April 4

Arrested For Stealing

Luther Smith and his brother Ross have been charged with stealing meat from the smokehouse of Mr. Weasche of Thurmont. The property of Luther was searched but nothing was found. Several days later, Luther took a package to the train depot for shipment, the same being labeled "potatoes." The odor of bacon was detected coming from the barrel; the deputies were notified and another search warrant was issued and the barrel was opened. Potatoes were found on both ends of the barrel but when removed, deputies found that bacon occupied the majority of the barrel. Luther's wife stated that Ross Smith brought the meat and other items to her house stating that he had bought them from local farmers in need of cash.

Many robberies have been committed about Thurmont and Emmitsburg. Meat, eggs, chickens, automobile tires, and numerous other articles have been taken during recent months. Deputy Sheriff Dutrow stated that if these men were convicted and forced to divulge the identity of their alleged associates, the clique of thieves who have been operating in the northern end of the county would be broken up.

Infant Crushed By Auto

What is considered almost a miracle by residents of Fairfield occurred recently when the life of 18-month old Florence Sheffer was saved after the wheel of a large touring car passed over her body. The little girl is still alive with good chances of recovery and the miraculous part of the accident was that she suffered no broken bones, although the car passed over her stomach and rendered her unconscious for about fifteen minutes.

Her father and grandfather had entered the garage to get the car and started the motor and began backing out of the building. Florence and her mother were feeding chickens nearby and the little girl, on hearing the sound of the automobile engine, started running for the garage to be taken along in the car. Mrs. Sheffer started in pursuit of her but not in time to prevent Florence from being knocked down by the backing machine. As both men were in the front part of the car, they could not see the child and when the driver felt the obstruction under the wheel, he turned on more power and the big car passed over her body. Persons are at a loss to explain her escape. The only possible theory is that a slight gully in which she lay prevented the full weight of the car from pressing down upon her.

April 11

Graceham’s Ajax Saves Home

Sunday evening, while the wind was blowing a gale, fire broke out in the chimney of Mr. James Smith's house located near Graceham. Sparks from the chimney lodged on the roof and soon the roof was burning in several places. Graceham’s Fire Company went to the scene and took with them their Ajax chemical tank and in a short while the fire was under control and extinguished. Two other houses adjoining the property would have gone also had the fire not been quickly put out. This instance showed how valuable one of these chemical tanks are in small towns. That same evening, the chimney of the house occupied by Mr. Charles Troxell, also of Graceham, caught fire and burned fiercely. The chemical tank was used to good effect on this property also.

People To Pay Heavy For Privilege Of Talking

The C&P Telephone Company announced that the rates heretofore charged to subscribers do not pay for the upkeep of their property, and hence, rates must go up. The rise in rates takes effect May 1, and almost every person having a phone or wishing to talk over the phone will be touched up for the privilege; the increase being from five to twenty cents, and five cents additional for war tax. The cost of a call from Emmitsburg to Thurmont will now be ten cents.

R. L. Annan Closes Store

An icon of Emmitsburg, the Annan Hardware and Grocery store on the square, closed for business on Saturday. Mr. Annan inherited the store from his father, James, who bought it from his brother Isaac in 1880. Isaac, when twenty-years-old, became a clerk in the general dry goods store of George W. Rowe. Following Rowe's retirement in 1856, Isaac became the store's proprietor and changed its name to I. S. Annan & Company. In 1858, Isaac's brother James joined the firm. The store became known as I. S. Annan & Brother. In 1880, having profited handsomely from the store, Isaac turned the day-to-day operations of the store over to his brother James.

April 18

Thieves Rob Egg Company For Fifth Time

For the fifth time in two years, thieves entered the warehouse of the Blue Ribbon Egg Company in Emmitsburg on Monday night and stole 21 crates of eggs. Entrance to the Blue Ribbon Egg Company was gained through a window from which a pane of glass had been removed. A Negro reported that he saw two men on a truck, with which it is thought the eggs were hauled away with. This robbery makes the fifth loss of this nature by the Egg Company in the past two years. Hundreds of dozens of eggs had been stolen at various times.

The people of Emmitsburg are clamoring for police protection and are in a quandary how to protect their property. The police have talked to people about the robberies and are following possible clues, but so far without any results. Robberies, while they have been bold, have been cleverly carried out and the authorities have not been able to determine where the thieves have disposed of their stolen goods.

Boozer’s Propose Emmitsburg Secede From U.S.

Citing President Wilson’s 14-point peace plan, which calls on nations to allow ethnic minorities to secede and form their own nations, members of the Former Former Boozers’ Association voted overwhelmingly for Emmitsburg to secede from America. Once independent, the Boozers said they would rescind prohibition, and with it, predicted it would then be a ‘wet’ island in a sea of ‘dry’ states, the town would attract right-thinking men from far and wide eager to spend money to taste the sweet ‘shine’ produced in the local Mountains. "We will be so awash in cash," one boozer said, "that we’ll be able to send our nagging wives anywhere they want to go! And the longer they stay away, the better. Emmitsburg will be a man’s paradise!" Debate on design of Emmitsburg’s new flag was put off until the next meeting to allow the Boozers to get down to some serious drinking.

April 25

Truck Crashes Through Bridge

A truck carrying about seven tons of lumber crashed through the Willoughby Run Bridge on Fairfield Road. The occupants of the truck were uninjured. The iron rods beneath the planks saved the truck from plunging into the stream below and causing a serious accident. The bridge gave way almost the instant the full weight of the truck bore down upon it. So completely was the truck wedged down in between the iron rods that it was not extracted until the following morning. A squad of men was sent to repair the bridge for the use of ordinary travel, but it will be some time until the bent rods can be straightened and permanently fixed. It is impossible for the great majority of auto cars to ford Willoughby Run at this particular spot as the stream is full of holes and rocks of considerable size.

Hogs Have Rabies

Dr. Redson, of Fairfield, discovered two brood sows on the farm of Jesse Strayer, near Fairfield, that were infected with rabies. Several days ago the hogs were bitten by a strange dog while feeding in the field near the road. The search has been started to find the dog, for if it is not killed, a great amount of damage to the livestock of the county may be done.

Officer Robey Arrested

On Tuesday night, Officer Robey’s motorcycle was standing on the street without a taillight. The violation was noticed by Leo Creeger, and Deputy Lidie was called on to arrest the officer. Robey pleaded guilty. Then a technical point arose in the mind of the judge as to whether the state could arrest and fine itself for violating the law. However, Robey agreed to pay the fine and said he would turn it as an expense. This was a case of "getting even" on the part of Mr. Creeger, he having recently been assessed $25 and his license revoked for fifteen days for speeding by Robey. Officer Robey remarked that Creeger would be wise to keep his "lamps trimmed and burning."

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