davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
Bank Robbery at ConnennfyiiIe

TITusvILLE, Pa, February "A
special TO the Courier. dated Con
neautyil!c gives an account of 4 mcst
daring and extensive robbery at that
place last evening, While the cash
ier Of the First National Bank, d. D.
Williams, wds writing at his desk,
he heard a rap at side door. Upon
opening the door, two masked men
sprang upon him bound and gag
ged him and succeeded in max
ing their escape with fourteen
thousand dollars currency aud thirty
thousand dollars IN United States
bonds. Mr.. Williams was found this
morning in an unconscious state, but
recovered his consciousness in a
couple oi hours after being released.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
Six Persons Unable 10 Escape from ~
Burnin. building, Perish in the
- E1uUeg

EVANSVILLE, IyD., February s.
At three o'clock this morning fire
was discovered issuing from the gro-
cery of Chris Mehr, corner Of Held
elbach avenue and Johns street, and
in few minutes the building was
enveloped in flames. The inmates
of the house were Mehr, his wife,
six children, his fathcr-in-law, and a
bar keeper named George OF these
only the father-in-law, Mr. Mehr,
and two children escaped from the
flames. When the press reporter
reached the ground Mr.. Mehr stood
OF the walk weeping, and relating
that he was awakened by smoke and
heard Chris calling the bar-keeper,
who could not be awakened. Mrs.
Mehr. he said, had rushed out Of the
house with two children whom she
dropped and returned to the house,
but never came forth again. AS
soon as possible search was made for
the bodies and all tue missing were
found. Mrs. Mehr when found had
the youngest child clasped tightly in
her arms, the remains of both char
red, as were the others Chris. Win
derrick, detective of the city, in
The second story of the building at
the time, called to Mehr to come
Mehr answered yes, but not appear
ing was called to again without Civ
ing response.
The full particulars Of the burning
Of Chris. Mehr's house and of the
attending fatality show that but four
persons were burned TO death and
several others badly burned. The
details show the su(ferings of the
victims to have been horrible. There
were when the fire broke out about
ten persons in the house, including
Mr.. Mchr, his wife and six children.
Mrs. Mehrs seized two Of the chii-
dren and rushed through the flames,
and boarder seized another Of the
children. Mr.. Mehr rushed out and
seeing that some OF the children
were missing, again ran into the
house and was not again seen alive.
When found he had clasped in his
arms the three children who had been
left behind, the four bodies being
burned almost to Il crisp. These
four are the only persons who were
burned to death. Most of the other
persons were more or less burned.
The rumors that the house was set
on fire by Mehr's enemies seems to
lie disproved by later evidence, but
there is no evidence rs to how the
fire began.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

IN view of the rapidly approach ne
township and borough elections, we
deemed the new election law would
be as interesting reading to major,
ity Of our subscribers as anything we
could lay before them. We therefore
publish il in full in this issue, SO thai
all those who desire may be fully
conversant with its provisions before
they are called upon to cast then
next ballot. Election officers partic'
ularly, should study it well, as there
are many changes made in the nature
Of their duties, and without a proper
knowledge Of them they may mad
yertently commit errors that will cos'
thom future trouble.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

