&&?kp&lyrim!ti)vLi Tf""11 I"-' LANCASTER IAlLl-lVLLlGEKCfiR TUSl)A, DECEMBER 14, 1880. JLancasicr tttfelligencet. TUESDAY EVENING, DEC. 14, 1880. The Way It Is Dene. The incident narrated elsewhere, of a constable undertaking te swell 12 miles actually traveled into 8S2 miles legal mileage, admirably illustrates the pre vailing practice of extortion among our public officials. Had the officer of the law been less grasping in his attempt te rob unfortunate litigants and increased his fees four or five hundred per eent. above their legal amount, his demands might have been satisfied without chal lenge ; but when he made the excess some two thousand per cent of his rights it was a little tee stiff te be paid without remonstrance, ending in examination and an abatement of the unlawful de mand. The example, however, will prove use ful te all classes of the public in exhibit ing te them the process by which fees are illegally increased, and the danger of being robbed te which every citizen is subjected who, by accident or by his own will, is placed in the position of a liti gant. As we have frequently demon demen strated.this system of multiplying indict ments ami increasing fees was reduced te a science in .1. W. Jehnsen's term as district allernev, and since that time district attorney., aldermen, constables and clerks s'jeni te have been banded to gether te prom tie their interests by per fecting it. The imposition begins when the cemmi.ttmg magistrate entourages or allows separate indictments te be made against the different parties te a sin gle effens". These form the foun dation for manifold writs, subpoenas commitments, mileages, indictments and office costs. When one complaint and one indictment would answer every pur pose, three, live, seven or a de?en are drawn and thecests increased three, live, seven or twelve-fold te the cost of the county, prosecutor or defendant and the great scandal f our local administra tion of justice. In the case cited, by a perfectly natural process and one that we doubt net is familiar te constables, lawful mileage was increased twenty fold. This is one of the commonest devices. The law contemplates that the service of subpe-nas shall be paid for miles actually traveled, and yet officers think nothing of serving a subpe-na at the same time en the same witnesses in each of a half der.en car.es and de riving six-fold mileage. In the case in point the constable actually had cherijul " -'v mi,'. tiiefJli'l te xiibjticnn himself. A man must be badly lest indeed when he has te travel that far te find himself. In another case brought te our notice, eleven complaints arose out of a single fight. There were eleven hearings --all at the same time-and eleven sub p:enas were issued for eacl of sixteen ', witnesses, making one hundred and sev- , enty-six s-r ices -had they been in the country there would have been that many j sets of mileage -for eleven witnesses, summoned te the same place at the same i lime. This are sample lets. The people cannot stand it any longer. Lawyers, cannot afford te b: liberal with the pub- lie officers at such expense te their clients and such discredit te the practice of their profession. It has come te an ex tremity of extortion when no bill el costs ought te be paid without ;i bill of items and a rigid examination of every item. Meantime the court could de much if it would, and mere than it does, if it would see that costs were aliewed for only out- indictment where one would suffice under the law. J -a e.- - Tjikkk is a great deal of feeling around and fidgeting around in Philadelphia concerning municipal reform, apparent ly in advance of and preparation for the February city elections. But it is pretty hard te tell what the various movements a re heading at. They all speak in a general way about the necessity of re form and the demand for it, but when it comes down te the hard pan of definite suggestion the oracles are mostly dumb or as equivocal as Maj. Xerris in his sen atorial acceptance. Stokley is mayor new; he wants te be mayor again. Is he te be " reformed "' out or is it " reform" te keep him in. We suspect that he is tee geed for the politicians and net geed enough for the reformers. If the politi cians succeed in beating him for the Re publican nomination the reformers, the Stokley people and the Democrats could beat the man who beats Stokley. Is that te be an outcome of the present nian wuvring ? A nen-parlisnu police force is a great stride toward municipal reform. That cannot be secured for Philadelphia by Mayer Stokley's rcnominatien and elec tion as a Republican, nor by his defeat by a mere partisan machine candidate. The presence of better men in coun cils is needed. The reform of the de linquent tax office and recorder V. office abuses is demanded, but they need legis lation te reform them. The complica tion of issues arising out of the variety of things aimed at by different elements of reform in Philadelphia makes it diffi cult te shape the battle lines there. Prob ably they never will be shaped in any municipality se as te obtain true reform until local and national politics arc entirely divorced, and candidates for town clerk are chosen with re gard te ether considerations than these which prevail in presidential elections. The present divisions of politics in city affairs must be utterly broken down be fore municipal reform can make much practical headway. The people who have the selection of a United States senator from Pennsyl vania in their hands seem te be very slew in getting through with their work, or at least in announcing its result. The attempt of the Philadelphia 77)c.s te grab time by the forelock has proven quite a misventure. A very small pro portion of the Pennsylvania legislators, and the newspapers which might be sup posed te speak for them, show any will ingness te disclose what they knew, if they knew anything. The Grew people knew what they want, but they cannot be very confident that they are going te get it. The Cameren people knew equal ly well that they arc most anxious te beat Grew, and that the