Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-05-30
May %, 1894.

from the canvass.
@. c. MCCULLoCH.
May %, 1894.
The town in the vicinity of Bridge
and Main streets, was thrown into a
state of excitement on Thursday,
shortly after noon, on account of an
assault committed by Hiram Smith,
colored, on H. G. Thompson, who had
that morning come to town as special
collector for the Singer Sewing Ma
chine Company. The assault SO in.
Inundated the collector that he left on
the first train that he could put him.
self into condition and appearance to
! travel op.
The trouble grew out of a sewing
machine sale or trade.
f. E. Voorhees,, who is a third
cousin Of the tail Sycamore of the
Indiana Wabash, has represented the
Singer Sewing machine Company
quite a while III this county, and has
been selling machines.
Among those to whom he sold or
traded machine, IN this town, is
Mrs. Moulson, color2d, Mrs. Moulson
is sister OF Hiram Smith who COM
mitted the assault upon H. G. Thomp.
son the aforesaid collector.
/ When the collector came to town,
on Thursday morning, he and Voor,
hees called on Mes. Moulson to sea
about back installment on the ma,
chine. Voorhees,, says it was ar
ranged among the parties, that the
payment should be made TO a Ger
taintv, on n certain day in June.
Hiram Smith, who has been Porter
for the Jacobs House, told Voorhees,,
in the hotel, that he Voorhees,, should
take the machine away, and he agreed
to do SO, but collector Thompson
objected, and his objection ansered
Smith, and caused him to swear and
call Thompson ugly names, to which
the collector answered, that he did
not want 10 be insulted by a nigger,
and that he claimed protection from
! landlord Arbogast with whom he was
stopping. The retort OF the white
man caused the co.Cred mau 10 strike
/ Thompson in the faca with his fist.
The collector was 50 frightened over
the assault that he ran, with Smith
following him through the room
By the interference of landlord Ar
bogas5 the Porter was headed off il
his career of assault, and Thompson
went to the Office of Squire G. 3
Horning 10 make information against
Smith. Before the case was fully
stated, Smith, walked into the Office
and told the Squire that he shoulc
not get out warront of arrest, tina
he had come to surrender himself anC
answer the charge. The Squire
asked him if ne desired hearing, to
which he said yes. Thompson pro
posed to go and get witnesses
and then started. Smith ssrush
ed out after him muttering som,
threatening words. The collector
ran down Bridge street uttering suel
frightful screams that men dropped
their business and ran out of door!
to learn what wos taking place. The,
had never before heard the alarming
cry Of frightened man. The coloreC
man was in close pursuit with Eeay,
stone in his hand, Thompson ran int
the Juniata Valley Bank, mistakiEi
it for the hotel, Smith sprang in al
ter him and as the frightened col
lector lodged about the room to ge
out Of his way, he delivered a numbe
of blows at his head, aud ;rtunatel,
for Thompson and fortunately fol
the colorel man the collector got hi
hand up when one of the terrible
blows fell on the back of his head
The hand between the head and tn
stone in Smiths hand broke the fore
Of the stroke. As it was Thompson
hand was severely bruised and hi
head was cut. Other blows were dc
. livered by Smith.
OF the frightened bankers Rober
Parker was the first to recover him
self and he rushed from the counte
to the rescue of the imperiled ThomI
son, but the men lad ruu cut c
the bank before Parker could inter
fere. Over into the hotel fled tb
collector with Smith in pursuit, ther
landlord Arbogast and John Berg
: came to the rescue and saved ThomI
son from further assault. The Port
{ er was arraigned before Squire G. E
/ Horning on the charge of assault
with intent to kill, and in default c
one thousand dollars bail was sent
, Jail to answer in the quarter session
of court, next September.
When the rush from the Squire
, office was made, Voorhees, did not 6
! to the help of his assistant and fsein
collector, but he turned to run in tn
opposite direction, up Bridge stree
lodged in the alley that parallel
Main and Third streets andlegged
down the alley like a deer withou
yelling, and around the squars irt
| tho bntal a tboror1Oblv frinbfara a