Shamokin News-Dispatch from Shamokin, Pennsylvania • Page 1

AMOKIN BISPATGH TnS WEATHER Cloudy tonight and Wednesday, probably rain. GOOD EVENING Man, the Supreme Egotist, Calls Animals Dumb. THE "I 'a8 THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS SPECIAL WIRE AND ILLUSTRATED SERVICE SIX PAGES rAubS i ,1, -i i. ,1, iii i hi i in i. mmmm FORTIETH YEAR Nn.

61 SHAMOKIN, TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 1926 PRICE TWO CENTS rm rm STAKTE MUSH) El CASE MOM SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ASSUME PART OF H. S. GRADUATION EXPENSE BOYCOASTER INJURED WHEN SLED CRASHES INTO AN AUTO WITNESSES TELL OF FATAL SHOOTING OF PURCELL BY NEGRO MAJORITY GOVERNOR GETS CHANCE TO PROVE ECONOMY CLAIMS WEATHER MAN BELIEVE DOES NOT IN GROUNDHOG Plan for Relieving thej Graduates of Some of Annual Commence1 ment Obligations Discussed at Meeting of School Board Expenses involved in the graduation of future classes of the Shamo- MEM EES OF Legislature Asks Auditor General for Fi PITTSBURGH, Feb. 2 The official weather forecaster for "these parts" made it known today that the well known: groundhog is not a part of his prognosticating equipment.

Furthermore, he left no doubt in the minds of interviewers that he considers the famous hog about as practicable for gauging the length of winter as he does a pair of embroidery scissors for shearing sheep. "Today is 'Groundhog Day' and there is not much chance of the sun shining," he admitted, "but the populace will do well to keep overcoats handy, and for more than six weeks." According to reports here, the groundhog frolicked throughout the entire state without once seeing his shadow. nancial Statements of Present and Former Administrations ministration, and during each of the four preceding administrations beginning January 1907." "During his term of office, Governor Pinchot has made frequent statements to the public in speeches, in C. M. LENKER IS IN BADLY HURT CROSSING CRASH the daily press, and in periodicals, "aLJ hiiub ii3 auiiiiiitoiiabivu iiao oav vu tuc taxpayers of the state $40,000 daily; has paid off appropriations, obliga tions authorized by previous administrations, to the amount of approximately and has shown a clear gain of $02,000,00 to the people within two and a half years as the practical result of economies," the resolution said.

In his opening speech to the legis- miure wnen mey convened in extra ordinary session on January 13, thelites for the construction of a high governor invited investigation of any sch00i athletic field. 5 i Commonwealth Witnesses Heard Up to Noon Hour Today. Jury Was Completed Late Yesterday Taking of testimony in the trial of Quenton "Shine' Tarr, local negro who is charged with first degree murder for the killing of Edward Purcell, was begun at the court house at Sunbury this morning. Six prosecution witnesses had been heard up to the time court adjourned at noon. The jury which is to deliberate upon the fate of the defendant was completed just before court adjourned yesterday afternoon.

For the first time in years no extra panel of veniremen was required, the twelfth jur-ir being selected after fifty-four men had been examined. The jury is comprised as follows: Ely Biow, Sunbury; Hatton Crowl, Shamokin; John W. Crowl, Coal township; Otis Faus, Delaware township; George Fry, Delaware township; 'If. Golder, Sunbury; Guy Graham, Milton; George McFee, Mt. Carmel; C.

T. Rummage, East Chillisquaqua; Oscar Stevenson, Milton; J. W. Walter, West Chillisqua-qua, and Paul E. Wrener, Watson-town.

Evidence presented at the resumption of the trial this morning did not Vary a great deal from the story that was recounted immediately after the fatal shooting. Saw Shooting Melvln Morgan of Shamokin, was the first witness called to the stand by the commonwealth. He said he maa nicuircr the fnlnnial restaurant On the night of Sunday, January 3,1 when he saw Tarr and Purcell come' out of the restaurant. Purcell had Tarr by the shoulders, whilo the latter had grasped Purcell about the abdomen. Tarr's right hand was ex tended downward and he had a gun, in it.

