davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
THE WEATHER AND BUSINESS.
The Bill.

The text of the Revenue bill as it
passed the House this afternoon is as
follows:
Section l. That from and after the
date of the passage of this act there
shall be levied and collected on all
distilled spirits thereafter produced
in the United States a tax of 80
cents on each proof gallon, or wine
gallon when below proof, to be paid
by the distiller, owner or person hav-
ing possession thereof, before remov-
al from the distillery or bonded
warehouse, and SO much of section
1881 of the revised statutes of the
United States as is inconsistent here
with is hereby repealed.
Section 3. That section 1865 Of
the revised statutes be and the same
is hereby amended by striking out
the words twenty cents q pound"
and inserting in lieu thereof the
words twenty four cents a pound"
and that section 1894 of the revised
statutes be and the same is hereby
amended by striking out the word
five" where it occurs therein, and
inserting in lieu thereof the word
"six," and by striking out the word
ffty'' and inserting therein the
words "seventy-6ve;" provided, that
the increase of tax herein provided
for shall not apply to tobacco on
which the tax under existing laws
shall have been paid when this act
takes effect; and provided further,
that whenever it shall be shown to
the satisfaction Of the Secretary Of
the Treasury by testimony, under
oath, that any person, liable to pay
the increased tax by this section, had,
prior to the 10th day of February,
1875, made a compact for the future
delivery of such tobacco, cigars and
cigarettes at a fixed price, which con-
tract was in writing prior to that
date, such tobacco may be delivered
to the contracting party entitled
thereto under special permit from o
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
provided therefor, without previous
payment of such additional tax, but
this said additional tax shall be a
lien thereon, and shall be paid Oy and
collected from the purchaser under
such contract before the sale or re-
moval thereof by him, and when de-
manded by the collector Of internal
revenue for the district to which the
same shall be removed for delivery
to the purchaser; and any such re-
moval by such purchaser prior to the
payment of such tax shall subject
him and such tobacco so sold or re-
moved to all the penalties and pro.
cesses of law provided in the case Of
the manufacturers of tobacco so
selling or removing tobacco to avoid
the payment of the tax.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
Destitute workmen DenandIng ne.
lief.

CHICAGO. February 25.-The Com
m~unists, IN organization which origi-
mated during the panic Of 1878, and
which is composed chiefly Of work
men Of foreign extraction, who claim
to be in destitute circumstances,
have been for some days past threat
ening al outbreak in case their wants
were not supplied, and bad set to-
day at two o'clock for q renewed de-
mand on the Relief snd Aid Society
TOR assistance, declaring that in case
such rid was not offered they would
Csc other means Of obtaining it. The
city authorities made preparations
for any possible outbreak, and up to
this time there has been no distur.
banee further than the gathering of q
large crowd around the rooms Of the
Relief aud Aid society, which was
readily dispersed whenever police
msp appeared and ordered them to
do SO,
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
Execution OF OrtWeln for the Ham
NETT Murder as Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH, Pa, Feb. L3-The
execution Of Ernst 0rtwsin, the MUIR
derer of the Hsmmett family, took
place in the Jail yard at noon to-day.
The crime for which 0rtwcin suffer
ed death was committed on the night
OF April 10th last, near Homestead.
q village on the P~ittsburg, Virginia
and Charleston Railroad. six miles
above this city. His victims were
John Hammett, a well-to.do farmer
hiswife Agnes. two daughters nam
ed Ida and Emma, aud q bound boy
named Robert Smith. The murder
was discovered early the next morn
ing, the burning Of their house al
tracing the attention Of the neigh.
bors, and during the day the remains
OF the unfortunate family were taken
from the ruins.
Atthe time Of the murder Ortwein
was engaged as a farm hand by Mr..
Hammett, aad treated as one Of the
family. He was a native Of Ger
many, aud has been in this country
about two years. After his arrest be
made a confession, and has since ex-
pressed himself willing and ready TO
pay the penalty Of his crime.
All the gates leading to the jail
were guarded by police this morning,
ana those holding tickets of admit
lance were not admitted until IL
o'clock. At ll:45 reporters and
other witnesses took their positions
around the seaffold, and at - O'Clock
Ortwein, accompanied by Rev.
Messrs. Hertzberger and Meiser, fol-
lowed by Sheriff Hare and deputies,
and Messrs Holloek, Gilmore aad
emerged from the narrow
passage Of the jail. Ortwein was
dressed in a black broadcloth suit,
and though pale, appeared perfectly
calm and willing to meet death. He
assembled the scaffold with a firm
step. After the cap, a white one,
had been adjusted, be babe those
around him goodbye, and exclaimed
in a loud and firm voice: Jesus
Christ, have mercy on my soul
into Thy hands / commit myself"
At three minutes after II the drop
fell, and Ernst Ortwein was launch
ed into eternity.
After hanging for eighteen minutes
his body was taken down and placed
in a neat coffin. Ii is understood he
wills his body to Rev. Mr.. Hertz
berger, who has the privilege of al
an examination of his brain
to be made by the medical fraternity.
While on the scaffold be said: al
suffer for what | have deserved. |
committed the murder. | am will
ing and ready to die. | most heartily
thank all for the kindness shown to
me. May God have mercy on my
seul. | hope to meet you all in
Heaven for Christ's sake.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

