davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
FARMER DEFENDS
WHISKY WITH GUN
HaddonfieId Man Elects Family
and Defies Police in Barri-
caded Home
sURR0UNDEOAND CAPTURED

After riectng his wife Hnd tire"
children from the house late last night,
Andrnw Firsht. forty six years old, WI"
lives on farm at Orchard station on
the Eresson road near Ifaddonii"ld, \.
J q. barricaded himself in his HON" upon
the appearance Of the police today and
held them at bay with q shotgun for
nearly un hour.
Mrs. Firsht and her three small "bi.-
dren were found wandering on tie
streets Of Haddonfeld early this morn
ing and upon being taken 10 the poiir"
station the woman told of her husband 8
actions.
Chief Of Police George Baxier ""nt
to the Firsht farm and found the man
locked in his house. lie was armed
with shotgun. Tn" police surrounded
tho house and finally broke in door
and placed Firsht under arrest.
During q ""ircl of the house u ten
gallon still and large quantity 81
whisky. cider and equipment for max
ing liquor we've found.
At hearing this morning before
Recorder William Carey, Mrs. Firsht,
her two childrrn and two married
daughters testified against Firsht, The
married daughters, both from Phila
dolphin, wer" Mrs. Anna Saulsky, l112
Peel street, and Mrs. Mary Solohur,
1871 Peel street. They testified that
their father Oh numerous occasions had
Cjected his family from their home,
forcing them TO sleep in the fields and
that he sold large quantities Of whisky
10 foreigners in Philadelphia. He wUs
held under $500 bail for court by Re
corder Carey.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
CHARGE MEN STOLE STOCK
FROM FORMER EMPLOYER
Sunshine Peanut Products Co. Now
Under a Cloud

After stealing sufficient materials
and equipment from their former cm
ployer. John Chittick, thirty six years
Old. Of 5O21 Hutchinson street. Howard
Wright. twenty four years old, of Air
drie street, and Thomas Schell. twenty
four years old, of the Camden Y. NJ. G..
A.. went into business for themselves,
according to the police. They we're ar
rested last night. charged with larceny.
Two weeks ago the three men mott
fed their employer, the Bunch Peanut
Co., 3733 York road Of their resigng
tions. They were employed Or statesmen
and also helped to make deliveries to
customers. During the last week they
worked executives noticed the sales of
the three men declined from $3.50 TO
$500.
Following their resignation the com q
pany notified the police Of the German
town avenue and Lycoming streets sta
ton Of their suspicious and District De r.
tective Thomas Winning started an in
vestigation. He found the men had
sturted in business as the Sunshine
Peanut Products co. with headquarters
at the home Of Chittick. After a search
the detective found large quantity Of
supplies and equipment owned by the
Bunch Co. IN possession of these three
At a hearing this morning before
Magistrate Wrigley, at the Germantown
avenue and Lycoming streets station,
the three men were held under $500 bail
for further hearing December 2.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
NABS MAN IN CAFE
AS JEWEL Thief
Actress Points Out Suspect in
Crowded Chestnut Street Res
taurant to PatroIman
LOST BONDS AND GEMS

Charged with having stolen $500 IN
Liberty bonds and jewelry worth $1,000
from two New York actresses, John
sherry. Of Chicago, Ill, was arrested
In Chestnut street restaurant last
night.
According to PatrOlmeu Mclean, OF
the Fifteenth and Locust streets sta
tion, ho was approached by Miss Sue
Creighton. IN actress playing at local
theatre, and taken 70 tho restaurant,
where she pointed out Sherry and de-
mandeI that he be arrested
sherry did not deny knowing the
actress, and made no attempt to escape.
The restaurant vas well filled ut the
time Miss Creighton demanded sherry
be tuken in custody, and the incident
caused excitement. the diners struggling
to get q view Of the girl and the man
she had complained against.
Mclean finally goa his prisoner out
If the restaurant and took him to the
station house
Miss Creighton charges. it Is said.
that in New York recently sherry
stole the Liberty honds and .jeweIry
from the apartments occupied by her
self and Il girl friend, another actress
and made his escape.
On Chestnut street last night. she
says. she saw man closely resembling
the one who stole her valuables. She
followed him to the restaurant. made
certain It was Sherry, and then sum
moned the patrolman.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
TEMPEST GETS "WARNING"
Told to Watch His Step" in Max.
ine Drug Charges

