The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, March 17, 1909, Image 1

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    $ Semi-Weekly Founded;
Wayne County Organ
of the
1908
Weekly Founded, 1844
REPUBLICAN PARTY
HONESDALB, WAYNE CO., PA., "WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1909.
66th YEAR.
NO. 22
THE BASTRIBUTE
The Late Judge P. P. Smith
Highly Extolled.
THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
The Members of the Wayne and
Lackawanna Bar pay a Itarc
Tribute to our Former
Townsman.
A meeting of the Lackawanna Bar as
sociation was held on Wednesday after
noon last in the main court room in
Bcranton, to honor the memory of th&
late Hon. Peter I'. Smith.
On motion of Judge Kelly. Judge
Kdwards was chosen chairman, and on
motion of W. J. Hand, R. J. Murray
was chosen secretary. A committee
composed of D. J. Reedy, Judge Kelly
and Cornelius Coraegys was named by
the chairman to draft resolutions.
While this committee was at its work,
remarks were made by Col. F. J. Fitz
simmons, John M. Harris, Charles L.
Hawley., Judge O'Neill, and F. M. Mon
aghan, and when the committee report
ed, Mr. Reedy added his testimonial.
In opening the meeting Judge Ed
wards said it was most appropriate that
the bar should meet, as Judge Smith was
an active, and honorable member of the
bar and a former member of the court,
and the superior court. He said that in
the exercise of his judicial work on the
superior bench, Judge Smith was high
ly appreciated by the foremost lawyers
of the state.
Colonel Fitz6immons, who was one of
the closest friends Judge Smith had,
paid a most eloquent and touching trib
ute, saying in part :
"At the end of Judge Smith's (irst
year on the Superior Court bench he re
ceived a letter from one of the foremost
lawyers of the state, congratulating him
upon his work, and likening hjra to the
great jurists who' shed enduring lustre
upon the jurisprudence of Pennsylvania.
"Judge Smith loved those who. -'were
near and dear to him with even more
than parental affection. Their happiness
was his fondest dream. It was for them
that he reached out after the unattain
able. Of him it may be truly said : He
was a sound lawyer and eminent jurist,
a model fatherand a faithful husband."
Mr. Harris was the first speaker. He
said he enjoyed confidential relations
with Judge Smith when he (irst came
from Honcsdale to Scranton. They had
offices together for two years and adjoin
ing oflices for the same term. Mr. Har
ris said the characteristic which impres
sed him most strongly in Judge Smith's
work as a lawyer was his prodigious ca
pacity for work and the high standard
he always set before himself, and one of
the saddest stories he ever listened to
was the judge's account of his failing
health oneday, coming on the tram from
Philadelphia.
"I am satisfied," said Mr. Harris,
"that the bar and community have lost
iv valued member, and that I have lost a
verv loyal and sincere friend."
Mr. Reedy said he had the honor of
studying law with Judge Smith ; so said
t , mi . , .
Judge O'Neill and Mr. Monaghan.
Judge O Neill said :
"Whatever success I may have re -
ceived I testify my debt and gratitude
to Judge Smith for it, for his wise coun-
sel and advice in my younger years."
Judge Edwards conveyed the regrets
of Judge Willard, who sat on the Su
'perior bench with Judge Smith. He said
Judge Wiliard intended to be present
to give his high regard expression, but
was compelled to return home in the
afternoon because of illness.
Charles L. Hawley spoke more of
Judge Smith as a neighbor in (Sreen
Ridge. He said he was a true judge, a
gentleman always, on the bench, an ideal
husband and father, and an ideal neigh
bor. The resolutions of the bar were as fol
lows :
"Honorable Peter P. Smith was born
in Honesdale, Wayne county, on Juno
2, 1651, and died in Scranton on the 0th
day of March, 1009. He attended the
lmblio schools of Honesdale until gradu
ation and then entered on the study of
law in the office of Win, II. Dimruick.
