1
.. —0One of the speakers at the union
_ prayer. services being held in Belle-
“now
—STao
INK SLINGS.
. ——Well, we didn’t have to swear
off this year anyway.
— Surely the righteous had trouble
in trying to stand in slippery places
yesterday.
If the Mexican earthquake had
struck the right spot it might have
been forgiven.
— Leap year is with us and there
are various other reasons why the
girls should get busy.
——On the question of beer the Su-
preme court appears to be giving a
“continuous performance.”
— “Hope springs eternal in the
human breast,” but the brewers ap-
pear to be working the wish-bone
over-time.
——The coal strike is over but no-
body has been able to discover even a
symptom of decreasing prices of coal
in consequence.
We dread Congressional inves-
tigations. Some one of these commit-
tees may discover that President Wil-
son “struck Billy Patterson.” .
. —The census man on his round of
counting noses will probably find few-
er of the luminous variety than he
would have had his work been done a
year ago.
* — Senator Vare didn’t witness the
inauguration of Hampy Moore as
Mayor of Philadelphia but we are
willing to make a small bet that he
has heard of it by this time.
—We have just made the painful
discovery that there will be fifty-three
Fridays in 1920 and we'll have to pub-
lish fifty-one editions of the “Watch-
man” instead of the usual fifty. Pity
the poor printer.
—1Tt is wonderful winter weather
that we have been having but the fre-
quent visits to the coal pile that it
compels reminds us that the high cost
of keeping warm is really what bust-
ed the old Bellefonte steam heating
plant.
—That cow up at Snow Shoe Inter-
section that recently dropped three
calves should have a niche in the bo-
vine hall of fame right between the
one that jumped over the moon and
the other that kicked over the lamp
that set Chicago afire.’
— This thing of following civil serv-
ice to the point of making a Republi-
can postmaster of the great city of
Boston will sound beautiful in an ac-
ademic discussion of the ideals of
great political parties and it will build
ours up like the old woman kept tav-
ern out west.
A g
onte t served
w that liquor has gone’
must follow in the wake of old Joh
Barleycorn. And after the coffin tacks
are pulled out from between our teeth
what next will we be asked to dis-
pense with. ;
—With Mr. Bryan backing McAdoo
for the Presidential nomination and
Joe Tumulty backing Palmer signs
are good for some fun in our party
before long. Don’t underestimate the
strength of the Nebraska apostle of
grape juice.
how he does it, but he does it just the
same and he might stage a come-back
in politics that will throw consterna-
tion into the camps of ‘some of the
other “favorite sons” who are trying
to suppress the son-in-law.
—It was ever thus. The fellow who
invents or discovers something rarely
reaps the reward of his pioneering.
Now Ralph Hartsock, who once had
an ambition to step out of the County
Auditor’s office into that of the Com-
missioners, made the * discovery that
the County Commissioners have the
power to appoint a clerk for the board
of Auditors. Ralph was fitted for the
position and he told the Commission-
ers of his discovery and of his fitness.
They were pleased with part of the
news. So pleased that they forthwith
appointed some one else for the job.
—The Supreme court has knocked
the last ray of hope off the horizon of
the liquor business by declaring that
the Volstead Prohibition act is consti-
tutional and dismissing all injunctions
seeking to prevent interference with
the brewing and sale of two and
three-quarter beer. It’s all off fel-
lows, and what’s worse, it now ap-
pears that even if you do happen to
have a little cache of the O be-joyful
around your house somewhere it will
be unlawful to carry even a nip of it
with you on any kind of an expedi-
tion. It must be put by January 16th
and then it has to stay put. You
can’t carry any of it along to cheer
you up while hunting or to cure pos-
sible snake-bites while fishing.
