Centre Jifti Semoroit.
BHUUKRT A. FORSTKR* Editors.
VOL. 3.
TThc Centre Urmocuil.
Tor mi 81.50 per Annum,ln Advance.
S. T. SHUGERT and R. H. FORSTER. Editor*.
Thursday Morning, March 24, 1881.
To our Patrons.
For the first time since the CENTRE
DEMOCRAT has been in existence we
are compelled to throw ourselves upon
the indulgence of our patrons in the
way of apology. We expected to he
able to issue our paper as usual this
week; but owing to the time and labor
required to move our heavy machine
ry, ami the innumerable ami unavoid
able delays incident to the arranging
of our office in a new place, we have
been forced to realize that our expec
tations were too sanguine. We do the
best we can, however, by issuing a halt
sheet, and under the
do not hesitate to ask our friends to
bear with us. Before our next Issue
appears, everything in connection
with our new quarters will bo in com
plete order, and we hope to get along
without troubling any one with apolo
gies in the future.
SENATOR EDMUNDS, of Vermont,
ha* gone South itt search of health.
Perhaps in appealing to the .South for
renewed vigor be may acquire toler
ance for a class of otir citizens which
he and his party are accustomed to
denounce as outlaws and vngabouds.
( 'ANNOT the more reputable of the
members of the lower house of the
Pennsylvania legislature devise some
means to keep the Philadelphia and
Allegheny roosters within the hounds
of decency ? If they are powerless in
the hands of these disreputable and
desperate associates, they should say
so, and, for the sake of their own good
names, licat a hasty retreat to their
respective homes.
IT is said Don Cameron has been
appointed keeper of the liliputian cu
riosity recently purchased by Presi
dent < iartiehl ami added to his Sena
torial menagery. It is called Repu
diation for want of a lietter name —is
very frisky and requires adroit man
agement. Hence its assignment to
the astute Senator from Pennsylvania.
It counts one and is utilized in taking
the yeas and nays on the Republican
side.
TUB conservatory of the White
House furnished a handsome bouquet
of flowers to adorn the desk of -Ma
hone, and indicates the satisfaction of
the President in the acquisition of a
traitor and the Repudiation party of
Virginia to the great Republican par
ty. His glee will abate somewhat lie
fore many months have elapsed. The
investment is uot likely to yield u
large per cent.
A RBHOI.TTION has been introduced
in the Wisconsin Legislature provid
ing for an investigation of the alleged
bribery which resulted in the election
of Angus Cameron to the Senate.
The Cameron clan is famous for the
crooked means adopted to obtain sen
ntorships. The Wisconsin branch of
the clan appears to be no exception
to the infamy which has so marked
them for "ways that are dark" in
Pennsylvania.
IT aernu to lie pretty well settled in
Washington that an extra session of
Congress will be called to convene
about the 15th of May. The necessity
for it is laid principally upon the fail
ure of the Funding bill to become a
law, wlurh was vetoed by the fraudu
lent Prondent, and against passage
of which the Republicans filibustered
in the interest of the banks, until they
had completed arrangements with the
Fraud to veto it. Who is responsible ?
Not the Democrats certainly.
"Eqi'AL AMI) EXACT J I'STICK TO ALL MEN, Of WIIATKVKR hTATE OH I'ERSUASION, RKLIGIOL'S OR POLITICAL."—JsITmon
Six Years of Democratic LcKis
lation.
Wbcu the Democratic party came
into power in tlic lower house of Gun
gross on the first Monday of Decent*
her, 1875, the people were stricken
with poverty ami want from one end
of the land to the other. All kinds
ami every class of our manufacturing
industries were at a stand still. Every
branch of business of whatsoever kind
felt the oppression and blight which
had fullen upon the land. More than
three millions of laltoring men hud
been thrown out of employment, and
they ami their families left to eke out
an existence as best they could in pen
ury, suffering and want. In short,
no man can draw the picture as dark
nor as full as the evils that then rested
upon the American |eoplc. How all
this was brought about is not now our
purpose to inquire, hut rather by what
means were the people relieved ami to
whom belongs the credit.
