The following dispatch has been received by Coroner GOODHART from President GOWEN:
Philadelphia, July 28, 1877 To Coroner GOODHART.
The testimony of Sheriff YORGEY as published in the Reading Eagle of last evening is grossly incorrect. On Monday last, shortly after one o'clock, Mr. WOOTEN arrived in Philadelphia from Reading and reported to me an ineffectual attempt which had been made by him at half past nine o'clock that morning to induce the Sheriff of Berks county to issue a Proclamation and call out the posse comitatus. Upon this report being made to me, at twenty-four minutes past one o'clock, I sent the following dispatch to the Sheriff.
"George R. YORGEY, Esq., High Sheriff of Berks County, Reading.
I am informed by Mr. WOOTEN that you hesitate to call out the posse comitatus to protect the property of the Company against anticipated violence of which you have been properly informed.
Is this true? Please answer at once.
F.B. GOWEN
At seventeen minutes after four o'clock I received the following answer:
To F.B. GOWEN, Pres't.
Am ready to do my duty. Am about to issue proclamation and will appoint any number and such persons as you or your agents may designate as Deputy Sheriffs, in addition have so informed Mr. BAER's office. All I ask is for your men here to do their duty.
Your men here have not shown themselves very brave.
Signed, George R. YORGEY, Sheriff
At thirty-seven minutes after four o'clock, I sent the following which, however, on account of press business, was not forwarded over the wires until forty-seven minutes after five:
George R. YORGEY, Esq., Sheriff of Reading:
I am much obliged for your dispatch. Mr. WOOTEN and Mr. BAER are now on their way to Reading, and will do all in their power to aid you. I think your proclamation will do good, and the United States troops which Major General HANCOCK is sending to Reading, I trust you will be able to keep peace.
I will do all I can to give you any assistance in my power.
Signed, F.B. GOWEN, President
The original of all these dispatches can be forwarded to you, and in view of the remarkable testimony of the Sheriff upon this subject, I think they should be laid before your jury.
Very Respectfully,
Franklin B. GOWEN
President
The following is what Sheriff YORGEY swore to before the Coroner's jury on Thursday night last, and is what President GOWEN calls "remarkable testimony:"
Geo. R. YORGEY sworn: I am the High Sheriff of Berks county; witnessed no collision between militia and citizens or disorderly persons, on Monday night; I was in my office during the time; I arrived there after seven o'clock, where I remained until 11 o'clock, Monday night; no officer, either civil or military, called upon me during these hours in reference to quelling the disturbance, I had no notice whatever that any troops were coming that night; I had no information of the troops being in the city, and knew nothing of their presence until I heard the firing; I was never consulted in reference to the military at all; I never ordered them nor knew nothing about them being ordered; they never formed any part of my posse. Daniel FRANCIS and the watchman of the Court House were with me in my office. I was waiting for orders which detained me until eleven o'clock. After the firing I inquired to know the result and what had been done; I was told that the crowd had dispersed; I did not visit the scene of the disaster; I was there once on Monday, saw the crowded conditions of the streets and witnessed the riotous proceedings; saw this when I posted up my proclamations on the four corners; I should have been informed of the coming of the troops but was not informed; I do not know whose business it was to tell me; I informed the railroad officials where they might find me if they wanted me to call out a posse comitatus; I telegraphed this to Mr. GOWEN. The militia came here without my knowledge, and I had nothing to do with them after they were here. In the forenoon things were middling quiet, and in the afternoon I had my proclamations struck off. I was not in the city Sunday night, and came up from my Douglass township farm Monday morning, and in the evening at five issued my proclamation.
In conversation with several officials yesterday it was learned by an Eagle representative that the legal authorities were in possession of all the leading facts necessary to convict the parties who were concerned in the present railroad disturbances in and near this city. Since the arrests there have been a number of confessions made, and in the language of one of the officials, "the story is so startling in its character that many will not be prepared to believe that such things were possible or probable in a quiet city like Reading."
From information gleaned in various localities yesterday, it was learned that the confessions made by various parties, when put together and compared, make a startling story of crime. The confessions, from information received, commence with the stormy and turbulent proceedings of a meeting held in this city, on the Saturday previous to the bridge burning. Concerning that meeting of the Eagle of Sunday, July 22 said: "The proceedings were of the gravest character, and many determined men made remarks in full sympathy with the men along the Baltimore and Ohio Road who are now on a strike." The confessions are then reported to show that another meeting was held on Saturday night prior to the bridge burning, when the subject of the departing of the Reading Rifles, and other military passing through Reading on their way to Harrisburg, was discussed.
