Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-04-13

One of the number-AIthur Cherry-a
very bright young fellow of pleasing
personality, was perfectly sober and
did the best he could to take care of
his boozy companions. 1t is his testi
mony that will have to be relied up
ON in the law suit that will probably
follow.
The four young men came over to
Danville Monday determined to have
justice. Ammon weller lodged infor-
nation before justice Oglesby which
setsgforth that on the 18th of April at
the d. l.. q W. depot Mart" Forney
and another, whose name is withheld
for the present did without due auth
ority pretend or hold themselves out
to the said Ammon Weller as police
men, thereby endeavoring to eXtort
money or other valuable things from
the said Weller and Scion Boyer"
Forney was apprehended shortly af
ter noon at the rolling mill where he
| is employed. The other man named in
| the information was nowhere to be
found in Danville, although the offic-
ers secured pretty much the whole
town and were busy from morning un-
til late in the day.
Forney was arraigned before justice
of the peace Oglesby about3 O'Clock in
| the afternoon. He pleaded not guilty.
| Ammon Weller was sworn. He had
| Jared the worst, his face was badly
scratched and it was he who had lost
| his gold watch and his money, his loss
in all footing up twenty dollars or
more. He identified Forney as one of
the fellows who had come up to them
(the country boys) near the D. l.. &
w. station. He was emphatic that the
town fellows said they were police
men and would lock them up; also
that they were not permitted to come
down to Mill street, but they were
piloted around by Church street and
over the river bridge by the parties that
had accosted them at the d. L. & W.
station. The witness said he protested
but was told that if he had a bottle
and would give the fellows a drink
they would release him.
Forney being permitted to make an
explanation said that while it was
true that he was with the boys he did
not impersonate an officer. He said
that he merely wanted to see that the
boys got home safely. He took them
around by Church street to keep them
off Mill street, feeling sure that they
would fall into the hands of the police
if they ventured there. He said they
were so drunk that they could not
stand He merely told them that if
they went down to Mill street they
would get locked up.
Scion Boyer was the next witness.
Tt was he that the accused had hold
of, the other party named in the in
formation having Weller Boyer at the
hearing, said addressing Forney: "You
said you would take us to the lookup
and pen us up. l said, you better let
go and you said: Il must attend to
my business. Then one of you said if
you have bottle give us drink and
we will let you 60"
4 Arthur Cherry was the next wit
ness. When the farmer boys were first
accosted it was he who went to their
rescue. This was in the vicinity of
the d. l.. & w. railroad. There was
n crowd of town fellows present, among
whom he recognized Forney. He heard
one of them say, eff you don't pay
your fine we Will put you in the lock
up"
, On the river bridge again Cherry
came to the young farmers rescue,
who were in the hands of the two men
named in the information. He tried
0 get his companions away, but was
himself seized with the threat that
they would put him in the lookup.
, Cherry said: 81 told them that they
we're no police and broke away from
them.
Hughes was in no condition to navi-
gate further and he fell tby the way
side. Cherry then dropped back to
look after Hughes and a few minutes
later found the chief of police, to
whom he told what had occurred.
Meanwhile Weller and Boyer were
taken across the bridge iy the two
men named in the information.
Ira Hughes was next called upon to
testify, but he declined and said he
didn't know anything. Hughes was
the poor fellow who had troubles of
his own. When he fell on the bridge
he was dragged down to the water
works, where he became in very SER
ious condition. 1t was necessary to
take him to the lookup, but he was
moyer borrowed wheel barrow, which
he used in lieu of a patrol wagon.
Hughes spent the remainder of the
night in the bastile, but secured his
release on Sunday.
Chief Mincemoyer was the last wit
ness at the hearing. He saw Forney
and his companion returning from ov-
er the river bridge some time after the
affair was reported to him. The officer
asked them concerning the two young
farmers they denied having seen them,
but later acknowledged that they had
accompanied them across the bridge.
Forney denied having any active
part in the affair and said he was not
we'll acquainted with the true char
ahecter of the otr party named in the
information. The justice, however,
took the view that since Forney was
with the other man accused he was in