V - V,' ' Ts-yv - - LANCASTER DAILY INTELLIGENCER, THtJKSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1880. Lancaster Intelligencer. THURSDAY EVENING, JAN. 22, 1880. Manufacturing His Case. Judge Patterson read te us this morn ing, in open court, a rule which he has drawn up requiring us te answer for contempt of court, in which he em em bedied his version of what occurred yes- terlnvTTinrninrr in COUrt. Upen that morning in oeuii. u. """ fc of the judge seemed te base hisrule, p. version affectine te treat what wc then said as a re-affirmation of what we had said in the Intelligencer. "Wc said there noth ing but what wc believed te be true, but we neither affirmed nor denied its truth when called upon yesterday te answer for it as attorneys, because we did net propose te give Judge Patterson an op pertunity te exercise his summary power ever members of the bar for contempt of court manifested in its presence. "When we are te be tried for the truth of what we say as editors, we want it te be before a jury, with all the rights the law gives us te maintain our innocence, and net before a judge who is prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner all in one. "We prefer te have a little mere chance for life and liberty than any such tribunal will be apt te furnish us. And therefore it was that we carefully avoided giving Judge Patterson the chance he sought, with such cunning and malice, te secure an excuse te lay his hand upon us. Yet he has had the unblushing eff rentei y te put into our mouths what wc did net say and te seek te found his rule upon his own invention. He hits bungled the job. "While he was about it he might better have made a mere complete inven tion and have written down that we had called him an ignorant and unfit judge, who secured his place en the bench by low devices, and who has disgraced it ever since he ascended it by a manifesta tien of a lack of judicial learning, temper and bearing, which has been wholly with out precedent in this county and wc be lieve has never been matched in any ether.' Judge Patterson, while he is a Clevel and agreeable gentleman, with many qualities te attract the esteem and affec tion of his fellow man in his private life, has none of the talents or qualifications of a geed judge, and is net esteemed as one by the bar ever which he presides, lie might rule all its members, without exception, 10 answer for contempt of court, as readily as he might, se rule us, if they would be guilty because et their thought, unuttered in the judicial pres ence. Judge Patterson has. in his pres ent flagrant exhibition of himself, fully demonstrated even te his warmest friends that the public interests and his own fair name can in no way be se served by him as they would be by his resigna tion from an office which nature has net fitted him te fill. Most fortunately the law has made him impotent against the just accusers of his judicial conduct,who use the legitimate channels of public dis dis dis cussion.eutside his court,in which te crit icise it. "We de net fear him, because we knew we are fully paneplied by the pmistitntinn and laws of our state in the opinion manner freest expression of our the method and as te of his discharge of his public duty. Te his rule we answe r that in his court we give him the deference which the law secures te his dignity ; that outside of it we give him the con sideration, as a judge, which in our opin ion he earns by the manner of the dis charge of his official duties and that as a man we will judge him as we read his private life. In each relation he is enti tled te a different treatment ; and he will learn tee, ere long we trust, that te us as lawyers in, and as editors without his court, different rules apply. Anether Judge's Judgment Upset. Nothing is mere natural than the feel ing of the average citizen that the judge of a court is the fountain of wisdom and justice, invested with dignity that is te be respected, authority that is te be fear ed, knowledge that is te be reverenced, and inspired with a zeal for the right that should command for him the confidence and support of the whole community. One who sits upon the bench is popularly regarded with something of the adoration that makes the Hindoe admit that though he knows his god is ugly he feels that he is great. Consequently the average beholder leeks unen the nidge net as a school master te keep his bar in order, nor as a mere preliminary trier of causes, whose rulings if erroneous can be reversed by a higher and wiser court, but as a vindica tor of all rights and punisher of all wrongs that are connected with the ad ministration of the law and the dispsnsa dispsnsa tien of justice. Every judge can bear witness te the many times he is beset by simple-minded people who mean no harm in presenting him with their griev ances and appealing te him for what they conceive te be their rights. They can easily be admonished by a righteous judge and shown, without resort te harsh means, the impropriety of their conduct which at most is far less than that of some intelligent and sworn attorneys who tamper with courts in various devious ways, or than even that of judges them selves who steep from their high estate te peddle their opinions among these who have a mercantile interest in them or seek judicial inspiration in private conferences with one of two sides te a pending issue. Fer which reason it seems te us that Judge Elcock, of Philadelphia, has been quite unnecessarily disturbed ever a very natural letter addressed te him by a peer and apparently ignorant man, with a sick family, who has been denied his witness fees, en technical grounds, for enforced attendance in