They struggled for a few moments and then Morgan saw. Tarr raise the revolver, press it against! Purcell's stomach and shoot. There was a muffled report and a moment later Purcell staggered to a mail box nearby. Brother Testifies Arthur Purcell, brother of the dead man, testified that he saw Tarr and Purcell come out of the restaurant. They were struggling.

Ho did not. hear any remarks passed by either of the men and did not see his brother hit Tarr. He said he saw Tarr flash the gun and saw the shot fired. Dr. George W.

Reese, chief sur geon of the Shamokin hospital, told, of the admission of the shooting vie-1 tim to the hospital on the night of January 3 with a bullet wound of the abdomen. This wound the surgeon stated, caused Purcell's death on January 11. During the course of his testimony Dr. Reese exhibited the bullet which he had taken from Purcell's body following his death. I Edward Shawda, local crossing Watchman, was the next witness tailed.

His story was practically the Turn to Page Four I of the state departments, denying that the call had been motivated for political reasons, and the resolution of last night is the first action taken, that would result in an investigation of the affairs of the present administration. A short time after the passing of the resolution, Senator Ndrman L. Bonbrake, Franklin, in a lengthy ad- dress to the senate, inferred that the session had been called for political reasons solely, and suggested that the governor, to prove to the people oi uie commonweaitn tnat ne is sincere in his purpose of calling the session, should make a statement setting forth that "he will not be a candidate for the United States senate." Political enemies of the governor have frequently charged him with calling the session to further his political ambitions. The governor could not be reached last night but those close to him intimated that a statement on the action of the senate and the speech of Senator Bonbrake, might be forthcoming during the day. Af il.

t. Well Known Shoemak er of North Rock Street Figures in Harrowing Accident on a Grade Crossing Charles M. Lenker, welf known shoemaker of 128 North Rock street, is lying at his home in a serious condition, the result of injuries suffered about 5:30 last evening when a Ford touring car in which he was riding jstjjy ck by a locomotive on the" Clay street crossing of the Reading railroad. Mr. Lenker was driving his car east on Clay street at the same time that the yard shifting engine in charge of Engineer Edward Weaver and Conductor Michael Campbell approached the crossing from the north.

Due to the noise made by his motor and the fact that his view was obstructed by railroad cars, Mr. Lenker did not see the oncoming locomotive until he was on the tracks and almost directly in the path of the engine. The pilot of the locomotive struck the Ford almost squarely in the middle, dragging machine and driver a distance of thirty five feet before the engineer could bring the iron steed of the rails to a stop. Suffering intensely from injuries about the side, Mr. was extricated from the wrecked automobile and was removed to his home on Rock street.

Examination made by a physician revealed that he had suffered severe contusions about the left side and hip. It is also feared that he was injured internally, his condition today being regarded as quite serious. The Ford car figuring in the mishap was virtually demolished and is practically a total loss. Food Sale Wednesday at Presbyterian Chapel A food sale, consisting of soups, chowder, baked beans, pies, cake and other eatables, will be held in the Presbyterian chapel on Wednesday from 11 o'clock until 3 o'clock. Edward Demhroskie, 1 1, of Springfield, Suffering From Brain Concussion Result of Mishap Edward Dembroskie, 11, residing on Serman street, Springfield, is in the Shamokin hospital suffering from contusions, of the brain and oth er injuries received in a coasting accident on Serman street about 11:15 this morning.

The boy was descending the Sherman street hill with a girl companion on the rear of his sled. As the sled and its two riders reached the intersection of Oneida street, an Overland car suddenly hove, into view and before the boy could guide the sligh out of harm's way, it struck the rear wheel of the automobile. The boy was hurled headforemost into the wheel of the car and was rendered unconscious. The girl escaped injury. The injured lad was picked up and taken to his home and later was rushed to the Shamokin hospital, where it was found he was suffering from concussion of the brain and contusions and abrasions of the head.

LOSES ARM I Arm Crushed When Cars Buckle in Norry Railroad Yards Harry K. Jones, of Northumberland, a brakeman in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, suffered the loss of his left arm in a distressing accident in the Northumberland classification yards last night. Jones was standing on the rear step of a car when another draft of cars was shunted against it with such force as to cause the cars to buckle. The brakeman's arm was caught between the cars and was so badly crushed that surgeons at the Mary M. Packer hospital, Sunbury, whither the victim was rushed following the accident, found it necessary to amputate the member near the shoulder.