Upon his admission to the bar he quickly
attained prominence and was selected by
the Democratic party of his county as a
candidate for district attorney, and was
elected and re-elected to the otlice (dis
trict attorney, in which capacity he serv
ed with distinction and credit. In 1888
he was called to a Urger Held and moved
to Scranton. where he quickly assumed
a front rank among the lawyers of the
bar. In 1802, upon the death of Judge
Connolly, he was appointed to the com
mon pleas bench of Lackawanna county
by Governor Pattison, where he served
for something over a year with credit
and distinction. In 1805 upon the es
tablishment ot the superior court he was
elected to that office, and his decisions
stand pre-eminent among judicial decis-
ions in Pennsylvania.
r"His ability was recognized and dis
tinguished bv St. uiiarie. uonege 01 ma
Nova, where" he was given in 1803 the
degree of A. M., and by St. Mary's Col
lege at Emmittsburg, where in 1000 he
was given the degree of LL. D.
"Few men have been gifted with the
ability to grasp intricate and abstruse
legal propositions with the same degree
of accuracy and celerity as was Judge
Smith. He had a remarkable faculty,
and was able from memory to recite the
particular case which ruled the legal
nronosition before him. His knowledge
of the law was not confined to any par
ticular branch, but he may well be said
to have been a lawyer grounded in the
fundamental principles 01 tnc law. ror
was his knowledge of subjects confined
to the law. He was well-read in litera
ture and the classics, and in his inter-
firctation of the law this knowledge and
earning he brought into continuous use.
"His opinions while a member of the
Superior Court are testimonials of his
zeal and energy and his research of the
authorities.
"It is with genuine and sincere regret
that we have learned of his death, and
it it
"ltamlrtd, That this minute be entered
in the records of our court, and a copy
sent to his family, to whom oar sympa
thy is extended in their sad bereave
ment." NICARAGUA TALES PEACE.
But Washington Decides to Send Mora
Warship There.
Washington, March 16. Nicaragua,
through her minister here, Senor Ks
pinuza, has protested to Secretary
Knox that the military and naval ac
tivity now lu progress In that country
is destined entirely for defensive pur
poses and that she does not contem
plate making any attacks on her sister
republics.
Notwithstanding the minister's as
sertion of Nicaragua's peaceful inten
tions toward her neighbors, the admin
istration has decided to augment the
naval force In Central American wa
ters to a total of six vessels, lu addi
tion to the Yorktown. now en route
for Aiuupalu, Hondurus, the armored
cruisers Maryland and Washington
are -to remain on the west coast, the
former going to Acnjuita, saivaaor,
and the latter to Cortnto.
'The most significant news that
reached the state department was that
0,000 Nicaragua!! troops are near the
Honduran frontier the chief scene of
activity being in the neighborhood of
Corlmbo, where also are concentrated
four RUUboatR and other auxiliary
craft.
Another feature distasteful to the
state department Is the manner In
which John H. Gregory, the secretary
of legation at Mauagua, who has been
ordered to Washington. Is being treat
ed. There are evidences of hostility
to hlni, and some of his dispatches
have not reached him.
The whole situation is inexplicable
and Irritating to the stnte department,
which Is nut disposed to act hastily
and Is seeking the views of the va
rious capitals In Central America
through Its representatives In' those
places.
MOTOR BOAT RACES TODAY.
Little Sea Fliers Begin Four Days'
Contests on Lake Worth, Florida.
Palm Beach, Fla., March 10. Al
though the absence of the Dixie II.,
America's fastest motor boat, detracts
somewhat from the Interest of the mo-
r boat races which begun on Lake
Worth today, there is n large enough
"ft ot entries in the races to satisfy
the motor boat enthusiasts assembled
fronj M parts of UnUed
States. The Dixie has been shipped
, nbroad to compete in the international
races at Monaco,
The motor boat races are sailed on
Lake Worth, a long, narrow Inlet of
the sea, separated from the ocean by
a strip of sand. The boats compete
around a course measuring four aud a
half nautical miles, a little over five
land miles. They start and finish op
posite one of the big hotels here. There
arc seven racing classes, the general
events being restricted to boats ca
pable of making more thnn twelve miles
an hour. The races will last four
days. The main feature of Friday, the
closing day, will be a ninety mile en
durance run at niiximum speed for all
boats entered !.i the other events.
TROUBLE FOR JACK JOHNSON,
If Ha Hat a White Wife Galveston Ne
groes Won't Welcome Him.