The tirst act of the Democratic con
gress was to drive out ami kill oir the
arrogant ami powerful lobby, whose
sole business it was to rob ami plun
der tbc people, under the care ami pro
tection of the former Republican con
gress, In making appropriations for
the year I*7'! it saved to the people
830,(NX),000; it refused mail, steam
ship ami railroad suli-idies. A Dem
ocratic congress passed the silver bill
and directed that the United -States
Treasury should coin and distrihu e
silver dollars at the rate of 82,000,000
jH-r month until 8100,000,000 were
coined. Republican legislation requir
ed that Greenbacks should lie retired
and destroyed. Democratic legislation
required that they should lie reissued
and the policy of contraction and op
predion stopped. When this was done
intelligent men who jswaisstxl capital,
said, "We will have no lc*s value in
commodities; we will commence to
buy again." The niamifacturer said,
"I will kindle my fires, for the destruc
tion of the values brought about by
the Republican party are now check
ed. There will be no less value. I
can go to work, for we are now at the
bottom." The < ircenback legal tend
ers are now par, and were brought to
par by wise legislation on the part of
the Democratic congress. During this
fieriod of six years there was saved to
the people in cutting down the expen
ses of the government by their repre
sentatives reviving and putting in
practice the true principles of wealth
—economy —more than one hundred
ami forty millions of dollars in actual
appropriations, beside stopping the im
mense steals carried on by, and under
the Republican congress. During this
same |ieriod many hundreds of mil
lions of the public debt were refund
ed, Inuring interest at the rate of four
and four and a half |er cent; hut,
mark it, not until both hou*e* of Con
became Democratic was the gov
ernment able to float her four per cent
bonds. And to complete this magni
ficent record and make still brighter
the crown of glory that belongs, alone,
to the Democratic party, the last ses
sion of congress passed a bill to refund
8650,000,000 of the public debt fall
ing due this year, which hill con
tained a section compelling the nation
al hanks to accept the three per cent,
bonds in exchange for the bonds hear
ing twice that much interest. And to
fill out a career of infamy and fraud
this bill was vetoed by R. B. Hayes.
Why was it vetoed ? The influences
that caused it, and the effect of it, may
more properly lie couidered hereafter.
THE Oraensburg Mc**engrr has dis
covered that the Democrats have an
unworthy and discreditable member
of Congress from that district in the
person of Morgan 8. Wise, who is now
credited for his second term. The
SltMmger is too innocent by half.
The unworthiness of Wise was appa
rent before it supported him for Con
gress. His standing in the legislature
was not such as to commend him for
higher honors.
BELEEFONTE, l'A., THURSDAY, MARCH 24, IHKI.
Mahono'a Bouquet.
This is what the New York Sun has
to say id' Mnhoue's bouquet from the
White House:
First, it means that tlio president
holds himself in readiness to reward
votes in his favor—to pay for them.
The gift of flowers cannot signify les
than that they Hie to be followed by
the bestowal of patronage.
Again, it is a direct atfront. It is a
declaration that the president believes
that United Stales senators may be pa
tronized by him.
Did the president ever live who
would have dared to place upon the
table of Daniel Webster, .lolill (,'. Usl
linun, John J, Crittenden, or Henry
Clay, a bouquet is a token of white
h >tle approval of it vote?
It is a little thing in itself, bu' very
significant. The fl overs have no fra
grance, but emit a hatelul and oit'en
sive odor.
AFTER succeeding in getting their
committee* through with the aid of
Muhone nmi the casting vote of the
Vice President, the Republican mem
bers !' the Senate arc now determined
upon nn entire reorganization. At a
caucus held on Tuesday evening, the
following persona were selected to fill
the principal offices: For secretary
of senate, George V Gorman; for ser
geant nt arms, Henry Riddlebargcr, of
Virginia; for principal executive clerk,
•Tames It. Young, of Pennsylvania;
t"r chief legislative clerk, Charles \V.
John-oil, of Minnesota; for chaplain,
Rev. Dr. Byron Sunderland,of Wash
ington city. Riddlebargcr is a warm
personal and political friend of Serin
tor Mnhone. He was n colonel in the
confederate service and is now one of
the editors of the Stanton Valley Vir
ginian. It w ill IK* in the power of Un
democratic members of the senate to
prevent any change in the present
personnel of the senate officer* by unit
edly withholding tln-ir vote* and iSm*
breaking a quorum when the resolu
tion ia oilervJ, tor ouupUun.. Will
they have hack IK tie enough to do so?