field is stronger than-Grew. but when it comes te draw the winner they may find a new 'field bunched against him. The Legislature will have te seen meet and the election of senator comes early in the course of its business. Possibly events wait en Mr. Garfield's attitude toward Camer Camer ereu's preference for a cabinet office; and Garfield's disposal of his cabinet places waits en the Ohie senatorial elec tion, se that altogether Pennsylvania af fairs are put into a very embarrassing position of painful expectation. PFBSONAL. Salvini, the tragedian, lives the life of a fanner when off the stage. He is worth about $20,000. Gkaxt has arrived in Washington, the guest of General Bealc and the " boys in blue." -" Senater Wallace en his retirement from the Senate will resume the practice of the law and give his attention te his private business. Mrs. Jeiix Jacob Asteu has sent a font with basin of solid silver te a mission chapel which she has established in Ne braska. Dr. Talmaeu's Tabernacle is reported in desperate financial straits. Four months' arrears of salary are due him, notes te the amount of $11,000 are falling due, and there is but $50 in the treasury. Hen. 11. W. Thomi'Pex called en Mr. Hayes and requested him te appoint his successor as secretary of the navy in time te permit his retiring from that office en Monday next. Mr. Hayes accepted Secre tary Thompson's resignation, and has since designated Secretary Ramsey t act as secretary of the navy, in addition te his duties as secretary of war, from the 20th instant. Imegkxk, the actress, who was arrested for complicity in the embezzlement of $00, 000 from the Bosten city treasury, was discharged. Evidence of her knowl edge of the doings of Jehn A. Woodward, the absconding cashier, was clear, but as , she proved she was his lawfully wedded wife, she escaped trial en a technicality of I the law, and accordingly the grand jury found no bill. Her husband has been traced te Montreal. Lieutenant Commander IIr:xi:r ! Nici.ds, United States navy, died at , residence in West Chester yesterdav his of plcuro-pnenmonia after three daysilluess. He was a brave effiicer and gained his I rank by meritorious services. Recently 1 he was transferred te duty at the League 1 Island navy yard. Philadelphia, where he ! was stationed at the time of his death. I He was universally beloved, and the whole l community mourn the less of one of its ' most respected citizens. He was forty lone years of age, and leaves a wife and six children. MINOR TOPICS. A.Mi:nicAN capital, represented by Jay. Gould, is about te lay two new Atlantic cables. England and France must stand from under new. Ay the time that circulars were scut by the Times te the Republican members of the Legislature te gel some idea of their preference regarding the senatership sim ilar circula:s were mailed te the Republi can newspapers. They have generally i wen very prompt in respeiuiing, aim uie ' "suit shows 81 papers for Grew as first choice, 2 for Quay, 3 for Stene, 2 for Ward, 2 for Lear, 2 forScefield, 2 Ter Shir- i as, 5 for J. B. Packer, with 1 each for Daniel Agnew, Charles S. Wolfe, Bcnja-1 miu Harris Brewster, Lemuel Tedd, Harry ' White, General Lilly and Jehn Stewart. i i Ri;v. J. B. Yofxe, a Method ist preacher of Alteena, having preached a "Protcs "Pretcs i tant '' sermon en Thanksgiving Day, is ! taken te account for some of his statc j ments by a correspondent of the Tribune. The critic reminds the preacher that all the great explorations in this country were made by Catholics ; from Quebec te San j Francisce are still traceable the foot prints of the pioneers of Catholic civiliza tion and the missionaries of Catholic faith ; of the forty states new under the stare and stripes twenty-seven were settled by Catholics ; the Jesuit written constitution of Maryland efferrcd Protestants a refuge from Protestant intolerance ; and that many of the republics in the world te-day are Catholic France, Peru, Mexico, Co lumbia, Ilayti, Belivia, Equador, San Dominge and the Argentine Republic. Mi:. Mykhs, of Indiana, has offered in the Heuse an answering resolution calling upon the secretary of the treasury te fur uish Congress with a detailed statement of hew much money the government has paid General Grant since his entrance into the military academy. This includes his cadctship, his service in the Mexican and the late war, thereafter while general of the army, and his two terms in the White Heuse. The resolution went te the mili tary affairs committee, which also has in hand the bill te retire General Grant as general of the army. It is understood that Mr. Myers intends te combat the re tiring bill, and te use for that purpose figures from the treasury departmct, if he can get them, te show that General Grant has already had enough of public reward. English Secial Kccentrlcltlcs Londen Truth says : "An extraordinary circumstance took place the ether day in a West Midland county. A marriage" had been arranged between two parties of geed position, and everything was completely settled, when, en the morning fixed for the ceremony, the lady went te the rector of the parish te say that she was 'very sorry,' but she had 'changed her mind.' The cause of this inconvenient alteration in her sentiment remained a mystery for two days, and then she was married quiet ly by special license te another bride groom. "I hear of a peculiarly scandalous elopement from a Midland county. The gentleman has left behind a wife and family, while his companion is a young unmarried lady. Beth are people of 'society.' " Starred te Death. A woman 80 years old was starved te death in Bosten. She was weak from old age, aud could net have lived much longer in any cvcDt ; but lack of feed was what killed her. Her daughter was a washer woman, but could get very little work, and was se sensitive en the subject of her pov erty that she would net beg. She and her mother had nothing te eat for a week but some meal and a small piece of meat, and for two days were wholly without feed. The old woman lay helpless in bed, mean ing : "lam