Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - September 3, 1904 BULLET IN STOMACH: BOY AFRAID TO TELL Fearing that he would be punished for meddling with a revolver with which he had no business, Francis HAGAN, a 14 year old boy, whose home is in Philadelphia, concealed from those about him the fact that he had shot himself through the stomach for more than two hours, until his agony was so manifest that he could no longer keep his terrible secret. He was hurried to Jefferson hospital, Philadelphia, where his condition is said to be critical. Young HAGAN has been spending the Summer with Mrs. Mary DENAHAN, near Yardley, Bucks county. On Wednesday morning HAGAN found a revolver. He didn't know whether it was loaded or not, but resolved to find out. He didn't know how to handle the weapon but he pursued his investigations until he had exploded a cartridge and sent a bullet through his stomach. About noon Mrs. DENAHAN's son discovered the boy in agony. Inquiring the cause, HAGAN replied that he was not feeling well. Weakened by the loss of blood the boy shortly afterwards broke down and confessed. A physician was hastily summoned and ordered that the lad be immediately taken to Jefferson Hospital. MUSICAL RECITAL AT NIANTIC A very pleasant and interesting musical recital was held at the residence of Miss Stella SCHULTZ at Niantic, on Wednesday afternoon. Miss SCHULTZ is giving instructions on the piano and organ. All her pupils, with their parents and friends, who were not prevented by sickness, had assembled for the purpose of carrying out a very interesting program prepared by her, every part of which was rendered very creditably, both by the pupils and their teacher. After the recital the young folks spent a very pleasant hour in playing games on the lawn, while their parents and friends enjoyed a good social time. Refreshments were served on the lawn. They all left for their respective homes, feeling that they had spent the time very pleasantly. Miss SCHULTZ is the daughter of Edwin K. SCHULTZ and graduated in the musical course at Perkiomen Seminary in 1903. She is giving good satisfaction as an instructor. ALTERED BANK NOTE DISCOVERED About two weeks ago Harry LANDIS, paying teller of the Merchants' National Bank, at Allentown, discovered a clever swindle, although the party of the second part did not know anything about the swindle and was himself an innocent victim. The swindle was nothing less than the alteration of a $10 bill into one of $20, and the change was effected in the most artistic manner. From a $2 bill was cut the numeral and this was pasted over the figure 1 in the $10 bill. Then the green circle or emblem which adorns the back of a $2 bill was cut out of the latter and pasted over the X on the $10 bill. The small X's which adorn the corners of a $10 bill were similarly covered up. Mr. LANDIS detected the fraud by the fact that the bill bore the portrait of ex-Governor HENDRICKS, which is not the case in a $20 bill, and in examining the bill he discovered the alterations. RAISED LARGE TOMATOES George BOYER, of Pennsburg, raised two exceptionally large tomatoes on one stalk. One weighed two pounds and the other only three ounces less. The size respectively was 17 by 14 1/2 inches and 15 1/2 by 14 inches. He raised many others that were nearly the same size and weight. MENNONITE ANNIVERSARY The anniversary of the founding of the Mennonite Home, at Frederick, will be celebrated on Saturday September 10. There will be a short program of appropriate exercises both in the forenoon and afternoon. Addresses are expected to be made by Rev. Simon SIPPLE, of Macungie and A.R. SCHORMANN, the Evangelist recently from Germany. The committee in charge has also extended a special invitation to Gov. PENNYPACKER, whose country residence at Schwenksville, is only a few miles away, to be their guest for the day and give an address on the occasion. Dinner will be served on the lawn as usual if the weather permits (otherwise in the basement of the building), and there will be ample provision for all who come, as well as also for the care of the teams. A new feature this year will be the sale at auction of a few articles made by inmates and friends of the Home. CHEAP CANDY, POISONS CHILDREN One death and four other children seriously ill from what is believed to be poisoning from eating cheap stick candy is the state of affairs in the home of William E. FRY, of Pottstown. Little Alverda FRY died with symptoms of poisoning, her youngest sister, Esther, is not expected to live, while Sarah, Alice and Lydia are seriously ill. The cases have puzzled physicians, who at first attributed the poisoning to foreign substances in a well from which the family secured water. The fact that the parents suffered no ill effects from drinking the water has led the physicians to attribute the poisoning of the children to candy. REUNION OF CATECHUMENS A reunion of the Catechumens of Zion, Zionsville; Chestnut Hill, and St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran congregations, will be held in Zions Lutheran Church, Zionsville tomorrow forenoon at 9.45 o'clock. The pastor Rev. I.B. RITTER will deliver an appropriate sermon for the occasion. In the afternoon the pastor's decennial anniversary will be celebrated at which time Rev. O.E. PFLUEGER will deliver a sermon and Prof. H.E. SHIMER M.A., of Shimersville, will make an English address. TRAMP FELL OUT OF BARN AND WAS INJURED A tramp met with a mishap last Friday night while about to retire in the barn of Jacob HIESTAND, of Hereford. He leaned against a door which opened and he fell out striking on the ground about ten feet below. He was pretty well used up and the services of a physician were needed. Dr. A.O. GERY was summoned who found a painful scalp wound and his body badly bruised. The next day Constable M.M. GERY, of Hereford, removed the unfortunate man to the Berks county almshouse. FRIGHT CAUSES DEATH Fright at being taken to a hospital, it is thought by some persons, was the cause of the death of Frank LEWERENZ, of North Wales. The man had been ill for several weeks with stomach trouble, and it was decided to remove him to a hospital for treatment. LEWERENZ had a horror of hospitals, but his friends insisted that he should enter such an institution. When the ambulance reached the hospital it was found that the man was dead, from heart disease. ACCEPTED POSITION AS CLERK AT CRESSMAN Harry S. TRUMBAUER, of Finland has accepted a position in the William S. KELLER store, at Cressman, Bucks county, as clerk. Mr. TRUMBAUER expects to move to Cressman in the fall. He will enter upon his new duties in a few weeks. He formerly was clerk in C.G. HEIST's store at Red Hill. MULE KICKS A CHILD TO DEATH "Don't go into the field with those mules!" was the injunction of a mother to her little son, and a few minutes later the latter, Mrs. Frank PFITZENMEYER, was informed that her only child, Jesse, aged 5 years, had been kicked in the head by a mule and instantly killed. The family resides at Brandywine Manor, near Coatesville. CONDUCTOR WAS STRICKEN ON HIS TRAIN Conductor Levi SPOHN, of the Reading passenger train, leaving Norristown at 8 o'clock, p.m., on Monday, fell unconscious on the platform of his train. He died while being taken to a hospital. The cause of death was heart failure. SPOHN was next to the oldest conductor on the road. ADDRESSES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED The addresses which were announced in this paper to be given by Rev. A.R. SCHORMANN, of Perkiomen Seminary have been postponed. Announcement will be made later in regard to time and place.