Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - December 17, 1904 MISCHIEVOUS BOYS WERE ARRESTED AND FINED Seven young boys, ranging in age from twelve to sixteen years, all residents of East Greenville, Pennsburg and Red Hill, were on Saturday given a hearing before Justice of the Peace F.M. KELLER, of East Greenville, on the charge of breaking a bucket and stealing toy candy therefrom. The charge was brought by Merchant Nathaniel G. HEYDT, of Fruitville, who received the candy at the East Greenville depot. The bucket was opened while yet in the possession of the Railway Company. When Mr. HEYDT had signed a release to the company he first detected that half of the contents were gone. Upon closer investigation he found out who the boys were and had warrants issued and served on them. At the hearing on Saturday, it was impossible to find out which one of the seven boys opened the bucket for neither of them would tell. Squire KELLER, fined each of the seven boys fifty cents and they were discharged after a severe reprimand. A dozen boys of South Allentown were given a hearing before Alderman SCHIFFERT Friday evening on a charge preferred by Dr. Jesse Z. HILLEGASS of the Allentown Horse Bazaar. The doctor charged the boys with having attempted to make an automobile out of one of his carriages. After running the vehicle about South Allentown the boys turned it up side down, tore off the side lamps, smashed them and then began making the wheels go around when they were caught. The case was settled before the alderman. ALLENTOWN WOMAN RETURNED FROM PENITENTIARY Mrs. Alice HITCHINGS, who created a tremendous sensation about four years ago by shooting Mrs. Oscar KECK at a lonly spot in Siegfrid, was on Monday relased from the Eastern Penitentiary and returned to her old home. Mrs. KECK recovered after lingering for a long time at the hospital and is said to be at or near Wilkes-Barre. The mystery connected with the cause of the shooting has never been solved. Mrs. HITCHINGS kept a pawn shop at Allentown. Her trial and imprisonment proved very costly, including a fine of $1000, but she still has her property. After resting in town during the winter she intends to resume business. SOWDEN WILL NOT CONTEST FOR CONGRESS William SOWDEN of Allentown on Tuesday stated he would not contest M.C.L. KLINE's claim to a seat in Congress. Mr. SOWDEN is confined to his home with an attack of rheumatism. In an open letter to the voters of Berks and Lehigh counties, issued that day, Mr. SOWDEN stated that he was certain that he had been honestly elected. He said that he hoped that Congressman KLINE, who claims to have been elected by Republican votes, will stand for protection and other Republican issues. WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IN SECOND DEGREE James HANNA was on Saturday found guilty of murder in the second degree in Norristown for killing Edward ELWOOD at Melrose in a drunken quarrel. Sentence was postponed until today. CONTRACTOR WINS To compensate George F. PAYNE & Co., contractors, for loss sustained in having taken from them the contract to complete Percival ROBERTS Jr.'s $247,000 mansion, in Lower Merion township, Montgomery county, a jury on Friday awarded them $97,184.98. This is only $2897.22 less than the amount claimed. Fifteen days were consumed in the trial. The jury was out nine hours. A sealed verdict was filed on Saturday morning. Mr. ROBERTS will appeal. George F. PAYNE & Co. contracted with Mr. ROBERTS in 1902 to build his mansion near Narberth, for $247,000. Work was started in the fall, and the job was not progressed far when Mr. ROBERTS began to find fault with the material and workmanship. There were many ???ys over the style of brick to be used and misinterpretation of the plans and specifications, which were prepared by Peabody & Stearns, Boston architects. They finally condemned the work, it was testified, and Mrs. ROBERTS in January, 1903, secured an injunction from the court, and restrained Payne & Co. from completing his contract. Mr. ROBERTS had the mansion constructed by another at an increased cost of $98,541.93 over the contract price. BURGLARS DRIVE FAMILY FROM HOME Three burglars entered the home of Adam REEDY, at Kissinger, at Reading, and assaulted REEDY and his mother, after which they drove them from the house. They took REED's watch and considerable money. From the home of Adam KOCH and Cyrus SASSAMAN, which were subsequently visited, the burglars stole a lot of poultry. James BITNER's home, near Leinbach's, was next visited, and there they stole ducks. REEDY notified employes of the Acme paper mill, who, armed with revolvers and guns, traced the robbers to several places. The burglars had a rubber-tired wagon and had rubber shoes on their horse. Victuals and clothing were stolen from the homes of John SEBASTIAN and Mrs. Wm. WEYANDT. DUCK LAYS EGGS OF ENORMOUS SIZE Sometimes we hear of people who have ducks that occasionally lay an unusually large egg but we never heard of one that lays an egg nearly every day of 7x9 inches and the last 15 of these had two nice big fully developed yolks. This duck is owned by Mr. and Mrs. John I. WENTZEL, residing in Maxatawny township near Kutztown Berks County. KUTZTOWN MAN BUYS EMAUS HOTEL H.W. BAUER, of Kutztown, who is an experienced hotel man, bought the Hamman House at Emaus and intends to take possession of his new stand before the holidays.