' iK
TH2 COLUMBIAN Pf . . (t M f m demand OTon
VOL 29
LUZEENE'3 BUILDINQ3.
Declilon Rendorcd Which Denlci County
Commissioners the Right to Pur
chat Land without Authority.
The long expected and important
opinion in regard to the right of the
County Commissioners to purchase
land on which to erect a court house
was handed down at Wilkes Barre
last JVjonday by Judges Rice and
Lynch. After quoting the recom
mendations of two succeeding Grand
Juries for a new court house, Judge
Kice says :
" The question of our decision is
that these reports and the approval
thereof by the Court are sufficient to
vest the County Commissioners with
authority to purchase land on which
to erect the proposed new court house."
In regard to location of the new
court house, the Judge quoted several
laws of the early history of Wilkes
Barre on the rights of the County
Commissioners which restrains them
from purchasing any desirable location
for a court house except on the
square. The Judge then quotes the
arguments of the plaintiffs and de
fendants and several other points of
law on the subject of county buildings,
and, after reviewing the same, says :
" First, there is nothing in the lan
guage of the acts of 1855 and 1856
nor in the action of the borough pur
suant thereto to prevent the location
of a court house elsewhere than on
the Public Square. Second, as the
law stood prior to the acts of 1883,
the County Commissi Dners would
have discretion and power to buy
land if needs be upon which to erect
a new court house, recommended by
successive Grand Juries, although the
Grand Juries in their reports did not
expressly mention the purchase of
land. Third, the act of 1883 super
seded that of the Tenth Section of
the act of 1834 in this particular, as
was intended to furnish not only a
complete but an exclusive method for
the purpose named in the act. Hence,
to give the County Commissioners
authority to buy land, or to take land
by condemnation proceedings, upon
which to erect a court house, there
must be the reports of two successive
Grand Juries that the county requires
ground at the county seat for the
purpose of erecting the same."
While Judge Lynch does not assent
to all the foregoing conclusions, and
particularly to the act of 1834, he
agrees in all findings of the fact and
in the general conclusion that the
County Commissioners have not the
authority to purchase land without
the approval of two successive Grand
Juries. The County Commissioners
now will present the question to the
next two Grand Juries.
If this question had been raised in
Columbia county when the new jail
was built, the jail would now stand
where the High School is, and where
it ought to have been built.
THE LICENSE MONEY.
There has been some quibbling as
to whom the license money should be
paid some contending that the
county treasurer must receive it all,
and others that it is to be paid out
direct to the county and township
authorities in proper proportion. The
following opinion from the county
solicitor settles the question for the
present at least :
Catawissa, Pa., Dec. 19, 1894.
Mr. J. R. Fowler, Treasurer :
Dear Sir : The liquor license mon
eys are pa) able to the County Treas
urer. See act of 13th May, 1887
Sec. 9, P. L. in. If the persons to
whom such licenses are granted
should neglect or refuse to pay you
within 1 5 days after the licenses are
granted, the grant of licenses will be
held revoked, and no licenses can
issue. w. H. Rhawn,
County Solicitor.
The liusicale-
A very small audience was present
t the Lutheran Church last Thursday
evening, but those who went were well
repaid. The program consisted of
wusic and recitations by Miss Grace
'Wall, an accomplished young lady
ho is visiting Miss Bessie Kuhn j
ocal music by Miss Vida Miller and
Mr. Frank t'olley, and a violin solo
tV Prof. C. P. Elwell. Miss Maude
Kunyon presided at the piano.
Sullivan bought a goat, for which
he Paid $5. Shortly after he received
4 'ax bill on the goat of $8. He
."ed on Rafferty, the assessor, and
said. "Why do you tax me $8 on
y goat when I paid but $5 for him ?"
r''e"i" said RafTerty, "I have care
,uly read what the statutes say, and
reads: 'Whoever owns property a
"utt'ng on the street shall be taxed
a a running foot.' "
THEIR NAME 13 DENNIS.
1 wo members of the Faculty of
the Normal School united their hearts
and hands and lives in the bonds of
matrimony last Friday evening. They
were Prof. Joseph Dennis of the
ancient language department, and
Mi3s Susan Elliot, of the model
school. The ceremony was perform
ed by Rev. P. A. Hcilman in Dr.
Welsh's parlors, in the presence of the
other members of the Faculty. After
the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Dennis
entered Buckalew's carriage to go all
by their lone selves to the East
Bloomsburg station, there to take the
train fcr a wedding journey. But the
other teachers would not have it that
way, and so without the knowledge of
ineir victims, tney had Buckalews
hack in waiting behind the buildings,
and after Prof. Dennis and bride had
reached East street they were surpris
ed at the approach of the hack con
taining the Faculty, who accompanied
them to the train and saw them safely
off, and made it lively for them all the
time. On returning to the school the
teachers sat down to a nice lunch
prepared by Mr. Houscl.
