DANVILLE INTELLIGENCER
VOLUME 78.
MUCH ILLNESS- _
NOTJP CRIP
There is a great deal 01 sickness in
town at present —more than has oc
curred for a long time past. It is all
due, no doubt, to the open winter with
its unhealthful weather. While it is
true that there are probably few ser
ious cases it is nevertheless a fact that
one-half of our population is indispos
ed. The most of these persons are able
to be about but a large number are un
fit for work aud are confined to their
liotues. A traveling man yesterday
stated that it is almost impossible to
do much business in Dauvilleuow ow
ing to the large number of merchants
that are ill. Borough superintendent
Qordy states that attendance at the
schools is much reduced through ill
ness.
By common consent the prevailing
illness is said to be grip, which may
or may not be true. A physician re
marks that in the majority of cases it
is difficult to differentiate between a
bad cold aud case of grip at certain
stages of the latter.
However, when a man takes a chill
and has pains and an all-gone feeling
he somehow takes the matter in his
own hands and diagnoses the attack to
suit himself and pronounces it grip,
evidently feeling a morbid delight in
getting rid of it in that way. Of
course, in many instances in is noth
ing more serious thau a bad cold, just
as the father and the grandfather of
the mau had in the days before la
grippe began its ravages iu this coun
try. It is a question, however, wheth
er most men are or can be disillusion
ized and whether in the eud they are
not permitted to hug the delusion that
they have the grip while the wise
physician—assuming that one has been
employed—give* such treatment as he
deems best.
Boil the Water.
The warning of Dr. Dixon relat
ing to the purity of the water supply
in the Susquehanna below Scrautou is
importaut enough to be heeded every
where. A warning of the same kind
should be issued wherever sewage is
emptied into running streams from
which one or more towns draw their
supply of water. Nearly, if not quite,
all the running streams iu the State
are contaminated by impurities which
reckless aud improvident man turns
into them, and the wonder is that
epidemics of disease are not more
numerous and more destructive of hu
man life. *
Wherever there are epidemics of ty
phoid fever the carelessuess iu regard
to the water supply aud the disregard
of health aud life are most pronounc
ed. Although men are warned to take
every precaution to preyent tho spread
of disease they pay little attention.
Although warned that matter taken
from the sick room should be disin
fected before it is disposed of, this is
seldom doue. Like the victim of tub
erculosis who discharges iufected spu
tum all about him, to the jeopardy of
the health and lives of others,the per
sons who attend typhoid patients, un
less they are professional nurses, sel
dom • 4 take tho trouble" to obey a
command to disiufect anything. In
deed few precautions are taken by
persous who arc well, but are liable
to infection, to save themselves from
an attack of the disease.
Hence Dr. Dixon, not confining his
labors to the eradication of typhoid in
Scrauton, and fearing that there is
"an unusual amount of typhoid fever
infection iu the Susquehanna river by
reason of the epidemic of the disease
now prevalent in the city of Scran
ton," warns all corporations or mun
icipalities supplying water to consum
ers "not to furnish this supply to your
consumers unless it be first adequately
filtered, otherwise you are to notify
the public to boil the water for a
period of thirty minutes before the
same is used for drinking or culinary
purposes." There is little or no dan
ger that the water supply here is in
fected with typhoid germs from Scrau
ton; nevertheless it would be well to
boil all water that iB used for do
mestic purposes. Iu fact, wheu in
doubt boil the water.
A Surprise Party.
A surprise party was given at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Jenk
ins, Church street, on Saturday even
ing iu honqr of their daughter, Edith's
ninth birthday. The evening was
spent with music and games. Refresh
ments were served.
Those present were: Misses Blanche
Colemau, Margaret Kinn, Margaret
Bennett, Ethel Bodiue, Mae Miller,
Martha Moodie, Beruice Gaskins,
Bertha Qaruett, Laura Sticklin, Ruth
Lizzie Miller, Jenqio Up
son, Edith Jenkins, Blanche Jenkins,
Emma Jenkins, Aunie Jenkins. Mast
ers Earl Youug, Arthur Dietrich,
George Ricketts, Edward Kinu, Wil
liam McKinney, Earl Am merman,
Ralph Huntington, Lewis Lenliart,
Thomas Davis, William Wertmar.
James Upson.
Must Use the Right Paper.
It is said that the best way to pre
serve apples in Vr intef is to wrap them
newspapers so as to exclude the air.
The exception is made, however, that
the newspaper must he one on which
the subscription has been paid, else
the dampness resulting from what is
"dew" may result in spoiling the
fruit.
TO FILL IIP
1 OLD CANAL
The trustees of the hospital for the
insane have made arrangements with
the D. L. & W. Railroad company for
lilling up and improving the land em
braced in the old canal where it in
tersects the hospital property.
