Murphy and
attempted to eject him from the hall.” The
Luzerne and Philadelphia delegations, to-
gether with stragglers from various por-
tions of the hall, rushed onto the stage,
and attempted to stop the proceeding.
The police were called in, and while they
were ejecting Murphy, the general fight on
the stage began.
John C. Bane of Washington, Mr. Lena-
han, of Luzerne, and many of the Berks,
Philadelphia and Lakawanna delegates
joined in the scrap, besides the stage spec-
tators. There was a general fight all over
the stage for a few minutes, and Chairman
Ermentrout was forced to retreat. A gen-
eral uproar occurred and the entire police
force was called in. Then the excitiment
quieted down, and after the committees
were named the convention took a recess of
an hour, during which the various com-
mittees met.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
Chairman Ermentrout said he thought
of the morning were allowed to occur.
lowed upon the platform.
Lev. McQuiston, of Butler,
full name. He wanted the name for the
purpose of criminal prosecution, he said:
the committee on permant organiza-
tion, submitted his report recommending
Robert W. Irwin, of Washington, for sec-
retary; W. H. Murphey, John B. Larkin
and R. R. Vanhorn, assistant secretaries.
Only two ‘‘nays’’ greeted the approval
of the report.
The permanent chairman was greeted
with loud cheering by the delegates, and
his speech, which indicated that he would
be perfectly fair and impartial in his rul-
ings, was frequently punctuated by ap-
plause.
The climax of the convention was reach-
ed suddenly. It came with the report of
the committee on resolutions, of which
James Kerr, of Clearfield, was chairman,
In a few minutes the great audience was
wild with enthusiasm at the principles as
reported by the committee. Each clause
and sentence was greeted with great cheer-
ing. which showed that the whole platform
would have been adopted with wild scenes
of enthusiasm had it not been for the tenth
section.
It was in that the committee had chosen
to place the anti-Harrity issue, and 1t
practically consisted of the resolution
adopted by the state committee. The fight
was on, and fora moment the other planks
of the platform were forgotten. The try-
ing moment had come, and Mr. Harrity’s
strength was to be tested.
TO HARRITY’S RESCUE.
Charles Donnelly, of Philadelphia, was
on his feet before the last words had passed
from Kerr's lips. He was about to offer a
minority report, but chairman Irwin mis-
understood him, and announced the plea
upon which the debate would be had. He
said there would be only two speeches on
the tenth section. One of them should be
made by a selected friend of Mr. Hanrrity,
| of Mr. Harrity.
while the other, he said should be made
by a delegate selected by ‘‘our side.”
Mr. Donnelly finally” made himself un-
derstood, and presented the report of the
minority membership of the committee.
He said the minority was in favor of every
clause of the platform and every sentence
of it, excepting only the tenth section.
The minority report, then, he said, provid-
ed only one change, the alimination of that
objectionable section. He moved the
adoption of the rest of the majority report,
and called for the yea and nay vote on the
tenth section.
This request caused another interrup-
tion of the proceedings. Chairman Irwin
seemed not to kave noticed it, and the del-
egates seated in the vicinity of the Phil-
adelphia and Montgomery section called
attention to the request. In the meantime
Mr. Donnelly began his speech in behalf
He pleaded with the dele-
| gates to confine their work to state issues,
| and not attempt to create a factional divis-
{ion by offering an insult to Mr. Harrity
he should make a statement when he call- i
ed the convention to order at 3 o'clock. { nomination.
He said he hoped the delegates would see | strong, clear voice.
to it that no such riotous scenes as those | Verbeke, of Harrisburg, for auditor general.
So | His declaration that though Mr. Verbeke
far as Secretary Murphy’ was concerned, he | had been in politics all his life, in that
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- 4 1 Ditts- | A :
Clearfield, and John B. Jaw, os ii ! and shook his head in the face of the Lrow-
It was then shown In
that the fifth district delegates had been !