starving," yet the daughter would net go te the authrities for relief. STATE. ITEMS. The Alteena Sun starts bravely en its second year. Blair county has another " disgusting" infanticide. Miss Annie Gardner, of Lloydsville, dropped her male infant into a sink and it died there. "Judge Sterrctt, of the supreme court, is in Washington pushing the claims of Paxtea te a seat en the supreme bench of the United States." The prosecution of the Pittsburgh gam blers has new taken a new turn, and, in stead of light lines when brought before the mayer,tbcy are te have an opportunity te stand trial before the courts. A heateratrachcdtoabeilcrin Randelph & Jenks's mill, at Cliften, Delaware coun ceun ty, blew up, killing Frauk Lee and se se lieusly injuring Mark Cloud, both opera tives. The chairman of the finance committee of the university of Pennsylvania, announces that Mr. Henry C. Gibsen has offered te erect the new wing for incurables in con nection with the uuiversity hospital at the cost of about $30,000. The Western Union telephone inan- gcVs in Harrisburg having refused te put a telephone into the otlice of their rival, the American Union telegraph company, the court has been asked te compel them te admit the American Union te equcl privileges with the ether general public. The Kcystena wringer factory of F. F. Adams A; Ce., at Erie, caught fire and was burned te the ground. While endeavor ing te save the building Firemen Charles Scliugart, Geerge Smith and Geerge Claws were killed by the falling of a burn ing wall. The less is about $25,000 ; in surance, $50,000. At last the identity of the burglar killed in Baker's store, Ebeiisburg, a few weeks since, has been established. His compan ion, Albert Wilsen, who was sentenced te the penitentiary, says that the name of the individual was given as Charles Weaver, but his right name appears te have been Geerge Cenner. He was aged (VI years, had served two terms in fhc penitentiary and was generally "a bad man.'" James Larkins, city tax collector of Mcadville, cemmittced suicide en Satur day by sheeting himself in the forehead. He had city and county tax duplicates unaccounted for te the amount et $33,000, which is supposed te be the cause of the suicide. All is secured by responsible bondsmen. Larkins was ferty-five years of age, and leaves a wife and five chil dren. William Melntyre, :iged thirteen, son of a track foreman at Hollidaysburg, rolled effa lounge in his fathers house and fell en the point of a rusty bayonet with which he was playing. The bayonet entered his neck near the right ear, and was forced clear through his neck, emerging just below the left car. The father drew the bayonet, but there is no present hope of the boy's recovery. In Harrisburg, yesterday, Geerge Rett berg went out upon the reef te paint the dormer window frames of his houses. A strip of weed en which he depended for a foothold gave way, allowing Mr. R. te slide down feet foremost. He endeavored te catch himself, hut failed, falling te the pavement, striking the wooden steps with his feet, then rebounding pitched head foremost into the gutter, striking en the top of his head. When the doctor arrived the vital spark was just leaving the body of the unfortunate man. Upen examining Rettbcrg it was found that his neck had been broken by the fall; that his left wrist was broken and that he had a deep wound en the side of his head where he struck the bricks in the gutter, and that he had re i ecived several bruises besides. LATEST NEWS BY MAIL. The steamship City of Richmond, fiem Europe, brought 1,730,000 in coin aud geld bar. The beard of directors of the Northern Central railroad recently declared a divi dend of two-and-a-half per cent., which was the first dividend for years. J, Sullivan Hale, aged 74, father of Hen. Eugene Hale, was struck by a lever in a mill at Lewiston, Me., en Saturday, and cannot survive. The trial of William Parker, at Raleigh, N. C, for the murder of General Bryan Grimes, has been suspended and post poned until next spring, owing te the dan gerous illness of a juror. In the case of Sehrecder for the murder of Dr. Lcfevrc, at Oakland, Cal., the jury, after being out seventy-two hours, returned a verdict of net guilty. He had killed him for erim. run. with his wife. Hiram S. Holbrenk, agent of the Amer ican express company at Dubuque, la., while lying abed fatally shot his two year old daughter aud then fatally shot himself dead. His peer health is the supposed cause. Medicine Bull, a chief of the Brule Sioux was accidentally shot by the agency clerk at the Lewer Brule ngency, in Dakota. As a sign of geed faith he gave his best horse te the clerk and forbade his warriors te molest the whites. Dr. Glacier, assistant surgeon, recently attacked with yellow fever at Key West, Fla , died at 2:30 Sunday morning. Hos pital Steward Greene was placed iu charge of the hospital, but was taken sick with the fever when Dr. F. W. Lester was placed in charge. Jay Gould had been treating witll the Aliens for the purchase of their controll ing interest in the St. Leuis, Iren Moun tain & Southern railroad. Mr. Allen yes terday sold forty thousand shares of Iren Mountain stock te Mr. Gould for $2,000, 000, or fifty cents en the dollar. Mr. Thes. Allen and the stockholders who co operate with him in the Iren Mountain read owned two-thirds of the 214,589 shares of the capital stock of the read. This transfer will put the control of the read into Gould's hand. Miss Avis Piukham, whom Ivnapten Wardman shot and killed in Lawrence, Mass., before attempting te take his own life, was tweuty-nine years of age. Her parents reside in Washington, Maine. By these by whom she was known she is well spoken of. Her intimacy with Wardman appears te be the only blot en her character. Wardman was a man of dissipated habits, but formerly was held in high esteem. A negre rag picker named Isaac Smith was convicted in the criminal court in Washington yesterday of rape en a colored child nine years of age, named Hattic Beckett. He was sentenced te thirty years imprisonment, the full period al lowed by the