In accomplishing this work they
propose to apply for au appropriation
from the State. In abating the nuis
ance there it is deemed advisable to
act rul of the old canal in the bor
ough. To that eud tho borough coun
cil was asked to interest itself in the
proposition and appoint a committee
to act in the matter.
Mr. Jacobs, at the regular meeting
Friday, moved that a committee of
three be appointed to meet with the
resident trustees of the hospital for
the insane to formulate a plan for pip
ing and filling up the old canal ; also
again to meet with the trustees and a
committee of the State legislature,and
eudeavor to impress upon tho latter
the necessity for an appropriation to
assist in abolishing the nnisauce. The
motion carried.
Messrs. Vastine, Sweisfort and Ja
cobs wero appointed as a committee of
three by the chairman to meet the
trustees aud the legislative committee
which latter is expected to pav the
hospital a visit next week.
The ordinance to prevent the throw
ing around of medicine samples eto.,
passed council on the third and final
reading.
On motion of Mr. Russell tho street
commissioner was instructed to notify
Foust Bros, to remove the accumula
tion of ashes, stones, etc., on Ferry
street, which obstructs the drain; oth
erwise the work will be done by the
borough at Foust Bros.' expense.
On motion of Mr. Dietz it was ord
ered that bids be invited for printing
300 copies of the new borough ordin
ance.
Spring street was reported to coun
cil as in a very bad couditiou. On
motion the committee ou streots aud
bridges was requested to visit tho spot
aud determine wiiat improvements can
be made.
Ou inotiou of Mr. Vastine tho com
mittee ou streets aud bridges was ord
ered to investigate as to the couditiou
of Ferry street at Robert G. Miller's
residence.
On motion of Mr. Diotz it was or
dered that the report of the fire chief
be accepted aud tho section of hose in
the hands of the superintendent of the
water works be returned to the Friend
ship fire company.
On motion it was ordered that fifty
feet of hose be purchased for the
Friendship fire company to be used in
sprinkling.
Borough Electrician Newton Smith
presented his report for operating tho
light plaut during the mouth past.
Eighty-seveu tons of coal at $2.50 per
tou were consumed amounting to
$217.50. The plant was in operation
397 hours, 15 minutes. The total cost
of operation for the mouth was $331). •
09.
The following members wero pres
ent: Gibson, Boyor, Dietz, Vastine,
Sweisfort, Russell, Eiseuhart, Jacobs,
Woodside and Angle.
Cantata of holy City.
The sacred oratorio, "The Holy
City," which has been under prepara
tion in this city duiing the past six
mouths, will be presented in the Mah
oning Presbyterian church on the 24th
and 25th of the present mouth. It will
be the most elaborate, the most com
plete and altogether the grandest
musical production that lias over beeu
given in Danville.
The soloists are Mrs. Scarlet, Miss
Margaret Ammerman, Mrs. Luella
Werkheiser-Divel. Irvin Vanuan, Wal
ter Russell and H. C. Haskell,of Wets
Brook, Me
The chorus consists of forty of Dan
ville's best voices and most accom
plished singers,as follows:
Sopranos—Miss Newbaker.Miss Am
merman, Miss A ten, Miss Vastine,
Miss Klase, Miss Lyou,Miss Jamescn,
Miss Reese, Miss Bennetts, Mrs. So
ber, .and Mrs. McClure.
Altos—Mrs. Divel, Mrs. Scarlet,
Miss Reese, Miss Lyon, Miss Lowrie
and Miss Fry.
Teuors—H. C. Haskell, R. M. Ja
cobs, William Rishel, George Lunger,
Clyde Davis, John B. McCoy, Howard
liliuger, Frank Consart.
Bases—W. R. Miller, Walter Rus
sell, Irviu Vaunan, Frauk Browu,
Jesse Shannon, Joseph R. Pafcton,
j Charles Lyou, C. C. Ritter.NV. L. Mc-
I Clare, Johu Hcuuiug.
j Rehearsals are of almost nightly oc
; curreuce and those fortunate enough
I to bo present as spectators oq oue or
more occasions express themselves as
delighted with the high order of the
I music and predict the fullest measure
of success for the oratorio.
Aids Coal Diggers.
j The Susquehauua, while it has not
reached a dangerous height at any
time this winter, has been usually
! high for long periods. This has boeu
of untold profit to the rivef cual men,
who ate looking forward to reaping a
rich harvest next -summer. Some of
i the big beds.uear this city became very
1 nearly exhausted last summer, when
| the river was low, but the high water
has been bringing down large quan
tities and the coal men who have been
over the river say there is now a big,
. fresh supply on hand.