court during which and owing te which he lest his situation and the means te earn bread for the living and comforts for the dying members of his household. This man was dragged from his daily work by the pro cess of the court, and he incurred, by no fault of his, the less of his situation. He knows that the court was paid for net hearing the case, that the district attorney get his fees for net trying it, that all the counsel were handsomely compensated for getting it settled, and probably that the prosecutor, who had summoned the commonwealth te aid him, was paid te sell out all the interest that the state had in the case. "What mere natural, under such circumstances, than that the man should write the let ter he did te the judge ? On the face of it, it is scarcely susceptible of being con strued into contempt, and in the light of the writer's frank and intelligent expla. nations, no such reasonable construction it Is possible in k,s conduct i a fair mind. Judge Elcock's conduct in holding the man in custody for want of bail, and keeping their protector awity from a sick and starving family, is only another demon stration of hew very common men "dressed in a little brief authority, play such fantastic tricks before high heaven as make the very angels weep. The JVcic Era published by a member of Judge Patterson's court with a legal acumen and courage which would have served it well in its wrecked libel suits points out hew the previous acquittal of Michael Snyder operated te his benefitl It fellows in the wake of the Intelli gencer in maintaining that the first ac. quittal was secured for a corrupt consid eration, and it must adeitt our legica- conclusion that if the second clearance was accomplished through the first and the first bv "prostituting the machinery of justice," the final acquittal is as dis creditable te the administrators of the law as was the first. If it is conceded then that such a fraud and imposition were practised upon the court and that the powers of the court were exercised as they would net have been if fairness and honesty had characterized the dealings with it, the question that affects the court's dignity and the public safety is whether there has been such contempt of it and such abuse of its confidence as te call for an investigation. By its failure te order any such in quiry the court has declared either that no contempt of it is possible or that in this case the gross indignity put upon it shall be unnoticed. In either case the legitimate query is whv is this thus ? Although the riot bribery cases were net forced en te trial yesterday, as was anticipated, a very important point was gained in the way of their dispatch. The defendants were compelled te plead and hereafter no mere dilatory pleas can be interposed nor any technical delays be invoked. The cases must be heard m March and all the obstacles placed in the way of their disposal thus far by the de fendants only go te confirm the public judgment that the thing they most fear is a prompt and fair trial. PERSONAL.. A complimentary dinner has been given te General Gaufiku) by Congressman Tewnscud, of Ohie. Ex-Governer Barley, of Michigan, has just celebrated his silver wedding in a pleasing manner. He distributed 300 in silver coin among live charitable institu tions. The Springfield (Mass.) Republican says: "Jehn Suekmax is the passive obstacle, the rock en which the leading and the most dangerous Republican candidates arc likely te wreck before or during the convention. " Rev. II. S. McMukdie, for many years director of the seminary and professor of moral philosophy and theology in Mount St. Mary's college, at Emmittsburg, Md., died en Tuesday afternoon, in the. 50th year of his age. lie was born in Londen, England. Leuis "W. Hall, of counsel for the de fense in the legislative bribery cases, en tertained, last night, counsel en both sides, and Governer Heyt and Judges Pearson and Hendersen. Among the law yers present were Messrs. Gewen, Mann and Cassidy. It is affirmed in European diplomatic cirlcs that the cx-Khcdivc, Ismail Pasha, has suspended all relations with his son, the present Khedive, en account of the course pursued by the latter in depriving his father of the enjoyment of his private fortune. The cx-Khcdivc continues his negotiations with a view te prove the in justice of his son's conduct towards him. Mrs. Maky Kyle Dallas, whose pro lific writings thus for have been confined te short .stories, sketches and essays in the newspapers but who is new engaged en a novel, is net yet 40 years of age, having been married between the ages of 1G and 17, and left a widow before most girls arc graduated from school. She is of medium height and of slender, but net thin, figure. She has speaking gray eyes, delicately fair skin and bright color. Her hair is her crown of glory. Time, forgetting that she is yet ou the sunny side of life, has hastened te make it snow-white, and she dresses with exquisite taste and beauty. Her yearly income from the work of her pen is about $G,000. Miss Harriet Lane, who, in the days of James Buchanan, was mistress of the White Heuse, is the wife of Rebert John John Jehn eon, a wealthy banker of Baltimore. Mrs. Jehnsen has recently purchased the place where her uncle was born in Pennsylvania, and will there erect a memorial worthy of him. Mrs. Jehnsen is expected te visit old friends here this winter. I have been told by these who have known all the ladies who have presided at the "White Heuse, from Mrs. Madisen te the present, that Mrs. Jehnsen was the most elegant and high-bred lady of them all. Her charms of manner were irresistibly win ning. Washington Letter. "Eveent that Miss Lane is