Assistant superintendent Of Police
Tempest is both amused and curious
concerning post card he received today
from Washington.
The following is printed upon the
card:
"Your roar against alleged Depart
ment of Justice operative heard by Sc
crct Service chief Can YOU present
any proof Of the suspicious you have
spread broadcast that an officer Of the
government had Il guilty knowledge Of
unlawful transgrc cs>ions? II not, watch
your own step in the future"
lie believes that 'hr card refers T."
the testimony he gave yesterday AZ Il
hearing of those arrested during raid
on Il North Twenty second street house
Sunday. 4 large quantity of drugs
was seized during the raid which an al
legged Department of Justice agent in
tcrferrcA ITfIS.
He is puzzles by the fact that the
post mark shows that the card was
mailed ut almost tn" same time he guvc
his testimony.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
MISS LiPPINCOTT SPEAKS
Sick Germantown Girl Breaks 81.
lence Of Four Months

The family Of Miss Joan Lippincott. -.
the Germantown girl who has been i'll
with sleeping sickness for four
months, are overjoyed today at her par
tiul recovery Of speech, and are pre-
pairing 70 celebrate Christmas in her
sickrpOm.
yesterday afternoon as Mrs. o. c.
Lippincott. her mother, was passing
through the girls room in the family
home Nt 6sO5 Lincoln drive, she no
ticed that her daughter seemed brighter.
A moment later the girl uttered the
word Mother" A little later her lips
framed the word "home," and then
"Bradford, the name of her brother.
Complete recovery Of Miss Lippin-
colt 10 expected. though it maye be
many weeks before she is able to leave
her bed, Murray Gibson, of Merton, her,
fiance. to whom she was to have been
married in November. was one of the
first to be told the good news Of her
Improvement. Ths"fan!ily plans to have
u Christmas tree in the girls room.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
Roads In and about City
Reported in Good Condition

Lincoln highway - Trenton to
Chambersburg) good condition, ex-
cept through Berks county, where II
is only fair.
Baltimore pike. through Kennett
Square and oxford, is in good con
dition.
William Penn highway--(Easton
to Chambersburg) all sections in
good condition.
Philadelphia and Heading pike
Good condition.
Lancaster and Harrisburg pike
Fair in Lancaster county; good in
Dauphin county.
Probably light SNOW. TO be fol-
lowed by rain, with slowly rising
temperature and variable winds in
creasing and becoming southeast.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21

In the event new trial is granted It
may be year before the case is clsoed.
James bore up well under the YER
dict, which was delivered to Justice
Katzenbach at 3 :45 o'clock last eve
ming. The jury had been ready for
some time when the justice sent for
them. They had taken only twenty
minutes TO reach first degree verdict,
without recommendation of mercy.
James slept we'll last night, accord
ing to Day Warden Logue at the Cam
den jail. He was still sleeping at o
o'clock. Apparently he felt some meas
ure CT relief TO have the ordeal finished.
Mrs. Maude James, his wife, and his
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. John James, also
bore up we'll.
James who showed recovery yester-
day from his physical collapse Of the
last few days, faced the jury when
the foreman pronounced the fatal words
without culver, but with the pallor
Of death already on his features.
The Jury, in delivering it's verdict.
made no recommendation for life sen
tence. which it is permitted to do, or
for any leniehcy or mercy whatsoever.
Immediately following the announce.
ment of conviction by Richard f.. New
man. of Merchantville, foreman Of the
jury, and the individual poll of the
other eleven members, counsel for the
condemned man. John Harris, moved
for new trial.
After the fatCful words Of the jurors,
just before James was about to be led
from the Cour, room. he turned toward
the seat which his wife, Mrs Maud
James, had occupied since the COM
mcncement Of the trial. uis lips seemed
to frame the words Good by, good
by" and then he saw that his wife was
not there, and he was looking at strange,
hostile faces
Virtually all james fumily abscnted
themselves from tn" courtroom when
the trial reOpcncd at 80 last night,
after recess Mt I o'clock, as they
were certain of what the verdict would
be, and felt they could not bear up
under the additional strain.
Prosecutor Wolvcrtou, in urging q
verdict of first degree murder, said
man who had committed go horrible
crime as the gradual beating to death
Of man who was or had been at one
time friend, to steal $40 900 from
him, was deserving Of no mercy.
Justice Katzenbach thanked the
jurors, saying they had all done their
duty by the state and the community.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
IreddUdy, Boots"
and Ross Are Held
Continued from PAGE One

