Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-11-14
The Story of Family of ThIeves...How I'm.
mense RObberles were Committed.


writing from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania,
says:
zone Of the mostimpoftaht trials took place
in our Criminal Court during the last week
that the people of this section have ever wit
messed The charge was larceny; the per-
sons indicted were John J. Burkholder, Lu-
diah, his wife; Julia, Lavinia and Mary
Hawk, his daughters; and Henry, Thomas,
Perry and NorYal Hawk, sons and sons-in-law.
The trial lasted three days, and resulted in
Burkholder and his mother
"The charge was for stealing d large atnottnt
of goods shipped in the cars of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company. The head of this
delectable family was a well-to-do farmer and
horse speculator, living four miles east of AL
toona, in this county. His daughter, Mary
Hawk, and her husband, Norval Hawk, in
October, November and December, 1864, and
January, 1865, resided in Altoona. Mar
garet Burkholder, not then married to John
Bishop COsSen Ware, was a frequent visitor
at her sisters, and here was planned this gi-
gantic system of robbery.
"Hawk, as an employee, had got possession
of a freight car key, which was broken, but
by filling answered the purpose During the
last three months of1864, immense quantities
OF goods were missing from the cars and no
one was suspected. The goods were carried
to Hawks, there divided, and the share of
Lavinia and Julia carried to their mother and
two brothers, Henry and Thomas, down into
the country, to their home, ON horseback, in
the carriage and in sleds. On December 81 1st,
Ware and Margaret were married. The cars
of the railroad company furnished them with
an outfit for housekeeping. The stock of Mr..
*
ty, was piltered and great quantities of tow
els, carpets, slips, silk dresses and shawls ta-
ken by this woman from the cars, his goods
having been shipped for Indiana, Pa. John
Js BurkhOldcr was opposed to this match
"Things went on swimmingly until, in
March of this year, traces of the missing
goods were then observed. Search warrants
were obtained, and the result was the discOv-
cry of about thousand dollars worth of goods
at Hawks and Wares. This being but
mite OF the amount missing, led to the sus-
plclon that some were concealed at Burkhold>
ers. Ware having been arrested, he told
them whers it might be hid, and ds the search
continued, great packages Of goods were found
hidden in the haymow, in the cellar, under
the pOtatOEs, in and about the outhouse; and
everywhere that goods could or would be HID
den. Lamps and oil cans of the railroad
company were, found in the possession of
Bafkhe heideF, aud stoleu goods were found IN
every part of the house-in the chests and
trunks of the girls and even upon the persons
of the boys. 1t was impossible to convict all
the defendants without the testimony of Ware,
as nlne-tenths OF the property it was not pos
sible to identify.
"JOhn j. Burkholder owns large farm,
and was in no necessity of resorting to this
mode of making living. The trial was dou-
bly, impressive, inasmuch as it is the practice
in this judicial District, under the act of AS
sembly, to nrraign all persons charged with
the commission of felony. 1t was a strange
and painful family reunion-eight persons,
from the grayheaded grandfather to the
youngest son of fourteen years of age.
THE ART OF BEING POLITE.-First and
foremost, don't try to be polite twill spoil
all! lfyou keep overwhelming your guests
with ostentatiOus entreates to make them
selves at home, they will begin to wish they
were there. Let them find out that YOU are
happy to see them by your actions rather than
words. Always remember to let bashful peo-
pie alone Mt first. 1t is the only way to set
them at their ease. Trying to draw them out
has sometimes the contrary effect of driving
them out--of the house! Leading the con-
'Si""'IOAA 10 " cA ApSTllnCnC. Better
follow in its wake, and if you want to cndear
yourself to takers, learn to listen we'll NeY-
er make fuss about nnything-never talk
about yourself-and always preserve perfect
composurc, no matter what s0lecisms or blum
ders others may commit. Remember that it
is very foolish proceeding to lument that YOU
cannot offer to your guests better house or
furniture, or viands. 1t is fair to presume
that the visit is to you, not to these surround
ings. Give people pleasant impression of
themselves, and they will be pretty sure to go
away with pleasant impression of your quail
tiles. On just such slender wheels as these
the whole fabric of society turns it is your
business, then, to keep them in revolving or<
| der.
| BEAUTIFUL ANswERs.-A pupil of the
Able Sicord gave the following extraordinary
answers:
"What is gratitude ?"
Gratitude is the memory of the heart"
"What is hope? ?"
"Hope is the blossom of happiness"
"What is the difference between hope and
desire ?"
"Desirc is tree in leaf, hope is tree in