No Beading Depot on Market Street.
McKelvy & Neal brought suit
against the Bloomsburg Belt Railroad
for land taken by the railroad to lay
a track, several years ago. There was
a report of viewers assessing damages,
and from this there was an appeal,
and the case was called for trial at
last Court. After the plaintiffs had
examined all their witnesses and had
closed their case, the counsel for the
defendant, Messrs Rhawn and Herring
filed a paper in which the defendant
disclaimed all ownership to the right
of way. and abandoned the same to
the owners. Under these peculiar
circumstances the court withdrew a
juror, and the case was continued.
The abandonment of this land by
the Belt road shuts off all connection
with the right of way above, and
leaves no way open for the P. &
R. to reach Market street, and con
sequently there will never be a depot
on Market street on the Sloan land,
under the present circumstances.
More than this, the rails of the
Belt road have occupied the middle
of Seventh street for the past five
years. II this declaration ot abandon
ment is final, and the Belt line is
absolutely defunct, the Town author
ities should repeal the ordinance
granting the right ot way on Seventh
street, and cause the rails to be re
moved therefrom. It would be proper
for the Council to ascertain from the
officers of the Belt road their inten-1
tions concerning Seventh street, and.
if the right of way is abandoned, then
remove the rails.
The Police Inspector.
Will R. Wilson's New York play
about Inspector Byrnes is called "The
Police Inspector." Police plays have
been produced before, but this one is
entirely new here. It is promised by
the management that the play will be
handsomely staged and that the Goth
am scenes will be faithfully represent
ed. The company producing this de
tective story is said to be an able one
and while part of it attends to pre
senting the story, there is also a por
tion of it which contributes pleasing
specialty acts to enliven the somewhat
sombre story of crime and its detec
tion. Mr. Wilson seems to have
based this play upon some of the
things he saw in New York, when he
was a newspaper reporter, and he has
with a newspapers man's accuracy,
placed them upon the stage correctly.
The characters commonly met with
down town in New York are to be
seen in the play. There are the fresh
newsboy, the organ grinders and noisy
negroes, the tough girl and the boot
black.
Opera House, Monday, December
31st.
An Impostor.
Last Saturday a girl about eighteen
years of age visited a number of res
idences in town, and solicited contri
butions for the Epworth League, re
ceivins small sums of money at sev
eral places. She said that she had
also been requested to solicit for the
M. E. Sunday School. Inquiry has
proven that the girl had no authority
to bear for either of these organiza
tions, and as she has not turned any
money over, it went down into her
own pocket. The name of this girl is
withheld for the present.
"The Police Inspector," which will
be played in the Opera House next
Monday night, is highly commended
hv thi Dress wherever it has been
-j 1
given.
BLOOMSBURG, PA.. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28. 1S94.
Death of Mrs. Swank-
"For me to live is Christ, and to
die is gain."
It was a large and sad-hearted com
pany of relatives and friends that fol
lowed to the grave on Tuesday of last
week, the remains of Mrs. J. G.
Swank. It was a day upon which the
whole community could unite in ten
der expressions of sympathy for the
bereaved family, and there were many
hundred who felt the loss of a personal
friend.
Mrs. Swank had for several months
been a victim of that dreaded disease,
Bright's disease of the kidneys, and
had for the past six weeks made that
heroic fight for life, possible only to
the determined will and triumphant
faith.
Although her death had been ex
pected for several days, it came at
last on Saturday evening, Dec. 15 th.
with a prostrating effect known only
to those who are suddenly called upon
to say the last good-bye to those they
love most dearly.
The end was a peaceful transition
to the state of those who are "asleep
in Jesus" and the last words relative
to a happy meeting in that better land.
The world likes to hear of the sen
sational and the unusual, but the un
written history of many a home has
in it more that is truly heroic and
goes farther to mould the character
of our sons and determine the destiny
of the nation, than the brave deeds
of the battlefield or the wise and
eomprehensive acts of our legislative
halls.
Mr?. Swank will be remembered as
one of those who find their greatest
happiness in ministering to the needs
of those they love, and raising a
happy, devoted family within a happy
Christian home. A true woman, a
loving wife and a devoted mother, a
consecrated Christian and an active
woiker her memory is a rich legacy
to all who knew her.
A short service was held at the
house at 10:30 o'clock, after which
the procession proceeded to the Ber
wick cemetery where a burial service
was conducted by the Woman's Re
lief Corps of which she was a mem
ber ; the funeral sermon being preach
ed in the Baptist church by the pas
tor of the deceased, Rev. Albert H.