Tut: purchase of Mahone and the
Repudiation party of Virginia ly the
administration, gives the Republican*
three Senator* from New York and a
majority of one in the Senate. The
minority i* large enough nud suffi
ciently brainv to hold them level
against nny outrageous partisan or
plunder nets, even under the lead
of the shot gun hero and hi* aid*
from New York. But too much dig-
nity on the part of Democratic Sena
tor* against such leadership will lie
equal to imbecility and ought to give
place to a little more pluck.
The proceeding* of the House of
Representatives, nt Harrisbnrg, were
signalized la*t week by the passage of
a resolution to expel one Dr. Pnltner,
correspondent of the Pittsburg Cum
inerciai'Gairtle, from the reporter's
gallery. I)r. Palmer was guilty of
the awful erime of speaking hi* mind
t(H> freely about Speaker Hewitt. It
was a small bu si new for the legida
ture to engage in, and smaller still for
the .Speaker to countenance it. It is
to IK* hoped, however, be found a
soothing balm for his wounded honor.
He has succeeded, nt least, in giving
Palmer a great deal of notoriety he
never would otherwise have gained.
THE new Emperor of Ilussia IN like
ly to live in ft* much danger of assas
sination IH hi* father did before hint.
.Scarcely hail hi* proclamation assum
ing the high duty that fell upon him
by the untimely death of hi* predeces
sor been issued before a plot was
discovered to take hi* life. A mine
leading under the palace iu which lie
lives was found by the police and the
timely discovery has no doubt saved
him for a time. The Nihilists ap|ienr
to he active and determined, and it
will keep the guardians of the crown
on the alert to checkmate their devil
ish plots.
VICE PHKMDKXT ARTHUR i* get
ting even with John Sherman now
for turning him out of the Custom
House. It Is said tho ex-Collector
can't see the ex-Seeretary when ho
desires to speak or roako a motion in
tho Semite.
TIIE investigation as to the authoi
shipof the Morey Chinese letter seems
to drag heavily. Marshall Jewell an
nounces that he has no funds to pui-
HUO it. Mr. Hewitt sends him U cheek
for one hundred dollars with a pro
mise that he and other Democrats will
furnish the needed funds; hut still it
drags. Why is this? The impression
is again gathering strength that the
train of evidence leads up to the
White House, nud becomes less inter
esting as it approaches.
( HJR distinguished independent Sen
ator Mitchell is making a faithful and
sturdy lieutenant for Boss Cameron.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
From oar Regular (>rr*|*4*nt.
WciniMOTox, D. C., March 21, 1881.
The Senate elected it* committees
yesterday, the Republican* securing
control of all of tbem by the vote of
Senator Ms hone, of Virginia. If this
Senator had simply abandoned a party
bis course would have been condemned,
of course, but he would not have de
served the infamy—that is the exact '
word—which will be ever associated
with his name. The Stale of Virginia
and other State* of the South, are slow
ly recovering ftom the effects of the
mot wasting of modern wars, they
are becoming recognired as State* with
'he right to regulate their internal nf
lairs a* other Stale* do. A moderate
lb-publican Irna just been elected Presi
dent, though he was not the choice of
those Republicans who believe in the
everlasting vassalage of the South. It
i at this au<piciou* time that Mahone
throws his vote and influence with the
most Helical of Republicans. lii vole
menn* an extra sesion of t'ongres* thi
•unitner, and a dozen investigating com
iniib e* of Congressmen going through
tbc S luthern States, and other evils,
even if it does not have the effect of
' converting Hie Mod, fit not over firm
President Oar field front a course of
moderation to one of radicalism. There
was never a mote important and never
>t more injurious sale in our politics
than that of Senator Maltone to the
radical branch of the Republican party.
It i* believed the special session of
the Senate will last not more than a
weeic or ten daj* longer. The noinina
lions will be sent in rapidly now that
the Senate ha* reorganised.
Instead of there being, as there was
a week ago, small apparent prospect of
an extra session of Congress, there is
now every indication of one. A* inti
mated above, the struggle for it is made
by the more stalwart Republicans,
though the ostensible reason for the
c-dl will l>e the necessity for the passing
of a funding lull there is no doubt but
committee* ol th" House of Represen
j tatives will be sent into a dor.rn Con
gressional District* of the South with
instruction* to re|>ort in faror of turn
ing out the Democratic members elect
ed. This is the prime object of the ses
' ston.
