Susquehanna - Dr. S. S. Birdsall, one of our oldest and most highly respected citizens, died suddenly Saturday morning, Oct. 12, 1912, after an illness of a few hours. Before he retired he told his wife he felt ill and Dr. Peck was summoned. Dr. Birdsall had been a resident of Susquehanna for more than a half a century and was very active in the practice of his profession and had been zealous for the betterment of the town. His work on the board of Trade was such that about a year ago he was given a handsome loving cup as a token of appreciation for his earnest work. During the Civil War Dr. Birdsall worked in several hospitals and was mustered out in September of 1864. In February of 1865 he took an examination for assistant surgeon of United States volunteers, with successful result, and was assigned to duty at Fairfax Seminary Hospital near Alexandria. VA. Dr. Birdsall was mustered out Nov. 27, 1865 as a brevetted major.

Fiddle Lake, Ararat Twp. – Jones W. Walker, of Ararat, is celebrating his 80th birthday today. He was born in the town of Ararat and has resided here nearly all his lifetime.

Choconut Valley – The McCahill brothers, who purchased the Mooney Hotel last spring, are making quite extensive repairs on the house, among other things putting in steam heat and gas lights.

Jackson Twp. – School notes of Maple Ridge school for month ending Oct. 7. Ruth Hall, Esther Quick, Nellie Hall, Earl Hall, Raymond Wilcox, Jay Decker and Lloyd Blaisdell were present every day during the month. Esther Quick had a 95% average. Nellie and Ruth Hall had a 90% average. Raymond Wilcox. Lloyd Blaisdell and Carl Decker had an 85% average. The 6th grade is reading “The Man Without a Country” by Everett Hale and learning the poem “Old Ironside.” The 5th grade is reading “The King of the Golden River” by John Ruskin.

East Lynn – The school here has organized a literary society. The first meeting to be held Friday afternoon, Oct. 25. All parents and friends are cordially invited.

New Milford – Electrician DeWitt Vail is installing an electric light plant in Stearns Bros’s new hotel in Kingsley. Light will also be furnished to several private residences we understand. In South New Milford several cows in this vicinity got full on apples and were so drunk they could not get up.

Uniondale – Alvin Leonard is painting the milk station. Stephen Bronson and C. A. Wademan expect to have their residences painted soon. It is quite an improvement to the town to see so many newly painted buildings, and if we had those sidewalks we have heard so much about, it would still be a greater improvement. Also Mrs. Etta Wells and Miss Mae Sweet were in Lestershire [Johnson City] several days last week. They have secured employment in the shoe factory and will move in the near future.

Hallstead/Great Bend – An order was posted in the Erie shops, at Susquehanna, Tuesday, placing the shops on full time. It is also reported that the Erie contemplates increasing the shop force in the near future. A large number of men from this place are employed in the shops, going to their work on the early morning train.

McKinney’s Mills, Great Bend Twp. – About 2 o’clock on Friday morning fire destroyed a large barn on the farm of Miles Bennett at McKinney’s Mills, a short distance from Hallstead. All the livestock and wagons were saved, but several tons of hay, grain, farming implements, etc., were destroyed. It is believed the fire was caused by a spark from a passing [train] engine. The loss is covered by insurance.

Glenwood, Lenox Twp. – John Sherman broke his leg a few days ago in an accident, and on Tuesday his home was consumed by fire. The family, consisting of the parents and nine children, were at breakfast when the house was discovered on fire. Calling her children, Mrs. Sherman took four then five to safety. Returning she carried her husband through the flames beyond danger. Origin of the fire is unknown.

Montrose – The “Subway Lunch,” opened by F. T. Mack and Zachariah Jenkins, is already becoming very popular. Fine lunches are served at all hours. They will handle homemade baking, Mrs. H. B. Benedict having been secured to furnish the goods for this department and a pie which found its way to the Democrat office was so very good that we can unqualifiedly endorse the “Subway” brand. ALSO Hon. W. D. B. Ainey will speak at the Presbyterian Church next Sunday evening on “Efforts toward World Peace.”

Brooklyn – E. W. Breed is having an up-to-date gas plant installed for his farm residence and barn.

Harford – Clare Snyder, of East Lenox, will deliver a temperance address Sunday evening at the union service in the Congregational church.

Laurel Lake, Silver Lake Twp. – Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Green were called to Binghamton last week by the death of her father, Lorenzo W. Sullivan. He was for many years a resident of this place, moving to Binghamton about 20 years ago. He was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in Co. H, 141st Regt., Pa. Volunteers, and was 75 years of age.

