Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - March 25, 1905 ROBBERS ARRESTED The mystery of the numerous robberies of Kutztown hotels recently was solved on Sunday with the arrest of Wm. MAUREY, of Allentown, and Milton FRITCH, of Kutztown, charged with the robbery of the Keystone House on Sunday morning of a case of whiskey. In their confession they implicated Howard GEIGER, another young man of Kutztown, who had skipped the town. GEIGER was arrested in Allentown on Monday evening when word reached the police station that he was playing cards in SNYDER's livery stables. Officers JACOBY and SMITH arrested him and he was turned over to the Kutztown authorities on Tuesday. Entrance to the hotel was effected by a window leading into the cellar beneath the porch of the hotel. The three young fellows had been hanging about the town for a few days and aroused the suspicious of George ANGSTADT, of the Pennsylvania House, who expected they would attempt to rob his hotel and kept close watch, discovering these three men leaving the house. GEIGER, is known in this vicinity having several years ago worked for Dr. Jesse Z. HILLEGASS in taking care of race horses at the Red Hill hotel. While in the doctor's employ it will be remembered he collected the winnings of over a hundred dollars at the Orwigburg Fair and absconded. WIFE HAS A RIGHT TO SHOOT BRUTAL HUSBAND The case of Mrs. Jessie HOPKINS of Chicago, Ill. on trial for the murder of her husband, was taken out of the hands of the jury on Monday by Judge George W. KERSTEN, by whom the charge against her was summarily dismissed. Judge KERSTON declared that a woman "is not her husband's chattel." He held Mrs. HOPKINS was justified. Mrs. HOPKINS shot her husband at their home on New Year's Eve. HOPKINS had attacked her and had threatened to kill her. Judge KERSTEN said in his decision: "If a woman is unfortunate enough to marry a brute, she has a right to defend herself, even to the point of taking his life." DIED AFTER DRINKING A QUART OF BRANDY Having swallowed a quart of brandy in 20 minutes, Charles BUTLER, aged 31, of Williamsburg, Pa., died Tuesday night, and several arrests are apt to follow. BUTLER bet he could drink a quart of cognac in an hour without feeling it. After drinking the liquor he collapsed and was taken to his room in a stupor. Later he was found dead. DEATH FROM CELLULOID COMBS Minnie RUGLER, of South Scranton, was fatally burned on Friday night while making ready for a church service. As she struck a match the flame ignited some celluloid combs, and in trying to smother the fire her dress ignited. FATAL HYDROPHOBIA FROM CAT BITE The bite of a pet cat nine months ago caused the death on Saturday by hydrophobia of nine-year-old Henry PFLASTERER, of St. Louis, Mo. HENS ARE BETTER HATCHERS THAN INCUBATORS David HUNSBERGER, of Boyertown, set a hen with 15 eggs, and each egg hatched a chick. Same time William GRABERT of the same town put 100 eggs in an incubator and only 5 chicks were hatched. $20,000 WAS REFUSED FOR A FARM The farm of the late Charles KEMMERER, of Emaus, Lehigh County was offered at public sale on Tuesday and up to $20,000. The price was considered insufficient and it was not sold. ADMINISTRATORS OF MOTHER'S ESTATE Josiah and John G. YERGER, of New Hanover, were appointed administrators of the estate of their mother, Mary Ann YERGER, deceased. There are several properties in Boyertown, belonging to said estate.

Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - March 25, 1905 PASTOR'S SUCCESSFUL AND LONG CAREER ENDS Illness and old age constrained Rev. Wm. B. FOX, of Sumneytown, to resign the pastorate of the Lutheran charge composed of Sumneytown and Keelor's churches after serving for thirty-seven years. In 1862 Rev. FOX entered the ministry. His first charge was at Berwick, Columbia county, Pa. He served the Berwick charge six years and then assumed the pastorate of the Sumneytown charge. The charge, as then composed, consisted of Sumneytown, Pennsburg, Sassamansville and Keelor's congregations. Two years ago Rev. FOX relinquished the Pennsburg and Sassamansville congregations and retained the other two with the hope that he might serve them for some years to come. But being advanced in years and suffering from illnes, he tendered his resignation, as he thought it would be to the advantage of his parishoners. During the long pastorate of forty-three years Rev. FOX officiated at 1607 funerals, baptised 2733, performed the marriage ceremony 905 times and confirmed 896 catechumens. While stationed at Sumneytown two new churches were built in his charge, one at Sassamansville and the other at Pennsburg. Both of these congregations had formerly worshipped in union churches. ENDLESS CHAIN SCHEME FOR BUILDING CHURCH Many of the residents of Vera Cruz, Spinnerstown and vicinity, have of late been receiving letters from strangers to them from the State of Indiana, asking them to send 25 cents to Rev. Elmer D.S. BOYER, of Lafayette, Indiana, and write three similar letters to a many friends. The money is to be devoted to the building of a new church in the Indiana town. It will be remembered that Rev. BOYER was a former resident of the section in which the endless chain letters are now circulating. The letter states that when number 50 in the chain is reached the collecting of quarters will be discontinued. A number who have received such letters have taken the time to figure out how much money would be received should every one respond with twenty-five cents and they find it would amount to $269,157,930,686,940,713,413,790. This in all probability would be enough to build a church and a parsonage for our worthy friend. NEW STORE WILL OPEN ON APRIL FIRST H. WEISS the Quakertown merchant who recently leased the storeroom of Tobias FREED, on Main Street Pennsburg, will open for business on April first. Mr. WEISS wishes to inform the general public that he will in future issues of Town and Country, advertise some bargain sales. PURCHASED A PENNSBURG PROPERTY The frame dwelling house of Hiram C. WICKERT, of Pennsburg, situate on 4th street, that borough was yesterday sold to Dr. Chas. Q. HILLEGASS, of Pennsburg. The property adjoins the Town and Country printing office. Possession will be given on July first. YOUNG MEN KILL SPOTTED SNAKE Richard FOX and Harry ZERN, of Hillegass, on Sunday killed a spotted snake between Reuben BAUERs place and the iron bridge across the Perkiomen Creek. The reptile measured three feet and ten inches and showed fight. AGED MINISTER DROPS DEAD Rev. David HARBISON, a retired Presbyterian clergyman, of Easton dropped dead on Wednesday while he was engaged in cutting ice from the gutter in front of his house. He would have been eighty-one years old in May. MANY FUNERALS IN TWO WEEKS During the past two weeks there were six interments made on the Franconia Mennonite Burial Grounds. This has been a rare occurrence. KICKED BY A HORSE Rein G. GODSHALL, of Morwood, was kicked by a horse on Sunday morning, while getting him ready to hitch to a wagon. The injury proves quite painful. METHODIST CONFERENCE HAD A ROUSING MEETING The city, of Allentown, was crowded in the early part of the week with Methodists who attended the Methodist Conference held there. The subject of camp meetings was brought up on Monday morning and those which keep open gates on Sunday were especially mentioned. This caused a warm debate. A discussion was caused by the reading of the report of the Committee on Sabbath Observances by Rev. T.T. MUTCHLER, corresponding secretary of the Philadelphia Sabbath Association. Dr. MUTCHLER prefaced his report by saying: "Camp meetings which keep their gates open on Sunday do more harm than good. It is true that large crowds attend the meetings coming by trains from the cities and that the collections are thus greatly increased, but it is inconsistant, and, in my opinion, not Christian." A dozen ministers were on their feet in a moment to protest against the remarks. Presiding Elder KYNETT said that this was a case for the use of a little common sense. Dr. J. SAYERS, of Trinity Church, Chester, said that as president of the Simpson Grove Camp Meeting, he was anxious to see men and women converted whether they came on Sunday trains or walked. The offending clause that all such camp meetings should receive no recognition from the conference was stricken out of the report by a rising vote. The remainder of the report was adopted, condemning the sale of candy on Sunday claiming that many children spent their money for candy instead of putting it in the Sunday school collections. Sunday papers were also condemned as not having enough religious news. The sale of tobacco and cigars on Sunday was also condemned. MET WITH AN ACCIDENT WHILE SEEKING WORK John SMITH, of Stemton, Lehigh County, met with a serious mishap while on his way to Vera Cruz to look for a position. He came to Allentown by trolley and from there intended to take the train for Vera Cruz, while descending the steps at the terminal at Allentown he made a misstep and fell landing heavily on the railing. He came near fracturing several ribs. Mr. SMITH is an expert blacksmith but is out of work and he was going to Vera Cruz to try and secure work at the Lehigh Granite Quarries for whom he worked several years ago. Mr. SMITH is at present staying at the public house of B.H. STOUDT, until he fully recovers from his injuries. LIVES UNDER SNOW FOR SIX WEEKS Lawrence A. SKINNER, a farmer living near Easton, Md., who is in the habit of counting his geese, and putting them in his stable over night, says that when he fastened them up on the night of the blizzard one goose was missing, and was not found until a few days ago, when he was shoveling a lot of snow out in the rear of the barnyard. He came across the goose, still alive, but somewhat poorer than it was before, owing to the fact that it had been covered up in the snow for the last six weeks, without anything to eat or drink. DRUNKEN MAN WENT TO SLEEP ON PAVEMENT Thinking that perhaps he had secured a nights' lodging at "Hobos Retreat" James WATSON, a tramp, on Saturday night proceeded to take a nap on Mill street, Norristown. WATSON was intoxicated and this probably caused him to make a mistake. When he arrived at the above spot he wore four coats and as many vests. He removed all of these and hung them upon a fence. Next he proceeded to enjoy rest in the arms of Morpheus. An officer however, disturbed his dreams and when WATSON awoke he was taking a ride in the patrol. FORTY-THREE KILLED BY EXPLOSION OF A BOILER The explosion of a 150 horse power boiler in R.B. GROVER & Co's. large four story shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts, on Monday, killed 43 employees, injured half a hundred others and destroyed property valued at $250,000.

Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - March 25, 1905 LITTLE TOT DIED AFTER EATING POISONED CAKE The family of Frank SMITH, a farmer residing on the Tobias MOYER farm in Lower Pottsgrove township near Skippack, is sadly bereaved by the death of a child, through the eating of a poisoned biscuit. In the early part of last week Mr. SMITH received a poisoned biscuit from a friend with whom he had a conversation relative to the best manner of killing off rats. He placed it in his coat pocket with the intention of using it when he came to his home, but forgot all about it. Last Friday morning his four year old daughter, Ethel, found the biscuit in the coat pocket during the father's absence, and asked the mother if she could have it. Mrs. SMITH, thought it was a soda cracker, and innocently said yes, after eating it the child was taken ill and gradually grew serious. The father was told of the biscuit eating affair and he remembered that it was poisoned and physicians were hurriedly summoned who did everything in their power to prevent a fatal result, but the child's life could not be saved. It died the same evening. FARMER'S WIFE HAS RIPE TOMATOES Mrs. John L. ZIEGLER, of Lederachville, has succeeded in raising tomatoes during the winter months. At present she has a stalk with a number of tomatoes on it that will be ripe in course of a few days. This plant has been viewed by many of Mrs. ZIEGLER's neighbors and she has often been congratulated upon her success. ENTERTAINMENT AT WARNER'S SCHOOL An entertainment will be held at Warner's school, in Upper Hanover township near East Greenville, on Friday evening, March 31. The entertainment will be given by the scholars under the instruction of the teacher, Miss Susan C. JONES. It will begin at 7.30 o'clock and no addmission fee will be charged. A collection however will be taken in order to pay the expenses incurred in getting up the program. WILL OFFER TWO CARLOADS OF HORSES FOR SALE John F. SEASHOLTZ, of Red Hill, will offer two carloads of horses at public sale at C.F. MOTZ's hotel, Red Hill, in the near future. The first load will be sold on Thursday, April 13, and the second load on Easter-Monday, April 24. The latter will be an express load containing thirty head. Mr. SEASHOLTZ's son Frank left for the west this week in order to buy up the horses. CARPENTER SAWS PART OF THUMB OFF Charles DERR, a carpenter of Pennsburg, on Saturday met with an accident while working at the Red Hill hotel stables. He was cutting a board with a rip saw when his left thumb was caught by the teeth in the saw and a portion of it as well as the mail was cut off. Dr. W.H. HUNSBERGER, of Pennsburg, dressed the injury. GIRL DIED FROM SNAKE FRIGHT Alvira, the eight-year-old daughter of William BARBER, of Lake Carey, Luzerne county, died on Friday night from the effects of a severe fright caused by stepping upon a blacksnake last fall. The happening brought on hysterics and nervous attacks, which continued all winter despite the efforts of the physicians to cure her, and which gradually sapped her vitality away. PURCHASED A HAY BALING PRESS A.S. KRIEBEL, a prominent farmer residing near Hereford, Berks county, this week purchased a self-feed, belt-power hay press. It is known as Detrick's Pet. Mr. KRIEBEL intends to use it in this locality. It is a portable press and can readily be taken from one farm to another. MORWOOD HOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE The dwelling house on the farm of A.W. GERHART, situate near Morwood, was on Tuesday night destroyed by fire. The house was untenanted at the time and the origin of the fire is a mystery. ENGAGING SNAP SHOTS Mrs. Lizzie RITTER, of Allentown, spent Sunday with the family of Augustus SHANKEL, of this borough. Mr. and Mrs. Charles SCHOLL, of Philadelphia, spent a week with the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hermann ROTH, of this borough. Thos. E. MARSTELLER, of this borough, has rented the house on Main street, East Greenville, of Harwin FOX, executor of Mrs. FOX. It is situate directly opposite the Fire House. A. Eugene BISCHOFF, of Norristown, spent Sunday with his friends in this borough. Miss Annie BENNER, of Boyertown, formerly of this borough spent Saturday and Sunday with Miss Alice RUMMEL, of this borough. Rev. Frank DECHANT, of Philadelphia, spent Saturday and Sunday with his mother and other relatives in this borough. He is a solicitor for Hapgoods, the Brain Brokers, of Philadelphia. Miss Katie ROEDER, of East Greenville, spent Sunday and Monday at Allentown. Mrs. Salome HOFFMAN who has been attending to the household duties of Alfred WELDER of this borough since the death of his wife, left that place on Monday. She will after April attend to similar duties for David HUBER of Niantic. Mr. and Mrs. J. William GILBERT of this borough on Monday changed their boarding place from Henry SPAAR's to Alfred WELDER. Mrs. GILBERT will have charge of the household duties for Mr. WELDER. John B. FRANK of Lebanon formerly of Fruitville, made a business trip to this borough on Thursday. Clarence HARTZOG, a clerk in the grocery department of the W.R. LAWFER store at Allentown spent Thursday with his parents and friends in East Greenville. E. Holmes SCHWARTZ, a student of Lafayette College, Easton, is spending a vacation at his home in this borough. Thomas E. MARSTELLER of this borough made a business trip to Philadelphia on Wednesday. Henry A. KNEULE, editor of the Bauren Freund of this borough made a business trip to Norristown on Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin LONG of this borough will start housekeeping this spring. They will move into a portion of the house of Mrs. Mary BECHTEL in the lower end of the borough. Miss Celesta TRUMBORE of this borough on Monday made a business trip to Philadelphia. Mrs. C.A. KNEULE and son Charles of this borough spent Sunday at Lansdale with the family of her sister. Allen RITTER of this borough was in Allentown Saturday and Sunday. Ocsar FOX of this borough spent Saturday and Sunday in Allentown. Miss Ida GILBERT and Mrs. Annie EISENHARD of this borough spent Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia. Emanuel SNYDER of this borough spent Wednesday in Allentown. J.A. BAUS of East Greenville on Thursday moved to Finland. Miss WAAGE of this borough spent the latter part of this week visiting in Philadelphia. Samuel SMITH, of Woxall, attended to some business in this bourough, on Thursday. Frank K. WALT Jr., of Reading, spent Thursday in Pennsburg among friends. Mrs. Ella SHIMER, of Bethlehem, visited her father Dr. J.G. MENSCH of this borough in the fore part of the week. Plumber Victor H. STECKEL, of this borough, and his brother, Marcus STECKEL, of Siegfrieds, Northampton county, this week spent several days at the Trades School in New York, of which the former is a graduate. Charles A. KNEULE and wife, of Pennsburg, Henry C. ROEDER, of East Greenville, on Wednesday attended the funeral of Frank KING, of Lansdale. Miss Pearl MUSE, of Allentown, visited the family of Clement U. GERY, of East Greenville, the latter part of last week. N.B. KEELY, of East Greenville, made a business trip to Kutztown on Wednesday. Charles A. TITLOW, of Pennsburg, spent Monday in Philadelphia. Clinton BOYER, of Niagara Falls, returned to this borough on Tuesday. He will remain with his uncle, Milton T. KLINE. He was employed in a paper mill at the Falls for some time. Peter HEBEL, of East Greenville, will in a few weeks move to Philadelphia from which place they came.

Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - March 25, 1905 FORMER PENNSBURG RESIDENT CONFESSES THE EBERT MURDER (PART 2 OF 2) How Crime Was Committed On the night of February 24, according to the confession, WILSON had been in EBERT's store, but left a short time before the old man started to close the store. No one saw him walk into the yard from the street, yet this is how WILSON says he entered the place. Lurking behind an outhouse, he waited until his victim came nearly opposite to him, then opened fire. Frightened by the noise of his own revolver, he took to his heels, and ran to his boarding place, less than a block away. When suspicion seemed to have been directed into another channel, WILSON became emboldened, and, according to his own confession, forced an entrance into a butcher shop in broad daylight and robbed the till of $80 in cash. Revolver Found WILSON told the policemen that he had buried the revolver on the dump in Mattern's brickyard and they went in search of it and found it. All the chambers were loaded. Employer Had Accused Him Ed. MATTERN for whom he worked, had accused him of the murder and of Saturday night's shooting in fun. After the murder he came into Mr. MATTERN's office and sat down and Mr. MATTERN said "Well Jim what did you do over there to kill this old man" and laughed. WILSON got a little nervous then but Mr. MATTERN of course, did not think he was accusing the right man and said what he did in a joking manner and soon forgot about the matter. On Monday he again jokingly asked him what he meant by firing these shots in their back yard but this also passed off as a joke. Warrant Served Two warrants were sworn out by Chief EASTMAN before Alderman BERKEMEYER, one for burglary, the robbery of Jonathan KISTLER's store on February 23 and the other for attempted robbery and the murder of John P. EBERT on the night of the 24th and served on WILSON in his cell. Knew Ebert Carried Money WILSON, who has always been a spend-thrift, was out of work during the winter, he said he was desperately hard up. He boarded within half a block of EBERT's home, and was a habitual loafer in KISTLER's cigar shop. He knew EBERT always carried from $100 to $200 in cash, which was the motive that caused him to lie in wait on the fatal night of February 24. Brief Sketch Of Wilson's Life James WILSON, was born near East Greenville about 23 years ago in the house now owned and occupied by William SCHOENLY. The parents later moved to Pennsburg and lived in the house where George FOLK now resides near the Pennsburg Reformed Church. His mother, whose maiden name was HUBER, died at this place in 1888 and afterwards the father kept the family together with his only daughter as the housekeeper. Several years later they moved to near Palm and from there they moved to near the State Fishery near Allentown. While they resided here the boys grew to manhood and left home. The daughter was soon married and also left home when James, who is the youngest and his father quit housekeeping and secured a boarding place in Allentown. The father and son lived in Allentown for the past two years, and as James had no trade he worked at different jobs. For a while he was hostler for Dr. Milton NEIFFER of Wyncote, Philadelphia who is son-in-law of H.K. WALT with whom Calvin, another brother had a similar position and they were virtually under one roof, but about a year ago James returned to Allentown and for a while worked for the West End Brick Company and later for David MATTERN in a brick yard. Young WILSON was always considered a quiet and model man. He visited his brother in this borough the last time about a year ago. His father, George Washington WILSON, is a veteran of the Civil War and besides the son in jail has four other children, Charles, a United States Marine, stationed at Boston; George, cigarmaker of Pennsburg; Calvin of West Point and Mrs. Peter NONNEMACHER of South Allentown. His Fiancee Prostrated Miss SCHAFFER, his fiancee, is prostrated by the knowledge of her lover's confession. He had never hinted to her of his crime. Before startling revelations had been made she told a reporter that WILSON had left her a little before 12 o'clock Saturday night, and that they had no quarrel. They had decided not to go to church, as was their custom, because they thought the weather would be unpleasant. The young woman has an inheritance of $300 coming to her, with which she intended to furnish their home. WILSON said it had been his intention to carefully guard his crime throughout his life, and eventually, on his deathbed to confess that he killed EBERT. Selected An Attorney James WILSON on Wednesday afternoon engaged Ex-District Attorney LICHTENWALNER, of Allentown, as his attorney and he was closeted in his cell for several hours on that day. Since the lawyer had been in his cell WILSON began to hold his tongue. LICHTENWALNER declares that he is confident that he can save James WILSON's neck. Whether he will be able to accomplish this in the face of the written and signed confession which WILSON made to District Attorney SCHANTZ, is a question.

Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - March 25, 1905 FORMER PENNSBURG RESIDENT CONFESSES THE EBERT MURDER (PART 1 OF 2) In order that he might pay a board bill, free himself from debt and be in a position to marry his fiancee, Miss Bertha SHAFFER, James H. WILSON (picture), a bricklayer of Allentown and a former resident of Pennsburg murdered John P. EBERT (picture), the old pretzel baker of the same city on the evening of February 24. WILSON, who is only 22 years old, has made a confession to the police, in which he says that he did not at first intend to kill the old man, but merely to "knock him on the head and rob him." Then he was afraid that he might be recognized, and thought he had better finish the job while he was about it. Nearly a month has elapsed since EBERT staggered into his house on evening and gasped that he had been shot by an unknown assassin while he was looking about his yard to assure himself that everything was locked up for the night. No suspicion had attached to WILSON. It was his frantic and unneccessary efforts to clear himself that put the charge at his door, and then all his cunning, all his boldness, deserted him. He broke down and told all he knew. Confession To Robbery I broke into Jonathan KISTLER's store between 9 and 9.30 on an evening several weeks ago that I do not remember. I think it was on Thursday. I climbed in through a rear window alone. I took two boxes of cigars, a revolver, cartridges, a lead pencil and a writing book. I am a fellow that spends my money freely when I have it and then half the time I have none. I took the revolver over to Mattern's dump this morning and threw it out. I shot three shots into the air last Saturday evening to scare the people. I ran up stairs where I board and hollered that some one wanted to shoot me. I had the revolver at home. I had the revolver at home most of the time since I robbed KISTLER. At other times I had it in my pocket. I had it in my inside coat pocket the night my girl felt it. Confession To Murder I was so hard troubled for money and half crazy with worriment that I could not pay my board and being a frequent visitor at John EBERT's store where I noticed he had considerable money I went to John EBERT's store with the intention to rob him. I didn't go to shoot him but when I was there waiting for John EBERT to leave the store I saw I was discovered and to defend myself I shot him. I would have told this some time anyhow and if on my deathbed. His Fatal Mistake If he had not made the fatal mistake of telling the police that he had been shot at shortly after midnight Sunday morning in exactly the same way as EBERT was shot at; if he had not said that he never owned a revolver, it is likely that the murder of EBERT would have remained a mystery for all time. But WILSON devised a fake to protect himself from an imaginary danger. "I had been spending Sunday evening with Miss SHAFFER," he said, "and on my return home I took a walk into the yard to see that everything was all right. I was within a few feet of the back door when a man stepped out of a shanty and fired three shots at me. The man escaped out of the side gate." That threw WILSON into the limelight. Within a block of the scene of EBERT's murder, he had been set upon in exactly the same way, and by an assassin who tallied with the vague description given by the dying baker of the fellow who shot him. It was noticeable, also, that WILSON, in describing this assassin, described himself. Suspicion Becomes A Conviction At first it was believed that WILSON was a notoriety-seeker, or that his mind had been temporarily unbalanced by reading about the EBERT murder. His tale was so halting and his statements so conflicting and artificial that the disgust of the police soon turned into suspicion, and suspicion into conviction. Chief of Police EASTMAN examined and re-examined WILSON, who said positively he did not own a revolver. Police Sergeant KNAUSS learned from Miss SHAFFER that he had recently been carrying a large pistol, and that since the EBERT affair he had acted like a different man. "I think he felt so bad about it that it preyed on his mind," said the girl. "He didn't even like to talk about it." On the strength of the girl's story, the police searched WILSON's room. The most suspicious thing they found was two boxes of cheap cigars. WILSON was out of work, and they thought it strange that he would by buying cigars by the box. "I bought 'em of EBERT just a few hours before he was killed," said WILSON. Arrested For Robbery It turned out that EBERT did not sell cigars of that brand, but Jonathan D. KISTLER, whose store, in the vicinity of the EBERT home, had been robbed a few nights before the murder, did sell them. It was from KISTLER's store that a revolver was stolen on that same night, subsequently found in a clump of bushes and giving unmistakable evidence of having been discharged. The police have believed all along that this revolver was the one used by the slayer of EBERT. KISTLER identified the cigars as his. Thereupon WILSON switched his story and said he had bought the cigars from a tall man answering the description of EBERT's murderer, and that he paid $1.10 a box for them. From this was only a step to fastening the KISTLER robbery on the bricklayer. He was arrested by order of Mayor LEWIS at 6.30 o'clock Monday evening, and when charged with the robbery, he said: "Give me time to think it over." They put him into a cell. Half an hour later he said he was ready to talk about the robbery, but when he got to talking the robbery and the murder were so unextricably jumbled in his mind that he finished by making a breast of both of them.

Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - March 18, 1905 FELL DEAD WHILE EATING SUPPER Michael YOUNG, an aged and respected resident of Lower Salford, near Harleysville, died suddenly on Sunday evening while eating his supper. He was in his usual health when he sat down to the table. His family was amazed to see him drop forward with his face on the table. They hurriedly went to his side but were shocked to find that life was extinct. He was eighty-five years old and his death was due to apoplexy. FIRE AT SUMNEYTOWN Shortly after nine o'clock on Monday evening the family of William BREUNINGER, who resides at Sumneytown in a stone house, between the store of Barndt & Cressman and the stables of the Red Lion Hotel, detected smoke in the second and third floors of their house. The entire family but two children had already retired but when they detected the smoke the family was aroused and an investigation was made. They soon found that the fire had started at a defective flue and had made its way to the frame annex, where the weather-boarding were already in flames. An alarm was spread and with the timely arrival of help and the formation of a bucket brigade the fire was extinguished before it got beyond control, but not until after an hours hard work. Luckily there was not much air stirring to fan the flames into a blaze for if there had the hotel sheds which is frame and stands within two feet of the annex would without a doubt have been ignited and had it once been on fire Sumneytown would in all probability have been doomed as it is an old town and the houses are built very close together. The Goshenhoppen Insurance Company appraised Mr. BREUNINGER's loss at thirty dollars. SERIOUS FIRE AVERTED AT SELLERSVILLE After starting a fire in a stove in the wash house adjoining the Central House, Sellersville, Monday morning, the party left it to burn up. In a short time afterward flames and smoke were seen emerging from the shingle roof near the chimney. The fire alarm was immediately sounded and after some heroic work by the landlord Henry SHISLER and the neighbors it was placed under control ere the fire company had turned the hose on the building. It was a fortunate thing that the fire was discovered before it had gained much headway, as there are a number of frame buildings surrounding the wash house. A very large frame shed and stable belonging to the hotel is very close by and would have been hard to save if the fire had got beyond control. PIANO RECITAL AT SCHWENKSVILLE The pupils at Schwenksville under the instruction of Prof. Claude HARLEY of Pennsburg will give a piano recital in the Heidelberg Reformed Church of Schwenksville this evening. The recital will be given for the benefit of the Sunday School of the church. A lengthy and very entertaining program has been prepared. The last number on the program will be a march entitled "College Carnival" composed by Prof. HARLEY and this will be the first time that it will be played in public by the composer. He will be assisted by Miss Susie KREMER in the rendition of this new march. BOY'S LEG BROKEN BY THE KICK OF A BULL Eddie, son of James B. DRY, tenant on Winfield DELONG's farm, north of Bower's, Berks County, was driving the cows into the stable when he had to pass one of the fat bulls, which kicked him on the leg, fracturing it. LUCKY HUNTER FINDS RELICS BY HUNDREDS Possessed of unusual faculties in locating Indian relics, Daniel N. KERN, an archaeologist of Allentown, who is the owner of one of the largest collections of curios in this State, last year added more than five hundred specimens to his already extensive display. Mr. KERN, apparently, can scent an Indian relic, no matter how small, from afar, and he has found scores of them in frequented places that have been covered by other collectors with but meagre results. In 1904 Mr. KERN walked 125 miles in his quest for specimens of the red men's handiwork, and he visited forty different farms in the counties of Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton. He discovered many hitherto unknown Indian villages, and upon the sites formerly occupied by them he secured a total of 556 specimens. They include 295 arrows, 39 spears, 21 war points, 107 knives, 5 axes, 2 hoes, 29 hammer stones, 33 turtleback knives, 8 celts, an anvil, weighing 18 pounds; 27-pound sledge hammer, 4 ceremonial stones, 2 drills, 3 scrapers, 2 long pestles, 4 bell-shaped pestles and 1 war club. Mr. KERN's collection numbers 4000 specimens, and he intends some time in the future to present it to a worthy college. WIDOW WAS AWARDED $2500 DAMAGES Mrs. Barbara KREAMER, of Creamery, was on Tuesday awarded $2500 damages by the court at Norristown, for the loss of her husband who was run over at a grade crossing on the Perkiomen Railroad, above Collegeville, in May 1902. The suit was brought against the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company. This was a retrial of the case. At the former trial of the case Mrs. KREAMER got a verdict of $700. Upon motion of Mr. EVANS, attorney for the Railroad Company, a new trial was awarded at the last session of argument court.