statutes, in the Albany pen itentiary. A plea of guilty was entered against him iu the second case for commit ting a rape en Elizabeth Hams, aged ten years. Sentence in this case suspended until Saturday. Railroad Commissioner Bcerstcckcr has been shot in San Francisce by Antoine Fricher, president of the German Work Werk ingmen's club, of which Beerstecker was a member. They had been close political friends, but after the election of Beer stecker te the commissiencrship and the defeat of Fricher as a candidate for re corder at the last electieu, Fricher be came a bitter enemy of Beerstecker. Just before the sheeting Fricher had been im portuning Beerstecker te obtain for him some official position. The ball struck Beerstecker in the left breast, but it is be lieved the wound will net preve fatal. A;i Insane Ilrlflegroem. A weddinir party was assembled at Cleve land, and everything was ready for the cer emony, except that the bridegroom had net arrived. After waiting an hour be yond the appointed time, the bride fainted and the guests were about te disperse. Then a policeman came in and said that he had driven from the deer a drunken man who wanted te enter. A search in the neighborhood resulted in finding this man, who was the missing bridegroom. He was net intoxicated, but had gene insane. OKCIUKULY PARISIAN. Strange Suicide or Twe Levers. A remarkable duel lias just taken' place which for its novelty and feat fill termina tion has set Parisians agog. Twe brothers, Augustc and Audie Bcrni, the ienner ageI 10, the latter 153, both employed in the great glass manufac tory at Saint Denis, hecame enamored of Adcle Vergeri,a cook at La Yillutte. Adclc Vergeri is described as a young woman of plain, simple habits, who had, by dint of hard work and economy, managed te save a few hundred francs. In appearance Adcle is but a humble representative of France, but she is modest and retiring, and net given te resorting te balls and the atres. She formed the acquaintance of the brethersat a baptism. Beth, it ap pears from the very first, began paying her attentions. Adclc Vergeri received the visits of the brothers with much sang freid. Te her it was amusing te sec lust one, men uie ether, come pulling and blowing in his de sire te be the first te greet her. Neither would give in te the .ether, and Adele had te escort them both out, as neither would leave the ether alone with her. Se terri ble became the jealousy between thu brothers that they would net speak with each ether. It had, however, te be settled at last, as Adclc Vcisrcri threatened that unless her courtship ceased te be mixed with hatred she would have te ask the brothers te desist from calling upon her. The brothers met. They had parted with Adele Vcrgeri, and both confronted each ether in one of the great winesheps of the Saint Denis quarter, se appropriately called by Zehu " Assommeir." They glared at each ether, and their friends saw at once that mischief was brewing. They finally motioned te each ether te withdraw te a table. They spoke low, but excitedly, smoked quickly, and the blue smoke, of their pipes was het. "A duel ! Yes, a duel !" This was dis tinctly heard, and then the brothers beck oned te Jules ilemi and Alfred Poulier, friends of theirs. They had decided upon fighting a duel, but net with swords or pistols. It was te be a duel te the death. Twe bottles of rum. brought from the cellars of Jacques Barbicr's Assommeir de Saint Denis, were put en the table. Twe tumblers were set by the side of the bottles, and then this contract was made by the brothers in the presence of wit ncsscs : "It is agreed between the brothers Augustc and Andre Bcrni te drink rum until neither is unable te drink any mere. The first who succumbs will consider him self beaten, and surrender all claim te Adclc Vergeri." The contract was signed, the bottles tipped, and the tumbler idled. At first the men drank slowly, but as the liquor began te excite their brains they fairly poured it. down their threats. At the ninth glas.- Angus' ;uste, the younger ei the brothers, gave a yen et pain , anu same scnscies 10 the fleer. Andre Bcrni then arose, and, with a smile en his face , turned te leave. Hardly ha., he reached the deer of tnc cabaret when he threw up Ins lianas and leu senseless, no was quickly carried te the hospital Tenen, , but died shortly after reaching it, of con cussion of the brain and paralysis of the heart. Augustc Genii, crazed by the rum ' he had drank, recovering from his faint, ran madly through the streets, and hasj net been seen since. Adele Vergeri, the humble cek of La Villette, when she heard of the death of Andre and the disappearance of Augustc, merely shrugged her shoulders. IlK.Vfll IX A 1'Or OF VA1S.MMI. Three I'islnliil Accident, line r Which has a Fatal Kuilin. A most painful accident occurred en Saturday, at the home of Paul Hall, a car penter, living in Bushhill township, North ampton county. A kettle containing var nish which had been placed ever a stove boiled ever and the contents, catching fire, ran ever the fleer, setting die te it and filling the room instantly with smoke. There were in the room at the tunc Mrs. Hall,, her two daughter. Mrs. Patrick McGrath and Mrs. Henry Spongier, and several children of these ladies. Mrs. Hall rushed te the stove and endeavored te lift the pet from it, but her drcts caught lire and iu an instant she was wrapped in fiaines. Her daughters, after bursting ihe winnow sashes and throwing out their children ran te the assistance of their mother, who lay en the lloer unconscious, as the flames consumed her flesh and clothing. They extinguished the fiames, but wcre them selves injured. William Hall, a son ran in te assist and was badly burned about the head, face aud hands. A six-year-old son of Mr. Hall has died. William Hall is expected te recover, but the McGrath child will net, it is feared, survive. The house was badly damaged. Fatal Casualties. Jehn F. R. Brown, owner of the Pleas ure Bay house, at Leng Branch, was thrown from Ins carriage last Thursday evening and received injuries which may