l)e Jfttltott Cotmtg 3Xcu)s.
VOLUME 8
McCONNELLSBL'RG, PA., AUGUST I, 1907
NUMBER 4
BENTLEY MELLOTT DEATH !
SALE OP SCHOOL BONDS.
Story of the Sad Affair as Brought Out
Before the J iry at the Coroner's
taqnett.
M VTTER STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
A short paragraph in the News
last week told of the ieath of
George Mollott, 11 year old sou of
Samuel Mellott, near Folia. The
boy's name, we believe, is George
Bentley, and he is better known
as Bentley Mellott.
There is a good deal of feeling
among the neighbors and in the
family of the boy 's father, as to
some one being, indirectly at
least, responsible for the boy's
death.
An autopsy by the Coroner and
Drs. Brubaker ancf Nevin showed
had ruptures of the bowels and
other serious internal injuries
from which death came.
The witnesses examined were
the boy's 17 year old brother
Harvey; W. S. Kolb. U. S. guager
and storekeeper at lingers; Miss
Irene Sipes, at the tollgate; and
others.
Their stories synopsised make
this narra ie of the facts:
Harvey Mellott and his young
er brother, Bentley, were with
Carson McFadden. It was decid
ed to "chip in" and get some
whiskey. Near the distillery
they met Ira Diehl and Edward
Keyser, two lumbermen from
the .Vg Cove. The matter of
whiskey was spoken of and Diehl
and Keyser got four quarts from
the still house. Of this the Big
Cove men gave the trio three
(uarts. The entire party then
went to Mercersbuig, where
the two Mellotts and Mc
Faddeti, helped the lumbermen
unload their timber and load the
wagon with coal. The older men
of the party drank some ia Mer
cersbure an'1 the older Mellott
acknowledged that he gave his
11-year old brother one swallow
of whiskey while in town. On
the return trip the lumbermen
offered to hire Bentley Mellott at
a month. Thev tola him a
horse would be furnished him
and he could ride home every
night, if he desired. Bentley
agreed to this and in passing his
home stopped and got together
some clothing. He joined the two
lumbermen. About 3:30 p. m.
after passing the distillery, in
Fulton county, Bentley fell from
the lazy board to the road and the
rear wheel of the heavy wagon
Massed over his abdomen. Diehl
m
and Keyser brought the uncon
scious boy to the tollgate and left
Mr. Kolb, son of W. F. Kolb, of
I'hambersburg, took the boy to
the Mellott home. The boy be
came conscious during the night
and said he was givdn whiskey
by one of the party. He sail he
tell off the wagon and gotshurt
The verdict was
"That Bentley Mellotthadcome
to his death by being run over by
a wagon belonging to Ira Diehl
on the pike between Foil .. and the
first toilgate on the mountain and
while evidence was produced
showing the parties intoxicated
aud had given the boy whiskey
we do not Hnd evidence to show
that the said intoxicat'on of the
men (Ira Diehl and Edward Key
ser) in any way contributed to
the boy's death. Nor was itshown
that the boy became intoxicated
trom the whiskey given him or
that the whiskey given was the
cause ot his fall under wheels of
the wagon, thereby causing his
death'
Samuel Mellott, the boy's fa
ther, went to Chambersburg last
Saturday to see the District At
torney and the Coroner ot Frank-
lla county. To the Coroner, he
Maid he was satisfied with tha ver
diet of the coroner's jury, having
ontidenoe in the personnel of the
six men who investigated the
cause of his son's death. He dts
played uo bitterness, .but said he
would like to see the men who
trave ins hoy whiskey, punished.
The Corouer said
The Board S.WM0 To the Good" In
the Transaction.
The sale of the sixty-five $100
bonds by the Borough school
board last Saturday, brought out
a large number of bidders. Thf
bonds were sold singly, with priv-
lege of taking five. The first
five were duo in one year, and
five each succeeding year until
1920. Those due in 1 year,
brought a premium of 07 cents;
2 years, 1.25; 8 years, 1.80; 4
years, $2.62; and each succeeding
year a follows i $5 87, $b90, !.