-FLKDOKD BUT TO TBUTH, TO ÜBXBXY AND LAW—HO WVOB 8 WATS Da AKB M WMAM —AM. A**.'
DANVILLE. MONTOUR COUNTY. PA.. Fill DAY, JANUARY >7, 1907.
SPECIAL COURT
YESTERDAY
The court. lioaso bell rang yesterday
morning. Judge Evans atid Associate
L. W. Welliver were 011 hand. Attor
neys and witnesses were present and
everything had been arranged for a
habeas corpus proceeding, which at
the last moment was unexpectedly
called off.
The proceedings had been instituted
to secure the release of James M. Mc-
Kenney, Jr., from the hospital for the
insane at this place. The petitioner set
forth that he is unlawfully restrained
of his liberty aud that such restraint
to tho best of his knowledge and be
lief is not by virtue of any commit
ment or detaiuer for any criminal or
supposed criminal matter. He, there
fore, prayed for a writ of haboas corpus
agreeably to the act of assembly di
rected to Dr. Hugh B. Meredith, sup
erintendent of the said hospital.
All the parties wore in court or
within easy reach including, not only
the petitioner aud Dr. Meredith, but
the mother aud other relatives of the
former. James M. McKonuey is a
handsome, finely built young fellow
belonging to a prominent family of
Pittsburg. Ho was well dressed and as
he appeared iu court bore none of the
traces of dementia. What story lay
back of his commitment did not de
velop, as the hearing did not proceed.
Hou. Graut Herring,counsel for the
petitioner, stated that an agreement
had been reached between his client
aud the relatives of the latter, in which
his release was agreed to provided he
would yield to a certain wish of his
relatives. This was fully brought out
in the following order of court,which
was immediately made by Judge
Evans:
"Aud now January 7,1907,this mat
ter came ou to be heard and after con
sideration thereof and the production
of the said James M. McKeuuey, Jr.,
-in person before the court and the
said James M. McKeuuey stipulating
that he will voluntarily goto aud re
main at the farm of William Muldoou
near White Plains, New York, for a
period of two mouths from this
date, it is orderel that said James
McKeuuey bo forthwith discharged
from the custody of the State hospital
for the iusane at Danville, Pa.
By the Court,
CHARLES C. EVANS, P. J.
Charles P. Orr, of Pittsburg, and
Hon. John G. Harmau, of Blooms
burg, represented the relatives of the ,
petitioner,at whose instance the latter
was committer! to the hospital.
The occasion yesterday was the first
that Graut Herring and John G. Har
mau, with his Honor Judge Evans,the
three contestants in the bitter fight
for the judgeship last fall, met to
gether at the local bar siuce the elec
tion. It was indeed a pleasure to see
these talented geutlomen with no con
flicting interests and all differences
buried working together harmonious
ly as during the many years of the
past.
highly Colored Descriptions.
The highly colored reports of the
visit of the lunacy commission to the
hospital for the insane here Tuesday,
which appeared in the Philadelphia
Inquirer and the North American yes
terday,caused a good deal of criticism.
Whatever the defects of the big
building may be it is a well-known
fact that it is not the illy-appointed
prison house and the death trap that
it is described as being in the above
named papers. It overcrowding is re
lieved, it is believed that the buildings
with slight improvements cau be re
tained in use. Buildings constructed
within thirty years or so should not
be so antiquated as to be valueless.
The reports in the Philadelphia
newspapers are scarcelv accurate in
any particular. One of them emphas
izes the fact that there are no fire es
capes on the building at all, while ev
ery persou who has ever visited the
hospital has knowledge to the contrary
Representatives of the city papers
i present with the commission did hot
1 seem to want news that related to any
of tlve bettor features of the institu
tion, but whenever they scented auv
thing like a scandal their pencils be
came very busy. This paper in its re
port endeavored to present such facts
as would really enlighten its readers
as to some of the real problems that
face the commission.
It did not dwell upon the deaths
that have occurred among the patients
while in the hands of attendauts for
the reason that they wore all suffici
ently aired in these columns when they
took place and all the facts were made
use of, which under the circumstances
it was possible to obtain.
THE COST.
The presence of the typhoid fever
epidemic in Scrauton has brought the
board of charities of that city faco to
faco with a great emergency. The
board is compelled to expend on be
half of the poor who are victims of the
disease ab.out SSOO a day. Iv has asked
the citizeus to contribute i\\\ emerg
ency fund of SIO,OOO. but the respoiise
thus far has only amouuted to about
f1,900,
Will Retain Passes.
By a vote of 8 to 4, the members of
the Shatuokin borough council last
week defeated a resolution presented
by oue of the members calling upon
chem to surrender their street railway
passes.