Galveston, Tex., March 16. If the
colored heavyweight pugilistic cham
pion, Jack Johnson, who is to arrive
here on Thursday, cannot deny that
he has a white wife a demonstration
being arranged by Gnlveston negroes
in his honor will be abandoned. It Is
planned to meet Johnson at the train
with a band and a long line of car
riages for parade over the city.
Receptions and other functions are
alto scheduled, but leaders of the
movement nay that all hinges on the
truth or falsity of reports as fo the
white wife.
Reception committeemen sny that
they consider tlio marrying of a white
woman by Johnson would he violation
of the laws and customs of the coun.
try of bis birth.
DARING HOLD-UP AND ROBBERY!
Lewis Partridge Bound and Gagged at the Point of
a Revolver.
MORE THAN $500 TAKEN FROM
Tbc Boldest Outrage In the History of the Borough A Honesdale
Man Nearly Strangled and Otherwise Itoughly Treated His
Clothing Slashed Through to the Skin in Search of
Money The Robbers Probably Professionals.
At half-past nine o'clock on Thursday
night last the front door of the residence
of Thomas Kellow, at 540 Grove street,
on the summit of the hill a short dis
tance beyond the entrance to Rcllevue
Park, was kicked open, and Lewis Part
ridge, of 212 Seventh street, bound and
gngRed, staggered into the entrance hall.
A party of young people were engaged
in a game ot cards in the dining room
adjoining the hall, and, not recognizing
the intruder, owing to his nearly black
face, protruding eyes and otherwise re-
pellant look, concluded from his appear
ance, together with the violence of his
entrance, that he was masked and bent
on mischief, and that there were others
with him from whom trouble might be
expected. With this impression, Hoy
Stookey, a young man living at 12 Eighth
street, who was one of the card party,
seized a chair and was about to strike
the man with it, when the latter managed
to utter the single word, "cutl" It was
then discovered that his arms were tied
behind his back, and a blockvof wood
wedged into his mouth and held there by
strings passing about his head and tied
to the cords with which his hands were
fastened. The gag cords were cut and
the wedge removed from Partridge's
mouth, after which the man, though ex
hausted, faint and hysterical, crying and
laughing by turns, and unable to talk
coherently, managed to tell the story of
the outrage of which he had been the
victim.
From the account of his experience
then given, and as drawn out by subse
quent interviews, the. facts .appear to be
substantially as follows : Mr. Partridge.
ib sales agent and collector for the De
Laval Cream Separator Company, and
the duties of the agency require him to
make frequent trips throughout the
county, as most of the machines are
sold on the installment plan, and pay
ments on the notes given by purchasers
are continually falling due. Owing to ill
health, and the condition of the roads
during most of the past winter, he had
put off some of his journeys, so that an
unusual amount had accumulated for
collection. Before making his last week's
trips he sent notices to his customers of
his intended visit, and as a consequence
he found them very generally prepared
to meet their obligations. He started
out on Monday and returned to Hones
dale on Tuesday night. His collections
for the trip were inadvertently left in his
pocket over night, and were taken with
him when he left town for his Wednes
day's journey. The day was spent in
prospecting for business and collecting,
mainly in Paupack township, its close
finding him at Avoy, in Lake, where lie
was the guest of George W. Edwards
over night. Thursday was another suc
cessful day, and in the evening, well sat
isfied with his trip, lie drove homeward.
He had with him somewhere between
$500 and $800, all in currency, which he
disposed about him in various pockets,
under the impression that the bulk of it
would be overlooked if anv one tried to
relieve him of the treasure.
His last voluntary stop on the way was
made at Adelia, about five miles from
town, where he remained for a few mo
ments. Then driving on he passed along
what is known as the Sandercock road,
feeling a little apprehensive as he jour
neyed through the patch of woods, and
greatly relieved as he emerged in sight
of the electric lights of the borough, and
heard the whistle of the incoming Erie
passenger train due in Honesdale at 7:50,
but which on Thursday evening was a
few minutes late.
