The Daily Notes from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania • Page 1

i AILY NOTE THE WEATHER Generally fair tonight Tuesday. Slightly warmer Tuesday. EVENING EDITION Fourteenth Year No. 4276. GANONSBURG, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1908.

Price One Cent. THREE TICKETS IN THE FIELDIFALSE ALARM; ARRESTS MADE THE Notes Eight Men Charged With Having RIVERS ARE RECEDING TODAY'S NEWS Republicans, Democrats and Citizens Will All Have Candidates at Election in East Ward SCHOOL DIRECTORSHIP CONTEST LOCAL MINISTER SPEAKSPUINLY Rev. Charles D. Fulton Says Yoters Have Duty to Perform at Primaries and Elections Tampered With Fire Alarm System on South Side TRACKED THROUGH THE SNOW The residents of Canonsburg and South Canonsburg were aroused from their slumbers at 3:15 o'clock Sunday morning by the fire alarm whistle, the alarm having been turned in from box 43, at the corner of Harrison street and Orchard avenue. South Canonsburg.

A number of the members of Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 were upon the scene in a few minutes and discovered that the alarm was a false one. The members of the other companies were immediately notified by 'phone and they did not appear at the scene of excitement, although they were ready to leave their respective hose houses. As soon as the fire fighters reached box 43 they found that the box had been tampered with and they at once started in search of the guilty parties. A light fall of snow which had fallen during the night enabled the firemen to track the parties, and some of these were later arrested.

As soon as the tracks were seen a number of the members of the different fire companies, who had responded to the call, started out to follow the tracks, and it was found they led directly to the residence of Charles Means, in Lincoln avenue. The Means house was illuminated and the sounds coming from it were those of men having a general carousal. As soon as the occupants learned that they were watched the lights in the house were quickly extinguished and the revelry ceased, for a time. Several of the men who were called out by the alarm then went into the house, where they found a party of nine men, some of them more or less under the influence of liquor. Two of the party were seen to have fresh mud and snow on their shoes, and it was at once adjudged that they were the parties who turned in the alarm.

Officer J. J. Muler was hunted up, and John Worstell and Ijee Cro-noir were placed under arrest. While arguing in behalf of his implicated friends, Charles Rowan became so noisy that he also was placed under arrest, and the trio were marched to the borough bastile, where they still are held in custody. Justice of the Peace T.

M. Reese was called and informations were made against the men, charging them with malicious mischief. On Monday morning a number of the members of the South Canonsburg council paid the men a visit at the lockup and it was said they confessed to turning in the alarm. They gave the names of the other members of the party who were implicated in the affair and their arrest will likely be made today. It is understood the South Canonsburg officials will push the matter as far as possible and will likely make an example of the parties.

The Gamewell fire alarm system has been in use but a week and this is the first false alarm that has been sent in. On Sunday morning about 8 o'clock it was discovered that box Xo. 44 at the corner of Ohio street and Central avenue in South Canonsburg had also been opened and an alarm sent in, but it must have been at the same time as that sent in from box 43, as but one alarm was received at the engine room of the Pittsburg-Buffalo com pany. I be second alarm will be further investigated. Monday forenoon J.

E. Hardy, presi dent of the South Canonsburg council went before Justice of the Peace T. M. Reese, where he made information against John Worstell, Lee Cronoir, Charles Rowan, Lee Weaver, Arthur Dean, Ray Hartford, Frank Bowmar and Charles Means, charging them with sending in a false fire alarm. The men were arrested Monday morning and will be given a hearing before Justice Reese this afternon at 3 o'clock.

WEATHER OBSERVATIONS The high school weather observa tion class furnishes the following weather report from observation tak en Monday at noon. The weather forecast is made for 12 hours following the observations. Report Temperature, 27; hightest temperature in 24 hours, f9; lowest temperature in 24 hours, 24; dry bulb thermometer, 48; wet bulb thermometer, 42; barometer, 2S.72; rise in barometer since 9 a. 03; rise in barometer in the last 24 hours, .12. Weather forecast Cloudy.

Vote for the best men. Local option meeting tonight. This week is strong on holidays. One thing's sure, not all the candidates can be elected. Pittsburg's cry for deeper waterways was soon granted.

One fails to see where the fun comes in in turning in a false alarm of fire, epsecially if it means a trip to the borough bastile. BERGNER PLEADS FORHIS CLIENT Shumaker's Lawyer Throws Blame for Capitol Graft on Architect Huston's Shoulders NO SESSION NEXT WEDNESDAY Harrisburg, Feb. 17. The trial ot John H. Sanderson, who furnished the trimmings for the state capitol; W.

L. Mathues, James M. Shumaker and W. P. Snyder, former state officials, charged with conspiracy to defraud the state, was resumed this morning in the Dauphin county criminal court.