An act for the prevention ofhorses,
cattle, goats, sheep or swine running
at large in the various townships OF
the Commonwealth, when q MAORI
ty of the voters thereof shall SO de-
eide.
An act to provide FOR the ~reiand:ng
and redemption of The existing IN
debtedness of counties !, eitiCsi boroughs,
townships, school districts or other
municipalities or Incorporated dis
tricts evidenced by bonds or eertil-
Gates issued prior to the goth day oil
April, A. d. 1874.
The bill to provide for the meas
urement and inspection of lumber
and for the appointment of inspec-
tors thereof, was recommitted.
The following passed second read
ing:
An act relating to bail for stay OF
execution in cases where such bail
is like to prove insolveht.
An act to make legal and valid all
bonds or certificates of Indebtedness
heretofore issued by municipal eorpo-
r~ations for value.
An act to prevent the dehling OF
ice upon ponds, streams, rivers, creeks
and canals owned or leased for the
production of ice.
An act to authorize the holding of
separate courts at the same time in
counties in which the court is con-
stituted of two or more law judges.
A supplement to the act regulating
divorces on application of relative or
next friend of lunatie wife, approved
April IS, A. d. 1872. TAmended.
An act fixing the compensation Of
township officers. amended to in
clude election officers.
An actin relation to bonds of in
demnity given to sheriffs in their Off
cial capacity for executing writs.
An act relating to judicial sales
and the preservation of the lien Of
mortgages.
At the afternoon session the bill
fixing the salaries of the judges of
the Supreme Court, ofthe judges of
the several judicial districts and of
the several orphans courts, was
taken up. 1t elected a discussion
which lasted till six O'Clock.
Mr.. Yerkes moved to amend SO as
to make the salary of city judges six
thousand dollars, and country judges
FIVE thousand.
Mr.. Playford moved to amend the
amendment so as to make the salary
of Philadelphia and Allegheny judges
five thousand dollars, and Of other
judges four thousand. Carried-25
to 10.
Pending the question on the sec
ton as amended, the Senate adjourn
ed
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
\ Methodl4t Preacher Knled.

BOsroN, February ga sad ac.
cident occurred on the Lowell and
Andover Railroad, at Ballardvale.
this morning at about nine O'Clock.
by which Rev. Mr.. Lessermaa. pas
tor Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
at that place, was instantly killed.
He had just left his home; and was
crossing the railroad track when be
stepped on the adjoining track 70 al
low a train from Lawrence to pass.
not noticing the eight O'Clock express
train from Boston, which was at the
time only a rod or two from him.
He had no soOner stepped on the
track than be was struck a fearful
blow by the engine and carried a
distance Of full ten rods, before the
engine could be stopped, and along
almost the entire distance fragments
of his legs, arms and other parts Of
his person were scattered. Mr..
LessermaD, whJ had been pastor of
this society at Ballardvale for some
time, is said to have been an excel
lent pastor and greatly esteemed.
He leaves a widow and one child,
who are said to he i~ncOnsOlable bv
their sudden and unfortunate bereave-
maDt
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

