Middletown transcript., 1877-04-14
Fires, In the County.

, Fires In the County.
The dwelling house on farm occupied
Geo. A. Rust, near Bear Station, on the De
aware Railroad, was burned down Monds
, afternoon A spark from the burning hou
sci Ere to haystack not far off and it wi
burned too. How the fire originated is nj
known Loss $4,000.
An old house belonging to Mrs. HOLLAND
near Newark, was destroyed by FIRE on Satu
day evening last As the house was uno,
cupied it is supposed to have been set on fl
by somebody to zee the confsgrstion.
FOrgeries by smyrna Man.
Smyrna has had a sensation in the way {
discovery Of some forgeries recently CON
mitted by young man of that town. Her
is the account of his transactions as given b
the Times
a check for S325 came to the Fruit GroW
ers' Nataional Bank here, for collection, fror
the First National of Wilmington. The checl
purported to be from J. E. Tygert & Co. t
]. 6. Bowers. The check was endorsed Of
the back by W. T. Beck, John Merrick AM
the lst National Bank Of Wilmington. Tn
officers of the new bank here at once suspi
cioned that the signature Of Tygert 3 90. wa
not genuine, and upon inquiry were assured
Of the fact by Mt. T. 1t seems that Becl
forged the check and went to Merrick's ii
Wilmington, and offered it in payment for I
cheap carriage. Mr.. Merrick declined 10 &C
cept the check unless young Beck would ge
some responsible person to identify him.
This Beck succeeded in doing-a Mr.. Pardee
formerly of Sudlersville, Nd, who, knowing
the young mans father, at once expressed
full confidence in the character Of the youth
and the genuinensss of the check. So Mr.,
Merrick gave the carriage and $225 in money
for about that) for the check. But Beck left
the carriage and went on to Philadelphia. In
fact be did not want the carriage; bis object
was meerly to realize what msney he could
on the check. The next day check for S25
also came to the new bank here from Phia-
delphia for collection. 1t perported TO be
from Henry P Massey to VIM. T. Beck, and
Beck bought suit of clothing with it from
Yates Co the large establishment in the
Ledger building. Robert S. WiIds "a former
Smyrniau) one Of the head statesmen for the
clothing house, very naturally accepted the
check, as he knew both the holder and giver
of it, and believed the former to be as square
a man as the latter. But Mr.. Massey's name
was forgery, and Yates clothing, like Mer-
rick's carriage and money, were obtained by
forged signatures. The losses, Of course fall
on these parties, and not upon the parties
here whose names were forged.
Beck has not since been heard from. De-
tpctive Legg, of Wilmington, was here on
Monday looking for him. Yesterday Hiram
6. Lutz, the extensive poudrette dealer of
was also looking for him. He
had been acting as agent here for Mr.. Lutz,
and managed to fleece him to the tune of
about $500. So Mr.. L. informs us. He fur
1ished Beck with horse and carriage, Ia
pretty good team) last year, and Beck sold it
n Milford last fall, it seems, as Mr.. Lutz was
Informed yesterday. He also collected num-
Der Of bills and made no returns to Mr. L.
The matter has pained his friends, who
would have SO gladly believed better things
# him, and especially bis parents and esti-
nable wife, young woman with two little
mes to care for. 10 save the feelings Of ali Il
hese, SO deeply afflicted, we would have pre-
erred to say nothing, but our silence would
ot have kept the item from the other papers
II around US.
|. Big Circus Coming.
The EDery Eoening and Commercial has the
,llowing about O'Brien's big show which is
ow travelling over the peninsula, and which |
romises 10 come to MiddIetown after while:
John o; Brien was among the lucky circns
who, among others, prospered dur
lg the flush times Of the war, and continue
, flourish still. For several seasons he man
sed TO run four or five companies at the same
me, under various names and in different
.ctions of the country.
During the flush times of the war, when
rery one but editors had more money than
icy knew what to do with, fortunes were
lpidly accumulated, and among the lucky
nes who bought bonds and purchased bricks
nd mortar were the circus managers, one of
HON, Mr.. John O'Brien, managed to run,
r several seasons, four or Eve companies at
he time, under various names, in different
ctions Of the country The Campbell, War
sr, Dan Rice, Rothchilds, Sheldenburger,
I'd half dezen other ventures were his
his spring, this Napoleon Of circus managers
oked about him for new sensation-some-
ing to asfonish the people,-and came to
e conclusion that for 1877 be would have
IT one show on the road, made up from six
his organizations, massing all his material
one organization, thereby creating for
liable competitor for public favor. By the
ncentration of Mr.. o'Brien's several shows,
e menagerie and circus department will be
creased six-fold, and the street pageant
ade unusually attractive by the introduc-
IN Of three full bands Of music in three
'rgeous chariots.
EASTERN SHORE MATTERS.
Newtown pines for fire engine.
Apricot trees are in full bloom down the