Shortly after leaving the woods, and
while specially attracted by the street
lights in town, and particularly by the
druggists' window displays, he met two
men on foot, one passing on either side
of his wagon, which was an ordinary
one-seated buggy, from which the top
had been removed. As the men passed
one of them gave him an ordinary salu
tation, but thinking that this might be
a plan to induce him to betray his iden
tity by his voico, ho did not answer
When tho men got by, lie turned around
sufficiently to see them come together in
the road and pass on towards the woods,
whereupon he urged his horse into a
little faster gait, and had proceeded a
few rods, when tho animal shied, op
pnrently startled by something in tiro
road. Partridge turned to ascertain tbc
HIS POCKETS BY FOOT-PADS !
cause, when he was seized by a man in
the back part of the wagon, who bent
his head back, and thrust a block of
wood into his mouth, while the other
robber held a revolver within a few inches
of his face. He was then dragged out
of the buggy, blindfolded, his overcoat
stripped off, and a search of his pockets
made. The bulk of the money was in
the inside pocket of his vest. For some
reason it appears that the thieves were
not content to secure their booty by
rifling their victim's pockets in the or
dinary way ; but, turning back his coat,
slashed down both sides. of his vest, the
cuts passing through not only that gar
ment, but his sweater, and 'wo shirts,
reaching his skin directly ovei his heart,
but fortunately inflicting no wound on
his body. Through one of these gashes
the large package of bills was taken, and
the balance from other pockets ; a draw
string purse being stolen from a pants
pocket. Some silver lying under the
purse was not disturbed, and the thieves
very considerately left Mr. Partridge his
watch.
Just what occurred for some time af
ter the assault and robbery Mr. Part
ridge does not know. He thinks he
must have fainted, as he has no recol
lection as to how long he remained in
the road, or when or how he got back
into the wagon. He thinks his assail
ants must have lifted him into the buggy,
taken the blind from his eyes, and start
ed the horse. He recalls his suffering
from the gag, which by every movement
ot his arms was forced farther into his
throat, and his realization. of the neces
sity for relief at the earliest' possible
moment. But he does not know, he
says, how the horse came to stop at
Mr. Kellow'a, or how he managed to
get out of the wagon, and to the door.
Considerably more than an hour had
elapsed between the time of his assault
as fixed by the train whistle and his
arrival at the house as shown by the
clock, and' yet the distance can easily be
walked inside of four minutes.
On hearing Mr. Partridge's story, de
tective and deputy sheriff Spencer was
called by phone, but, he was in Hawley
at the time, and the message was then
sent to Sheriff Brain an. Thinking that
the call wns for a rig simply to
bring
Mr. Partridge to town, a carriage was
sent up to Mr. Kellow'a by one of the
stable men. Finding that the officer was
personally wanted, the man came back '
after the sheriff, and it was hulf-past ten
when he reached the house. He drove 1
out over the road, and found Mr. Part
ridge's coat at the point where the rob
bery took place. The next day the fold-,
ing pocket book was found in the road :
near that spot, and about half-way be-
iwecn mere aim mr. iveuows uie empty.
purse was picked up. As it would beat
about this point that a person wishing
to reach the East Honesdale Erie water
tank would take a short cut down over
the fields, it was surmised that the rob
bers had taken that course, and stations
along the lino were notified to be on the
lookout for them.
When Mr. Hraman returned to the
house witli the overcoat, he found tho
victim of the robbery still in a highly
nervous and hysterical condition, and
so fearful of farther violence that he was
anxious to stay all night. He was final
ly persuaded to come into the central
town ; but when he arrived here ho went
with his horse and wagon to Iiraman's
stables, and remained there until morn
ing, bemoaning his loss. When he final
ly went to his home later in the day, he
was seriously prostrated, and found it
necessary to take to his bed. Even now
ha complains of sleeplessness, and is
evidently suffering from the nervous
shock sustained.
The gag used by the bandits wag a
particularly villainous ihstrument of tor
ture. The block was whittled from soft
white pine, slightly tapering, three and
three-quarters inches in length by two
and a-quarter in width, and ad inch
and a-half thick , with roughlv rounded
corners. Through the larger end two
large gimlet holes were bored, through
which two stout hemp strings were tied.