The burning of the car near Walnut street, on Sunday evening, is then spoken of, which is followed by an allusion to the tin horn signals of the departure of the crowds from 7th and Penn streets. The ring-leaders of the gang that stopped Conductor BERTOLETTE's train at 10:30 Sunday night, and the men who stoned the engine, and who attacked the hostler of the extra engine are made known and are now under arrest. Subsequently the story leads to the burning of the caboose and how a little man they called "Jack" did the business. The parties connected with this business are in jail, and the parties who brought them food in the evening from their homes are also in custody. The tearing up of the rails and obstructing the tracks are freely spoken about, and then follows the terrible story of the burning of the bridge. "That is not for publication now," said Detective LYON. "Wait until the proper time comes and then we will see who burned the bridge. We will then know where the party first started from, where they procured the oil and waste wood; who were in the gang and who carried the materials; and finally the community will know who struck the match. These things will all come out at the proper time, when these people have their trials. You may rest assured that the entire story is a correct one which we will prove by fifty witnesses if necessary." "The stopping of the trains at 7th and Penn streets on Monday afternoon and Monday evening was done in the full view of at least one thousand people," said another official. "We know who first stopped the down coal train at three o'clock Monday afternoon; who shoved back the caboose and two or three loaded coal cars. We also have arrested the parties who dumped the coal car at Seventh and Penn streets, and some of the ringleaders who stopped the up freight train at half past three. The interference with the down express at 4:20 and the down accommodation at 6:20 in the evening is also clearly brought out. We know who interfered with the engine and who blew the whistle so often while the locomotive was in the hands of the mob. We also know who fired the first shot at the soldiers in the cut and that man is now in jail; and we also have many of the parties who threw stones and bricks. We also know that after the firing by the military who went to DELANY's gun smith shop at Seventh and Walnut and procured some arms under false pretenses; we know who led the mob down Penn street to the armory and thence to the hardware stores in search of arms and ammunition. This party was regularly organized. From the evidence now at hand there will be no trouble to convict."
Several parties who were among the ringleaders have left the city, but their capture is only a question of a short time. The officers had a good rest yesterday but last evening they scoured the city in search of a number of men who are yet wanted to make up the full casts of characters that enacted the terrible drama in this city last week. It has not been decided upon whether the trials will take place in the August Courts or not. The sworn information made by the officers are in the main "from information received," and the lists of witnesses and prisoners make up many pages in a book kept for that special purpose.
The prisoners' first Sunday in jail yesterday was passed quietly. They were furnished suitable books from the prison library, and notwithstanding the heat outside they found it generally cool and comfortable in their cells.
The Coal and Iron Police carry rifles only in cases of riot, or when disturbances are expected or occur in which a number of persons participate. In traveling over the hills or through the valleys of the coal region their companies are two of Colt's large seven shooters pistols and a small revolver. The seven shooters fire cartridges as large as those used for rifles, and a man within 500 yards of one of the Colt's pistols in the hands of a practiced marksman, is not safe.
When in the coal regions Capt. HEISLER's men practice every day with their revolvers by shooting into the heaps of coal dirt, at targets and in this way become excellent "sharpshooters."
Since the Coal and Iron Police are in this city, they received direct from the manufacturer 18 new Spencer fourteen-shooters. The other rifles they have are sixteen shooters.
The railroad company supplied the police with cushions to sleep on at their headquarters, at the car shops, but these are occupied only occasionally in the day time, as all are wide awake and on duty at night.
Solomon QUINTERS was arrested last night by two of the Coal and Iron police - G. W. GEIGER and Frank E. BENSINGER - and Officer HAGY, on the charge of throwing an engineer off the train, riot, malicious mischief and as one of the parties who fired the cabooses. The prisoner was taken out of bed at 11 o'clock last night at the corner of 9th and Walnut. He was committed in default of $10,000 bail. He had nothing to say when arrested, excepting that he wished the officers had come around earlier in the evening as he was always around.
An Eagle reporter had a lengthy conversation with the prisoner in his cell. It will be remembered that QUINTERS is the man who is charged with having bitten the ear and nose off Mr. John HINNERSHITZ at the Wine House, Sunday evening a week ago.