Attorney Charles H. Bergner, chief counsel for Shumaker, made the opening address for the defense this morn ing. Attorney Bergner went after Huston in a hammer-and-tongs fashion, declaring that as Shumaker considered Huston both competent and honest he relied upon him for the correctness of all measurements and weights. Attorney Shaffer, who is chief counsel for former State Treasurer Mathues, denied a report today that his client would turn state's evidence. He said that he would go on the witness stand in his own defense just as soon as the other defendants would do so.

The methods of procedure as agreed upon by the defense today is first to examine witnesses for Sanderson then the witnesses of Snyder, Math ues and Shumaker, in order. Former Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker is be called as soon as Sanderson's ex pert witnesses on measurements have been heard. Attorney Lyman D.

Gilbert announc ed the death last Saturday of Mrs, William McCall, sister of former State Treasurer Mathues, when court reconvened this morning. He asked that no session of court be held next Wednesday, the day set for the fun- eral. Judge George Kunkel granted the request. There will be a session tomorrow, election day, and no more time than unavoidable will be lost hereafter. OHIO MINISTER TO MAKE AN ADDRESS Rev.

Dr. C. L. Work of Wooster Will Address Local Option Club in Theater Tonight This evening in the Morgan theater, under the direction of the Canonsburg Local Option club, a mass meeting in the interest of the local option move ment will be held. Rev.

C. L. Work, D. of Wooster, Ohio, will be the speaker of the even ing. Ohio has a local option law with a borough and township unit, and a bill providing for a county unit is now in the legislature, and has passed one house and is expected to pass the other and become a law.

Dr. Work will tell about local option in Ohio. All are invited to attend. A special invitation is extended to the ladies. No admission will be charged, but an offering for the cause will be lifted.

The meeting will open at 7:45. Robins Have Arrived George Wassuiu, employed by the Philadelphia Gas company, and stationed on the Mehaffy farm, near Claysville, is by inclination an ornt-thologist, and takes careful note of the migrations of the feathered inhabitants of the upper sphere. Mr. Was-sum, who spent Sunday at his home, declared that robins made their appearance on the Mehaffy farm some time ago and are unfailing harbingers of spring. On Sabbath 23 new members were received into fellowship in the Broad street Baptist church, Washington.

Highest Stage Reached at Pittsburg Was 30.7 Feet Pittsburg, Feb. 17 Pittsburg's big flood of 1908 is passing down the Ohio and into history. It claimed no lives as it rolled sullenly through the city, but it has left suffering and distress in its wake. At 3.57 o'clock yesterday afternoon the black dagger on the dial of the water gauge in the United States Weather bureau office suddenly turned the waters were falling. For three hours the indicator stood at 30.7 feet, the maximum height reached by the rivers.

KILLS HIMSELF IN COUNTY JAIL John Ross, Dangerous Italian, Takes Strychnine To End His Worthless Career DEED SHROUDED IN MYSTERY Washington, Feb. 17. Joe Ross, an Italian, cofmitted suicide in the county jail Saturday evening by taking poison. Strychnine is supposed to have been used. He had evidently contemplated self-destruction in the event of his conviction.

Xo mistake was made in the quantity or nature of the dose taken. The poison is supposed to have been swallowed shortly after 8 o'clock. The result was almost instantaneous. Ross's screams attracted the attention of the rangeman. A physician was summoned, but before his arrival death had ended one of the most remarkable criminal careers the county has recently known.

Ross had been on trial for three days before Judge Taylor for arsou committed at Charleroi, this county. At 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Ross was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,000 and to undergo imprisonment in the penitentiary for a period of 10 years. It was shortly after 4 o'clock when he was taken to his cell in the jail. Though he was carefully searched before locked up, it is almost certain that he had the fatal dose concealed some where about his clothing.

But one person, an Italian, was permitted to speak with him after he was placed in his cell and that in the presence of the deputy sheriff. Everything was in good condition when the deputy made his rounds and locked the prisoners in their respective cells Saturday night at the usual time. The rangeman is left outside the cell until a later hour. It was he who was first attracted by the groans and screams of the dying man. By pounding violently the iron bars the rangeman succeeded in summoning Deputy Sheriff S.

J. Howe Dr. W. D. Teagarden was immediately called, but Ross had died before the physician arrived.

The body was soon removed from the jail and taken to the undertaking rooms of Deputy Coroner T. C. Bebout on North Main street. The latest crime with which Ross was charged, and of which he was convicted Saturday was the dynamiting of the home of Mrs. Mastrinicola, in Charleroi, last Christmas morning.

The house was literally blown to atoms and several of the inmates injured. Ross was at once accused and arrested. He and some of his friends put up a $1,000 cash bond with the Real Estate Trust company, of Washington, and Ross was allowed his liberty until the conclusion of his trial. Jealousy is said to have been the motive for blowing up the house. Ross and Mrs.