—There is likely to be a little fun
in this Congressional district over the
matter of delegates to the coming
Republican National convention. Al-
ready there are five candidates in the
field and a lively contest is looked for,
though the first flush of strength
shows that Scott, of Centre, and
Gaffney, of McKean, are in greatest
favor. They are the organization’s
candidates and Gillett, of McKean,
and Booze, of Clearfield, will have to
build their own fences, as none are
already made for them. Booze, how-
ever, is not looked on as a serious
contender because he is regarded
as a perennial candidate with only a
small strength that gets him nowhere.
He is partially committed to Gen.
Leonard Woods’ candidacy and that,
in itself, is enough to put a quietus
on him, for it isn’t part of Penrose’s
present plans to let Wood get too
strong.
week served notice that
a3. ets, five
Few people understand |
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
yol os,
Jackson Day in Washington.
Just about the time we are putting
this issue of the “Democratic Watch-
man” to press, the big-wigs, grand-
sachems and high-muck-a-mucks of
the Democratic party are assembling
their legs under “groaning” tables in
Washington, not exactly to pick a
candidate for the voters of that po-
litical faith, for President, but to trot
out those aspiring availables, real or
imaginary, to show their intellectual
paces to those of the voters who are
able and anxious to make measure-
ments. It is customary, at this time
every fourth year, to stage this exhi-
bition of Presidential timber, and out |
of compliment to an illustrious Dem-
ocrat, it is called
uary 8th.
This year the event conveys more |
than ordinary interest and carries
more than usual significance for the
reason that it is expected to reveal
secrets of the highest magnitude and
greatest importance not only to the
voters of Democratic proclivities but
to voters of all complexions in this
country and people throughout the
civilized world. It is expected, for
example, that President Wilson will
avail himself of the opportunity to
express his purposes with respect to
the third term and his hopes as to the
ratification of the League of Nations.
It is likewise, let us say feared, in
some quarters, that Mr. William Jen-
nings Bryan will do something or
other that may result in “spilling the
beans.”
Notwithstanding the gravity of the
matter, however, there is a humorous !
According to
reports published in the prints a num-
side to the situation.
ber of aspirants for the Democratic
nomination for' President will speak
on the occasien. Among these the
name of A. Mitchell Palmer is con-
spicuous. With the view, no doubt,
of creating a favorable impression of
his powers, the Democratic State
committee: of Pennsylvania purchased
a hundred or more banquet tickets, to
be used by lusty-lunged admirers of
the Attorney General, and it is safe
to say they will be heard from.
Whether or mot the price of the
ts, BEG the piece, was ta
from the campaign fund of the party
is a matter of conjecture.
——Because the President didn’t
buy the sugar crop of Cuba without
authority, according to Republican
critics, he is a traitorous coward. If
he had usurped the authority the
same critics would have denounced
him for imperialism. It’s hard to
please those unwilling to be pleased.
Hoke Smith’s Sinister Purpose.
Senator Hoke Smith, of Georgia,
may imagine he is fooling somebody
besides himself in his efforts to em-
barrass the administration in Wash-
ington with respect to the peace
treaty. Mr. Smith holds title to his
office as a Democrat and makes loud
professions of faith in the principles
of that party. But he has long been
a quibbler and fault finder and con-
spicuous among those who pretend to
think that the covenant of the league
of nations surrenders to somebody
some of the sovereignty of the gov-
ernment of the United States which
is sacred. It is precisely what Sen-
ators Lodge and Penrose and Knox
want him to think and what the Pop-
ulists in and out of Congress pretend |
to believe.
There never was a treaty between
nations that did not surrender some-
thing for the common good of both
signatories. That is precisely what a
treaty is for. It binds each of those
concerned in it to make common cause '
of the question involved so that both
may derive benefit and neither act
selfishly. From the beginning of the
government of the United States such
treaties have been made with one
country or another and always to the
advantage of both parties to the com-
pact. The covenant of the league of
nations does this and nothing less or .
nothing more. It binds this country
to the precise things that it binds
every other country which joins the
league and impairs the sovereignty of
none. '
Grover Cleveland was one of our
greatest Presidents but he was human
and made mistakes. Onc of his mis-
takes, and probably among the grav-
est, was to dig out of obscurity, one
Hoke Smith, who did more to discred-
it the Cleveland administration and
impair the interests of the Democrat-
ic party than any other man in the
country. He injected his Southern
prejudices against Union veterans in-
to his office at the head of the pension
service and drove thousands of voters
out of the party. But of late his loy-
alty to the government he tried to de-
stroy in 1861 has become so intense
that he is afraid a league of nations
might do harm. His real fear, how-
ever, is that Populism will die out.
