March 6

Negro, Guilty of Perjury, Given Three Years In Prison

Convicted of perjury by a jury in court, Robert Mitchell, colored, about 30 years old, of near Emmitsburg, was sentenced to three years in the Maryland penitentiary. A recommendation of mercy by the jury, which liberated some before reaching a verdict, and a good reputation given the traverser by Albert Patterson, and other residence of Emmitsburg, influenced the court to reduce the sentence.

Mitchell’s case was one of the most unusual that has been tried in the local court for some years. At the September grand jury, he testified to having purchased liquor from Charles Springer, of near Emmitsburg. Springer was indicted and at his trial, Mitchell, the principal witness, completely reversed his testimony on the witness stand, and declared he had not purchased any intoxicant from the accused. The latter, under the circumstances, was found not guilty, and the court ordered Mitchell to be arrested on a charge of perjury.

After hearing the testimony at the trial, the jury deliberated sometime before making a verdict. It was stated that the jurors were almost equally divided on the first ballots.

Mr. Patterson stated that Mitchell told him after testifying before the grand jury, that he had made a mistake and that what he said to the jury seemed to worry him. Patterson said Mitchell had a good reputation and was a steady worker. He added that he attributed Mitchell’s conduct to the fact that he was ignorant, and appeared frightened when before the grand jury.

The Judge stated that is always an unpleasant duty of the court to send a man to prison. Yet, he said, it is the stern duty of the court to preserve the administration of justice. He added that he was more inclined to believe the testimony Mitchell had given to the grand jury then his repudiation on the witness stand. He mentioned that in view of the recommendation of the jury for mercy, and the fact that Mitchell have been given a good name by person of the community in which he lived, he reduced the sentence one year from what he had in mind.

Carroll County School Problems

For quite a while there has been a controversy in this county between the School Board and the County Commissioners over school appropriations, both for school maintenance and new school buildings; the former insisting on certain demands as advanced by the State School Board, involving the expenditure of large sums of money; and the latter confronted with the problem of raising it without greatly increasing the tax rate, which would be a very unpopular procedure.

Demands from Taneytown for a large new school building contributed very materially toward a strained situation between the two Boards. In Taneytown, the old school building was condemned as unsafe by several architects, and since the first of this year the building has been abandoned, and school work is now being conducted in rented rooms, under serious handicaps, in an effort to complete the course of the present school year.

At a joint meeting of the two Boards, on Monday, the Taneytown situation was amicably gone over, and while no definite conclusion was reached, it seems probably that the differences between the Boards will be ironed out, and the Taneytown building constructed, as there is an imperative emergency need that cannot be disregarded.

A number of differences of opinion were carefully examined, relative to plans for the building and costs, and the result of the meeting was apparently satisfactory to both sides, the outlook being that full agreement is in sight.

Suspected Thief Held For Court

A man named Rinehart, who was arrested last week on suspicion of having committed the recent robbery in Taneytown, is being held in jail for the May term of the court. He appears to have a bad record, and was one of the gang of convicts that worked on the Taneytown State Road, four years ago. On being searched, there were found on his person a bunch of keys, three hack saws, a flash light, several screw drivers, and a patent device with which he claims is intended to open safe doors—but not burglariously.

March 13

A Cross-word Puzzle

More through curiosity than seriously, the Editor of The Record recently attempted the construction of a cross-word puzzle. He is neither a "fan," nor a "bug," in this direction, but was encouraged into trying to solve one of the popular fancies, and as the attempt required so much time, he made the mistake of declaring that it was "easier to make one, than solve one," therefore felt compelled to make his assertion good.

The result will be found on another page of this issue; but this is the first, last, and only, indulgence of the kind that this artist is likely to engage in. Should any of our readers solve this puzzle we will publish their names, after two weeks.

The "two weeks" time is given for two reasons: first to give ample time in which to master its solution; and second, to prevent the possibility of showing up the Editor how easy it was to do in one week.

School Buildings for Frederick County

The Frederick County Board of Education has undertaken an extensive program in new school building construction due to the fact that for a number of years school buildings have been neglected. The plans will be financed by bond issues of $595,000 by the County Commissioners.

New buildings have already been constructed at Walkersville and Emmitsburg, and additional buildings have been decided on, as follows; Middletown $40,000; Myersville, $20,000; Liberty, $20,000; Jefferson, $16,000; Thurmont, $15,000, addition to old building; Knoxville, $12,000;Sabillasville, $10,000; Brunswick, $10,000; rural schools $10,000. Urbana, $8,0000; Creagerstown, $7,000; Kemptown, $7,000; Lewistown, $10,000; Jefferson, These amounts total $185,000."

Accidents

Carroll Eyler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Eyler, received a badly broken right leg, on Monday evening, due to jumping from a buggy in which hew as riding while going to the Fairview school-house for his sister, who teaches there. His horse scared at an object along the roadside, and the boy fearing a bad accident, attempted to save himself by jumping, but in doing so became tangled up in the lines and was dragged some distance. His leg was badly broken between the knee and hip.

