Home Paper For the Home Ihe circulation of this paper is in creasing rapidly. It will pay you to advertise in the American. SUBSCRIPTIOH $1 PER YEAR DR. IRVING H. JENNINGS, office hour* A. it to 12 M Mill St.. IP. .V.to 4P. M Danville. Pa. SHULT'i, M. 425 Mill St., Dan v ills, Pa. Oisaasea of the Stomach and Intestines? a Specialty MM NEWS' Don't flirt with typhoid. Houses are in demau 1. Character, like water, will find its level. Lackawanna county's record of crime for 1906 shows eleven murders »ad fifteen suicides. What do vou think of 1907 by this time? Some people are predicitug fiuaucial upheavals for 1907. Ptannsvlvauiaus will watch the next legislature with unusual interest. The disinclination of a good man to serve the public is always the bad man's opportunitv. Did you goto church ou - the first Sunday of the new year? It is very unfortunate to be poor, friendless and without a pull. There are some lessons that some persons find extremely hard to learn. Justice is not ou speaking terms with some of tne law that is administered in her name. Philanthropy of a certain sort con cerns itself chiefly with feathering its wn nest. There has been twelve cases of ap pendicitis in Coatesville, Chester county, within two weeks,and in con sequence an anti-appendicitis club has been formed, of over 100 prominent men of the town. Each member is pledged to live according to a prescrib ed set of by laws and rules, which set fortii wiiat to /lo to keep away the dread disease. Engineer Samuel Kauffmau, of Seliusgrove, who served the Sunbury and Lewistown Railway couipauv as a passenger engineer for twenty-five years, was found dead at his post on Saturday morning with his hand on the throttle of the engine. Forty-six well known residents of Philadelphia have been entered for the nomination of mayor of the city by the various parties and independent organizations existing there. Harry L. Graham, a leading mem ber of the Butler county bar.shot him self near the heart with a revolver at his home in Butler on Saturday even ing and is not expected to live. He is 84 years old, prominent in fraternal societies, clerk of the board of educa tion and vestryman in the Episcopal church. Has the weather man entered into a conspiracy against the ice man. The college boys are all back at work, at least they are supposed to be working. Charles Lewis, the oldest resident of Norristown, celebrated his 86th birthday anniversary on Sunday. He has always lived in tiie Third ward and was never out of the town over night in his life. Mr. Lewis is one of the directors of the Penn Trust com pany. While Amelia Tardella, a pretty Italian girl of 21, was at her home in New Castle on Sunday evening a man said to be a rejected lover.entered the house and shot at her. The girl faint ed and the shock was so great that ser ious consequences are feared. Be ot good cheer, the sun will shine again—sometime. Joseph Smith, aged 17 years, of Homestead.found an infernal machine in an alley on Monday, and while ex amining it in the presence of a young er brother and two other bovs, the thing exploded and all four were sev erely burned and had their hands lac erated. The best advise in the world is sometimes the most distasteful. The crooked tongue tells many a singular story. The sun tried to shine yesterday,but it was a little out of practice. The outside labors and breakers, to the number of 150, employed at the Coal Brook colliery, Lackawanna coun ty, have struck because they were re fused an increase of wages ranging from 12 to 15 cents per day. There are 1,500 men thrown out of employment in consequence. Levi Bubb.ii youthful horse thief of York county, who was charged with having stolen about a dozen horses within a year, was called for trial on Monday when lie pleaded guilty to the theft of three horses and was sent enced to fifteen years in the peniteu ary. The law and order society of Ma- City has been fighting the il licit liquor traffic carried on, and on Sunday all the saloons were closed, giving the town a dry Sunday, which it has not had for many years. Eliza Armstrong,the oldest resident of Adamß county, is dead at the age of 106. Prospects for an ice crop are still •Jtgue. Shamokin firemen threaten uot to attend fires in the br.sinessdistrict be cause a number of merchants refused to purchase advance tickets for a fire men's theatrical attraction benefit. V "THIS COT NTRY WILL NEVER BE ENTIRELY FREE UNTIL IT SUPPLIES ALL OF ITS OWN DEMANDS WITH ITS OWN PRODUCTIONS." VOL. 53-NO 2, 10 FILL IP 11 OLD CANAL Tiie trustees of the hospital for the insane have made arrangements with the D. L. & W. Railroad company for filling up aud improving the land em braced in the old canal where it in tersects the hospital property. Iu accomplishing this work they propose to apply for au appropriation from the State. In abating the nuis ance there it is deemed advisable to eet. rid of the old canal iu the bor ough. To that end the borough coun cil was asked to interest itself iu the proposition