THE labor strikes in the anthracite
mining regions in this State, are de-
veloping incendiarism, murder, and
general f~endishness. Men are way
laid and assassinated, mines are fired
by in~cendiaries, and the lives of hun-
dreds are r~eeklessly endangered by
the lawless s~coundrels, who are at
tempting to enforce their own prices
for labor from their employers.
Several attempts have been made
TO set Ere to shaft frames, or blow
them to pieces with nitro-glyeerine,
thus endangering the lives Of hun
dreds of men laboring down IN the
mines. The President of the Read
ing Railroad Company has offered a
reward Of ten thousand dollars Tor
information leading to the detection
and conviction of the persons who
fred the shaft frame Of 0ae Of the
mines Of that company, and so GER
tain is it that the informant would
be murdered, that il addition to the
reward be offers protection to bis
person, and safe transport and eX-
penses to another country. From
this proposition may be gathered the
lamentable state of society in that
portion Of our State, when it is thus
publicly admitted that the law is
~powerless, and that a citizen disclos-
ing the name Of q murderer or MUIR
derers would have to flee the country
to. save bis own life.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

"AccoRDTNG to present appear
ances," SAYS the New York Tribune,
1.-The New York Democracy are dill
gently engaged in cutting their own
throats.n The fight between Mayor
Wickham and Governor Tilden con.
tinues. The former wants to make
wholesale removals in order to sur.
round himself with Tammany asso.
eiates. The Governor wants to know
why be should be called upon to sane
ton such changes; the Mayor re-
fuses to give his reasons; and the
Governor r%eioins that, if neither of.
fetal courtesy nor q sense of his off,
cial obligations will impel the Mayor
TO give the information required, be
Governor Tilden) VIII take measures
to secure it by independentinvestiga
ton. The upshot is, as stated by the
paper quoted above, the New York
Democrats "mDst either now bully
their own Governor into submission
or they must submit TO be beaten by
him in an open effort to seize upon
the patronage Of the city"
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

THE risibles Of the Democracy
were wonderfully exercised over the
defeat Of Ben Butler for Congress,
and there wasn't an individual Dem
ocrat who didn't feel as if he had
gained a personal victory. Just how
much the Democracy have gained by
Buffers defeat, may be judged from
the following extract from a speech
made before the Constitutional Club
Of Boston by his successor, Hon.
Charles Thompson. These are bis
notable words:
Il want nothing said about colored pco.
pie, nothing said about the white. | want
no discrimination in any manner or form.
They left the word out OF the Constitution,
and / want it forever lea out OF future leg
islation. And that party which, in the
present state Of affairs. endeavors TO put
the coiored man or the white man into the
law puts the badge Of inferiority upon one
OF the other. We are not TO treat the col
ored people as wards OF the white people.
They are not to be the wards of the Gen
eral Government or the wards of the State
Government, but they ought 10 be. as
they are, thank God American citizens,
with all their rights and privileges as
American citizens.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
Stabbed In a Court Room.

CINCINNATI. February ia spe-
cial despatch from Huntington, West
Virginia, to the Commercial says:
During a civil suit in Court to-day,
while G. Donnella, one of the wit
nesses, was testifying. DR.. Butler, one
Of the parties to the suit, called him
q Id liar Donnella struck But
Ter, and was instantly stabbed in the
bowels by the latter. Butler is IN
der arrest awaiting the result of the
wounds.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

The New York Herald says: I'm
the country at large the Democrats
have not gained since the fall cleo
tons. The failure to re-elect Schurz:
the refusal of some other Democratic
Legislatures to select first class mel
as Senators; the evident lack of har-
mony among the party leaders on
the currency and tariff questions, and
the feeling that the party has 20 pol
icy except opposition to the Republi-
cans, and is not ready to welcome re-
cruits from even the liberal Republi-
can ranks, combine with the general
distrust Of Democratic politicians to
make the country slow to give them
its confidence.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
The village Of MansneIa Ovsraowed.

The warm weather for the last two
or three days has had the effect to
produce q sudden tbaw. the results
Of which has already been realized
By the inhabitants Of the village Of
Mansfield, about six miles out of the
city on the Panhandle Railroad.
Yesterday morning the water rose to
such q height that a number of FAM
lies were driven from their homes,
and the household goods had to be
removed to the upper rooms 1t IS
said that Davis dam, on CHARTERS
creek, has caused the ice to gorge
aud back the water TO such an extent
as to cause this overflow which is
doing much damage. The wooden
bridge across CHARTERS creek, at
Mansfield, was carried away by the
food. The force of the immense
volume of water and ice may be un-
derstood when it is stated that the
riddle stone pier was swept away
by the current. The loss by the de-
struction Of the bridge will he
about six thousand dollars.-PiHs-
burgh Commercial.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
rneendIarism and Hall breaking.

