Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-18
GOT A QUICK SHAVE.
George Lehberger, of Johnstown,
Comes to Pittsburg, and
LOSES A LONG, BLACK BEARD.
Arrested and locked Up on Suspicion of
Being an Anarchist
SES A LONG, BLACK BEARD.
HE is WANTED IN CAMBRIA COUNTY

George numbers among his other earthly
possessions an air Of mystery and luxur'
liant dark mustachc. The heads of the
police department claim that be is blood
loving Anarchist from Russia, and thai
he is an all-around bad man and a sym.
pathizer and fellow countryman of Alex
snder Berkman, the would ne assassin of H.
c. Frick. On the other hand Lehbergel
and his friends insist that it is all a mis-
take, and that he is nothing more or lesi
than an humble employee of the CambriG
Iron Works, OF Johnstown, and q much
abused man.
Mr.. Lehberger's trouble began shortly
after S o'clock yesterday morning. II
happened in this way: yesterday morning 8
tall man with q sAllow face and a bushy
black beard made mis- way into the Office of
the Merchants Hotel, on Water street,
and walked to the desk.
Wanted to See Bergman.
Addressing the clerk the stranger said:
"I want to see Bergman, the night clerk.
Is he imp"
The clerk informed the man with the
wouldn't be in until evening. The man
with the beard left the no tel and
went into Kaufmanns' store. The stranger
sauntered up to the hat counter and began
TO inspect the tall STYLES of head covering
Detective Sol Coulson entered the store at
this juncture. He lounged up to the hat de-
partment and took mental inventory of
the stranger.
Ten minutes later the stranger left Kauf-
manns' and started down Wood street.
just before he reached Wood street he felt
the pressure of hand on his shoulder and
turning looked straight into the stern face
of Detective Coulson.
"What do you want?" he asked.
Come with me-" was the detectives
reply.
The stranger obeyed without muruur,
and in three minutes time was ushered into
police headquarters Once safe In Superin-
tendent O'Mara's Office, Detective Coulson
turned to his prisoner and in a stern voice
said:
Requested to Change His Faoe.
''Come, my man, change your face and do
it quick"
The strangers face grew red, and he NUT
tered: "What the devil do you mean?"
''Take off that beard and tell me your
real name" was the grim reply.
With q muttered imprecation the stranger
clutched the end of his beard and gave il a
sudden yank. The result was as unique as
it was startling The black haired man of
80 was transformed into a freshly shaven
man Of 80 with big mustache and dirty
COLLAR
In response to the usual queries the
stranger said: 'My name is Lehberger-
nh IL.
last four or five years in Johnstown. 1 am
8 draughtsman, and am employed by the
Cambria Iron Works. 1 am no Anarchist,
and my reason for Disgusting myself with
the beard was to fool nv brother-in-law,
Otto Bergman, the night clerk of the Mer-
chants Hotel. really don't know what you
mean by arresting me, as / only intended
this as a joke, and am a man of peace"
He Was Well Armed.
But q careful examination of Mr. Leh-
berger's pockets revealed the fact that for a
imam Of peace" he travelled well armed In
bis hip pocket was found very long and
very ugly looking dirk knife and the inside
pocket of his coat was q loaded revolver of
the bull dog pattern. Close beside this
weapon was small bottle of hair dye
After he had been searched Lehberger
was escorted to cell, and q telegram was
sent to the j Johnstown authorities While
the detectives were waiting for an answer,
Night Clerk Bergman called at headquar-
ters When he saw Lehberger he said:
''That man ia my brother-in-law, and he
lives in Johnstown. He is not an Anarch-
ist, and want him released"
Just at this juncture a telegram was re-
ceived from the chief of the Johnstown po-
lice. 1t stated that Lehberger was wanted
in Johnstown on a serious charge and that
be should be held until the arrival of Johns
town officials.
Has Some Acquaintance with Russia.
On the strength of this telegram Leh-
berger was taken to the Central station.
just before he was placed in the cell
card was found in his pocket. On
the card was this address: 'Charles Stader,
Iron Works, Government
reading the address the police decided that
their prisoner was a Russian Nihilist
Late last night Bergman was interviewed
ut the Merchants Hotel. ''This man is my
he said "and has been for
the past five years He is no more an An
archist than you are"
A telegram from Johnstown saws: George
Lehberger, who was arrested in Pittsburg
today, left this city suddenly on the morn
ing of Augusta 8, just in time to escape a
charge of criminal assault, the warrant
being sworn out by Charles Hoffman, uncle
and guardian of little Jennie Hoffman. The
girl is not quite 15 wears old and the story
she told created a sensation. She is one
Of the flood victims. Her parents were
drowned in the food. Her sisters were sent
TO an orphan asylum in Philadelphia, but
Jennie was taken to the house OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Lehberger, who had no children of their
,wn. She tells her story in straightfor-
ward manner, and upon her statement her
guardian had a warrant issued. but Lehber-
ger lett town before it could be served.
Police Were Looking for Lehberser.
"Since that time Chief Richardson has
been keeping a close watch on him, and
bad word yesterday that he left New
Castle for Pittsburg Lehberger is SO years
bid and was born in Germany. He came
here some years ago. He worked at Beaver |
Falls and Pittsburg until some two years |
lgo, when he came here and was employed |
Dy the Cambria Iron Company as a draughts- |
nan, being skilled employe. He was mar |
led some years ago to a good looking German |
woman named Fostick, who was recently |
divorced from her husband in Michigan. |
Iehberger was always OF quiet dis |
position, was a close reader, and those with |
yhom he was intimate declare that he had |
narchistic tendencies and was known to |
,ecome greatly excited when the Home |
tead trouble was talked Of
"a visit to the house where the family had |
ived tonight showed that Mrs Lehberger |
lad moved sometime during the day. Later |
he was seen and was very talkative and did |
Iot deny that she intepded to live with her |
husband again, She said that her husband |
vas ALWAYS a friend of the right as she called /