aud appoint a committee to act iu 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 plau for pip ing aud filling up the old canal; also again to meet with the trustees aud a committee of the State legislature,and endeavor to impress upon the latter the necessity for au appropriation to assist in abolishing the nuisance. The motion carried. Messrs. Vastine, Sweisfort aud Ja cobs were 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 etc., passed council ou the third and final reading. On motion of Mr. Russell the street commissioner was instructed to notify Foust Bros, to remove the accumula tion of ashes, stones, etc., ou Ferry street, which obstructs thedraiu; 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 coudition. On ! motion the committee ou streets aud j bridges was requested to visit the spot and determine what improvements can be made. On motion of Mr. Vastine the com mittee ou streets and bridges was ord ered to investigate as to the conditiou of Ferry street at Robert G. Miller's , residence. Ou motion of Mr. Dietz it was or dered that the report of the fire chief be accepted and the sectiou of hose iu 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 compauy to be used iu sprinkling. Borough Electriciau Newton Smith presented his report for operating the light plant during the mouth past. fSrghty-seven tons of coal at $2.50 per ton were consumed amounting to ; $217.50. Tiie plant was iu operation 397 hours, 15 minutes. The total cost of operation for the month was $339.- 09. Tiie following members were pres ent: Gibson, Boyer, 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 duiiug tiie past six months, will be presented in the Mah oning Presbyterian church ou the 24th aud 25th of the present month. It will be the most elaborate, the most com plete aud altogether the grandest musical production that lias ever beeu given in Danville. The soloists are Mrs. Scarlet, Miss j Margaret Ammerman, Mrs. Luella i Werkheiser-Divel. Irviu Vannan, Wal ter Russell aud 11. C. Haskell,of Wets Brook, Me. Tiie chorus cousists of forty of Dan ville's best voices and most accom plished singers.as follows: Sopranos—Miss Newhaker, Miss Am merman, Miss Aten, Miss Vastine, Miss Klase, Miss Lyon,Miss Jamescu, Miss Reese, Miss Bennetts, Mrs. So ber, and Mrs. McClure. Altos—Mrs. Divel, Mrs. Scarlet, Miss Reese, Miss Lvou, Miss Lowrie aud Miss Fry. Tenors—H. C. Haskell, R. M. Ja cobs, William Ris'iel, George Luuger, Clyde Davis, John B. McCoy, Howard Kliuger, Frank Cousart. Bases —W. R. Miller, Walter Rus sell, Irviu Vannan, Frank Brown, Jesse Shannon, Joseph R. Patton, Charles Lyon, C. C. Ritter.W. L. Mc- Clure, John Heuniug. Rehearsals are of almost nightly oc currence and those fortunate enough to be present as spectators on oue N or more occasions express themselves as delighted with the high order of the music and predict the fullest measure of success for the oratorio. Aids Coal Diggers. The Susquehanna, while it has not reached a dangerous height at any time this winter, has been usually high for long"periods. This has been of untold profit to the river coal men, who are looking forward to reaping a rich harvest next summer. Some of the big beds'uear this city became very nearly exhausted last summer, when the river was low, but the high water lias been bringing down large quan tities' and the coal men who have beeu over the river say there is now a big, fresh supply ou haud. ADA 11 ' RESTORED TO HOI Charles Sutton aud Miss Ada Kruni the runaway couple, who were appre hended at Athens, this State, with Johu Grier Voris, arrived in this city Monday. The girl has been restor ed to her parents and Sutton alias Wray, is languishing iu the county prison with two charges hanging over his head. The couple arrived ou the 4:81 Penn sylvania train ami were hustled di rectly to the office of Justice Daltou where the deserted wife aud the moth er of the latter as well as of the runa way girl had been iu waiting since . twelve o'clock. 1 The meeting of the mother and the daughter who had beeu given up as lost coutained an element of deep pathos. The womau yieldiug 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 explaiu. She confessed that she did not kuow what had prompted the curse she had taken "I just got it iuto my head to go away." she said, "aud I did uot waut togo alone." The little jouruey abroad, however, will probably last her a life time. Sutton and the girl made their way on foot the entire dis tance from Dauville to Athens, esti- j mated to be 148 miles. They left Dan ville ou November 5, arriving at Athens about Thauksgiviug day. Some where between Berwick and West Nanticoke they speut two weeks with a farmer, where both Sutton and the girl were employed husking corn. They confessed that they had eudured mauy 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. The burning timber af forded warmth and among the fire fighters Sutton and the girl found plenty of company. The following from the "Athens Evening News"of