December 3

Installs Burglar Alarm

This week the Emmitsburg savings bank install the latest type a burglar alarm. The system is so arranged that any tampering with the building, the turning of a bolt or any attempt to cut a cable will sound the alarm. The entire system is controlled by an electric timer located in the vault. The bank’s retired old alarm system – Max, a 10-year-old German Sheppard, who was known for barking just about at anything, and would howl insensately, as if his ears hurt, at the singing of prohibition songs by Suffergetts, is now being employed to guard the super secret main still of the Former-Former Boozers Association in the barn of Dr. Brokaw.

Got Windshield For A Stolen Car

Not satisfied with having stolen an automobile minus a windshield, the thief or thieves who took the Ford machine of Mr. Polly from Fairfield several weeks ago return to that town Monday night and stole windshield from the car of Frank Moore, also a resident of Fairfield. The remaining part of the car was not touched. Police authorities believe they have a clue to the man responsible for the thefts but so far have been unsuccessful in attempting to capture him.

The theft of the Moore windshield was merely one of a series that I have greatly annoyed the residence of Fairfield for a long time and have given rise to the general question of “what’s coming next.”

On the same night that the more windshield was taking the thieves went into the garage of William Musselman and stole the body of his truck. Next they went to the residence of Joseph Musselman and took half a hog that was hanging on the butcher’s hook. All these petty thefts, there is every reason to believe, were performed by the same person or persons responsible for the robbery of Mr. Polly’s car and numerous other crimes committed in Fairfield and vicinity during the past year.

December 10

Speeding on Emmitsburg Road

We have heard numerous reports a very fast autos driving on the Emmitsburg State Road; that speed limits are not being observed - as one man said, “they burn up the road regardless of the danger, and with slight regard for more sane drivers.” Whether the speeders are local drivers, or tourist, we are an able to say, but that speeding is a common occurrence is a sure thing. Residence along this road would be acting in the interest of their own protection, if they would gather evidence and send it to the State Auto Commissioner in Baltimore. This is a particularly fine stretch of road, but it is not built for speedway.

Inspects New Bridge

The Adams County Commissioners conducted an informal inspection Tuesday afternoon of the new Reynolds Bridge across Marsh Creek on the Emmitsburg Road near Greenmount. The bridge, in the opinion of the county board, is the most handsome structure of its kind in Adams County, even surpassing the beauty of the Conowingo span at New Oxford. The total cost of the structure amounts to $30,000.

Cement Plant On Half Time

The Tidewater Portland Cement Plant, along the Frederick County line, near Union Bridge, one of the largest factories of its kind in the country, has put into affect a half time schedule. Approximately 400 men are employed and the plant has been operating day and night. During the war employees, who formally earned from one dollar to two and one half found themselves getting from five dollars to $10 a day. It is said that some of the employees, who in the days of prosperity bought $10 silk shirts and $75 suits of clothing, are now out of work.

December 17

No Woman To Serve On Juries In Adams County

Adams has joined the list of counties were women will not be required to serve upon juries in 1921. Although no definitive ruling has been made by the courts to this effect, it has been decided that no names of women will be placed in the wheel unless such notice is urgently requested by members of the newly enfranchised sex.

In speaking of the matter, the court said “there is no necessity at the present times for Adams County women to be drawn as jurors on the account of the many complicated situations that may arise, and it is well known that women are incapable of handing situations that require deep thinking.”

It is the privilege of women, however, to serve on the 1921 juries, and they will be given the opportunity if they demand it. So far no woman has approached either of the jury commissioners and requested that her name be placed on the jury wheel. Apparently right minded men have been able to impress upon their wives the importance of leave men’s work to men, and that their women folk should concentrate on women’s work – cook, cleaning, gossiping, and taking care of ‘youngins

It is not likely that the women of the County will exercise their prerogative to serve as jurors. “Serving as a juror in a long drawn out trial is not always a very pleasant task and often it is necessary for the 12 good man to be locked together in a room for hours at a time.” Said one Court official. “The very thought of being locked in a room with a women for a hour is bad enough, being locked in a room for 12 hours listening to a women whine would be considered cruel and unusual punishment, and therefore unconstitutional.”

December 24

Recovers From Deep Gash

Elias Bream, 30 years old, who lives one and a half miles north of Fairfield, is recovering slowly from a deep cut he received recently while working at a circular saw. While putting a piece of wood through the saw, Mr. Bream was cut so badly across the wrist that he nearly lost his entire right hand. 16 stitches were required to close the gash, which severed the main artery and sent blood forth in a stream. Mr. Bream probably save himself from bleeding to death by checking the flow of blood with his left hand while Oliver Clerk, a fellow workman, hastily applied a bandage.

Injured By Tractor

Clarence Smith, of Harney, was caught in a clutch pulley on his gas tractor. He was badly hurt and is in serious condition.

His Horses Killed Him

Rundown and trampled by his own team of four horses, Charles Favorite, successful farmer and dairy man of Thurmont, was, last Saturday afternoon, so badly injured that he died in half an hour from a concussion of the brain. He was endeavoring to stop his horses that had run away when frightened by the sound of a mill whistle. His team was standing alongside another team, when the horses started off, and he was caught between the two wagons.

December 31

Trespass Case

The case of Daniel Stull, of Emmitsburg, charge for trespassing on the property of John Ohler, was taken up again in Frederick County Court. In the original hearing, Stull was accusing of having broken open the gate on Ohler’s property. The evidence showed that Stull had used a road on the right away agreement with Ohler and that on coming to the gate one day he found it locked, and broke it open. He was originally fined $10 and cost. Judge Worthington however, reversed the ruling, stating that Stull was justified in breaking open the gate that prevented him from using the right of way. The Judge declared however, that since the evidence show that Stull got outside of the right away and on Ohler’s property as he climbed over the gate to break it open, he was guilty of a technical trespass and was fine one dollar and cost of the defense.

Married Over Stateline

At 9:30 Saturday night, when Arthur Krug and Mary Forney, of Keymar, knocked at the door of the parsonage of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, expecting to be married by the Reverend Clay Bergstresser, they did not know that a Maryland license could not be used in Pennsylvania.

The minister knew this and told a couple he could not perform the ceremony. But as the disappointed couple turned away a happy thought struck the clergyman. He remembered reading of a case where the pastor of United Brethren Church had escorted a couple over the line and married them under the shade of a maple tree.

It took but a moment to lay this plan before the young couple, and they acted accordingly. Taking Reverend Bergstresser along with them in the buggy, they drove 2 miles down the Baltimore Pike, stopping just over the state line. There under the light of two oil lamps that were fastened on the top of the vehicle, the service was read. An hour later the trio was back at Saint Paul’s, much elated over their adventure. The newlyweds continued on their honeymoon trip home.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'