80, $8 00, 8.10, 9.00, 8.80, 8 65
9 12.
The bonds draw 5 per cent, per
annum, interest payable semi an
nually.
The Correct Uame Law.
BENJAMIN FISHER DEAD.
The Ifiat session of tho Lcgisla
litre made some changes in the Waylaid on Public Highway in Thompson
Married.
NORTH DAKOTA.
ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
I). w.
Letha Bain.
A message by telephone was
eceived at Webster Mills Tues
day morning, conveying the in
telligence that Miss Lr.tha Bain,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
W. Bain, near Webster Mills, had
died at Waynesboro, Monday -ev
ening, and that her body would
rea.'-h Mercersburg Tuesday ev
ening. At the time the message
came, Mrs. Bain was out in the
mountain gathering huckleber
ries, and tho husband was thresh
ngup at Geo. Comerer's. The
parents had Known nothing of
their daughter's illness, and the
news to them was a great shock.
Miss Bain was aged about 1-
years, and was a most estimable
young lady.
Shot Son For Groundhog.
A pathetic tragedy was enacted
near Bedford last Saturday when
bylveslor limerick, an engiueer
on the Pennsylvania llailr
cidentally killed Ins . - son,
while they were hunting ground
hogs.
Father and son were In the
woods when the child got separ
ated from his father, and later
came up over a hillock. The fath
er, thinking he was one of the
animals they were hunting, fired
quickly shooting the boy through
the heart. Emerick is almost be
side himself with grief.
game law. Various incorrect re
ports of the law have been pub
lished in some pipers and as a re
sult there are very few people who
really know what the law is.
The hill to prohibit the killing of
quail for throe years failed of pas
sage and the law 'on these birds is
therefore unchanged.
The open season for killing game
is as follows:
Plover, number unlimited, July
15 to December 1.
Doves, blackbirds and shore
birds, number unlimited, Septem
ber 1 to Januiry 1.
Wild water-fowl, number unlim
ited, September 1 to April 10,
without intermission.
Snipe, number unlimited, Sep
tember 1 to May 1.
Pheasants, five in one day, twen
ty in one week, fifty in one season,
October 1 to December 1.
Woodcock, ten in one day, twen
ty in one week, fifty in one season,
October 1 to December 1.
Squirrels, six in one day, Octo
ber 1 to December I.
Hears, unlimited, October I to
March 1.
Wild turkeys, one in a day, four
in a season, October 15 to Decem
ber 1.
Babbits, unlimited, October 15
to December 1. The penalty for
taking a rabbit out of a hole has
been removed and it is now lawful
to take litem in any manner during
the season.
Quail or partridge, ten in one
day, forty in one week, seventy
five in one season, November 1 to
December 1.
Deer, one each season, which
"must be a male deer with horns,
November 15 to December 1.
The new law prohibiting the use
of automatic guns does not include
the pump gun or lever gun.
Township Early Monday Morn
ing of Last Week.
DIED FOLLOWING SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Fraker Tells What He Saw Spend
ing a Day at Devil's Lake.
MAMII. M VKUS.
On Wednesday-, July lM, 1907,
at the homH of the bride's sister,
Mrs. LeqjUel Divans, Kn bville, j Taking advautago of the Farm
Pa, Mr. Johu A. Hamiruhd Miss ora ;raln end Shipping Com
Clara Myers, loth of Todd town pony's Excursion to Devil's I ike,
Mr. and Mrs. A: J. Bolinger,
of Taylor, spent last Saturday in
McConnallsburg.
Mellott was that the matter
should not rest with the verdict
of the jury. You see, the two
men the boy began the journey
over the mountain with we're not
present at the inquest. In his
ante mortem statement to his
mother, the boy said be had been
given whiskey, and 1 am quite
certain the district attorney will
take whatever steps he thinks
wise. We went as far as we could
without the testimony of the men
Diehl and Keyser. There wts
no effort to cover up anything,
nor will there be. .As coroner of
the county 1 will give whatever
assistance there is in the matter."