Mastrinicola had been sweethearts for several years. They at one time lived at West Brownsville. When Mrs. Mastrinicola began to share her attentions with another man Ross became insanely jealous and made frequent threats to kill her. The woman was seriously injured in the explosion.

Cut Chartiers Creek Ice On account of the backing up of the water in Chartiers creek at Crafton, caused by the high water, the ice has piled up along the banks to a height of 15 feet. The ice dealers in the borough have taken advantage of the quantitites of ice and are stocking their ice houses for the summer supply for the residents of the borough. Burglars have recently at Monongahela. been busy CANONSBURG AND VICINITY Three tickets will be before the voters of East word, Tuesday, with an interesting fight for school director; contest for constable in the West ward. fire alarm sent in leads to arrest of nine men.

South Canonsburg youths arrested at Wheeling for alleged larceny of wearing apparel from a Jefferson avenue home. Minister tells voters they have a duty to perform at the polls in connection with the temperance movement. Rev. Dr. C.

L. Work of Wooster, 0., will address the Local Option club in the Morgan theater tonight. COUNTY John Ross, convicted of dynamiting a house, commits suicide in the county jail. GENERAL Graft trial resumed; defendants' lawyer puts all blame on Huston. Rivers are receding at Pittsburg, after having reached a stage of nearly 31 feet at Pittsburg.

SPORTING Local high school basketball team plays at Sewickley; loses game by three points. AT WHEELING, W. VA. South Canonsburg Young Men Charged With Having Stolen Wearing Apparel BOTH CLAIM THEY ARE INNOCENT Arthur Thompson and Fred Byrd, of South Canonsburg were arraigned before Justice of the Peace T. M.

Reese Saturday evening on a charge of larceny preferred by John F. Duffy, of South Jefferson avenue. It was alleged by the prosecutor that Thompson and Byrd went to his room at the residence of Walter Olloman, in South Jefferson avenue, and appropriated a hat, muffler and pair of shoes, while he was absent from his room last Wednesday morning. It was stated at the hearing that both of the boys had been at Duffy's room on pre vious occasions and that on Wednes day they went to the Olloman home, where they stated that Mr. Duffy sent them after a hat.

Mrs. Oiloman was busy at the time, and knowing that they had been in the room before, told them to go to the room and get the hat. After a time the boys left and it was not known that they had taken the wearing apparel until the return of Duffy in the evening. A warrant was then sworn out for the arrest of Thompson and Byrd on the charge of larceny, and they were located at Wheeling, W. where they had been arrested as suspicious characters.

At the hearing Saturday evening the defendants alleged that they did not take the articles, but that they had been confiscated by Roy Win ters, formerly of this place, who is now serving a term at New Cumber land, Va. Justice Reese did not give his decision, but will wait until Winters is brought to town and his story heard. FIRED ESCAPING GAS On Sabbath night beginning a little before 10 o'clock the reflection on the clouds from a fire in the direction of Cecil was noticed here and curiously enough those who were astir before it was light on Monday morning noticed the same light and thought it must have been a big building to burn all night. The explanation is that it was the gas from a line in the Miller's Run valley, which some mischievous boys set on fire. On damage was done.

Will Observe One of Two There will be two holidays this week: Tuesday, the 18th, election day, and Saturday, the 22d, Washington's birthday. Canonsburg banks will observe the 22d, but will be open for business, Tuesday, as usual. Union township is about to open a night school for foreigners. Prof C. P.

McCormick will be in charge. The voters of Canonsburg tomorrow will choose a borough auditor and a high constable. The East ward will elect a councilman and three school directors, ward constable and election officers. The West ward will elect one councilman, one school director, a ward constable and election officers in both precincts. In the East ward there are three tickets in the field, Republican, Democratic and Cozens.

In the West ward there are Republican and Democratic tickets only. Interest in the East ward centers in the contest for school director, while in the West ward the fight will be for constable, with John J. Miller, Republican, and Robert Cain, Democrat, as the candidates. Party lines, however, promise to cut little figure, as Mr. Cain is himself a Republican, though placed in nomination by the Democratic voters at the recent primaries.

The voters of the second precinct of the West ward will vote in a room on the second floor of the Bebout building, over the Welty store; the other polling places in town will be at the usual voting places. The borough, ward and precinct tickets to be voted Tuesday are as follows: REPUBLICANS Borough High Constable J. Miller. East Ward School Director Wm. J.

Holsing, 3 years; I. Boyd Weaver, 2 years; W. V. White, 1 year. Council Edward Mooney.

Constable Samuel Swan, Jr. Judge of Election A. M. Forsythe. Inspector W.

A. Dickson. West Ward School Director J. J. VanEman.

Council A. Sheldon. Constable J. J. Miller.