Saturday, throws a little light ou a uew phase of tiie af fair : "Charles Sutton was taken iuto custody by Chief Mulligan and Coun ty Detective McGovern today noon at the local plaut of tne American Bridge compauy 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 Atheus, working nt various farms for a few days at a time along the way. They reached Athens about December 1 aud he secured work at the bridge plaut. He and his sister-iu-law ha ring beeu liviug as man and wife,boarding with a family residing iu one of the old tannery houses west of the Che mung river. The girl is in a delicate condition but Sutton maintains thathe is not the responsible party." Sntton was committed to the lock up Saturday afternoon, the girl being detained at oue of the hotels. At her own request late Sunday night she was | taken to the lockup and was placed in a cell uext to Sutton. The girl is only seventeen years of ' age and is prepossessing in appear i auce. It is a sad case of infatuation i and, mere child that she is, she be i comes au object of deep sympathy. I Sutton, who was working and earn ] ing fair wages, had purchased some -1 up-to date clothiug for her so that not withstanding her hard lines she ' was by uo meaus unpresentable. To the charge of desertion and uou- j I support preferred by his wife, Jennie J | Sutton, he pleaded guilty, but under- ! took to justify his conduct by making verbal counter charges against his wife. To the other charge embodied iu in formation lodged by Mrs. Mary A. Krum, accusing him of being respon sible for her daughter, Ada Krumu's | condition, he pleaded not guilty and in this he was borne out by the sworu testimony of the young girl herself. The girl's testimony, however, had little force iu view of evidence given iu by officer Voris, which was to the i effect that she had told the county de tective at Athens that Sutton was guilty. This and other testimony to i practically the same effect the girl at ; the hearing before Justice Daltou acknowledged was true. Iu view of all ! the facts Suttou was held for court ou J both charges, bail in the first case be- I ing fixed at S2OO aud in the last case jat SSOO. He made little or no effort to ! secure a bondsman 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. Pittsburg is iu the midst of oue of the worst typhoid fever epidemics in the city's history. Poison-laden water is the cause of the disease there, as in i Scrant ,n,and Dr J. F. Edwards, sup ' eriutendeut of the bnrean Of health, declares that the only hope of relief lies iu inducing the citizeus to boil ! the water. With such examples as i these on every haud, those who doubt the efficacy of this precaution and re fuse to practice it are guilty of critu j inal recklessness. Cave Exposed Skeleton. The gviug way of the earth at the | upper end of the Lutherau cemetery at i Bioomsburg Monday afternoon exposed I a cofliu and some of the bones in oue I of the graves. DANVILLE. PA., THURSDAY, .JANUARY 10. 1907. SPECIAL COURT pin The courthouse bell rang yesterday morning. Judge Evans and Associate L. W. Welltver were on haud. 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 iusane at this place. The petitioner set forth that he is unlawfully restrained of his liberty aud that such restraint to the best of his knowledge aud be lief is not by virtue of auy commit ment or detaiuer for any criminal or supposed criminal matter. He, there fore, prayed for a writ of habeas corpus agreeably to the act of assembly di rected to Dr. Hugh B. Meredith, sup erintendent of the said "hospital. All the parties were iu court or withiu easy reach including, not only the petitioner aud Dr. Meredith, but the mother aud other relatives of the former. .Tames M. McKeuuey is a haudsome, finely built youug fellow belonging to a promiueut family of Pittsburg. He was well dressed and as he appeared iu court bore none of the traces of demeutia. What story lay back of his commitment did uot de velop, as the hearing did not proceed. Hon. 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 Evaus: "Aud now January 7,1907, this mat ter came onto he heard aud after con sideration thereof and the production of the said James M. McKeuuey, Jr., in person before the court and the said James M. McKenney stipulating that he will voluntarily goto and re maiu at the farm of William Muldoou near White Plains, New York, for a period of two months from this date., it is orderelthat said James McKeuuey be forthwith discharged from the custody of the Stato hospital for the insaue at Danville, Pa. By the Court, CHARLES C. EVANS, P. J. Charles P. Orr, of Pittsburg, aud Hou. John G. Harinan, of Blooms burg, represented the relatives of the petitioner,at whose instance the latter was committed to the hospital. The occasion yesterday was the first that Graut Herriug and John G. Ilar man, with his Honor Judge Evaus,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 gentlemen with uo con flicting interests aud all differences buried working together harmonious