the wife of Mr. Henry E. Johnsten ; she has net yet purchased the birthplace of her uncle because of the attempted extortion of its owners ; and the se-called " Wheatlands," which has been figuring in a newspaper item, as this birthplace, is the old home of the ex-prcsident, and has been the prop prep city of Mrs. Johnsten ever since his death. Fifteen practicing physicians at Johns town occupy ever six columns of space in the Tribune with replies te the circular letter addressed te the medical fraternity of that place by Hen. D. J. Merrcll, gen eral manager of the Cambria works, re questing their opinions regarding the prev alence of diphtheria in the community ; its causes, the best preventive means te abate its virulence, etc. In every instance the doctors agree upon the point that filthy surroundings and the use of well water instead of hydrant water are prime factors in spreading the ailment and in rendering it mere generally fatal in its consequences. MTNOB TOPICS. In Southern Louisiana the orange, peach aid plum trees are budding, and the straw berries are in bloom. The crop report of the beard of agricul ture of Illinois shows that the wheat acre age of that state is 2,G38,82C acres, or 25 per cent, mere than last year, and consid censid ably larger than the average of any previ eus year. Bv a most singular condition el ailairs, every judge upon the bench of the supreme court of Rhede Island found himself, dis qualified from sitting en the case of the People's saving bank against Zachariah Chafcc as agent or trustee of the Messrs. Spraguc. The Viscount Ferdinand dc Lesseps has been received with great cordiality at Pan ama, and has set en feet the surveys for the proposed canal. He speaks with con fidence of the enterprise, and considers that the cost will net exceed the estimate announced at Paris. He says he will have only a tide-level canal, and declares that he could raise twice the amount of money needed for the project in France. The New Yerk Herald admits that Grant parted with Belknap "with regret;" thought Delane a whitc-seulcd man ; ap pointed Williams te the chief justiceship, and made Bess Shepherd governor of the District of Columbia. All of which, it thinks, " might prove embarrassing te a party which should nominate him for a third term.'' But at present Grant is only a private citizen and the Herald seems te want his faults condoned until neini nated and then whacked into him. There is trouble brewing in Erie among the Republicans. They are generally op posed te the nomination of Grant. Know Knew ing this fact the Cameren managers are determined net te trust a county conven tion te select the delegates te the coming state convention, but te have them ap pointed by the county committee, wheaic supple tools of the Cameren ring. The bleed of Blaine's friends is up ami they threaten that if Grant's nomination is se cured by tricks of this kind, the county, which usually gees heavily Republican, shall give an overwhelming majority against Grant next fall. The vintage of 1879 in France proves te have been a very peer one. The yield has turned out te be as low as 23,700,000 hec hec eolitres, or 23,000,000 less than that of 1878, and nearly 30,000,000 hectelitres under the average of the ten preceding years. The districts which have suffered most are Burgundy and Champagne, where the yield has been next te nothing, and the two Charcntes, where the return scarcely reached a third of that of 1878. The central departments have net conic off much better, and in the eastern department Doubs, Mcuse and Mcurthc-ct-Meselle scarcely a tenth of the yield of 1878 has been obtained. The southern departments have suffered less. Audc, Ilerault and Pyrenees Oricntales even show a light in crease en the prcccdingvintage.Fortunate prcccdingvintage.Fertunate ly for America, which drinks twice as much champagne as England, the dealers have 20, 000,000 bottles en hand, and the. California vintage is yearly imprevcing in quality. LATEST NEWS BY MAIL.. Geerge Duncan, living alone, near "Wichita, Kansas, was found en the pra ric yesterday morning with his threat cut. Geerge Franklin Faulk was arrested at Springfield, 111., for bigamy, having mar ried six wives. He is 33 years old and geed looking. Jennie Sails, the eldest colored woman in Kansas, died at "Wyandotte yesterday, aged 115 years. She has been blind for the last thirty-five years, and was a mem ber of the Baptist church ninety years. The Democratic caucus of the Louisiana Legislature nominated R. L. Gibsen for U. S. senator en the second ballet, last night. He will be elected te succeed Kellogg, whose term will expire in 1883. "Walter R. Irwin, of Illinois, chief of the private land office, was found dead in bed at Mobile, Alabama, yesterday morn ing. It is supposed he died of heart dis ease. J. Frest Celeman, a prominent citizen of Bayvillc, L. I., while excavating for the removal of a large boulder en his farm, Tuesday afternoon, was buried alive. He was rescued in a dying condition and can not recover. The boiler at D. R. Carrell's plantation in Louisiana has exploded, killing Willis Wright (colored), Arthur Parrier, the engineer, and a colored man, name un known, and seriously wounding thirteen ethers. Mrs. May and her daughter Kate were burned te death, and Mrs. Ilernden. an other daughter of Mrs. May, was danger ously if net fatally bnr.icd by the explo sion of a coal oil lamp, near Danville, Va.. en Monday night. The third, fourth and attic floors of Patrick Gugurty's knitting mill, at Cohoes, N. Y., a brick building running five sets of machinery and employing 150 hands, were destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The less