prove fatal. A carriage containing a party of young people was demolished by a train at a rail road crossing in Dublin, Ohie, en Saturday night, and a young woman named Clara Ilausboreugh, was killed. Anether young woman and a young man were severely in jured. The rcsidcucc of Charles D. Fisher, en Charles street, Baltimore, was destroyed by fire before daylight Sunday morning. The family escaped, but Mary Taskcr, a colored woman, and Perry Diggs, a color ed boy, were fatally injured by jumping from a fifth-story window. The woman died in half an hour alter the disaster, and the boy was dying last night. The lire is supposed te have originated from the fur nace iu the cellar. The less en the build ing, furniture and library is estimated at 810,000. - m m A Deal Toe Leng. All old lady of his fleck once called upon Dr. Gill with a grievance. The doctor's neck-bands were tee long for her ideas of ministerial humility, and after a long har angue en the sin of pride, she intimated that she had brought her scissors with lier and would be "pleased if her dear pastor would allow her te clip them down te her notions of poverty. The doctor net only listened patiently te her lecture, but handed her ever the offend ing white bands for her te operate upon. When she had cut them le her sat isfaction and returned the bibs it was the doctor's turn. "New," said he, " my geed sister, you must de me a geed turn also." "Yes, that I will, doctor; what can it. be?" "Yeu have something about you which is a deal tee long and causes me no end of trouble, and I would like te see it shorter." " Indeed, dear sir, I will net hesitate; what is it? Here are the scissors, use them as you please." " Come then," said the sturdy divine, " geed sis ter, put out your tongue." A Paris Sensation. The best society of Paris has been shocked by the sudden death of two young ladies, Mile, de Thaunberg and Mile, de la Ckevardierc. They went with fricuds te the theatre, aud it was arranged that Mile, de Thannnbcrg should sleep at the house of Mme de la Chevardierc, instead of going te her home. A stove had been lighted in the room of one of the young ladies, which opened into that which her friend was te occupy. . They retiretUin geed health' and spirits, but. next morning when the maid entered their room with their chocolate, they were found in their beds dead. They had been asphyxiated by the carbonic acid gas from the stove. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. A TOBACCO SHAIU'. Il.uv IIe Swindled a Dealer out of a Small Amount anil Came Near Shutting; Up the Eyes of Others. A piece of sharp practice en the part of a bogus tobacco buyer has just come te ligkt.theugh the parties most immediately interested succeeded in keeping it qnfct for a week. A geed-looking, well-dressed, well-informed man calling himself S. Sell ser, aud representing himself as an ageut of the extensive cigar manufacturing es tablishment of Huan & Ce., made his ap pearance iu Lancaster and sought an inter view with David G. Hirsh, dealer iu leaf tobacco. After dickering for some time and examining samples with the utmost care he made up his mind te pur chase 130 cases, cash en delivery. He selected 40 cases for immediate shipment, the price agreed upon amounting te $1,94G. As Mr. Sellser required some loose change for immediate wants he suggested that the draft en Huan & Ce. should be made for the even $2,000, aed that Mr. Hirsh should hand ever te him the odd $54. This was acquiesced in "by Mr. Hirsh, who suggested, however, that it would be the proper thing te telegraph te Huan fc Ce. and acquaint them with the transaction. le this Sellser readily agreed, but urged Mr. Hirsh te keep the matter from the knowledge of ether packers and manufacturers, as Huan S: Ce. had a reputation of using only Havana to bacco and it wouldn't de te let outsiders outsiders knew they wcre using Pennsylvania. This matter being satisfactorily arranged, the two walked down street, took supper at the Stevens house, telegraphed te Huan & Ce., at Jacksonville, went te the theatre and had a geed time generally all at Mr. Ilir.di's expense. As it was late Saturday evening when the telegram was sent oil', no reply was received until Monday. In the meantime, Mr. Sellsc had hired a team from Fred. Brimmer and gene te Manhcim te ply his arts among the rural tobacco men. Mr. Hirsh at once followed him and ovorteok him, finding that he had negotiated with several parties for a large number of cigars. The fellow begged, and cried, and plead se earnestly, that Mr. Hirsh, who had at least saved his to bacco, that he was induced te let him oft" without a prosecution a thing which i he ought net te have dene: but as an evidence of Mr. Scllser's tender-heartedness it may be here mentioned that when Mr. Hirsh took him te the theatre the play being "The Child of the State" he wept at all the mere affecting pas sages of that delightful drama. The same fellow, under the name of Geedman, en the same day en which he called en Mr. Hirsh, called also en Messrs. Slnlcs fc Jfrcy, and, representing himself as agent for Huan & Ce., bought 40 cases, shi,)C(1 at eucc. Before the shipment was ' made, however, the bubble burst and the i imQ ciaractcr )t- Sellser, alias Geedman, was ospescd. Dcales-s in- ether localities , b1mmiM , .. m Mm , A Ui:STION Of COXSTKUCTIOK. When De Their Terms likjiire ? There appears te be some doubt as te whether an election for select councilman of the Third ward, and Aldermen MoCen- emy. Geed and Dennelly, of the First, . Fifth and Eighth wards, shall or shall net be had at the ensuing municipal election in February. i Last I'ebriiaiy Majer R. W. Shetik was i elected ."