Connecticut western news., 1876-07-28

and anxiety of late, on account of mad dog having bitten several persons and ami malss as cows, calves, dogs, etc, in June, the effects of which are becoming painful ly apparent. With the fearful consequences of dog having the hYdrophobia, possible at any time to make itself manifest in the animal, and thus fearfully endanger the lives of people, the question must arise, Does it pay to keep dogs2 To be sure a poor man can have two dogs, but notwith- standing his ability to maintain in good style two or three enormous bull ''pups," Che calls them puppies if they are ten years old), even though he take the bread from his chIldren's mouths to feed his pets, he should regard the human family as worthy of at least little thought and considera- ton on his part, in such times as the pres ent, and consent to reduction of his stock of canines. A writer in the Hartford Times gives the following account of the excite ment in Scitlco:
 A slut belonging to F. OImstead killed her own three-weeks-old pups, four in number, and showed other symptoms of hydrophobia, but was still kept in cellar, confined with chain; but she succeeded in getting loose and then gnawed a hole through the cellar door and got out. This was on Sunday night, and on Monday moSning she was seen in pasture chasing a yoke of oxen belonging to M. s. Charter Whether they have been bitten or not re- barnyard of MT. R. Gowdy where she killed a fine Cochin Partridge hen, and it is feared bit some COWS that were in the yard. She then bit fine Newfoundland dog belong ing to MT. Pickett, the depot master, who promptly had him killed then the rabid creature attacked and bit mere hens and dogs, including valuable sheep dog be- longingt MT. Simpson the butcher. She then took to the woods and has not since been heard of. r..s.>--. ...s
 My COW that was bit June 18th showed rabid symptoms about 9 o'clock Tuesday night, July 18th. She continued to below at intervals of five minutes and walked the pasture all night. She had been at pasture with other cows. I secured her at daylight. Convulsions occurred at intervals all day until o'clock on Wednesday (twenty- four hours). when she had violent spasms and struck with her head the tree she was tied to until she knocked herself down. The next morning had her killed to end her torture, the most dreadful of anything I ever witnessed. -.
 Her calf sold to Mir. Ramsey, after ex- amining it, three weeks ago. It was never allowed to suck it's mother after that time, and concluded it had never been bitten but it went mad the next day after it's moth CT did and has been killed.
 More dogs in the neighbood are known to have been bitten, but their owners will not kill them. MT. Ersklne Taylor has not yet been attacked, and is in as good spirits as could be expected under the cir | cumstances. THOMAS BARRETT.
 swindler Smith in Jail.-Our citizens very well remember the scheming and swindling operations of one A. W. Smith. who a year or two since adroitly wound about two of our respected citizens bis vii. lainous meshes, and made them his victims to the tune of nearly two thousand dollars each, viz: MT. M. M. Blake and MT. Calvin Belcher. MT. Belcher had warrant is. sued for the arrest of the scoundrel, and l would have had him, where he ought to have been years ago, beyond the grates and bars, if he had again made his appearance here. This heartless wretch everybody will be glad to be informed, is at last ID jail, and his prospect ot justice now is very fattering. His plan of conducting his swindling operations seems to have been made by him study, until he had il perfected, when he proceeded according to rule in each case, and every victim was put through precisely the same course of treat. ment.
 Since writing the above it has occurred to us that John T. Young of New Milford is another of his swindled customers.
 The Troy Times of July 18th gives an ac count of his manner of operating in New York state, and which will be recognised as precisely the ''same little game" he prac ticed here. The Tunes says under head oi 'Land Sharks in Custody" a'
 For some time past firm known as A. w. Smith 6 Co.,, has been speculating ir land in the vicinity of Schenectady, Am sterdam and Gloversvllle. The naodus op eTdndS has been for one of the firm to act as a real estate agent and the other as pur chaser. The agent represents to farmer who has property for sale that he has { purchaser who is anxious to buy, and ad- vises him to put up the price of his land 1000 or so. A meeting is arranged anC the purchase is effected, the property be ing paid for in notes, which of course art
 worthless. The agent then demands a com
 mission, and ss the farmer has sold hi! property for more than he intended to ask
 for it he is disposed to be liberal, but ht
 has no money. The agent is willing to take
 the farmers note or will take one of tn, notes gwen in the purchase with the farm
 CTS endorsement. This is usually the note
 made to fall due last and is for the smalles amount, from $500 to $1,500. If tn, amount is not convenient for the purpose
 he obtains the farmers note at 60 or 9t
 days, telling him it will not fall due befor,
 the other notes have been paid to him ant
 that he then will be fully able to meet it Having obtained his note the agent leaves
 the scene, goes to the nearest bank and hal
 his note discounted or sells it to person. willing to buy. The buyer never return
 to take up the notes. He even forgets al
 about the land he has purchased but a
 the end of the time for which tbe farmer
 note was given the. note comes round. tn, ) signature is genuine and he mnst pay. Tn
 little game has been broken up at last b, the arrest of Jay Stearns at Saratoga ol ) Tuesday, and Smith at Schenectady yesteI
 day. Smith is an ex-Assemblyman, an, was delegate to the St. Louis Convention , The Utica HerGld says: -,.r ..
 This land speculating business is one Q ) the most ingenious as well as the most sue
 ceesful and dangerous swindles yet devised . and is carried on most exclusively by Al ) bany parties. It is hoped that the arrest o one of the principal actors in the schem may have the effect of breaking up tn gang s''.= .s
 From the same paper of July 18th W extract the following in relation to Smitl and his wlly assistant, Stern. Further pal ticulars will be anxiously looked for: -. EX-Assemblyman Smith and his associat !, 1 kho lam dlorn