At the instance of the District
Attorney, while in Chambers
burg last Saturday, Mr. Mellott
went before a justice of the peace
and swore out a warrant for the
arrest of Edward Keyser and Ira
Diehl. tho men with whom the
Mellott boy had started over the
mountain the day he was killed.
Hon. D. Hunter Patterson, Key-
ser's employer aud whose team
he was driving when the accident
occurred, went before the Justice
and entered bail in the sum of
200 for a hearing. Mr. Patter
son, it is understood, insisted
there was no ground 1 for prose
cution. Lie happened to meet
District Attorney Long, who told
him the warrant had been issued
and that he bad better got Key
ser a bondsman if he wanted to
keep him iu his em ploy until such
time as the case is disposed of.
Harvey McFadden, of Mercers
burg, will also be arrested for the
same offence. Bail was set at
200 each for a hearing before
Magistrate Seiders in Chambers
burg on Friday ol this week.
Every effort is being made to
Notice.
The Fulton County Veteran As
sociation will meet at the ltcunion
grounds, near J . W. Hoop's, on
Saturday August 10, 1907, at 1
o'clock, p. m., for the purpose of
selling the privilege of the differ
ent stands or booths, and for the
transaction of such other business
as may be brought before the Com
mittee.
flie Reunion will be held on
Friday September 6th, 190".
Committee on supplies in each
township:
Ayr John F. Kendall, Scott S.
Hunn.
Belfast Wm. Wink, W. B, Mel
ott. Brush Creek Win. Waters,
Morgan Barton.
Bethel Jos. Fisher, Wesley
Hill.
Dublin John Kebaugh, John
E. Speck.
Licking Creek .las. A. Sipe, S.
B. Dishong.
Todd James Connelly, Henry
Wolf.
Thompson John Fisher, James
O'Kourk. t
Taylor Jacob
Witter.
Union Isaiah
Parlett.
Wclls-S. P,
Baker.
McConnellshurg I). T. Fields,
Thomas Haiuil.
Committees are requested to no
tify S. C. Berkhart.Fort Littleton,
Pa., the amount each has solicited
not later than August 31, 1907.
Wm. Mii.i.kk, President.
Strait, Josiah
Lehman, John
Wishart, A. F.
find out aud punish whoever gave
My understanding with Mr J the Mellott boy the whiskey.
Were Out Camping.
Dr. and Mrs. W. F. Sapping
ton, Mr. and Mrs. J. Campbell
Patterson, . Walter Sappmgton
and Miss Elisabeth Patterson,
Daniel F. Trout aud Miss Mayo
Johnston, returned on Wednes
day of last week, from the Capjpn
river, in West Virginia, where
tbey bad spent a week most de
lightfully camping. They speak
iu the kindest terms of the many
l ice people they met, and the
hospitality shown them by the
West Virginians iu the vicitnty of
their ram p.
There was considerable excite
ment luire Monday morning when
it was reported that Benjamin
Fisher, of Thompson township,
had been waylaid alon? the. public
highway, had been shot, and that
he had died on Sqnday evening.
At the lame time Dr. W. F. Sap
pington, of Webster Mills, tele
ph'oned District' .Attorney Frank
P. Lynch to oome down an l be
present at a post mortem exami
nation of the unfortunate young
man.
The facts as we were able to
anther them Monday evening were
about as follows:
Benjamin Fisher, aged about 2')
years, son of Banner Fisher, has
for several years had his home in
the family of Richard I Iollcnsltead.
of Thompson township. The eve
ning of Sunday, July 2Jst, Benja
min spent with a lady friend in the
Little Cove, across the line in
Franklin county. He arrived at
his home at Hollonshead's at 9.30
o'clock, Monday morning, and
went to bed. At breakfast, Mon
day morning, Mrs. Hollinsbead,
who had noticed from her room
that Ben had been restless during
the after partof the night, remark
ed: "You did not sleep much last
night, did you, Ben?'1
"No, I didn't. Some one tried
to get me as I was coming home
last night."
