Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-12-03
FARMER WARMERS MONEY.
Robbed by Turn, by Thieves, by Bank,
bY Thieves.

The Philadelphia Times, of Nov
ember IS, 1884, Publishes the fol
lowing:
BRADFoRD, Nov. 26, 1884
About two miles west of Bradford,
rs the crow flies, in a bend of the
public highway, lies long, narrow,
rambling and veathsr-s stained farm
house. 1t stands by itself solitary
and alone. For over thirty years it
has sheltered Farmer Lambert Wag
ner and his gray haired and portly
spouse. The old couple who are
childless, lived happily enough until
the oil fever swept like cyclone
through the picturesque valley, trans
forming the quiet. rural landscape
irto veritable forest of oil deriicks,
with here and there cities OF massive,
red painted oil tanks.
Ths farm Of Farmer Wagner was
underlaid with the rich oil-bearing
rock, so much sought after. Numer
GUS wells we're drilled and in short
time the farmer and his wife had so
much money that they hardly knew
what to do with it. Farmer Lam
bert thought that banks were new
tangled concerns and wouldn not trust
his fortune in the strong vaults OF
the local banks. Instead nc hid the
money in out-of-th. places in the
old farm house.
When he awoke enc frosty morn
ing he found his faithful watch dog
lying dead in III. door yard. The
chest of drawers in the bed chamber
was found on the floor, its contents
being scattered all over the room. In
the spare bed room adjoining the
feather bed was found cut OPEN
Upholstered chairs had their cuss
ions slashed open. Everything ia
the old house seemed topsy-turvsy.
When Farmer Wagner had figured
it out he knew that the robbers had
secured over $4,000 in gold, silver
and ersenbacks. This was about
three years ago. About eight,an
months ago burglars again paid their
dark lantern respects to the Wagner
homestead This time they secured
nothing for their pains,
y fooled them this time. glee-
fully exclaimed Farmer Wagner. Il
put all my money and my vife's in
the Tuna Valley Bank"
He might as well have left his
wealth, which cost him 50 msch
anxiety, hidden in the musty and
deserted rooms in the old farmhouse
rs the bank few months later be
came hopeiessly iusolvent and was
compelled TO close its doors. Re
Gently the receiver of the defunct
bank paid ? small dividend. Mrs.
Wagner sold a slice OF the farm for
$500, while Farmer Wagner realized
a similar sum from the sale Of some
live stock Farmer Wagner again
had his old antipathy against the
banks and the money was kept in the
house. Last Saturday night Farm
or Wagner and his wife sat down 70
a smoking supper which was served !
ON long table in the antique kitch- /
Ell. The proprietor and superintend-
ent of neighboring brick yard hap I
pened along just in time to receive
an invitation to "sit down and taks
a bite
After the meal was over. Farmer
Wagner remembered that the horse
had not been feed or the barn doors
fastened. He lighted the tallow dip |
in IN old tin lantern and tried the |
handle of the door leading from the |
kitchen into the sitting room. To /
his surprise the door refused to open. /.
4 guess the bolt has dropped out, I,
said he, land Ill 60 round the back !
way and fix it.
Mrs. Wagner who was uashisg |
the supper dishes, was startled when
a few minutes later the door with /
the supposed defective bolt was burst .
open. A gray haired old man with |
blanched face and tottering liInbs
into the room. It wa |
Farmer Wagner.
MY God" he cried, wildly wiring
ing his hands, we've boen robbed
Mrs. Wagner tainted but soon
came to. Then search was made. /.
Through an open window the chill |
night air found its way into the bed |
chamber. The feather bed is gone,
walled 8Irs. Wagner, land mine mon
ey! Mine money is gone :" Olt up |
on the sward and within few feet |
of the window were piles of feather.
The tick was cut into ribbons. With
in the fcathery bowels of that bed
had at one time repose1 a canvass
sack containing over five hundred |
dollars in gold and greenbscks. Now
it was gone. In ths adjoining ap- |
partmen geese feathers covered the
floor. The bed-tick had also been
cat open. My money, too, is gons;
groaned Farmer Wagner. why
didn't L put it in bank"