-elect councilman of the Thiid ward, lie died and Adam R. IJaiv was elected his .successor. Heretofore the practice has been for council te elect a. suc cessor "for the unexpired term " but it is claimed by sonic that this is illegal md that the vacancy should he tilled by an election by the people at the next succeed- ing city election. Ihe mere prevalent opinion is that council has a right te fill the vacancy for tha full length of the un expired term. As te the cise of the aldermen there is mere doubt. They were elected in Feb ruary, 1870, but their commissions, which run for a term of live years, bear date No vember 0, 187(5 and would therefore expire November 0, 1SSI : but the act of Assem bly of March 10, 1873. provides that "city officer:;" whose terms of office would expire in November, 1S7G. or any year thereafter, shall continue in ofiice until the first of April following, school directors excepted. The question is, de the aldermen of the wards named held ever until April, 1832, or de their commissions expire November; 1881 ; and if they expire in November, 1881, shall their successors be elected at the ensuing February election. Under the previsions of the act of March 10, 1873, common councilmen elected in October of that year held ever until the 1st of April, 1377. But common councilmen arc net commissioned by the governor, and aldermen are ! And arc aldermen "city officers?" The act of May 2&1, 1874, says : " Each of the wards of the said cities shall be en titled te one alderman : "' "' said alder man shall be elected at the muuicipal election next preceding the c::piratien of the commission of the justice of the peace resident in the district out of which said ward shall be created."' It will be necessary te have an " official" decision pretty seen, as the mayor is obliged te make timely proclamation of all the offices te be filled afc the ensuiug elec tion. The city solicitor has been asked for an opinion, aud it is probable the mat ter will be referred te the attorney general also. Class in riiysiolegy. The talk en " Digestion " last evening by Dr. Crumbaugh at the Yeung Men's Christian association before the class in anateinyg and physiology was well at tended, some forty te fifty youths and young men being present. The subject was set forth en the black-beards in brief heads which were discussed at length, first as te the organs themselves, and then as te their structure, secretions and functions. The lecture was of a practical character, being illustrated with diagrams, charts, skeleton and prepared slides of tissues and parts of organs shown under the compound microscope. Three very line microscopes were en duty upon the table in the room te the rear of the audience hall, te which the attention of all present was invited at the close of the lecture. This physiology class affords young men an unusually geed chance te learn something of "the house they live in.'" It is, of course, free te everybody. Anether itlllbniau Fined. Wilsen Brubakcr, jr., a milkman resid ing en the New Helland pike, near Muddy Springs, had a hearing before Alderman McConemy this morning, te answer a complaint preferred against him by Daniel Feglcy, for violating the act of As sembly which requires milk-venders te have en their wagons their names and the location of their dairy. Mr. Brubaker ac knowledged that he knew he was violat ing the law, but did se only because he purchased a new wagon for which he had net yet received the painted curtains. He was made pay the fines and costs, and premised te ha'e his curtains put en at once. There are three or four ether milk venders in town who have neglected te show their " sign," who have been warned, and will be prosecuted if they are seen vending milk en the street without it. IIAKKISUEKG COTTON FACTORY. The .Capacity of Its Machinery A Short SKetcheltne .enterprise. The Harrisburg papers aud people con tinue te express great satisfaction at the purchase by Geerge Calder. jr., of this city; of their cotton mil,. The Telegraph gives quite a history of the mill. Its ca pacity is as fellows": Looms, two bundled and eighty one. Spindles, eight thousand. Operatives two hundred aud fifty. Productions, seventy six thousand yards per week. Hours par day, under the old organiza tion, eleven. The mill made brown sheetings, shirt ing and drillings. Cotteu used per week sixty hales. The average pay per year, $00,000. The first fleer was used for canting. second for weaving third for spinning, and the fourth for dressing. The cloth room is located in the second story of the new brick building, where the goods were brushed, trimmed, folded, stamped and baled for the market. About the year 1846-17, the success of the cotton mills at Lancaster, built by Gen. James, of Providence, R. I., induced a number of the enterprising citizens of Har risburg te consult with that gentleman as te the erection of a similar mill in this (.then) borough. General James's knowl edge of cotton spinning was very exten sive, and at a meeting held in the court house, he presented the practical points te be considered by these who were asked te subscribe the necessary capital te ereet such an establishment, and a joint stock company was organized, which embraced many of our most prominent capitalists James McCormick, William Calder, Isaac G. McKinlcy, Michael Burke, Jehn H. Briggs, Philip Dougherty and ethers. A contract was entered into with Gen. James for the erection of a first-class mill, and the company started in its opera tions about 1819-30, James McCormick, president; William Buchlcr, treasurer. All the original beard of directors arc dead, the only surviving officer being Win. Buchlcr. Staiting with a limited knowl edge of the business, the directors wcre wholly dependent en the judgment of the superintendent. The success of the enterprise was varied, but en the whole profitable. One of the effects of the mill was te increase the value of real estate in the upper end of the city, the indirect profits of which paid for the erec tion of the mill twice ever. At the begin iug of the war the company had a fair working capital and were in first-rate standing. Supposing that the war would be of short duration, operations in the mill wcre suspended, the result of which was j who is collecting money for his church, that the establishment was idle until about I from our citizen, was net authorized te 1805. By this time a number of the di-idose. Whether she is acting inasurrop inasurrep inasurrop recters had died, and these remaining J titieus capacity, or net, docs net appear en were net willing te undertake P.s manage- the surface. ment. In this condition of affairs the mill ! Twe sons of William M. Jehnsen, a vet was sold at public auction, Hen. J. D. Cam-! emu of the late war, of this place, who cren and ethers becoming the purchasers. 