The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-09-30
A Heartless Swindle Of an Aged Couple.

A Heartless Swindle Of an Aged Couple.
The lumbermen and bark peddlers
of the Pocono region, in the northern
part of Monroe County, Pa, are on the
lookout for a slim, dark-complexioned
man, with dark moustache, and wear
ing a striped coat and blue overalls. If
he is found they declare that he will be
fortunate if he lives to see the inside of
the penitent;ary.
Barnett Woolbert is an Industrious
aged farmer, who lives with his wife,
who is also advanced in years, near
Bossardsville. His daughter, Henrietta,
works at Stauffer's Hotel, in Pocono
Township. A son, George, has been
working in the woods at Bear Creek,
near White Haven. A few days ago
the person described above, whose
name is unknown, appeared at Stauffer's
Hotel, and inquiredfor Henrietta Wool.
bert. She answered his call.
"rve got bad news for you," he said.
"Your brother George was killed
yesterday. He was struck on the back
of the head by rock flying from blast.
The sister was almost crazed by his
story. She begged him to 60 at once
and inform her parents. He said he
had been sent down for that purpose,
but his money had given out. Miss
Woolbert gave him some money. He
exhibited to her the measurement for
the young mans grave, which had been
taken, he said, in order that everything
might be got in readiness by the time
the remains arrived home. The stranger
loft ha al 1,,t hot Nj
the neighborhood. The next day he
went to old Mr.. Woolbert's. Mr.. WOOL
bert was absent in Bossardsville. The
stranger told Mrs. Woolbert the same
story he had told to her daughter. She
had been expecting the son home ON q
visit in day or two. The news over
came her, and she tainted. When she
came to the stranger told her that
he had come on ahead of the remains in
order that arrangements might be made
for the funeral. While he was talking
Mr.. Woolbert came home. His wife
burst into tears, and falling into his
arms, gave him the terrible message
she had received, with the agonizing
cry:
George is dead. father! George is
deadr'
Eyes, the poor boys dead" said the
stranger, and he repeated to the old
farmer the story in detail. He gave
the old couple the measurement for the
grave. and told them that the remains
of their son would arrive at Forks Sta
ton, on the Delaware Il Lackawanna
Railroad, on the down train that day.
He said he would engage hearsc to be
there to meet the train if they would
direct him where to find one. Anthony
Miller, neighbor, was called, and he
went with the stranger to Tanncrsville
and arranged to have a hearSe meet the
train ut Forks. The man obtained mon
ey from Miller as we'll MS from the
couple, having informed them that his
valise with all his own money was ut
POcono Switch. He then offered to in
form any other relatives of Mr.. Wool
on his way to the Switch, if there were
any. He was asked to call ut the house
of another sister Of Georges, and tell
her. He went away, saying that he
would be at Forks when the remains ar
rived, to render any aid he could.
He called at the other sisters house,
where another sorrowful scene was en-
acted, and where he obtained more
money by saying that there would be y
man with the remains who had a watch
belonging to George. upon which some
thing had to be paid to have it deliv-
cred to the friends of the deceased man.
He then went on toward POcOnO Switch.
Meanwhile, a number of the neigh
bors of the Woolberts took the meas
urement for the grave and had one
dug. A minister was engaged to
preach the funeral sermon. The hearse
and some friends of the family were at
the depot when the train arrived.
There was no corpse in it, and none of
the train officers knew of any that was
to be sent. The sisters of the dead
young man had each gone to the home
stead.
The stranger was not at the depot as
he had agreed to be, and then for the
first time some of the neighbors began
to entertain suspicion. A telegram
was sent to White Haven, asking for
particulars of the death of George
Woolbert. Word was received in reply
that nobody could be found in the
vicinity of Bear Creek who had heard of
his death. Subsequently the news was
sent that George Woolbert was alive
and at work as usual. When this was
received at Forks Station large num-
Der of friends and neighbors of the
Woolberts had gathered at the farm to
be present during the funeral. They
knew nothing of what was transporting
at Forks. When Anthony Miller drove
up to the house with the news that
George was not dead, the family were
beside themselves with joy. The indig-
nation against the man who had been
guilty OF perpetrating so CHASTITY q
fraud to obtain trilling amount of
money was so intense that he would
have been hanged to the nearest tree
if he could have been found. Men
started in search of him but he had es-
caped.-CJr. ~. y. Sun.
Bread Making in Spain.
The bread in the south of Spain is
delicious; it is wife as snow, close as
cake, and vet very light; the flour is
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