Continued from PAGE One
smiling now and then. to testimony in
two, cases which came up in advance
of theirs.
-Ihe Peirce case was called at 10 :15
o'clock. Joseph u. Peirce, brother
Of the murdered man. identified the
body. G. A. BelyUu. of 123 North
Twentieth street, who has offices in the
buil'ing where Pcirce was slain. aud
j. Il. McDonough, who also is in tie
building, testified to finding the body
Calls Mulgrew Dad"
Detective James Mulgrew took the
stand to give the principal police testi
mony. AS he stood there adjusting his
eyeglasses. Marie called to him Hello,
Dad. Mulgrew is an elderly man,
and of kindly manner, and she gave
him the title when he was bringing her
up from Wheeling.
Hello little girl" the detective an
swered kindly.
He then related to the coroners Jury
thcvari ouscircumstanc es of the finding
of the body and the arrest of Treadway
and Marie at Wheeling. He told also
of the earlier statements made by
Treadway and Marie about the murder.
and their later statements. Detective
iihiiS ilcdhI'y. WHO HelDeu make the
arrests i'll Wheeling, told some addi-
tional circumstances Other police wit
nesses gave minor details. Coroucr's $
Physician Wadsworth then testified to
the autopsy findings, and the jury
quickly pronounced its verdict.
Treadway Quizzed Again
The three prisoners We're taken into
the cOrOner's office and then to the cell
room, where they were locked up tenn
porarily to await the prison van which
would take them back to Moyamensing
Prison.
Treadway was taken down to Cap-
tain Souder's Office for examination. The
detectives wished to quiz him about
Roland Hail." arrested on n charge of
having robbed st. Patrick's Church.
The prisoner, the police say. is Harry
kendriCk. whose name already has been
mentioned in the Peirce case. lie was
the author Of the letter found in Tread
ways coat in which he tells Of having
'hit Trix over the head with my spr-
cial 80. TriX was his wife, Mary
Thomas, who died in rooming house
on East Thompson street yesterday.
The police want to make Guite Ger
tain that Kendrick may not, after all,
be Elliot. the one remaining fugitive
in the Peirce murder. They do not be-
lieve he is Elliot, Captain Souder said,
but are overlooking no possible bets.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
JAMES TO APPEAL,
GAINING 8 MONTHS
Confessed and Convicted Slayer
of Paul viii Garry Case to
Higher Court
.a--------=-as
PRISONER SLEEPS WELL
Judge Puts of Sentence
Because of Christmas

As Justice Katzenbach was lcav-
ing the courtroom after the jury had
convicted James of first degree mur
dor he turned to Sheriff Hatch and
said:
"Sherift. my reason for not i'm.
posing sentence on James ut this time
is because l do not think l should
do 30 in the midst of so much Christ
mas festivities. The spirit of Nule-
tide prevails everywhere and the
least can do for the poor fellow and
his family is TO withhold the final
decree at least until after the Christ
mas holidays are over. In the mean
time ! wish you would keep careful
supervision over the prisoner, not
that I do not feel that you will. but
] think at this time he should be
safeguarded we'll
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
FALSE-KEY THIEVES ACTIVE
Three Apartments Entered AM
JeweIry and Clothing Stolen

False keys were used in several Ger
mantown rObberies last night. The
Wissahickon Apartments. at Schuyler
street and Queen lane, were entered in
this manner. An apartment occupied
by =. Behal, was robbed Of TWO rings.
watch and clothing. while from the
rooms of Howard G. Holtou n watch.
chain, bracelet and pin, valued at $3.50,
were taken.
False keys also were used 70 obtain
entry at the Mapleshade Inn. Bethlehem
pike and Germantown avenue. An over
coat and pair of gloves belonging 10
James Q. Quicker, were taken.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
WARES TO GUST TRAINER
Plan to Remove Him as Twenty
sixth Ward Committeeman