Shorr 1p IL ote; Sonimis Sreke | not he averted if he adhered to his original
When the | NS :
Twenty-fifth district of Philadelphia was | and insisted that the roll be called. Chair.
|
|
It was just a few moments after the roll |
were being |
|
i
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of the 19 delegates of his delegation as a | only one was cast against him.
demanded a further |
{ and his friends by passing the tenth section
of the platform.
CALLED HIM A TRAITOR.
It fell to the lot of Levi McQuiston to
make the speech in favor of the adoption of
the entire majority report. It seemed the
anti-Harrity force was growing, and he
was frequently applauded. He said the
true Democracy of the State should not re-
tain in a position of honor a man who had
not heen true to Democratic principles or
in accord with the candidates and platform.
Then the question of taking a separate
vote on section 10 was revived. There
were calls for it everywhere, and Mr. Ir-
win first ruled that it should not be. The
friends of Mr. Harrity become wild with
excitement. Even the delegates unfriend-
ly yelled that it was only fair that such
treatment should be accorded Mr. Harrity
and his friends. Mr. Irwin was obstinate
& storm.
But Chairman Garman appreciated the
circumstances. It seemed trouble could
ruling, so the state chairman slipped up
man Irwin assented, quiet and order were
restored at once and the red-faced delegates
y totus ial. | Who a moment before had been clamoring
i 5 i on. for attention and crying out against what
stitutions. ‘The secretaries were about to | 1hey termed an injustice returned to their
place Gallagher’s name on the roll when | re
Carley and Charles Donnelly, of Philadel- |
Mr. Irwin appointed Charles Donnelly,
of Philadelphia, Joseph Howley of Pitts-
burg, and Matthew Long of Luzerne, tell-
to the place, and Curley was placed on the | ¢™ Chairman Irwin instructed the dele-
gates who favored the passage of the report
of the majority to vote ‘‘no,’”” while those
who favored the adoption of the minority
the applause that greeted various remarks | X ik gd Jat nes aiiaining the 100: sso.
by Chairman Ermentrout that the anti- y=
Then the roll was
called.
THE VOTE ON HARRITY.
The first vote, that of C. S. Duncan, of
Adams county, was an ‘‘aye,’”’ and the
Harrity people looked hopeful. Adams
county gave Mr. Harrity three votes, while
Then the
First district of Allegheny county was
called and the convention was quiet as a
cemetery. George A. Koehler, of Alle-
gheny. the first man, voted “nay.” The
predominance of votes for the original
resolution cheered on the opposition to
Harrity, and every “no’’ vote was wildly
cheered. The noes from Armstrong in-
creased the excitement. Beaver gave three
noes and one aye.
While the secretaries were counting the
vote Chairman Irwin announced that, since
the convention had voted sympathy to the
striking coal miners of the Pittsburg and
other bituminous coal districts, some sub-
stantial evidence of it be given. He then
called for contributions to the cause, and
said Casper Mayer would receive donations
at the Mansion house all evening.
“The secretaries have agreed in their
count,’’ said Chairman Irwin when he had
made his announcement. ‘‘They find that
290 of the delegates voted for the report of
the majority of the resolutions committee
while only 131 delegates voted for the mi-
nority report as presented by the gen-
tleman from Philadelphia, Mr. onnelly.”’
Three cheers for William J. Bryan were
then commenced, and lasted for nearly 10
minutes. In the midst of the excitement
a resolution was offered making the adop-
tion of the original platform unanimous,
{ and Chairman Irwin called for the ‘‘nay?’’
votes, after which he announced that the
platform had been unanimously indorsed.
Then there were more cheers for Mr. Bry-
an, and several of the Harrity leaders be-
gan to leave the hall.