Does anyone know where I may be able to find an obituary or death notice for someone from 1926. My decedent died in Willow Grove. Does anyone even know what the main papers of this area were for 1926? Thanks ~Jim~ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - March 18, 1905 MAY BE LIBERATED Upon authority of the Supreme Court, supplemented on Wednesday, by the Pardon Board's extension, the next step in the EDWARDS-GREASON murder case will be a motion at Reading on the part of Samuel GREASON's attorneys for a new trial. Should the motion be allowed the case cannot be tried before the third week in June. There is a possibility that GREASON may be liberated without a trial. Should Judge ERMENTROUT, before whom he was tried, grant a new trial, District Attorney KUTZ may conclude that the evidence of the Commonwealth is insufficient against him to put the county to the expense and move for a nolle pros. GREASON says he is confident he will be out in time to eat his Fourth of July dinner with his family in Carlisle, in celebration of the fourth anniversary of his arrest. Mrs. EDWARDS will scarcely be hanged, if at all, before next winter, and she may escape with life imprisonment. Both GREASON and Mrs. EDWARDS have listened to the reading of the death warrant 10 times, and both have been under the eyes of the death watch for two years. HORSE SHIES AND UPSETS WAGON Farmer Lewis JOHNSON and wife, of near Perkiomenville, on Saturday night met with a mishap at the Green Lane railroad crossing, which might have been very disastrous. They were driving and on their way to Pennsburg but when they came to the railway crossing, half of it was occupied by a freight engine taking water at the plug. Mr. JOHNSON stopped in front of the Keystone House to wait until the engineer would withdraw the engine and clear the way for public travel. Instead of doing so a railroad employe told him to cross the track. He did so as ordered and when in front of the engine the horse was scared by escaping steam and ran around, throwing Mrs. JOHNSON out of the wagon on her head. She was slightly bruised but luckily escaped serious injury. The wagon was demolished. SHOOTING MATCH FOR LARGE STEER A flying board shooting match will be held at the Red Hill Hotel, on Saturday, March 25, for the largest steer in the world. The steer is owned by Charles F. MOTZ and is a wonder. The shoot will begin in the forenoon at ten o'clock. This will be one of the largest shoots ever held in this vicinity. Some crack shots from a distance have expressed themselves as being present and take part. AN INVITATION TO "COUGH UP" A man in Texas who swallowed a five-cent piece 20 years ago has just coughed it up. We will give a reward to learn the process by which he was induced to cough up the coin. We have a few subscribers on whom we would like to try it. - Allentown Democrat. PERKIOMEN BRAKEMAN IS INSTANTLY KILLED Falling between the front car and the engine tank of a special freight train on the Perkiomen Railroad at noon on Thursday when just outside of Port Richmond, Marcus H. TRAUGER, a young brakeman, residing at 636 Greenleaf St., Allentown, had his face entirely severed from the rest of his head. Both arms were cut off and the body otherwise horribly multilated. The accident occurred just after reaching Port Richmond where the train stopped to pick up a number of cars. TRAUGER gave the engineer the signal to move after they had been picked up and repeated the signal and started to walk over the cars to the head of the train. No one on the train saw him tumble from the cars but a grade crossing keeper noticing a crowd which had begun to collect in great excitement up the track after the train had passed signaled the crew which soon realized that TRAUGER was missing. The remains were removed to Philadelphia from where the train had started at 11 o'clock on Thursday morning and the body was taken to his home at Allentown yesterday. TRAUGER is 29 years old and is survived by a wife and two children. He had been working on this branch of the road only two months but had previously been located at Hellertown. HAD TO UNHITCH TEAM TO PASS ANOTHER Harry D. RENNINGER the merchant, at Sassamansville, on Tuesday had quite an experience while returning to his home after making a trip by team to the Farmers National Bank, at Pennsburg, on business for Bank Director Jonathan SCHANELY who could not make the trip that day. When near the home of Wm. I. SMITH, at Hillegass, he met a heavy double team and on account of the high drifts of snow on both sides the two teams could not pass each other. After exchanging greetings for a while the drivers of the teams concluded the only way to get out of the dilemna was to unhitch the horse in Mr. RENNINGER's buggy, which they did and place the buggy on top of the snow drift. The horse was also crowded into the snow far enough to allow the heavy team to pass. After the loss of considerable time and temper the two men continued their journeys. FOUND HIDDEN GOLD IN GARRET Ex-Register of Wills Harvey D. FELLMAN, of Richland township, Bucks county, while cleaning up a garret on one of his farms found a neat little bunch of $5 and $10 gold pieces snugly hidden and knotted in a fine handkerchief, which was partly rotted and decayed, the coins dropping out as bright and fresh as from the mint. He has deposited the money in bank, and notified the legal heirs of the estate of the find, since he believes that the farm is cheap enough without the gold. MUTE MUST HAVE HAD "CAN PATCH" BLOOD George KNEEDLER, tenant on Dr. M.J. BACKENSTOE's farm, near Emaus, took one of his mules to HABERSTRUMPF's blacksmith shop in Emaus, last Friday to have it shod. The animal refused to stand to have the work done, and between them it was concluded that it would be the best mule if it was dead, so they killed it and the carcass is now being reduced to fertilizing material. MADE A LONG TRIP TO BE MARRIED William B. WEISER and Miss Hattie A. FRETZ both, of Earlville, Berks County on Saturday drove from that place to the parsonage in Pennsburg, of Rev. W.U. KISTLER, where they were married. After the ceremony the couple drove to the home of George AUGSTADT, near the St. John's Lutheran Church, at Spinnerstown, who is an uncle of the bride where they spent Sunday.

