Clarence Schaffer Went Through Ice While Skating at Milltown.
Clarence Schaffer, the eight-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schaffer, of Milltown, was drowned in Lawrence Brook, near Millers’ creek, yesterday afternoon, about 4 o’clock, while skating. He and some boy friends had gone to the brook after school hours and Schaffer went out on the ice, while the other boys stayed on shore. The ice was weak, owing to recent thaws, and the boy fell in. His companions on shore were un- able to do anything for him, and the boy drowned before their eyes.
The boys carried the news to Kohlhepp’s Hotel. Bartender Denhardt and others searched for the boy for a long time and it was nearly 6 o’clock last night before. their efforts were rewarded and the body was brought ashore.
Coroner Quackenboss visited the scene of the accident and gave a permit for burial. The boy was a member of the Milltown M. E. Church, and of the Sunday School. He was a bright boy and his death will be a severe shock to many friends.
His death marks the first fatal skating accident of the season, although there have been several cases of people getting through the lee and being rescued.
MILLTOWN, Jan. 23-At a meeting of Eureka Fire Co. No. 1, of Milltown, held in their rooms in the Borough Hall last evening, it was decided to hold their annual banquet on Saturday evening, Feb. 21.
The nomination of officers took place and in only one case is there opposition and that is for the fire patrol. Two men are to be elected, for this office and three names have been put on the ticket, as follows: Chris Jensen, Oscar Harkins and William Beecher.
Elwood Boyce was nominated for foreman, J. Milton Brindle for first assistant and Martin Mueller for second assistant.
Mayor William Kuhlthau, Jr., was re-nominated for the office of recording secretary and Edward V. Emmens for assistant recording secretary. Other nominees are, for financial secretary, Charles C. Richter; treasurer, C. W. Waddington, trustee, Adam Christ, and steward, John Christ.
The election will take place at the next regular meeting of the Department, Feb. 26th.
Entertainment Tonight.
Under the auspices of the official board of the Methodist church an entertainment will be held in the lecture room of that edifice tonight, which promises to be a very interesting one and for which the admission will be 15 cents for adults and 10 Cents for children. Miss Tyler, of Keyport, will entertain, and will be assisted by the local Camp Fire girls. who will present a scene from the “Childhood Days of Hiawatha” and will also render several selections.
Mr. Sayre Again in the Oyster Business
E. F. Sayre, the proprietor of the Hotel Marguerite, who about five years ago used to supply many families in the Borough with their oyster requirements, is again in the oyster business. He is serving his patrons with the most delicious Rockaway oysters and is also in a position to supply families and give prompt attention to orders for parties, etc. Mr. Sayre’s advertisement appears in today’s issue.
Other Milltown News.
Last night in the Crescent Quoit League, Messrs. Snedeker and Stelle. won five straight from Chas, Chris and Ted Snedeker, and three out of five from J. Crabiel and H. Moore. Ted Snedeker and Chas. Christ defeated Jensen and Junker, four out of five.
Tonight at Richter’s Park, the A.. A. A. will meet the Minta A. C. of South River, in a game of basketball and from present indications a lively contest will take place. Both teams will present strong lineups.
Choir to Give Musical Comedy. Members of the Methodist Church. choir are rehearsing for a musical comedy to be given in the church on Feb. 11th, entitled, “The Tale of the Hat.”The entertainment promises to be an interesting one. Miss relen Glock, choir leader, is coaching them.
Public School To Not Reopen Till Jan. 7, To Conserve Coal
MILLTOWN, Dec. 24-Christmas exercises were held in the individual class rooms of the Milltown public school on Friday afternoon which marked the closing of the local institution until Monday, January It was originally intended to reopen the school on the 3rd, but since their action by the School Board, official notice from the fuel administrator has been received to the effect that the school shall not be reopened until the 7th, with a view to conserving coal.
Vesper Service This Afternoon Christmas vesper service was held at the German Reformed Church yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock. A special choir, the best talent of the town, rendered selections.
Milltown, As Usual, Goes Over Top.
Milltown again went over the top in the Red Cross drive waged in the borough during the past week, securing a large percentage over her allotment. The quota for the borough was placed at $800, but in addition to this, there were hundreds of subscriptions taken in the Michelin Tire Co. plant and Russell Card factory that brought this number considerably over and above the number set.
Milltown was divided into 16 districts, and an army of 50 or more willing workers canvassed each home. The workers are to be congratulated upon the enthusiasm and good spirit which prevailed throughout the campaign, and by which the exceptionally good results were obtained.