QUINTERS says that the fuss first commenced at 7th and Penn streets, Saturday night a week ago, when the BOGLE brothers were so brutally beaten. At the Wine House QUINTERS and HINNERSHITZ met, QUINTERS said, "Well that was a mean piece of business you fellows served on Johnny BOGLE. "
"Yes, it was all a mistake, " said Mr. H, "and I'm sorry it happened, for we were always friends. But I can whip him or anybody that takes his part." QUINTERS said that he replied as follows: "I'm a friend of his and I don't think he was used right. I don't think you can whip me." "Well, I think I can," said Mr. H, "and we had best have it out right out there." QUINTERS then made the following statement:
"Shad pulled off his coat, and so did I. We were both not sober. A friend of Shad's tried to push him back, but could not keep him away from me. Shad bounced me and gave me a terrible beating. He bit me several times, and nearly chewed off my thumb. He was on top of me, and beat my head black and blue. I had to wait until he was [illegible words] commenced to bite. I bit off his nose while I was lying under him. I also bit his ear off. I don't know when I cut him."
QUINTERS said nothing as to his guilt or innocence on the charges preferred against him in the riot business. Messrs. LYON and CULLEN prefer the charges.
Subsequently, Mr. QUINTERS was taken before Alderman MENGEL, where he gave bail in the sum of $10,000.
Henry REINER was arrested by Detective LYON and Chief CULLEN on the charge of rioting, tearing up the tracks and malicious mischief. He was required to give $5,000 bail which he furnised at once, his mother becoming his surety.
Alderman MENGEL committed Jeremiah HEITER to jail, in default of $1,000 bail, to answer to the charge of breaking into the Armory of the Reading Rifles.
William KEEL and Thomas LANIGAN, arrested by officer FREESE on the charge of vagrancy, were sent to jail for 30 days.
On the charge of vagrancy Frederick MOYER was sent to the Poor House. Richard STEIGERWALT was fined for disorderly conduct, and Augustus HAINS was also fined for the same offense.
Dr. G. D. SCHOENER and Dr. W. F. MARKS are among the persons summoned to serve in the Sheriff's posse.
James BELL, deputy clerk of Quarter Sessions has also been placed among the able-bodied men.
Among the deputy sheriffs sworn in this morning were Wm. A. HENRY, John H. PRINTZ, David KEISER, Elias BICKEL, Jones THOMAS, and Alexander BURNETT, G. STOLZ, Charles RICK jr.
The Second Military Division of Pennsylvania is to be recruited to two full regiments, 10 companies to each regiment, and 80 men to each company. The division embraces the counties of Berks, Montgomery, Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton, with headquarters at Norristown, and Gen. BOLTON in command. They will be uniformed like the United States Regulars, and are enlisted like the balance of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, for five years. Maj. D. H. HERR received the following dispatch from Lieut. Col. D. C. KELLER last evening: "KAUFFMAN's company at Shartlesville is accepted. Notify him to report at Allentown, 4th Regiment, at once by order of Maj. Gen. BOLTON." Maj. HERR is Aide-camp [sic] to Gen. BOLTON.
Another company for the Fourth has been recruited at Easton. They will be furnished with blue blouses and caps and lightblue trousers, like the regulars, and will report for duty at Allentown.
Private GROW, at the Reading Rifles armory, has collected ten more uniforms, and will equip and send on men. Directions have been given for the arrest of soldiers who do not report for duty. Soldiering has turned out to be serious business. Several members of the Rifles are expected to report today or tomorrow.
D.J. GODSHALK, editor of the Bethlehem Times, formerly Aid-de-camp to Maj. Gen. BOLTON, has requested to recruit a company to be attached to the 4th Regiment.
Coal prices are advancing at last through the work of a different sort of combination from which was expected to put prices up at the beginning of the summer. There are large stocks of anthracite at Port Richmond, Amboy and Port Johnson, but the strike of railroad hands upon the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey Central Railroads will cause the consumption of the supply at the two last named depots before many days. The stock now in hand is nearly all contracted for, and purchasers are asked 50 cents per ton advance. Some companies delivering in New York put prices up last week under apprehensions of a general strike of miners. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company are receiving immense amounts of coal at Port Richmond wharves. All the mining operations of the company are pushed with unusual vigor. Over 80,000 tons were mined by the Coal and Iron Company last week, notwithstanding the interruption of traffic, and over 100,000 tons were shipped. The stock on hand is large, but the company's contracts for future delivery are large.
