Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-11-28
IMPORTANT NEWS
QUICKLY TOLD
Happenings In Various Sections OI
Old Maryland
NEWS ITEMS FOR OUR READERS

olney.-The Montgomery County
General Hospital was officially opened
on Thanksgiving Day. The Board Of
Directors held 8 reception for all
stockholders and the general public.
Frostburg. - Fire destroyed the
/ plant and garage Of the Somerset
Highland Foundry and Machine Com
pany at Somerset causing a loss OF
| $4,000 with $4,000 insurance. Seven
automobiles were destroyed, three
having just arrived from the factory
The Baltimore and Ohio passenger
station was saved after much effort.
Hagerstown.-As the result of be-
ing struck by an automobile driven
By Paul Zeigler, Of the Hagerstown
Auto Motive Exchange, on the VIII
Transport turnpike, William Edgar
Sampson, 6-year-old son Of William
Sampson died at his home at Half
Way on his birthday. He was uncon-
scious three days.
Hagenstown.-As the result Of the
accidental discharge of a shotgun,
which he was handling, Andrew, 10
year-old son Of Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew
Bishop, near Hancock, is dead. The
lad was looking at the gun and in
some manner it was discharged, the
shot entering his hip and back. The
boy lived two hours after the shoot
ing.
La Plata.-Robert Kearney, colored,
found guilty in the Criminal Court
here on a charge of assaulting Captain
West Die and his son with attempt
to kill with a hatchet while aboard
their schooner lying in the Potomac
River, was sentenced to 20 years in
the Penitentiary. The Captain. and his
son have been in a hospital in Wash
ington, but both were able to appear
against the negro.
Hagerstown. their automo-
bile left the state road on South Noun
tain, while rounding a curve, J.
Thomas Bittle, merchant, of Ellerton,
and wife were badly injured. The
machine plunged over a 20-foot en-
bankment. Bittle sustained a frac-
tured arm, Mrs. Bittle was cut about
the face and severely shocked. They
were taken to Middletown, where their
injuries were dressed. The automo-
bile was completely wrecked.
Easton.-At the annual meeting of
the Talbot County. Chapter, American
Red Cross. held here, Colonel Oswald
Tilghman was reelected president;
Mrs. H. H. Pearson, vice-president;
Alfred B. Mason. treasurer; Mrs.
Percy P. Cox, secretary; Thomas NJ.
Bartlett was elected chairman Of the
executive committee in place of Mr..
Hampton Howell, resigned. and Mr.
Lawrence II. Chaffinch was made
member of the executive committee
to fill the vacancy caused by Mr..
Howells retirement
Cambridge-Peter Yancey Nichols
was found guilty of murder in the
first degree but without capital pun
ishment by jury in the Circuit Court
for Dorchester county. Nichols killed
his wife, Essie Nichols, in the woods
In Fork district, this county, August
2T last, by shooting her. Some diff
Guilty was experienced in getting
jury to try Nichols, many of the
| jurors, both those Of the regular panel
and the talesmen, being opposed to
capital punishment. The jury that
was empanelled took advantage of
recent law, which enables a jury to
say guilty Of murder in the first de-
gree without capital punishment" in
which case the prisoner cannot be
sentenced to death.
ArnOld-For the second time with
in year the school at Arnold Station
has been broken open and robbed. A
music machine bought with money
collected by the children. was taken
and all of the records were stolen
ones. which were thrown down and
ground to pieces on the school floor.
The flag Of the school flown In front
Of the building during school hours
was also taken Some one is report
ed to have seen an automobile stop
before the school house late in the
evening. Prof. George Fox, superin-
tendent OF Anne Arundel county
schools, is offering 800 reward for
any information leading to the arrest
and conviction Of the guilty parties.
fredericksburg. = Aloysius Laigneil,
an aged resident of this section, was
probably fatally burned Laigneil,
who is 81 years of age, was burning
leaves on the farm OF his son, Mich
olas Laigneil The fire got beyond
his control and spread to a chicken
house. In attempting to extinguish
the blaze his clothing caught fire and
he was terribly burned. William
Corkran, of Hurlock, driver OF an oil
wagon, was making his rounds among
the farmers and as he drove up to the
I.aigneil farm, discovered the aged
man enveloped in flames. He ran to
his assistance. Laigneil was born and
reared around Neiuport and Dixbunde,
Belgium, where some Of the battles
OF the late war were fought. He came
to this section about four years ago.
Hyattsville.-A jury in the Circuit
Court of Anne Arundel county re-
turned a verdict awarding Mrs. Sarah
T Yates. S5 years old, Of Hyattsville,
IS OOO damages for personal injuries
against Walter R. Wilson, of River
dale a real-estate operator. It is said
that this is the largest verdict for
damages for personal injuries ever re-
turned by a jury in Anne Arundel
county According to the pleadings
Mrs. Yates on New Years Day, 1918,
while crossing the floor in the kitchen
uhfph she