Smith. Berwick Independent.
Daniel S. Jones was instantly killed
at Mt. Carmel on the 19th, by a trol
ley car on the Shamokin and Mt.
Carmel electric railway. The man
had been standing along side the
tracks for some time and was in an
intoxicated condition. The motor
men in passing him with their cars
rang the gongs, but hs made no signal
to stop. Several cars had passed up
and down several times but he showed
no signs of a desire to get on the
car. As car No. 5 was returning from
Shamokin, they noticed the man
ahead leaning against a wire pole.
He was leaning up against the pole
with his head hanging down as a man
naturally does in a drunken stupor.
He did not move and as the car had
passed him before, no particular at
tention was paid to him and the car
went speeding on. Just as the car
reached the point he made a lunge
as if to grab the car and fell beneath
the wheels, the car rolling him and
bruising his body and head, and al
most sev ering his arm. The deceas
ed was aged 5 1 years and worked at
Hickory Ridge with his step-son,
where they boarded together. The
family reside at Mifflin Cross Roads,
Columbia county, and consists of wife
and eleven children. He had rented
a house in Hickory Ridge, and was
going to remove his family there after
the holidays.
The entertainment at Espy last
Friday night, by the Star Dramaiic
Company, was a success. It is an
amateur' organization and this was
their debut. They played the drama
entitled "The Last Loaf." Those
taking part were John K. Miller,
Adelia Geisinger, Chas. Abbott, W.
Bittenbender, Martha Robison, Mr.
Harry Phillips, Mrs. Phillips, H. F.
Rice, F. S, Nagle, Harry Frane, G.
B. Bittenbender, S. K. Worman and
Domer Geisinger. The attendance
was large, and a fair sum was realized
for the purchase of a bell on the M.
E. Church. All of the company ac
quitted themselves aamirably. The
entertainment will be reproduced this
Saturday evening.
"The Little Tottoon" which was
performed at the Opera House on
Tuesday nisht. was a very lame aflair
according to those who attended. It
is reported that the troupe is an
amateur party from Scranton.
BRIEF MENTION
About People You Know.
Guy Jacoby Esq., Is hobbling around with
a rheumatic loot.
vv. w. urinker of hcrnnton was among
inc nouuay visitors 10 1 lie nome circle
Norman Hendcrshott, who is attending
mate college, is at nome on a vacation
Clyde Sechler, of Danville, was the guest
of Will Crist on Monday.
Mrs. John S. Gilbert Is spending a few
days in town with her relatives.
Barton John, a Lehigh University senior,
is spending his holiday vacation at home.
Mr. and Mrs. A. B.
the week in Brooklyn,
Tyson are spending
Montgomery Smith is home from Dickin
son College, Carlisle, for a brief visit.
Carlton Caswell is at home again. lie
has been studying in Philadelphia.
I. J. Jamison is spending this week with
his family in New Columbus.
Edward Eyer, who is a drug cleik In Phil
adelphia, was at home on a short wication.
Frank Bomboy of Philadelphia, has been
visiting his mother at Espy this week.
Walter Barton of Hazleton, spent Christ
mas in Espy among relatives and friends.
Vm. Ernst, of Buckhorn, an old sub
scriber, gave us a call on Saturday.
Hon. A. L. Fritz has been suffering with
a sore hand, but il is nearly well now.
Samuel II. Harm. attended a party at
Pittston on Wednesday evening.
Charles II. Lawall, who is clerking in a
Philadelphia drug store, was at home for a
few days last week
Carl Wirt is among the young students
who are at home on vacation. He is attend
ing school at Garden City.
Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Neal and sons,
Robert and Hnrold, spent Tuesday in town.
Robert is a student at Yale College.
Silas Young delivered a number of nice
turkeys, ready dressed, in town, for Christ
mas dinners.
Mr. Dorr, editor and proprietor of the
Berwick ''Independent," dropped in upon us
on Saturday.
Dr. II. W. Buckingham of Phillipsburg,
spent Christmas with his mother and brother.
He is as hearty and as jolly as ever.
E. E. Durns, who was G. W. Bertsch's
coat maker for several years, was visiting
friends here the past week.
Dr. T. G. Reifsnyder of Milton, was at
home over Christmas, with his mother, Mrs-
jjr. wains.
Miss Martha Bachman, sister of Mrs. O.
B. Mellick, while visiting the latter here,
has been quite ill.
Dr. Arment will not remove to Philadel
phia until he sells his property on Fifth
street, and will continue to practice medicine.
Mr. D. B. Whitmire, of Orangeville, we
are pleased to class among our recent callers
and advance subscribers.
