The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-05-26

eyer, on certain conditions. Mr.. Brewers
settlement dated back long before the frs
Catholic Bishop IN the United States was ap
pointed, and still longer before the advent Of
Prince Gallitzin to Cambria county 1t was
the earliest Catholic mission west of the
| Conewago, in Pennsylvania. After the death
of Brewers, Franciscus Fromm, an irregular
priest, without the sanction of any church
authority, undertook 20 perform the duties
| of a priest and to hold possession of the
property. Judge Young brought suit for the
executors of Brewers and ousted the intru-
der. The case is full of ecclesiastical learn
| ing. 1 refer my legal friends to Addison s
| Report, page 362.
Long afterwards, learning that the will of
| Rev. TheodOrus Brewers tended to a perpet-
uity, and that the land might escheat to the
| commonwealth a curing act was passed on
| the 9TH OF March, 1921, and under that act
| another ejectment was ried in 1829-McGirr
vs.. Aaron, 1st Penna. Rep, 49-In which the
| late Father McGirr, of this county, was plain
| tiff The Court still decided in favor of the
congregation, Chief Justice Gibson holding
that the bequests in the will of Brewers was
| ''in ease Of the congregation"
Judge YOung's term lasted thirty years
and about the age of eighty he voluntarily
retired. His integrity was never impeached,
but his want OF fitness and his negligence
were severely criticized on several occasions.
At one time, about 1880, think, there was
strong effort to have him removed by lepis-
lative enactment, and cloud of witnesses
was called to Harrisburg at heavy expense;
but the Judge escaped, and held his seat for
several years afterward.
Many ludicrous Incidents connected with
his administration of jurtice have been told
I shall repeat only one of them. It was an
afternoon session of the Court at Indiana,
and the court room was crowded. His Honor
had sunk Into gentle slumber. A member
of the bar, noted for his stentorian lungs,
was arguing case in his loudest tones. All
at once a donkey behind the court house
commenced braying in his loudest tones.
The Judge started in his sleep, rubbed his
eyes and roared out: "Order order Only
one at time, gentlemen ~
This seems ludicrious enough, but some
thing little like it occurred in higher quar-
ters about the same time. William Allen,
(now known as "Old Bill Allen'') was, some
half century ago, elected to the United States
Senate from Ohio. He was regarded as the
father of ''stump speeches in Ohio. and to
this he owed his success. The Senate was
always grave body, and more so then than
now. His stumping style and stentorian
lungs at once brought on him the title of the
"Chinese GonR"-an article just then intro
duced at hotels he was universally known
as The Chinese Gong.
1t was sultry, post-prandial session.
Go 7 of Nar Il
eater and tolerable drinker, was in the chair
and had yielded to a gentle nap, during the
speech of a prosy Senator All at once,
with the voice of a stentor, Mr.. Allen cried
'tMr. Speaker" Southland meekly open ed
his eyes, "The gentleman from China" A
boisterous laugh followed, which was scarce
ly suppressed by his "Beg pardOn-the gen.
tleman from Ohio" -
Tradition says the first Court was held in
building on property now owned by Rees
John Lloyd, Esq, but afterwards the build
ing known as the ''Old Red Jail' was adopt
ed. 1t was here that James Farrell was
confined. 1t was an old log building, wealth
er- boarded the Court sat above stairs and
the prison was underneath. Ifnd this entry
in the Court record: '7th Sept, 1913, James
Farrell committed to goal for drunkenness
and rudeness in the face of the Court, to be
kept till to- morrow morning at O'Clock -
This was in the morning. Jimmy was in a
devotional frame of mind when he entered
the prison below, and compelling the only
other inmate to join him, commenced singing
camp-meeting hymns at the top of his voice.
1t was impossible to proceed with business,
and Judge Young adjourned the "Court till
tomorrow morning at O'clock
The first Court in Cambria county was
held on the 7th of March, 1903. There we're
only three townships in the county-Ane-
gheny, Cambria and CoDemaugh. The pop
ulation by the census of 1900; was 4O3. The
Associate Justices were Abraham Hide
brand and George Roberts, Esqs.-the form
er representing the German element in the
south, the latter the Welsh population of
Cambria.
For many years the Courts were usually
held by the Associates, Judge Young not at
tending. In some instances the clerk made
the minute to read, " Hon. A Hildebrand
and his Associate, George Roberts"
Very few important civil cases were tried
during the first decade of the history OF the
Court A majority of these were disposed of
bv arbitration under the old reference laws.
The more important cases were taken to the
then existing Circuit Court by virtue of the
provisions of the act of Assembly creating
that Court. Slander cases were not uncom
mon, and, whether tried by referees or a
jury, the usual verdict was five doIlars-uot
because character was cheaper then, but
because money was great deal dearer On
the criminal side of the Court, under the old
license laws, tippling house convictions were
frequent and the standing sentence was a
fine of one dollar and costs, which, it may be
supposed. did not, to any great extent inter
fere with business,
In short, to use mercantile phrase. every
thing was put at the 'lowest cash prices. -
At the first Court the Sheriff's fee for keep
ing prisoners was fixed a. twelve and half
cents per day, or four cents per meal at
the first Court Samuel /. Leiper ESQ. pro-
duced letter of appointment as Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney for Cambria county
Thomas Mexican was Governor, and in his
last year Joseph B. Mexican was Attorney
General and Leiper his Deputy. The seat
of the State Government was then at PhIIa-
delphia, and their duty was to give the new
county shape and form.
The county had no resident LAWYERS. At
the first sitting Of the Court, March 9TH, 1905.
on motion of Mr.. Leiper, Robert Allison and
William Orbison, of Huntingdon, were ad-
mitted; and on motion of MIR. Allison.
Thomas Burnside, of Belefonte, and Messrs.
Carson and Riddle of Bedford. were soon