davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05
TEVVKESBURY ALMSRUUSE
a horrible Story-Tanning tho Skins OF
Dead PaupGrs.

horrible StOry-TanniDS tho Skins OF
Dead PaupGrs.
The Tewkcsbury almshouse investing "a
ton was resumed in Boston yesterday.
The chairman asked to have the issue as
to whether bodies had been delivered to
medical schools eliminated, as that would
not be disputed. Governor Butler replied
that he expected to prove that bodies had
been delivered elsewhere, some to be
skinned and the skins to be tanned. He
proposed to show that after the bodies had
been buried they had been taken up aud
sent away, and said that he would 90 into
the graveyard at Tewkesbury and produce
some of the alleged ''remains. This inves-
tigation was to 60 on to prove tho testimony
which had been given to be absolutely
false. The books which had been sent to
him rs records of the almshouse were not
complete. They were copies of the orig
inal books. He wanted tho latter, en-
bracing those recording the deaths and
tho sale of dead bodies. The chairman
said it was claimed that no dead bodies
were sold, hence there were no records to
be produced, but the governor said he
would provo tho contrary. Mrs. Thomas
resumed her testimony correcting her
statement that pound of butter week
was given to tho inmates. 1t should have
been pound meal. Honora Conners,
an inmate, was kept as a ''show" woman
for the benefit of visitors, who were taken
to see her, and flowers wero always kept
at her window.
Thomas Hall, who had worked ut
Tewkesbury from 1874 to 1877, testified
that he had all the dead to bury while he
was there. He took bodies from tho dead
house under tho orders of Thomas j.
Marsh, jr., and the captain. Mr.. Manning
used to come and got tho dead bodies,
carrying them away in two zinc air. tight
trunks. During the winter he was there
the bodies taken to Boston averaged sixty
five to seventy five. They were not sent
in hot water. Nopickling was done while
he was there. The bodies received from
tho state prison for burial at the aims.
house were, with one exception, sent away
for dissection. When witness left he was
paid one hundred dollars for the winters
work and for handling the bodies. He
thought Tom Marsh used to collect money
from Harvard college. The witness ac-
knowledged that he knew he had been
doing something wrong.
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05
FEATURES OF THE STATE PRESS.

FEATURES OF THE STATE PRESS.
The West Chester Record joins the cru
saders against free pipe lines.
The Scranton Republican approves high
licenses.
The Lewisburg Journal believes in pat
ronizing homo industry.
The Harrisburg independent protests
against sturdy tramps crowding the aims.
houses.
The Germantown Telegraph assures it's
readers that poultry raising will pay if
sensibly and methodically pursued.
Until some other method is adopted the
Reading Ne,cs declares that the will of the
caucus must be party law.
The Altoona Times proclaims that tho
usurpatioDs of the unscrupulous, soulless
monopolizing railroads are becoming too
oppressive.
The Wilkesbarre Union Leader has no
faith in the efficacy of free pass legislation,
but approves 1t because the constitution
SO directs.
The Norristown Times discovers that
we could to day, were our coin reserve not
tied up by laws and regulations, redeem
every paper dollar in circulation.
The Democratic Enterprise is a neat and
enterprising newspaper. started at New
Bloomfield, Perry county, and it disavows
any such purpose as stirring up strife in
the old party.
The Easton Express notices with pain
that the majority of our young men to-day
regard tho opportunities of acquiring
wealth as Of greater Importance in select
ing a career than anything else.
The Pittsburgh Telegraph is grateful
that the love of field sports has not yet
died out in this country however engross-
ed our people seem to be in money. making
pursuits.
The Chronicle Herald, of Philadelphia,
observes that tho less President Arthur
| has had to do with hiS old Stalwart friends
tho stronger he has grown with the
country.
The Philadelphia EUenjng Telegraph
| points out that if the Germans of Ohio
have gone over to the Democrats to stay,
| that settles in advance the result of the
Ohio election in 1884.
The Pittsburgh Post is shocked that
there is as much scramble for cabinet
place as for any of the minor places III the
gift of the president.
The Erie Observer, with much satisiac
tion, concludes that true merit, and even
wealth, acquired legitimately, will always
command respect in this country, but
| shoddy aristOcracy is despised universally.
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05

