davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
FIRST OF THE SEASON.
A Pretty Little Grafton Woman Ar
rested for ShOplifting.
HER HOME WILL BE SEARCHED.
In the Meantime She Will Ee Kept at
Central Station.
SUPT OMARA TALKS on THE CRIME

A well-dressed fashionable woman,
young aud fairly handsome, was arrested at
kaufmanns' about o'clock last night
charged with shoplifting. She was taken to
Central station and was locked up. The
police officials refused to give the woman's
name. Sheis said to be the wife of a rail-
road engineer who lives at Grafton on the
Panhandle road
When arrested the woman protested her
innocence She carried on her arm a neat
little basket in which she had placed sew
eral trinkets which she claimed to have
bought. Her tears and protests avalled
her nothing
Superintendent O'Mara said he would
hold the woman until he could secure q
search of her home. He says that while
the woman has never been suspected, he is
confident search of her house will show
up bad against her.
The arrest last night was the first made
during the holiday season for shoplifting.
The police and the merchants say they
never before had larger crowds to handle,
and all agree that there has been less
stealing this year than usual.
1.-THE newspapers are largely responsible
for this condition." Superintendent O'Mara
said last night. 'gThe fact that additional
police and detectives are placed in the
down town district was printed, and the
people who are disposed to pick up
little things about the crowded stores are
afraid to make a crooked move. They
know they are being watched closely. This
season, rs in other seasons, our greatest
trouble has been with little girls, who
have little or no fear of the police
and who do not care for the disgrace of
arrest this class the officers do not arrest.
They simply follow them and make them
keep out of trouble. At every store the
officers keep their eyes on the small girls,
and if any thing is crooked the would-be
thief is led into the street and told to go
home. This trightens them and usually
has good effect.
Next week if the weather is fair or sea-
sonable the downtown district will be over
run with people, but we are prepared iairly
we'll to handle everybody and We don't con-
template much trouble.
eve have not had one case of pocket
picking so far this season." the Superin-
tendent went on. ''It is we'll for the shop
pers to be on their guard, but we think the
pickpocket element is giving US wide
berth just now"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
scHENLEY PROPERTY A BLIGHT.
Terse Testimony Before the TrieEnia
Assessment Commissioner

Terse Testimony Before the TrieEniaI
Assessment Commissioner.
On the appeal of John Heron before
Commissioner Beal yesterday the Sehenley
property in the Twelfth ward was brought
into discussion. James B. Hill, owner of
a planning mill at Twenty-second street,
while on the stand declared that the Schen-
ley property was a blight and a drawback
to the improvement of the city. 1t was
tenanted by the lowest class of
foreigners where it was occupied By build
ings at ALL but most of it was utterly unim-
proved and capital fought shy of adjoining
property, because there was no knowing
what might be done with the Sehenley
holdings. Mr.. Hill declared Penn avenue
property in that part OF the city had not in
creased in value for years. The noise of
the mills also contributed to depressing
values there.
John Herron's appeal was on four houses
on Filth avenue, Sixth ward, one lot 6Sx1j4
feet on Smallman street and 1-16 acres on
Linden avenue. On the Fifth avenue prop
erty he was assessed at S340 foot front,
and thought it too high. but the assessors
showed a recent sale at $3.50 foot on the
same block. On his SmaiIman street lot
the assessment is S13, 769, and he thinks it
should be $4,000, while his Linden avenue
property, assessed at S5,973 an acre he
wants reduced to $4,000 Nothing was
done with any of the appeals.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
HIS LIFE THREATENED.
A Crazy Man Tries to Kill Mayor
Tillbrook, of McKeespOrt, and
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF COUNCILS.
BE Thought they Belonged to City Ring
and Wanted to Break 1t.
A MEMBER OF THE MOLLIE MAGUIRES