At 8:30 last night Walnut street at 8th, and 8th street north of Walnut, completely flooded and covered with water from 3 to 6 inches deep. Eighth street north of Walnut looked like a flowing river, as the thoroughfare was completely covered with water from curb to curb. The residents of that section have become accustomed to it, for they say that whenever there is a heavy fall of rain the street is flooded. Last night the water was particularly high. It rushed down Walnut street with fearful velocity completely covering the crossing with four inches of water, and going over the curb and backing up to the doors of the house at the northeast corner of 8th and Walnut.
All communication was cut off unless pedestrians took the chances in wading through. After the flood had subsided several tons of sand and dirt had been washed down.
The burned Lebanon Valley bridge had many visitors yesterday, and three solemn looking, sentinel-like piers standing in the river, piles of old iron and charred lumber, with fifty workmen amongst it, was all that met the curious gaze. The river is comparatively clear after a week of hard labor, and the two canals are emptied of their water. The scene is a desolate one, and from the end of the remaining intact brick piers can be reviewed in all its entirety. It is thought that in two more weeks a bridge sufficiently strong enough for trains will be sprung across the injured piers.
Last evening at 7 o'clock, the U. S. Regulars had a dress parade lasting about 20 minutes, on the grass plot between the shedding at the southern side of the railroad offices at the passenger depot on the P & R R Co. Several thousand persons were present, and the platforms under the shedding were crowded. The excellent drilling was favorable commented on by the spectators.
There is not the least doubt about the fact that printing done at the Eagle job office is neater and cheaper than that done at any other office in this city. Every class of letter press printing done at short notice in the neatest style.
Constables HOLLENBACHER and KRAMER arrested James NEIDER this morning, and took him before Alderman FISHER, who held him in $200 bail to answer the charge of malicious mischief in breaking BOWMAN's window on Buttonwood street between Eleventh and Twelfth.
Howard PHILLIPS, of Penn township, brought to the County Commissioners' office the scalp of a young fox he shot, and received $1 reward.
Orlando BORTZ, who committed suicide by hanging, in Lehigh county, was buried on Saturday.
Samuel MENSCH, tenant of the farm of Isaac B. BICKEL, Gilbertsville, has corn stalks over 12 feet long, one bearing seven fully developed ears of corn.
Hotel arrivals in Philadelphia - The following is a list of the arrivals from Reading yesterday:
Continental - C. G. DERR, Mrs. DERR, R. I. JONES, Mrs. JONES and child.
Girard - Miss M. ECKERT, Mrs. B. B. GOOD, Mrs. B. KUTZ, D. S. BENSON.
He was a stranger in Reading, and he rolled into a place where faro is played as a business. He sat down and watched the game. The five cent nickels changed hands slowly and nobody appeared to be much of a winner or loser. At last the stranger said, "Rather a small business that, ain't it? I've heard tell of five cent ante, but never a five cent faro. Times is changed around hereabouts. We need to play big money, but I see you've simmered down."
Nobody answered the stranger and he ran his arm down to the bottom of a cavernous pocket, and after considerable searching he found an old copper cent. "It's all I got, but it beats nothing, you know." He placed his bottom out on the jack and it won.
He kept it there and it won again. He shifted to the trey, then to the deuce, then to the ace, and before he quit he was actually forty-two cents winner! The lookers-on at the game marveled at such an extraordinary streak of luck, and several hangers-on on the outside having heard of the "unusual run" followed the man down the street, and they are not done talking about him yet. It was considered a big winning for Reading.
Yesterday morning at 3 1/2 o'clock an Eagle reporter found a man having the appearance of a U. S. Regular, with folded arms lying in the middle of the sidewalk at SCOTT Foundry on North Eighth street, with a brick for his pillow? The newspaper man made several efforts to awaken the soldier, but the only answer he received was , "Umph." The stranger then rolled around on his other side, folded his arms again and resumed snoring.
Another man close by was leaning against a wooden flask in which iron castings are made, and he was snoring loudly. The surface of the flask was considerably more uneven than the interior surface of a waffle-iron. Both men were in the land of dreams, appeared to be happy, and the reporter passed on.
The rain still continued pouring down as the late churches were leaving out after the last evening's services, and many members of the various congregations remained in the vestibules and lecture rooms near an hour after the close, waiting for friends and relatives to bring them umbrellas and for a slackening up of the watery element. Some few carried the customary protection with them to church, but the greater majority, not heeding the signs of the skies, came unprovided. In the First Reformed Church there were a large number of young ladies in attendance at the services, and these were duly taken care of by a similar number of young men who generally turn up on such occasion. St. John's Lutheran and Methodist, United Brethren, St. Barnabas Episcopal, and St. John's Reformed congregations left out somewhat earlier than the above congregation, and escaped the general out-pouring of rain that came down shortly after nine o'clock.
