The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-12-16
CHICKEN OWNERS HAPPY.
William jefferson in Custody Charged with
Raiding Coops.

William Jefferson in Custody Charged with
Raiding Coops.
Since last spring residents of West Line
street have been driven almost to despera-
tion in their efforts to catch thieves who time
and again successfully raided their chicken
coops, but until yesterday morning no capture
could be made, although the residents took
turns at night watching and almost every
house on the north side of the street, from
Main street to the east end was practically
an arsenal. Some time ago, Superin-
tendent Thomas Baird, of the Kelley Run
colliery, who is one of the sufferers, was
awakened from his slumbers by the vocifer-
Gus barking of his watch dog, but the Rescue
company christened its chemical engine that
night and Baird concluded that his dog had
been disturbed by some of the fremen who
were on the way home, so the Superintendent
rolled over and was soon wrapped in the
arms of Morpheus again. The next morning
the chicken coop connected with the
homestead was minus fourteen pullets
Mr.. Baird apologized to the watch dog
for not respecting his kindly and
faithful service of the night before and
boom in the firearms business followed A
few nights later the dog gave another alarm
rear Of his sleeping apartments, raised the
lower sash and rested the muzzle of shot
gun on the window sill. He could just make
out the prowling form of man about the
chicken coop and fred in that direction.
The shot was answered by derivsive laughter,
but there were no chickens missing the next
morning. The Baird homestead was
judiciously boycotted after that, but other
| chicken owners of the row suffered losses
from time to time, among them the Fox,
Brennan, Rhoads and Potts families. Bren-
nan lost in the aggregate 80 chickens and
Henry RhOads lost sixteen in one night.
AT about one o'clock yesterday morning
Harry KEEPER, who lives next door to the
Baird residence, was aroused from his
slumbers He had spent the best part of the
preceding night and Sunday night in watch
ing and any noise about the vicinity broke
his slumber He got out of bed and heard
two or three men talking in an undertone
on Line street. One of the men went
up the alley. KEEPER shouldered gun and
went down to the yard, but, after an
extended search, failed to find what he
expected and returned to his bed, concluding
that the msn he had heard were some home
ward stragglers. Soon after he heard what
he supposed was a rattling of chains about
two or three doors east of his house. He
again got out of bed and went outside with
his gun. While he was rambling about
shot was fred from a neighbor's house in his
direction. KEEPER shouted to the neighbor,
who stopped the firing. By this time the
neighborhOOd was aroused and u general
searching of the neighborhood WAS begun.
Crouched as close to the fence and ground as
he could get man named William Jefferson
was found. He was, or pretended to be, fast
asleep. No shouting or jostlinE could arouse
him. shall l shoot him ?" asked one of the
vigilance committee. This had the effect of
bringing Jefferson to his feet. He was
apparently very much intoxicated, but
recognized those about him. He could give
no account of himself.
Last night Jefferson was arraigned before
Justice Cardin. Messrs. Baird, KEEPER and
Rhoads appeared and testified against him.
Jefferson said he knew nothing about any
chickens and could not account for his pre-
sence in Rhoads' yard. The last he remem-
bered was leaving saloon on South Main
street, where free beer was served during the
previous night to celebrate an opening"
He produced one of the bartenders of the
occasion to prove that he had partaken freely
of the beverage that flowed without cost to
those who would partake of it. Justice
Cardin said Judge Pershing had ruled many
times that intOxication could not be taken as
plea and held jefferson for trial in $500
bail, which was furnished.
No little surprise was occasioned by Jeffer-
sou S arrest, as he is resident of the vicinity
where the depredations were committed and
has always been among the most emphatic
among them in condemning evil doings. He
lives at the corner of Line and Bowers
streets, and almost opposite to the houses
where the thefts were committed. He could
not tell who was with him yesterday morn
ing before he was caught, but at least two of
the parties are known and other arrests will
probably follow.