WHEELING, w. Va, Feb. pa
FIRE broke out last night in the ware.
house of j. n. Camden & Co., at
Petersburg. consuming the ware
house and u wooden tank containing
two or three hundred barrels of oil.
The loss is light. 1t is supposed that
the place was set on FIRE by confeder-
ates of the Thompson gang Of thieves,
eight in number who were in the city
Jail ut the time awaiting trial for
burglary. During the excitement
the gang made their escape fron the
jail by burning q hole through the
floor, and they are now at largo.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

TINS election Of ex-PresiGent Andy
johnson to the L. S. Senate was a
source Of great jubilation to the De-
mocracy, and he was s~trsigbtway
invited to help canvass New Hamp-
shire for the Democratic State ticket
His sturdy reply is said 10 have been
as follows:
G~REENyTLLE, Tenn, Feb. Is, 1875.
Hon. George r. Putnam.
Dear Sir:-I am too busy. and your
weather IS too lively for me TO think Of
going up 10 New HampShire this winter
All oui troubles have arisen from the
Democratic attempt 10 break up the Union
and overthrow the Constitution in 1sgI6
The only obstacle 10 peace now is The 70.
5usal Of the Democratic party TO oonce6e
equal rights 10 all men. When l saw tbs,
l am for equal rights, Imean il; but when
you say IT, you don't mean il. When the
Democratic party gets right on this cues
ton then the Constitution will be safe and
you can command the services of
Yours truly, ANDY JOHNSON.
Taking this for true, We can well
maggie that the jubilation on Andy's
election Is not quite SO great as it for.
merly was
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
women.

THE Senate has passed bills admit
ting Colorado and New Mexico. AS
the House bad previously passed
these bills, Il ere appears to be little
doubt that we will have two more
States added to the Union in 1876.
The condition annexed TO the priv
ledge of admission being that the
proposed constitutions shall not DC
voted on until that time.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
HOUSE.

The morning session was nearly
all occupied with reading and cor
recting the journal of last nights
proceedings. The amendment offer
ed by Mr.. Morgan, of Lawrence, was
not properly stated in the minutes
read by the Clerk, but after debate
the journal was corrected to read +:
"The investigation should begin
with and include the administration
of VIM. v. McGrath."
Providing a remedy for Irregular
ty in sealing up jury wheels, and in
the custody thereof.
Mr.. Thornton reported favOrably,
from the Iron and Coal Committee,
the bill to repeal the tax on bitumin-
Gus coal.
The bill for establishing new coun-
ties is now being discussed at a spe-
cial evening session, in the Committee
Of the Whole.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
Overflow Of schuyIkiII.

PHILADELPHIA, February 26.-The
ice on the S%ehuylkill 1t Manayunk
broke up yesterday afternoon. The
water during the night rose rapidly
to twenty feet above its usual height,
and only four feet below the highest
mark ever reached, s~ubmergiug all
the houses in the lower part Of the
town aud forcing the occupants to
abandon them and their contents.
The gas works were %overaOwed, and
the streets were in darkness. All
the mills, except one, have suspend
ed, throwing at least 1000 persons
out Of employment.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

A CONVICT made his escape on
Tuesday night from a a on the Al
legheny Valley railroad, in which
himself and a number of fellow-con-
yicts were being conveyed to the
Western P~enitentiary at Pittsburgh,
by Jumping, all b%and-cuffed as be
was, from the window of the car.
The train, which was running at the
rate Of twenty-five miles an hour,
was stopped as soon as the prisoners
escape was discovered, and search
was made quickly, but no trace Of
him was found save marks where be
struck the soft earth, and the hand
cuffs, which be had evidently remov-
ed from his wrists as soon as he
struck terra firma.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
HOUSE,

A large number of petitions aud re-
m%onstrances were presented for and
against local option and the Pipe
Line bill.
The Committee on Elections re-
ported a resolution declaring Mr..
ROsenmiller, of Lancaster, eligible
to a seat.
MI. Long offered a resolution in
.structing the Committee on Vice and
immortality TO ascertain and report to
the House the amount charged in
the different counties for license to
sell liquor. Referred.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
Terrible Disas