Thomas Wilson, of McKeesport, is in
Jail for attempting to take the life of Mayor
Tillbrook, of that city. The man had also
threatened the lives of several of the Coun-
cilmen.
Wilson has not been a citizen of McKees-
port long, aud he came from no one knows
where. He is about Go years old, and his
mind is unsound. Politics seems to
be his. only worry. He thinks the
United States Government is controlled by
ring and this gives him much bother. His
conversation is always about the "ring. -
Of late he has commenced to think that
there was ring in McKeesport, and his
principal work has been to find it 1t was
this task that lead to his arrest.
Had Grievance Against the Mayor.
Wilson thought that Mayor Tillbrook
was the leader of this supposed ''ring" and
ne has directed extra efforts in getting him
out of the way. Friday night he
visited Councilman Dr. r. j. Black s
Office. He had big revolver in his hand,
and said he was going to kill all the Coun-
ciimen and the Mayor. He was removed
from there with great deal of trouble, the
time.
Mayor Tlllbrook was standing at the Bal
timore and Ohio station Yesterday morning
when Wilson came up. He carried heavy
cane with a ring on the end of it. He
stopped in front of the Mayor and shaking
his cane at the city's executive demanded
that he be given protection from the ''ring. !"
Wanted Mayor Tiilorook's Life.
The old fellow was ordered to move on,
but he refused, and commenced to threa en-
the Mayors life. Sergeant Trich was called
on to arrest Wilson. A hard fight followed.
Wilson trying to club the officer with his
cane. Another policeman had to be called
before the old man was overpowered. At
the police station big revolver was found
on his person. This was not the first time
he hal attacked the Mayor. A week or
two ago Wilson met him in front of Nc
Keesport's City Hall and then threatened
to shoot Mr.. Tillbrook.
Wilson is comparatively unknown in
McKeesport. He is thought to have be-
longed to the famous 'Molly Mcclure"
which infested the anthracite coal region
several years ago. He worked on the
county Jail when it was building, and then
said he would never be confined there as
prisoner. He will likely be sent to Dix
mont.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
LOVE CHANGES OFTEN.

Two Couple Take Out Three Marriage
Licenses and the Parties Get So Badly
Mixed Up Taht an Alderman Has to
Untangle It.
1t developed at the Office of Register Con-
nor yesterday that three marriage licenses
had been issued within the last few days
for two couples, and that return was
made on the third by the marriage of one of
the couples in the Registers Office and the
other two licenses surrendered. The en-
tire affair Is like comedy of errors. The
people interested are all residents of the
Southside.
Alois SIlberhorn, a well-to-do German,
aged 81 years, has been living in the Twen-
ty-seventh ward, and Barbara Proebster,
who is 80 wears of age, and who came here
from Germany few years ago, has been
keeping house for him for four or five years.
Two or three weeks ago they had dispute,
and the Proebster woman left the house.
She met Conrad Sperl, another German
living on Plus street, in the Twenty-sev-
enth ward, and tine Two soon fell IN love.
Sperl is u laborer, So years of age, and we'll
liked in the Deighborhood, and the love
match soon developed into an engagement.
On Tuesday, December 6, Sperl took out a
license to marry Miss Proebster, and their
intended marriage was announced In st.
Peters Church on South Twenty-eighth
street.
When Silverhorn discovered he had been
Tilted he started out tor revenge and met
Theresa Boyer, q handsome young German
girl in the ward, % years of age, and at once
proposed marriage He had only seen the
girl once or twice until arrangements were
completed for the wedding and they took
out a license. In the meantime Sperl rented
house and purchased a lot of furniture
on which he made a payment OF 800 and
prepared to 60 to housekeeping.
About week ago the first stumbling
block was encountered. An objection was
made to the marriage of Sperl to Miss
Proebster because she had come to be COM
monty recognized as Silberhorn's wife. She
then heard of the license having been taken
out by SiIberhorn to marry Miss Boyer,
and a rumpus followed. She protested,
saving that il she could not marry Sperl
she would not let Silberhorn marry Miss
Beyer.
Her threat seemed to take effect, for after
talking the matter over with Siiberhorn he
concluded to settle the affair, as he thought,
by marrying her, and accordingly they came
over to the Registers office on Friday, took
out a license and were married by Deputy
Register Petrie, who is Justice Of the
Peace.
Then the trouble only began. When
Miss Boyer heard of the marriage she
threatened to sue Silberhorn for breach of
promise, but this was prevented by him
paying the woman $780,
All the parties were brought together in
Alderman CaldweIPs Office last night,
where the settlement of all the disputes
was brought about. Everybody was fairly
we'll satisfied. Sperl telt the loss of the
money he had spent on furniture more
than he did the loss of the woman and
Silberhorn, aside from paving the Beyer
woman 5000, was out the price OF gold
ring which she refused to return. He had
to buy another for Mrs SiIberhorn.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
a MAYORS FIGHT FOR LIFE.
His Terrible Struggle With an Armed Giant
in Locked Corridor.