Chairman Irwin announced that the real
business of the convention was about to
begin, as it was time to nominate candi-
dates to fight the Quay machine and cor-
rupt politics at the polls. Charles McCon-
key, of Dauphin county, was the first dele-
|
| i 7, v
Robert M. Gibson, of York, chairman of | Ss Sx "Walter E. Ritter.
gate to accept the invitation to make a
He is a young man with a
He nominated W. K.
said he would see that he was not again al- | Gibralter of Republicanism, Harrisburg,
| he had never been beaten in a political
wanted | contest, was frequently cheered.
somebody to volunteer to give Murphys |
RITTER WAS CHEERED.
Franklin Halloway, of Lycoming, My.
county, made the speech
His an-
nouncement that Mr. Ritter was the cau-
cus chairman of the Democratic members
of the general assembly when he was but
30 years old was received most warmly.
On motion of Joseph Howley the nomi-
nations closed at this stage and the roll
was called. The full vote of Allegheny
county was cast for Mr. Ritter. Adams
also gave its full vote, as did a majority of
the eastern and western counties, through
the delegates from Mr. Verbeke’s and sur-
rounding counties gave him their votes,
The aunouncement that Mr. Ritter had
won out so handily caused general good
humor, and a second later Mr. Ritter’s
nomination was made unanimous amid
great cheering.
The long time consumed by the roll call
caused a number of delegates to leave be-
fore the vote for state treasurer was taken.
{ Charles Muiry, of Indiana, nominated M.
E. Brown, of Blairsville, in a neat speech
| setting forth the qualities and great pop-
| ularity of his candidate.
The Westmore-
land, Alleghany, Greene, Fayette and
Washington delegates rose several times
united in a cheer for Mr. Brown.
Captain J. B. Keenan, of Westmorland,
quickley seconded the nomination of Mr.
Brown, and said he would have the undiv.
ided support of the Democracy of Westmor-
land county, where he is well known, and
and where he is identified with numerous
buisness enterprises.
C. A. Light, of Lebanon, nominated
Mayor Jacob Weidel, of Reading, for state
treasurer.
The roll-call showed Brown had received
228 votes, against 127 for the mayor of
Reading. The delegates all rose and gave
three cheers for the platform and the
ticket, and the suggestion of chairman
John Garman that the nominees should
Democrat in Pennsylvania.
The work of the convention was about
complete. It was on the point of adjourn-
ing when Mr. Garman thanked the citizens
of Reading for the hospitable treatment,
and James Kerr offered a resolution that
the state executive committee should have
With
because of death or resignation.
journed.
THE NOMINEES,
inee for auditor general, was horn in Mun-
cy Creek township, Lycoming county,
June 29th, 1860. He was educated in the
common schools, the Muncy normal school
and Lock Haven state normal, graduating
from the latter institution in 1881. At the
age of 17 he began teaching and was for
one year principal of the Hughesville pub-
lic schools. and for three years principle
of the schools of South Williamsport. He
was registered as a law student in 1884,
{and was admitted to practice two years
later. At present he is engaged in the
practice of his profession and has a leading
place at the Lycoming bar. He has been
a delegate to several state conventions,
and has held minor political offices. In
1889 he was elected to the general assembly
and also in 1891 and 1893. In 1891 he
was chairman of the Democratic caucus.
Michael E. Brown, nominee for state
treasurer, is a native of Indiana county.
He is about 45 years old. He was born
near Blairsville, his present home, and in
that town he is interested in large abat-
toirs and storage houses, from which al-
most the entire meat supply of Indiana
county is drawn. His father was John
Brown, one of the Indiana pioneers. The
nominee’s career
back to 1879,
the state convention. Before that time he
had been burgess of Blairsville. He was
afterward a delegate to the convention that
nominated Pattison for his second term,
and was later a member of the state com.
mittee.
supporter of Wm.
friends say they parted company
the last presidential campaign.
on credentials.
The Bars up on Chinese.
-
Washington Authorities to Be More Stringent Re-
garding Their Admission.
and attorney general McKenna issued a
joint circular to-day to collectors and cus-
toms officers and United States attorneys
and marshals relative to the enforcement of
the Chinese exclusion laws. In the circu-
lar secretary Gage says :
“In order more effectively to prevent the
irregular admission to this country of Chi-
nese persons claiming to be of American
birth through the submission of testimony
believed to be fraudulent,
mission at the port of first arrival to pro-
ceed to their destinations, where they may
be arrested and more vigorously prosecuted
than appears to be at present practicable.