Sil.000 1t seems ihen that nothing
in the way of reirenchment will salts
fy these hyper critics, bat the abso.
lure blocking Of the wheels of Gov
ernment by means Of inadequate APP
preparations. To attempt TO satisfy
chronic croakers is itself absurd, and
while reducing all expenditure not
actually required for the needs OF the
service, Congress should carefully
avoid going the length proposed by
them.
Another specimen of the inconsist-
ency of the opposition is the fact that
they have always opposed Federal
Interference in elections, and still con-
tinue TO do so, but their vociferations
in favor of forcing a new election
upon Louisiana by Congress are now
loud and constant. Al similar acts
by the Administration heretofore car
ried out they still denounce as un-
constitutional tyranny while they
favor this, because they think there
is some little milk in the cocoa-nut
for them-the present State Govern
ment being in quasi administration
hands.
An investigation of the cost Of
transportation connected with the
printing of currency and bonds in
cities distant from Washington is now
being made The object of it is to
ascertain whether the printing &c,
could not be performed for a less cost
and otherwise to the advantage of
the Government at the capital.
Enormous amounts are yearly paid
for expressing to and from Washing
ton, New York, Philadelphia &c,
which might be saved by having the
work done here. The fact that the
capital is a peculiar city, and is nee
essarily debarred from ever becom-
ing a success as manufacturing
city would seem to call for the intro
duction here of at least all the bus
iness which necessarily belongs TO
the operations of the Government.
The risk of loss and damage an tran
situ is at present very considerable
and, if it can be shown that cheap,
ness is added to convenience and Sc
curity, there is little doubt that steps
will be taken to transfer this work to
Washington where it can be done un'
der the constant surveillance OF resi-
dent Government officials.
The statement of the public debt OF
the United States shows decrease Of
debt during the past month OF nearly
two millions This is the very best
evidence that restoration of conf
dence is being brought about among
business men and consumers. TIE
total increase of debt since the panic
as reduced bv last months transac.
ton is $9,65l ,500S+. In five months
at the same rate of decrease this
amount will be overcome, and there
can be little doubt that less time
will suffice for a renewal Of the usual
reduction of the old debt. The sta
tistics of the country show that it is
even now more generally and sub
stantally prosperous than at any pre-
vious date. Manufacture and trades
are nearly all in fCll blast, and though
there is 10 doubt many are out OF
employment there never was a year
when this was not so at this season.
LIFE.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
Suicide oi a wealthy Farmer.

WEST JEFFERSON, o., February G..
Isaac Bidwell, one of the wealthiest
and most influential farmers in this
county, committed suicide this morn
ing by shooting himself through the
heart. He had been afflicted with
diabetes for several months, and his
sufferings were so great that he fire.
quently requested his physician to
put ap end to his existence. This
being refused, he sought death at his
own hands.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

WHEN we urged as an objection to
thc adoption Of the new Constitution,
that it would largely add to the ex-
penses of the State, particularly in
,he increase Of the Judiciary, we
were fatty told that we were making
an untruthful statement, and that ac-
cording 10 the calculation of very
reliable member Of the convention,
the increase would not exceed seven
at the most Well, the judicial ap-
portionmcnt bill has been reported to
the Senate, and provision is made for
fifteen additional Judges of the Courts
Of Common Pleas, the Constitution
provides for two additional Judges
Of the Supreme Court. and bin is
pending which mast pass, erecting
OphaDs' Courts in five counties, re-
quiring Eve aew Judges, making the
total of new Judges twenty-five (22.) }
This viii increase the expenses of the
State one hundred thousand dollars.
Bat in addition to this we observe
that on square issue the House
mas voted to increase the salaries Of
all the Judges, to point that will
require aa additional sl0O. 600, thus
making the annual increase cost of
the judiciary Of the stsfe two hum
dred thousand dollars.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

ALLthe colleges in the State have
unitedly petitioned the Legislature,
p,avinc 10 be exempted from taxa
lion As under the new Constitu-
lion none but institutions of purely
public charity" can be exempted from
taxation. it is difficult to see where
the Legislature is to derive the pow
er to comply with the prayer of these
.,n.itinnnrs
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

MR. POSTMASTER GENERAL CREss-
WELL is ingenious in devices. His
last one is to compel publishers of
newspapers to pay postage in adj
vance at the place of publication
This is nothing more or less than
an attempt TO make publishers col,
lect the revenue, for which duty
thousands Of postmasters all over
the country are paid, and as q gener
nj rule do it weli. Congress, we fee
assured. viii not enact any law o
this nature, onerous both to the peo
nle and to publishers.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

MY don't the Legislature lurry
ap and define by law, st hsw far
candidates may 60, and what per-
sussire arguments they may use to
secure nominations and elections?
Scores OF gentlemen willing, nay
anxious to serve the country, are pre-
vented from entering upon active op-
erations looking to future elections,
because they do not know just exact
ly what arguments they may use
Here is our Legislative pot beginning
to bubble and boil, and . ball score
Of candidates anxious to take a
chance at stirring it, but then there
is that awkward clause in the oath
which all officers must take, Il have
mot paid or contributed, or promised
'to pay or contribute, either directly
''or indirectly, any money or other
valuable thing, TO procure my NOM
"ination or election, except for neces-
''sary or proper expenses EXPRESSLY
AUTHORIZED BY LAW"
Pray, gentlemen Legislators, do de-
fine by law at your earliest convent
enee, what are the necessary and
proper expenses" that candidates may
incur. That awkward clause in the
''oath of Office" is such nuisance,
until by law you say, Thus far shalt
thou go, and no further Here shall
thy necessary arguments be stayed.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