Elk Lake – C. M. Young sold his cider mill to Richard Reynolds, of South Montrose.

Gibson – Joshua Burrows, one of Gibson’s oldest citizens, died at his home in this place on Oct. 10th. The funeral was held from his home with interment in Gibson cemetery. Mr. Burrows was born in 1817 and was 95 years of age.

Forest City – Barney Conrad, who lives at Stillwater, two miles north of town, reports that while going home one day last week he saw a big black bear at a distance of about one hundred feet. According to Mr. Conrad his horse was greatly frightened and rose on its hindquarters. Mr. Bruin, however, showed no anxiety to scrape acquaintance and turning plunged along the mountainside. A year or two ago Anthony Hawke, it will be remembered, saw a bear near the stone quarry. Also Dr. M. E. Pentecost, of Peckville, was here Saturday. He had just returned from New York city where he saw the opening game of the world’s championship series between New York and Boston. The Doctor says that “Smoky Joe” Wood is a wonder.

Quite a few people asked me what I thought about the Jerry Sandusky sentence – and my reply has been simple: it is, as Judge Cleland noted when sentencing Sandusky, a life sentence and there is nothing more that the criminal justice system could have done to him. Whether this is true justice is another question entirely. As I have said many times before, the perception of justice depends upon where one is sitting. The victim and his or her family have a different concept of justice than does the defendant and his or her family. Both the victim and the defendant are vested and interested in the proceeding – and their views may diverge widely from those of the judge, prosecutor or defense attorney. In any given case, it is likely that one (or more) of the players leave the proceeding feeling that justice was not achieved.

I often stress to crime victims that there is no perfect justice in this world – and that the criminal justice system has its own limitations that will likely leave victims dissatisfied or disillusioned. There are many different factors that often lead victims to feel like the criminal justice system has let them down in some way. The most important thing for a prosecutor to do is to maintain an open line of communication with crime victims to explain the process to them. More particularly, when it comes to discussing the sentence, it is helpful to discuss with victims how the sentencing guidelines work – basically the interplay between the gravity of the offense and the defendant’s prior criminal history. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of cases that we handle makes individual contact with every crime victim difficult – though our victim advocate makes certain that the victims are aware of what is occurring and we follow up whenever a specific victim makes inquiries. When I am able to have a good discussion with victims about the sentencing guidelines, most victims are shocked by the ranges provided for different sentences in the guidelines and disappointed over how little incarceration is recommended by the guidelines for even felony offenses. Thankfully, sexual abuse offenses against children are treated the most harshly by the guidelines – and that explains how Sandusky received the sentence of 30 years to 60 years as a result of his sexual abuse of 10 children over a long period of time.

There is really no punishment that the criminal justice system could have imposed that would have ever approximated the pain, trauma, humiliation, and fear that Jerry Sandusky perpetrated upon countless small children over a very long period of time. A single act of sexual abuse on one small child is so reprehensible that there really is no proportionate punishment that truly fits the despicable nature of the act and the damage caused to the child. When the defendant engages in a course of conduct against a single child, the concept of a proportionate punishment becomes that much more elusive. Finally, when the defendant is a serial pedophile, a dangerous animal motivated only by the pursuit of deviate sexual desires that result in irreparable harm to countless children, the concept of justice seems so ill-equipped to aptly punish such a monster. You cannot ever really say that someone like Sandusky got what he truly deserved as the gravity and depravity of his crimes exceeds the limitations of any earthly punishment.

There is also no punishment that will provide healing to the Sandusky victims – they are serving their own life sentences that Sandusky’s abuse imposed upon them. It was the courage and strength of those 10 victims that finally brought Sandusky to justice – along with a terrific job by the Attorney General’s Office in investigating and prosecuting the case. We should all remember those victims, and all victims of sexual abuse, in our prayers. As I often tell my victims, a prosecutor is always moving on to the next case, but I know that their case will never end for them. Hopefully, the successful prosecution and sentencing of Sandusky will assist in their recovery and give them some closure that each victim can use to slowly rebuild their lives. In the end, the well-being of the victims is the most important thing.

Please submit any questions, concerns, or comments to Susquehanna County District Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 218, Montrose, Pennsylvania 18801 or at our website www.SusquehannaCounty-DA.org or discuss this and all articles at http://dadesk.blogspot.com/.