“The department's attention has been
called to instances where Chinese persons
suspected of being irregularly in the
United States upon being interrogated
have produced certificates signed by a
United States commissioner stating that
the .persons had appeared before him and
been ajudged to be lawfully in the United
States; 4s they were citizens. State and
federal courts are prohibited from admit-
ting Chinese to citizenship, and the ques-
tion whether children of Chinese parents,
born in the United States, are citizens, is
now pending in the supreme court. Until
otherwise ordered all Chinese found in this
country who are unable to produce labor-
ers’ certificates of registration or evidence
of their status as bona fide merchants or la-
borers in transit to other countries should
be arrested by Chinese immigrant inspec-
tors and delivered to the proper legal au-
thorities for the determination of their
right to remain in the country.
Attorney General McKenna directs the
officers of his department to co-operate in
carrying out these instructions to custom
officials, and instructs attorneys or their as-
sistants to appear at all hearings to repre-
sent the government’s interests.
A Town Swept Away.
Three Vessels Also Missing on the Western Coast.
NOGALES, Ariz., Aug. 30. — Advices
from Guaymas state that a severe hurricane
visited the gulf of California and Lower
Mexican coast on the 22nd inst. At Las
Guacimas, the region for miles around was
inundated, and the town swept away.
Three lives are reported to have been lost,
and great damage was done to crops.
The steamer Carmen is supposed to have
been lost. The schooner Rambler is miss-
ing. The captain of the Salvieterra reports
that just as the storm arose he was close to
large American schooner loaded with lum-
ber, from the coast of Santa Rosalie. She
disappeared in the fog and her fate is un-
known.
Veteran Club Picnic.
The annual reunion of the Centre county
veteran soldiers’ association, will be held
at Hecla Park, Saturday, September 11th,
1887. In order to accommodate the vet.
erans and their friends desiring to attend,
the Pennsylvania railroad company has
arranged for the sale of excursion tickets
from Rising Springs and intermediate sta-
tions to Bellefonte and return, at single
fare for the round trip, tickets limited to
day of issue. Special return train will be
run to Rising Springs on that date, leaving
Bellefonte 7 p. m. stopping at intermedi-
ate stations. 42-34-2t.
ere ————tey
80,000 Spanish Troops.
Large Reinforcements to be Dispatched to Cuba
and the Philippines.
MADRID, Aug. 30.—At a cabivet coun-
cil held to-day it was decided to summon
the next class of 0,000 reserves. 27,000 of
whom will be sent to Cuba and 13,000 to
the Philippine Islands.
The ministers when questioned denied
that the council was occupied with the sub-
ject of colonial reforms or with political
questions.
Niagara Falls Excursion.
The last low rate summer excursion of
the season will occur on Tuesday, Sept.
7th, to Niagara Falls via the Central R. R.
of Penn’a. Train will leave Bellefonte at
7:30 a. m., stopping at intermediate points.
Fare for the round trip $5.50. Tickets
good for return passage within five days,
exclusive of going date.
——Subseribe for the WATCHMAN.
receive the united support of every good
|
|
Cornelly Convicted.
The Jury Was Out About Two Hours.—Acquitted of
| Firing the Electric Light Works and Convicted of
Walter E. Ritter, of Williamsport, nom- |
Until recently he was a staunch |
: |
F Yaniy, is merits of the verdict and little groups of
Trying to Burn the Armory.—Not a Popular
Verdict.
The old court house in this place was
to ol © bos | crowded, last Friday morning, to hear the
power io any vacancy that might occur argument in the case of the Commonwealth
three” cheers again the convention ad- | v8 James Cornelly. indicted for having
| burned the station of the Edison electric
| illuminating company and having attempt-
ed to burn the armory of Co. B, hoth in
| Bellefonte.