001 001
IESTORED TO II
Charles Sutton aud Miss Ada Krum
the runaway couple, who were appre
hended at Athens, this State, with
John Grier Voris, arrived in this city
Monday. The girl has been restor
ed to her parents and Sutton alias
Wray, is languishing in the county
prißon with two charges hanging over
his head.
The couple arrived on the 4:31 Penn
sylvania train and were hustled di
rectly to the offioe of Justice Dalton
where the deserted wife and the moth
er of tho latter as well as of the runa
way girl had been in waiting since
twelve o'clock.
The meeting of the mother ami the
daughter who had been given up as
lost contained an element of deep
pathos. Tho woman yielding to her
motherly instincts, although deeply
hurt, showed a disposition to take her
daughter back aud to forgive all. The
girl, however, had much to explain.
She confessed that she did not know
what had prompted the cmrseshe had
taken. "I just got it iuto my head to
go away," she said, "aud I did not
want togo alone." The little journey
abroad, howover, will probably last
her a life time. Sutton and the girl
made their way on foot the entire dis
tanco from Danville to Athens, esti
mated to be 148 miles. They left Dan
ville on November 5, arriving at
Athens about Thanksgiving day. Some
where betweeu Berwick and West
Nauticoke they spent two weeks with
a farmer, where both Suttou aud the
girl were employed husking corn.
They confessed that they had oudured
many hardships, but that there was
only one night when they had no
shelter. This occurred where a forest
fire was raging and the country folks
were all out. Tho burning timber af
forded warmth and among the fire
fighters Suttou and the girl found
plenty of company.
The following from the "Athens
Evening News"of Saturday, throws a
little light on a new phase of the af
fair :
"Charles Suttou was taken into
custody by Chief Mulligan aud Couu
ty Detective McGoveru today noon at
the local plant of tne American Bridge
conipauy where he has been employed
for the last five weeks.
According to his story he and the
17-year-old girl, his sister-in-law, left
Danville last November aud walked to
Atliens, working at various farms for
a fow days at a time along the way.
They reached Athens about December
1 aud he secured work at the bridge
plant. Ho and his sister-in-law having
been liviug as mau and wife,hoarding
with a family residing in oue of the
old tannery houses west of the Che
mung river. Tho girl is in a delicate
condition but Suttou maintains tliathe
is not the responsible party."
Sutton was committed to the lock
up Saturday afteruoon, the girl being
detained at one of the hotels. At her
owu request late Sunday night she was
taken to the lockup aud was placed in
a cell next to Suttou.
The girl is only seventeen years of
age and is prepossessing in appear
auce. It is a sad case of infatuation
and, mere child that she is, she be
comes an object of deep sympathy.
Sutton, who was working and earn
ing fair wages, had purchased soiue
up-to date clothing for her so that
notwithstanding her hard lines she
was by no means unpresentable.
To the charge of desertion and non
support preferred by his wife, Jennie
Sutton, he pleaded guilty, but under
took to justify his conduct by making
verbal counter charges against his
wife.
To the other charge embodied in in
formation lodged by Mrs. Mary A.
Krum, accusing him of being respon
sible for her daughter, Ada Krumu's
condition, he pleaded HOC guilty and
in this he was borue out by the sworn
testimony of the young girl herself.
The girl's testimony, however, had
little force in view of evideuce giveu
iu by officer Voris, which was to the
effect that she had told the couuty de
tective at Athens that Sutton was
guilty. This and other testimony to
practically the same effect the girl at
the hearing before Justice Daltou
acknowledged was true. Iu view of all
the facts Sutton was held for court on
both charges, bail iu the first case be
ing fixed at S3OO aud iu the last case
at #SOO. He made little or no effort to
secure a bondsman and was committed
to jail.
| The mother, the deserted wife and
the restored daughter, after the hear
ing, all returned to the home in the
couutry.
Typhoid at Pittsburg.
1 Pittsburg is iu the midst of one of
' the worst typhoid fever epidemics in
the city's history. Poison-laden water
is the cause of the disease there, as iu
Scrant/U,and Dr. J. F. Edwards, sup
erintendent of the bureau of health,
declares that oftly hope of relit 112
lies in inducing the citizens to boil
the water. With such examples a*
these ou every hand, those who doubt
the efficacy of this precaution and re
fuse to practice it are guilty of crim
inal recklessness.
Cave Skeleton.
The gviug way of the earth at the
upper eud of the Lutheran cemetery at
Bioomsburg Mouday afteruoou exposed
a coffin aud some of the bones iu one
of the graves.
