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100 Years Ago This Month

November 1919

November 7

Man Who Killed Creager Known

The murderer of Leo Creager has been identified. He is Clarence Wallace, of Waynesboro. The County Commissioners have sent broadcasts to the police authorities in the eastern part of the United States, a complete description of the man for whose arrest, dead or alive, $1,000 has been offered.

With this sum on his head every policeman and detective in this section is on the lookout and will waste no effort in attempting to take the criminal. Wallace is 29 years old and is 5‘9" tall with chestnut brown hair. His initials, "C.W." are tattooed on his right forearm in script letters and he has a faint scar near his left eyebrow.

Irwin Martz, who was charged with being implicit in the blowing of the two safes in Frederick, and who was captured shortly after the robbery was committed, has confessed that his pal, and the man who killed Creager, is Wallace.

A Waynesboro dispatch said that Wallace served a term in the Eastern Penitentiary for holding up and robbing a businessman a few years ago. He is reported as having been in Waynesboro a few days before the crime was committed.

Detectives learned that while the posse was searching for the murderer he slipped through the line and reached Baltimore the following morning. He attracted the attention of the postal inspectors, as he is believed to be implicated in the safe blowing jobs along the Pennsylvania/Maryland border.

A gold watch in the possession of Martz, and taken from him by the Sheriff, furnished a clue by which the officers were able to get the trail of Wallace. For after the Sheriff took the watch from Martz, he made a trip to Baltimore and there learned that it had been pawned twice by Martz. Martz’s address was secured and once the Sheriff went to the address a woman there got a complete story of Wallace - his admission to her that he had killed Creager; how he escaped from the posse; and made his way to Baltimore.

It is believed that while Wallace is still in Baltimore, authorities are certain that the man will come back after a lapse of time and will take every precaution to trap him when he does return. Wallace is an old criminal, and knows all of the tricks of the trade.

Emmitsburg Parades Despite Pouring Rain

Emmitsburg was in gala attire Saturday over one of the largest and most impressive community shows ever held in this county. The afternoon feature was a costume parade made up of decorated automobiles, floats, men on horseback, and a variety of horse drawn vehicles. While rain sometimes interfered with the parade as well as with the attendance, the town was crowded and everyone turned out and joined in the activities.

Two large buildings were given over to the exhibit. One was crowded with household and fancy articles, farm and garden products, and a great array of preserves, jellies, canned goods and homemade delicacies. The other was taken up with a splendid exhibition of poultry. Both were unusually large and varied, and in many respects, compared favorably with the display of this character at the Frederick Fair.

The parade assembled shortly after one o’clock. Prior to this time a steady downpour set in and the rain continued after the parade. Scores of school children, attired to represent all phases of life and many occupations, braved the weather in large automobile trucks and waved flags and sang as the procession moved over Main Street. Both sides of the street were lined with automobiles. Hundreds of spectators, half a dozen deep, stood along the sidewalks; hundreds of others who sought shelter from the rain viewed the parade from private homes, storefronts and the veranda of the hotel. The crowd assembled along the route of the parade more than an hour in advance of the procession and they remained until after it was over.

While the rain played havoc with the decorations, enthusiasm was at a high pitch. Many of the trucks and decorated automobiles were gotten up along original lines and the picturesque costumes and designs of old evoked rounds of applause. Local business establishments were well represented and much credit is due the teachers and school children, who, notwithstanding the rain, turned out in large numbers and contributed marginally to the success of the occasion

November 14

Wants Gun Returned

Several weeks ago, on Saturday when everyone that could go was out looking for the man who shot and killed Leo Creager, a gun belonging to Mr. George Small of Thurmont was taken from his autocar. The gun is a Smith and Western 16-gauge hammerless shotgun. Small desires the return of the gun at once. Any person knowing the whereabouts of the gun will do himself a favor by informing Smith so that he can take possession of the firearm.

Lightning Knocks Out Lighting

After a day of cool, cloudy weather, a thunderstorm broke over this section of the county Tuesday evening. The thunder was heavy and rain fell in torrents for a time. The first flash of lightning evidently put the Thurmont substation out of commission and for a time the town was in darkness. Fortunately, the election was over and most persons were in their homes during the downpour.

New Plant For Emmitsburg

The Cumden Manufacturing Company, manufacturer of overalls and working pants has rented the old Emmitsburg Chronicle building for one year. This company will begin operation without delay and will employ about 50 people.

November 21

Educational Meeting A Success

The third educational meeting for the teachers of Hamiltonban Township was held at the West Fairfield School House last Friday evening. "The importance of Education" was discussed by Mrs. Mae Wormley; "The Importance of Regular Attendance" by Wilson Hammelbaugh; and "The Importance of Busy Work" was the subject of a talk by Miss Erika Wisdom. Songs, drills and recitations were given by the pupils of Miss Henry’s school, a recitation was given by Miss Leinbach of Fountaindale, and a duet by Miss Ruth Shully and Miss Alvarez of Shully were other numbers on the program.

Thieves Kill Steer

One night last week thieves visited the farm of George Shafer and provided themselves with some fine beef for the cold winter months. They killed one of Mr. Shafer’s fine steers and carried away with them the two hindquarters, leaving the two front quarters, the hide and other parts of the carcass. The thieves were considerate enough to divide up with Mr. Schafer, although they took the choicest parts of the steer. There is no clue to the perpetrators of the act.

Winter To Be Mild

"Nuts are thicker then wood ticks in the big woods, but the squirrels are storing away less of them then town folks putting away ‘taters at $1.50 a bushel,’ and you can bet that the winter will be a darn mild one." Said hermit Joe of Rocky Ridge.

The old man, who predicts the winner every year, explained further his reasons for risking his reputation on a mild winter. "The bears this year are mostly scrawny and light furred," according to Joe, "and they are not in a hurry to get into their winter homes." While the fur on small animals indicates to the hermit that winter will be late, old neighbors say his predictions never fail.

November 28

Public Sale

As a result of pending divorce from my useless wife, on December 4, I will offer a public sale of the following: A black mare-four years old, who, unlike my wife, will work anywhere. She is a good driver, unlike my wife, who spent more time running off the road then staying on the road.

Fourteen head of cattle - six milk cows, a Holstein cow will be fresh in February. Five heifers weighing about 600 pounds, slightly less than my wife, and a steer weighing about 600 pounds, who’s rear end is a sight prettier then my soon to be ex-wife. Nine head of hogs – six weighing about 40 pounds, three fat hogs that eat just like my wife. 30 chickens – who like my wife - cackle non-stop about nothing.

Farming implements: New Weber wagon, 3-inch tread, 3 ton capability, good wagon bed; set of hay carriages, 18-feet long, good and new; corn plow, good as new; a host of gardening equipment, all new because my useless wife is too lazy to use any of them. Lots of harnesses, blacksmith forge, cream separator in good condition, and coal stove. Lots of homemade brooms - never used because my wife spends too much time on the party line to clean the house. Many articles not herein mentioned. Signed Jacob Boyd

Held For Investigation

A stranger, about 49 years of age, giving his name as Harry Smith and claiming to be from Buffalo New York, was arrested in Emmitsburg on Wednesday and lodged in jail for further investigation. The man was roughly dressed and had nothing to say when arrested except giving the above name and address. An effort will be made by the authorities to ascertain what brought him to this county.

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