Although the' injured man suffered considerably today from shock, pated. his recovery is antici- Aged Fiddler To Supply Music at House Party One of the entertainment features of a house party to be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Weaver, Trevorton, Saturday evening, will be the presence of Felix Long, Trev-orton's 80-year-old fiddler who will furnish some of the dance music. A number of Shamokin people, relatives and friends of Mr.

and Mrs. Weaver, will attend the gathering, for which in addition to the aged fiddler, other forms of entertainment have been provided. clock this morning and following them overtook them at the corner of Anthracite and Water streets. They had four half pint bottles of milk in their possession. They denied stealing the milk at first and later said they got hold of it at Sunbury.

The bottles had the labels of Fred Eisen-heart, local dairyman on, and this proof was enough to trip them in their answers to the police. At city hall they were offered a chance to drink some of the milk for their breakfasts but they declined ipriTileje. this MAN CRASH 1 RO COUNCIL HOLD CAUCUS Nothing Divulged as to Purpose of Meeting Held by Controlling Element Last Night Just what developements will transpire at city hall this evening when borough council meets in monthly session depends to some extent on what took place at a caucus of the "majority" of the borough's legislative body which took place somewhere last evening, according to reports that were circulating a-mong municipal officials in and a-bout the White House on the hill. That the "minority" too, may start caucusing before each monthly meeting was intimated this morn- ng by one of the members of council who counts himself with this contingent. The "majority" side of house is represented by the Shroyev faction, according to the Dispatch's informant who seemed to know something about last evening's caucus.

There are no big items to come before council this evening that could be learned of. nether the touchy police quetaiM? WWKe- handled remains to be seen. The "majority" may have something up its sleeve in this respect, though no one this morning would vouch for the fact that this perplexing problem entered into last evening's discussion. PARENTSWIN SON'S RELEASE FROM THE ARMY Exchange Youth of 17 Misrepresented Age in Enlisting in Service Dominick Arnoldi of West Saylor street, Exchange, today received a communication from E. A.

Dewitt, first lieutenant of Fort Slocum, N. stating that Arnoldi's son, Anthony, 17, would be discharged from the army in response to the plea of the boy's parents The youth enlisted at the local re cruiting station a month ago, mis. representing his age, which he gave as 21. Upon learning of their son's action the parents got in touch with the authorities, with the result that the boy will be released and sent home. school program were made with the idea of adding a higher educational tone to the commencement exercises and eliminating some of the features of a juvenile nature that have marked the graduation programs of recent years.

Cutting down the number of participating students would also shorten the program he stated. He also cited some definite reasons why the social festivities in connection with the commencement should be curtailed chief of which is the expense which, he pointed out, is mounting almost every year. Expression of sentiment on the part of the directors coincided with that of the principal and while no action was taken, the directors in-1 timated that some constructive program along the ideas suggested would be forthcoming prior to the 1926 commencement. From Page One kin high school will be borne in part by the school district, if plana outlined at last evening's regular meeting of the board of education are carried out. The directors, in their discussion last evening made It evident that there are certain items which have been paid by the graduates in the past, which are rightfully the obligation of the school district.

Furthermore, the school board feels that by reason of the numerous functions that occur at commencement time ine individual expense ox ue siuaent is exceedingly heavy and frequently places a burden upon the parents. Definite action upon the matter was deferred until the next regular meeting of the board when estimates on the per capita cost of commencement will be presented to the directors. Only one other item of real interest transpired at last evening's meet ing, hat was the appointment of a committee to look over avftilM The following members responded to the roll call: President Smith, Messrs. Lark, Wiest, Startzel, Task-er, Powell and Wetzel. Minutes of the last regular meeting' were read and approved by the board without change.

Treasurer' Report The report It Treasurer Lark showed a balance of $6,602.47 in the school district treasure. Aiu tributed in the respective funds as follows: General fund Teachers' fund 1,532.46 Redemption fund 2,145.09 Secretary F. B. reported having received $107 in tuition fees during the month. Superintendent's' Report The monthly report of' Superintendent Howerth showed the general condition of the schools to be good.