ly as duriug 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 iusane here Tuesday, which appeared in the Philadelphia luquirer aud the Nortii 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 aud the death trap that it is described as being iu the above named papers. It overcrowdiug is re lieved,it is believed that the buildings with slight improvements can ba re tained in use. Buildings constructed withiu thirty years or so should not be so antiquated as to be valueless. The reports in the Philadelphia newspapers are scarcely 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 person who has ever visited the hospital has knowledge to the coutrary Represeutatiyen of the city papers preseut with the commission did uot seem to waut news that related to any of the better features of the institu tion, but whenever tliey sceuted any thing like a scandal their pencils be came very busy. This paper iu 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 amoug the patients while in the hands of attendants for the reason that thev were all suffici ently aired in these columns when they took place and all tlio 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 face to face with a great emergency. The board is compelled to expend ou be half of the poor who are victims of 1 disease about £."»00 a day. It has ask' i the citizens to contribute an emeu ency fund of SIO,OOO. but the p'sp >h thus far has only amounted to about $ 1,200. Will Retain Passes. By a vote of 8 to 4, the members of the Shamokin borough council last week defeated a resolution presented by oue of the members calling upon them to surrender their street railway passes. PHIL PARAGRAPHS Baldy Smith, of Sunbury, seut Sun day with friends in Danville. Miss Amanda Y.juugmau returned to Wollesly Sautrday after a visit at the home of Mrs. Angus Wright, Up per Mulberry street. Miss Bess Drumheller, of Sunbury, speut Sunday iu this city as a gusst at the home ot Mr. and Mrs. A. LI. Groue, Mill st eet. Mrs. W. A Bliude and daughter Mildred, of Nauticoke, speut Satur day at the home of D. U. Hunt, West Market street. Mrs. Harry Billmeyer, of Washing tonville, called on friends in this city yesterday. Harry Blue, of Sunbury, was a vis itor in this city yesterday. Alfred Esterbrook returned yester day to Rochester, New York, where he will finish his course at the Rochester Business Institution. Charles H. Cowau, of Stoulugtou, Connecticut, called on friends iu this city yesterday. Dr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Holloway arrived iu this city yesterday from Philadelphia in response to the news of the serious illuess of the former's father, W. K. Holloway. Miss Katheriue Frauciscus.of Lewis town, arrived iu Diuville last even ing for a visit with Miss Katheriue McCormick. West Market street. Mrs. S. A. Yorks returned to Phila delphia yesterday after a stay with friends iu Dauville. Preparing Bill. As might have beeu gleaned from the report of couucil proceedings, Sat urday moruing, 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 hosptial trustees sigued by Georgo B. Jacohs, Amos Vastine aud Dr. JuO. Sweisfort, the special committee of couucilmeu appointed by Chairman Gibson, which in turn was laid before the luuacy commission when it met at the hospital for the iu sane, Tuesday. The petitiou reads as follows: "To the Trustees of the State hos pital fir the lusane at Danville: You are hereby respectfully request ed to kindly oal' the atteutiou of the luuacy commission during its coming ofli"iul visit to the said hospital to the conditiou o' the abaudoued Pennsyl vania canal from the Western line of the hospital property to aud through the borough of Dauville with a view to their recommending to the State legislature a State appropriation for the purp se of partially defraying the proper and necessary cost ot piping and filling up the bed of the said por tion of said canal aud of the abate ment of the nuisance occasioned by the pollution of certaiii waters flowing through aud from the said hospital property into the sa"d canal." Chairman Walton read the petition before the commission and without entering upon a discussion of the merits of the propositionsaid it would receive due attention aud ordered that it be made a matter of record. Coincident with the presentation of this petition a bill is being drafted asking tiie State legislature to make an appropriation equal to one-third the cost of pipiug and filling up the canal from the western end of the hospital grounds in aud through the borough. The remaining two-thirds of the cost, it is thought, can be provid ed for by the D. L. & W. railroad company aud the borough of Diuville —by one of these or each paying equal parts. The hospital for the insane with the consent of the D. L. & W. railroad company will fill up the caual, at the hospit tl, which will divert the stream of polluted water flowing into the old caual 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 au appropriation. Died at Bioomsburg. George