Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - July 25, 1903 RINGING OF BELL DRIVES OFF ROBBERS Thieves pried open the window shutter at the home of John WEITZEL, at Fritztown Berks county, and were about ready to enter through the window when Mr. WEITZEL heard them. He came downstairs to see what was going on, when one of the thieves shot at him. Mr. WEITZEL ran upstairs and rang a large handbell at the open window. The thieves fired two more pistol shots and then disappeared. When Mr. WEITZEL gave the alarm his neighbors quickly responded. A posse was formed and a search for the robbers was begun, but they made good their escape. REMOVED BONE FROM BOYS HEAD TO SAVE LIFE The surgeons of Charity Hospital, Norristown, this week removed a piece of bone from the skull of Robert SANDS, aged nine, and saved his life. The lad had been hit on the head with a base ball bat almost two weeks ago, by one of his playmates. For some time it was not feared that any serious consequences would follow until Tuesday, when it was found that the skull was fractured and that the broken portion was pressing on the brain. FARM HAND FALLS FROM HAY MOW Richard COX a farm hand in the employ of Mr. KENDALL, of Centreville, fell from a hay mow to the barn floor below on Monday evening. He sustained severe injuries about the face, neck and shoulder. No bones were fractured. FARMER COMMITS SUICIDE Caleb REA, an East Coventry, farmer committed suicide by hanging. He was found hanging in the barn suspended by a plow line, by his daughter. Fancied grievance are ascribed as the probable cause for the rash act. GROUND HOGS The farm owned by Wm. ARNOLD and Company, of Reading, located near Harlem, has for long years been known as the ground hog farm and it well deserves the name. The farm is tenanted by Phares NUSS and he and his hired help have killed 13 so far this summer. Those who are familiar with the tract, conservatively estimate that it is the home of from two to three hundred of the rodents. Large numbers of holes, the homes of the pest, are to be found in many of the fields. Several veins of rich iron ore runs through the tract from East to West. STUBBORN BOY TRIES TO COMMIT SUICIDE Being scolded by his foster father on Wednesday morning for neglecting to take the cows to pasture, Allen WALTER, the twelve-year-old adopted son of Levi HARTLINE, of Saegersville, placed a teaspoonful of Paris green on an apple and ate it with the intention of committing suicide for spite. In half an hour he began to throw up violently and got so sick that he confessed. He has a very stubborn temper, which it is thought got the better of him when he was scolded. CARELESSNESS RESULTS IN BIG LOSS Some matches dropping from the pocket of a workman on the farm of Daniel FORRY, near Lancaster, the other day got into the thresher and were ignited. In a short time, with no water near, the barn, a tobacco shed and six other buildings were destroyed, together with this year's crops and the implements. The loss is about $15,000. CANINES TO BE TREATED LIKE EDITORS Burgess FRETZ, of Lansdale, wants the dog muzzling law observed during July and August. He threatens to resuscitate the dog-catcher if his orders are not obeyed. FIRE DESTROYS A WAGON SHED During the heavy thunder storm which passed over Hill Church on Tuesday afternoon the large wagon shed of John NESTER about two miles from this place was struck by lightning and totally destroyed with about two thousand sheaves of rye and a reaping machine. The building was 21x31 feet and standing but seven feet from the barn. A new tin roof placed on the barn by Irvin KEHS, who had just completed the work as it commenced to rain, saved that building. A bucket brigade was organized and a hole cut through which large quantities of water were poured to save the building. The heavy downpour of rain and the accompanying hail did considerable damage in the vicinity. The loss through the fire is about $600. The building was insured in the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Boyertown. PASTOR LEADS A STRENUOUS LIFE FOR 25 YEARS Rev. A.J. BACHMAN has just completed the 25th year as pastor of the Reformed Church, at Schaefferstown, near Lebanon, and a report of his work during that period shows the following interesting statistic: Marriages, 693; funerals, 156; baptisms, 2079; confirmations, 1168; received on certificate, 311; delivered 4400 lectures and addresses; raised $35,000 for congregational purposes and $5,000 for benevolent purposes; traveled 72,000 miles. SAFE CRACKERS AT COOPERSBURG The Newcomer bakery at Coopersburg was broken into and the safe broken open, but Mr. NEWCOMER had only some small change left in it, amounting to about 75 cents. A number of old and rare coins of the face value of about $10 were overlooked or not wanted. The house of William YODER was entered and a pair of new shoes stolen. Petty thieves have also been operating around Center Valley.