The Senate has passed free pass bill,
which follows the exact language of the
constitution and assigns penalty to
the issuing of free passes by carrying
companies to all save their officers and
employees. Senator Cooper fought
stubbornly to secure an exception fOl
passes issued for charitable and bonevo-
lent purposes, but failed by Il narrow
majority to obtain it. If Senator Cooper
had not been well recognized as the
champion of those who are opposed to
any restriction of the power to issue
free passes he would have had better
success with his proposal; but it was
strongly suspected that under the privi.
lege of issuing passes for charitable and
benevolent purposes, their issue would
he made very general. We think that
railroads should not be prohibited from
issuing free passes il charity
and it is sad that this is
not forbidden even under the
law as it now has been passed, since
no one will ever complain against cor.
pnratina which issues a free pass for d
strictly charitable purpose. Doubtless
that is SO but it is evident that rail
road official will have the very best ex
cuse for refusing such charity in the
letter Of the law which forbids it. He
should not be thus excused. We do moi
think that if it is the belief of the Leg
islaturc that free passes for charity's
sake are not forbidden by the constitu
tion. there is any objection to providing
in the law an exception for charita.
bic purposes, only. What is charity is
too well understood to make such an
exception liable to abuse.
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05

Inc 1ONOWlnS JOINT STANDING cOminlCCoes
were announced by the presidents OF
select and common councils:
Standing Committees.
Finances Select Council-SIessrs ii.
Wolf r.. A. Evans. Common Council
Messrs. JOHN McLaughlon, John Nc.
killips.
Water: Select Council-Messrs. Geo.
W. Brown, Philip Zecher, H. A. Diller.
Common Council-Messrs. VIM. X. Beard,
Il. M. Bolenius, benjamin Huber.
Streets: Select Council-Messrs. Henry
Wolf, J. V. Wise, P. Zecher, r. A. Evans,
A. W. Baldwin. Common Council
Messrs. II. H. Power, VIM. Riddle. Frank
s. Everts, Fred A. Albright.
Markets Select COuncil-Messrs. ID
G.. Baker, J. V. Wise. Common Council
-Messrs. VIM. T. Eberman, Il. F. Skeen.
Lamps Select COuncil-Messrs. Philip
Zecher, II. A. Diller. Common Council
-Messrs. John E. Schum, George Storm
feltz.
Police Select Council-Messrs Geo.
w. Brown, A. w. Baldwin. J. V. Wise.
Common Council-Messrs. VIM. Ii.
Powell, j. g. Spaeth, B. Frank Adams.
Property Select Council-Messrs. d.
G.. Baker, Henry Wolf. Common COun-
cil-Messrs. J. F. Remley, jr., J. J. Hart
ley.
Fire Engines and Hose Select Council
Messrs. r. A. Evans, Geo. w. Brown and
j. V. Wise. Common COuncil-,Messrs.
H. G. Demuth, Geo. w. Cormeny, Philip
Dinkleberg
Printing Select Council-Messes. A.
w. Baldwin, Geo. w. Brown. Common
Council-Messrs. Frank II. Barr, Miller
w. Fraim.
Buchanan Me Eroy Reynolds Relief: Se-
lect Council-Messrs. Henry Wolf, Philip
Zecher. Common COuncil-Messrs. Ben
jamin Henry, J. s. Kendig.
Petitions
The following petitions were presented
and referred to the street committee
To macadamize Mary street from Chest
nut to Orange.
70 open, grade and gutter Pine street,
from West King to Orange.
A preamble and resolution were intro
duced directing the street commissioner to
have the streets scraped and all filth and
rubbish removed from them, and passed.
Adjourned.
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05
Free Pine Lines.

