Middletown transcript., 1876-06-24
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE "a, 1876.
LOCAL AND STATE AFFAIRS.
Items nj Lacal Inferest,

Items OF Local interest,"
John T. Smith, formerly of Middletcwn, is
now in the dry goods and grocery business at
Taylor's Bridge.
The strawberry festival recently held at
Summit M. E. Church was pecuniary sue
cess, and the managers are grateful.
A lady named Grafton, in Wilmington,
whilst gaping the other day, dislocated her
jaw. A physician fixed things for her.
firm in Milford tried the experiment Of
packing trout in ice and shipping them to
Philadelphia, this season, and it is said the
experiment paid we'll.
The projectors of the new bank at Milford
expect to organize the latter part of this week.
They will start on $55,ooo. Col. Fiddeman
of course is expected to be the President.
Smyrna wedding, that just occurred was
ouickly fixed up The groom was widower
of only seven weeks standing, and the BRIDE
who went to keep house for him, maintained
that relation only four days before the nup-
tials.
Diamond State Band of this town continues
the practice Of new music, which they will
play on July 4th in Philadelphia The ex-
nectat;ons are that the band will astonish
Philadelphians, and we earnestly hope it will
gain the praise that is due first-class coun-
try band.
Wheat harvest was commenced near Sassa-
fras on Wednesday, at Summit Bridge on
Friday, and at Middletown on Thursday
The wheat at Sassafras is partly damaged by
rust but the average yield. will probably reach
twenty bushels per acre. At Middletown
larger yield is anticipated.
Martin King, of Kent county, who was con-
v,cted in the United States District Court, in
Wilmington last April for selling liquor with
ont license, has been pardoned by the Presi-
dent. King was sentenced to an imprison-
ment of six months, but q. S. District Attor-
ney Higgins and Marshal Dunn recommended
his release on the ground of meritorious SER
vices performed during the war.
Miss Annie Offley is going to re-establish
Smyrna Seminary in the fall. William h.
Dashiel, former popular educator of our
midst, has accepted the Principalship, and
Miss Knight, educated in music at Hamburg,
in Germany, is to take charge of the music
room, so says the Smyrna Times. We sup
pose the lady referred to is Miss Fannie
Knight, of Middletown.
J. H. Bewley, of Smyrna, was robbed OF
his pocketbook on Second street car in
Philadelphia, Tuesday. He recovered it from
the conductor of the car, whom be questioned
so closely as to induce him to hand it over.
The conductor said he found it on the street.
Fortunately Mr. B. had his money in wallet
in another pocket, hence there was not much
object to the thief in keeping the stolen book.
1t contained negotiable paper, however, to
the amount of over $1,000.
Narrow Escape.
Mr. Joseph West narrowly escaped
very serious accident on Wednesday last.
He was cutting wheat when one of the horses
balked. Mr.. W. got down to lead him, when
the horse suddenly jumped away from him,
causing the reaper knives to strike near his
ankle and with such force as to throw him on
the platform, and thus he escaped the knives.
We are pleased to know that no more serious
results followed than a painful cut, which
has been properly attended to.
"Big Frank" Recaptured.
"Big Frank" Mcdonald, so well known
over the country, as "Bank Cracker" and
who twice made his escape from New Castle
Jail has been captured again, this time in Nor
folk, Va. 1t is stated that the New Castle
authorities have been notified of his capture
and requested to come and get him, but no
attention has been paid to the request. The
recapture was brought about by boy who
found some burglars tools under bridge,
and telling other persons about it they re-
paired to the place armed with guns. Frank
came along, by and by, and fell an easy
victim.
Blackbird Camp.
The first drawing for tents for the Black
bird camp took place last Saturday, when
twenty-five were drawn, by the following
persons VIM. E. Evans, VIM. R. Davis,
FC. Stidham, Thos. Bratten, 1. D. johnson,
@. r. Collins, T. Hartup A. Hayden, ]. T.
Smith, J. L.. Collins, M. D. Wilson, G. Hurd,
NJ. Richards, A. L. Quillen, Molie Porter, c.
Ferguson, j. B. Roberts, of Middletown, j.
c. Vandyke, J. G. Hutchison, Jas. vanWin-
kle, Thos. Deakyne, A. j. Collins. Colen
Ferguson was awarded the bread tent and
Warren the food pen.
BuiIding improvements.
Mr.. Sewell Holten has recently erected a
neat cottage two stories and half high on
Cass street. The dwelling corresponds with
the other fine ones on this pretty and retired
street.
The Misses Vandegrift are building front
to their dwelling on the same street, adding
greatly to the beauty and value Of their pro-
perty.
Messrs. Elason h Benson are now finishing
stable in the rear of their store, and R. A.
Cochran, Esq, has improved the appearance
of Main street by enclosing the lot adjoining
aheir store.
wife Beating.
Middletown is not free from the manly
practice of wife-beating. Last week young
married man of over years standing, the
father of one child, finished up his matri-
monial engagement by performing this cow
ardly act on q frail wife, SO when the crcum-
stance became known, Mr.. HIS father-in-law
became indignant, intending to resort to law
for healing of wrongs, but the husband had
fed, ,and now the landlords bill is to be paid
from the proceeds ofa constable's sale. This
circumstance leads US to remark that if one
half the misery caused by family disturbances
in Middletown was published it would make
good-sized book.