Prof. I. B. HANKEY, of Boyertown, who was on a few weekly visits to his parents and familiar scenes of his youth at Gettysburg, and elsewhere, returned in the midst of the strike excitement on Tuesday, and was greeted by his friends at Boyertown, and congratulated over his safe return. He found it impossible to return by a direct route, but was obliged to go around by way of Baltimore and York to Philadelphia, encountering severe hardships at times, in getting through the mobs. He arrived at Philadelphia just as General HANCOCK was preparing his men to go to Reading.
David E. SNYDER has in his garden at 318 Pearl street several corn stalks that measure 13 1/4 feet. One of the tallest stalks has two large ears. The others have each one ear.
Quite a number of articles have been sent to the Reading Rifles by their wives and friends. The goods were shipped from the Station House to Allentown. The orders were given to place the goods at 5th and Franklin at a certain time. Several wives being behind time carried their goods and bundles to the depot, so that their husbands and relatives could have proper change of clothing for Sunday. The Reading Rifles are encamped at the Fair Grounds. The recent showers tested their courage considerably. The heat notwithstanding the shade afforded by the trees and the protection of the booths and stalls on the Fair Grounds, proved oppressive and they experienced great relief by the copious showers. The dress parade could not be held on account of the rain, and the grounds were not visited in as large numbers. Very little inconvenience was felt and most of the soldiers passed comfortable nights on the straw in the stalls. At least as comfortable as they could under the circumstances.
The Allentown Chronicle thus describes the camp: "The spirits of all continue good. They are really having a fine time, and we heard one remark that he was in favor of keeping the thing up for several weeks. He says he has all the eating and drinking he wants, has good sleeping accommodations, sure pay and lots of fun, which is as much as can be asked for at this time. We heard another soldier remark this morning that he was tired of this ennui and uncertainty. He was in favor of doing active service or be discharged, as the state of affairs interfered with his business. As he is a soldier and subject to military discipline, his wishes will not be regarded as much as he might desire."
"The camp after the rain was wet, but the sun soon had the effect of rendering the grounds dry and comfortable. The soldiers were engaged in diverse occupations. Some were busy cleaning their pieces, some just as busy playing cards, some reading and discussing the latest news, some sleeping and others doing what their inclinations prompted and circumstances permitted.
In summoning Samuel L. YOUNG, Esq., to serve in the posse comitatus, the sheriff designates him by his military title of "Major".
Major YOUNG remarked to an Eagle reporter this morning that the forces of Mayor EVANS and Sheriff YORGEY are nothing more than an unorganized mob. Neither of these officials have given the citizens sworn in any instructions, and in case anything should happen requiring their immediate aid they could do absolutely nothing. "Tis true I have a billy, but if I were to take my billy and rush out of my office, how much service could I do toward quelling a riot? Nothing could be accomplished without concert of action. The men who have been sworn in must be organized into a kind of military army and have a head - a commander."
"Who would be a proper person to organize the new army and take command of it?" asked the reporter.
"Well," replied Major YOUNG, I would suggest as you have asked me the question, that the forces of both the Mayor and the Sheriff be turned over to Maj. Gen. GREGG, who has had a great deal of experience in military affairs and is an excellent soldier.
Capt. GRAHAM, by brevit a General, and Major CHANDLER P. EAKIN, who ranks as Captain in the Regular Army, both of whom have companies of regulars in the city now, were officers under General GREGG during the war. While the regulars are here there is no likelihood of another disturbance occurring, but we don't know how soon something may happen after they leave which will require citizens to turn out promptly to restore order, and now in times of peace we ought to prepare for war."
The Allentown Chronicle says that the Reading Eagle in a double loaded editorial intimates that Sheriff YORGEY did not do his duty.
The Lancaster Intelligencer says that Sheriff YORGEY did do his duty sitting in his office waiting for orders.
The Allentown Herald says: General REEDER says he can give a satisfactory answer to each and every question of Coroner GOODHART's, and there is no doubt that after the investigation has come to a close the Fourth Regiment will be held entirely blameless.
Prison Inspectors REBER, RITTER and LYON, visited the county jail this morning and decided it to be necessary to place a special guard in the institution, on account of the incarceration of a large number of alleged rioters and incendiaries. About 11 o'clock four members of the Coal and Iron Police with rifles entered the jail as guards.
Submitted by: Sue.
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