davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07

missioners' and Treasurer's Offices were on
the right Of the vestibule in tbe front en-.
trance and the Sherif's Office oonosite to
the left. A door in the back part of the
vestibule, facing the entrance. gave access
to the court room on the first floor and stair
cases on the right and left in this yestibule
led up and gave access to the second story.
There were two large windows on the front
of the main building on the first story, the
main entrance being between them. and on
the front of the second story were five win
dows, properly and symmetrically arranged.
The other portions of this building had win
dows in the sides and rear, where requisite,
Non the first and second stories.
The court room, on the first floor. was
large. 1t was foored with brick tile, and
had lobby at the sides for spectators,
suitors, jurors summoned and attending wit
nesses. In this lobby were plain benches
next the walls for seats, which, in the last
years of the court house, were removed. One
large circular window was behind the Judi
cial bench in the back part of this court
room, and, in the rear sides of the same, two
windows on each side gave additional light.
A small gallery was at the sides, which was
reached by staircases in convenient places.
A neat, medium high, painted board fence
closed in the bar from this lobby. The
clerk 9 desk was cenLral IN lLS POSITION In
front of the judicial bench. A semi-circular
counsel table, with stationary seats, was
conveniently placed for barrlsters in attend
ance or trying a case. The prisoners box
was in the inside, to the right OF the lawyers
area. The jury box was to the left of the
judicial bench. The height of the first story
was about 25 feet.
ON THE SECOND STORY
were the court room for the Recorders
court, large grand jury room snd trial Jury
retiring rooms. At various times this grand
jury room was used as, court room for
county purposes, when not occupied for its
own uses; also by the United States Courts
and the Supreme Court of the State when
needed. At such times this grand jury
room was temporarily fitted up as court
room.
On this story, also, an insolvent debtors
court was held in one of the rooms oc-
casionally. There was a concealed staircase
for getting on the rool, as well as place
and arrangement for ringing the Court
House bell. The various rooms had plain
board floors. The height of this story was
about 1S feet.
The Court House was lighted srtifcially
BY common tallow candles, and on extra
ordinary occasions bv mold candles. In
cold weather it was warmed by large stoves
heated with bituminous coal. On Sundays,
church services were held in the first story
court room. Sometimes lectures were de-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
TEMPLES OF JUSTICE
And Places to Confine the Law
Breakers of Allegheny County
BUILT DURING THE PAST CENTURY.
The First and Second Court Houses and
the Primitive Jails.
NEW FACTS REGARDING OLD THINGS
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH
Gone. glimmering through the dream
Of things that were.

WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH
Gone, glimmering through the dream
OF things that were.
| -Byron-Child Hdrolds Pilgrimage.
Three court houses and five jails have
been erected in the city of Pittsburg since
this county's organization on the oath of
September, 1888. All the judges, except
the last president law judge, Hon. Benja-
min Patton, Jr., who presided in the first
Court House, are dead. Few, very few MEM
bers of the old bar who practiced in this first
Court House survive.
In order to know the history of our sub
ject fully. the following particulars are first
mentioned: In the laws of Pennsylvania,
vol. 2, 17sl-1790. page 44S, is the
act of Assembly of September "a, 1888,
relating to the organization of this county OF
Allegheny, and in the same volume, is an act
for aunexing part of the county of WASH
;ngtoR to Allegheny. Also, in this same
volume, in o foot note, reference is made to
the sections omitted in this act, among them
section 8, to the effect that "Trustees of the
public buildings are to choose lots in the
reserved tract opposite Pittsburg to erect a
Court House and prison on" The preamble
of the supplemental act Of April 13, 1871,
gives Ieasons why .nI 1;t..Sr. oud am5 aho a..
snouIu oe tttoeo IT. Gu enea1s tha .ct of Senien' @
see'sou q, ,7oS y, sn sbo; en.bor;,u ;s r;ran tho
per ~, i.So, Hne. eS =. ~ - then, W .o
trustees r .nereiu na d VI nr;an ~ ane sne, nsst "
of the reserved tract opposite Pittsburg.
PITTsBURG's BOROUGH CHARTER.
Pittsburg was created by the Legislature
q borough. out of a part of Pitt township,
Anril % 1904 and made a city March IS
1Sf6 Itthen had two wards. On Decem
her ia 1899 it was divided into four wards.
North East South and West, and the
names of these wards were changed to num-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
LATE NEWS In BRIEF.