Then he told her that on bid re
turn from the Little Cove, he had
crossed Licking ('reek, and was
passing through a piece of woods,
when, in the moonlight, he noticed
a man standing on the side of the
road. "The man fired two shots
at me," said Ben, "but I heard but
one."
"You heard but one, and you
say hi shot twice at you; how
could that be?" said Mrs. Hollens-
hcad.
"Well, I think I can prove it to
you," and Ben got his hat, which
showed that a shot tired from a re
volver, had entered about an inch
or more below the top of the hat
and passed across the scalp and
out at the other side of the hat
about a quarter of an inch from
the top, the hat showed that the as
sassin had tired the shot just as
Ben was passing. Another hole
out of the'top of the crown of the
hat showed that a second shot had
been fired a little later, as that
hole was in the back part of the
hat. The first shot, perhaps da.ed
him so that ha did not hear the
second shot.
During the week which followed,
Ben complained of a pain in his
head, and ot frequent nausea.
While the shot produced but a
scarcely perceptible scalp wound,
the young man felt a delicacy about
the matter being made public, and
did not feel that anything serious
would come from it.
About four o'clock last Sunday
evening, Ben remarked to Mrs.
llollenshead that he felt hungry,
and started out from the house
saying something about getting an
apple. ,
Mrs. llollenshead proceeded
soon after to get supper, and when
the family were ready to eat, Ben
was not there. As he did not come
in bv tho time the meal was ended,
Mr. llollenshead went out to look
for the young man. First he went
to the bum, and not seeing any
thing of Ben about, he went to
Dave Gregory's near, and not
finding him there, returned home.
Just l en, it occurred to hint that
Ben said something about getting
an apple when he left the house,
and Mr. Hollenshead wont to the
orchard and there found Ben lying
with bis head down the hill on his
face. About four feet from Ben's
feet, his hat was lying the hat
contained five eggs, two of which
were broken. Mr. Hollenshead
turnbd the body over and tried to
rouse him, but soon found that ihe
young man was dead.
ship, were married
Lewis H. Wiblo.
by Justice
MOMMA HRTTIXUKR.
In Hagerstown, July II, Mf.
Calvin Mum ma, sou of Mr. and
Mrs. D. B. Mumma, of lloxbury,
Pa., and Miss (irace Hettinger,
daughter of M r. and Mrs. C. O.
Hettinger, of Waynesboro, were
united in marriage.
The groom has been employed
in the Frick shop for nearly two
years After a short visit in
Ha"gerstown aud Hancock, they
returned to Waynesboro at which
place they will reside. They hav
the woll wishes ot their many
fi iouds.
m ( IB BK8M1TH l'UH IK
The marriage of James Hock
ensmith aud Miss Stella Price,
ooth of Johnstown, Pa., was sol
emnized at the home of the bride
by tho Rev. H. S. Steed, pastor
of the Second Christian church
iu Moxham.
After the wedding tho newly
married couple started east on
an early train. They were ac
companied by Mr. and Mrs. Char
les Keener of Park avenue, and
during their absence Will visit
New York, Philadelphia. Atlantic
City and otner points of interest.
Tile groom is a son of C. B. Hock
eusmith, formerly of this county,
and has the best wishes of his
mauy l'ultou couuty friends.
Tbey were married last Thursday.
E. H. Kirk, of Hiraro, brought
to town Monday, his wife, Mrs.
M. P. Mitchell his mother in
law, and Lucy Michel, a Colorado
teacher who has been attending
the Chicago University this sum
trier, and who has been visiting iu
Mr. Kirk's family during the past
week. The three ladies left ou
the stage at noon for the James
town Exposition, and they expect
to visit Washington and other
eastern cities before they retui n.
Snapshots at Their Co-nlnjf and OninjH
Here for a Vacation, or Away
for a Rentful'Outin;.
NAMES OP VISITORS AND VISITED
Dr. Sappington, of Webster
Mills was notified, and also Magi
strate W. W. Hewitt, and upon
their arriv.il, an inquest was held
composed of the following jury:
Daniel F. Trout, foreman; Samuel
Peck, J. C. Comerer, Wilbur Com
crer, Port Carbaogh, Willard Lit
ton, David Gregory, lteed Simp
son, Ed. Simpson, Mac. Johnson,
(irant Bard, and (ieorge A. Win
ters. Without making an autopsy,
tho jury returned a verdict that
the young man came to his death
from worry caused by being shot
at by MOW unknown person with
intent to kill.