is estimated at $30,000. which is fully covered by insurance. In Pittsficld, Mass., the trial of Web ster for the assault en Chester Goodale, resulted in a verdict of assault with intent te kill. This verdict fastens upon Web ster two assaults with intent te kill and seven burglaries, te which he had pleaded guilty. The sentences for his crimes ag gregate thirty-one years in all. Lawyer Little, of Tunkhannock, has en tered suit for damages against the Wilkcs barre Recerd for libel alleged te have been published by that paper calculated te in jure his reputation and practice. The Recerdhad retracted its charge prier te this step en the part of the offended attor ney. It is the Recerd's first libel suit and it seems quite proud of it. Twe prisoners, Patrick Gulford, alias Manning, and Edward Connelly, quarreled in the hall of the Newport, Ky.. jail. In the heat of the anger Connelly drew a razor and seized Guilferd by the threat. The latter wrested the razor from Con nelly's hand and with one slash across his threat almost severed Connelly's head from his body. The jugular vein was severed and death followed instantly. The two prisoners were in jail awaiting trial for miner offences. Vanwcrt, Ohie, has been greatly excited bythe horse-whipping of Rev. J. R. Hen Hen dereon, pastor of the M. E. church, by Miss Nerma Cemer, organist of that church. Miss Cemer had been attending dances during the week for which the reverend gentleman censured her publicly in church en Sunday. He called en her te apologize and was met by her in her father's store, and received the chastisement, which was quite severely administered. He offered no resistance aud repaired te his home after she had her satisfaction. The Cambria county Democrats instruct for nanceck. AMUSEMENT NOTES. What the Players are Doing. llaverly's Mastodons are in Bosten. There are only two shows booked at the Columbia opera house. Barlew, "Wilsen, Primrose and "West's minstrels were in Harrisburg last night. James Melville will be equestrian director of Coup's circus the coining season. Gottheld's "Octoroon " company is per forming in Albany this week. Barney Macauley is in his second week at the Bread streetthcatre, Phila. Kiralfys will present " Enchantment " here, and net " Black Creek," as before reported. Billy Glen, the comedian, who is wfcll wfcll knewfi here, is performing at Tooker s va rieties, Norfolk. Clara Merris is under an eight weeks' engagement with Manager Maguire of San Fraucisco $3, 000. A new nlav is announced as written by Mr. Jehn Habberton, author of " Helen's Babies," and entitled " ueauwoeu Chimes." It is said that Lester Wallack's terms at the Grand opera house, New Yerk, arc $3,000 per week. McKce Rankin and " The Danites" open in Londen at Sadler's "Wells theatre, en the 28th of May. E. Slocum is writing a burlesque en the "Pirates of Penzance" for Carncross's minstrels. J. II. Havcrly has leased the Filth Ave nue theatre, New Yerk, for a term of years. Prof. Parker and his troupe of educated dogs have been engaged ler a year te travel with llaverly's minstrels. Mrs. Teny Paster, aided by ether ladies, is preparing te give a matinee at her hus band's theatre for the benefit of Ireland's peer. Tem Jeffersen, son of Jeseph, has made a very laverauie impression as jmamu, "A Scrap of Paper," at Wallack's, New Yerk. Three miners, resisting arrest for disor derly conduct at Alpine, Cel., en Monday night, were shot by Constable Stanten. One was killed,, and the ethers were fatal ly wounded. Harry Bernard, the female minstrel manager, will be business and stage mana mana mana gerofthe International Cemiquc, Philadel phia, which will shortly reopen. A Chicago paper truthfully remarks: It has become an easy matter, during the current season, te leave New Yerk as the leading man of a combination, and return, unexpectedly, as a walking gentleman. Charlie Ellis, the Dutch comedian, has new separated from his partner, Harry Watsen, for geed. He has left the Wat-sen-Ellis-Kerncll company, and he and his wife, who is known as Clara Moere, will travel together, doing sketches. Mr. W. E. Sheridan, prier te sailing for Europe with Mr. Rankin's company, will star for a week at the Philadelphia Arch street theatre as Leuis XL, Shylock and Richard III. The plays will be mounted elegantly, and as Mr. Sheridan is a great favorite in Philadelphia, a large engage ment is anticipated. Recently Teny Denier, the "Humpty Dunipty" manager, purchased a fierce ring-tailed monkey in Mobile, Ala. Ne one could go near him but Frank Ilil dreth, the treasurer of the company. When the troupe arrived in Charleston, and while Messrs. Denier, Hildrcth and Geerge 11. Adams were sitting in their room talking, the monkey suddenly sprang at the threat of Mr. Hildrcth and bit him severely. It was some time before they could get the animal loose. The monkey is new subdued and does whatever he is told. THE ABUSE OF JUSTICE. Lawyer Wai-rel's Paper Has a Say. New Era. A correspondent wants te knew what the plea of autrefeis acquit, entered by the defense in the Snyder case, by which the defendant escaped justice, means anyhow. Auticfeis acquit simply means that when the district attorney and his acting deputy in October, 1878, took a verdict of net guilty in the Snyder liquor case, without having previously examined the witnesses en whose testimony the indictment had been found, for the purpose of screening "the best workers in the ward," thereby prostituting the machinery of justice te the basest of purposes, they se thoroughly salted the case away, that under the plea of autrefeis acquit the defendant could net be convicted of the original offense, the evidence of which by