While it was originally suggested that all members place a candle behind their window display card on Christmas Eve, this idea has been abandoned at the request of the fire insurance underwriters, owing to the hazardous possibility of such action “Better Prepared for Next Drive.” 1 With a view of being still better 1 prepared in distributing the district 8 for the next drive the canvasser each reported back to the general committee in this drive the number of houses and families in each district, by which means those in charge will be better enabled to equalize the work in the future.
Milltown Mission Notes.
Today is the Vigil of Christmas and is a fast day. The Sisters of St. Peter’s Hospital have given the Mission the stations of the Cross An organ has also been given to the church for Christmas by Mrs. Celestine Haefner, of Riva avenue
A choir is going to be started and all those desiring to join should give their names to Mrs. Mary Kopetz (Dee Zenewich). Mass will be held on Christmas Day at A. M.
The Red Cross will meet on Thursday of this week.
Miss Helen Emens has accepted a clerical position at the Michelin office.
Frederick Wagner, of New York fs visiting his mother, Ms. K Wagner, of Main street,
BANK ROBBERS GET LIMIT SENTENCE WITHIN FEW HOURS AFTER CAPTURE AT MILLTOWN
Prosecutor Stricker Order Speedy Disposal of Case as Warning–Plead Guilty and Sent to State Prison -Other Charges Pending.
A new record was set for “Jersey Justice” yesterday afternoon when Frank “Sailor” Voorhees of this city and Walter Watson of Melrose, Mass. captured only fifteen hours earlier by a Milltown posse in an attempt to rob the First National Bank there were arraigned before Judge Pete F. Daly in the county court her and sentenced to serve from four years and eight months to seven years each in State Prison.
Following their arrest yesterday morning the men got in touch with Frank P. Coan of South Amboy their counsel, and after a conference with him they decided to plead guilty at once to the bank robbery charge Allegations were prepared by the Prosecutor’s office and were signed by the men.
A special call was sent to Assistant Prosecutor John A. Coan, who came here at once from South Amboy and at four o’clock yesterday afternoon Judge Daly held a special session of the county court, and the men were arraigned. Both men pleaded guilty, and the Assistant Prosecutor at once moved for sentence.
Counsel for the men. a brother of the Assistant Prosecutor, made a plea for mercy on their behalf. He admitted that both had previous records, but said that Voorhees had served a term In State prison before the war for assault and battery and on his release had at once enlisted voluntarily and had served with the fourth division in France.
Watson, he said, had served in the navy, and had been stationed off the French coast for over a year.
Driven from New Brunswick
Mr. Coan declared that Voorhees tried to go straight after his charge from the army and had earned a position at Camp Raritan. When some thefts occurrednear him, however, said his counsel, attempts were made to place the blame on him and things were made so comfortable for him that he went to New York.
Voorhees was unable to get work there, Mr. Coan said, and he fell into bad company, which resulted in his undoing, and the same was the case with Watson, who was serving a term at New Bedford, Mass., with Voorhees last July when they broke together.
Mr. Coan urged clemency in view of the fact that the men had pleaded guilty, without putting the county to the expense of a trial.
Disgrace to Uniform
There are certain crimes, caused sudden temptation, in which a previous war record can be considered in extenuation of the offense,” said Judge Daly. “But in a deliberate crime like this, it simply adds another crime to their account, that disgracing the uniform. There are too many men now who think that because they served during the war they are entitled to live without working, and they are a disgrace to the great majority of our glorious American boys who served.”
He said that the court always takes into consideration the fact that a man pleads guilty and does not add perjury to his other crime, but that Voorhees had been given every chance before he was sent to State prison the first time.
“Middlesex county has been remarkably free from crimes of this sort,” he continued. “There has Been only one burglary during my term on the bench. I feel that this is due largely to advertising the fact that this is not a safe county for criminals to ply their trade.
Judge Daly
“I will not impose a fine as well as imprisonment on these men, in view of their having pleaded guilty, but I can see no reason why I should not impose the limit sentence permitted by statute. The sentence of the law in each case is that they be confined at hard labor in the State Prison for a term not exceeding seven years and not less than four years and eight months.”
Mast Face Other Charges
This sentence by no means disposes of the cases, however. There are eight other indictments pending against Voorhees, and a detainer will be placed against him at Trenton Ind when his term expires he will be brought back here to face trial on the other charges.
He is also wanted in a number of other cities, and authorities there have been notified. Chief of Police Kiely, of Plainfield, was present in Court when the men were arraigned yesterday and stated that both are wanted in his city.
Prosecutor Joseph E. Stricke complimented the posse of Milltown citizens on their fine work in capturing the two men in the attempted bank robbery. He said they had rendered a real service to the county and to the State.