West Ward First Precinct Judge of Elections J. L. Cockins Inspector J. T. McNary.

Assistant Assessor A. S. Newton West Ward Second Precinct Judge of Elections W. tP. Morgan Inspector G.

V. L. Smith. Assistant Assessor W. A.

Mc Burney. DEMOCRATIC Borough High Constable Peter Haught. East Ward Council Edward Mooney. School Director Three years Thomas C. Weaver; two years, Chas G.

Schade; one year, W. V. White. Ward Constable Peter Haught. Judge of Elections Henry Sheaff, Inspector Marcus Morrison.

West Ward Council A. Sheldon. School Director J. J. VanEman.

Constable Robert Cain. West Ward First Precinct Judge of Elections H. A. Huston Inspector M. Eagen.

Assistant Assessor A. S. Newton, West Ward Second Precinct Inspector W. G. Harsha.

Assistant Assessor W. A. McBurn-ey. CITIZENS Borough Auditor W. R.

Ebeling. High Constable J. J. Miller. East Ward Council Edward Mooney.

School Director Three years, Thomas C. Weaver; two years, Chas G. Schade; one year, W. V. White.

Constable Peter Haught. Judge of Elections Henry Sheatf. Inspector Marcus Morrison. A Capable Man Communicated W. J.

Holsing, candidate for election to school director for the three year term in the East ward, is one of the representative citizens of Canonsburg. Mr. Holsing came to Canonsburg some time ago to take charge of the Hazel mine of the Pittsburg-Buffalo company. He is a strictly temperate man. Before 1 coming here he resided in Monongahela, where he was president of councils and also served on the school board at that place.

He believes in the thorough education of the youth as the best protection to the Republican form of government. Miss Sarah A. Smith, of Green-side avenue, is spending a few weeks with friends at Sharon. THE CHRISTIAN SOMETIMES FAILS In his sermon at the Greenside Avenue United Presbyterian church Sabbath morning the Rev. Charles D.

B'ulion referred to the fight being waged against the liquor business. Mr. Fulton's theme was "The Twelve Apostles," and in his general discussion of the subject the preacher said: "It is interesting to note that all were martyrs. The only one in question is John, and tradition has it that he was dragged through the streets of Ephesus and cast into the arena to be destroyed by the teeth of lions. And in these times of peace, the story of the apostles facing the jaws of death for Jesus's sake puts us to shame.

And then as now there' is no room for the cringing coward in the goodly fellowship. The time of martyrdom for 'bearing record to the word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ' has passed; but, alas, we shrink sometimes before a pointed finger, and go down in shame and defeat on primary and election day; but in the coming days let us as voters be brave enough and Christian enough to vote for righteousness and temperance and sobriety, so that it may be as easy as possible for men, in our common wealth, to do right, and as hard as possible for them to do wrong. God help us as Christians, in these days when temperance sentiment is spreading all over our land, to do what we can to put under that monster of iniquity, the drink traffic, which steals away the brains of our fellowmen, and destroys thefr bodies and souls. By standing for the cause of righteousness we are thus showing to the world that we are made of the kind of stuff of which apostles were made, for oftentimes it takes as much grit and grace to live for Christ as to die for Him." Communion services were held in the Chartiers United Presbyterian church on Sabbath morning. There were three additions to the membership, all on profession of faith.

The Rev. J. C. Kistler, of Houston, occupied the pulpit of the First Meth odist Episcopal church Sabbath morn- ing, he having exchanged pulpits with the Rev. F.

D. Esenwein. Mr. Kistler preached a sermon on "The New Jerusalem," which was highly appreciated by the congregation. "Applied Christiaity" was the subject of an interesting sermon at the Central Presbyterian church in the evening.

The sermon was Illustrated with a number of fine views descriptive of the parable of the Good Samar itan. MEETING OF FAIR ASSOCIATION At a meeting of the Burgettstown Agricultural association held Saturday the dates for holding the 52d annual fair were fixed for Septefber 29 and 30 and October 1. The meeting was attended by 16 members and a great deal of routine business was transacted. fe3 P. Stevenson, who has been sec retary of the association for the past 15 years, was again re-elected.

Miss Harriette Nicholls, who has been assistant secretary for a number of years was also re-elected as was J. M. Pyle as treasurer. John W. Quivey, of Houston, who was recently elected as president of the association, presided at the meeting yesterday and named the commit tees which will serve at the next fair.

This is the first time in a number of years that the two days of the fair will be held in September. Routed from His Nest Washington, Feb. 17. Thomas Lawrence, a West Finley farmer, was pitching hay from a stack Saturday, when with a yell of pain a man emerged from the hay hatless, coatless and barefooted. The stranger had been routed from his nest by a deep jab from the hay fork.

He said he had used the hay stack as a sleeping place for several days..