Charles Kelchner, stu lent at Philadelphia
College of Pharmacy, is with his parents
this week.
Mr. Elmer G. Brugler, of the Philadelphia
College of Pharmacy, spent the holidays
with his mother and friends in Bloomsburg.
Messrs. Henry Barton andT. D. Robbins,
of Lime Ridge, were in town on business on
Friday,
Thos. Gorry Jr., who is attending lectures
In Pharmacy in Philadelphia, is with his
parents for a few days.
Alinas Cole, of Derr's, was in town last
Thursday. He is an old resident of Green
wood, and one of our old subscribers.
Hon. Thos. Chalfant of Danville, spent a
few hours with Bloomsburg friends on Tues
day. Mrs. William Leverett is spending this
week at home Mr. Leverett was here on
Christmas, and will also spend next Sunday
here.
II. D. Manning has been visiting his
brother, William II. at Brighton, New York,
where the latter is an extensive and success
ful nurseryman.
Kent Hosier, son of Deputy sheriff W. N.
Hosier, soent Tuesday in town with his
father. Kent is teaching school in Roaring
creek township.
Benjamin Wagner of Newlin spent a few
hours in town on Monday, and will read his
newspaper for the coming year, knowing that
it is paid for.
B. F. Brobst of Hemlock was in town
with a load of nice apples on Saturday. He
made arrangements to get the " World '
twice a week, with this paper, while here.
Prof. Noetling will spend the holidays at
his home in Selinsgrove, Pa. Will return
to resume his duties at the Normal on Jan
uary 1st, 1895.
Geo. Masteller of Hemlock township took
time on Friday to drop in our office and pay
us a friendly call. He will read his paper
for a whole year in advance without fear of
being dunned for it.
Cyrus Robbins, of Asbury, was a visitor
at this office on busines on Saturday, Being
of quiet disposition and affectionate nature,
he sadly mourns the recent loss of his loving
wife
Dr. A. Graydon sent out some very neat
holiday greetings to his friends on Monday,
They were photographs including his resi.
dence, a seme on the canal and the words
"Holiday Greetings," and were his own
work.
Ben. Vannatta. Morris Broadt, Herve
Furnian, Harry Wilson, Frank Derr, Boyd
Furman, Henry Knorr, Thos. Moore, Will
L. Crist, Willie Kice and Howard Furman
spent Christmas day with Danville friends.
Useful Christmas Presents
Faultless night robes. - - - 75c.
Elegant neckwear, - 25 and 50c.
Silk mufflers and
handkerchiefs, - 25, 50, 75, & 1.00.
Gloves & suspenders - 25, 50 & 1.00.
Shirts & hosiery, - - - 25 to 1.00.
Hats and caps, - - - 50 to 3.00.
j
EWELRY, Fine trunks
MACINTOSHES
YOU Can Certainly buy yourself or boy a fine suit or over
coat at such low prices as they are selling them at
THE PRESENT TIME
is now coming. In fact, the time is here when you're looking
for articles suitable for gifts. Our line of
MIDAY
was never more complete. We have the useful as well as the
ornamental articles. "VVe mention a few items : Dress Pat
ternsjblack Dress Silks, Table Linens, Napkins and Counter
panes, Fancy Chinaware. Cut Glass, Lamps, Onyx
Tables, Jewelry and Silverware, Pocket Books and Bags, Che
nille Curtains and Covers, Kid Gloves, Mittens, Hosiery, Un
derwear, Fur Muffs, Boas, Fur Capes, Cloth Capes, Coats, Fur
Baby Robes, Fur Floor Rugs, '
BIG VALUES IN HANDKERCHIEFS,
Wood Easels and Screens, Woodware Shelves, Cabinets, Photo
Boxes, Ice Cream Sets, Chocolate Jugs, Silk and Gloria Um
brellas, Umbrella Stands, Flower Stands, a large line of Framed
Pictures and Medallions at all prices, Sewing Machines cheap
to close. See the Initial Handkerchiefs and Utile prices, Down
Cushions, Stamped Linens and all materials for fancy work,
Silk Lamp Shades, also frames to cover, Colgate's Fine Perfu
mery, Toilet Bottles, Manicure Sets, Trays, &c.
We invite all to call and see.
H. J. CLARK & SON.
See the Chinaware and Gut Glass.
That's the position we maintain in the shoe
trade. Our shoe are of the best makes, new
est styles, all widths, and sold at prices with
in the reach of all. A fair trial will convince
you that our's is the place at which to buy
your shoes.
Clarks Building, Main
NO 52
and valises for the LADIEn
and HOUSE COATS U
GOODS:
Street.
Pi