——Senator Borah is probably sor-
ry the world didn’t come to an end
last month. That would have defeat-
ed the League of Nations surely.
“Jackson Day.”
Grand “Old Hickory” was born Jan-
tick-
ken
na
| Two Rewards with One Office.
- When Mitchell Palmer and Vance
McCormick “bolted” the Democratic
candidate for Governor in 1918, we
suspected some influence other than
altruism was operating in their pon-
derous minds. It was known that Mr.
Palmer had been a class-mate of the
Republican candidate and it was pos-
sibly reasoned that his social rela-
tions with the Executive Mansion in
Harrisburg would be more intimate
with a personal rather than a polit-
ical friend in possession. Events
since the election have justified such
conjectures completely. The Gover-
nor has not only been a generous eu-
logist of his college chum, Mr. Pal-
mer, but his house has been an asylum
in illness and he has been a “guide,
philosopher and friend.”
But until last week nobody imag-
ined that sordid or sinister thoughts
ever entered, much less found lodg-
ment, in the mind of Mr. McCormick.
He simply lived and moved in the
public interest and he radiated benev-
olence.
mittee, of which, by the way, he was
' not a member, and in sobbing, falset-
to voice denounced the candidate who
had defeated his dummy, there was
no answer. The committee proceed-
ed, according to program and in obe-
dience to orders, to hamstring the
nominee and deliver the party over to
its enemy. As chairman of the Na-
tional Democratic committee that act
of perfidy was so overwhelming that
no voice was raised to. protest.
Last week Mitchell Palmer, who
had been appointed a member of the
Commission to Revise the Constitu-
tion of the State, by Governor Sproul,
“declined the office. He has been so
busy in Washington giving out inter-
views and promising reforms that he
was unable to give attention to the
duties of an office without emolument.
But happily there was a way to “save
the Commonwealth.” The Governor
promptly accepted his resignation and
bestowed the honor upon his “angel”.
Vance McCormick. It was an expedi~
ent solution of a mixed problem, and
igler:
as the late Uncle Jake
stone. Vane 7 ?
ifications for the office but “what’s the
constitution’ among friends.”
—Herbert Hoover might make
his escape from Presidential lightning
absolutely certain by laying down the
proposition that he won’t run for the
office unless Senator Jim Reed, of
Missouri, asks him to become a can-
didate.
‘Philadelphia’s New Mayor.
The inauguration of J. Hampton
Moore as Mayor of Philadelphia, on
Monday, may mark the beginning of
a decided improvement in the govern-
ment of that city and a considerable
change in the affairs of the State. He
has chosen his official advisers with
care and judgment and in other ways
indicated a purpose to 1aove forward
independently of the atrocious Vare
machine. The controversy which en-
sued was exceedingly sharp. Not
only the Vares but Dave Lane, Sena-
tor Dave Martin and other so-called !
party leaders became involved and
the Mayor-elect had to stand firmly
against strong pressure, to resist
them. That he did so is both surpris-
ing and gratifying.
. Mayor-elect Moore has been a ma-
chine politician, obedient to whoever
happened to be boss for a good many
‘years. His first experience in politics
was as secretary to the notorious
Mayor Ashbridge after which he serv-
ed a term as city treasurer and acted
as receiver of one of the wrecked
banks of the city. Fourteen years ago
he was elected to Congress and has
occupied the seat ever since. In that
capacity he developed considerable
‘aptitude and had attained a seat in
the committee on Ways and Means
well up toward the top of the list. At
the organization of the present Con-
gress he was gravely considered
among the eligibles for the office of
Speaker.
