Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - February 24, 1904 FORMER PENNSBURG RESIDENT IN JAIL George SCHAFFER, of Royersford, a resident of Pennsburg up to last Spring was arrested at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William J. SCHAEFFER, of Royersford, on Monday, at the instance of his wife, for non-support. The couple were married about fourteen months ago and have one child. Mrs. SCHAEFFER is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G.W. RICHARDS, of Red Hill, and since her husband has deserted her she lives with her parents. Daniel J. SNYDER, the constable of Upper Hanover township, secured the warrant for young SCHAEFFER's arrest and when it became known that he was back at his parents' home Mr. SNYDER served it. Young SCHAEFFER was given a hearing before Justice of the Peace John P. KLINE, of Red Hill, on Monday. The matter could not be amicably adjusted so the justice demanded $500 bail for his appearance at court and in default of that he was committed to the Norristown jail the same day. Young SCHAEFFER made an attempt to escape from Constable SNYDER when he boarded the train at Red Hill for Norristown. It appears the constable left him go on the train first, Mr. SCHAEFFER's father next and when Mr. SNYDER entered the car in the rear, young SCHAEFFER was noticed making a run for the front door. Mr. SNYDER caught him just as he was ready to leap from the now moving train. TRAMP WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY PICNICKERS James GALLAGHER, of Centralia, aged 24, was shot near Spring Valley, Berks county, Monday afternoon. He is said to have been a tramp, and with Henry SESBENDER, of Philadelphia, was walking toward Reading along the East Penn Railroad. At the place of the tragedy they saw a party of men and women, picnickers, in the woods. GALLAGHER yelled to them, and was warned away. He refused to go, and three shots were fired at him all taking effect, and he died instantly. GILBERTSVILLE BARN BURNED About 11 a.m. last Thursday, the barn of Harry BARTMAN of Gilbertsville, this county, was discovered to be on fire by Harvey SHANER. He gave an alarm and the citizens responded promptly but the building, which was of frame about 25 by 35 feet, was entirely destroyed with all its contents consisting of hay, straw, sleigh, wagon and other things. The loss is about $1000 partly insured. How the fire originated is a mystery. HAD GOLD HIDDEN UNDER RAFTERS The will of Charles BILLMAN, an eccentric farmer of near Pottsville, was admitted to probate and caused great surprise the valuation totalling $35,000. It developed that BILLMAN on his deathbed disclosed a secret to his son, who subsequently found many thousands of dollars of gold hidden about the house. Most of the money was under the rafters and consisted of $20 gold pieces. SHOT PLAYMATE FOR SQUIRREL Harry WILSON, a 12 year old boy of Pottsville, while playing in his father's yard, was shot and seriously injured by a companion from an adjoining yard. The rustling of some dry leaves gave WILSON's companion an idea that there were some squirrels there, and he shot his playmate, the ball lodging in WILSON's scalp. JUDGE RAISES DIVORCE FEES To discourage divorce Judge TREXLER, of Lehigh County, issued an order to go into effect October 1, raising the cost of getting one. Masters and examiners are hereafter to receive $25 instead of $15, and will be allowed to charge $10 for each hearing after the first one. Judge TREXLER is opposed to divorce and the fewer divorce cases the better he will be pleased. EXTRACTS TOOTH WITH CORK PULLER Frank FOX, an Italian peanut vender of Pottstown, was suffering from toothache, when he wandered into a cafe. The bartender volunteered to extract the molar free of charge. Frank sat down on a chair and in a minute a champagne cork puller had done the work. MULE VS. AUTO A badly-battered automobile wobbled through Allentown carrying four automobilists, who said they had come from Ballietsville, but who refused to give their names because they didn't want their friends to know that their "red devil" had come off second best in a battle with a Kentucky mule. The automobilists admitted that several miles out of town their searchlight discovered a big mule grazing by the roadside. The French tooter whooped a warning and the chauffeur decided he'd see how close he could steer to that mule without hitting him. The animal paid absolutely no attention to the machine until it was within three feet of him, and then he let go his hind legs. One tire and the engine hood were kicked clear off the machine and the steering gear was put out of commission. The mule kept on grazing, while the autoists spent several hours putting on a new tire and making other repairs. COW LEAPS OVER BRIDGE AND BREAK NECK A cow driven by Augustus ESPENSHIP, of Lederachville, leaped over the wing wall of the county bridge near GROFF's mill, Lederachville, on Saturday evening and broke her neck. She fell a distance of about twenty-five feet. The animal was hurriedly moved to a nearby slaughter house and killed. She was owned by Jonathan P. HILLEGASS, of Pennsburg. COURT DISTRIBUTES $50,000 TO EMPLOYEES In the Berks County Orphans' Court Tuesday, Judge BLAND filed an opinion, making distribution of the $50,000 left by Jesse G. HAWLEY, proprietor of the Reading Eagle, to his employes at the time of his death. There are about sixty beneficiaries, and they receive amounts ranging from $30 to $8000. There is only one of the latter, the majority receiving from $500 to $1500. JEALOUS EXCORT USED A RAZOR James HANNPHOE, 28 years old, is in a critical condition in St. Joseph's Hospital, Reading, with his throat cut with a razor. He was attacked on a lonely road in the southern outskirts of Reading on Sunday night. His assailant was accompanied by a woman and became enraged because she stopped HANNAHOE to talk with him. CHARGED WITH THROWING CAT IN FURNACE Charged with cruelty of an inhuman type, J. MENNICH, of Manayunk, was arraigned before Magistrate LENHARDT, at Norrisown, severely scored and made to pay the costs of the action brought by Mr. MCCREARY, an agent for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It was charged that the accused threw a cat into a furnace at Pencoyd. NO FEES FOR JUSTICES AS CORONERS Judge SWARTZ, on Monday handed down an opinion in which he decided that justices of the peace cannot collect fees from the county for viewing bodies. M.M. MISSIMER, of Pottstown, acting as deputy coroner, viewed several bodies and decided that no inquest was necessary. His application resulted in the decision. EXCHANGED A TYLERSPORT PROPERTY Jacob LONG has exchanged his home, corner Sixth and Broad streets, Lansdale for a double house at Tylersport, formerly belonging to H.R. HARTZELL, of Souderton. Mr. LONG will move to Earlington, where he will manage the farm of an uncle.