Today I added the township histories as follows to my web site: CRAWFORD COUNTY Bloomfield and Fairfield MONTGOMERY COUNTY Abington, Cheltenham, Douglas, Franconia, Merion, Hatsfield, Horsham, Limerick and Lower Merion. Lower Merion, is the bigest history as it contains a lot of information on the the Valley Forge National Park. http://www.rays-place.com Ray Brown

Anybody familiar with this family? I am interested in the Mary Jane and Jesse Webster mentioned at the very end. Thanks ~Jim~ MRS. CHARLES HOLCOMB. Charles Holcomb (deceased), a prominent farmer and blacksmith of Abington and Cheltenham townships, was born in Cheltenham, near Ogontz, November 5, 1825. He was the son of Edward and Charlotte (Marple) Holcomb, his mother being the daughter of Joseph and Hannah Marple. When Charles Holcomb was between six and seven years of age, his parents removed to Abington village. There he spent his boyhood days, and later learned the blacksmith trade with Isaac Rittenhouse, of Willow Grove. He established himself in business at the locality known as Abington Corner, remaining there until 1863, when he purchased twenty-seven acres of land in Moreland township, adding to it by further purchases until he had increased it to eighty-seven acres. For ten years he also engaged in blacksmithing at that place, but then relinquished that branch of his occupation, and thereafter devoted himself solely to farming. He died August 7, 1903. He married, at Hatboro, April 7, 1870, Maria L., born October 1, 1836, daughter of Zachary and Priscilla (Barnes) Francis. The couple had two children: John Edward, born May 1, 1872, and Mary Elizabeth, born March 13, 1875. The Holcombs are members of the Society of Friends. (page 97) Zachary Francis, father of Mrs. Holcomb, was born in Abington township in 1800. He was a farmer, and spent his entire life in that vicinity. He died September 10, 1868. Priscilla Barnes Francis, mother of Mrs. Holcomb, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania. She was married in 1835. Their children: Maria L., Mrs. Holcomb ; William; Mary Jane, wife of Jesse Webster. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Dear Lists, Recently I sent an email out informing people about a really good society that has recently been formed which is raising money for the restoration of the Old School Southampton Meetinghouse. Well, today I took a walk down to the church to inspect things for myself, okay, the letter was truthful. The foundation has some rather large holes in, the interior floor could use some work, and my god, the roof looks like it is going to collapse in some places. Oh yea, the cemetery wall in some places almost does not exist. Ah the cemetery, where to begin. I started walking around inspecting the stones for abuse and such, I couldn't find much, at first anyway. The weeds and grass close to the stones needs to be trimmed, some twigs and branches could be picked up, and some military markers have seen better days, along with some of the flags. That is all relatively minor general things. I started walking around the perimeter and first I just saw one stone kind of back in the corner by a huge pile of branches, I am assuming it does not belong there as it was a good distance from any other stones. Then I came to a back of some over grown forsithia (excuse my spelling here), and a kind of large pile of rocks, or atleast thats what I thought. When I looked at the rocks closer I realized that they were broken headstones, thrown into a big pile, most of the pices were now no bigger than footballs. Judging from the kind of stones, I'd say a good portion of these were some of the first burials at the church, probably with no discernable markings left on them, so someone thought it a good idea to remove them. I was disgusted. After that I noticed some beer bottles lying around. So, I am going to write to the people in charge of the restoration of the church to see if I can't get a little funding for the cemetery itself and have a weekend where volunteers come out, pick up and place fallen stones in storage inside the church, clean up the yard waste, and try to figure out something with the pile of stones. Before I write to them, I would like to know if anyone who lives in the Bucks and Montgomery County area who would be willing to spend a Saturday or Sunday cleaning up the churchyard. If you say you would like to help, there is of coarse no obligation, I would just like to be able to tell these people that "x" number of people are willing to help. Thank you all for your time. Sincerely, James Austin Evanson Upper Southampton Twp., Bucks County, Pennsylvania P.S. The church is on PA RT 232 (Second Street Pike) and Maple Ave., across from the Tammenend Park Entrance and right down the road from Eugene Klinger Middle School. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Jim in Vermont, Camp Delmont is about two mile NE of the Goshenhoppen Church. The Church is in Upper Salford township, while Camp Delmont is in Marlborough township. Glenn in Lititz, PA ----- Original Message ----- From: <WolfordMigration@aol.com> To: <PAMONTGO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 10:20 PM Subject: Re: [PAMONTGO-L] Wolford > Thanks Judy for info aboutr Old Goshoppen. I used to have the location of > Nicholas Wolford's land. Is there a Scout camp near the church? > > Jim in Vermont > > > ==== PAMONTGO Mailing List ==== > List topic Montgromery County PA this means anything genealogy related > ex.surnames, locations, history. > >