His Terrible Struggle With an Armed Giant
in a Locked Corridor.
NEW CASTLE, Dec 17.-[Spe faL J.
Mayor John B. Brown was the victim of a
vicious attack from a drunken man named
Carr this afternoon, and but for moment s
warning given him he would probably have
been killed. Carr was locked up at police
headquarters early in the afternoon. Soon
after the Mayor had occasion to 60 into the
cellroom. Carr was Gagged near the door,
and when he saw the Mayor he asked to be
liberated. As the prisoner was making a
disturbance, the Mayor himself undertook
to remove him 10 a cell farther from the
entrance. The prisoner came out when
ordered and followed the Mayor toward the
rear OF the corridor, which the latter had
locked after him, putting the key in his
pocket.
A man standing outside the corridor door
shouted to the Mayor, "look out for a
knife" Brown turned and found Carr
with an open clasp-knite, in the act of
striking with it. He sprang back and
ordered the now desperate prisoner to sur
render the weapon. Carr advanced on HIM.
Brown rushed in and closed with the
prisoner, who is giant, weighing fully 225
POUNDS There was a terrible struggle Tor
the weapon, and no assistance could get to
the Mayor because of the locked corridor
door For few moments the men wrestled
in silence, when the Mayor got his man
foul and forced him to drop the knife to the
stone floor, which he promptly kickel out
of the way Then he released Carr and
ordered him into the cell. Again the fellow
rebeled. The Mayor sprang upon him and
hurled him to the floor with such force that
he was helpless, being dragged into the cell
and locked in.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18

Your correspondent tried to answer all the
questions he could, but it certainly would
have given Colonel, Roberts heap of salts
faction if he could have been present to
hear the favorable comments made.
I was surprised to see what interest peo-
pie not engaged in river traffic took in the
scheme. Grain men, brokers and others
studied the map in detail and all were iav-
orably impressed. Most of them had heard
of the canal project and the extensive
map, showing the water supply at the sum-
init and giving heights and depths, fur
nished them good idea of what is contem-
plated in Its construction. To-day and in
the future that map will be on exhibition
in the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce,
and will rivet the attention of a number of
people to whom the enterprise is new. A
large number of Pittsburg river coal opera
tors happened to be in the room at the
time, and most of them added to the inter-
est by telling what they knew about the
project. 1 eel that the subject was we'll
introduced in Cincinnati Dv Superintendent
Murray. Among the Pittsburgers present
were Captain w. W. O'Neil, G. L. Snow
den, Captains Blackmore and Wood and
others
Complaints of Grain Men.
The grain contingent on Change COM
DlalEeu bitterly that the CINCINNATI rail-
roads had practically put an embargo on
their shipments, and they favor the canal to
help them out. J. A. London, prominent
grain dealer, said he didn't know much
about the canal, but he was tired of rail-
road discrimination, and such waterway
woulu bea great benefit to Cincinnati as
vel! as Pittsburg. He stated that it re-
quired two weeks to move car from West
Cincinnati TO Covington, a distance of about
Is or 20 miles. He remarked that friend
of his some time ago ordered butter
from Waupakaneta- The distance
TO be shipped was 100 miles
Several weeks later, while passing the rail-
road station, he saw men unloading a car of
butter. He suspected il wa5 consigned to
him. 1t was, of course. "Well," he said
to the agent, "I knew the butter was mine,
for walked home, and got here week or
more ahead of the shipment"
Mr.. Stone stated that the railroads were
overtaxed, and waterways ought to be built
to expedite business and hold down freight
rates. At present there is not enough COM
petition. Railroads sneer at canals as
being slow, but one thing Is certain: even in
the old canal days when mules were the
motive power, it did not require two weeks
TO move freight 100 miles.
Several other articles giving the views of
prominent business men OF Cincinnati on
the Erie Canal will appear later
JAMES ISRAEL.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
DREW LOTS FOB GIFTS.