TYPHOID HAS
GRASPED BERWICK
Dreaded typhoid fever has laid its
strong grasp upon Berwick ami the
densely populated district surround
ing.
The matter has been kept rather
quiet, but came to light last evening
wjieu the Berwick board of health met
to adopt means to remedy the situa
tion.
It developed that there are 24 cases
in Berwick proper, 8 iu West Berwick
aud 5 in the surrounding country.
This list does not include a number of
typhoid fever patients who are con
valescent.
Typhoid fever is particularly to be
dreaded in Berwick, where so largo a
portion ol the population is made up
of ignorant foreigners, with whom re
strictions or precautions can have but
little effect.
At the meeting last night of the
Berwick board of health the situation
was thoroughly discussed. People were
asked to take extreme precaution iu
aiding the authorities to stamp out
the disease. Citizens were asked to
boil all water used for drinking or
culinary purposes, and phyicians were
asked to report at ouco to the board of
health all new infectious.
Preparing Bill.
As might have been gleaped from
tho report of couucil proceedings, Sat
urday morning, a new move has been
made by our citizens in their endeav
ors to get rid of the abandoned canal.
As a result of the action taken by
council a petition was presented to
the board of Jiosptial trustees signed
by George B. Jacobs, Amos Vastine
and llr. .Tuo. Sweisfort, the special
committee of couucilmeu appointed by
Chairman Gibson, which in turn was
laid before the lunacy commission
when it met at the hospital for the in
sane, Tuesday.
The petition reads as follows:
"To the Trustees of the State hos
pital for the lusaue at Danville :
You are hereby respectfully request
ed to kindly call the atteutiou of the
lunacy commission during its coming
official visit to the said hospital to the
condition of the abandoned Pennsyl
vania caual from the Western line of
the hospital property to aud through
the borough of Danville with a view
to their recommending to the State
loMiulutnrn h St.atn appropriation for
the purp >se of partially defraying the
proper ami necessary cost of pipiug
and filliug up the bed of the said por
tion of said canal and of tho abate
ment of the uuisauce occasioned by
the pollution of certain waters fiowiug
through and from the said hospital
property iuto the sa : d canal."
Ohairmau Walton read the petition
before the commission and without
entering upon a discussion of the
merits of the propositiousaid it would
receive due atteutiou aud ordered that
it be niaile a matter of record.
Coincident with the presentation of
this petition a bill Is being drafted
asking tho State legislature to make
au appropriation equal to one-third
the cost of piping and filling up the
caual from the western cud of the
hospital grounds in aud through the
borough. The remaining two-thirds of
the cost, it is thought, can bo provid
ed for by the D. L. & W. railroad
compauv aud tho borough of Diuvillo
—by one of these or each paying equal
parts.
The hospital for the iusauo with the
consent of the D. L. & W. railroad
company will fill up the caual, at the
hospital, which will divert the stream
of polluted water flowing into the old
canal at the western end of the hospit
al grounds down through the borough.
It,is because of this water, the divert
ing of which the State is responsible
for that the legislature will be asked
to make an appropriation.
Died at Bioomsburg
George Louterette, of Bloomsburtr,
formerly of Mausdale, where he filled
the position of head miller with the
Hauey-Frazier Milling company, died
at his home in Bloomsburg last even
ing of pneumonia.
Mr. Louterette, who was a cornetist
of ability, was widely known aud very
popular among a wide circle of friends
in this section. Before Christmas he
had an attack of grip. Between Christ
mas aud New Year's, before he had !
fully recovered, he played for a dance
at Bloomsburg. lie suffered a relapse
and contracted pneumonia, which re
sulted fatally.
The deceased was fifty years of age
aud is survived by a wife. His par
ents, who reside at Valoys.New York,
also survive. The remains will bo tak
en to Montour Falls, New York, for
burial.
DR. DIXON.
The Harrisburg Patriot extends the
compliments of the season to Dr. Dix
on, head of the Stato's health depart
ment. in the following fashion: "The
work that Dr. Dixon is doing tostamp
out disease wherever it appears aud to
'educate tHe people to tli,e necessity of sauitary
sauitary supervision and to the
nitration of all water is ot incalcul
able value. He should be upheld and
supported by public seutimeut and
supplied with whatever fyuda are
necessary to carry ou great work
iu which ho is engaged "
THE MC S,
The Sorauton Republicau remarks
that "the McC's are iu the ascendancy
iu Pennsylvania just now. McCrea is
the greatest living railroad man aud
McClain is the most important mem
ber of the legislature. Well,there have
been a number of famous Mc's in his
tory. "
FOOT KCIO
ESCAPED PBOEI
It seldom occurs that a policeman is
called upon to give such a striking ex
j hibition of his spriuting qualities as
was witnessed vosterdav morning
I when Officer Voris pursued an escaped
! offender down the Northumberland
I road.