In entering upon the duties of his
office Mayor Moore has made ample
| promises and assumed an attitude
which looks like business. If he
makes good his election will be of
great advantage to the people of Phil-
_adelphia. Probably no city in the
country has been looted as Philadel-
phia has been within the last genera-
tion and an honest government will
not only serve as an inspiration there
but will strengthen the hopes of the
people of the State for it will mark
‘the end of ballot pollution that has on
‘more than one occasion reversed the
result of important elections.
| ——Those employers who. are dis-
| tributing big bonusses among their
| employees would serve a better pur-
pose by reducing the price of their
. commodities.
| ——The trouble with General Wood
|is that it is practically impossible to
| make a military hero out of a “carpet
knight.”
Therefore when he arose at |
a meeting of the packed State com- |
0.
BELLEFONTE, PA., JANUARY 9, 192
Proper Ban on Berger.
i The authorities of Jersey City have
very properly forbidden a speech in
_ that city to Victor L. Berger, of Mil-
waukee, recently re-elected to Con-
gress, after having been refused ad-
mission to that body upon a previous
election. Of course Mr. Berger will
denounce this action as a denial of
the constitutional right of free
speech. He and those who think as he
does will vehemently declare that the
ost sacred and cherished rights of
‘ American citizenship have been be-
‘trayed. They will insist that the first
duty of government is to protect per-
, Bons while violating the law. But a
vast majority of the people will adopt
the opposite opinion and the rule of
“the majority is a real fundamental in
this country.
While on this subject, however, a
Eo many clear minded persons may
j wonder why Victor L. Berger is in
“position to speak in Jersey City, or
‘any. other city in the United States,
fo a public audience, at this time.
ome months ago he was tried and
¢ nvicted, in a court of competent
jurisdiction, and sentenced to penal
‘servitude, for violating the espionage
act of Congress. No snap judgment
was taken against him. The hearing
in court was long drawn out and he
was given every legal and technical
facility and opportunity to refute the
‘charges against him. But his guilt
‘was proved beyond a question, and if
‘our memory is not at fault he was
rather proud of the fact. At leasthe
openly flouted the court.
The question then is, why isn’t he
serving the sentence? The offence
was committed while he was a candi-
date for Congress in 1918. Upon the
assembling of the body he appeared
to claim the seat but it was refused
‘him. Thereupon he took “the stump”
and entered upon a series of denunci-
ations of the government which have
been continued ever since. His en-
gagement to speak in Jersey City was
in pursuance of this program. The
authorities of Jersey City were equal
to the occasion, however, though the
casion for refusal.
If the Russian’ Soviets ‘would
cut out the expenses of - propaganda
in this country they could feed mil-
are starving over there.
Bad Remedy for an Evil.
If it be true that the organized
railroad machinists have voted to
strike legislation now pending is en-
acted into law, they are taking’ coun-
sel from a doubtful source.
islation in question is faulty, beyond
question. Forbidding' strikes by law
is a poor expedient. But defying
ed to enforce the law so long as it is
the law. Therefore resistance of the
anti-strike law by striking: would
make a conflict certain to prove dis-
astrous to labor inevitable. There
are better ways of meeting bad laws
than resisting them by force. If rail-
road machinists are wise they will
find a better way.
An act of Congress declaring refus-
al to work a crime would. be unconsti-
tutional. The right of a man to quit
work is inherent and indefeasible. But
the right of the public to such service
tain. A strike which would deprive
the form of a conspiracy and might
| tion of the criminal courts.
| preservation is as much the first law
| of communities as of nature and any
i government has the right to protect
| and conserve the lives of the people.