The German Engineers Society Hold a
Christmas Celebration.
The Society of German Engineers held
its annual Christmas celebration in the
Forbes street Turner Hall last evening. A
very pretty custom of giving gifts was OBJ
served and furnished much enjoyment.
Every member took with him a present
They were piled up in pro-
fusion, and then they drew lots
for them. Each had slim chance OF getting
back his own gilt, but as rule it went to
somebody else There are 80 members in
the society, including some of the most
prominent Germans in the city. Before
they adjourned the audience sang Christ
mas hymn.
Among the members AMI those present
were Superintendent Schwab, of the Home
stead mill, Joseph B. Siebeneck, Architect
Moeser, Engineer Risher, Count Won Wag
ner, Prot. Gutenberg James Stillberg,
William Heeren, Prof T. c. Phillips.
Charles w. Neeb and Others
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18

from Morgantown to New Orleans, if the
subject were brought to their attention.
The fame of Colonel Thomas P. Roberts,
President of the PENNSYLVANIA Canal Com
mission, has gone abroad in all the river
cities, and the people would be glad to see
IND hear him on the feasibility of the
scheme In Cincinnati I found shippers
and business men of all classes hungry for
information and data that only man like
Colonel Roberts, familiar with the subject,
can furnish 1t was suggested by members
Of the Chamber of Commerce here that the
Colonel would have large audience of in
fuential and enterprising people any time
he could go to Cincinnati to speak to them
about the canal
The Proposed Canal Across Ohio.
Cincinnati, BY the way, has waterway
project of its own to the lakes The old
Ohio canal that was built years ago runs
from the city across the State to Toledo. 1t
was suggested by Colonel Merrill, the
late lamented river engineer for the East
ern Ohio river district, that this waterway
could be dredged and made wide enough to
carry lake vessels With this object in
view Judge Caldwell has introduced in
congress OIL asking lOr Ine approprlA-
tion of $4,000 to make a survey of the
route. The money to trace the Erie Canal
from Pitt sburg was furnished by Pennsyl-
Tania, anC IN this particular Ohio is a little
behind the Keystone State, as the Buckeye
people may whistle for a long time before
the appropriation is made by Congress.
The truth is that the Cinein-
natl people think Uncle Sam
ought to build both canals, especially the
one from I9ittsburg, and then the Ohio
river should be made navigGble between
the two cities for large boats. Either a
system OF dikes, as urged by Colonel Mer-
rill berore his death to confine and deepen
the channel, or movable dams could be
built The latter are favored by many
people as the cheapest and best, but this is
g question for the engineers. 1t need not
be added hat Cincinnati is awake to the
Importance of improving the great water
system of the interior, and Its citizens are
for the Pitts burg and Lake Erie canal that
Will connect ne Ohio with the lakes.
The annual meeting of the National
Board of Trade will occur in Washington,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
SAVED THE PASSENGERS,

But the Conductor Was Injur,d by the
stopping OF the Car.
An accident occurred shortly before 8
o'clock last night on the Perrysville line of
the Pleasant Valley electric line near
Bucna Vista street switch, which, while not
serious in its results, threw conductor prob
ably out of several days employment.
Car No. 11S of the Perrysville line was
coming down the grade near the Buena Vista
street switch when the car jumped the track.
The motorman reversed the current and
Conductor Warren, taken unawares, was
thrown suddenly forward, his right arm
passing through the glass of the rear door.
The arm was badly cut at the wrist, and at
the sight of the blood which spurled from
the wound he tainted. The injured con-
ductor was taken to Craig's drugstore near
by, where his injuries were cared for by
DR.. McMarnough.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
STARTLED BY A SHOT.
Pedestrians on Fifth Avenue Have Mar
row Escape From Injury.

Pedestrians on Fifth Avenue Have Mar
row Escape From Injury
Amid the din and noise of cable and cleo
trio cars at Fifth avenue and Wood street
about 1880 o'clock last evening the sharp re-
pert of pistol shot was heard. In less
time than it takes to tell it fully l 1000 peo-
ple gathered at the corner each one anx-
iously asking his neighbor who was shot.
Alter the excitement had subsidized some
what a small hole was discovered in the
plate glass window of W. A. McClurg's
cigar store. The fattened bullet was found
inside the window. Mr.. McClurg said that
gentleman had stepped inside and pur-
chased some tobieG Upon joining two
friends on the sidewalk the revolver ap
parently fell from the pocket of one of the
three. They all seemed surprised and de-
MED the ownership of it, whereupon a by
stander picked It up and disappeared in the
crowd.
Mr.. McClurg said it was miraculous
escape as the street was crowded with Pc
destrians at the time.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18