The quick disposal of the cases was arranged by him, he said, as a warning to burglars and other criminals in these troublous times that they will get short shift in Middlesex county, and he made it clear that the sentences Imposed yesterday are by no means the finish of the service
He declared that if the men had not pleaded guilty he had planned to call a special session of the grant Jury today to indict them and to put the men on trial on Monday or Tuesday.
Voorhees and Watson were returned to the county jail at once and are being carefully watched, as the authorities are taking no chances on losing them. They will have to be held here until Friday and then will be taken at once to Trenton.
Voorhees denied in conversation with attendants at the county jail that he had anything to do with the robberies that are charged against him here and said that the Milltown robbery was the only local affair with which he had been connected. It was stated, however, that he had admitted a robbery in Boston.
He expressed himself as being well satisfied with his sentence and said that he intended to serve all the time against him and then try to live straight.
The two men who were with Voorhees and Watson in the Milltown affair are still at large, but the detectives are working on this part of the case. Voorhees continued his denial that a woman had been in the party. The allegations signed by the men charged breaking and entering the bank building and stealing $1,000 in bonds. Bank officials said today that nothing had been stolen from the bank but that some bonds might have been taken from privately owned safe deposit boxes but that $1,000 would fully cover the loss.
“Sailor” Voorhees seemed quite peeved at being caught in a small town and said to an officer: “It beats the devil, we’ve pulled this stuff in all large cities and now we get grabbed in a jerk water town.” Night Watchman Herman Willenbrock of the Michelin plant, deserves considerable praise for his work.
About 25 Houses Have Gone Up in the Borough Since January-Chicken Thefts Lead to a Spree.
MILLTOWN, Dec. 7-The Philadelphia and Boston Face Brick Company, located on the east side of Milltown has closed down for the winter. They have been working for about a year and have done very well. They have four kilns and make of glazed tiling for mantlepieces, and all kinds of ornamental work. They were unfortunate lately in losing two kilns of brick, meaning a loss of about $10,000, that were not successfully baked, and which will necessitate some little changes in the plant.
Building Boom.
Milltown continues to boom in the building line. One may count about 25 houses built since January. Besides this much changing and repairing and painting has gone on. The carpentry work has been nearly all done by our local contractors, Robert Harkins and Adam Christ, with very able helpers These men are well known as good builders and they have been busy all summer.
Miss Edith Kohlhepp completed her business college course at Coleman’s, Newark, last week.
Paul Matske left Milltown for Detroit yesterday, where he will be employed in the branch office of the Michelin Tire Company. His wife and two little children will remain here for the present.
Fired at Chicken Thieves.
Sam Masillo saw two chicken thieves robbing John Peru’s hennery one night about a week ago, He fired off his gun and they disappeared, making some chickens with them. Peru did not show gratitude to Masillo, who lives in the other half of the double house, for not allowing the thieves to “clean the coop,” but got hilarious with drink, as he had often done before at all hours of the morning. Marshal Rupprecht brought Pedu to Recorder Headley, who charged him costs and threatened jail if he did not keep the peace. From the long, extended article in Tuesday’s paper concerning New Brunswick’s need of pure water and the unhygienic conditions existing in Milltown, one would be led to think New Brunswick drank only water, put their “brass buttons” don’t say so. The small number on the sick list in Milltown and the number that reach 70, 80 and even 90 years of age indicate that Milltown is not such a bad place to live in after all.
Breton, Who Knew Mr. and Mrs. Porgoinnec in France, is the Principal Witness Against Them When They Face Jury Today.
John Porgoinnec and his wife, Marianna Porgoinnec, are being tried this afternoon on a charge of running a “speak-easy” at Milltown. According to Assistant Prosecutor Stricker’s opening, they sold without a license on October 6 and various other times within the past two years.
The State’s principal witness against the Porgoinnecs, who are French, was John Leroux, a Breton. Leroux cannot speak English, so Albert F. Russell was sworn as French interpreter. It is a long time since any French translation has been required in the local court.
Leroux testified that he had visited the Pergoinnec place many times within the past two years, buying beer and whiskey there. When ask- ed how many times, he said it was so many that he couldn’t remember the number, but thought it at least twenty.
On cross-examination by Walter Van Sickle he said that he had lived. in Milltown two years and worked in the Nickel works, in this city. He met the Porgoinnecs the day after he arrived in Milltown, but had known them before that, in France.
The Jury.
The following jury heard the case: Charles E. Paxton, Elmer C. Slater, A. C. Shreeve, Thomas Horan, Charles E. Breckwedel, John Case, Harvey H. Mershon, George F. Giles, A. G. Snedeker, Louis Appleget, Michael Masterson, E. W. Clayton.