the admission of this plea was ruled out. Had a net. pros. merely been entered the proceedings could have been reviewed and reopened. Hence the precaution te take a verdict of net guilty, te make sure that net only " the best workers of the ward, " but also the fellows who profited by their labors, should be saved from the legal consequences of their lawlessness and official malfeasance. Autrefeis acquit is net a " primeval law, " but, in this case, it was certainly a prime evil law, te which court and jury "bowed submissively, " because it is the law. And thus was concluded the work begun by District Attorney Eshlcman and Hay Brown in October, 1878, in behalf of "the best workers of the ward " and these for whom they labored se efficiently in June of that year ! Hen- It Availed. After the defense had closed their case the teurt asked District Attorney Eshlc manwhether it would net be competent for him te call witnesses in rebuttal te show that the witnesses en whose testi mony the indictment had been found in August, 1878, aud en which a verdict of net guilty was taken in October, had net been examined under oath before that verdict was taken. Here was a grand opportunity for the district attorney te show that the very foun dation en which the JVcic Era based its charge was net true. But instead of accepting the kind offer of the court, the district attorney argued that the plea of autrefeis acquit could net avail the defend ant, because he had net shown that he had previously been placed in jeopardy. Of course, this was as bad law as it was in bad taste for one who had made a flourish of seeking " vindication" in " every county in the state." Mr. Reynolds was (puck te take advantage of it te show that the plea of previous acquittal was valid, and the authorities being en his side, the court had se te rule. But the district at torney could have availed himself of the generous offer of the court te vindicate himself, and Mr. Reynolds could have con sented te it without prejudice te his cli ent, as the relevancy of that testimony could have been argued after the " vindi cation" as well as before, and rilled out by the court before the case was given te the jury. This course was due alike te the court, te Messrs. Brown and Eshlcman, and above all te the cause of public jus tice. Airs. Zell'H Case. Twe hundred women of Philadelphia have held a meeting te consider what might be done te save Mrs. Catherine Zell, of Carlisle, who is under conviction of murder. Miss Annie E. McDowell having had her sympathies aroused by reading an an account of Mrs. Zell's trial, went te Carlisle and became mere convinced of Mrs. Zell's innocence and it was she who inspired the meeting. Speeches were made by several women. Mrs. Pratt suggested that it was no use te de things half way, and if the woman was te have a new trial she should have new counsel, tee. The information was then given that Rufiis E. Shapley had veluntered his services. Be fore adjourning $55 was raised. CONTEMPT OF A PHILADELPHIA COURT. Tlie Appeal of a Penniless Man With a Sick Family Locked Up Fer It At the opening of the court of eyer and terminer in Philadelphia yesterday Judge Elcock had brought before him Henry Rahe, and said te him : " Yeu nave writ ten me a letter, and I propose te learn from you under oath what the meaning of i:s contents is." Mr. Rahe was then sworn and examined upon the letter, which is as follews: "Philadelphia, Jan. 20, 1880. Hen. Jugde Elcock, Esq. Dear Sir : lesterday I get certificate for my witnes feessighned by Mr. Hcnesey and Distrikt Attorney Kerr, and you refused te sighn it. I was taken away from my place of employment by one of your eficers, Mr. Brady, before Christmas," and made te stay in court every day, old court house, telling me that if I was net present when called I would be lined twenty-five dollars, etc. Could get no satisfaction from Mr. Read when trial would cemencc, but for me te stay in court, be when the buisy time in store was ever I was told by my employer that as I could net be in store en buisy ocasiens I would be no use in dull times, and I lest my situation. I am out of money and have a sick wife and one of me children sick. As this was a case of assault and battery with intent te kill I am certainly entitled te my fees, for it was a most dastardly ackt, as I seen the whole of it. This man McCoy, who has a very bad reputation who has been in prison often, struck an old man, and when McCelgan came te step McCoy from abusing the old gentlemen he turned en McCelgan, drew his revolver and put it te head and said I am going te kill you and fired. Anether man who steed there knekt up McCoy's hand and the ball went past McCelgan's head and nearly Idled the cashier at the table en the platform ; he felt the bulct burn his face. The case was in old court house. I heard rumors that they were trying te setle it. McCelgan had Cassi- day and McCoy had Hevcrin as their attor neys. On Friday morning the bill was taken ever te your court, and there allowed te render a verdict of net guilty and the man left te go free te sheet or kill again. If it were a peer man who stele a leaf of bread te sup port the starving family, he would cer tainly have been prosecuted te the bitter end. New hew much money the lawyers and court house officials get out of the transaction I am as yet net aware of but understood it was considerable, and hew you could let a man slip out of law's clutches perpetrating such a crime, and the best of evidence, I am yet at a less te kne ; but be that as it will, for all I require is my witness fee wich according te law I am entitled te just as well as your court house officials and me beliving that