1 were placed iu the Mount Jey soldiers' or er Samucl D. Maseu, of Providence, R. I., phans' school a few months age, ran away was the first superintendent. When the t this morning and came te Columbia They mill was nut into oncratien under the new I wcre pursued by two ether inmates of the ownership, a Mr. kclly was superintend cut for about a year. In 18G0 Samuel Fisk took charge of the mill, conducting its af fairs untifl870, when Edward Andrews : took charge of it, by whom it has been ! managed until its late suspension. The : mill will begin spinning en the 1st of Jan- tiarv. 1881. Mr. Andrews, whose man- agement of the mill under the late owner- . ship was se satisfactory, will remain with Mr. Calder until the establishment is un der full operation, and for aught we knew longer. lie is certainly one of the most successful men in his line iu the country. ILLEGAL FCKS. ifew They are Alatiiitactnreu. A case just brought te our notice illus trates in a remarkable degree the felly and expense of "going te Jaw"' ever trifles and the rapacity of petty officials iu in creasing their fees at a rate which makes the local administration of justice se scau- j ilaleus and oppressive. j Twe brothers had a dispute as te their great , rights in a certain property of no value at its best. Ihe invasion of it or rather the use of it by one of the brothers . and his men was regarded by the ether as a malicious trespass and a criminal prose- ' cutien was begun against them all. A counter civil and criminal suit fol lowed. By which time the trouble of at , tending court, the law's .delays, the law- ! yers' fees, the bad bleed created, and ; ether considerations involved, brought them te their better senses and a brotherly : compromise was effected, by which all : suits wcre withdrawn and the costs di- ' vided. It cost each of the parties te the v - quarrel about $100 for their experiment at litigation'evcr trifles, But this is only incidental te the main fact which it is desired te illustrate the facility with which costs are worked up by constables. When the aggrieved party sought re dress he readily found n magistrate who .showed him hew te make nine complaints and nine cases out of one and the same time The line "sets of offense committed at the same nine suits were brought and nine costs incurred. One bill was ignored and one case otherwise disposed of. When there remained seven suits ou the docket the agreement was reached by which seven were te be nel.pratscd upon payment of the costs, half by each of the brothers litigant, original parties te the dispute. When it came te the payment of these costs it was found that the subdivision of the offense, and the multiplication of in dictments had resulted in siwen sets of costs for the prosecution of the single of fense. The sheriff, the district attorney, the clerk of quarter sessions, the county, the justice and the constable's return each had seven-fold costs included in the bill. The first brother who paid his costs found his half amounting te $77.90. The settle ment was made te the August term. Meanwhile subpecnas were issued te the witnesses te attend the October, Novem ber and December terms of court, and after the latter the ether brother came te town te attend te the payment of his half of the costs aud was startled te hear that they had mounted up te about $130. Here comes the rub ! There wcre three witnesses for the com monwealth. One of them was the prose cutor and another was the constable him self te whom the subpecnas were sent te be served by him. He had te travel G or 7 miles and back at most te serve en the prosecutor ami the ether man. Hew de you suppose he managed te feet up a bill of $17.04 mileage en the com monwealth's subpeena for each court? This way He traveled his seven miics and back each of the three times. Then he returned 14 miles circular for each of the three wit nesses, in each of the seven cases at each of the three courts : 14x.00x3x7-317.C4. $17.G4x3$32.92. That is te say that this constable and he was net a city constable charged $32.92 mileage, representing 8S4 miles trav eled at 0 cents a mile, when in truth and fact he traveled only 42 miles and was only entitled te $2.52. He came down like Jenes's coon as seen as the gun was pointed at him. THE LATE FKBEZL'. Hydrants ami Water Fipes Damaged. The moderating weather has had the ef fect of swelling the ice in frozen hydrants and frozen water pipes and bursting a great number of them. Over one hundred have already been rcpertetl as buist, aud one plumber reports that he had eighteen te repair en Saturday. While se many private pi' es havebejn burst, it is gratify ing te Jearn that there has net ticun a single break in any of the city water mains nor a single fire plug frozen. COLUMBIA NEWS. OBi: KKGU1.AU COKKESrOXUKNCK Yesterday, the occasion of his 58th birthday, William Hitcshuc was agree ably surprised, en reaching his home, at the" dinner hour, te find a number of bis friends awaiting him- te commemorate with him the day. Mr. Hiteshue's Sun day school class of the Church of Ged were among the number. Officers Fisher and Lylc arrested four men yesterday en North Frent street, charged with drunken and disorderly con duct in the neighborhood of Baker's sa loon. .Messrs. S. S. Dctwiler. L. W. Richards and several ethers, left here this morning for MeCall's Ferry te procure greens for decorating purposes in St. Paul's Episco pal church. The decorations, which will be efau elaborate nature, will he put up seen and will be kept up until after New Year's day.""" Jehn L. Denny, of the Paxton rolling mill, Harrisburg, was in town yesterday. Information reaches us of thedcmolitieu of four canal beats in the Chesapcake Bay a day or two since. The