The report in full is as follows: Boys enrolled during the month, girls enrolled during the month, whole number of pu-Turn To Pas-e Four may' be regulated by law like a public utility without offending the constitution," Attorney General Woodruff told the committee. He cited several instances where th smnrenm court, through the mediium of Chief Justice Taft in the Kansas industrial court had so ruled. "The anthracite producers ha? come to have a monopoly because of the situation and limited ownership of anthracite, and that entire range of anthracite production, preparation, and distribution falls "within the public concern and power of regulation' he continued. "Regulation proposed by Governor Pinchot in house bill number three, will not only control prices, quality and grade of anthracite but will produce freedom from strikes," he said in finality. 4 Denying charges that bituminous? coal can be used successfully in homes equipped for the use of anth' racite, and many other inference 5 may by operator representatives at the hearing of two weeks ago, Sec retary of Mines Joseph J.

Walsh, also urged passage of house bill num ber three, declaring that it would put to an end these continual labof disputes. During July of last year" WaUX said, "the anthracite miners asked the operators for an increase in wages, to which the operators objected, giving as their reason that their earnings would not permit of an increase without an increase ia the selling price of coaL "If house bill number three, nov Turn TQ.Page Four I HARRISBURG, Feb. 2 The special session of the Pennsylvania legislature, reconvening last night, took action in the form of a resolution, that will enable Governor Pin-chot to prove to the people of the commonwealth his claims that his administration has been an economi-i cal one, for the people of the com monwealth. The resolution, introduced by Senator Albert D. MacDade, Delaware, calls upon the auditor general of the commonwealth to furnish to the legislature, "a statement of the total receipts from all sources and the total expenditures during the present ad- TOWNSHIP BOARD HOLDS AN INFORMAL METING Directors Discuss Expenditures With William Bressler, Representative of Coal Companies Members of the Coal township school board held an informal meeting last evening for the purpose of conferring with William Bressler, countyseat representative of the coal companies, relative to school district expenditures of the past year.

Mr. Bressler's particular object was to secure information relative to a bill recently submitted to the board in the sum of $800 for extra services involved in connection with the recent Coal Run and Sagon diphtheria epidemic. The board had been summoned into special sesion by President Frank Domaleskie for the purpose of taking action on the bill, but it developed that the bill in question had been referred to the solicitor for action and therefore could not be considered at the special session. As a consequence the board went into an, informal discussion of the matter. Later in the evening Superintendent Meisberger called the attention of the board to the fact that the district finances were at low ebb.

Accordingly the board convened in special session and authorized a temporary loan of $15,000 to meeting curent expenses. Following this action the directors adjourned. Invitations For Masked Ball Out Invitations are out for the annual ball masque of the Shamokin Valley Country club for the evening of February 15. All members of the club and house guests are in receipt of handsome cards inviting them to the affair. Gilger Funeral Thursday Morning The funeral of the late John Gilger will be held Thursday morning, mass of requiem in St Edward's viiuivu bi curia! wiu iouow in the parish cemetery.

ANOTHER FURNITURE VALUE See our Market street window for this special golden oak Queen Ann buffet-china closet-server extention table and six leather seat chairs also a 9x12 rug with felt paper lining all for $192.00. Get one of our profit-sharing bonds and use it during onr semi-annual furniture sale. Adv. NEW BEE HIVE. EVERT MINUTE every day, someone buys UsvpAir.

May- FAVORABLE ACTION ON COAL MEASURES ASKED AT HEARING Committee Informed That Legislation Now Pending Would Have Prevented Strike if Passed in 1925 BORO POLICE INVESTIGATE AN ALLEGED KIDNAPPING Girl Taken From Street and Tossed Into Coupe by Youth in Sight of Pedestrians Chief of Police Jesse Duncheskie and members of the local police force are making an investigation of an alleged kidnapping of a girl by two youths in an automobile in the vicinity of the Majestic theatre a-bout 10 o'clock last evening. The affair caused much excitement among pedestrians who happened to be in that vicinity at the time. The girl was walking on Independence street with two other female companions when a youth grasped her and pulled her into the alley on the east side of the Majestic theatre. The girl protested but the young man continued to force her towards a Ford coupe standing nearby. As he got her to the side of the car, the youth picked the girl up bodily and despite her frightened screams tossed her into the machine.