{In fact that is one of the most im-
| portant functions of government. A
‘labor organization that denies this
| plain fact will get in wrong.
| The courts afford the only remedy
{the people have against unwise or
| vicious legislation. There is and has
‘been a growing suspicion that some
| of the courts of this country are influ-
enced to decisions between capital and
‘labor by considerations other than
| justice and equity. It may be possi-
ble to cite instances in which this has
| been done. But they are exceptions
that prove the rule that the courts ef
law in this country are just and im-
| partial. If the anti-strike provision
| of the pending railroad legislation is
enacted into law, it will be vetoed by
| the President or nullified by the
| courts.
voke the courts rather than strike.
——Strangley enough Mr. Bryan's
| description of the Democratic candi-
date for President is an exact likeness
of Mr. Bryan himself.
——Senator Lodge is going to see
that Germany loses as little as possi-
‘ ble by the war. -
matter never ought to have, been put
44D fo. Shem - Ghee rere in Prison,
was convicted, there would be no oc-"
lions of men, women and children who
“walk out” in the event that the anti-
The leg-
Congress is an equally dangerous ex-
periment for the government is oblig- |
as is requisite to life is quite as cer-!
the public of such service would take
easily be brought within the jurisdic-
Self- |
In view of this palpable fact
| rallroad machinists would better in-
NO. 2.
The “Red” Raids.
From the Philadelphia Record.
Two or three thousand persons,
nearly all foreign born, and a large
part of them not even naturalized,
have been arrested as enemies of’ the
government, and a great proportion of
them will follow the involuntary pas-
sengers of the Buford to some country
where they may possibly be welcome,
and where their right to remain is
more obvious than their right to re-
main here. > ;
These people have not been arrest-
ed for their opinicns. They have not
even been arrested for expressing
their opinions. There is nothing in
their arrest and deportation that'is in-
imical to the freedom of residence
and the freedom of speech, of the
press and of assembly, within the
limits of the right of the community
to protect itself, its institutions and
its government.
These people had a right to advo-
cate a social State in which there are
no institutions and no government.
They would not have been arrested
for urging that the Constitution be
repealed and that all civil offices be
vacated on a certain date. But they
did not stop with this. They are
charged, according to the language
of the warrants on which they were
arrested, with being “members of, or
affiliated with, an organization that
entertains a belief in the overthrow by
force or violence of the government
of the United States, or advocates the
overthrow by force or violence of “all
forms of law, . . . . or teaches
opposition to all organized govern-
ment.”
The people of this country organ-
ized their government, and they can
change it or ‘dissolve it when they
like. We have had plenty of revolu-
tionary proposals, oral and in print,
with which the officers of the law have
never. concerned themselves. Peace-
ful agitation for the most revolution-
ary purposes would be tolerated. But
the communists or anarchists are not
content with peaceful agitation. They
urge the shooting of officials, the use
of dynamite and armed resistance to
make government impossible.
The nation defended itself against
secession,
against insurrection. It will deport
foreigners who come here for the pur-
pose of using force or violence against
|
al and primary right possessed even
“The majority are: entitled -
not to.be depriv-
rights, and they are
ed of them by firearms and infernal
machines. .
Our Horizon Line.
From the ‘Philadelphia’ Press (Rep).
When we of the United States
shudder at the debt that the war has
{put upon us and wonder when and
how we can get out from beneath the
burden, we have but to consider the
conditions that face the other great
nations of the world to picture a fu-
‘ture that is very far from dark. Our
. debt is roughly some twenty-one bil-
lion dollars. It is true that this is
large, but it is only about eight per
cent. of our national wealth, and that
is indebtedness that can be paid off
without national calamity. - We are so |
much better off than are the nations
with whom we stood
| den is a very light one.
The sum that Great Britain owes is
over forty per cent. of her national
| wealth. And so is that of France, of
| Italy, and of Russia. Nor do those
| figures tell the whole story. In France
there has been an enormous destruc- |
| tion of wealth and an appalling death
| roll. Cities have been burned, lands
i laid waste, mines destroyed, machin-
ery ruined. Italy has suffered like-
| wise to a smaller extent. Russia has
had both of these types of calamity.