The examination of witnesses closed on
| Thursday evening and the full gist of their
| testimony was published in the issue of
{the WATCHMAN last Friday morning.
| When court convened that morning the
{ argument was opened. Former judge A.
O. Furst spoke nearly two hours for the
defense and was followed by W. F. Reeder
Esq., for the Commonwealth. J udge Love
concluded his charge just before noon and
the jury retired.
After it had organized a ballot was
taken on the question of guilt in the mat-
ter of the electric light fire. The first
ballot resulted in a vote of 11 to 1 for ac-
quittal and the second made it unanimous.
Four ballots were necessary to dispose of
the one count on the armory fire. The first
was 8 to 4 for conviction and the fourth
showed that the four jurors had changed
their minds and that Cornelly was to be
held responsible for the attempt to burn
in state politics dates | the armory only.
when he was a delegate to |
Upon the announcement of the verdict
| there was a temporary furore in town.
| Some expected it and were glad, others
| didn’t and were sorry. The intense iuter-
| est that had been manifested throughout
the trial worked itself off in arguing the
| people could be seen standing everywhere
Hammon Sechler one of Centre county’s | discussing it.
delegates wasa member of the committee |
Messrs. Furst and Taylor, attorneys for
| Cornelly, moved for a new trial at once
and the court gave them ten days in which
| to file their reasons. It did not take them
that long to do it, for on Saturday the fol-
[lowing document was filed with the pro-
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.—Secretary Gage | thonotary :
/ DS y
1
{ And now August 28th, 1897, defendants
move for a new trial by leave of court, and
file the following reasons therefore, asking
leave to file any additional reasons upon the
filling of the charge of the court and the testi-
| mony and offers and rejecting of evidence :
1sT. The court erred in the charge to the
jury in saying that in their opinion the rep-
utation of Gillespie, the detective, wasnot
successfully impeached, this remark being
made by the court toward the close of the
it has been de- | ijiaro0 ‘nfter the review of the testimon
cided to allow such persons upon their ad- | : y
2ND. The court erred in rejecting the
| offer to prove by the defendant when on the
i stand as a witness in the cause, that his rela-
| tions to the prosecutor, the owner of the
| armory, were friendly}; and that he had no
motive and could have none, either of mal-
evolence, spite or revenge to induce him to
burn the building or set fire to the same.
3RD. The court erred in refusing to per-
mit counsel to ask the defendant when on
the stand what his relations were to Co. “B”
occupying the said building as an armory.
Both of these offers having been made for the
purpose of rebutting the fact that there
could be an inducement on the defendant’s
part to set fire to the building;and thereby
show the improbability of the alleged fact of
burning by defendant.
4TH. The court erred in not permitting
defendant when on the stand as a witness,
both upon examination in chief and in cross-
examination, to refer to memoranda that he
had after his arrest, in which he had upon
full investigation written out where he had
been, and what he had done on each succes-
sive day from the time that Gillespie had
come to Bellefonte, for the purpose of re-
freshing his memory. This offer was made
not for the purpose of offering the memoranda
in evidence, but as an aid to his memory, in
refreshing the same that he might identify
the occurrences of the several days which
were made important by the examination of
Gillespie. Gillespie, when on the stand, re-
freshed his memory by written data to which
he referred, without ha ving shown when or
where the same were made.
5TH. The court erred in reading to the jury
the case in —Pa., upon the subject of the
testimony of witnesses bearing upon
good character, who had stated that
they had never heard the reputation of the
person impeached discussed, thereby placing
more weight upon the negative testimony of
alike number of witnesses who had stated
that they had heard his reputation discussed
by many persons, and that the same was not
good for truth and veracity. The court should
have called the attention of the jury as well
to the positive as the negative testimony.
The charge of the court to the jury was
inadequate and not a full presentation of the
evidence on the part of the defendant, and
especially was this so in a case of such grave
character, and involving such severe punish-
ment.