January II. One of the main subjects for
discussion and Endorsement is the Pittsburg
and Lake Erie Canal project. Through the
efforts OF Colonel Roberts it was put down
on the programme. The Colonel also has
secured the hearty cooperation of the Gin
ciDua.i DeOple
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18

W. BAKER & Co.'S Breakfast Cocoa is q
very com nforting drink rs the weather grows
colder. One of its special merits, giving it u
great advantage over tea and coffee, is it's
heat-giving quality; it forrifies delicate con-
stitutions against the cold, supplying an
easily appropriated fuel for those internal
fires upon the adequate support of which
health and happiness depend. W. Baker &
Co.'S Breakfast Cocoa may therefore be es-
pecially commended as Il morning drink,
and many people WHO are liable to sleep
lessneSs have found that a cup OF it taken
not on going to bed brings sound and re-
freshing sleeD. 1t is absolutely pure, and it
is soluble Unlike the Dutch process, no
alkalies or other chemicals are used in its
manufacture.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18

natl freight bureau. A similar organization
is now being formed in Pittsburg. I was
disappointed in not finding Mr.. Wilson at
home, He was instrumental in organizing
the freight bureau, and his friends stated
that he claims the railroads discriminate in
freight rates against Cincinnati. In this
respect the Cincinnati people insist they
are very badly treated, so that PIttsburg
shippers are not the only ones who feel
they are being plueked by the railroad
companies.
The main and strongest argument ad-
vancad in Cincinnati Tor the construction
of the Erie Canal and the improvement of
the Ohio river was that it would hold the
railways down and stop grevious freight
determinations 1t was added also that the
country had outgrown the railway systems,
and the lines did not have the cars or motive
power to handle the enormous traffic OF the
States. The time has come when men must
figure on a larger basis than in the past
The craze for railroads is dying out, and the
people are returning to the canals, but cut
wide and deep enough for large steam ves-
sells / heard number of prominent Gin
cinnati business men speak in this vein in
discussing the Erie Canal project.
The Pork City is blessed with a magnif-
cent Chamber of Commerce building that
cost more than 81, 600, 000 1t is one of the
finest business structures in the United
States, and why Pittsburg does not have
such building is beyond comprehension.
On the second floor is a large room where
the business people of the town assemble
daily between noon and 2 o'clock to compare
notes, talk over trade and read the market
and stock quotations
A Scene on 'Change.
If you want to see any business man in
Cincinnati you can surely find him in this
room between the hours named. 1
had q fortunate experience, and had
no trouble in securing the views
of the leading capitalists in the city on the
Erie Canal scheme. When the matter was
first suggested to Superintendent Murray
he remembered that a few days before he
had received from Colonel Roberts q large
map showing the route of the waterway.
Mr.. Murray went out into the crowded
Change room and tackled it on one of the
quotation boards. Instantly it was sur
rounded by business men, who examined
the map closely, asked thousand and one
questions about the project, its probable
cost and feasibility, the water supply, etc.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18
DIVORCED BY a HAIR,
A Yellow One on a Mans Coat lapel
Causes Much Trouble.

Causes Much Trouble.
The wife of Robert Sterritt, buyer for a
leading wholesale and retail drygoods
house in this city applied for divorce in
Chicago yesterday. His wife is the
daughter of wealthy Chicago physician.
They have been married seven years, living
in Allegheny, where Mrs Sterritt was we'll
known in church circles and sang in the
choir of fashionable church. Some time
ago they separated, but it was known to
only few of the couples large circle of
friends.
a year ago, according to the wife's testi-
mony, Sterritt went home with a blonde
hair on mis- coat lapel. 1t aroused her sus-
plcions. She is decided brunette. BY
employing detectives she discoveren an in
timacy with a married New York woman,
but she was not blonde. Sterritt was fol-
lowed further, and finally discovered with
the owner of the yellow hair in this citv.
On the evidence thus secured the suit is
brought. Sierritt's employers in this CITY
knew OF the separation, but not the details
OF the case.