The lieltef i* general that all nomina
tions that President <i*rfield may send
! in this spring will tie confirmed by the
Senate. The President is, as he always
has been, |>opular with Congressmen.
IDs wishes would be regarded more
generally. I think, than those of any
! other Republican who might have be
come President. A pleasant part of
i the man himself is shown in his social
attention* without re
gard to party. Ilia first reception, the
other evening, was the beginning of a
new era in such matters. All the Dem
; ocratic Senators were at the White
House. I venture tossy that for two
years not five of them had been there
unleaa a duty not to be evaded called
them. It ia certain that the era of good
feeling has returned, so far as social af
fairs at the executive mansion are con
cerned. Don.
Peril of the Kew Ciar.
DISCOVRRV or * VIS* IN A STRICT NRA*
HIS RRSIDRNCC.
ST. PKTKRSDI RO, March Ifl —The au
thorities were infornied ihsta mine had
been Isid in a m*il street which enter*
the Newsky Prospect, nearly opposite
the Annitehkoff P*lace, the residence
of the new Km|eror. A detachment of
sappers accordingly began an *Kplora
tion front a small shop, the owner of
which disappeared three days ago. The
street was barricaded at both end* to
prevent the public from approaching.
I'be sapper*, on opening up the ground
end searching cellars, discovered a mine
in the above mentioned shop. The
mouth of t tie mine WHS in the shopkeep
er's dwelling room, concealed under n
ottoman. The mine passes under the
treet lending to the ruling schools
whence the C/,ar was returning on Sun
day.
Eight more arrests have been made,
snd a quantity ot explosives have been
discovered.
The A /encc /float ) the grief felt
for the Emperor by the Russian nation
is inconsolable; but if they require
proofs of their 10-s it would be forthcom
ing in the evidences of condolence
which pour in from sovereign (Jovein
ments and national representatives of
the whole world The public are ad
milted to view the body without din
Unction of class.
A decree has been published grant
ing to persons deported to Siberia, with
the loss of civil tights, permission to
engage in commercial or professional
pursuits alter three years good behav
ior; the same privilege to be accorded
to political exiles, subject to the appro
val of the Minister of the Interior.
A PRISON TRACERY.
Murder and Suicide in Convict'* t ell.
A lIXfirtRATK IRIMIXAL IS' Tlir.
ftsiresTt *sv *t mune lit*
CXI.I. M %TE AMI Tlirs
HAM.* IIIUsEI.r.
A terrible tragedy waa enacted within
the walls of the Eastern Penitentiary
some tunc before daylight yesterday
morning—the exact hour will probably
remain n mystery forever. I pon it
face the afl.iir present* the appearance
of a deliberate murder and the suicide
ol the murderer, faith executed within
earsfiot of a keeper and a score of pris
oners, and yet with such cunning
stealih that, if the statement of tin-
Keejier is to be relied on, not a OUlid
broke the oppressive stillness which
usually prevai * at night in that living
tomb. In fact it was not until the
breakfast hour yesterday, when the
bodies were cold and rigid in death.
Dial the nuthotitscs were made aw*to of
the awful deed.
Shortly alter 7 o'clock, in arco* ianre
With the U-II*I cu-tom. Overseer Me
tiuigan. proceeded to make the round
of hit particular C'lrr.-lor* in order to
see that the prisoner* were up and sin.
ring. All went well until In* readied a
cell in the second corridor occupied by
two men, who in j ris< n discipline were
simply known as N<. 72* and .'g.'i.
Here h:s <|ue*tion : "All right here r"
mrt no re*|Ofe. f'eepioc in Uuouvh
the grating of the inner door he saw
what appeared to lie the form of a man
standing on a stool. The interrogatory
'• What are you d-.ing there?" was i .u
replied to. and the keej er swung the
door back on its hinge* and m ole a
step forwar I. A* be did s.i be stum
filed over a bod*, and at the same mom
ent he became uw.ire of the tact that
another body was hanging to the gis
bracket on the opposite side of the cell,
lie shmited for help, and a number <.i
keeper* were quickly on the scene.
