Source:Local-matters-1850-06-19
"Local matters: Reported for the Pittsburgh Daily Gazette." Pittsburgh Daily Gazette, June 19, 1850, [p. 3]. Newspapers.com 96006957.
Congregational Meeting.—A Congregational meeting of the members of the Second Presbyterian Church was held on Monday afternoon, in the Session Room of the First Presbyterian Church. Elder M. B. Lowrie took the Chair, and Mr. R. C. Loomis was appointed Secretary.
The meeting was opened with prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Howard, after which the Chairman stated the object of the meeting, viz., to take measures to provide a House of Worship.
Mr. Logan said that the Committee appointed to confer with the Insurance Companies had just seen them. The Western and North American Insurance Companies would pay them $7,500 for the damages sustained by the Church, in the late disastrous fire. The Committee thought that $8,000 was the proper sum. They then waited on the Insurance Companies and communicated that fact, and they promised to consider the matter at their next meeting. In the mean time he had seen one of the bidders for the contract for repairing the Church, who was willing to do it for $7,380, and thereupon the Committee offered to take that sum.
Mr. Hartley moved that the Trustees be instructed to accept the bid of Mr. Evans, the contractor, from the Insurance Offices.
After remarks from Messrs. McAuley, Logan, and Williams, Mr. Cooper moved, that this meeting approve of what the Board of Directors have done, and continue the subject with them for settlement. Mr. Hartley withdrew his motion, and that of Mr. Cooper was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. Hartley then offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That as soon as the Committees have made a final settlement with the Insurance Companies, the Trustees be constituted a Building Committee, and that they proceed to rebuild the Church with the least possible delay, with power to employ an architect to superintend the building, if they deem it necessary.
Mr. H. Childs thought that the former location of the Church was an unfavorable one, and hoped the passage of the resolution would be postponed for a week, in order that they might be able to see whether they could get a more favorable location.
Mr. McAuley did not wish the matter postponed. The congregation would lose too much by the selection of another site, as the walls and foundations were good, and worth from six to eight thousand dollars.
Mr. Childs thought they could get $16,000 for the lot, and buy another much cheaper. They could, besides, use the materials again in the erection of another building.
After remarks by Messrs. Chambers, McAuley, and Keyser, the Chairman said that he thought they had overlooked the most material part of the matter, and that was whether there was not a great danger of the Church being again burned, if it were built in its former location.
Dr. Keyser understood that the Insurance Companies would not insure, if the Church was again rebuilt, and if it were again burned they would lose all.
Mr. Williams was of the opinion that if a fire wall was erected next to Ryan's building, they could get insurance for half what they had paid before.
Mr. McAuley had no doubt that if a slate roof were put on—if the windows were protected by iron shutters, which could be done at a small expense, and if the heavy cornice of the building were taken off, they could obtain insurance.
Mr. Hartley's resolution was then carried almost unanimously.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
Frightful Accident.—A young man named William Morgan, a bricklayer, fell from a stack of chimneys, forty feet in height, at Coleman's Spring Factory, in the Fifth Ward, to the ground, horribly fracturing one of his legs and severely injuring the other. He was at once carried to his house in Mulberry Alley, above Walnut street, where he was waited on by Doctor M'Cook, who declared that the fractured limb must be amputated.
COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS.
Tuesday, June 18.
Present, Hon. Wm. B. McClure, President Judge, and William Kerr, and Samuel Jones, Associate Judges.
Commonwealth vs.Philip Winebiddle—Surety of the Peace. The recognizances of John Porterfield in this case were forfeited, and process awarded.
Commonwealth vs. John Ziggler—Indictment, Tippling House. The defendant pleaded guilty. He had only one leg, and made quite a spirited appeal to the Judge to let him off. Judge McClure told him that he had been convicted once before of the same offence, and dwelt on its enormity. The Court would nevertheless take his unfortunate circumstances into consideration, and would therefore only impose a fine of $30, instead of $100, which would otherwise have been his punishment. The prisoner was taken to jail, not having money to pay his fine.
The Jury in the case of the Commonwealth vs. Thomas Woods, indicted for an Assault and Battery, committed on Mrs. Goehring, (mentioned in yesterday's Gazette) returned with a verdict of "guilty." Mr. Woods at once made a motion for a new trial, based on the absence of material witnesses, which was allowed.
Commonwealth vs. William White—Information, Surety of the Peace on oath of James Dobbs. Case postponed in consequence of the absence of witnesses.
Commonwealth vs. Mary Anne and Sarah Butterfield—Indictment, Assault and Battery, with intent to kill.
Mr. Stewart opened the case on the part of the Commonwealth.
Marvin Williams, was sworn, and testified that he was a constable of Sharpsburg, and went to the house of Mr. Butterfield to serve a warrant. He arrested Butterfield, but left without taking him away. He went to the house afterwards with a party to assist him, when Mrs. Butterfield presented a pistol at him, and threatened to blow his brains out. Her daughter also threatened to throw scalding water on him. He was afterwards struck on the temple and stunned, ultimately leaving the house without his prisoner.
Reuben Hawkins was sworn, and corroborated Williams's statement.
Several witnesses were examined, both for the prosecution and defence, when, after speeches from Messrs. Black and Stewart, the Court charged rather against the prosecutor, it appearing that the constable had not exhibited his warrant when he went in. The Jury went out, and the Court adjourned.
Afternoon Session.
Commonwealth vs. Ephram Hanlon. Inditement [sic], Assault and Battery. The defendant pleaded "guilty." Hanlon had beaten Wm. J. Waters, a school teacher in Temperanceville, who had whipped one of his children and turned it out of school. The court sentenced the defendent [sic] to pay a fine of twenty dollars and costs.
The Jury in the case of the Commonwealth vs Mary Ann Butterfield and Sarah Butterfield, returned with a verdict of "not guilty, but defendants to pay the costs."
Commonwealth vs. John English and Mrs. Logan. Information, Surety of the Peace on oath of Samuel Butler. After hearing the statements of witnesses, each party was sentenced to pay his own costs and the defendant to pay the docket costs.
Commonwealth vs. William White, and Commonwealth vs. James Dobbs—cross suits. Both parties swore to be in great bodily fear of each other, and after the examination of several witnesses, each was sentenced to pay his own costs and enter into recognances to keep the peace.
Thomas Jones, who has been in jail for some time, charged with passing counterfeit money, was brought out, and after an admonition from the Court, was discharged.
Theatre.—To night is set apart for the benefit of the sufferers by the burning of Ryan's establishment. Mr. Raymond and family appear in two of their best pieces, and will likewise give a concert.
Empire Minstrels.—The Empire Minstrels are still at Wilkins Hall, and are "drawing" as wel- [sic] as ever.
The Museum.—Johnson's Serenaders yet remain at this very popular place of amusement.
Clean Streets.—The army of the Allegheny Street Commissioner has been for some time engaged in the Herculean task of cleaning Federal St. above the Market House.
Bathing.—That abominable practice of bathing in the river in broad daylight is now too prevalent. The police should interfere and prevent women from being insulted by the sight of men and boys in a state of nudity, near the bridges, where hundreds are crossing every hour.
Assault and Battery.—George Rominic yesterday lodged a complaint at the office of Alderman Parkinson, against a man named Solomon, whom he accused of unprovokingly beating him as he was sitting on the steps of his own house in Liberty street. Solomon was bound over to appear at the Court of Quarter Sessions.
Assault and Battery.—The defendants in a case of Assault and Battery were in Alderman Major's office, when we dropped in there yesterday, and their story admirably illustrates the trifling causes which frequently lead to litigation and strife among persons of good standing. The defendants had caused one of their hands to empty a few shavings down a gully on the property of the prosecutor, in the Sixth Ward. He feeling agrieved [sic], went to the defendants to tell them to remove them, and when there, indulged in some language, of which, in a cooler moment, he would not have made use. One thing led on to another, until the prosecutor found himself pretty badly beaten, and his antagonists had not escaped unscathed—one having received a bite in the hand the other in the leg. All the parties were bound over.
Mayor's Office, Pittsburgh.—Several colored men and women were brought from a house, at the corner of Washington and Prospect Streets, accused of disorderly conduct. Some were fined, others discharged, and a few committed. The usual routine of drunken cases was then gone through.
Recovered.—The unfortunate person who was taken from the Monongahela House to the Jail, a short time ago, laboring under a violent attack of the Mania a Potu, has so far recovered that he was removed by his friends on Monday night.
Fight.—Two drunken men had a fight yesterday in the rotunda of the Court House. It created considerable confusion in the Court of Quarter Sessions, but we believe neither of them was arrested.
New Alleys—Singular Names.—In laying off the old basin lots, a space was reserved for two alles [sic], the one running from Grant Street to Cherry Alleyy [sic], the other from Fifth Street to Diamond Alley. They are to be called by the singular names of Scrip Alley and Relief Alley.
