Litchfield enquirer., 1871-10-05
SHARON.

1o PioVJ 1iO Aoe 0s" 0yS PaoViO Ua AtS &-A AoS ence, and that gentlemen of good and known standing are not always sufficiently careful about whom they recommend to the favorable consideration of others.
 Df. Robt w. Smith of this town Las for sale very beautiful residence, which he had fitted up for his own use shortly be fore unexpectedly taking possession If the old family homestead. known as tie Gov Smith maIsion. In April last, n Mir. Prem
 tiss mud wife, the former repi ies+ntine him. self as a native of Mass, and the latter pro.
 fessing to be daughter of the late Rev.
 Dr. Sisty, a minister of the Baptist denom-
 ination in Philadelphia. came to this place
 fortified with good references. Between
 these, expensive dressing. and great pre-
 tentions to exaltt pietv, succseded in
 making so favorable an impression upon
 Dr. S.. as to induce him. contrary to his
 original intention, to rent the house for
 cue year to Mr. Prentiss, as the latter did
 not wish to purchase place until he had
 resided in the town long enough to ascer.
 tain how he should like the 'climate, preach
 ing, neighborhood, &c.. &c" Our friend,
 the Doctor, was so pleased with the yener- able appearance, and pious conversation of this hoary headed stranger, that he even failed to require that the first quarterly payment be made ill advance, as is custom. ary in such cases. or to insist upon securi- ty. As MT. Prentiss declared that his fam. lily consisted solely of himself and wife, though he expected an elderly lady friend, from tue South, to spend the summer with him. Dr. S., was rather more surprised than pleased to find Mir. Prentiss was ad vertising bis place as boarding house, and also to discover, that at the end of the first quarter, when according to agreeme nt, the rent for that, and the quarter next ensuing, was to be paid; nothing was forthcoming but promises. After patiently waiting for another fortnight even this supply failed, Mir. F., declaring that though he had the money in the house, he should never pay his rent. About this time it began to be rumored abroad that MT. Preutiss had paid for scarcely an article he had purchased since he came to the place, that to butcher, grocer and merchant, he owed large sums, while his small debts incurred for butter, milk. eggs, chickens. fruit. washing. etc. etc., were countless.
 Mir. Prentiss had declared that he could not be compelled to pay his rent, saying that the writings which had been drawn up between himself and Dr. s., were valueless on account of slight verbal omission. To test this question, Dr. Smith brought a suit against MT. F., for breaking open, ,and putting horses belonging to hls boarders, into barn near the premises occupied by MT. F.. which barn Dr. s., claimed was not included in the contract made by and be- tween himself and Mir. P. On the day ap- pointed for the trial of this suit. Mir. F., requested its postponement on account of the severe illness of his wife. his most in4- portant witness. swearing that in his opin- ion it ''would endanger her life" to be brought to the court room. Her illness must have been Qf peculiar character, for according to the testimony of three or four inmates of the house. Mrs. F., on that very day performed much more than her usual share of household duty.) The trial was adjourned from Saturday to Wednesday. On that day both MT. and Mrs. F., appear ed, and relinquishing all pretentions to the barn, signed paper by which they agreed to peacefully give up the house on the 21st of Sept, the Doctor withdrawing his suit.
 A day or two after this an,Irishman who had been employed by Mir. Prentiss. and had served him faithfully through the sum- mer. asked the latter for the amount of wages then due him, $40. Upon this de- mand MT. F.. attempted to put Patrick vio- lently out of the house; the latter to defend himself, seized from the dining table a carving knife, therefore g scene! Ladies gentlemen scolding. and all de- claring that they would leave the house that very instant. This being impractica- ble they concluded to remain till the next when they all vanished, leaving the amiable MT. and Mrs. F., to their own sweet meditations, but not undisturbed, for the creditors who had been wronged by Mir. F.. gathered in a beligerent body about the house. threatening to tar and feather that agreeable old gentleman, and treat him to 8 free ride out of the State if he did not ''come to book" At last, frightened by the threats. Mir. F., agreed to turn over to them certain articles of furniture. the value of which would give the creditors Exclusive of Dr. S.) fifty cents on dollar. (Had the Doctor put in his claim with the others. all would have re- ceived the magnificent sum of about cts, on the dollar.) On this day, as at various other times, Mr. P. was heard to say that he had ''plenty of money. but his creditors could whistle for it." These statements, together with facts in the possession of Dr. S., formed the grounds for charge of fraud or swindling on which MT. F. is now