Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-05-16
HELD FOR COURT
IN $1,000 BAIL
George SOmmers and Miles Sassaman Given
Hearing Monday.

George Sommers and Miles Sassamen,
charged with causing the death of Wei
lington Hartman, by reckless driving,
were given hearing in this city Mon
day and held for court, each in the sum
of $1,000 bail.
The two accused men were arraigned
before Justice of the Peace Bare, at 10
O'Clock Monday morning, where they
both entered the plea of mot guilty."
The defendants were represented by
William Chrisman, of Bloomsburg, j. A. .
Guie, of Catawissa and r. S. Ammer-
man, of this city. The Commonwealth
was assisted by Edward S. Gearhart.
The defendants desired to waive a
hearing at once and to enter bail for
court. Counsel for the Commonwealth
contended that justice of the peace
can not accept bail when the charge is
as serious as the one preferred that in
all cases of involuntary manslaughter
and the like no one but the Judge him.
self or an associate law judge is quail.
fled to admit to bail. 1t was decided
therefore, to waive hearing and to Sc
cure the release of the defendants on
habeas corpus proceeding. Accordingly
Judge Little was called up by phone,
who agreed to come to Danville on the
l2.47 train and hold a hearing during
the afternoon. In the interim nothing
remained but to hand Sommers and
SaSsaman over to Sheriff Breckbill and
from that hour until 80 p. IN. the two
men enjoyed the novelty of an exper-
fence as prisoners in the Montour coun-
ty Jail.
At 1.30 o'clock court convened, Presi-
dent Judge Little and Associate Blee
occupying the bench. The necessary
formality being complied with writs of
habeas corpus were granted and Som
mers and Sassaman brought into court.
Seven witnesses were heard, the first
being Jacob Hartman, the venerable
father of the deceased, Wellington Hart
man. The bulk Of the testimony our
readers are already familiar with.
Edward d. Rishel who lives near the
school house was the first to respond to
Miss Hartman's call for help. He
found the spring wagon lying on its
side with Wellington Hartman lying I'M
der the tongue dead. The two men in
the buggy came along-witness recog-
nized Sommers. They stopped and ask
ed what had happened. They admitted
that they had run into Hartman's wag-
on, but said they couldn't hold their
horse. 1t did not impress Mr.. Rishel as
a dark night. Mrs. Rishel also testified
corroborating her husband.
Ella May Hartman, who occupied the
front of the spring wagon with her faith
er, first heard the approaching buggy in
the rear. 1t was driving at a terrific
rate of speed and she warned her father,
who drew the horses to the right side of
the road. She heard some one call out
"whoa ~ and at the same instant the
crash came. She did not see the buggy
nor the men.
John krum, constable Of Cooper town.
ship, who was stan1ing at his front gate
saw both vehicles drive by. The buggy,
he said was going at or 4 minute clip.
The collision occurred only sixty-two
feet beyond his residence. Upon hear
ing the crash he rushed to the spot Mr..
Hartman's horses had already dragged
the spring wagon out of sight. The bug
gy was lying on it's side and the horse
had fallen down. He assisted the men
to right the buggy during which he was
recognized by Sommers. Mr.. Krum gave
it as his opinion that the men, were in
toxicated, especially Sommers.
William Hartzell, owner of the horse
and buggy, which figured in the COLI
sion, was the next witness. He said the
horse was a fast one, which had been
trained for the race course. He had
never experienced any difficulty in
handling him, AMI Sommers, he said,
had driven the animal before
The testimony showed that Sommers
and Sassaman deceived the liveryman.
They hired the horse and buggy for a
ride to Catawissa. When they returned
about midnight they represented the
horse and buggy as all right. They told
him he would hear of an accident, which
it suited them to locate near Rupert. 1t
was not until all the facts came out that
he learned they had been to Danville.