ATTORNEY GENERAL DMMIcK de
cides that the Legislature has the
legal right to repeal the 'local option
law." This we never doubted, al,
though others have held, with much
force, that the law being adopted by
popular vote, in fact made by the
people intheir primary capacity, could
only be repealed by the power (the
people, that adopted it. The legal
right to repeal being virtually settled
she remaining and important ques'
lion to be solved by the Legislature
is, should the law be repealed with
out popular sanction?
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

Ir will be observed that the new
judicial apportionment bill reported
bv Senator Rutan, in dividing our
present district, erocts Franklin and
Fulton into one district, and Bedford
and Somerset into another We trust
the bill will will pass in this shape,
as it makes an equitable apportion-
ment Of the districts according to
population, and also of the labor be-
tween the present judges.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
Priestly Plots and Crimes.

CITY OF MEXICO, February |, via
HAVANA February The weather
throughout the Republic has been un.
usually cold. Ten Indians froze to
death in Pachuca. The newspaper
in Puebla says sixteen murders, insti-
gated by priests, were committed in
Puepla the past year Two hundred
men, headed by the priests, have
pronounced against the government
Of the State of Pueblo. A Party OF
Catholics in the city of ZacatecaS at
tacted Protestant minister named
Phillips. A duel between two wo-
men, in which one OF them was killed,
took place in SinOloa.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

THE women in some portions of
Ohio. have instituted n prayer cru
SADIE against the grog-shop-keepers
They assemble in gangs, march to
grog-shcp and open out prayer meet
ing in the bar-room, or if refused ad
mittance, take possession ofthe steps
or the pavement, and fire away, al
the devil within. These pious souls
doubtless mean it all for the best, but
we are inclined to think that, neither
female delieaey, permanent moral re-
form. or The cause OF religion is sub
served by tins fiery and ludicrous
zeal.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

JAMES 3. GRooME, Of Cecil county,
MARYLAND, was on Thursday of last
week elected Governor Of that State,
TO fll the vacancy caused by the res
irnation of Governor Whyte, who
was elected to the United States SEN
o.c Governor Groome will have
,,,-o wears 10 serve.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
E...; dancers Bnrned.

Tn 1LPHIA, February 5.-This
eycI' - Two ballet dancers, Miss
Hay aud siiss Lee attaches Of
'.iort;nler's Variety Theatre, were
badly burhed. The former was intbe
greenroom before ihe curtain rose,
VIXEN her dress caught fire from the
stove. She ran on the stage, and
the flames from her dress connuni-
Gated to iha! of Miss Lee. Both
were badly burned about the body,
although their injuries, it is believed
will not prove fatal.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

THE Illinois Legislature has at
tempted novel experiment in the
way Of controlling operations in the
grain trade Of the State Fines rang
ing from $40 TO $1,000, and imprison-
mcnt in the county jail for year,
may be visited upon any one who
sells for future delivery stock or pro.
duce which be does not own at the
time. The same fate awaits any one
who gets up corner, or even tries
10 do it, or agititcs the market with
false rumors fer the purpose of spec
ulation. This viii make it lively tor
the Chicago dealers, provided the
provisions of the law can be enforced
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

THE charge of Kansas Judge,
in breach Of promise case, was
exceedingly lucid and comprehensive:
The evidence shows that he sot up
with her night after night, and they
squoze hands and talked soft, and
| think she ought to have about $23
damages " But tbejury, in consider
alton of the low price Of corn, reduced
it to 81 10 and in Kansas that
passes, for jnsticc
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

Ex-Gov. JAMES NJ. HARVEY has
bccn elected United States Senator
from Kansas. lie is a practical farm
cr served as a captain during the
late war, and is said to be a gentle
man Of irreproachable character.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

\ CHILD of James Neclv, residing
near Livermore, WestmorelaGd coun-
ty aged about three years, was burned
10 death on Sunday morning last. 1t
is supposedto have caught Ere at the
CRATE, and suffered intensely, dying
ip two OF three hours after The oeca.
zion.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
A Woman Burned TO Death.