the case has been misrepresented te you and you arc at least a just and upright man and sec that I am paid. Hoping te hear from your honeur before I speak any further en this matter te any one else. ' I remain respectfully yours " Henry Rahe, "2018 North Twentieth street." Judge Elcock said te him: "Yeu have sent me this letter in which the bill was submitted without evidence. New, I want you te tell me, under your oath, what you mean by it. What court officials received money in this matter?" Mr. Rahe "I mean the attorneys." Mr. Read "There are two kinds of at torneys. The private attorneys for the parties and the district attorney. Mr, Rahe "I mean the private attor neys, Mr. Cassidy and Mr Hevcrin." Mr. Read " De you mean that the dis trict attorney get any money in this case?" " Ne, sir." Upen being further questioned, he said that he is in no business at present ; that he was formerly a special watchman at Wanamakcr's and at Southworth's ; that he had been informed by a man whose name he didn't knew, but whom he sup posed was one of the witnesses in the case, that it had cost between $700 and $S00 te settle the case ; by his expression that he was "as much entitled te his witness fees as the court officials te theirs," he meant that he was as much entitled te his fees as they were te their salary. By the ex pression that "he hoped te hear from his honor before bespoke te any one else," he meant before he spoke te the officers about the court. In answer te Mr. Iver he denied that he had gene te McCelgan and told him that he had seen the whole transaction and wanted te be a witness. He said that he told McCelgan that he did net want te be a witness. Mr. Kcr re plied that Mr. McCelgan had told him that Rahe had volunteered te be a witness. Judge Elcock then said that he would net permit a letter of such a character te be written te him, and would therefore enter a rule against Italic te show cause why he should net be committed for contempt of court, which rule will he returnable en Saturday. The bail of Rahe was fixed at $800, and he was taken into custody until he should be able te give the security. Assistant District Attorney Read who is referred te in the letter, states that he never saw the man at all until yesterday morning. The English Disaster. The latest accceunts from the scene of the colliery explosion at Newcastle-undcr-Tync fix the number of parsons in the pit when the explosion occurred, at ninety seven. It is believed that net mere than six of the rescued can possibly recover. Twenty-five corpses have already been brought up, a majority of them being se disfigured as te be unrecognizable. The few who were rescued alive arc dying rapidly. The scene at the mouth of the pit is most heartrending. One of the recovered corpses has lest part of the head. Seme of the ethers were burned te cinders, while some appear te have been killed by concussion. The part of the Lycctt colliery where the explosion occurred is known as the Fair Lady pit and is the same in whicli six men were killed last autumn. The coal belongs te the Banbury or fiery scam, in which all of the great Staffordshire explosions have occurred. A fire has been raging in the pit with great violence since the disaster, hindering the efforts of the explorers and precluding all hopes of any of the victims being res cued alive. A later dispatch says the fire is being subdued and large quantities of debris have been removed, enabling the ex plorers te proceed mere rapidly. The latest report places the total number of deaths at seventy. Anether explosion is feared. Five mere bodies have been recovered from the mine, and twenty ethers have been found in the pit. They will be brought up te-night. Ventilation has been restored. STATU; ITEMS. Blaine stock is rising among the Penn sylvania Republicans. Crawford county falls into line. There is new residing in Lawrcncevillc, Allegheny county, a lady whose face is covered with almost a full grown beard. Leuis Bray, a Philadelphia commercial traveler, committed suicide at Murfrecs Murfrecs Murfrecs bore' by taking laudanum. The Pennsylvania returning beard was in session about an hour and a-half and managed te spend eight hundred of the thousand dollars appropriated te meet its expenses. Of this amount seventy-five dollars apiece was given te the Western members for expenses, fifty dollars apiece te the Eastern members and the four able clerks received twenty-five dollars a head for their arduous services. The Demo crats were allowed one of these twenty five dollar clerkships. local intelligence: NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS. Events Acress the County Line. At the election of the national bank of Oxford en the 13th inst., the old beard was reelected as fellows : Samuel Dickey. W. T. Fulton. W. R. Bingham, G. D. Armstrong, R. B. Patterson, L. K. Brown, R. H. Kirk, J. E. Ramsey and Gee. Gawthrop. The farm of James Jehnsen, deceased, Lewer Oxford township, Chester count-, containing 205 acres, was sold at public sale by the executers, aud was purchased by Mrs. Mary Jehnsen, the widow, who occupies the property, at $43.02 per acre. T. Miller Patterson, of Little Britain township, this county, owns a Durham heifer calf, one year old, which weighs 943 pounds. The members of the bar of Chester county teudered te Judge Clayten, of Del aware county, at present presiding at the special court new in session, in West Ches ter, a public dinner. The invitation was signed by cvery member of the bar. The directors and teachers of Dowiimg Dewiimg Dowiimg tewn and surrounding districts will meet in the high school building of that ber eugh en Friday eveuhig, te make arrange ments for