Three men died from sun-strokes at Cleve-
land.
Steamer Wilson g. Hunt, an ls49 Hudson
river packet, burned at Victoria. B. G.
The lumber carriers in the Hull, Eng.
docks have struck for an advance in their
wages.
Ten persons in peril rescued from broken
pontoon bridge across the Missouri river at
Lexington, Mo.
Chicago Irish saloon keepers refuse to
patronize English syndicate breweries. Ditto
Eastern buyers of malt.
DR. j. w. Morrell, of Linn Creek, Mo-, left
wife and child to elope with May Mouldsr, a
patient. Sheriff in pursuit
The three female suspects arrested in Paris
Tor completely in the plot against the Gar
nave been released. No evidence.
Eugene Cowles, who abducted his daughter
from her mother in Cleveland. Is in Canada
with the child. The mother Is in pursuit.
Judge Smith sustains the decision of the
church officials in the Evangelical troubles at
ottawa. LII. Bishop Esher stands suspended.
Negro soldiers In the French-Soudan blow
themselves up by igniting their powder maga-
zines, rather than surrender to the European
troops
-Hardie's murderers believed to be Mexican
Indians. None have left San Carlos reserva-
ton. orders given to shoot the murderers on
the spot.
Among the bills signed by Governor Hill
yesterday was one exempting editors and re-
porters of newspapers from jury duty in New
York City.
Edward and George Smith, aged 13 and 10
years, were drowned in pond at Middleburg.
Conn. Their mother went to the rescue and
also perished.
-Des Moines river land case at Dodge City.
Ia, closed. Judge Shires will write his deci-
sion and the case appealed to the United States
Supreme Court
The gendarmes of Austrian Silesia were
called out yesterday to suppress q riot of 400
striking weavers at FreudentAal. The intinH-
dated workmen refuse to go back and the mills
are idle.
Miss Cissie Kent, a parachutist, descended
from q balloon at Wakefield, England. on
Wednesday, at distance of II. 300 feet. This
Is said to establish the record for this peculiar
business.
The Paris Steele says that NJ. Christie,
formerly Prime Minister OF Servia, Is about to
bring an action against his wife for divorce.
Milan, the ex-King of Servia, is named as the
correspondent in the case.
Zach Hundley, Chairman State Democratic
Central Committee. and editor of the Huron,
8. D., Herald, was shot and killed by his son,
Fred, Thursday evening, over dispute in put
ting down a carpet The boy is in jail.
The Secretary of the American Pathological
Association, Prof. Herbert Weir Smytu, of
Bryn Mawr College, announces that the twenty
second annual meeting of the association will
be hell at Norwich, Conn.,, beginning Tuesday,
July8.
The United States steamer Rush has sailed
for Behring Sea. One of the officers said he
expected very few seizures would be made this
season, as the Government had assumed
positive attitude, and few sailors would risk
seizure by hunting in the Behring Sea.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
FHTY-TWo YEARS OF MATRIMoNY

Celebrated Mt Leechburg by Henry X. Nc
KalIip and Wife and Their Children.
Henry K. McKallip and wife celebrated
the fifty-second anniversary Of their mar
riage at their home at Leechburg on Thurs
day. ALI their children were present to
extend congratulations. They were L. s.
McKallip, well-known Pittsburg frebrick
dealer; Amanda c., wife of T. A. Arm
strong. Leechburg; Rev. John K. Nc
Kallip, pastor OF the Presbyterian Church,
Beaver, Pa; Joanna T., wife of Robert
,Pinkerton. Sharpsburg, Pa; James A. Nc
Kallip, Leechburg; Mary H., wife of H.
NJ. Caldwell, of SSuin. Pa, and Henry F.
McKallip, of Pittsburg. A number of
grandchildren and friends were also present.
The senior McKalIip is in his eighty
second year and his wife in her seventy
third. Both are hale and hearty and bid
fair to celebrate their diamond wedding.
The seven children are following in their
parents footsteps in the line Of health and
other golden weddings are promised quar-
ter Of century further on in the McKallip
family. The ffty-second anniversary was
in every respect success and all who
Joined in it will long remember the auspi-
cious occasion
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07