George Mock was arrested Tuesday
evening charged with "disorderly con
duct aud with disturbing the peace of
the neighborhood. " George had been
imbibing and was putin the lockup
uutil he should bo iu a suitable con
dition for a hearing.
At 9 o'clock yestordav morning he
was to have had a hearing betore jus
tice Dalton. He was being conducted
to the 'Squire's aud had reached James
Martin's store when ho made a dash
for liberty. He crossed Mill street,
closely followed by Chief Miucemoy
er. who in stepping upou tho sidewalk,
iu frout of J. H. Cole's store caught
his foot in the curb and fell striking
his knees ou the pavement. He was
badly bruised and momentarily disabl
ed.
The chief quickly recovered and
dashed off iu pursuit, although uuder
handicap of his bruised kueo he was
uuable to quite keep up with the pris
ouer. He stuck to the chase, however,
uutil the finish and was at no time far
iu the rear.
Had Mock boon rnuuiug for his life
he would not liavo made better time.
He dashed along the streets and allevs
of the third ward aud had reached a
point ou West Center street near the
Mahoning creek bridge when ho was
sighted by Officer Voris, who was com
ing down East Center street, having
joined in the pursuit.
Notwithstanding his heavy avoir
dupois lie made a good record as he
dashed down West Center s* r cct. Mock
took a short cut across to Northumber
land street. Officer Voris by cutting
across the foundry yard gained a little
time, but when he emerged on North
umberland street Mock was alreadv be
low the trestling and was making the
gravel fly as he ran with freedom in
full view.
It was at this point that the sight
was worth seeing. The lusty officer,
divestiug himself of his heavy coat as
he ran, tiling it into the hands of a
bystander and showed that whon it
came to sprinting no was rattier more
than a match for the lighter man that
he was iu pursuit of.
A minute later Mock was out of
town headed for the dug road. It flu
ally became evident that the officer
was gaining slightly and thus the race
continued until the man pursued be
came to climb the dug road. At this
point the two men were only some ten
yards apart, when the officer called
upon Mock to surrender, which he did
without further hesitaucy.
The prisoner was brought back to
town and arraigned before the justice.
Fiuo and costs amounted to $lO, which
he found a way to pay aud was releas-
Youthful Bandits.
Led astray by reading trashy half
dime novels, three Berwick lads, Percy
Kliuepeters, aged 12 years, his broth
er William Klinepeters, 14 years, and
Thomas Horau, 13 years, saved up a
considerable sum of money and after
purchasing revolvers, a bowie knife
and a large quantity of cartridges, to
gether with a supply of the favorite
literature, they embarked on a freight
train Monday to exploit the South, as
they told some of their companions,
and said they would never return
home.
The lads were all attending the pub- j
lie schools of that town, and their es
cape was not learned by their parents
until they failed to return home for
supper Monday evening. Inquiring
among their former companions they
revealed the scheme. The coterie of
youths whose minds had become in
flamed from reading the novels (con
tained several others besides the above
three. For some time preparations had
been uuder way for the event. Mouey
had been saved up aud fire arms pro
cured. When the time for leaving
home arrived, however, all but Horau
and the Kliuepeters backed out. These
three, bidding the others a last fare
well, aud saying they would never re
turn home until they Had won fame
and fortune, embarked on a D. L 112&
W. freight train. They said they
would first goto Newport,R. I..where
Horau had friends, aud from there go
South. However, they did not have a
good kuowledgo of directions.
The railroad detectives at Northum
berland and Suubury were notified to
look for the lads, but the bunch had
passed that poiut earlier iu the after
noon and their whereabouts is still un
known.
Tito two Kliuepeters each carried
revolvers aud Horau a large bowie
knife. They also carried uOO rounds of
cartridges each,aud took a large buudle
of half-dime novels. They purchased
new shoes before starting, aud were
thought to have about $36 in cash
when they left Berwick.
Wire Had Fallen.
Several of the arc lights on Mill
street were out for awhile last even
ing. The cause lay iu the fact that a
wire at the coruer of Pine aud Lower
Mulberry streets had fallen. As soon
as the accident could b9 repaired the
lights were turned on.
light plaut is ably managed aud
it \9 very seldom that a mishap, even
of the minor sort, occurs.
IM COM
11IPU
The lunacy commission visited the
hospital for the insane at this place
Tuesday and conducted a thorough
investigation, not only as relates to
overcrowding aud the condition of the
buildings, but also as to management,
the pay and treatment of employes
aud as to whether or noi the State is
not beiug defrauded by tho adm I ting
of patients into the hospital as indig-
iusauo who have estates or rela
tives who are responsible for their
maintenance. Some deplorable facts
were unearthed and it is quite evident
that radical recommendations will be
I made along at least several of the lines
| of inquiry.