Thanks for looking. Deb > Sorry my message didn't say anything. My computer cutoff while I was writing a > reply. > > But..... there were not any entries for John Joseph TYSON or Joseph TYSON. > > The 'Advertisements and Notices of Interests', involve mostly current events > then, ads for sale of property, notices of meetings or elections, etc., , some > marriages and deaths! But do not see any baptisms in these editions of the > newspapers then. > > Sorry... > Diana in AL > > > ==== PAMONTGO Mailing List ==== > No virus or other alerts, ever, period > One offense may result in temporary or permanent banishment from the list, > without warning. >

That I don't know Jim, it has been about 40 years since I was there. There is/was a Girl Scout Camp nearby, about 6 miles away. Good luck with your search! Judy ----- Original Message ----- From: <WolfordMigration@aol.com> To: <PAMONTGO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 10:20 PM Subject: Re: [PAMONTGO-L] Wolford > Thanks Judy for info aboutr Old Goshoppen. I used to have the location of > Nicholas Wolford's land. Is there a Scout camp near the church? > > Jim in Vermont > > > ==== PAMONTGO Mailing List ==== > List topic Montgromery County PA this means anything genealogy related > ex.surnames, locations, history. > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.16 - Release Date: 4/18/2005 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.16 - Release Date: 4/18/2005

Thanks Judy for info aboutr Old Goshoppen. I used to have the location of Nicholas Wolford's land. Is there a Scout camp near the church? Jim in Vermont

Peggy, I was so glad to see your e-mail about the William and Annie O'Neill family. I am a descendant of Elizabeth (Your LIZZIE). I have some information on this family and would love to share with you. I was beginning to think I was the only one researching this line. E-Mail off list and see what we can share. Shirley Rogers Boulder, MT

The Old Goshenhoppen Church is in Woxall, Salford Twp. Judy ----- Original Message ----- From: <WolfordMigration@aol.com> To: <PAMONTGO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 6:54 PM Subject: Re: [PAMONTGO-L] Wolford > Where exactly is the Old Goshhoppen Church? Is it in Salford Twp? > > Jim in Vermont > > > ==== PAMONTGO Mailing List ==== > No virus or other alerts, ever, period > One offense may result in temporary or permanent banishment from the list, > without warning. > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.16 - Release Date: 4/18/2005 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.16 - Release Date: 4/18/2005

Where exactly is the Old Goshhoppen Church? Is it in Salford Twp? Jim in Vermont

Hello again: Trying to piece this family together...all from Norristown. Let me know if any of these names sound familiar. WILLIAM O'NEAL b. abt. 1855 in PA, father from Ireland, mother from PA. ANNIE UNKNOWN O'NEAL b. abt. 1854 in PA. Their children; EVA L. O'NEAL b. abt. 1873 NETTIE O'NEAL b. 1874 m. WILLIAM A. WILSON (MY HUNCH) d. abt. 1949 in Mont. Co. PA LIZZIE O'NEAL b. 1875 WILLIAM O'NEAL JR. b. 1788 All children born in Mont. Co. they were living in Norristown in 1880. Any info would be a great help. Sincerely, Peggie Shaw

Hello: I am looking for information on the following family group found in the 1880 census for Norristown; Head of Household THOMAS HOFFMAN, 42, born in PA, Parents born in PA MARGARET HOFFMAN 43, born in Pa Parents b. in PA, His wife CATHARIN HOFFMAN 14 Mother b. in Delaware, Daughter EUPHAMA HOFFMAN 12 both parents b. in PA b., Daughter EMLEY HOFFMAN 4 both parents born in Pa, daughter MARY E. WILSON 19, father b. in England, mother in PA, other (relationship) EDWIN B. WILSON 17 father in England, mother in Pa, other FLORANCE WILSON 13 " " " Does anyone know this family?? My questions; 1. Was Margaret Thomas's first wife? As his eldest dau.'s mother's birthplace is listed as Delaware, Margaret was b. in PA and the younger Hoffman children's mother's birthplace is listed as PA. I am assuming only the younger Hoffman children were Margaret's (if the census is correct). 2. Was this Margaret's first marriage?? Edwin Wilson in the 1920 census with his wife and children and Margaret Hoffman (84) she is listed as his mother. My thought, Mary, Edwin and Florance were children of Margaret from a previous marriage. Of course I could be dead wrong, but in the absence of other records, I am just "guessing". 3. What was Margaret Hoffman's maiden name? The 1880 census records are from the LDS files....the 1920 census from a kind soul who sent me info from Anscestry's data base. The only other info on this family I have is, Edwin in 1920 was working in a machine shop, he had married Nettie (Jeanette O'Neill, b. in PA) about 1893 in Montgomery Co. PA., they had, William Jul 1893, Elwood 1897, John 1899 and Edwin (Edward) 1903. A daughter Margaret died in infancy. The Hoffman's resided in Norristown. Any help would be appreciated. Peggie Shaw