livered in this court room, and also public
meetings held in it. The court or grand
jury room in the second story was occa-
sionally used for giving public entertain
ments and exhibitions. The population of
the whole of Allegheny county was then
very, very small. The Court House was
completed in April, 1874.
The President law judges who held court
in this Court House were Hons. Alexander
Addison, Samuel Roberts, William Will
kins, Charles Shaler, Trevanian B. Dallas
and Benjamin Patton, Jr. Gall deceased ex-
cept Benjamin Patton, Jr.
OF the lawyers of this Court House now
deceased may be mentioned Messrs. Biddle,
Burke. Kingston, Forward, the Fettermans
and others. OF the bench and bar nearly
all have gone to "The undiscovered country
from whose bourne no traveller returns"
THE SECOND COUNTY BUILDING.
By the act of Assembly April 9, 1888, the
Commissioners of Allegheny county were
authorized to sell at public or private sale
all the real estate owned by this county and
to apply the proceeds to the purchase of
ground in the city OF Pittsburg and the
erection of suitable buildings thereon for
the use Of said county of Allegheny. By
deed dated November 10, 1841, William
Lea, John Patterson and John Morrison,
commissioners, conveyed TO the city OF
Pittsburg for the sum Of $575 all their in
terest in the first Court House and its prem
ises. The recitals in this deed, inter ALA,
are that on August II, 1841, this Court
House was exposed to sale at public vendue
or outcrv and sold with the appurtenances
to William Eichbaum for the above sum;
that William Eichbaum for this sum on
August 18, 1S41, assigned all his right, etc.,
to this Court House to the city of Pitlsburg,
aud that said county sells this property to
the city OF Pittsburg "for such estate and
under such condition as the said county OF
Allegheny at the time of the sale aforesaid
had and held the same"
In 1S40-41 the one-story wing buildings of
the old Court House were torn down to give
room for market purposes, the various county
offices therein. having been previously re-
moved to new offices in the then second
Court House. The main building of the old
Court House was discontinued for court
purposes in 1842-43, and was used as q mar
ket house for a number of years, until torn
down in 1852, when the present three-story
brick Market House was erected on its site.
THE FIRST JAIL.
According to all accounts this Jail was
very roughly constructed. It is handed
down by tradition that it was an old log
house. However, it sufficed its time-until
increase of population required better one.
The act of Assembly of April 10, 1891, au-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
A GREAT TIME-sAyER.

One of the Good Effects of District ATTORNEY
Johnston's Innovation.
The effect of the new system in operation
in trying cases in the Criminal Court was
fairly demonstrated during the past week,
even though it is still new. Though there
have only been four days of jury trials and
but one court running, Sc cases were dis
posed OF. In further proof of the efficiency
of District Attorney Johnston's innovation.
there was but one verdict for acquittal out
of the whole Sc cases.
This is accredited to the wedding out of
unnecessary witnesses by the District At
torney's clerks before the trial, thus getting
the prosecutions evidence before the jury in
concise and direct form, without the cumu-
lative and irrelevant testimony which often,
in prolonged trials, bewildered the Jurors.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
The Second jail.

enters Liberty street. Market street, begin
ming at Water street on the Monongahela
river, and, in turn, intersecting Front street
Second, Third and Fourth streets, ends
above Fourth street at this side of the Dia.
mond Square, and, on the opposite side, con-
tinues and passes across Fifth street into
Liberty street. In the original plan Die.
mond Square is not entered by Diamond al
ley or Market street.
TITLE TO COURT HOUSE SITE.
The right or the title of the county of Al
iegheny to the premises occupied by its
Court House on tine western side of Market
street, passing through the Diamond Square
(and whether this Market street was per-
mitted to run through this square by con-
sent or not, or whether 1t was illegally run
through this square, is not as yet res adjudi-
cata) was founded upon what was decided
in after years to be this species of
right or title by Chief Justice Glib
son, of the Supreme Court of Penn
sylvania, in the case of the Common
wealth versus Bowman and Duncan. The
foundation of the right of q county
to reasonable accommodation for its Court
House and public offices in the great square
of the county town, is based upon one OF
the usages of our State, which has acquired
the eonsistence of law, and the extent of the
right is limited to the single purposes sane
toned by that usage"
According to the usage alluded to, the
county OF Allegheny, with the assent and
cooperation of the city of Pittsburg, erected
It's first court house without having any fee
simple title to the ground upon which the
building stood. So long as these premises
were occupied by this Court House or an
other in its place, provided the buildings
were always used as court houses, the county
had right and title of occupancy of the
premises
This is the place. Stand still, my steed
Let me eyiew the scene,
And SUNNI on from the shadowy past
The forms that once have been.
-LongfelIolO.
THE OLD TEMPLE OF JUSTICE.
The site of the first Court House was on
the ground now occupied by the city Market
House in the Diamond Square (western
side), and opposite Old City Hall in th is
square. In reasonably short time after
the passage OF the act Of April Is, 1871, the
construction of this Court House was COM
menced. The ground of this site required
no pile driving (like the new United States
Court House in this city, to support the
foundation of the stone cellar walls of the
editce. The superstructure was of brick
over these walls, surmounted with layers of
cut stone where necessary for strength or
ornament. The main building was of mod
crate dimensions, of square shaped form,
two stories high, and had hipped shingle
roof, upon the center of which was erected
one of the olden-time pointed frame sieeples
with ball and weather vane on its summit.
A good toned bell hung in this steeple, as
was customary in those times. This bell
was rung for court purposes, church-going,
fire alarms, public meetings, school attend
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
THE GRAND JURYs WORK.