Of the lunacy commissiou the fol
lowiug geutlemeu were present: Hon.
Henry F. Walton,chairman. Hon. Ed
ward F. Beidelmau of Dauphin; Sen
ators Milton Iliedelbaugh of Lancaster,
and James F. Woodward of Allegheny
City. Of the board of hospital trustees
the following were present: I. X.
Grier, Esq., H. M. Schoch, Hon.
James Foster, of Danville; Dr. B. H.
Detwiler, of Williamsport; Howard
Lyon of, Ilughesville, aud G. R. Van
Aleu, of Northumberland. Dr. H. L.
Ort.li, superintendent of the iiospital
for the iusaue at Harrisburg, was also j
preseut. Newspaper men were on baud
as follows: Fred A. Long, Thomas F.
Logan aud Ben K. Raleigh, represent
ing respectively the Philadelphia
"North American,"the "Inquirer,"
and the "Evening Bulletin." A rep
resentative of the Intelligencer was
also present. John R. K. Scott, Esq.,
of Philadelphia.accompanied the com
mission as attorney. Hairis Lighty,
of Philadelphia was stenographer. In
addition to the above the county com-1
missiouers and tho loeal board of poor;
directors were present by request.
The commission did not arrive at
the hospital until nearly 11 o'clock
and as soon as practicable got down
to work. Every inquiry was conducted
in the most searching manner. There
was no mincing of words, nor was
there auv special consideration shown
for the standing or position of the per
son questioned. The commission had
no fault to find with the management,
nor with the capability of the board
of trustees. The flagrant defect of the
hosuital. aside from the lack of room,
that impressed the commission was
the antiquated type of building
It will interest the people of Dan
ville to know that tho big institution
here, which, viewed from the outside,
is tho object of much local pride, was
Tuosday pronounced the worst, the
most obsolete and objectionable ot all
tho hospital buildings in the State.
Chairman Walton in au interview
with tho intelligencer representa
tive. after the investigation, express
ed his disapproval in these words:
"The building is wholy unfit for the
purpose and I would recommend that
tho whole structure be torn down,and
replaced by new buildings construct
ed according to modern ideas. I would
recommend that tho building be torn
down wing by wing and the new
structure completod in sections, to
take ovor the patients gradually "
He regretted t hat the temporary
buildings for which an appropriation
was made by the last legislature had
uot been erected. These structures, he
said, embodied modern ideas and
would have improved conditions very
much.
At noon the lunacy commission,
board of trustees and all others pres
ent had dinner at the institution. Dr.
Meredith, the superintendent, was the
only witness examined during the \
morning session. The bulk of the work |
wa's done in the afternoon.
Dr. Moredith made a very good im- 1
pression on the commission, revealing'
that he was laboring conscientiously
with considerable odds against him to
care for and benefit tho insane charges
committed to his care. In answer to
questions, Dr. Meredith stated that he
is 54 years of age, that ho is a graduate
of the University of Pennsylvania,
class of '77. He lias been connected
with the institution for twenty-eight
yoars and has boon su]>orinteudont for
eighteen years. His salary at present
is S4OOO annually, having been raised
from |3OOO about a year ago.
The capacity of the institution, Dr.
Meredith said, is equal to 500 male
patients and 350 females. At present
tl ere are 683 men and tilii women at
the instituation. As a result of the
overcrowding the patients sleep in the
corridors and other unsuitable places.
The chairman explained that it had
come to the oars of the commission
that large numbers of patients are
committed to thft hospitals of the State
as indigent insane when they have
estates or relatives who are responsi
ble for their keeping. it was the in
tent of tho law, lie aaid, that no
porsou is to bo oomuiitted iu this way
except actual paupers. As the result of
the loose and illegal way in which iu
saue are committed to the hospitals
the State is annually defrauded out of
largo sums of money. luasmuch as tho
commission is detormined to got at the
bottom of the matter the request is
made that persons throughout tiie
State come forward or communicate
with the chairman who know of pati
ents committed as indigent who have
estates or relatives responsible for
their support.