While returning from Taneytown to Fairfield, last Sunday evening, Carroll Reindollar and his wife Anna, along with their children Robert and Bobbie, met with a bad auto accident on the Emmitsburg road at the Cattle Branch bridge. The father who was driving, lost control of the wheel for an instant just as the car was passing off the bridge, causing a fender to strike the side of the abutment and swing it around, where the soft ground gave way and the car plunged down the bank about ten feet. Both front wheels were wrecked, but the car was not otherwise damaged, and none of the occupants were much hurt. After considerable effort the car was drawn back to the road and towed to a garage, while other cars took the occupants home.

A Ford coupe driven by two men, said to have been under the influence. Collided with a post bearing a mailbox near town. The coupe was badly damaged and the men were both injured. One was admitted to the hospital suffering from contusions of the head.

Officers Ordered To Shoot Loose Dogs

With Spring gardening and planning underway in Adams county, a warning has been issued by George Raffensberger, in charge of the enforcement of the dog laws in Adams County, against allowing dogs to dig up newly planted lawns and gardens.

Mr. Raffensberger called attention to the fact that dogs, whether license or not, must always be under control of the owner, and that dogs caught doing damage may be killed by constables and Township officers who are charged with that duty.

March 20

Buys Thurmont Hotel

The New Thurmont Hotel, of which Mrs. Evelyn Weiss was proprietor, has been sold to Lou Ramsdell and Robert Daff, both of whom are connected with Thurmont‘s Opera House and Emperor Theater. The hotel contains 21 rooms and improved with all modern conveniences.

Beginning on Saturday, Mr. Duff will become manager of the hotel. Mr. Ramsdell will not be actively associated with the hotel business, but will remain here as a manager of the Opera House and Empire.

Bridgeport Bridge Now Safe For Use

County Commissioners Frank Steyens and Roscoe Brown spent last Friday superintending repairs to the old wooden bridge over the Monocacy at Bridgeport, on the road between Emmitsburg and Taneytown. The structure, which was in dangerous condition, was strengthened by the use of electric light poles and is now considered safe for traffic.

The bridge was repaired about two years ago, but in the meantime, much of the repair work has worn away, and the structure became dangerous. Sometime ago it was condemned and notices were posted on both ends warning the public that it was unsafe for traffic. Not withstanding the warning, many persons cross the bridge daily in automobiles.

When the structure, which was built more than 100 years ago, was last repaired, telephone poles were used to prop it up. High water and floating ice washed some of those props away, and the bridge settled some inches out of plum and was unsafe. The workmen jacked the structure back in place and replaced the old posts with new and stronger ones.

The bridge connects Frederick and Carroll Counties and the cost of the work will be paid by both Counties. The principal damage was on the Frederick County side where the water is between 6 and 7 feet deep. The bridge has two spans of 50 feet each, for a total length of 100 feet.

The road leading to the structure was improved sometime ago by the Counties and then taken over by the State. An effort will now be made to have the state take over the bridge. It is a covered structure, well built and is very much used. When the structure was first built, the framework was put together in a nearby field and placed in position.

Monocacy, Native Apple of Fredrick County

The other day a well-known County farmer, William Dorcus brought in several apples of a variety, which he feels is entitled to a place when it comes to deciding the best-suited apple for this section. This apple is the Monocacy, formally known as the Smith.

Mr. Dorcas had two apples from the crop of 1924, and two apples from the crop of 1923, which he picked from his own cellar. The former were a solid as freshly picked apples and the latter, while weathered, were still in fresh state of preservation.

"I cannot conceive of any apple, being better suited for Frederick County." said Dorcus, "nothing can come anywhere near the lasting quality of the Monocacy."

He said that he always keeps his Monocacy apples, for his own use, not only until summer, but even until the next crop is mature.

The flavor of this apple is good, not as high class as some varieties, but better than the average, and some people prefer them to others. When it was suggested that the Monocacy is not well-known for commercial purposes, and could not be sold readily, like Staymans, Yorks, and such varieties, he said that the Monocacy could be sold when all the rest of the apples were gone and could, therefore, command its own price.

Mr. Dorcus stated that he had picked one of the apples from under the tree, a seedling near Woodsboro, from which all Monocacy trees have come. He remembers George Smith, who found this tree, and to whom Frederick county, and the world at large, is indebted for the native variety of apple.

Pharmacy Robbed of Liquor

Early Saturday morning, thieves broke into and robbed the Progressive Pharmacy in Emmitsburg. Entrance was gained into the place by breaking a glass panel in a side door, and turning a key on the inside. A quantity of whisky, cigars, candy and toilet articles were taken. It is thought the cellar was ransacked in search of more whiskey.

March 27

Accidents

James Martin, aged 83, of Emmitsburg, who was run down by an automobile, driven by Allen Rosensteel, also of Emmitsburg, on Monday evening and painfully injured, was reported to be improving.

Martin was standing on the curb at the Square in Emmitsburg, as he started to cross the street he ran into the path of the Buick automobile, which Rosensteel was driving. Rosensteel was traveling on Gettysburg St. and arrived at the Square just at the time Martin started across the street. Seeing that he was in the pathway of the approaching machine, the age man hesitated, and then started to run. He was struck by the machine and knocked down and cut on the head, left, leg, and hand. He was immediately rendered medical aid, and was taken to his home. The accident was deemed unavoidable.