CINCINNATI, February 8. = Miss
Duffy Workum last night was us
ing liniment containing alcohol for
rheumatism The bottle dropped,
broke and the fluid caught fire The
flames communicated to her clothing
and she was severely burned. She
died to-day in consequence.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

DESPITE the panic and the none
,.rv trorbles Of the country, the re-
nor, of the Secretary of the Treas
nrv shows that the public debt wa,s
reduced during the .loni.l of Janaa-
~ nearly two millions Of dollars.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
our NEW YORK LETTER.
NEW YORK Feb. 9, 1874.
SWI\DIES.

Out of the million Of people who
make up the population Of this Great
Babel, fully one hundred thousand
live on the labor OF others-that is
to say, are thieves of one sort or
another. The worst Of these are the
advertising thieves, for while they
steal, they do it in such an ingenious
wav as to escape the penalty Of the
law. The history of one or two of
them may not be uninteresting.
&c. II. Murry & Co." is a good
name. Well G. II. NJ. & Co, adver-
tise that they possess Sl,5O0,OOO of
watches, pianocs and jewelry, which
they will distribute" by lot at one
dollar ticket. You are invited to
send twenty-five cents TO these be-
nevolent gentlemen, receiving there
for a ticket which describes the prize
YOU are entitled to. You send your
twenty-five cents and you do get a
ticket like tbisy
" MERCANTILE PRIZE AssoVlaflos'
Certificate No. 22733.
This certificate when accompanied
by one dollar, (and fifty cents for
package), entities the holder to one
Silyer-Hunting Cased Watch, cataed
at 1900. State how you wish it
SEM
Now send 81 so and what happens.
Nothing. You never hear of it again.
And these fellows get letters by the
bushel, every one of which contains
money, it is not difficult TO suppose
that they live in clover. Their Office
is, in one advertisement, in one place;
in another, another, so that victims
in search of them never find them.
The police gets after them, but they
change their style SO frequently that
it is impossible to catch them.
The fellows who are to-day doing
business over the name Of g. X. Muir
ry & Co, have within a year been
known as the United States Tontine
Association, of 90 Park Row; as
Norton Quinn & Co, 2l2 Broadway;
as Holiday, Lewis & Co., of % Park
Row: as Walter b. Turner & Co., of
TAG Broadway; as u. ii. Blidle q
Co, of 80 Broad Street; as Chester
V. Dudley & Co, Of 81 New street;
as Oswald West & Co, of Broad
street; and S. Soloman & Co, Of l34
Nassau street; and as Gilbert, Put
nam & Ce., Of Ga Broadway. But
as the gentlemen are the
last two montes has developed a
more
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

This space is reserved for J
f. Blymyer, who has removed
his stock into the most magnl-
ficent hardware room in this
place. He can be found IL
Room No. 3. Baer'S Block.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
HOUSE.

Mr.. Newmyer-i remonstrance OF
the Temperance Alliance against the
repeal of local option.
Mr. Cross, Chairman of the Com
miltec on Appropriations, reported fa-
vorablv an act granting one hundred
and twenty thousand dollars to the
Pennsylvania Reform School, former
ly the Western House of Refuge.
Mr.. Allison-A petition for the
erection of Washington county into a
separate judicial district.
Mr.. Webb 4 petition praying for
the publication Of legal notices in pa
pers. Of two political parties.
Petitions were presented for and
against local option.
The Judges Salary bill was cali
ed up, Mr.. Laidley, of Greene, in the
chair.
Speaker Mccormick took tie foor,
in support of the bill.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
GORGEOUS scoUxDEELisM

The only expense attending these
swindles is the advertising. and how
to dodge them has been the question
with them. Two of these thieves as
sumed The name Of 'Kirkwood Il
Beach, Advertising Agents." and
issued an order to the newspapers OF
the country, advertising dozen or
more OF bogus articles, under a dozen
or more different names, the price of
which was always to be sent by mail
10 The p. o. Bor designated. To Sc
duce the publishers Of the country
these villains boldly referred TO A.
T. Stewart, c. A. Dana, and JAS
Gordon Bennett, of New York, to
NJ. Halstead, Of the Cincinnati Com
mercidl, and d. II. Locke, Of the
Toleda Blade. As their offer TO the
papers were liberal, and heir refer
ences unexcepiionable, hundreds of
papers published their advertisements,
and Immediately cords of letters came
TO the different partles named, all
of which Kirkwood & Beach took out
of the Post-0fliee and appropriated;
Of course.
As q matter of course, the newspa-
pers publishing the advertisements
will never get a cent; those who
send money TO the various address
es viii never get what they send for;
in short the only people who get any
thing are The Ingenious scoundrels
who assume the firm name Of Kirk
wood & Beach" When win people
learn wisdom 2 When will people learn
that dollar is a dollar, and, when a
man proposes TO give two dollars fo-
one. that be means a swindle aad
there is sYindlc under it. May i
impress on yorr readers this impor-
tant maxim: Never send money to
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
HARRISBURG.
HOUSE.