The Senate is considering the free
pipe bill, which proposes TO put oil pipe
lines to the seaboard upon the same
basis in obtaining their right of way
from the oil wells to the seaboard
that is occupied by the railroads,
which enjoy the states right of
eminent domain and may occupy land
without the consent of the owner under
the provisions made for his compen-
sation. The considerations involved
in this proposal to give like
rights to oil pipe lines are certainly
of a very delicate character. 1t is un-
dOubtly true that private rights are very
greatly injured under the powers given
to railroads, and that they should not be
extended to oil pipe lines if the latter can
he protected in any other way in their
effort to get from the wells to the sea-
board. 1t is for the public benefit that
they should he aided in this endeavor.
At present they can obtain the right
of way by purchasing it from the
owners of the land they traverse. Pipe
lines have already been laid by pursuing
this course. 1t is obvious, however, that
any project Of the kind runs the risk of
not being able to buy right of way for
a reasonable sum over some part of its
line, through the efforts of rival interests
to impede it by buying up land or land
owners lying in its path. The control
of the territory on the smallest part
of its projected line would defeat
it. Such a power should not
be left in the hands of rival
interest. But the question is how to
prevent it without arbitrarily taking
possession of land without the owner s
consent as railroads are permitted to do
1t is to be said for the pipe line that it
is not, as the railroad is, any incum'
brance upon the highways, or even any
great disadvantage to the landowner
after it is once laid but neither is it OF
such public utility.
Cannot the Legislature devise a law
which will enable oil pipe lines and
telegraph lines to be established, which
VIVA PAosCSO lliNttlO 1lSDlS dIltl
secure to landowners compensation for
the damage done them and which will not
leave it in the powh of the pipe line and
telegraph companies to oppressively Use
their powers? What outrases on pri
vate rights of ownership are not the
telegraph companies constantly com.
mitting They seem to do it by the sheer
right Of might and power of "cheek.'
They set up their poles in front of a man s
house without the shadow OF right or
offering particle of compensation.
They do not have the railroads right
of eminent domain, but they do more
fragrant wrong without it than the rail-
roads with it. The latter, at least, pay
something. The telegraph companies,
rich though they profess to be, beg or
cajole or force their way with their
ugly poles and claim to be privileged as
public benefactors, when they have but
the common aim of self-enricbment,
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05
steamer for Europe for . brief visit.
Samuel P. Colt, Republican, for attornry
general, ran 453 ahead of Governor Bourne
aud William Sayles on the Sprague ticket
for that Office, ran 279 behind SpraSue.

WHEN honest old Abram Peters was
most Unexpectedly elected to the state
Legislature and sought Mr.. Buchanan's S
counsel he was advised by that expert
enced legislator in all cases of doubt to
vote ''no." He acted upon it and had
every reason to be satisfied with it. So
Gov. Pattison, in his scrutiny of bills pre-
sented to him, promptly puts his foot down
on everything of doubtful constitutional
ty or that is apparently unnecessary. He
has vetoed the Pittsburgh street improve
ment bill because it was special legislation,
and would permit a majority in interest
of the property holders to have street
paved instead of the majority in number.
Another bill vetoed increased the pay of
township assessors aud assistant assessors
from 81 to So per day, changing the law of
1884 the governor remarked that the
work would not be dono any more thor
oughly. There WAS no public demand for
the change and the aggregate increase Of
cost would not be irconsiderable. The
third provided for the equalization of
valuations for school tax purposes in indie.
pendent districts for med Of parts of two
or more counties. Tie reasons for veto
ing it were that it was local and special !;
that it would create special corps Of
officers and new system Of collection and
auditing of accounts and ncedlessly inter-
fere with the existing arrangements.
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05