holding a local institute in the Downingtown hall, en February 2(5th, 27th and 28th, 1880. Elias Draper, of Upper Oxford, has a cow of Durham and Deven stock that has been giving milk continuously for ever six years and making an average of four pounds of butter per week. Mr. William Ermcntreut. a venerable citizen or Reading, died in that city yes terday morning after an indisposition of a few days-, in the 81st year of his age. lie was the lather of Senater Daniel Ermen trout, Prof. JehnS. Ermcntreut and James N. Ermcntreut, esq. ; four ether sons, two daughters and his aged widow also survive him. During his life Mr. Ermcntreut held a number of public offices. In politics he was a Democrat, and took a mere or less active interest in the welfare and success of the party up te the day of his death. Jehn Knox Dillen, a student at Lincoln University, was suddenly seized with de mentia en Wednesday last and became uncontrollable. He acted in a violent manner, requiring several persons te take care of him, and his shouts and cries were heard a considerable distance from the bearding house. Drs. Eves, Kennedy and E wing were called, but little relief could be afforded the unfortunate man. He was taken te the insane asylum at Harrisburg yesterday. Dillen was one of the ten na tive Africans from Liberia who entered the university in 1873, and is said te have been a close student, of geed mind and in satiate passion for reading. SUNSET SCENE im COUKT. A:i Unwonted Hale Illumines the Bench and UIIikIs the Crier. Last evening, ere the golden sun sought his alleged couch beneath the western hor izon, he took occasion te illumine, with un wonted brilliance by reflected light, the honorable court and the distinguished crier. The rays of the sun reflected from the windows of the buildings east of the court house were thrown back into the court room, causing the bald head of the crier te glisten like an electric light, and the geld spectacles of the court te glow with the effulgence of a band of diamonds. Being rendered by this glare of light almost as blind as the wooden figure of justice that surmounts the dome of the court house, the honorable court said, pointing te the window : " Tipstave, close that blind." The tipstave did as directed. " That's net the right blind," said the crier in commanding tones. " Clese the blind of the next window." "Nevermind, tipstave." said the court ; "the blind you have closed is the right one, the light docs net shine upon us new." "But it shines en me," replied the crier. " That's all right," said the court. " It may be right enough for you, but it ain't for me,"' persisted the crier, " and I want that blind closed." The tipstave closed it, the crier nodded approvingly, sank deeply into the soft cushion of his high-backed chair and the business of the court proceeded in the sub dued light. State Heard of Agriculture. There was a full attendance of members of the Pennsylvania state agricultural so ciety at the society's room, en the occasion of the annual meeting and election held yesterday morning. Win. S. Rissel was elected president ; S. S. Spencer one of the vice presidents ; ether officers elect arc corresponding secretary, Elbridge Mc Mc Cenkcy ; recording secretary, D. W. Sei ler; chemist and geologist, S. S. Ilaldc man ; librarian, Wm. H. Eglc ; treasurer, J. B. Rutherford. I'azuar at Mount ,ley. The ladies of St. Mary's chapel, Mount Jey, have organized a bazaar in the chapel building, for the sale of useful and fancy articles many of them quite valuable. The bazaar opens this evening and will be open every evening until the 31st of this month. Among the articles te be voted for arc geld and silver watches and silk dress pattern, for which a lively contest is expected be tween ladies and gentlemen of Mount Jey and Springvillc. Telephone Krccted. The telephone line has been put up be tween the works of the Pcnii iron company, WestcrnUnien telegraph office, Steinman & Ce's. hardwarcJstere,lNTKLLiOEXCRR office, Philadelphia & Reading railroad office at West King street and the Pennsylvania freight depot. It works very well and a number of messages have been scut ever the wires te-day. Insane. This morning Officers Sprecher and Eichholtz took te the insane department of the county hospital a young man named Martin Gall, aged 23 years, who for some time past has exhibited signs of insanity, and recently has acted in a violent and dangerous manner. He has been living with a brother near Manheim and it was at his instance that the young man was taken te the hospital. Change of llase. Jehn W. Hublcy is removing his grocery store from Ne. 2."2 North Queen street, te Ne. 20 Seuth Duke. The North Queen street building will be occupied as a whole sale grocery. Parden Granted. The beard of pardons yesterday agreed te recommend for pardon Henry Townsley, of this county, convicted of felonious as sault and battery. COURT OF O.UAKTEK SESSIONS. r January Regular Trm. Cem'th vs. E. Diller Clark, malicious mischief and assault. The commonwealth's side of the case was te the eff ct that en the evening of the 17th of April List the defendant went te the hotel of David Bair, which is en the New Helland turnpike, about two miles west of that town ; dur ing the eveniug a quarrel arose between two men, aud the defendaut took off his coat. Bair ordered him te leave the house as he did net allow any fighting in the house ; defendant refused te go at first, but finally Bair succeeded in getting him outside. Clark then broke the deer by kicking it, and threw a number of stones through the windows breaking them te pieces ; one of the stones hit Bair en the leg. Fer the defense the defendant was call ed