beats were being towed from Baltimore te Havre De Grace by a tmr. which with the fifth beat get away. The ice- had gorged at a point abeve the scene of the accident a couple of days before ami it was shortly after flie break, while the current was swift and the ice running thick, that the beats appeared. Te battle the ice was impossible and four of the beats succumbed. One of them was leaded with merchnudiss, the value of which is estimated at four hundred dollars'. Xe lives lest . Cel. C. S. Kaufi'itiau has returned from a viit te the western part of the state. The Vigilant fire company, at a meeting held last evening appointed Geerge W. Schreedcr a delegate te the state volunteer firemen's convention te be held at Read ing en Thursday next. The Columbia company appointed their president a dele gate te the convention with the under standing thas he was te name his substi tute should he be unable te go himself. A young man while en his way home en Saturday night discovered a couple of tramps standing at the open deer of a dwelling house en one of our streets. He asked the men what they were doing there and they answered " What the hell busi ness is that ei yours ?" He stepped, the men advanced towards him,but by a quick hand movement te tiic neighborhood of the hip-pocket of his pantaloons, he effectually scared molestation from their pates and they retired. The victor then went home. Rev. J. !1. Katcrline. pastor of the Church of Ged, savs that the little girl institution until they reached here when they eluded their pursuers. They are yet at liberty, but will probably be caught be fore long. At the monthly meeting of company 11 last evening, it was decided te give a sup per en February 18th, 19th, 21st and 22d I 1SS1 ihe receipts will ie used te pay tins company's expenses te Washington, D. C. en inauguration day. Twe new members were elected. The Peim-.j Ivania railroad ;ay car was here yestcrdaj aftcrnejn, and the employ ees of the company were paid for work performed in the month of November. Corporal A. M. Slade was acting first icrgeant of company II last evening. Market this morning was net very lively. One of Samuel Filbert's mules fell into the rivei above the bridge yesterday. Til 1UKUS WKVEXS. Further Demand for the I'uullcnlimt ( ll! Itiograiiliy Itiegraiiliy Xffw l'erk Sun. Thaddeus Stevens was buried iu the graveyard for colored people of Lancaster. lie declined te lay his bones with these who were tee proud te associate themselves even in death with the race whose suffer ings had exeited his sympathy. In his public conduct, in his domestic life, and in all his te.-tamentary arrangements, he made clear his detestation of the distinc tion whieh society had always main tained. Stevftis was certainly tins great com moner of the war period. He was for a while in the Heuse of Representatives ; its action lav ia his voice. Opposition wilted before hi strong will. Weaker men, and ...... ... ' .1 I semcumes moiecenscieiiuous niu,wiiu .Mlt.bi. Illi, JtlOIJ, .(ill. i?.iii ....i.i. .iv wcre measures they would lam have escaped. Gen. Garlield, for instance, did net be lieve iu the constitutionality of the recon struction laws; he had, indeed, demon strated their unconstitutionality in the supreme com t ; but he voted for them under Stevens's stern command, as obe diently as if it had been high treason te I have an opinion of his own. Stevens 1 i cratcd "no nonsense." as he called un it. AVIn-n a member offended him. or was slack in his service of the party, he had no hesitation ii wiiting te the gentlemen's constituents that he had no further use for him and th"y had better keep him at home. lie never pretended that he thought the reconstruction laws constitutional. On the contrary, he candidly stated his opin ion that they were entirely " outside the constitution," and as candidly expressed his sovereign contempt for the intellect of any man who supposed they were inside. His doctrine of political necessity covered the case. He had no notion of pausing te consider matters of mere legal right when the interests he had in charge required him te go ahead. With much of the moral ceaiseness of Danton, he had many of the high mental qualities of Mirabcau. He was ena of the greatest, of revolutionary leaders. He rode th.-r storm, and rode it for a purpose. There was. a time when Mr. Lincoln's power was net comparable te the actual power wielded by Stevens. Ne ether man in Amc: hi tit history has ever occupied the singular position which courage, genius and stern conviction gave him. The story of Mr. Stevens's life is also closely interwoven with the most interest ing chapters in the history of Pennsylva Pennsylva eis. With the commeu school system, the public works and the State politics of a by gone age, his name is inseparably con nected. (Jii the whole, Thaddeus Stevens's biography, if executed with a frankness and courage similar te his own, would lie one of the most instructive biographies ever written. Mr. Edward McPherson is his literary executer, and the public expceS tatieu hasmire than once been areuscdf by announcements that he had the work in iiand. The time has arrived for a can did and dispassionate review of the polit ical conduct of the group of anti-slavery leaders, .if whom Mr. Stevens was the most powerful and for a time the most conspic uous ; ami it is te be hoped that his ap pointed biographer will net longer with with eold tht materials for a proper judgment. Mentii'-f tte Finance Committee. Last evening a meeting of the iinancc committee of city councils was held in select cenr.ci: chamber. The city treas urer had been notified te attend the roect reect iiv and bring with him the tax duplicates ami acettificateef his banker, showing the amount of city funds en deposit en the 1st and 5th of April last, and also en the 1st of November. The treasurer, who is acting under advice of counsel, declined te appear. The committee. approved the bill ei" Mr. Clarksen, who had been employed as an expert te examine the city treasur er's books, and having no ether business before them adjourned.