100 Years Ago This Month

March 1923

March 2

Woodsboro Baseball Club Banquet

The banquet of the Woodsboro Baseball Club was held in the Woodsboro Opera on Thursday evening. Players of the Woodsboro club, members of the board of directors, the management of the club, officers of the Frederic County League, and visitors from other Frederick County league towns made up a good and enthusiastic a crowd around the banquet table.

Walter LeGore, President of the Woodsboro club during the season of 1923, presided as Toastmaster. Brief responses were made to a number of toasts. Mr. Thompson, President of the League, formally presented to the Woodsboro Club the cup for winning the championship of the county last year. The cup was received by John Stoner, Manager of the team during the past season.

Leonard Barrick, Woodsboro, First Vice President of the League – made a brief address in which he congratulated the club on winning the pennant and spoke of the high brand of sportsmanship displayed by the teams in the county league.

Accidents

On Wednesday morning of last week as John Crabster was on his way home from Keymar, his horse became unmanageable and got away from him and took him on a wild tour of the countryside. We are glad to say that neither Mr. Crabster, nor the horse, was hurt.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

On account of the apparent popularity of the 25 years ago column we ran last week, we shall reproduce them every month or two for a while. It is not a good thing to live too much in the past, nor is it wise to be altogether forgetful of it.

Three Held For Robbing LeGore Store

Edward Redman, James Potts and William Speaks, all of the vicinity of Woodsboro, were arrested on Monday by Deputy Sheriff Dorcas, charged with breaking into the store of the LeGore Lime and Stone Company Saturday night. The prisoners were lodged in the town jail. One of them it is said confessed to the robbery.

The store was entered through a window, and merchandise, including meat, &c. was taken. Soon after the robbery was discovered, suspicion pointed to the three young men and Deputy Dorcus was notified. He found Redman and Speaks in Woodsboro, Potts at his home near LeGore. It was said that Potts had been drinking. Speaks was recently released from jail after serving time for a larceny charge.

March 9

Changeable Weather

During the past week we have had almost any kind of temperature. Last Saturday and Sunday the temperature was high, thermometers rising well into the 70s. Spring birds sang sweetly, maple trees put forth leaves to such an extent that the tops were green. The change to cooler came Sunday evening, and with it a heavy wind which lasted well into the night. Tuesday the County was swept by the worst blizzard and sleet storm of the winter.

Telephone lines were crippled. About 1,000 phones were knocked out in the county. 100 telephone poles were blown over by the storm. Trees broke under heavy burdens of sleet. It was impossible to estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of damage done in the county.

Trolley service slowed up and transportation over roads made difficult. Traffic on a number of the state roads was nonexistent until noon Wednesday. The snowplows of the State Road Commission had all State highway’s clear of snow by that hour. Travel over several of the county roads in the mountain district was interrupted by trees and telephone poles, which broke off, falling across the highways according to reports.

To The Democratic Voters Of Frederick County

I announce myself as a candidate for the nomination of County Commissioner of Frederick County, subject to the decision of the Democratic primaries this fall. I appreciate the support giving me in the primaries four years ago, and took my defeat without question, working hard for the success of the ticket. I again ask the vote of all Democrats, and pledge, if elected, to administer the office on a business like plan. I further believe that my section of the County is entitled to a representation on the board, and feel that I can serve the best interest of all. Any help given me would be appreciated. - J. T. Joy, Graceham

To The Republican Voters Of Frederick County

About two weeks ago, my name appeared in the News, as a probable candidate for the office of County Treasurer, on the Republican ticket. This was brought about by a few of my friends suggesting that I become a candidate.

Not wanting to go into the campaign ill advised, I have been in communication with quite a number of the districts throughout the County and have received very encouraging reports.

I therefore, announce myself as a candidate for Treasurer for Frederick County and will appreciate the support of the voters. If nominated and elected, I promise my undivided and personal attention to the office. - Very respectfully, Clarence Phicegey

March 16

Use Of Cigarettes Increase

More than four times as much tobacco was made up into cigarettes in the United States in the calendar year 1922 as in 1912, according to figures from the recently published report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.

The per capita contribution to the Federal Treasury in internal revenue taxes from the sale of cigarettes in 1922 was more than nine times that of 1912.

Another feature of the report is that while the apparent consumption of cigars was a little more in 1922 than nine years previous, the 1922 figure showed that there was considerably less tobacco use for pipe smoking, chewing and snuffing then in 1912. In fact since 1917, the peak year for tobacco, snuff and cigars, there has been a gradual decline in favor of cigarettes.

Good Advice To Boys

Students of Frederick County high schools where urge to seek employment in Frederick County near their homes after they graduated by Emory Coblentz, President of the School Board. Mr. Coblentz, took as his subject, ‘Diamonds in Frederick County.’ He told how there were diamonds in the backyard of each of the pupils. He showed how diamonds were merely opportunities for success and advancement. He spoke of the prerequisites to success and showed how it was necessary that the boys be honest, above everything else. He said that morality plays a key role in the achievement of the success.

How To Torture Your Wife

A man whose wife was visiting relatives in another state was getting lonesome, but couldn’t get her to cut short her visit and return home. He wrote her a letter almost every day, pleading he was sick, that he couldn’t get any good food. She wouldn’t budge. Then he had an inspiration, a hunch some would call it.