A Number of True Bill. Found, and Some
Gases Ignored.
The grand jury yesterday returned the
following true bills: James Alexander.
William Carr, P. D. Hofstat, Herman
Hersch, John Paxon, Ralft Routh, William
Stewart, Annie Williams, Coleman Wal
lace, assault and battery; Lucy Jenkinson.
W. B. Rodgers, aggravated assault and bat
terry; Annie Sippey, alias Emma Morris,
larceny; Mary Ann O'Brien, George Wor-
rell, selling liquor without license; Mary
Ann O'Brien, selling liquor on Sunday.
The ignored bills were: Eli Lewis, Charles
Rodgers, b. G. Waltrover, assault and bat
terry; John Rodgers, ielonious assault and
battery; Henry Rebel, August Saunner,
Jacob Reese, larceny; Frank Audry, John
Clark, Morris Stern, selling LIQUOR without
license: John Clark, selling liquor ON Sun
day; Mary Jarvis. offense against morality,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
TALK ON THE WIRES.
On That Eventful Last Day of the
Month of May, in the Year 1889.
RUMORS OF WASHOUTS ALL DAY
That We're Reported BY the Operators to
Railroad officials.
THE NEWS CLEANED FROM TIE COURTS

The case of Tarbell versus the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad was continued in Common
Pleas Court No. Q yesterday. Train Dis
patcher Culp testified at length to the move
ment of trains over the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. Ysrdmaster Walkinshaw, Of the
Conemaugh yards, told of the location of
the road. On the day of the flood he rushed
to the hill and saw some of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad cars washed away. He
heard nothing of the fear of the breaking of
the South Fork dam.
Yardmaster Marshall, of the West Penn
road, was a passenger on the day express,
and described the condition of affairs at
Conemaugh before the flood.
Miss Emma Ehrenfeld, telegraph operator
at South Fork, testified that she went on
duty at Z A. NJ. on May 81, 1889. 1t had
been raining very hard, and she noticed the
streams were swollen. During the morning
she held q telegraphic conversation with the
operator at Mineral Point. She had no
definite knowledge of flood, and did not
know the dam had given way.
TALK OF THE DANGER.
She heard some men in the office talking
of the danger of food, and telegraphed
that to Mineral Point. About noon man
named j. P. Wilson gave her telegram to
be sent to Pittsburg, but as there was no di-
rect line she sent it to Mineral Point. It
was about the danger of flood. On cross
examination she stated that she did not re-
member of a Mr.. Dougherty sending mess
age in the afternoon.
W. A. Pickrell, operator at Mineral
Point, was the next witness, and testified
that on the morning of May 81, 1889, at 10
o'clock, he noticed that the wires were down
between Mineral Point and Pittsburg.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in some
mysterious manner, he got an open line to
Pittsburg. and sent message to Superin-
tendenI Pitcairn.
TALKED WITH SOUTH FORK.
During the forenoon he had telegraphic
conversation with Miss EhrenfeId, the
operator at South Fork, but she could give
him no definite information about the flood.
The witness received two messages from
South Fork. The first was sent to tele-
graph station GAO" by messenger named
Richard, and the other one he managed to
get through by wire to Conemaugh. He
also sent a message himself, notifying the
railroad authorities of reported washouts
along the line.
Lewis Rusher, who was foreman of road
gang on the Conemaugh Division on the
day of the flood, was put on the stand, and
testified to the washouts on the road. While
this witness was on the stand court ad-
journed for the day.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07

