Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - September 10, 1904 SWINDLERS SECURE FARMERS' SIGNATURES Some sharps recently made their appearance near Sumneytown, at the farm of David AUCHEY and tried to swindle him out of $350 for phonographs which were alleged had been bought. A stranger who signed his name as STAAR called on Mr. AUCHEY and asked him to distribute 20 circulars of the American Supply Co. among his neighbors and friends, in consideration of which Mr. AUCHEY was to be permitted to act as agent for the company to sell phonographs at the regular price of $20 each, of which he was to retain $5 as commission. After complete arrangements had been made the stranger presented a blank form of agreement which was signed in duplicate, and departed. In the course of a week a second man appeared who informed Mr. AUCHEY that the twenty phonographs with registers which he had ordered had been shipped to Norristown. Mr. AUCHEY informed him that he had not given an order for any instruments and explained the nature of his contract. The stranger produced the order and informed Mr. AUCHEY that the man who took it had lied to him and had probably been under the influence of liquor at the time. In a spirit of conciliation he then told Mr. AUCHEY that he was fully aware that the locality did not afford a market for so large a number of instruments, but as the goods, amounting to over $350, had been shipped in good faith, a settlement could be made provided Mr. AUCHEY paid all expenses, including freight both ways to Chicago, hotel bills, team hire and $9 as wages for the adjuster, amounting in all to $53.50. Mr. AUCHEY fortunately did not have the required sum in ready cash, and being afraid of arrest and additional expenses, volunteered to go to Sumneytown and make an effort to get the money. To this the stranger readily acquiesced. On reaching the store at Sumneytown he stated his case to the merchants who willingly gave him the money but adviced him not to give a cent of it to the shark. Mr. AUCHEY drove home and refused as per advice, when the stranger became furious and left, threatening arrest, but this far no more has been heard. About the time of the AUCHEY affair a similar game was played on N.G. HEYDT, of Fruitville, presumably by the same gang. The mode of proceedure leading up to the signing of the agreement differed materially from the preceeding case. Mr. HEYDT was to distribute 25 catalogues of the American Supply Co. books similar to those sent out by Sears, Roebuck & Co., for which service he was to be allowed $18 towards the payment of a $20 phonograph, the balance to be paid on the delivery of the instrument. Mr. HEYDT was busy and did not give much attention to the talk of the stranger. Observing that Mr. HEYDT had a large lot of potatoes the stranger commenced to flatter him and finally asserted that he was buying potatoes and was willing to pay a dollar a bushel for them. This in a measure gained the desired attention but as Mr. HEYDT did not see that he had any time to devote to the distribution of the books in question, he refused to assume the work. His fifteen year old son was then drawn in by the stranger and he finally agreed to perform the work with the hope of earning a phonograph for himself. When all the preliminary arrangements had been made the inevitable harmless contract appeared and was signed by the stranger and the boy. Mr. HEYDT was then asked to sign his name as a guarantee that the boy would faithfully perform his part of the agreement, this done the stranger departed. A little more that a week later the second scoundrel appeared and stated that 20 phonographs and 196 records, amounting to over $350, had been shipped and were awaiting Mr. HEYDT, at Norristown. Details of the agreement were gone over and finally an offer of settlement was made whereby Mr. HEYDT was to pay $55.50 to cover expenses. This was refused and the stranger became imperative in his demands. Finally after some diggering the stranger jumped into his wagon and drove off threatening suit. This scared Mr. HEYDT who called him back and a settlement was effected whereby the swindler got $16.50. PIG STABLE IS DESTROYED BY FIRE The pig stable of Sylvanus LANDIS, of near Coopersburg, was on Sunday evening destroyed by fire. All the pigs were saved except one. The barn which stood within twelve feet was also saved by the heroic work of the neighbors. H. HILLEGASS, of Pennsburg, drove past there at the time the fire started and informed the tenant Harry CRESSMAN. It is supposed that the fire was started by an eight year old son of Mrs. Lizzie CRESSMAN, who often played on the second floor of the stable. Immediately after the fire the boys was missing and could not be found for some time, until he was discovered in bed, with all of his clothing on and apparently very much excited. MAKING SOURKROUT FOR ALLENTOWN FAIR Benneville CHRISTMAN, of Macungie, purchased one hundred and sixty-five head of cabbage from William SCHUBERT, of Old Zionsville, which he converted into "sour-krout." He expects to see it all consumed at the great Allentown fair. WOMAN FELL AND BROKE HER ARM Last Saturday morning while Hannah V. HUNSBERGER, of Skippack, was carrying two buckets of water from the barn to the house, she tripped over a step and fell breaking the bones in her left arm above the wrist. Dr. J. Newton HUNSBERGER was summoned who set the bones. GIRL INJURED BY FALLING TREE Laura, the daughter of Harry YERGER, of Fagleysville, escaped serious injury one day this week while her father was felling a tree. She was too close to the falling tree and was caught by one of the branches. She was considerably bruised but luckily no bones were broken. HARVESTED 1250 BUSHELS OF POTATOES Dr. J.H. DICKENSHIED, of Plover, planted a little more than five acres of potatoes last spring and last week when they got through harvesting the crop he had 1200 bushels cooking potatoes and 50 bushels small ones. BOY FELL AND BROKE AN ARM A four year old boy of M.C. BELTZ, of near Woxall, fell while playing with other boys in the yard and broke his arm at the wrist.