As has been stated, District At
torney Lynob went down with Dr.
Sappington to Hollenhead's Mon
day, when a careful post tnortem
examination was made, which
showed that the path of the bullet
across the yoitnsr man's skull left
a brown streak across the cram
um, the cranium, itself, was not
fractured, and outside of the fact
that thero was scattered blood
under the skin, there was no evi
dence that the brain had been in
jured by the shot. A further ex
amination showed that the heart
was in bad condition, and that the
liver was much congested; hence,
there was no reason to believe that
death did not result from natural
causes, aside from the shooting.
Mr. Fisher was aged 22 years,
10 months, aud 11 days, ami was
not known to bave an enemy.
Whether ho had s rival suitor, or
whether the shooting wan the ro-
sun oi miaiasuu meniiiy, may
nover be known, lie was an in
dustrious young man Of most ex
emplary character, and his death
causes much sorro v among his nu
merous friends
The funeral took place Tuesday
Morning at nine o'clock, and his
remains were interred iu tho cem
etery at I aiascus "hristian church
leaving )! instead, N. D., 8:906,
m., arriving at 10:80 a. in., at
(ireat Northern Depot, Devil's
Lake, and taking a car on tho
Chalauqua railroad, we arrived
on the grounds, Sunday, July
14th. Doing an ideal day follow
ing refreshing showers during
tho night before, one is in a physi
cal as well as psychical condition
to inject a little rest and recrea
lion in through the pores Where
the perspiration oozed out during
the strenuous period of seed time
in our locality here.
Nature has been busy ever
since the groat "Ice Sheet'" pro
verbial as well as geographically
demonstrated on the topography
of N. D. slid and molted away
to the northern sections Of the
"Globe" ftpd left the natural de
pression Which makes tho Lake
region known in all our geograph
ies, clothing the terraces of the
Lake shore with natural fauna
aud Mora, until now it stands on
tho fringes of the lake as a beau
tiful forest, resplendent in trees,
grasses, anu flowers, iu truth and
sentiment as in the songs of Hia
watha and Miuehaha. Even these
woods hold a few remaining
numbers of our dusky aborigiu
es on the southern shore. Due
south of the now famous summer
rert above mentioned, stauds
the buildings and site of Fort
Tottcn, Indian reservation, which
tourists visit at this season of the
year, by crossing over from the
Cliatauqua grounds by steamers
that ply ou the Lake between the
two points on schedule time. Ti e
regular as well as the popular
p'rice is one Eiglo Dollar round
trip, seven miles being the dis
tance between the two points.
Tho grounds are laid out in regu
lar roadways and sylvan by paths
with substantial buildings for the
accomodation ot visitors, while
aside beautiful cottages have beon
built on regular lots on the
grounds; also hut.dreds of touts
are erected each season to serve
as temporary quarters for fami
lies camping for tho season,
which, this year, bes;au June 29lh
and closed July Kith.
Various amusements are enjoy
ed on week days: as Athletic Park
Shooting gallery, bathing build
ings, with an excellent approach
to the lake. Merry go rounds
and other minor sports of an in
nocent nature abound on the
grounds; a grand band stand iu
the ce iter of the grounds, an
auditorium holding 5000 specta
tors, commodious hotel quarters,
refreshment rooms; also, tempor
ary headquarters for military
troops during the State Militia's
annual encampment, of 1' battal
ions of regulars, comprising 4
companies from Fort Lincoln, !i
miles west of Bismarck, overlook
ing the State's capital aud Mis
souri river, where tho famous ex
plorers, Lewis and Clark, winter
od with the Mar.dan Lndians, dur
ing the winter of 1804-18Q5. Four
companies E, F, G, H, command
ed by Maj Stoadmau, were en
camped with BOO Militia south of
the Parkin commodious quarter.