NEW YORK, February 25.-Sbort-
y after / O'Clock this evening. the
congregation of st. Andrews Church
in Duane street, corner Of Civ UoII
Place, were assembled n. e~veni,.
yespers. The church was wen fUaT
the congregation for the most nart
consisting Of women and cbiljro,
Adjoining the church ara ,b. -
walls of ShaN's crockery store. vb;cI
was burned a few days age. Tba
high wind which prevailed. with the
heavy rain storm, battered against
these unsupported walls, and about
5 O'Clock the west wall gave and
went crashing through the roof over
which it topped, falling on the east
gallery, which at the time was
crowded with people, killing some
and manning others. Fortunately
the gallery withstood the severe
shock, Otherwise the loss oflife would
have been much greater.
A panic seized the congregation
and a rush was made for the doors.
A squad Of police and the 6remen
from the Chambers street Station
were quickly on the spot and render
ed valuable assistance in removing
the dead and dying from underneath
the fabric. The am~bulances from
the Park Hospital aud ~stretehers
from the nearest police stations were
hurried to the scene, and the injured
were taken to the Park Hospital.
while the dead were either removed
TO their homes OF to the morgue.
Wien the news Of the accident
vas spread throughout the city
crowds fOcked to the scene Of disas-
ter, and many anxious inquiries were
made as to the extent Of the disaster,
and even up to midnight the steps Of
the Park Hospital was surrounded
by a body Of people eager to hear
any fresh details of the occurrence.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
Murder at Pep,bcrton.

PENBERToN, n. j., Feb. 25.-On
Saturday afternoon about 2 O'Clock a
man named James J. Reeves, q hotel
keeper here, struck bis son-in-law,
James Malsbury, on the head with q
poker, from the effects ofwhich Mails
onry DE early on Sunday morning.
The ARRAY is supposed to have been
the result Of a drunken spree. An
inquest was held, but no arrest has
been made as vet.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

THERE appears to be very little
doubt entertained at Harrisburg as
10 the repeal Of the local option law.
The bill repeating the act has passed
two readings in the House by a vote
of I2s to Sc, and the friends Of the
bill think that, with this twothirds
vote in the House for repeal, the Sen
ate will lot set itself up in opposi-
ton 10 it. We trust that the Senate
viii take care that a stringent license
law, well guarded, containing all The
restrictions Of the former laws, and
provided with machinery for its easy
and strict enforcement, is enacted De-
fore the repeal is assented to.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

L. S. SENATOR BR0wSLow, OF
Tennessee, who retires on the 4th
inst, to be succeeded by ex-President
johnson, has purchased a half inter
est in the Knoxville Hhig and ChroR-
icle. In bis salutatory TO the pub
lie, be thus predicts a Republican
triumph at the next Presidential cleo
ton:
Nor do / read the signs OF the times
as those who believe that the country is 10
be afflicted with the success Of the Demo
cratic patty in the Presidential election OF
1876. On the contrary, the indications
point 10 the defeat OF that party IN the
great national contest. And ] here pre-
dict that the great party which has con-
trolled the National Government ior hiteen
years will not only have a new lease OF
power in 1876 but the day IS not lar us
tant when it viii redeem and regeheiA0
Tennessee.
No one is better acquainted WIN
Southern politics, or understands the
the southern rebels better than does
Brownlow, and his views are entitled
IN weight and credit.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03

Mr.. Smith, Of Berks, moved to con-
slider his jeint resolution in relation
to the Treasury Investigation, but,
after an hours talk. withdrew lis
motion. There is thus a committee
without anything committed to it.
The House adjourned till Monday
~ar.nin1
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-03
ART.

The city is not quite given up to
gossip and scandal, though the scan
dial makes the most noise. At the
sale of pictures at the w~ater-color ex-
hibition, the prices paid were from
5000 to over 3 thousand, which
shows there is money in some hands.
Schaus. the picture-dealer, shows 90
exquisite Marguerite-tbe only one
that ever approached the ideal purity
and grace of Faust's village maiden
which is valued at $1,000, while a
carnival scene of Roman girls ia o