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Orndorff Charged

Melvin Black 20 the lone support of his mother Cora Beatty Black lies in a casket at his home 903 Franklin avenue near the spot were he was fatally wounded shortly after noon wed. as he attempted to shield a married sister from a murder attempt .His brother in law Jesse Orndorff 34 yrs old who with his wife and 3 children had been living at the Black home for 2 months is lodged at the Fayette co. jail in Uniontown as the slayer. County detective John Wall told the Daily Courier today that he will probally prefer a first degree murder charge against Orndorff Monday after he questions in more detail members of the Black family and neighbors who reportedly witnessed the shooting on the driveway near the back porch of the Black home Orndorff continues to insist that he has no recolection of a shooting and repeatedly declaired that he had no intention of harming anyone when
he went to the Black home. The county detectives who questioned members of the Black family  told the Courier the following developments preceaded the shooting Orndorff a janitor at the Capstan Glass Company  his wife 3 children moved from South Prospect st. to the Black home Orndorff became dissatisfied with conditions and became  involved in family quarrels
with the family Tuesday morn he went to work as usual that nite at 8:30 he came to the house and demanded his clothing His wife went to get it While she did he asked to talk with Mrs. Black his wifes mother and asked her to intercede for him so that he and his wife could return to housekeeping . his wife told him she was willing as long as he would maintain a livable home and provide  her with ordinary comforts and she would do her part by paying up all of his currant bills. It appeared that all had been settled and the family was reconciled but as Orndorff was leaving he told his mother in law that he was going to report sick at his job and he didnt know what would happen but if I die my wife and children are going with me.as this wasn't the first time he'd made such a
threat the family paid no heed to him. He started to leave and ask for the key to the ceader chest they kept in the basement of the Black home . It seems he told them he wanted to get a base ball glove but instead took a pick and destroyed the chest and all the water pipes then left in a bad frame of mind. The next morn Russel Orndorff came to the Black home to take the 2 boys with him the daughter was to stay with her mother  but the mother refused him permission to enter the house Mrs orndorff said the only way her children would be taken from her was over her dead body Mrs Orndorff picked up a dish and threw it at him but missed however He left declairing he would get the whole family an hour after that Jesse was seen walking Franklin Ave Winchester in hand he encounterd Jimmy Black 7 grabbed him by the arm and led him to the Black home it is our belief he took the boy with him to prevent him from running to the house to warn of Jesses approach. he forced the boy to walk in front of him up the driveway. The Black familys attention was attracted by Orndorffs commands to the boy Melvin walked out of the kitchen to see Jesse pointing the weapon at his wife who was also in the kitchen as he dashed out to wrestle the gun from him there was a shot and Melvin dropped crying my god Harry take me to the doctor he hit me in the stomach Harry, Melvin's brother  and Jesses wife ran out and took the gun from Jesse a neighbor Joseph Lick and several others stood guard over Orndorff as police were called we have confronted Orndorff with these depositions but he claims he was beaten into unconciousness and dosent know anything about. a shooting saying he had planned to go out and shoot targets and only stoped at the Black house to ask his wife to
reconcider her refusal to live with him.  We are convinced he is not telling the truth. It was 12:30 when word was flashed to to police a shooting on Franklin Ave and 8 min later the wounded man was in the hospital and the killer behind bars. Melvin Black the son of Cora Black and the late J.L.Black who died 6 yrs ago  was born 20 yrs ago at Wheeler and 5 yrs later the family moved to Connellsville He was an employee of the Capstan Glass Co. and the sole support of his mother he attended he First Methodist Church.surviving are the following brothers and sisters Jesse Edward, James and Harry at home Albert Cherry Lane, and Donald South Cville, Olive wife of Wilber Camlin of Run ave, Cora Fay Black at home and Leola wife of Jesse Orndorff. Coroner Milton Munk said that the bullet had taken an upwards course after it penetrated the abdomen bringing quick death the weapon had been fired at close range a 22 calibre striking him in the stomach.
 
 

Albert Black "Empty Gun goes Off

Youth suffers fatal wound a supposedly empty rifle was accidentally discharged and caused the death of a 16 year old youth here Friday according to acting police chief Kenneth Louden . Albert Black son of Pauline and Albert Black  of Riedmore Rd,South Connellsville , died while being rushed to Connellsville State Hospital after being shot between the eyes. According to Chief Louden, who with patrolman Chester Balsley investigated the shooting the the youth was at the home of C.W. Conners 704 Cherry lane when the fatal wound was inflicted as the rifle was held in the hands of Kenny S.chobert 17 of 810 Franklin ave .Police said Black and Schobert were in the Conners home kitchen with 2 Conners boys where they were making plans to go into the woods this morning to shoot at targets. the chief said that Schobert had the 22 calibre rifle in his hands and in some manner it was accidentally discharged . the youth was unable to explain what happened . The boy told officers that he believed he had removed the cartridge from the rifle. Chief Loudan after making an inquiry said the shooting was accidental."its a case of another empty gun shooting " the officer remarked . The Black, Schobert and Conners boys were said to be cousins. A son of Albert and Pauline Clark Black he was born March 29 1929 besides his parents he is survived by the following brothers ad sisters Harry Earl, Donald Wayne, George William and Gurtrude Arlene all at home. He had been employed by Anchor Glass and the B&O Rairoad. The body was removed this afternoon  by Charles A McCormick funeral director to the home where funeral service will probably be held Tuesday afternoon.
 

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