Governor Hurke, being present
on Sunday, reviewed the troops
on parade and drill Sunday even
ing at 7 p. m. While the writer
and friend Hansou Hyers, were
conversing with a number of reg
ulars, were requested to take
Major Steadman's and Governor
Burke's horses up to the parade
ground; so we arose to promi
nence very rapidly as we rode up
the line to tho camp ground amid
the cheers of perhaps -10,000 spec
tators stretched along the road
for three quarters of a mile, tin
ally delivering our horses Into the
hands of the attendants of the
Governor and Army officials.
Music for t.oops was composed
of a Band of &7 members, who
played our uatioual airs in Lout
of the Columns Of Infantry at
Miss Mollie Seylar, of Pitts
burg, is here for a su miner vaca
tion with her sister, Mrs. M. M.
Cook.
S. C. Yeaklo and little daugh
ter, of Mercersburg, were In Mc
Conuellsburg, Monday.
Mr. A. P. Akers, of Leechburtr,
Pa. is vuitiug his mother Mrs.
Martha Akers at Sipes Mill.
Miss Kathyrme Jacobs, of
Harrisburg, was a guost at tho
Fulton House over Sunday.
Miss Daisy Wink, of this place,'
is spending a couple weeks with
her parents in Thompson town
ship. Miss Sadie Michaels, of Everett
has been spending tho past week
with her sister Mrs. Geo. Hays
of tins place.
Prof. Harry E. Gress aud fam
ily, of Jumonville, Pa., arc guests
oi tno ivoxrotii family at tne t ut
ton House.
Kev. 11. H. Hoover, of Perrys
ville, Md., left Tuesday alter hav
ing spent a week of his summer
vacation in McConnollsburg.
Mrs. Dr. W. L McKibbin, who
has been spending several weeks
at Buck Valley, returned to har
homo at this place Friday.
Dr. aud Mrs. Clarence N.
Trout, of Hed Lion, Pa., are
speuding a week, with the for
mer's mother and sisters in this
place.
Kev. (I. VV. Mcllu'iy, ol Spring
Mills, Pa, and his sister in law,
Miss Cora Dorau, of Burnt Cab
ins, spent a day iu iown last
week.
Mrs. George W. Hays and sis
tor, Miss Sadie Michael, wero
called to Waynesboro, Tuesday
by the death of their sister, Mrs.
P. M. Sutdor.
After a very enjoyable vi.Mt
among his old time friends and
neighbors in McConnollsburg,
Mr. D. L. McNulty is again at
his home in Laurel, Md.
Misses Marian and Jessie
Sloan, who had been away visit
ing friends iu Buffalo, Detroit
and other cities, returned to their
homo in this place last Friday.
Misses Bess Simpson and
Louie Johnson, of Thompsou,
were guests in the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Thomas Johnson of this
place last Sunday and Monday.
Mrs. James Font and three
children, after boarding fives
weeks with Mrs. Barbara Houpt,
returned to their home iu Altooi.a
last Wednesday. Their many
fri m 'is here wore sorry to seo
them leave.
7 p. in. With the firing of a can
uon the Stars aud Stripes wero
lowered from a tall llajr stall', aud
the command passed in review
back to their quarters; thus end
ing the day's maneuvers.
In the eveuing, speaking in the
auditorium completed the Cha
tauqua's program for the day.
Incident with the departure of
the crowd, three train loads ol
tired but orderly humanity rodo
OUt over the old Ice Age lake bed
to Devil's Lake, aud until mid
night, they kept pouring in
around the platform of the great
Northern Deiot. Not one intoxi
cated or noiswme person wu u.
spicuous in the surging stream
of humanity, tor which credit
must, in the largest measure, be
accredited to the persistent and
systematic efforts of tho Cliatau
qua committee aud order of W.
C. T. U., who are doing so effect
ive aud high ordi?rod work. One
thing, too, noticeable, not a po
liceman or officer was soon ou the
grounds during the eutir j day,
which is typical that enlighten
ment and civilisation exists, as
well as moves west.
D. W. FttAKKB,
Kgntendt N. D.