In the concluding portions of Rev. j.
Spangler Kieffer's article on proEibitory
legislation, which we print to day, he
treats very clearly of the two sides from
which the subject Of temperance is to be
viewed and of the inherent rational dis
tinction between drinking and drunken
ness, a failure to mark which must lead
agitators to untenab!e grounds and to
reforms which will not iii the end re-
form. In the final passages the writer is
eminently practical in pointing out that
prohibitory legislation is not likely to be
effective where there is not the will tC
enforce those laws, many of them most
excellent, which already exist, for The
reasons before given that L" there is in
any prohibitory law just so much prohlh.
iting energy as the moral sentiment OF the
community puts into it, and no more. y
Writing from a standpoint outside OF
Pennsylvania, Mr.. Kieffer may have
had no special reference to the law
AS il exists on the statute books of this
state, and as it is enforced by the civil
authority, the temperance reformers and
the prohibiting energy Of the moral sen
timent of the community. OF the many
laws passed to protect society in the
matter of liquor selling, few are rigidly
enforced and all are more or less a
dead letter in most of the COM
munities of this state. There is scarcely
a county of tie state in which the con.
troll of the matter Of licensing liquor
sellers, and of determining whether
these privileges shall be extended, mod.
flied or entirely withdrawn, is not alto
gether within the control Of the people
in their selection Of judges. In some
counties, Washington we believe is one
of them, there are no licensed places to
sell liquor simply because the people up
hold the courts in denying all. In this
county, where it is obvious that there
are many more tavern and restaurant
licenses issued than are necessary
for the public accommodation, the cur
failing of the number is entirely within
the control of the judges, and yet they
no doubt have reason to believe that
they are as likely to enhance their pop
ularity by increasing the number, as toy
diminishing it. Besides, every application
that is madetO them is accompanied
with the statement of twelve and the
affidavit Of five citizens that the place
prayed for IS necessary" to the accom-
mediation Of the public. And remOn-
strances, even against places VIGOROUSLY
unnecessary, are few and far between.
So flagrantly numerous have the un-
necessary places become that one branch
of the liquor sellers advertise their pro
test against the other: and give as ar
gumentS vague allegations Of violations
of the law and of their licenses by the
saloon Keepers. who. III turn, retOTt that
the hotel prOpript orS are no better. AND
yet neither party seem anxious to invoke
the law by boldly going into court ii
their own proper persons and making
the issue as the law directs nor dee:
the Temperance element. 1t is no wonder
that the most of those who may want
reform of the liquor traffic despair O
accomplishing it through stricter l"gis
latiun when existing laws fall 50 faI
short Of enforcement.
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05
COMMON COUNCIL.
Plenty OF Petitions Presented.

Plenty OF Petitions Presented.
Common council met with President
Hurst in the chair and the following
members present
Messrs. Adams, Albright, Beard, Bo-
lenius. Cormeny, Demuth, Evarts, Fraim,
Fritsch, Hartley, Henry, Huber, Kendig,
McKillips, Powell, Power, Remley, Rid
die, Schum, Skeen, Stormfeltz aud Hurst,
president.
The minutes of the meeting for Organi-
zation held on Monday were read and ap-
proved.
MIR. Hartley and Mr.. Fraim were both
sworn in as members of common council,
they having not been at the meeting for
organization.
A petition was presented by Mr.. Cor
meny from residents for the guttering of
the Dorth side of Hager street. Referred
to the street committee.
Mr.. Riddle presented petition stating
the great Inconvenience incurred from the
want of a crossing on Duke between Wal
nut and Chestnut streets. Referred to
street committee.
MIR. Remley presented a petition FROM
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05

association had consultation yesterday
with several Canadian distillers at Ottawa
relative to the proposed modification in
the custom laws affecting the importation
OF American whiskies in bond.
The US. consul at Zurich, Switzerland.
reports that a national exhibition of all
the products, industries, manufactures
and arts will open in that city on the 1st
of May and continue until the 30th Of Sep
tembcr. The indications point to a sue
cessful exhibition.
The earnings of the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul railroad last month were So
44, ,OOO, against 81, 56l 900 in March, 1882 {.
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05
DISASTROUS FIRES.
A THEATRE BURNED IN BERLIN.
Stirring News Of tho Day-Accidents and
Incidents OF Daily Life-A