Great Britain has lost tremendously
in her man power. The United States
has escaped such ravages. Our farm
| production is at its height, our manu-
facturing plants are equipped for
maximum output, our shipping has
multiplied many fold.
Nor must we cherish the pessimis-
tic thought that after-war recupera-
tion is a long and seemingly endless
climb. It has not been so in the past,
it will not be so now. Gigantic debts
have come to other nations as the in-
evitable payment for war. They have
not been crushed. There has been in-
which opened the way to tremendous
commercial and territorial expansion.
The belligerent nations of Europe
have already started out anew, with
high courage and wise planning.
There is no occasion for us to mourn
over our own condition.
tion and frugality in Government ex-
penses will gradually roll away the
burden. And we must be alive indus- |
trially and keen to meet the new spir-
it and the trade rivalry that will come
from the warring nations now at
peace. It is a time for action, not for
gloom.
Italy’s Surplus Population.
From the Pittsburgh Dispatch.
Owing to the stoppage of emigra-
tion during the war, Italy finds itself
| with 2,000,000 surplus population and
no work for them. One case where
‘ the theory of war as a reducer of
over-population didn’t work.
———An invasion of Mexico would
| be an enticing adventure to a great
many citizens of the United States.
The anti-saloon league is not in con-
trol down there.
and it will defend - itself |
the government. It enjoys the natur-
1 za
shoulder to |
' shoulder that in comparison our bur- |
stead the spur to renewed exertions |
Wise taxa- |
SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE.
—Burglars early on Monday secured
$250 in jewelry and cash at the home of
Rev. J. C. Clark, of Harrisburg, director
of the eastern Pennsylvania division for
Near East relief.
—“I am going away. The next time you
see me I will be dead.” This note was
found in the room of Miss Lucy Huey,
aged twenty-one, who disappeared from
her home in Dorranceton, near Wilkes-
Barre, on Sunday. No trace of her has
since been found.
—Contracts for the erection of homes for
workingmen and their families, totalling
$300,000, have been let by the Milton Hous~
ing company, a corporation recently form=-
ed to meet the housing problem in. Milton.
The H. A. Moore company, of Milton, se~
cured the contract.
—The Morris Packing company plant at
| McKeesport was totally destroyed -by fire
of undetermined origin Sunday night.
Loss on the building, a four story strue-
ture, had not been ascertained, but it was
estimated that more than $50,000 worth of
stock in the building was destroyed.
—A group of followers of the Spiritual-
list seet are drilling for oil in McKean
county, following directions from ‘spir=-
its.” They claim that they have been in
communication with the spirits and that
they have been given minute instructions
as to where to drill to strike rich gushers.
—H. L. Beck, a Sunbury resident, whe
operates a coal washery near Port Trever=
ton, has received a black hand letter
threatening him with death unless he
places $2,000 at a certain spot on a moum-
tain top near the latter place. He says if
the writers expect the money they are due
to be disappointed.
—Jifteen head of Guernsey cattle from
the Packer Island farm near Sunbury were
shipped last week to Harrisburg where
they will be killed. The cows were loaded
into a special car for the trip. The ani-
mals are suffering with tuberculosis and
are being killed, as are hundreds of others
in the State to prevent the spread of the
disease.
‘ —Miss Laura Gilbert, a member of Em-
manuel church, of Pottstown, has not
missed a Sunday school session for thirty-
two years, a record that is probably hard
to duplicate anywhere. Secretary I. B.
Stichter has held that position in the Sun-
day school for forty-five years, and pre-
vious to that long period was assistant
secretary for two years.
—The Public Service Commission has
approved the merger of the Lindsey and
Punxsutawney Water companies, includ-
ing four companies, into the consolidated
Water Company of Pumxsutawney, but re-
fused the application for a certificate of
valuation. It has alse approved the mer-
ger of the Clarion Gas company with the
United Natural, Gas company.