At the same time he leaped on the running board as another youth, who was at the wheel of the machine, applied the gas and drove away. The girl lost her hat in the scuffle, the headpiece dropping on the street. Some time later another car appeared on the scene and a youth jumped from it and recovered the hat. The automobile just as quickly drove a-way. The license number of the Ford car used by the young men has been secured and the police are today endeavoring to locate the owner to ascertain the cause of the unusual kidnapping affair.

C. C. Directors To Confer With State Organizer The board of directors of the Shamokin Chamber of Commerce will assemble this evening in its rooms in the American Legion building to meet Frank Green, representing the state organization of Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Green has been summoned here to talk over with the board the name3 of several candidates for secretaryship of the local body, made necessary by the last minute declina tion of William E.

Mathews, who was elected several months ago and resigned Saturday after he accepted a position with an industrial firm at Hanover, this state, where he has been engaged in Chamber of Commerce work. FREE DUMPING of ashes and dirt in Edgewood base- ball park. SHAMOKIN AND EDGEWOOD RAILWAY CO. Adv. 't-i-fVpW 1 CURTAILMENT OF H.

S. COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM PROPOSED THREE YOUNG MILK THIEVES CAUGHT BY ALERT PATROLMAN Suggests Elimination of Junior-Senior Banquet and Reducing the Number of Students Participating in Exercises STATE CAPITOL, HARRISBURG, Feb. 2 As representatives of the anthracite miners and operators prepared to go into session in Philadelphia in an effort to bring about settlement of the strike, now in its sixth month, members of the joint committee of the Pennsylvania legislature, bearing arguments on coal bills, were told, by proponents of the measures, now up for consideration, that if they had been passed at the last regular session, the present strike would not now be in effect. Attorney General Woodruff and Secretary of Mines Joseph J. Walsh, appealed to the members for favorable action on house bill number 3, sponsored by the administration which would declare anthracite a public utiility and place it under the supervision of the public service commission.

Their arguments were in refutation of those advanced bv reDresen- tatives of the operators during a Hearing of the house eommittpn on mines and mining, two weeks ago, wnen tnat body refused to take favorable action on the administration measures, after hearing only tors. Because of the criticism all over the state over the committee action in refusing to return the bills to the house for action, they were again placed before the joint committee today for argument and so that both sides should be heard. "Anthracite coal nroduction is the1 only instance of a business outside, of public utiilities so peculiarly af- fected by a public interest that it' Officer Lynn Trapped Youths in the Act of Stealing Milk While Going Off Duty This Morning Three youths, one of whom is on i Officer Lynn noticed them entering parole from a reform school, were the English apartment at 113 East arrested by Borough Patrolman Independence street shortly after 7 A number of recommendations of timely interest and importance were made by Dana Wells, principal of the high school in his monthly report to the Shamokin board of education at its monthly meeting last evening. One of these was a proposal that thb annual Junior-Senior banquet be eliminated and a reception substituted or that a joint reception of the two upper classes be held. The other suggestion of the prin-eipal was that the number participating in the commencement exer-eises be reduced from first fifteen students having the highest aver- ages to the first ten or twelve.

Prof. Wells also recommended that the commencement program be centered on one general theme and submitted a number of suggestions sn this connection Tie recommendations of Prof. with relation to the high Lvnn at 7:45 clock this morning just as he was about to go off duty. for stealing milk. They were taken to city hall and will be detained there until this evening at 6:30 o'clock, when they will be given a hearing before Chief Bur gess A.

G. Shissler, sitting as a com mitting magistrate. Steve Shurak, who police said spent time in a reform school and who has been in the hands of bor ough police before, David Kalboskie, both of this city, and Charles Lakos- kie, Kulpmont. are the trio picked up for the theft, May EVERY MINUTE every day, someone buys a tag. Adr.

4.