Then it was found that the man on the
floor was prisoner 72*. He w:i lying
on his bark. Ins I. gs bent in under liim,
a piece o! linen tied tightly around the
throat, the tongue protruding trom his
mouth, Miti the countenance disfigured
by a Urge abrasion on the forehead.
Meanwhile some of the kee|er had
cut down . f i2s, who hd hung himself to
the bracket by piece of the stout
sheeting used on the bed*. Itlood was
• till flowing from a cut on the |eitwti*t,
slid there was a fiOol of blood on the
fl air near hi* feet. Near by was the
knile with which the wound had been
inflicted. Dr. Comegys Raul, the resi
dent physician of the institution, was
at once summoned, but In* appearance
was of no avail, the liodio* presenting
every appearance that life had been ex
tinot in both for several hours.
Both of the dead men wore serving
the first year of their imprisonment.
W,'i iro John PleilVer, who wa admit
ted In*! month, under a sentence of
Ihrpi* tpi* and a half. imposed l.y the
I.uxcrue County t\>urt for tmrgUrr. He
ws a rorni*, (>rull lellnw, of tremen
dnu* strength, and rtich a hardened
criminal that, although only 23 your* of
age, ho had acquired the reputation of
being ono of the moat daring home
breaker* in the country. Previous to
hi* last conviction he had served three
term* in Sing Sing ai d one term at
Black well'* Island lor crime* committed
in New York Stale, of which he wa n
na*ie. Hi* companion—72H—w* John
Mr Bride, a Philadelphia!), aged 49 year*,
who w* sentenced to ten year* impris
onnient in Sepiemler lat for aggrava
ted assault and battery and indecent
exposure. Mcßride, who bore the rep
utation of a quiet and orderly prisoner,
wa* the sole occupant of the cell (which
M on the ground floor) until PieiflVr'*
arrival. The two men seemed to take
to each other at the outset, ami so far
aa the knowledge of the oilier* went
they were on the best of term* up to
the hour of retiring on Tuesday night.
Occasionally it hap|>en* that two prison
er* in a cell are unable to get along
pleasantly, ami in every cao of this
kind which ha* occurred a separation
has at once been ordered. In this case,
however, there a a* not the least ground
for the suspicion that anything but the
most cordial relation* |>o**Ui|e to men
in their condition were maintained.
The mystery which surround* the
terrible affair waa not disrellod bv the
rigid examination which Warden Town
send made yesterday morning. Over
•err McOulgan Mid that when he went
on duty at 2 a. M., the men were sleep
ing soundly in their bed* and that al
though he mada several rounds of the
contdor during the night not th alight-
TKKJW: #1.50 |KT Annum, In A ill 11 lire.
wt sound tfraciMl hi* attention.
Neither wa* (he occupant of the ad
joining <'<>ll, who i* a very light sleeper,
awakened during I lie night. The theory
was r.t first advanced that both men
b*d committed suicide, hut this did not
Ihllv with the position in which Mc-
ISrideV My wa found. The wore
rational theory ia that Mcliride wa
strangled by Pfeifb-r in hia sleep, then
tumbled out of bed to the position in
which the body wan found, and that the
murderer then commuted suicide. How
theae deeds could have been possible,
however, without a single tell tale noire
being heard by the watchman who*e
duty it was to have ta-en in the inline
• liate vicinity is u r|Ue*tion which War
den Townsend confessed yesterday he
could not o|ve, while he waa equally at
a b-s to fathom the motive of the deed.
Pfeifler, wlien first admitted, acted in
a mmii'wlut peculiar manner, but the
officials, fielieving tliat he was merely
shamming insanity which is a common
fiabit with many prisoners, who believe
tliat by ao doing they can he relieved ol
hard labor . paid nr/altention to his ac
liori, and placed him with Mcßride.
No peculiarities in his conduct were no
ticed after the first few days.
In Itip cnur-e of yesterday afternoon
tin* bodies wen' removed to tbe Morgue,
wh-re a |wl mortem rmmination a
mad** by Ir. .1. <. Lee. Tbe Coroner'*
in vesication will c>| ri to day.
Shut lb-ad by a llnrtrlar.
oiariM.ißu W:TH THE THIEF itrou RE
CEIVISG THE MTAI. ►HOT THE VICTIM'*
SON KEMWINO THE STRIGGI.E AND
THE TWO TL RIII.ING DOWN \
RILGTLT OR STOR*—THE TlllEr
inin mv AND miti.