6TH. The evidence was insuflicient to
convict.
7TH. The court referred in the charge to
various witnesses, corroborating Gillespie the
detective, whereas there was not a single
witness corroborated him in relation of the
facts concerning the armory fire. These
witnesses were those who came after the
alarm of fire had been given, and came in
pursuance thereof ; and the fact that the de-
fendant who lived at that time upon the
diagonal corner from the armory was there,
was not evidence in itself of guilt, and the
court should so have said to the jury.
STH. This case having been tried in Belle-
fonte, where the alleged various burnings
took place, and the defendant having been
udice existed in the minds of the people and
invaded the court room; and the court should
therefore have carefully and fully reviewed
part of the Commonwealth. so that prejudice
should not in any manner influence the ver-
dict.
9TH. The court erred in permitting the
Commonwealth to stand aside jurors under
the objection of the defendant the full jury
having been first called into the box.
H. S. TAYLOR,
A. O. Furst,
Attys. for Cornelly,
This denouement will probably post-
pone further disposition of the case until
the October term of argument court.
Grangers’ Picnic at Centres Hall.
The 24th annual picnic and exhibition
of the Patrons of Husbandry, will be held
at Grange park, Centre Hall, Pa., Sep-
tember 11th to 18th, 1897. The Penn-
sylvania railroad company will sell excnr-
sion tickets from Renova, Catawissa, Mt.
Carmel, Lykens, Harrisburg, Bellefonte
and intermediate stations to Centre Hall
and return September 11th to 18th, good
for return passage until September 18th,
1897, inclusive at single fare for round
trip, no rate less than 25 cents.
Special trains will be run from Lewis-
burg to Centre Hall and return and from
Bellefonte to Centre Hall. 42-34-2¢.
arrested for the same, a deep seated prej- |
the evidence in the charge to the jury on the |
Samuel Sormberger Shot Dead on the
Streets of Williamsport.
The Murder the Result of Misunderstanding and
the Free Use of Revolvers.—Hartnett Wii Set
up Self Defense as His Excuse.
The mysterious unknown who shot
Samuel Sornberger at Williamsport early
Tuesday morning has revealed himself.
The Bulletin says that he came to the po-
lice headquarters in the city hall Tuesday
night at 11.04 o’clock and gave himself up.
He is Timothy Hartnett, who resides with
his wife and a family of five children, the
eldest ten years, and the youngest ten
months, at 844 Second street. He is em-
ployed as watchman in the Pennsylvania
railroad yards, and attends to the needs of
the switch lights. Harnett was dressed in
his working clothes and answered the de-
scription given by Henry Johnson, the bell
boy at the Park hotel. “He is 36 years of
age.
Monday night he had gone to lunch and
was on his way back to work, when he
met Sornberger and Johnson on Campbell
street. He looked hard at Sornberger he-
cause he thought he was a son of Thomas
Brew. They exchanged some words, Sorn-
berger called him a name and drew his re-
volver. He was not personally acquainted
with Sornberger, although he had seen him
in that end of the city where he (Hautnett)
lives. The fact that Sornberger displayed
his revolver caused Hartnett to wish his
arrest, so he started out in the hope of find-
ing a policeman. ’
At Second and Park streets on the north
corner, the three met again. Sornberger
remarked that that was ‘‘that man again,”
and again drew his revolver from the in-
side pocket of his coat, Hartnett reached
for his revolver which was in his right hip
pocket. He whipped it out and struck
Sornberger with it. The weapon is a sin-
gle action with a centre fire cartridge of
forty-four calibre. Several passes were
made and Sornherger swung his revolver
into position to shoot. Expecting to he
hit every moment Hartnett jumped into
the street, raised the hammer an let go at
random. He did not pull the trigger ; he
simply pulled the hammer back and it
slipped.
Sornberger screamed and ran, Hartnett
did not know what became of Johnson.