Dr Meredith admitted that there
are a number of patients iu the in
stitution here classed as indigent, for
NUMIIER 15
whom support should be paid. It ia
hard to get at the facts. Seventeen
cases, he said, are now under Investi
gation.
liou. R. S. Ammermau, attorney (or
the board of trustees, explained what
I method was usually employed to da
fraud the State. Corrupt politics, he
said, is mostly at the bottom of it.
which iu every community gives cer
tain men a "pull" with local aothor
i ities. It is nothing short of a conspir
acy to defraud the State. An order of
relief is issued to an insane person
who has an estate or relatives who are
liable and he is committed as a charge
from the poor district, which paya the
pittance of $1.75 for his maintenanoe
at the hospital—a sum which is re
funded to the poor di-itriot by rela
; tives who expect to profit.
P. M. Kerns of the local poor board
was called before the commission. He
said that the Danville and Mahoning
poor districts lias 37 charges at the
j hospital and that it is able to colleot
' from only two or three.
' C. W. Cook, county commissioner,
said that Montour county has five
I charges at the hospital and that it haa
boeu unable to collect anything In
| either case.
It wis the sense of the commisaion
that things are radically wrong In
this respect and that the error ahonld
bo corrected by legislation. Some prac
tical recommendations in this matter
will no doubt be made. It was sug
gested that instead ot committing
patients to the hospital on the testi
mony of two physicians the matter
should be taken before court to deter
mine what the patient's >eal circumst-
I ances in life are.
! Howard B. Schultz, steward of the
! hospital, was called to explain to the
satisfaction of the commission hla
j methods of purchasing snpnlies for the
! institution, and whether he eucourag
| (Hi competition by inviting bidß at the
| proper intervals, etc.
The commission investigated the
matter of help or attendants very close
ly. Paul Clapp, head male nnrse, waa
I called before the commission. Hia
j salary, lie said is $37 per month. In re
j ply to a question he admitted there
I was considerable complaint among the
; nurses on the score of wages.
Miss Schoolly, head nurse in the
j female wards, was also called. She
j said $37 was the highest paid under
j the new schedule, s2:t formerly being
the highest. Beginners now leceive
! £lB per month. She admitted that there
j was much complaint on the score of
| remuneration and that the nurses
would enjoy their food better if they
mould lie inn nrpnrate apartment. Lat
lor iu making a tour of the buildings
I the commission was much impressed
i with the hard conditions that the
j nurses, especially the female nurses,
are up against in their daily life.
There will undoubtedlly be some rec
ommendations made by the commis
sion that will make the situation of
nurse at the hospital more desirable.
Recommends liig Appropriations.
HARRISBURG, Jan. 9.
The board of State charities, in ita
report recommending appropriations
to the various institutions throughout
the State that come under its super
vision, is very liberal with the State
insane hospitals.
New buildings to relieve the crowd
ed conditions have been recommeuded
for Danville, Norristown, Harrisburg,
and Warren, aud the legislature will
not dare to turu down what has for
years been a necessity at these institu
tions.
The report will he presented to the
legislature at its meeting next week.
It says that the board has heard ©x
haustively each individual institution,
its needs aud its necessity to apply for
State aid, aud the ability and willing
ness of those not under State control
to be in part self sustaining. The leg
islature is requested to vote first for
the appropriations to State institu
tions, aud for the entire amounts re
commended by the board and that the
appropriations to all other institu
tions, or semi-State aud private in
stitutions penal,correctional and char
itable, have been provided for.
Attention is called to the overcrow
ed condition of the hospitals for the
insane, aud emphasis is given the im
perative need of additional buildinga
aud additioual facilities for the care
of the patients.
An early consideration of appropria
tions for the completion of the Al
lentowu aud Spring City hospitals ia
urgently recommended aud a statute
tasked for providing one method of
commitment and to make clear the
power to discharge patieuts. The de
claration is made that there are 1,000
patieuts in the insane hospitals who
| might be taken out if there was any
one to look after them.
For the years 1905-06, $2,000,000 waa
appropriated for the care and treat
ment ot the iusaue, aud the board for
the years 1907-8 recommends an ap
propriation of $2,300,000.
The Penusylvana State insane hos
pital at Harrisburg asked for $301,000,
of which the board recommends $286,•
500, including SIOO,OOO for building for
couvalescent women; $55,000 for build
ing for recent aoute cases, and $50,000
for an assembly building aud amuse
ment hall.
Other institutions have been reoom
meuded for the following appropria
tions for 1907-08:
Eastern penitentiary, $178,013: home
for training denf children, $44,000;
soldiers' aud sailors' home.Erie, $123,-
500; Morgauza reform school, $164,-
000; Huntingdon reformatory, $230,-
4Stl; Mont Alto sanitarium for con
sumptives, $20,000; Norristown insane
hospital, $320,000; Warren insane hos
pital, $230,500; Danville hospital, $404,-
000; Weruorsville ciironic insane hoa
pital,s3s,soo; Polk institution for fee
ble minded. $814,000; Western peuit
autiarv, $24U,000