Tho smaller end of this wedge was
thrust into Partridge's mouth so far as
marly to stop his breathing. The strings
were then tied back of his head, notches
in the sides of the block keeping them
in place. His hands were tied behind
his back with another stout cord and
the two ropes joined by a square knot.
Although no positive clue to the rob
bers has been obtained it is understood
that the officers have two or three sus
pected persons under surveillance and
arrest are fcely to be made soon.
SAVING BABIES THEIR AIM.
New York Workers Against Infant
Mortality Meet Today.
New York, March 1G. Philanthro
pists, sociologists and others Interested
In the saving of babies' lives met here
today in a conference to plan the es
tablishment of an academy for the In
struction of mothers in the proper care
of children. The conference was held
under tho auspices of the recently or
ganized Infant Science academy, .the
founder and leading spirit of which Is
Mrs. Gibson Arnold! of this city.
The leaders of the conference aim nt
securing the co-operation of the moth
er, the nurse, the family physician and
tho Infant specialist in their endeavors
to check the ravages of Infant mor
tality. At the conference statistics
were produced to show that In New
York -last year the deaths of babies
less than one year old exceeded In
number the deaths from tuberculosis.
Mrs. Arnoldl and her coworkers de
clared that, while vigorous measures
are being taken to save the lives of
those attacked or threatened wjth con
sumption, very little In comparison Is
being done to help the infants.
NEW KEYSTONE SENATOR.
Goorge T. Oliver of Pittsburg Elected
Today to Succeed Knox.
Harrlsburg, Pa., March 16. In sepa
rate session today the two houses of
the Pennsylvania legislature met and
lected George T. Oliver, Republican,
f Pittsburg, to serve In the United
States senate the unexpired term of
Philander C. Knox, who left the sen
ate to become secretary of state.
Tomorrow the two houses will meet
and declare the result of today's bal
loting. The Democratic vote today
was cast Tor State Senator Webster
Grim.
Mr. Oliver has planned to be sworn
In, on Thursday. He Is a newspaper
publisher and manufacturer of iron
and steel. He was born in Ireland,
Mr. Oliver began his career as a law
yer, but dropped his practice in1 1881
to enter manufacturing. He has herer
held public office.
WEDDING A, SOCIETY EVENT
Wedding Today Unites Two pf New
York's Best Known Families. ,
, 'New-York, March-16. Two of New
York's most prominent society families
were united today by the marriage of
Miss Susan Alexander McCook and
Peter Augustus Jar. The bride, who
is a daughter of Colonel John J. Mc
Cook, Is related by marriage to the
Morgans and other well known fam
Hies. The bridegroom is a son of Au
gustus Jay and a member of one of New
York's oldest and most historic fam
ilies. On hie mother's side he is a de
scendant of 'John Jacob Astor.
Mr. Jay has been in the diplomatic
service several years and holds the im
portant post of first secretary of tho
American embassy in Tokyo. The en
gagement of the young couple was an-
i nounced only a week ngo, and the mar
riage was hastened to permit the early
return of Mr. Jay to the Japanese capi
tal with his bride.
EPIDEMIC OF LA GEIPPE.
Indian Hunters and Trappers In Mani
toba Fall Victims.
Winnipeg, Man., March 16. Seventy
two Indians are dying of the grip at
Fort Chippcwyan, and more than 250
are a filleted with the disease at the
tuIrtecn p0St8 ln the Mackenzie river
region of tho Hudson Bay company.
Hunters on the trail are stricken
with the disease, and trappers In the
bush are suddenly seized with fatal ef
fects.
CLAIMANT TO MILLIONS DIES.
Salvation Army Drummer Succumbs
to Pneumonia.
Kansas City, Mo., March 1C Amos
Brundage, claimant to an estate in
jersey City, N. J., valued at several
millions, dlad at his home here of
pneumonia, aged sixty.
For eighteen years be was a member
of the local Salvation Army. He con
tracted pneumonia while beating a
drum In an army parade.
The future fable man cau have some
fun with Kuox as the first American
who wouldn't go to work until his sal
ary was cut.
The hurrahing in Japan over Taft'o
Inauguration suggests that, after all,
tho Japs have been half scared to
death several times of late.