Louterette, of Bioomsburg, formerly of Mausdale, where lie filled the position of head milltfr with the Hauey-Frazier Milling compauy, died sit his home iu Bioomsburg last eveu iug of pneumonia. Mr. Louterette, who was a coruetist of ability,was widely known aud very popular amoug a wide circle of friends in this section. Before Christmas he had au attack of grip. Between Christ mas aud New Year's, before he had fully recovered, lie played for a dance at Bioomsburg. Ho 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 be tak en to M intour Falls, New York, for burial. DR. DIXON. The Harrishurg Patriot extends the compliments of the season to Dr. Dix on, head of the State's hen Ith depart ment. in the following fashion: " flie work that Dr. Dixou is doing to stamp out disease wherever it appears aud to educate the people to the necessity of better sanitary supervision and to the filtration of all water is ot incalcul able value. He should be upheld aud supported by public sentiment and supplied with whatever funds a-e necessary to carry ou the great work in which he is eugaged " AT HOSPITAL 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 tiie coudition of the buildings, but also as to management, the pay aud treatment of employes and as to whether or not the State is not being defrauded by the adm t'.ing of patients into the hospital as indig ent insane who have estat.es or rela tives who are responsible for their maintenance. Some deplorable facts were unearthed and it is quite evident that radical recommendations will be made along at least several of the lines of inquiry. Of the lunacy commission the fol lowing gentlemen were present: Hon. Henry F. Walton,chairman, Hon. Ed ward F. Beidelman of Dauphin; Sen ators Milton Hiedelbaugh of Lancaster, and James F. Woodward of Allegheny City. Of tiie 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 Lyou of, Hughesville, aud G. R. Van Alen, of Northumberland. Dr. H. L. Orth, superintendent of the hospital for the insane at Harrisbnrg, was also preseut. Newspaper men were ou haud as follows: Fred A. Long, Thomas F. Logan aud Ben K. Raleigh, represent ing respectively the Philadelphia "North Americau," the "Inquirer," and the "Evening Bulletin." A rep resentative of the AMERICAN was also preseut. John R. K. Scott, Esq., of Philadelphia.accompanied the com mission as attorney. Harris Lighty, of Philadelphia was stenographer. Iu addition to the above the couuty com missioners aud the local board of poor directors were present by request. The commission did not arrive at the hospital until nearly 11 o'clock aud as soon as practicable got down to work. Every inquiry was conducted iu the most searching manner. There was no mincing of words, nor was 'there any special consideration shown for the standing or position of the per son questioned. The commission had no fault to find with the mahagemeut, nor with the capability of the board of trustees. The flagrant defect of the hospital, aside from the lack of room, that impressed the commission was the antiquated type of building It will interest the pSHple of Dan ville to kuow that the big institution here, which, viewed from the outside, is the object of much local pride, was Tue-dav prououueed the worst, the most obselete and objectionable ot all the hospital buildings iu the State. Chairman Walton in an interview with the AMERICAN representa tive, after the investigation, express ed his disapproval iu these words: "The building is wholy uufit for the purpose and I would recommend that the whole structure be toru down,and replaced by new buildings construct ed according to modern ideas, 112 would recommeud that the building be torn down wing by wiug and the new structure completed iu sectious, to take over the patieuts gradually " He regretted t hat the temporary buildings for which an appropriation was made by the liist legislature had not beeu erected. These structures, he said, embodied modern ideas and would have improved conditions very much. At noon the luuacy commission, board of trustees and all others pres ent had diuuer at the iustitutiou. Dr. Meredith, the superiuteudeut, was the only witness examined during the morning session. The bulk of the work was done in the afteruoon. Dr. Meredith made a very good im pression ou the commission, revealing that he was laboring conscientiously with considerable odds agaiust him to care for and benefit the insane charges committed to his care. In answer to questions, Dr. Meredith stated that he is 54 years of age, that he is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, class of '77. He has beeu connected with the institution for twenty-eight years and has beeu superiuteudeut for eighteen years. Ilis salary at preseut is S4OOO annually, having been raised from S3OOO 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 613 women at the instituatiou. 