The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-10-28
ExcrrEmENrIN coNEMAuoH.
Farmers Fight TO Protect NsIshbor's
RIanfs.

sold the timber rights to Levi ]. Lehman
and four hundred dollars in cash was pai
10 bind the bargain. No written sgreenen
Was made. bat the contract Was ratified i
the presence Of three witnesses. Mr.. Lsh
man subsequently erected mill and begar
70 saw lumber.
About four weeks ago Mr.. Hickman va:
called upon by Mr.. Childs, who now claim
that be purchased the tract from him az ths
time, and who shortly afterwards moved
saw mill onto It under the cover Of night
Two weeks ago chiid's mill was removed
from the tract to an adjoining farm b,
whom nobody seems TO knows.
Last Tuesday Childs made an effort Z
re-possess himself Of the tract Mr.. Lehman
had force Of men on the ground, and by
physical force prevented Child's men from
working.
They were armed with guns and spikes
and attacked Child's men several times. Al
one time two of Lehmsn's men engaged tws
Of the Others and gave them severe beating
one Of them being badly used up. Mr.
Child's men finally refused to attempt tc
work under this pressure
This caused cessation Of hostilities and
Mr. Chiids at once started to Somerset to in.
woke the aid Of the sheriff in enforcing what
he believes to be his rights
There were hfy men on the ground, al
well armed, and had the effort to enforce
his demands been continued by Mr. ChiIds
blood would certainly have bee. spilled.
Wednesday Childs resppeared upon the
scene accompanied BY dspuiy-sheriG Waiter,
Of Somerset, and force ofmen. What took
place is thus described by an eye-ritness in
the Johnstown Herald;
Mr.. Childs had several wagons loaded with
lumber, which be wanted 70 used in erecting
the necessary buildings to start his mill.
The horses were hitched, aud the drivers all
ready to start at moments notice.
In the meantime over thirty farmers, every
one armed, most Of them with guns or re-
reyolvers, and Others with sxes, were drawn
in line at the crosaing. Deputy Walter step
ped forward and demanded in the name Of
the law that Mr. Childs be allowed pescea-
bic possession Of his property. Mr.. Murdock
then asked him to shox his authority. Al
this Mr.. Walter got angry and asked if they
did not know that he was deputy sheriff and
that they were liable 10 arrest If they resist
ed orders To magnify hi. authority he
served notice upon Mr.. Murdock and ali
Others in his employ that they were tres
passers.
To thi. Mr. M1rdock replied, speaking for
all present that they did not want to resist
the law, but they did dispute his authority
to enforce his demands unless be showed the
papers for IT, BY this time Mr.. Walter and
Childs were greatly excited and shouted 10
the drivers Of the teanls TO come on. They
were about fifty yards away and started tow
ard the crossing place, when the farmers
with one sooord stepped out and presented
their gun. and other arms, and said that any
man who crossed the line did at hi. peril.
For few minutes there was great excite
ment Childs and the deputy shouting for
the drivers TO come on, while the farmer.
stOlidiy stood their ground and ds6ed the
sheriff or any one else to come over the line.
Under this pressure the drivers and Others
employed by Mr.. Childs refused to move
further, and the attempt Of the sheriff TO en-
force his boasied demands utterly failed.
There was great deal OF cursing on the part
ofthose who were foiled, but Childs finally
ordered the teamstes TO bring the lumber
back to this city.
At this juncture an amusing incident Oc-
Cured. Mr.. Childs and the deputy, in ad-
dition to declaring the farmers we're all tres
passers, thresieaed to have them arrested
for carrying concealed weapons One Of the
farmers cried out that be di5 u think there
were many concealed weapons about As
big seven-shOoters were strapped 10 their
sides and heavy guns flung on the shoulders
Of most Of them. there did not seem to be
any occasion for saying the weapons were
concealed, and hearty laugh was created
by the implication.
According to orders, the teams were driven
back to town and this morning taken TO the
lumber yard, where the lumber was un-
loaded. Mr.. Childs and deputy Walter
also spent the night in thi. city. Mr.. Childs
says prosecutions viii be brought against all
who irespassed. Deputy Walter before leav-
ing for home this morning said that this
would end the attempt 10 get possession by
force. but that all those who had deied the
authority Of the law would be made to suffer
for il.
The farmers do nos seem to be much
alarmed at the situation, but rather glory in
the fact that they had spunk enough not to
let themselves be bulldozed again IS they
we're before They attribute their success in
keeping Childs and his men of this time
largely TO the determined action Of Mr. Mur-
dock in asking for written authority from
the court before being willing to obey the
demands Of the deputy sheriff
Regarding the rival Claims Of Mr. Lehman
and Mr. Childs for this timber, the story is
told as follows, and seems TO be fully verified
by the parties interested, as well as BY the
testimony Of neighbOrs oftheirs: Last spring
Hickman wanted to sell this timber, and
finally concluded bargain with Lehman on
condition that Lehman would assist him to
get 500. which be needed to pay on a farm
which he was purchasing This Lehman
did by endorsing Hsckmsn's note and the
money was obtained from Harry Milten-
berger. There was yet no written agreement
between Lehman and Hickman, bat when
the money was received Hickman said in
the presence Of number Of witnesses that
Lshman could now go ahead and commence
catiing the timber. De also said to the man
who received the money that Lehman had
secured il for him and that be had sold
Lehman his timber. Ia fact, be never de-
MED IL has all along said he wanted 20 keep
faith with Ar. Lehman. and has recently
s-gned agreement. in accordance with hi.
original bargain.
ARer Childs had heard that Lehman had
secured the timber, be approached Heck man
and talked about the timber and said be
vonld like to handle IT, When told that
Lehman had bought il be said that would
be ali right, as he would get the lumber from
lehman. He then talked Of figures for the
different kinds Of timber and noted them on
sheet Of paper in lead pencil. After be
was through he asked Mr.. Hickman TO sign
q statement at the bottom of those figures,
saying he wanted il 70 show 10 Mr.. Lehman.
50 that be could come 10 a bargain with
him When Mr.. Hickman objected, Mr.
Childs said IL would not arnonnt n anrfhin1