Carl Blacksten, 19 years old, was killed at the Union Bridge cement plant Sunday night just before midnight. The young man was working on the dinky engine as brakeman. He had released the brakes and jumped in an endeavor to get on the engine, but missed his footing and fell to the tracks, striking his head and being stunned, so that he wasn’t able to get off the track, and the engine ran over him, mangling his body. His feet were cut off, and his head smashed. Dr. Bzer was summoned. He said the young man was killed instantly.

Citizens Of Rocky Ridge, Discuss Closing of School And Roadwork

About 250 people attended a meeting in the Junior Order Hall at Rocky Ridge, on Saturday evening, to discuss the recent closing of Appold’s School, and to petition the County Commissioners, to complete the road between Graceham and Rocky Ridge, which has a link of about 1 mile in length, which is unimproved.

In order to notify the community about the meeting, circulars were printed and distributed in the northern section of the County, were interest has been stirred up over the matters.

Located between Rocky Ridge and Motter’s Station, the school has been closed since the completion of the new Emmitsburg High School. It was pointed out that about 26 pupils formally attended the school, most of whom are now forced to go to the Emmitsburg school, a distance of about 5 miles.

Reports to the effect that the Rocky Ridge School would also be closed were also discussed. This action was deemed unwise. It was pointed out that there are 35 pupils attending the Rocky Ridge School, and that unsatisfactory arrangements would have to be made to send these children to other schools. It was also suggested that a new school building is needed at Rocky Ridge and a petition would be made to school officials to have a new building erected.

It was also decided to carry a petition to the County Commissioners to have the road between Graceham and Rocky Ridge completed as soon as possible. It was shown that slightly more than a mile remains to be improved before the road will be completed.

Those in attendance felt the citizens of the community deserve these improvements and expressed resentment of the manner in which county officials have neglected this section of the County.

Reminiscences from Detour

Our good friend, Bill Cover, of Keymar, sends the following which we are glad to publish, not only for the benefit of John Reid, of Detroit, and W. W. Sweigart, of Laurel, Miss, (both subscribers to the Record) but for the benefit of other readers who enjoy "old time" reminiscences, once in a while. Mr. Cover's home, at the time mentioned, was Detour.

"A few nights ago we spent the evening with Dr. Roland Diller, of Detour (Double Pipe Creek) who has a very fine radio. Among other stations that we tuned in on was WWNJ. of Detroit. On their program was some old time songs, which made me think of "when you and I were young John". The place and the songs made me think of you, and in turn of when you were the teacher in public school in the old "Fulling Mill." In the early Fall we were short of the required number of scholars to open the school, and made up the number by several children that were under the age limit.

"Later in the Fall, when farm work was over, the school got to be large, and you applied for an assistant teacher. Our mutual friend, the late Lewis Cash (one of the trustees) came to investigate, and after looking the situation over said. "John, you don't need an assistant teacher, you need a nurse." We had to cut off some of the little ones, among which were two of mine.

"While I am at it I might touch up W. W. S., of Laurel, Miss., and ask him if he remembers when he C. E. V. and the writer run the Jr. 0. U. A. M. at Double Pipe Creek, and the night that old "Queen" upset us down over the bridge wall and dislocated his arm. And how our mutual friend, the same Lewis Cash mentioned above, put his foot on his neck and pulled his arm, or shoulder, back into place. Yes "Webb," that was in the long ago and reminds me, we are not as young as we used to be. But all in all, many of the memories of those days are very pleasant to me."

Vincent Sebold Dies

Word reached Emmitsburg Monday on the death of Mr. Vincent Sebold, 83 years old, for many years a prominent member of the Frederick Bar. In failing health for sometime, he succumbed Monday evening at the home of his daughter in Washington. The body will be brought to Emmitsburg.

Funeral services will be held at Saint Joseph Church, Reverend Hayden officiating. He will be interned in the mountain cemetery near Mount St. Mary’s College.

Mr. Sebold was born in Sabillasville, November 29, 1836. Entering Saint Vincent’s College, near Latrobe, as a commercial student, Mr. Sebold completed the course in two years and the following year enrolled at Mount St. Mary’s where he remained for several years.

In 1881 he began to read law and after two years studying was admitted to the Frederick Bar. After completing his law courses, Mr. Sebold married Miss Annie Roddy, of Thurmont.

When in 1907 the Emmitsburg Railroad went into the hands of a receiver, Mr. Sebold formed a syndicate, composed chiefly of local capital, and took over the company and re-organized it. He was general manager and treasurer of the company at the time of his death.

In 1900, Mr. Sebold and some citizens of Gettysburg organized the Citizens Bank of Gettysburg, which has since been changed to the Citizens Trust Company. About the same time he organized the Thurmont Bank and was Director of that institution at the time of his death.

Mr. Siebel took a keen interest in county and state politics. He has served on the county and state committees and as a delegate from the county to congressional judicial and state conventions. In politics, he was a Democrat; he served as counsel to the County Board of Commissioners.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'