Stirring News of tho Day-Accidents and
Incidents OF Daily Liie-A
Rural Tragedy.
The National theatre of Berlin caught
fire about ) o'clock yesterday afternoon
and was entirely destroyed. When the
engines arrived on the scene the lire bad
spread to the auditorium. The iron cur
tain separating the stage from the audito-
rum was not proof against tue heat,
and the flames quickly ignited the
proscenium boxes, the royal box be-
ing the first to catch fire. A report
of the disaster was promptly sent
to the royal palace, and the emperor do
spatched an aide de- camp to ascertain the
particulars Of the contlagration. All the
theatre properties and scenery were
burned. Nothing was saved. There was,
however, no loss of life and 10 injury to
any of the attaches of the place. No en-
tertainment was being given in the theatre
and the origin of tho fire is not known
The damage to surrounding buildings was
comparatively small. Investigation leads
to the conclusion that the fire originated
under the stage. The proprietor of the
theatre, who was notified that his property
was burning, only arrived Oh the scene
when the structure was rearly consumed
About one hundred persons are thrown
out OF employment.
The New Pier at Nice Burned.
The new pier at Nice was entirely de-
stroyed by fire Wednesday. Only the irOr
framework of the bridge which connected
the pier with the land remains. The loss
is estimated at s., 100000. The pier had
just been completed. The fire was caused
by workman spilling tar on the pier
which became ignited and it was found
impossible to stay the flames.
Perished In a Burning Barn.
A barn belonging to Nathan Austin, in
Charleston township, about two miles east
of Wcllsboro, Tioga county, was burned.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but the
remains of human being were found
among the ruins of tho burned barn.
Justice Brewster called d jury and held an
inquest. The testimony showed that the
remains were those of Mrs. Martha Sylvia,
a simple minded grass widow who lived by
herself about mile from the burned
barn. The jury found that the remains
were those of Mrs. Sylvia, and that she
was murdered and burned by some person
unknown. Considerable evidence pointed
to George Travis as the guilty person, and
he was arrested and lodged in Jail to await
his examination. He was seen in company
with the deceased woman by several
persons, the last time quite late in the
evening, and there are several circum.
stances apparently connecting him with
the crime.
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05
The Presidents Choice.

President Arthur has done himself
credit by making an excellent appoint
ment to the postmaster generalship. We
rather expected him to do it, since he
has done such things before. He has
been showing evident signs for some
time past of a disposition to relieve him
self from the control Of politicians in
making important appointments and to
be actuated by a conviction that the
best thing for Arthur's credit was TO
give the country generally reason to ap-
plaud his selections for office and that
the best thing for Arthur's credit was
the thing for him to do though it might
not be pleasing, and probably would not
be, to the politicians of his party. 1t is
an undeniable fact that the ordinary
politicians view of the proper man for
office is not that of the people generally;
the politician holding office to be the
reward of political service, while the cit
izen regards it as the guerdOn of good
character and capacity. Undoubtedly
it is better for the presidents party, as
we'll as himself, that he should ill the
offices at his disposal with men whose
integrity and competency are well recOg-
nized but the president who permits
himself to be guided by the politicians
about him does not act upon this be-
lief for they do not see it, since it is
not their interest SO to do. II they did
they would need to see that they them
selves did not afford good material for
ofiiceho!ders. Professional politicians
generally manage to get themselves into
personal discredit by the unscrupulous
zeal they are wont to manifest in their
political manipulations. Judge Ores
ham, being at present a United States
district judge, it is remarkable that he
is willing to exchange that life-ot1ice for
the brief tenure of Il cabinet place. lie
evidently wants wide field, a more
conspicuous place and more active du-
ties. lie wants to enter into political
life. We hope he will find the exchange
agreeable, though most people would
consider that he has made poor trade.
Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05
Paid in Full.

It will be remembered that B. F. Hen
derson, in the year 1880, was tax collector
of East Donegal township. When the
time came for him to pay his money into
the county treasury he failed to pay all.
A suit for embezzlement and also an
action against his sureties were brought,
and yesterday the whole matter was ar.
ranged by. Henderson paying over to the
county treasurer the sum of $1,817.37,
with interest, from Juno. 1882,