Ware leaders plan the recall Of Joseph
G. Trainer, administration leader. as
the Republican city committeeman from
the Twenty sixth ward. The effort will
he made tonight at special meeting Of
the ward committee. In his place it is
proposed to eject either Joseph j. Bald
win, formerly assistant director Of
health, or Congressman William $.
Ware.
When Mr.. Trainer vas elected he
succeeded Congressman Ware, who mad
been the city committeeman for years.
Touights meeting will be at the East
End RepIblican Club. 1899 South
Broad street. MIR. Trainer told friends
he did not intend TO contest the action
OF the Wares. He holds that he would
rather be free lance fighter against
the Wares than n member Of the Ware
controlled city committee.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
FIND LOOT IN ROOM
Police Accused Prisoner Of Robbine
Germantown Avenue Store

detectives MacDUugall and Richard
son. of the Park and lehigh avenues
station, while searching the rooms of
Richard Page, twenty one years old, of
1917 North Broad street, this morning
found loot valued at more than $500.
Page was arrested on December II
while he was acting in a suspicious
manner near Thirteenth street aud
Allegheny avenue. Upon the approach
Of patrolman Baker he han away, and
during the chase which followed lie
threw away Il jimmy and revolver.
1t was discovered Tint the jimmy bore
traces Of paint thnt were identical with
that from IL window of the hardware
store Of 4. G. Sattcrlcc at 3422 Ger.
mGntown avenue, which had been
broken into that same morning and
robbed Of hardware valued at more
than $3.50
Following the discovery OF the loot
in his room today. Page, who escaped
from MoyamCnsing Prison two years
ago b., scaling the wall, will be given
hearing tomorrow. charged with rob-
hing the Sattcrlec store.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
WINTER BEGINS TONIGHT
Warmer Weather Today May Be
Followed by Rain in % Hours

Winter begins ar 1o:17 o'clock to-
night. \ lot Of folks had already dis
"arded their summery frocks and straw
hats, but the frosty headed monarch
who rules over crmined fields amt frozen
lakes and streams does not make his
official how until tonight.
This is also the shortest deg Of the
year. unless you spend it waiting on a
street corner for a trolley car. The
sun was up at 30 o'clock this morn.
ing and will set at 4 80 o'clock this
afternoon, lingering min" hours and
nineteen minutes.
The temperature today is higher than
yesterday. 1t was - degrees ct z 30
o'cIork this morning. and may reach IS
by this afternoon. 1T is raining in the
Mississippi valley, and "a the storm
area appears to be moving toward the
Great Lake region, Mr.. Bliss believes
it VIII rain here in twenty four hours.
Tn" rain may be preceded by II light
snowfall
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
FOOTPAD ATTACKS WOMAN
Hospital Attendant Is Struck Down,
Watehman Fires at Man


Attacked by man near the entrance
to the Pennsylvania Hospital for the
Insane, at midnight, Miss Celia Sobel
was beaten unconscious with the butt o.
revolver and seriously injured
The assailRnt madc his escape. polic,
believe the purpose "f the attack wa
robbery. but that the man was fright
"ned away by a watchmnn who nearcd
the scene as Miss SoboI fell TO thu
ground
The watrhmGn ran 10 the girls aid
and her assailant dashed across the yard
Of the hospital, climbed wall md es
capped to Market street, as the watch
man fired several shots at him.
Miss Sobcl wGs returning to the IN
stitution, whore she is an attcndant
after having visited n friend. As sho
stepped inside the entrance gate, az
Forty fourth aud Market streets, til,
man sprNug from behind u tree.
lie struck viciously at Miss Sobe'
with Il revolver. tho blow gIancing frou
her head, partly broken in force by he,
uDraised right arm. All the bones IL.
h"r right hand wer" broken or crushed
by tln force Of the blow.
AZ Miss Sobel fell she screamed al,
th" uor. "nrugod. kicked her in The
sid" ms sh" 1ng on the ground.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
8 "uNDESIRABLES' CAUGHT
Arrests Follow Order to Keep From
City Suspicious Characters

