Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-02-06

in the Indictments, being sim.
ply carrying loaded pistol in the
borough OF York" especially as it
does not appear that any other crime
was committed by them.
1t is also stated that proceedings
have been instituted TO recover these
recognizances, and that unless remit
ted, the collection will Operate OPP
pressivcly upon the suro.ies, who are
worthy citizens.
Being unwilling TO act in this mat
ter without further information, the
Governor has requested me to inquire
of you whether any special reason
exists why the forfeitures in these
cases should not be remitted.
With much respect, remain, &c.
(Signed) BEEJAMIs II. BEwsTER.
John W. Bittenger, Esq, York, Pa.
YoRK, Pa, February 2, 1867.
Hon. B. II. Brepster.
DEAR SIR: l am in receipt of your
communication of January 81, rela-
tive to the retognizances of Fred.
Stallman and Jscob Koons, in the ca
ses of Sanford and Demot. In answer
to your request that ! should furnish
any special reastn why the forfcitures
in those cases should not be rcmittod,
| have TO say that l have consulted
with the Hon. r. J. Fisher, President
Judge of this District, who received n
similar letter from you, and we are
both Of the opinion that the applica-
tions to have the recognizances remit
ted are without merit, and that the
prayer Of tie petitioners should not be
granted.
Sanford and Demot, strangers in
this community, were arrested on
suspicion Of being professional bur.
glars, and in their possession were
found the most complete and elegant
set OF burglars tools ever imported
into the County Of York. These in
strumentI, including even powder and
fuse, are yet in the hands of the Off
GERS who made the arrest, and are Sc
curely deposited for safe keeping.
Sanford and Demot were in addition
each armed with splendid revolvers,
which are also secured. They were
committed to jail, but as no overt act
Of burglary was yet committed by
them, so far as ! could discover, the
indictments were framed and true
bills were found for feloniously carry
ing deadly weapons in the Borough
of York, under the special act. Sew
eral daring burglaries had short
time before been committed in York.
and public sentiment ran high against
any release Of the prisoners. The
Court properly fixed the bail high,
and il was hoped that these desperate
men might be, at least for short
time, placed out of the way of doing
harm. 1t was then that Messrs. Stall.
man and Koons stepped in, and having
fully secured themselves by receiving
the respective amounts from the pris-
oners for which they entered into
recognizance for them, in defiance Of
public sentiment, turned these two
travelling burglars loose upon the
community. And now having had
their recognizancA farfaited. they sslr
that the forfeiture be remitted and
they retain tho money deposited IN
their hands "a secure them in their
operations. J am thus particular in
stating matters in detail, because |
am satisfied that when these facts are
understood, neither yourself nor the
Governor will permit the transfer OF
the money involved from the Treasu-
ry OF York comfy to the pocke; OF
Messrs. Stallman and Koons, especial.
ly as at the tiue Of comforting the ia
vor, they most likely received con
sideration for their disinterestcd (1
friendship TO these men, who did not
even claim TO bs citizens OF this Com
monwealth.
| may state N addition, that one
Of those men attempted to escape
from prison herr, by breaking his cell
and that publ. sentiment is almost
unanimous in adesire to have the re.
cognizances sued out and collected.
In conclusion, ] would respectfully
suggest that an amendment to the pc
nal code be passed, furnishing as a
felony the having in possession of bur.
glarious tools, as also making it fell
ony TO forge, utter, or publish legal
tender United States notes, knowing
them TO be foiged, &c. His Honor
Judge Fisher, requests me to state
that as soon as Court adiourns, in a
few days, he viii answer your letter
to him.
Hoping you will pardon the length
at which / have addressed you,
am very respectfully your obedi-
ent servant. JbHN w. BITTEYGER.
District Attorney, York County.
We are informed that his Honor.
Judge Fisher, and District Attorney
Bittenger, afterwards personally OK.
planned all the particulars of this trans
action to Attorney General Brewster.
On the 10th dy of December, 1867,
the suits entered upon the recOgnizan-
ces by the District Attorney against
James Sanford and Frederick Stallman
and James Demot and Jacob Koons,
were tried, ,0hen the Letters Patent Of
GoUernor Gedfy pere produced and in
terposed as an obstacle 10 the recopery
o judgments for the respectire amounts
sued for. Mr.. Bittonger, the counsel
for the Commonwealth, had the defen-
dants both sworn, when it was devel-
oped by the evidence given that he
was correct in his statement TO the
Attorney General that Frederick
Stallman received in hand one thou
sand dollars, but that he erred in ref.
erence to Jacob Koons, who only re.