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 ears of the commission that large numbers of patieuts are committed to the hospitals of the State as indigent insaue when they have estates or relatives wiio are responsi ble for their koepiiur. It was the iu teut of the law, he s.iid, that no person is to be committed in this way except actual paupers. As the result of the loose and illegal way in which in sane are committed to the hospitals the Stite is auuually defrauded out of large sums of money. luasmuch as the commission is determined to get at the oottom of the matter the request is made that persons throughout the State come forward or communicate with the chairman who kuow of pati ents committed as indigent who have estates or relatives responsible for their support. Dr Meredith admitted that there are a uumber of patieuts in the in stitution here classed as indigent, for ESTABLISHED CN 1855 whom support should be paid. It is hard to get at the facts. Seventeen cases, he said, are now under investi gation. . Hon. R. S. Ainmerman,attorney for the board of trustees, explained what method was usually employed to de fraud the State. Corrupt politics, he sairl, is mostly at the bottom of it, which in every commuuity gives cer tain men a "pall" with local author ities. It is nothing short of a conspir acy to defraud the State. An order of relief is issued to au insaue person who has an estate o relatives who are liable and he is committed as a charge from the poor district, which pays the pittance of $1.75 for his maintenance at the hospital—a sum which is re funded to the poor district 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 has 37 charges at the hospital and that it is able to collect from only two or three. C. W. Cook, county commissioner, said that Montour county has five charges at the hospital and that it has been unable to collect anything in either case. It was the sense of the commission that things are radically wrong in this respect and that the error should be corrected by legislation. Some prac tical recommendations in this matter will no doubt be made. It was sug gested that instead ot CDmmitting patients to the hospital ou the testi mony of two physicians the matter should be taken before court to deter mine what the patient's jeal circumst ances in life are. Howard B. Schultz, steward of the hospital, was called to explain to the satisfaction of the commission his methods of purchasing supplies for the institution, aud whether he encourag ed competition by inviting bids at the proper intervals, etc. The commission investigated the matter of help or attendants very close ly. Paul Clapp, head male nurse, was called before the commission. His salary, he said is $37 per month. In re ply to a question he admitted there was considerable complaint among the nurses on the score of wages. Miss Schoolly, head nurse in the female wards, was also called. She said $27 was the highest paid under the new schedule, $23 formerly being the highest. Beginners now receive $lB per month. She admitted that there was much complaint on the score of remuneration aud that the nurses would enjoy their food better if they could be in a separate apartment. Lat er in making a tour of the buildings the commission was much impressed with the hard conditions that tlie nurses, especially the female nurses, are up against in their daily life. There will uudoubtedliy be some rec ommendations made by the commis sion that will make the situation of nurse at the hospital more desirable. Recommends Big Appropriations. HARRISBURG, Jan. 9. The board of State charities, in its report recommeuding appropriations to ttie various institutions throughout the State that come x under its super vision, is very liberal with the State insaue hospitals. New buildings to relieve the crowd ed conditions have been recommended for Danville, Norristown, Harrisbnrg, and Warren, aud the legislature will not dare to turn down what has for years been a necessity at these institu tions. The report will be presented to the legislature at its meeting next week. It says that the board has heard ex haustively each individual institution, its needs aud its necessity to apply for State aid, and the ability aud 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 insaue, aud emphasis is given the im perative needt)f additional buildings aud additional facilities for the care of the patients. Au early consideration of appropria tions for the completion of the Al lentown and Spring City hospitals is urgently recommended and a statute asked for providing one method of commitmeut and to make clear the power to discharge patients. The de claration is made that there are 1,000 patients in the insane hospitals who might be taken out if there was auv one to look after them. For the years 1905-06, $2,000,000 was appropriated for the care and treat ment ot the iusauo, aud the board for the years 1907-8 recommends au ap propriation of $2,500,000. The Penusy 1 vana State insane hos pital at Harrisburg asked for $391,000, of which the board recommends $285.