HARRISBURG, February 2, 1874.
The house met at two o'clock. AT
the roll call only forty-eight answer
ed-three less than quorum. The
Sergeant-at-Arms sent after the alb
seHtees, particularly after Mr.. Webb,
of Bradford, and Stranahan, Of Mer-
Ger, who had voted against an ad-
journment. Mr. Hays of Allegheny,
was caught at the d;naer table and
hurried up to the House. This made
a quorum when numerous petitions
were presented praying for The repeal
Of the Local Option law.
MIR. Piper presented petition.
signed by six hundred citizens of
Westmoreland county, in favor of re-
peal.
Attorney General Dimmick, in an
swer to Mr. Hays resolution, an
swered that the Legislature could re-
peal the Local Option Law if it so
decided
Mr.. Little read . bill authorizing
cities and towns purchase the corpo-
rate rights of gas and water compa-
nes
Mr.. Buticrlield, of Erie-An act
permitting defendants in all criminal
cases to testify.
Mr.. Dimmick, of Wayne-An act
relating to the sale of Intoxicating
liquor and to make the License law
more offectual
HARRISBURG. February 3, 1874.
SENATE.
Mr.. Wallace reported General
Insurance bill; also an act relative to
private corporations. Also to pro-
vide for the manler OF increasing the
capital stock Of corporations.
Mr.. Whi,e-An net regulating
county treasurers.
Mr.. Playford called up the bills
changing venue in civil and crimin-
al cases Passed to third reading
The State Map bill passed to second
reading.
Adjourned.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
Ne,C AdUertisements
NOTICE.

Is hereby given that VIM. IL. Hey, assignee Of
David Saylor, has filed his account In my office
and that the same will be presented to the Court
for confirmation on Thursday, February l9th IA.
T. NJ SCHKOCk,
jhn2l Pro;honotary.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
1--WE FARMS FOR RENT

have concluded to quit farming on account of
Ill health and offer all my farms private rents
The Farms are situate in Allegheny township
Somerset county, Pa. Amy person wishing TO rent
will come and examine farms, or consult me by let
ter, at Mount Healthy, Pa.
lan2l SAMUEL WALKER
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
Y A U T T D

our Firesiae rr,.ua H. 20 Fsi~,.r,
proper party q good paying AMI easily r,..-. Il.
CASH BUSINESS The tact aaI e1perIes,s .''' p,
old agent Is not needed to be saeesss.ul az z
We have more experienced agents tseeBr.a ''.--s
the past two years. working forustb,, .'-'-z
house In America, and they continue 70 -, --s' s'
along, and make BIG salaries. The 80, "a 'z-
they offer the people BETTER indu,s.-,-'--. 'li
that we attend more PROMPTLY d, il,sf.---- -ll
EMPLOYMENT Tor all, at v.g-t..-'' In
travelling foryour leisure moments 80 Il
time. Our Combination bea.s the -, '-.'f' .'f'
MOST for the money. YOU can male '-'
Profitable, honorable, congeniaL S.,.4
dress at once and get our novel plan, -. .-' d
get partieularsr terms, etc, sent free 80
WATERS a co, Publishers, Chi,.y. .
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
A DMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE

Estate Of William .JohIson, late Of Berlin ecr,
deceased.
Letters OF administration cgm festamento oa-
nero on the above estate having been granted
to the undersigned, notice Is hereby given TO thos
indebted TO 1t to make immediate payment and
those having claims against II, TO present them
johnson Son, in BeriiE, on Thursday, FEBRUARY
18th, 1874
THEOPHELUS JOHNSON,
janl4 Administrator
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11

send 70 cents tor the new
self adjusting cigarette
and cigar holder. 3 for 50
cts. NJ. X. Roberts h Co.
lH Broadway, ". Y.