Before the wife left home she had arranged to have two rooms papered and had ordered the paper, but was unable to get a workman to hang it before she had to leave for the visit. The paper came while she was gone. The husband wrote a long letter to his wife, telling her the paperhanger had arrived, but that he didn’t remember which paper was to go in which room. He said he told the paperhanger to go ahead, however, to use such-and-such paper (naming the dining room paper), in the front room, and the other paper (the front room paper) on the dining room. The wife reached home on the next train.

March 23

Mill At Union Bridge Burned

The Engleman Mill, at Union Bridge, with its equipment of machinery and a quantity of feed, was completely destroyed by fire Wednesday night. The loss is estimated at from $15,000 to $25,000, reported to be fairly well covered by insurance. The fire is supposed to have originated from a short circuit electric current.

The Union Bridge Fire Company was unable to handle the situation, due to lack of water, and a call was made to Westminster for their engine. The big La France truck, containing 23 firemen, made the trip of 11 miles and was throwing water on the building, within 18 minutes after leaving Westminster.

The Mill had been closed for repairs, little work having been done for about a year, but work had been resumed the day of the fire, after new equipment had been installed. The building was erected many years ago, and was known as the Engleman Mill, for one of the former proprietors.

Decrease Of Horses In 10 Years

Men’s chief beast of burden – the horse – has decreased numbers in the world at large about 11% in the last 10 years. Figures made public by the Department of Agriculture show falling off in the total in 85 countries from 116,500,000 to 103,555,000.

The decrease occurred largely in Russia, where the decline was nearly 50%. Russia’s total in that year was 34,700,000 has dwindle to 18,507,000, giving this country the greatest number. The drop off in Russia however is a result of the great war and the on-going civil war, where horses were killed not only as a result of war, but for food.

In the United States, where the total has dropped from 23,145,000 in 1914 to 20,000,599 today. Decreases reported for the United States, France, Germany and Japan were offset by gains were in Argentina, Canada, Spain and Scandinavian countries, where thoughtful men still appreciate the service of a horse.

Credit 25 Wives To 73-Year-Old Lothario

Letters are pouring into the Wilkes-Barre Police Department from women throughout the eastern part of the country who claim to have married Charles Davis, 73-year-old Lothario, formally of York Pennsylvania, have led the officials to believe Davis may have from 15 to 25 wives living at the present time.

The letters received so far establish the fact that he has married about 15 women, all living. One of these, Mrs. Ella Finch of Thurmont, obtained a divorce from Davis in Frederic Court, two years ago.

Each of the marriages it is said, came about as the culmination of a correspondence developing from an advertisement through a matrimonial agency, and in each case the Civil War veteran deserted his wife shortly after the marriage ceremony was performed, taking her jewelry and whatever money he could get hold of.

Clues picked up by the police show that Davis was active as far south as Texas, as well as in Indiana, Illinois and in the New England states. Members of the state police today took his picture and it will be distributed throughout the country in order to get in touch with any other of his wives who might still be living.

Davis was arrested in Wilkes-Barre by detectives when he came back to marry a Wilkes-Barre woman. When you arrived he found the bride to be was an earlier wife he had deserted and who had set up a trap for him.

Davis is held on the charge of larceny of $200 worth of jewelry from Mrs. Emma Stringer, Wilkes-Barre, whom he had married several months ago. Soon after the wedding Davis got her jewelry and money and made his departure. The wife never heard from him again.

Mrs. Stringer watched the papers and discovered that Davis was seeking another wife. She started a correspondence with him under a fictitious name and he was quick to propose. She readily accepted, and invited him to come to Wilkes-Barre. Davis wanted a speedy marriage. He arrived in Wilkes-Barre Saturday and was waiting for his new bride to come. While he sat at a desk writing a letter to another woman, the police tapped him on the shoulder and told him he was wanted at headquarters. When he got there Mrs. Stringer was awaiting him and promptly identified him as the man she married.

Davis, according to police, has claimed various occupations, from retired doctor, a rich writer, an actor, to a globe-trotter.

March 30

Autos And Booze

There are a great many arrests for driving cars while "under the influence of liquor." Other arrest attached to using cars for "transporting liquors"; there are "joy rides" cases of many kinds and consequences; auto trucks are use for freighting away liquors from robed warehouses, racing on the highways, with booze accompaniment, frequently makes business for the courts, and there are other motor-vehicle liquor cases in great variety.

Evidently, motoring and booze are not safe partners; but this does not seem so apparent as that in some way to prohibition laws, and the impossibility of their enforcement, come in for the most blame, while autos, as quick getaway vehicles for criminals, get no blame whatsoever.

Honestly considered, the whole prohibition enforcement matter is rendered several times more difficult because of the use of motor vehicles. It is not so much that law violation and its old plan form, is so rampant, or that the many cases refer to represent normal opposition to these laws, but that the easy swift help of motors should bear the burden of the whole violations.

And just as honestly, we ought to ask what would be the situation, so far as accidents, deaths and joy rides are concerned, were saloons open on all streets and highways, as they were before the autos came into such universal use?

Bear Autoist

The State Attorney General recently advise the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, that the person responsible for running an automobile through Frederick County, with a bear sitting at the wheel should be prosecuted for reckless driving. In the case in question the real operator of the car was arrested, but the magistrate who heard the case, held that the car was being operated by the bear and that as there was no law prohibiting bears operating motorcars, he released the bear and the human sitting next to him.