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Valley Spirit: April 28, 1869 Go To Page : a | 2 | 3 | 4 |

What Has Become of John?
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper criticizes John Cessna for disappearing from Franklin now that it is time to deliver offices to his supporters.

Remember the Dead
(Column 01)

Summary: Calls on citizens of Chambersburg to clean up the graveyards in honor of their loved ones who have passed away.

Full Text of Article:

We would call the attention of our people to the condition of our graveyards. Spring is here, and this is the time to bestow some care upon them. They ought to be thoroughly cleaned out. The ground is strewn with the dead leaves of last year. Let them be gathered up and burned, or hauled away. Let the living who love their dead beautify the places that ought to be very dear to them. Trim your evergreens or plant new ones. Plant flowers and water them frequently. In this way, your hearts will go out in tenderness towards those whom you loved in life, and sweet recollections of the dear ones gone will come to encourage you as you tread your own pathway to the grave.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The article announces that Henry Ruby has been elected president of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Shippensburg to replace the late John Wunderlich. Ruby had once lived in Chambersburg and founded the Franklin Telegraph, a Democratic newspaper.
(Names in announcement: Henry Ruby, John Wunderlich)

Bryan's Grand Caravan, Menagerie and Circus
(Column 01)

Summary: The best circus in the country will perform in Chambersburg. It will boast a chariot drawn by twelve cream colored steeds, elephants, camels, and other beasts and birds. "No such opportunity has been presented to the people of Franklin county for many years to witness as grand and large a collection of animals." Admission is 50 cents for adults, 25 for children.

Court Proceedings
(Column 02)

Summary: Continues coverage of the circuit court, which this week concentrated on criminal cases. One case in particular was that of a black man on trial for raping three white women, ultimately found guilty. Other cases were mainly for Assault and Battery, with defendants mostly getting off with fines.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Seylar, Dr. James W. Robinson, Michael Fullon, Josephine Franklin, Cambridge Norris, William Gilbert, William Means, James Gilbert, Isaac Burns, Hezekiah Hillon, Reuben Bomberger, Nelson Stewart, Charles Diggs, Branton Williams, Henry Gray, James Polk Wilson, William Lee, Elias Butler, Stumbaugh, Harmon)

Full Text of Article:

The case of the Commonwealth vs. Samuel Seylar about which the jury had not agreed when we went to trial last week resulted in a verdict of not guilty.

The case of the Commonwealth vs. Dr. James W. Robinson, tried for the same offence, was concluded on Thursday morning, the jury finding a verdict of guilty on the second count of the indictment which charged the larceny of Michael Fallon's goods. On Friday morning the Court sentenced Dr. Robinson to three years imprisonment in the Eastern Penitentiary.

Josephine Franklin, a colored girl, convicted, during the first week of Court, for stealing some six dollars worth of money, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment in the Eastern Penitentiary.

Cambridge Norris, the negro fiend who ravished three white girls about a month ago, was tried on Thursday forenoon on three indictments--two charging him with rape and the other with Assault and Battery with intent to ravish. These cases were all tried before the same jury. The evidence disclosed the same facts that were given in this paper at the time these outrages took place. The jury rendered a verdict of guilty on each indictment whereupon the Court sentenced him to fifteen years imprisonment on each of the indictments for rape, and to five years imprisonment on the indictment for Assault and Battery with intent to ravish, making thirty five years in the aggregate in the Eastern Penitentiary.

The Court room was crowded during the trial, our citizens manifesting the utmost interest in the proceedings, but no efforts to mete out summary punishment were made as was anticipated by some. The law was left to take its course and universal satisfaction now prevails.

The case of the Commonwealth vs. Wm. Gilbert, Wm. Means, James Gilbert and Isaac Burns for Riot and Assault and Battery, and the case of the Commonwealth vs. Hezekiah Hillon for Assault and Battery were in the nature of cross-actions. They grew out of difficulties between the parties at Reuben Bomberger's sale in Southampton township.

In the first case the jury rendered a verdict of guilty as to all but Wm. Means, and the Court sentenced each of the three defendants to pay a fine of ten dollars and the costs.

In the case against Hezekiah Hillon, the verdict was not guilty but Defendant to pay one-half of the costs and Prosecutor, Wm. Gilbert, the other half.

In the case of the Commonwealth vs. Hezekiah Hillon for Surety of the Peace wherein Wm. Means was Prosecutor, the Court sentenced Defendant to pay the costs.

The case of the Commonwealth vs. Nelson Stewart, Surety of the Peace on oath of Charles Diggs, resulted in a sentence of Defendant to pay costs.

Branton Williams, Henry Gray and James Polk Wilson were indicted for Riot and Assault and Battery over in "Wolffstown." The Grand jury ignored the bill as to Wilson and found a true bill against the other two for Assault and Battery on a man named Wm. Lee, in the house of Elias Butler, the Prosecutor.

The verdict was guilty and the Court sentenced Williams to pay costs and to imprisonment in county jail for 30 days and Gray simply to pay costs.

Commonwealth vs. Stumbaugh, Harmon and Harmon resulted in a verdict of not guilty but Defendants to pay the costs.

A considerable number of cases were settled. In others the bills were ignored. A large number of cases were continued to the August Sessions.

Not a civil cause was tried, the entire time of the Court having been taken up with the trial of criminal cases.

Report of the Grand Jury
(Column 02)

Summary: Grand Jury report on the condition of public buildings in Franklin County.
(Names in announcement: J. M. Cooper, James D. McDowell, John Sanders, George Barnitz, Daniel Tolhelm, Samuel PhillippySr., J. B. Miller, Thomas Hovey, Joseph Deckellmayer, William Stitva, Joseph H. Gilbert, Henry H. Barnhart, W. A. Reid, R. Jacobs, David Tenley, Benjamin Fritz, Frank Henderson, Ephraim Burkholder)

Full Text of Article:

The Grand Jury made the following report: To the Honorable the Judges of the Court of the Quarter Sessions of Franklin county:

We, the undersigned, Grand Jurors in attendance at the April Term, A. D. 1869, of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Franklin county, respectfully beg leave to report:

That in the performance of our duties we visited the Public Buildings and inquired into their condition. Their general condition is good, but in our opinion some few repairs and improvements ought to be made.

In the County Prison there are several sunken hearths that ought to be repaired without further delay. In consequence of the flow of water through these sunken hearths in scrubbing, the plaster of the ceilings below them has fallen off and the laths have been injured. There is danger that the injury will be extended to the joists, and that thus serious damage may be done to the Building.

We observed a fissure of considerable extent in the wall that encloses the Prison Yard. This fissure, whilst it does not appear to threaten an early destruction of the wall, might facilitate the escape of a prisoner.

We are of opinion that a closet or small room for the storage of bedding when not in use should be constructed in the Prison. There is ample space unoccupied at the end of one of the corridors on the second story for such a closet, and it could be made there at very small expense.

We found the Poor House Buildings generally to need painting, and the large Stone House to need a new roof. We were informed, however, that in accordance with the recommendation of the Grand Jury at the last January Term, a contract has recently been entered into for painting and roofing the Stone House.

The Physician's office in the Poor House is very poorly furnished. It is without stove, chair, stool or bench, and is not supplied with suitable bottles and jars for keeping and preserving the drugs required for the institution.

Interiorly the Buildings are so neat and clean as they can be kept, and the paupers appear to be properly cared for. The surrounding grounds are in good order. We discovered nothing likely to exercise an unfavorable influence on the health of the inmates of the institution, unless miasma should arise from the meadow west of the buildings, which is overflowed to the extent of several acres. The obstructions to the free passage of the water of the spring should be removed and the overflowed land reclaimed.

The County Farm is quite large, containing, as the new Steward informed us, two hundred and thirty acres. A very considerable portion of the land is rough and not in a high state of cultivation. In the time at our disposal it was not possible for us to make such investigation as would enable us to say whether this farm does or does not yield a fair return to the county. This could only be determined by ascertaining the value of products of the farm for a series of years and comparing this with the expenses properly chargeable against the farm, including interest on the value of the land and stock.

From such information as we have obtained, it has appeared to us that it might be well for those who have special charge of the business affairs of the county to inquire whether the county's interests would not be promoted by the sale of a part of the land now connected with the Poor House. The objections which apply to large farms in general are believed by many intelligent citizens of the county to apply with peculiar force to large farms connected with institutions of this kind.

We repeat the recommendation of a former Grand Jury in favor of the construction of a Cistern at the Court House.

J. M. Cooper
Jas. D. McDowell
John Sanders
Geo. Barnitz
Dan'l Tolhelm
Sam'l Phillippy, Sr.
J. B. Miller
Tho's Hovey
Jos. Deckellmayer
Wm. Stitva
Joseph H. Gilbert
Henry H. Barnhart
W. A. Reid
R. Jacobs
David Tenley
Benjamin Fritz
Frank Henderson
Ephr'm Burkholder

Legislative Candidate
(Column 04)

Summary: Letter to the editor suggesting Capt. George W. Skinner as candidate for the legislature.
(Names in announcement: George W. Skinner)

Candidate for Prothonatory
(Column 04)

Summary: Letter to the editor suggesting George W. Welsh as Prothonotary candidate.
(Names in announcement: George W. Welsh)

County Superintendent
(Column 04)

Summary: Letter suggesting George E. Jones for county superintendent.
(Names in announcement: George E. Jones)

Register and Recorder
(Column 04)

Summary: Letter suggesting Hiram T. Snyder for Register and Recorder.
(Names in announcement: Hiram T. Snyder)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: Joseph Sheber and Miss Emma C. Jarrett, both of Chambersburg, were married on April 22nd in the Methodist Church.
(Names in announcement: Joseph Sheber, Emma C. Jarrett)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: Daniel Metcalfe and Miss Amanda S. Wolfe, both of Mercersburg, were married on April 22nd by the Rev. S. A. Mowers.
(Names in announcement: Daniel Metcalfe, Amanda S. Wolfe, Rev. S. A. Mowers)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: Cyrus D. Culbertson died in Chambersburg on April 25th. He was 57 years old.
(Names in announcement: Cyrus D. Culbertson)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: James Scott, infant son of Daniel and Margaret E. Scott died near Spring Run on April 15th. He was 6 weeks old.
(Names in announcement: James Scott, Daniel Scott, Margaret E. Scott)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: Joseph Christman, Sr., died in St. Thomas on April 3rd. He had lived to "an advanced age."
(Names in announcement: Joseph ChristmanSr.)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: Sarah Benedict died on April 19th. She was 10 years old.
(Names in announcement: Sarah Benedict)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: Daniel Greenawalt died in Chambersburg on April 8th. He was 52 years old.
(Names in announcement: Daniel Greenawalt)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: Abraham Phiel died at the St. Thomas residence of his son, Adam Phiel. He was 84 years old.
(Names in announcement: Abraham Phiel, Adam Phiel)