* —The sum of $3,800 was found on the
person” of aged Louis Heisler, a supposed
ly impoverished inventor, who was found
dead In his lodging house at Lancaster.
The discovery was made by the undertak-
or in preparing the body for interment.
The money was contained in a small bag
thdt was tied about the man’s body. Rel-
atives of the deceased have been found, to
whom the cash was given.
—Antonio Cuza, said to be a son of a
wealthy , plantation owner in Cuba, was
in the Delaware county court at Media on
| New Year's day for the killing of Harry
| Schrieber, a guard employed at the Bald-
| win Locomotive plant at Eddystone. Cu-
was charged with robbing fifteen
| boarders in a Spanish boarding house at
Leiperville, and when placed under arrest
by Schreiber, it is alleged, he shot the of-
| ficer.
—Pennsylvania and New Jersey State
health officials are taking steps to prevent
any spread of infection because of Robert
| Henderson, a Princeton student, living at
| Huntingdon, being stricken with smali-
| pox. Henderson went home on vacation
| and was taken ill the latter part of the
i week, after having attended a number of
| social affairs. Wholesale vaccination has
| been oredered among people with whom
| the young man was in contact, and Prince-
| ton authorities also notified.
{ —Using a rope ladder which- they ob-
| tained in some manner as yet. unknown,
Steve Meneski, aged nineteen years, Silo
Moliski, aged twenty years, James Gillip-
sie, aged twenty years, Harry Houp, aged
twenty-two years, and Charles W. Giltz,
aged twenty-three years, all but one held
on robbery charge and all from Shamokin,
and Mount Carmel, escaped from the
Northumberland county jail at Sunbury,
about seven o'clock Sunday evening by
going over the jail yard wall.
—Arraigned before a coroner’s jury to
answer to the charge of being instrumen-
tal in the death of Tommy Bomer, a pupil
of the Herbert school, in Fayette county,
Braden Hurst Hays, principal of that
school, who was placed under arrest upon
{ his return from his honeymoon, was for-
mally exonerated. The direct cause of
death was given as cerebro-meningitis, the
coroner declining to attempt to trace the
origin of the disease. It was indicafed
that criminal prosecution against the prin-
cipal will be brought by the family of the
dead lad. :
—QGeorge C. Tompkins, of Philadelphia,
convicted of murdering Mr. and Mrs. Ed-
mund I. Humphreys and their son, Ed-
mund Jr., near Carrolltown, nearly three
{ years ago, was sentenced to be electrocut-
!ed by Judge M. B. Stephens, in criminal
| court at Ebensburg on Monday. Torp-
| kins appeared unaffected when the death
sentence was pronounced and he showed
little interest in the proceedings. Humph-
reys, a wealthy coal operator, and his wife
and son were shot to death in their auto-
mobile near Carrolltown on July 15th,
1917. Tompkins was tried and convicted
of first degree murder, but he appealed.
A new trial was recently refused.
i
{
— Pinned in the wreckage of the Pemn-
sylvania-Lehigh express, Pittsburgh to
Raston, at Ranshaw, three miles east of
Shamokin, Saturdiy night, C. BE. Halder-
man, fireman, of Sunbury, was held pris-
oner three hours while officials and work-
men toiled to release him. Halderman
was caught in the cabin of the engine, and
both legs were crushed when the big lo-
comotive plunged over a thirty-foot em-
bankment. It was impossible to release
him until acetylene gas torches were used
to cut the steel and iron that held him
prisoner. While rescuers applied the flame
to the steel Halderman calmly ate a hot
meal and directed men in charge of the
torches where to melt the metal - Three
physicians were in attendance to, adminis-
ter stimulants. When released Halderman
was taken to the Shamokin State hospital,
where surgeons say hoe will recover,
found. guilty of murder iu the first degree = .