- 500, including SIOO,OOO for buildiugfor convalescent women; $55,000 for build iug for recent acute cast;s, aud $50.000 for au assembly building and amuse ment hall. Other iu-titutious have been recom menced for the following appropria tions for 1907-08: Ki-tern peu itentiary, $178,013 : home for training deaf children, $44 000; soldiers' and sailors' home, Erie, $122 - 500; Moigauza reform school, $164 - 000; Huntingdon reformatory, SJ3O.- -18*5; Mont Alto sanitarium for con sumptives, $.'0,000; Norristowu insane hospital, $3.6,000; Warren insaue hos pital, $250,500 ; Danville hospital.s4o4,- 000; Weruersville chronic insane hos pital. $35.500; Polk institution tor fee ble minded. $SI4,000; Western penit entiary, $246,000. JOB PRINTING The office ot the AMERICAN being furnished with a large assortment of job letter and fancy typt and job material generally, the Publisher an nounces to the public tnat he is prepared at all times to ex ecute in the neatest manner. JOB PRINTING Of all Kinds and Description IIIE WITH ESCAPED PRISONER It seldom occurs that a policeman is called upon to give such a striking ex hibition of his sprinting qualities as was witnessed yesterday morning when Officer Yoris pursued au escaped offender down the Northumberland road. George Mock was arrested Tuesday evening charged with "disorderly con duct and with disturbing the peace of the neighborhood." George had been imbibing and was putin the lockup until he should be in a suitable con dition for a hearing. At 9 o'clock yesterday 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 he made a dash for liberty. He crossed Mill street, closely followed by Chief Mincemoy er,who in stepping upon the sidewalk, in front of J. H. Cole's store caught his foot in the curb and fell striking his knees on the pavement. He waa badly bruised and momentarily disabl ed. The chief quickly recovered and dashed off in pursuit, although under handicap of his bruised knee he was unable to quite keep up with the pris oner. He stuck to the chase, however, until the finish and was at no time far in the rear. Had Mock been running for his life he would not have made better time. He dashed along the streets and alleys of the third ward and had reached a point on West Center street near the Mahoning creek bridge when he was sighted by Officer Voris,who wasoom ing down East Center street, having joined in the pursuit. Notwithstanding his heavy avoir dupois he made a good record as he dashed down West Center street. 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 alreadr 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 m lie ran, flung it iuto the hands of a bystander aud showed that when it came to sprinting he was rather more than a match for the lighter man that he was in pursuit of. A minute later Mock was out of town headed for the dug road. It fin ally became evident that the officer was gainiug slightly and thus the race continued until the mau pursued be came to climb the dug road. At this point the two meu were only some ten yards apart, when the officer called upon Mock to surreuder, which he did without further hesitancy. The prisoner was brought back to town aud arraigned before the justice. Fine aud costs amounted to $lO, which lie found a way to pay aud was releas ed. Youthful Bandits. Led astray by reading trashy half dime novels, three Berwick lads, Percy Kliuepeters, aged 12 years, his broth er William Kliuepeters, 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 the> would never return home. The lads were all attending the pub lic schools of that town, and their es cape was not learned by their parents uutil 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 under way for the event. Money had been saved up aud fire arms pro cured. When the time for leaving home arrived, however, all but Horan and the Kliuepeters backed oat. These three, bidding the others a last fare well. aud saying they would never re turn home until they nad won fame aud fortune, embarked on aD. L.l& W. freight, train. They said they would first goto Newport,R. L,where Horau had friends, aud from there go South. However, they did not have a i?ood knowledge of directions. The railroad detectives at Northum berland aud Sunbury were notified to look for the lads, but the bunch had passed that point earlier in the after noon and their whereabouts is still uu known. The two Kliuepeters each carried revolvers and Horau a large bowie knife. They also carried 500 rouuds of cartridges each,aud took a large bundle of half-dime novels. They purchased new shoes before starting, aud were thought to have about $36 iu cash when they lift Berwick. Wire Had Fallen. Several of the arc lights on Mill street were out for awhile last even ing. The cause lay in the fact that a wire at the corner of Pine aud Lower Mulberry streets had fallen. As soon as the accident could be repaired the lights were turned on. Our light plant is ably managed and it is very seldom that a mishap, even of the minor sort, occurs.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers