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Archiver > PACLEARF > 2000-08 > 0967516568


From: "kg_davis" <>
Subject: [PACLEARF] Clearfield Republican - August 2, 1901
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 21:36:08 -0500


Some of this may be offensive or sensitive to some of you, I apologize ahead
of time but quote nonetheless -

Friday, August 2, 1901

Stricken at a Ball Game
Joshua R. Emery, of Brookville, died at that place last Saturday. He was
stricken with paralysis while witnessing a ball game in the afternoon and
only lived a few hours. "Josh" Emery was well known in Clearfield 25 years
ago. He was a horseman.

The John Rohn Mystery
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of John Rohn, of West Keating
township, Clinton County, about ten miles below Karthaus, this county, has
never been solved and is to-day as much a mystery as ever.
John Rohn was a prosperous lumberman and farmer who lived among the
half-breeds of West Keating Township all of his life. He amassed
considerable property and was a larger employer of labor. April 6, 1899, the
neighborhood was informed by Rohn's family that he had disappeared from home
and no good reason for the same was advanced. The last seen of him by anyone
who talks to-day was on April 5 when Dave GAINES, who was building fence on
the farm, says Rohn came to where he was working and said his son John would
pay him for his labor at noon, at which time Gaines would finish his job.
Rohn was then, according to Gaines, going to the woods to burn pasture.
The family corroborate the Gaines story but add nothing to it concerning any
of the happenings about home that morning.
Terry Jones, a respected white citizen of the neighborhood, whose word is
good among the people, saw Rohn sitting on his port at 10 o'clock April 5,
about an hour before Dave Gaines says he came to him on his way to the
woods.
Aside from these two statements the public has never had any evidence
regarding John Rohn's actions on April 5 or subsequently. During the
following weeks that entire country was covered by a small army of searchers
without the least possible clue being obtained. Everybody acquainted with
the family had a theory, except the members of the family themselves, that
is, the family of his third wife. They would never talk.
At the time of his disappearance John Rohn had a large amount of money on
his person. He had five or six thousand dollars in a Lock Haven bank and
considerable negotiable paper. Of the latter there was a voucher given him
by the Pennsylvania railroad for ties, something over one hundred dollars.
This voucher was in Rohn's possession some days before he disappeared.
Afterward it was presented at a Clearfield bank by a friend of the family
but payment refused. The family say it was found in the bible after Rohn
disappeared and was given the party who presented it for a debt owed him.
Detectives from all parts of the country have worked on the case, but it
seems the first to go upon the ground were amateurs and so bungled things
that all those who might have thrown light on the case "tumbled" and "sealed
lips" were met with among the natives when good men came upon the ground
later.
John Rohn was probably worth $50-000 when he suddenly dropped out of the
world. The oldest son of his third wife is now managing the estate.


Killed at Faunce
W.A. Barnett was killed by a fall of rock in the clay mines at Faunce Friday
afternoon, July 26, 1901. He had gone to work at 1 o'clock as usual, and
loaded a car about one-third when the accident happened. He was not seen
alive by any one after he left his home to go to work in the afternoon. It
is supposed the accident happened about 1:30. His body was not found until
5:00 o'clock, when the men were going out. Clark Bloom suggested going into
his room to see how he was getting along. As the other men said, they had
not the time Bloom said he would go alone. When he saw the partly loaded car
he knew there must be something wrong, and passing around the car saw a
sight which he says he will hardly forget for some time. There was Mr.
Barnett lying on his back, his legs both bent under him, his left jaw broken
and both arms fast, nearly a ton of rock lying on top of him. It is supposed
he heard the rock give and jumped to save himself, but was caught before he
could get away.
A little over five years ago his eldest brother, John, was kicked by a horse
and killed almost instantly.
William Asberry Barnett, was the second son of Daniel H. and Cornelius
Barnett, of Knox township. He was married on June 2, 1896, to Susie M.
Rowles, daughter of Joseph H. Rowles, of Glen Richey, to this union were
born three children, the youngest of whom died just one moth ago.
For a number of years he has been a member of the Mt. Zion M.E. Church,and
was always a consistent in doing what he could in the cause of Christ. He
was also a charter member of Washington Camp P.O.S. of A., of Olanta, which
society had charge of the funeral. Interment in the Mt. Zion cemetery. Rev.
F. L. Bardens of the Clearfield Baptist church, had charge of the services.
Mr. Barnett was universally liked by all who knew him. He was of a kind,
genial disposition, always willing to help any one in distress or oblige a
friend. He will be greatly missed in the church, the Camp, the community and
above all I the home where he was most happy. His family have the sympathy
of a large number of friends and acquaintances in their said bereavement.


Murders becoming Frequent
Another shooting affray occurred along the new railroad Sunday in which,
three negroes, two men and one woman were shot, one of the men probably so
seriously that he will loose his life.
This time the scene was at the Fulton tunnel and a woman was at the bottom
of the trouble. James Philips, a big 6-foot-2 coon came up from Warrenton,
Va., to work on the tunnel. He brought along Louisa Williams, who was known
as "Philip's girl." Last week Louisa grew tired of Philips and moved her bed
and board to the shanty occupied by George Rooney. Samuel Miller and several
other coons. Philips was not pleased at this change on Louisa's part and
growled much. On Friday he went to the commissary and told the clerks he
wanted his money in full as he expected to leave. His request was granted.
Sunday morning he went to the shanty where Louisa was staying and called her
out. Rooney went to the door and asked Philips inside. The latter began to
shoot. One ball entered Rooney's abdomen, pierced his intestines nine times
and lodged against the spinal column. The woman received a shot in the calf
of her leg and Samuel Miller was shot in the foot.
Philips did not linger around the scene long after venting his wrath but
took to the woods. Word was sent to town for physicians and officers. Dr.
Waterworth went down, dressed the wounds of Rooney and the other two. The
officers tried to get all the information they could about the shooting, but
made no attempt to follow Philips, who is still at large.
Rooney is in a very dangerous condition. The chances for recovery are very
slight, so the doctors say. Neither Miller nor the woman are much hurt.
This is the third serious shooting to take place along the line of the new
railroad. Two colored en were murdered in Karthaus township since work
began. One was killed in a crap game dispute. The other was killed by a
companion while walking through the streets of Karthaus. Neither of the
murderers were apprehended.

ICQ 40792946
Gloria Butler Davis

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