Trending
The cliche about onions having many layers is true. For example, this was supposed to be a fun recollection about two drunks and a jailbreak that occurred a century ago here in Lock Haven.
Yet, as the pages of local newspapers opened, the story of a man named Earl Hartman took center stage and came to life. He exploded off the pages with compassion, friendship, tragedy and a clear case of alcoholism.
A local man named Guy Helms had been captured by law enforcement for publicly being in an inebriated state and, according to the Lock Haven Express, from Monday, Nov. 9, 1925, Helms "had been placed there (in jail) Saturday night (Nov. 7) by the city police, after, it is alleged, he had been found in the lower end of the city in an intoxicated condition."
With a brain swimming with friendship and misguided indignation Hartman "entered the city lockup early Sunday to… (release) a prisoner."
It was believed that Hartman "entered the Central fire station early Sunday morning and with a wrench knocked the lock off one of the cells of the city lockup in the rear of the fire station." Helms opened the door and felt the taste of freedom once again and the two men ran off together.
However, Mayor Allen Sterner got word of the incident and he was not at all happy. Alderman N.M. Bridgens issued a warrant "at the instance of... Sterner," the reporter continued.
"Detective W.H. Myers... (charged ) him with malicious mischief. When arraigned for a hearing, the prisoner attacked Detective Myers and was subdued only after he had to be somewhat roughly handed," the Lock Haven Express reporter said.
It said that Hartman had been drinking as well. "When (Hartman) was standing in Alderman Bridgens' office, he struck Detective Myers a violent blow in the face with his fist, knocking the officer back several feet,vehemently cursing Myers, Hartman followed this up with a second stunning blow. "
Then "having no mace, the detective drew forth a pair of 'steel nippers' and struck Hartman several times over the head, inflicting a number of bruises." As to what "steel rippers" are, it was a no- lethal weapon used to subdue criminals. Myers "struck Hartman several times over the head, inflicting a number of bruises (and) this had the effect of subduing the prisoner temporarily."
Hartman was not not done.
"(Mr. Hartman) continued to curse the officer until taken to the county jail by Detective Myers with the assistance of Railroad Officer W. D. McClintock, who happened along in the detective's automobile," the article continued.
Hartman continued to fight.
"A few minutes later Sheriff Roy M. Hanna and Officer C. I. Wenker arrived in response to a call to aid in handling the belligerent prisoner, but came too late to be of any service," the writer said.
Upon reaching the county jail, Hanna contacted the county doctor, W.E. Welliver, to "dress the lacerations on Hartman's head."
While poor Hartman had to endure all this, what happened to Helms?
The article ended, almost cryptically, "No trace of the whereabouts of Helms has since been learned."
This is the first layer of "the onion" where the story went from "two drunks doing something silly" to Hartman being a friend. This jail break, of sorts, occurred in November just a few weeks before Thanksgiving and, of course, the Christmas holidays. Another search online finds a rather tragic obituary listing for a "Mrs Annie Helms, wife of Guy E. Helms."
According to the listing that was found in the Lock Haven Express on Tuesday, Jan. 20 of that same year, 1925, she "died at 11:30 (p.m.)… Monday night at the... hospital where she was admitted a week ago after suffering from a lingering illness of diabetes."
It can be speculated that Helms's mourning and toasting went a little far and Hartman stepped up to the plate the way a friend would.
Here comes the second layer to this story. A quick search online and Hartman's Findagrave.com entry is found with the following notation, "…served in WWI, Pvt 305th Amb. Co. 77 Division from April 13, 1918 to April 18, 1919."
This meant he was a private who drove an ambulance in the 305th Ambulance company in the 77th Division. He would have seen some of the most intense fighting and he would have carried many of the dead, the wounded, and the horribly wounded.
Here's the third layer to Hartman's story. While a few (quick) online searches turned little regarding Helms, Hartman still would make the papers as a delivery driver and even continue to get in trouble with the law.
In the May 8, 1939 issue of The Express, it mentioned briefly of "Three Men Jailed" for "Drunk, Disorderly" conduct.
"Two men were given three in the County Jail and a third two days when found guilty for being drunk and disorderly," the article said briefly. "The three men were arrested by local police Saturday night."
It mentioned Henry Mincer, of Castanea, and William Peddigree, of Lock Haven, were sentenced to three days, but Hartman "was given two days in jail."
Now here is the final layer and back to 1932. According to the Monday, March 7 edition, "seven year old Richard Casper Bombassel... was killed Saturday afternoon in the midst of his play, when he was struck by a locomotive as he pedalled his tricycle across (railroad crossing) at Henderson Street."
The article said, "The lad was picked up by Earl Hartman, who witnessed the tragedy." The boy was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
"According to Mr. Hartman, the child was playing with his younger brother, Thomas, aged 4, in front of the fire station," the reporter said.
He is mentioned at least two more times for alcohol related offenses. In the Jan. 11, 1936 issue of The Express, Hartman is sentenced to 30 days in the county jail for drunk and disorlery.
In 1942, the Aug. 31 edition of The Express, has a mention that he "spent the weekend in jail sobering up" and he was fined $5.
His final appearance in the newspaper (besides veteran or fire-company recollections) occurred on March 30, 1962.
"Earl Hartman, 66 was found dead at 12:30 p.m., today in his room at tre Beck Hotel, E. Clinton St. below Henderson Street, the victim of an acute heart seizure.'
So how did Hartman die?
It's cliche, but it's true, it was of a broken heart.
If you feel suicidal, struggle with mental health challenges or addiction issues, please call 988. The world needs you.