VALLEV FORGE. Pi., M <rch IH. This
hi-toncal village waa thrown into a
high f-v<-r of excitement at an early
hour this morning, when it became
known that William Clug*ton, one of
it* Imlißy and moat re*j,-cu<| citizen*,
bad been murdered by an unknown
burglar. The *tory ol tbe tragedy n
• *ei told by the eldest son, Samuel
'"iugt-on, who wa jn the house at tbe
time, and who *ay* lhat he took an
active part in the conflict with tbe bur
glar. At at.olll three o'clock, Mr. Clue
-1 n wn awakened by a noise in hi*
• icdrooni. Ife saw a hatless and coat
i' i* man moving about tbe loom with H
r-.it like tread, and be at once detnand
<-l to know who was there. Tbe stran
>:er replied, " keep -till, old fellow, or
: you're a dead man.'' Mr. Clugston
urtac from his bed and irate the alarm.
1 I be thlet m-imrlv fmjpld with him.
and a terrible conflict ensued. The
aged wife screamed for her son who
'cpt in another room. Thomas Clug
•ton. aged 22, ay lhat he at once re
• |onded, but Ireforc he had time to
■ enter the r<oin he heard two shots in
rapid succession. Those shots were
lited by the burglar, who ws still grap
pling with Mr. Clugston. The son -ay* :
"dust a* I entered tin* room my It
ther reeled inl fell, and i at on<v* knew
illll lie ha I lieen shot. My mother
** nearly frvnlic. I s.vw the strange
iimn m* ■ w.i atlemi ting to Hare the
riwim.Wn l I i onrc attacked him. He
iv i a nrong arid determined mm, and
in our violent sttuggle we fell to the
floor. Tiie door looting to the head of
the flan - was ojwn, and we tumbled to
the liotiom of 11 steep flight. I retained
my hold of him in the darkness, and
railed for li-lp. I managed to gel the
| ito| front him, and when ! thought 1
bail mastered him he myateriouslv
unbuttoned hi rest without my know
ing it, and thus slipped out of my grasp,
ran to the front window, and escaped
it lie had enu red. I followed as best I
could, and fired two shots at him, but
did not hit him."
Ibe man escaped in the darkness,
hatless, coat less and shoeless, leaving
hi apparel liehind him. liy this time
the neighbors were aroused and began
to assemble, and when they reached the
house they tound obi Mr. ("lugston ly
ing ut the foot of the stairs in the hall
way, having reached the landing at the
head of the stair* slier bis son and the
burglar had plunged down headlong
and bi strength deserting bim, he fel'.
When lound life was extinct, he having
lived jirt twenty nnnutr ■ atter being
shot, truly one shot took effect, the
ball entering the right aide of the neck
al>ove the clavicle and paasing direct
into tl e spinal column, severing in ita
course the jugular vein and carotid ar
tery. Death was cause-1 by internal
hemorrhage.
Among the effects left behind hv the
burglar was a |tocketlook containing a
pawn ticket i-ued by the National Loan
office of Baltimore, numlter 2.T82R. and
I rearing the name of E. A. Abtott; a
card upon which waa written, "Edwin
11. Johnson, inquire at Nineteenth and
Poplar streets, 841 Mattock. (Signedl
a li tend {" a photograph of a little girl,
prohah'y 8 or 9 years of age; several
hotel cards, three dollars and ten cents
in currency, an.l a ten dollar note of
|B<V4. issue of the Allegheny county
Stale bank. The clothes left behind
consisted of a brown overcoat, a light
aack undercoat, black diagonal vest,
and black Derby hal. There waa only
one thief in the house, but fan had an
accomplice outside. The hat baa the
initial* "O. S." inside.
Whn ihi< ran and ih thief tumble
down *tair*, locked in earh other'*
rm, llin oii nay* that be beld hi* man
ntxHit ten miiiule* in the dark. The
county official* hare the caee in hand,
but up to a tale hour no arreata had
been reported. Mr. CI up* ion waa toper
intend.ni and principal owner of the
Valley Forge Palmfibre paper company,
lie recent!* took .loaeph Jordan at a
partner. Ha learet a wif* and eleven
akM—B.
NO. 12.