on a policy. a verdict was given yesterday for
81, $50 for the plaintiffs
THE argument list will be taken up in Com
mon Pleas Court No. ! on Monday.
In the suit OF HaIght & Co. against Kann &
Co., an action on a book account, a verdict was
given yesterday for 81. s77 30 for the plaintiff.
THE suit Of w A. Heron & Son against
Elizabeth Herst to recover a commission for
selling property, Is trial before Judge Slagle.
In the suit of D. P. Corwin. trustee, against
Allegheny City, for damages for injury to
property caused by the opening Of California
avenue. verdict was given yesterday for s72O
for the plaintiff.
THE hearing in the Ford Plate Glass Com
pany case was continued yesterday before Com
missioner Gamble. Mr.. Barr was examined
and testified concerning the action taken by
the directors at their meetings.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
BUILDING NEW SEWERS.
The Department of Awards Considering Bids
for Their Construction.

for Their Construction.
The Department of Awards met yesterday
afternoon, and opened bids for sewers on
Boquet, Evaline, Forty-second, Kirkpat-
rick, Howard, Liberty, Lowell, Winslow,
Tustin, Shetland. Henry, Keystone, Nc
Candless, Twenty-eighth and Wharton
streets, Lincoln, Park, Aiken and Webster
avenues, Horcum's and Wright's alley.
The bidders were numerous and the
figures varied greatly. The lobby of Com
mon Council chamber was crowded while
the bids were being read. W. J. Dunn was
the lowest bidder on the majority of the con-
tracts, but, as some OF the bids were pretty
close, the whole list was referred to the
clerk for tabulation. A number OF bids
were thrown out before being read owing to
their being improperly signed and certified
Bids we're opened Tor painting the vault
in the Controllers Office, and the contract
was awarded to Albert Burnett at $40. The
contract for supplying steel file cases for
the Controllers office was laid over until this
afternoon, when the Department of Awards
will meet and open other bids and let the
sewer contracts.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
JOSEPH FLEMINGs WILL.
The Manner In Which the Late DruggisI's
Property 10 Divided.

The Manner In Which the Lnte DruggisI's
Property is Divided.
The will of the late Joseph Fleming has
been filed for probate. 1t directs that his
real estate in Pittsburg be held in trust for
Is years by the executors, R. F. Sherman
and G. s. Fleming. The income is to be
divided equally among his six children, and
at the end of 10 years the property Is to be
equally divided among them.
His son George is directed, if he is so in
clined, to purchase the drug business at No.
412 Market street. His residence property
in Sewickley is given to his daughter, Mrs.
Hays.
This house is given Mrs. Hays 'as home
for herself and her children" and it is de-
vised to her, ito be held free from all con-
troll Of her present or any future husband;
nor shall it be liable for any debts or ell
gagements of such present or future hus-
band"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
WAITING FOR M0RELAND

To Approve the Ordnance for the Sale of the
City Poor Farm.
The special committee appointed to con-
slider the resolution of the Chief of Public
Charities in reference to selling the present
City Poor Farm and buying another, did
not meet yesterday afternoon as intended,
aud will probably meet this afternoon or
Monday morning. Mr.. Burleigh, Assistant
City Attorney, had a conference with Chief
Elliot relating to an ordinonce.
Mr.. Burleigh had prepared an ordinance,
but did not think proper to submit it for
publication until he conferred with City
Attorney Moreland, who will return from
Harrisburg, where he has been on city
business, this morning.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07

OUNARD LINE-NEW YORK AND LIV-
u ERPOOL. VIA WN-From
Pier 40 North river: Fast express mail service.
Bothnia June 1880 am. l*Etruria, June q, 8 am
*Umbrla. June 1880 am AuTania, June B p m
Servia, June IL 2 pm Bothnia July 2 3 N
Gallia, June Is $50 am *Umbria, July 5,I:5O am
+Will not carry steerage-
Cabin passage-S60 and upward. according to
location: intermediate S35 and $40 Steerage
tickets to and from all parts os Europe at very
low rates. For freight and passage apply to the
companys office. Bowling Green, New York.
Vernon II. Brown & Co.
]. ]. MCCORMICK, 639 and 40I ,Smithfeld
street. Pittsburg. ap2l-4l-D