and testified that he went te a dance at Bair's hotel; the party was pretty well livened up with whisky ; Geerge Sprecher assaulted Peter Hubcr and defendant sepa rated them ; get Huber away, and then went te Sprecher who was intoxicated, and tried te get him away ; while thus en gaged Bair, the prosecutor, came into the room with the butt of a wagon whip, struck the defendant with it and put him out of the house ; defendant then went in search of his team, and dreve home ; he did net threw stones, break windows, or make anv threats against Bair. A sister of defendant corroborated his testimeny.as did several ether witnesses, who were .present at the time of the disturbance. The jury rendered a verdict of net guilt- of assault and battery but te pay costs and guilty of malicious mischief. Sentenced te two months' imprisonment, Samuel Overly and Jehn Gallagher plead guilty te charges of larceny and were each sentenced te 30 days imprisonment. The grand jury returned the following bills : True Bills : Margaret Henry, adultery ; Benjamin Bihl, felonious assault and bat tery ; Jehn Drachbar, et. al. riot ; Jehn B. Dennis and J. Harvey Raymond, dissuad ing witnesses and conspiracy ; Samuel Overly and Jehn Gallagher, larceny and malicious mischief ; W. II. Duchman and Henry Witmer, fornication and bastardy ; Fred'k Hildebrand, adultery and enticing a miner ; Charles Charlston, embezzle ment ; Frank Krctzeberg, entering a dwelling te commit a felony ; Geerge Evans, burglary. Ignored : Jehn Sensenig. larceny ; Fa Iinda Henry. Margaret Henry and Jehn S. Henry entering a dwelling house te com mit a felony. Thursday Morning. Thelirt case taken up was that of cem'th vs. Franklin Smith, assault and battery. The defendant is a school teacher in Ceney township and it was charged that en the 14th of October last he severely whipped and abused :i pupil named Abraham L. Heffman. Ac cording te the story of the boy it appears that en the 13th of October he had a quar rel with a companion at the school. At neon the next day he was sitting en the fence, when the teacher came up and pulled him down, telling him te go te the school house ; he asked him.why he should go there, the teacher did net give any rea son, but caught held of witness and at tempted te drag him te the school house. He finally succeeded in getting loose and ran away from him ; the teacher followed and, catching held of him. 'tote his clothes and started with him for the school ; he stepped en his hands several times and otherwise injured him. During the scuttle a man came along by the school : the teacher told him te get a whip ; he refused, but said he would go for a director of the township ; the director came aud iht told the teacher te let him go ; afterwards he told witness that he must take a whipping or leave school ; when school took in that day the witness went in as usual, but did net recite ; at recess the teacher told lum te remain in ; he then gave him a severe whipping with two sticks, leaving twenty marks en the legs and arms ; he was sick from the effects for thirty-six days. On cress-examination the boy admitted that one time he said, in fun, that he aud his brother intended whipping the teacher ; after this affair he was expelled from the school by the directors ; the day after the whipping he went te Squire Erb who re fused te take his complaint; he resisted the teacher en this occacsien because he did net tell what he wanted with him ; he was out riding two days after the alleged assault. A sister and brother of the boy corrobor ated him and his father testified in regard te the marks ou his body. Ou trial. The grand jury returned the following bills : True Rill Barbara Laucks. keeping a disorderly house ; Lewis Cobach, ilenry Kellcr, Henry My crs and David Lew. en tering an outhouse te commit a fehmy ; Herace B. Jehns, false pretense ; Julia Hoever, murder ; Free Reland, fornica tion and bastardy. Commissioner of Bradford County. Last night Messrs. Daniel Bradford, M. Firman Ransom and J. AV. Hurst, com missioners of Bradford county, arrived in this city and stepped at the Stevens house. The object of their visit was te take a leek at our almshouse, as the people of Brad ford county (who have no almshouse, but have heretofore bearded their peer in private families) have determined te build an almshouse. This morning the visiting commissienars were taken in charge' by our county commissioners and were shown through the poerhousc.Jiiospital and insane asylum. They expressed them selves much pleased with the complete arrangement and apparent geed manage ment of these several institutions. The visitors had previously inspected the alms house of Berks, Schuylkill and some ether counties, and will inspect ethers before they resolve en a plan for their new build ing. They left the city for their homes this afternoon. Fashionable Wedding in Paradise. At about 11 o'clock te-day Miss Ella Lcidigh, of Paradise, and Mr. G. D. Slay maker, of Williamstown, both well known in the social circles of this city, were married. The occasion was the scene of brilliant festivities at the residence of the bride's fattier. Mr. I. W. Lcidigh. I'late Glass Itrekcu. Seme days age by the slight sinking of the foundation of Sehaum's building. Seuth Queen street, opposite the Fountain Inn hotel, one of the line large plates of glass in the front window were broken. Te-day a new plate has been put in te re place the old one. l'ay Day. This morning a special train having Pay master Wells of the Reading railroad en beard, passed down the Quarryville rail road. The men en this and the Reading and Celnmbia branches were paid their waes in cash for the month of December.