Uncle Sam lu the biggest builder In
the world, and he doesn't Intend to be
second best In style or quality If he
knows It,
It's different when tho constitution
stands in the way of changing the date
of inauguration.
The clan Hibernian stands pat for a
March holiday and "never mind the
weather."
IN
Speaker Gannon Accepts His
Defeat Very Gracefully.
SAYS NEW RULES ARE HELPFU
Drawing For Seats Take Up Firs'
Part of Today's Session An
Analysis of Fitzgerald
Amendment.
Washington, March 10. The light
nlng-ltke switch ot votes that para
lyzed the Republican regulars and
took away a greater part of Speaker
Joseph G. Cannon's powers has causetl
the politicians to sit up and take no
tice. When the house assembled today
there was much suppressed excite
ment on the floor, and a big crowd f
visitors again occupied the galleries.
If anybody was looking for trouble It
did not materialize In the early part at
the session. About the only thing of
Importance taken up during that pe
riod was the drawing for seats, whloh
occupied considerable time.
While the paralyzing effects of the
downfall of the speaker's lronbound
methods have not entirely worn away
yet, the regulars and Speaker Cannon
are putting d good face on, the latter
even saying that the charges win
greatly aid him and afford consider
able relief. In fact, the amendment to
the rules offered by Mr. Fitzgerald
and finally adopted is considered by
Mr. Cannon to be an Improvement on
the present rules In many ways.
The election of house officers pre
ceded the action on the rules. With
plenty of votes to spare, Joseph J.
Cannon of Illinois was re-elected
speaker, receiving 204 votes as against
166 for Champ Clark of Missouri, the
rest scattered. Then came the stun
ning surprise for the regulars with tlio
previous .question, as to the use of the
old rule, being defeated by a vote of
.19310 180;.
T henhouse their. Sdopted the 'amend
ment offered, by .Mr. Fitzgerald (Den)
of New York, whereby the rules were
amended In several Important parties
lars. The resolution was a substitute
for one offered by Mr. Clark of Mta
sourl. The amendment was carried by a
vote of 211 to 172.
As analyzed by parliamentarians,
the amendment mnkes three Impor
tant changes. First, it establishes a
"calendar for unanimous consents,"
the effect of which Is to enable a mem
ber to have u proposition brought be
fore the house without having to go to
the speaker for recognition. This
change, they say, will be a relief to
the speaker. Second, when considera
tion of a bill Is concluded nnd the pre
vious question Is ordered the rules
heretofore have provided for n motloa
to commit with or without Instructions.
It has been the practice to recognize a
j member of the majority party to mak
i this motion and thus prevent the ml
; nority from offering such Instructions
! as It may desire.
The new rule gives tho minority the
preference In making such u motion
and thus enables them to get a record
vote on propositions which would oth
erwise be settled In committee of tne
I whole house, where no record vote to
I possible.
I Third. It protects the calendar
Wednesday by requiring a two-thirds
instead of a majority vote to set it
aside. Fourth, It is alt" claimed flint
the amendment will have the effect of
preventing favoritism by the action of
the committee on rules in special
cases.
A prominent feature of tho Clnrk
resolution was an niiiendment provld.
ing for a committee of fifteen mem
bers to revise, amend and codify the
rules, and much of the opposition to it
was because of this fact. As adopted,
the Fitzgerald amendment makes no
change in the present method of the
selection of the committee on rules,
which Is made by the speaker, nor is
there any change In the method of
selecting committees.
MARIE DRESSLEE IS POOR.
Actress Says She Has 8old Jewels to
Pay Company's Salaries.
London, March 16. The liabilities of
Marie Dressier, the American actress,
who recently reopened the Aldwych
theater, but was compelled to abandon
the enterprise, amount to $10,000 and
the assets to $3,000, according to esti
mates presented at a meeting of the
rredltntfi. These liabilities, however.
do not Include the unpaid salaries of
her company.
Miss Dressier said that she hud sold
all her jewels to meet the salaries
which were paid nt the end of the
first week and offered to make over
one-quarter of her future earnings to
the amount of ?7,5O0. The meeting ad
journed pending an attempt to secure
hettor rr
QUIET
HOUSE