Smyrna times., 1877-05-02

A SAD SALE.-The Wilmington & Western |
Railroad was sold under a decree of the U. |
s. Court, in Wilmington, last week, for
only $4,000. 1t cost about $950,OOO to
build it. The loss falls mostly on Will |
mingtonians, who subscribed the stock.
One man alone, j. r. Heald, the originator
of the enterprise, loses from $4,000 to
100000, it is said. lie was considered
wealthy citizen before he went into this
speculation. Another man, Mr.. Crum-
lish, claims to have lost $4,000. He built
the road, or part of it. 1t runs from Will
mington to Landenburg, Pa, distance of
about nineteen miles. 1t was opened for
travelling Oct. 10Th, 1872, and was intended
to open up to Wilmington a short cut to the
West. 1t is in operation and is paying
running expenses, or nearly so. The great
financial crash caught it in its infancy and
hence the collapse.
A BAD CAsE.-A Young Man attempts 10
Hang HIS M0ther, at Mdg,,olia.-We copy the
following item from Eccry EceJ1ng and Con-
ncrciaL: At Magnolia, small village in
this State near Canterbury on the Delaware
Railroad, an old lady by the name Of Ander-
son resides, who has saved up a little
money. OF this a married son has knOwl-
edge and he has frequently eXtorted money
from his mother by beating her when she
would gladly yield to escape the terrible
punshments he would inflict. On Friday
afternoon he went to the house and de-
manded money which the old lady refused
him, when he commenced beating her, and
she ran out Of the house. The Rev. Mr..
Downing, amt it Downham? pastor OF
that circuit, passing 10y at the time, made
him desist. Yesterday Monday morning
the minister while passing the house heard
noises within, and instantly entered when
he discovered the son in the act of hanging
his mother. lie had one end of the rope
around the old lady's neck, and with the
other end thrown over q rafter he wa,
attempting to draw her up when Mr.
Downing arrived. 1t is supposed that she
refused to give her son money when he
determined to hang her. Whether hC
intended to stranglc her to death or merely
frighten her is not known. This informa
ton was brought by passengers who came
up the road yesterday.
A New WAY TO SwIXDLE RAILROAD Cow
PANIEs-Y esterday, in Wilmington, two
yOungish men were arrested at the Clayton
House by detectives from New York ant
Philadelphia for fraudulent transaction
with railroad tickets. Their names wer
NJ. C. White, of Baltimore, and j. w
,, Knapp, of New York. Just before tn
arrest was made Knapp was discoverc
, selling White 63 through tickets on tn
: Pennsylvania and ?. w. & B. r. r. an
. other lines, the price paid for them bein
! $l0450 1t appears that it was a pre-
! arranged plan between the two, to NEE
there. White is clerk at the st. Cla
hotel in Baltimore, and in connection wit
. that position has been selling these ticket
=. and upon his own confession he has realize
/ over $1,000 during the past three month
/ Both of the culprits were taken to Bait
t more. The plan pursued was for condu
G tors on the road not to punch the ticket
n though pretending to do SO, and then
e sell them at a heavy discount to hot
II clerks and other persons in a position
J. dispose of them to the travelling public at
y considerable reduction. BY this mean
y one ticket would sometimes be sold
number of times, and would be good f
g an indefinite number of rides, or un
i punched by the conductor. The d
q covery was made from the falling off of Il
II receipts of the Pennsylvania Railroad wit
:, out corresponding reduction Of Il
- number of travellers. The operations
;r the thieves have been going on for a nul
i Der of months and have resulted in t
IN stealing Of over 5000 worth of tickets