Following an order issued yesterday
By director of Public Safety James r .
Cortelyou that suspicious characters be
not allowed to enter Philadelphia when
driven from other cities. detectives ar
rested eight men who were unable to
give satisfactory account of themselves
1t is feared the city will be the OBJ
jecttve Of undesirablcs. New York has
shipped out, and for that reason Di-
rector Cortclyou has adopted prccau-
tionary methods of nrresting suspicirSs
characters.
Those arrested will be given hear
ings before Magistrate Rcnshaw in
Central Police Court today.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21

; Frank ]. James, confessed and con
Yicted murderer of David s. Paul, will
get from eight months to a year re
priege from the death penalty through
>.he appeal to be taken by his attorney,
John Harris.
Justice katSenbach has not yet i'm.
roscd sentence of death, though in New
Jersey this is done cuStomarily as soon
rs q defendant is declared guilty. The
Justice, who presided at the trial in
camden with Judge Hates, Of the
Criminal Court, forbore to sentence
James to death now because of the
Christmas season. Sentence probably
will be pronounced at the conclusion Of
the trial Of his friend, Raymond W.
Schuck, also under indictment, whose
trial begins early in tn" new year.
Mrs. James is ill at her nome, 2O1
New Broadway, Brooklawn, y. j., and
could not be seen. Her mother. Mrs.
Joseph Spicgle, said she was bearing
the shock remarkably well MAUD is
very brave, and her faith in Frank is
till mistaken" said Mrs. Spiegle. "Fie
was good 70 her and TO Harold, their
son, and they cannot forget that. She
Is strong, physically. and that has been
fortunate, because she wants TO keep
NJ for Franks sake.
While There Is Lie"
Yesterday was very hard, and we
couldn't get her to eat; that, without
,leer last night, is telling on her to-
Gay. But it has not affected Maud 9
courage; while there is life there is
hope. you know.
Harold, the sixteen year-old son,
who has had tonsilitis for several days,
was up and dressed today. With tenrs
in his eyes, he said: II feel too badly
to say anything yet, except / haven't
given up hope.
JOHN Harris and his son. William
Harris, who jointly defended James.
ore now busy preparing reasons in sup
port Of a motion for new trial, which
they must file under the law within
Ton days. These will be based on about
Z score of exceptions to rulings made
turing the trial.
The motion for Il new trial will be
based on three major points-tirst, that
no women were drawn on the jury panel
from which the trial jury was selected :;
,acond, that Justice Katzenbach ex-
"uded testimony tending to show"
that there was insanity in James fam
lily, and third, failure to establish the
corpus delicti," or body Of the crime,
.h Camden county before James con
lessioE was introduced and accepted in
rrideucc.
Rejection of ..the motion for a new
trial by Justice Kat2enbach is con-
idered certainty, as the exceptions
'aken by Mr.. Harris were all to the
.lSticc's rulings. The next step, ac-
cOrding to New Jersey legal procedure,
ls Gppeal to the chancellor Of New Jer-
Ssy. lie will refuse the appeal as a
matter Of course.
To Court of Errors
The case will then be taken to the
Court OF ErrorS and Appeals. at Trcu-
ION, which will pass on it. finally. Even
lould this court deny the appeal the
1elay involved will postpone the exc
cItion Of the death sentence for at least
light months, according to those famil-
ar with New Jersey criminal practice
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
PAVING CONTRACTS LET
Mayor Awards $4,000 Worth Of
Jobs to Two Concerns

Paving contracts totuling SIS. 100
We're awarded today by Mayor Moore
as follows
Eastern Paving CO. --- Lawrence
street from Tabor road 10 Olney ave-
nue., $3.50; Darieu street. Bristol
street to cayugu street, 5000.
Union Paving Co.-Scvcnth street
from Chew avenue to N"dro avenue,
$24,950; Annsbhry street from Fifth
t" Sixth streets. $4,000. and Jaspcr
street from BuckiuS street to Frank
ford avenue, sd 300.