The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-12-28
The KEYSTONE STATE
Latest News Of Pennsylvania Told in
Short Order.

jury in court at Media awarded
10000 damages 10 Edward N. Della.
hunt and Margaret l.. Dcallunt, aged
9 and II years, respectively, in suit
against the United Telephone and Telc.
graph Company. Thomas Dclahunt. the
father of the children, was killed by
shock OF electricity received through
one of the telephones OF the company
on April 9, 1902, at his greenhouse in
Chester The telephone in question, witt,
hundreds OF others, had lrcn out of or.
der by reason of the big sleet storm of
February 22, 1852, and on the evening
III question the bell rang and Mr.. Della
hunt took down the receiver and re-
ceived Il shock which caused his death.
The telephone wire had become crossed
with an electric light wire. A previous
jury gave the children $4,000, but the
Court granted new trial The case
was tried by Judge Robert Ralston, OF
Philadelphia.
Former State Senator William Henry
Sutton produced testimony before
jury of view, which will assess dam
ages due from the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company for tile taking OF one and
three-tifth acres of land from the rear
OF Mr.. Sntton's homestead at Ilaver.
ford Station, Lower Merton Township
The land was taken for the purpose OF
laying an additional track. Several wit
nesses testified that Mr. Sutton was
damaged TO the extent OF $4,000 to
$4,000.
Following the example set by Govern.
or Pennypacker the Board OF Pardons
has taken to filing reasons why it re-
fuses 10 recommend executive clemency.
Under the Constitution the Board OF
Pardons must file reasons for recon.
mcnding pardon. but there is nothing
to compel the filing of reasons for re.
fusing clemency. The board filed rea.
SONS, however. for refusing recon-
nendation OF q communication OF the
death sentences Of Mrs. Kate Edwards
and Samuel Greason, of Bcrks County
The statement declares that all the evi.
dence in the trial showed conclusively
that The murder OF the womans husband
was Dremedita,ed Higher courts had
passed on the verdict and sustained it
and all the testimony confirms that both
Mrs. Edwards and Greason are gully.
Judges Weiss and Kunkci heard ar
gument in the Dauphin County Court
in the quo warranto proceedings against
the Monongahela Bridge Company tc
show by what authority il exercises the
privileges OF corporation. The case
involves the right OF the city of Pitts
burg to collect toll from the Pittsburg
Railways Company for crossing the
Smithhcld Street Bridge in that city
and has hecn pending for four years.
The court reserved its decision.
A conference between Secretary OF
Agriculture Critchheld, Pure Food Com
missioner Warren and the agents, chem.
lists and attorneys of the Pure Food
Department will be held for the purpose
OF arranging a pure food bill. which
will embrace the best features OF laws
now in existence. If possible the bill
will be so drawn that manufacturers
who adulteratc food and drink can b.
reached
IilIey & Wilson, attorneys for Chas.
Johnson. who was convicted at Towanda
for the murder OF Mrs Maggie Benja.
min Johnson, his sister-in-law, and An
mic Benjamin filed twelve reasons Tor
a new trial. The jail officials found on
Johnson's person letter addressed TO
a sister, in which he asks her to pro-
cure laudanum, secrete 1t in package
of smoking tobacco and send to him.
Other letters OF similar tenor nave
been intercepted Johnson denied that
he had any idea of suicide, but said he,
wanted TO use the drug TO produce.
sleep.
Judge A. S. Swartz, at Norristown,
defined the rights of labor unions, when
he sentenced Charles McIlvaine, of Phil
adelphia, TO three months in jail, he hav-
ing been convicted of riot in participat-
ing in an attack OF union steel structu-
raj workers on non-union workmen at
Abrams Station last October. Mcll-
vaine had been acquitted of assault and
battery on Levi Hopkins, one of the
non-union men. On a motion for a new
trial, counsel for the accused man con.
tended that the fact of this acquittal
should regulate the idea that he had
not participated in riot. Judge
Swartz, in overruing this contention
said; THE Court held that while Nc
Ilvaine might not have actually assault
ed any one, he might have been present
to terrify. He might not have been
present TO urge violence, perhaps the re-
verse; but his being present to merely
stop workmen from working was in it
self an unlawful act. and he would be
guilty OF riot"
The jury in tho case OF Charles John
son at Towando, accused of killing his
sister-in-law and niece, returned YER
dict OF guilty OF murder in the first de-
gree, after seventeen minutes delibera-
ton. The jury took two ballots, stand
ing ten for first degree and two for sec
ond degree on the first ballot. The rem
dering of this verdict terminated one OF
the. hardest fought criminal trials in the
history of Bradford county, and resulted
in the first verdict of first degree muir
der since December II, 1874, when Al
bert Brown was convicted of the mur-
der of Cora Creenlcaf. Brown was
hanged July l, 1875.