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.