Hartnett returned to work and did not
know of Sornberger’s death until 3 o’clock
in the morning.” He did not know what
to do. He intended to give himself up
and had a notion to do so at once, hut he
thought he would wait and visit his fami-
ly first. When he arrived home and told
his wife she became hysterical and would
not hear of him giving himself up at once.
His brother was told of the affair, and he
advised him to wait. During the day they
consulted their attorne , Charles J. Reilly,
and as a result they turned up as above
mentioned.
Hartnett said that he was not in the
habit of carrying a revolver. He had load-
ed the weapon some time ago for the pur-
pose of going down to the river to shoot at
mark.
Hartnett’s friends say that he is steady
and is not a drinking man. He has heen
in the employ of the railroad for the past
five years and has not lost any time. He
remained at the police station last night
and he was interviewed by the district at-
torney this morning. He was held for a
further hearing.
_ Sornberger, when he left home Monday
evening, called on Miss Vera Taylor, and
during their walk, the young man who
was jealous of the young lady, exhibited a
revolver, with the remark that there was
enough in it for both of them. At her re-
quest he put the weapon in his pocket.
After he left Miss Taylor, Sornberger went
out Maynard street, where he was attacked
by a gang of men, among whom was Mec-
Ewen, the fellow with whom Sornberger
bad had a quarrel on the train coming
down from Hecla on the night of July 3rd.
When the men showed fight Sornberger
pulled out his revolver, when the gang
Scattered, although one of the number also
drew a weapon and proposed a duel. Sorn-
berger visited several parties during the
evening, all of whom he told of his trouble
with the gang, and of the fears that he en-
tertained that McEwen would do him
bodily harm. He finally went to the
house of Mr. Kiessling, where a party was
being held. He left that place with Hen-
ry Johnson. On their way home Sornber-
ger, when he saw the unknown stranger
staring at him, evidently thought it was
his enemy, McEwen.
—————————————
Obituary.
After an illness of a short time, Lt. Col.
Isaac Smith, a well known merchant in
Philadelphia, died, on Thursday, Aug. 26th,
at the Eagle Hotel, 226 North 3rd street.
During the years of his life he was respect-
ed by all who knew him, and at his funeral
it was also shown, that not only in a business
capacity, but in private life he commanded
the respect of his fellowmen,
Self-made and from the intuition of his
‘parents’ he derived that well known say-
ing, “that do unto others as you would wish
them to do unto yon,’”’ won not only business
management, but a true idea of man’s duty
to man.
Col. Smith was a strict disciplinarian, not
exacting any duties from those in his employ
but what he was willing to share himself,
and in the duties of the office he was ably as-
sisted by the Messrs, Foster, his partners in
the firm. He was in the enjoyment of good
health until a short time ago, when under
the advice of a physician he went westward,
and spent a short time in Michigan with his
niece, Miss Bickle. Upon his trip home, he
was compelled, on account of indisposition to
stop off at Buffalo.
i Deceased was born, June 21st, 1828, and at
| an early age entered school. Being of a pro-
| gressive mind he was soon graduated, and
i while yet young went into the coal and grain
| business at Selin’s Grove, Pa., from thence
[to Philadelphia, where he started in the
wholesale notion business, This, though
| Smecesst], did not suit him, and he after-
wards engaged in the wholesale grocery
| trade. Associated with him in that busi-
| ness are the Messrs. William and Thomas
| Foster whose well-known place of business
lisat 209 North Del. Ave., and 208 Water
| street.
{The interment was made from 227 North
| 3rd St. on Saturday, Aug. 28th, at three
| o'clock. The pall bearers were: S. Koller,
| James Huston, John Seltzer, G. W. Miller,
M. K. Treichler, G. W. Loughlin, John
Wartman, John P. Condo, John Herbine.
| Interment was made in West Laurel Hill
cemetery, on the banks of the beautiful
Schuylkill river. The executors of his es-
tate are the Messrs. Thomas, William and
Robt. Foster.
-—=Subseribe for the WATCHMAN.