Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-01
A MINISTER'S REMARK
Stirred Up Druggists and Doctors in
I the Village of Tarentum.
ROSEWELL'S DEATH THE CAUSE.
The Preacher Charged That the Suicide
Was Furnished Whisky,
AND AS A RESULT EVERYBODY is MAD

The borough of Tarentum, on the West
Penn road, is isenioying big sensation. The
citizens are very much excited over re-
mark made by one of the prominent clergy
men of the town from his pulpit last Sunday
evening. Rev. S. I Mitchell, pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, of that place.
announced the death of George Roosevelt, the
glassworker, who shot himselfin the head in
Sharpsburg on last Sunday and died in the
Allegheny General Hospital from the ef-
fects of the wound. Roosevelt was a resident
Of Tarentnm, and prominent member of
MIR. Mitchell's congregation, and the words
used by the latter in referring 10 Roosevelt
have called down upon him the indignation
of not only the physicians and druggists of
the town, but also of many of the citizens.
Mr.. Mitchell is credited with having said:
81 am told by Mr.. Rosewells wife that a
certain physician gave him prescription
for whisky, and that the same prescription
was filled by druggist when Roosevelt was
50 drunk that he fell from the steps in front
Of the drugstore. There is law that will
put such men in the penitentiary. had
almost purposed to mention their names,
but believe it will not be best to do so"
IT STIRRED THEM UP.
This remark caused considerable excite
ment Ia the congregation, and while ordi-
narily, such statement made under similar
circumstances might not have been given
much consideration in Tarentum, where
everybody is said 10 know the bust
ness of all his neighbors, the mat
Ter spread like wild fire. In less than
tventv-four hours everybody in the place
knew what Mr.. Mitchell had said. The
doctors and physicians grew very indignant,
for two reasons-frst, because the pastors
remarks conveyed the impression that he
believed them to be responsible for Rose
Wells death; and second, because he ven
fured to use such language in his pulpit.
Mr. Mitchell is in hot water. A demand
has been made upon him by the people most
closely interested in the affair, to retract his
remarks at his services tonight, or name
the persons he referred to, that the blame
will be placed where it belongs, so that the
public will know who is charged with fur
nishing Roosevelt the whisky. Mr.. Mitchell
is likely to have pretty large congregation
this evening. All the doctors and druggists
Of the town are sure, to be present,
as they are anxious to know how Mr..
Mitchell will treat their demand.
The remarks of Mr.. Mitchell have been
twisted into almost every conceivable shape.
No two citizens quote him alike. Some say
he made a bare statement that he knew who
wrote the prescription and who filled it. A
DISPATCH reporter visited Tarentum YES
terday, and called on Rev. Mr.. Mitchell Tor
his side of the story, and it is given in his
own words:
George Roosevelt was member Of my
congregation for two years." he said. 81
1f
workers in the church, and 1 was sorry to
learn two months ago that he had taken to
drinking. Last Sunday morning received
q telegram from George Wright, of Sharps-
burg, stating that Roosevelt had purchased
3 revolver. and he had said he was coming
home to kill his wife and then himself.
ROOSEVELT WAS WATCHED.
81 notified the Burgess about the matter,
and told him to be on the lOokou for Rose
well and to place him under arrest until be
would sober up. His wife had told me that
he had left town under the influence of
liquor. During the evening previous tele-
gram was handed to me announcing the
death of Roosevelt. 1 read the message to
the congregation, and then simply stated
what Mrs. Roosevelt had told me in the
morning.
CT know the doctors and druggists are
considerably exercised over this, but it is
not their first offense in this kind of busi-
ness If they were innocent they would not
raise so much fuss about it. 1 happen to
know more about the way they do business
than they think do. The whole thing GEN.
ters around the prescription-who wrote 1t
and who filed it? We have no licensed
saloons in Tarentum, and yet within the last
six months we have had four suicides. three
of which were caused in a greater or less de-
gree by liquor That is a record never made
before in the same length of time"
will you state who were referred to bv
your remarks last Sunday?" was asked.
81 do not care TO do so as L received nv
information from Mrs. Rosewell,"
"What course will YOU pursue at the
services tomorrow? Will you make an
explanation as demanded by the druggists?'
Il have not made up my mind. L have
said more now than they cared for the pub
lic to know"
8Ir. Mitchell said that the remark with
which he is credited at the beginning of this
article is a correct statement of what he
said.
THE GRIEF-STRICKEE WIDOW,
A visit was next made to the residence of
Mrs. Roosevelt, the widow of the deceased.
She is almost prostrated with excitement.
and was somewhat adverse to talking at
first, but finally consented. In substance
she said: my husband had not been feel
ing well for some time, and ne commenced
drinking about two months ago. He fire.
quently brought whisky home from
3 certain drugstore in this town. On
Thursday oflast week he came home con-
siderablv under the influence of LIQUOR. I
don't think it was possible for him to oct
sobered up by Friday morning, and vet the
onlv persons who saw him in Tarentum
Friday morning say he was sober. know
he was not sober, and know he was drunk
when he got the prescription filed"
Have you decided to institute legal pro-
ceedings in the matter?"
ST don't know what I'll do vet am
oomuch worried over the prominence the
matter has been given. don't think I'U
do anything just nova
The reporter had lively time GETTING
arOund among the physicians trying to 10,
cate the one who had written the preserin-
tion. There are IA doctors in the town
and all bear an excellent renu
fstion. There are nearly a dozen
druggists, who share equal popularity with
the physicians. A very bitter feeling was
found to be existing among the doctors, and |
the druggists said the remarks made by the
minister were entirely out of order, and
placed them in bad light
When DR.. j. L. Anderson was called |
upon he said: ''Yes, sir, know who wrote |
that prescription. In fact you may say that |
Iwrote it myself have known Roosevelt |
long time. have seen him frequently |
pass my house on his way to church. Iun- |
derstood be was a member of the Good
Templars, and knew he was a member of |
the same lodge Of United Workmen that I |
am. When he asked me for the prescrip- |
don be