Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-26
FOOLED THE FARMER.
Thomas Montgomery's Misplaced Con-
fidence in Two Strangers
CAUSES HIN TO LOSE se,500,
A shrewd Business Man Duped by Two
Very Slick Sharpers
JUST AS EASY AS ROLLING OFF A LOG

Tom Montgomery, and If so, con you pro-
dnce witnesses to swear that you are ordi-
narily honest and above working a little
con game for sc, ,5OO7
Such is the kind of an abstract look
every stranger receives in Kittanning
and Ford City of late. This is the locality
where Farmer Tom Montgomery was bum
koed out of an interesting little jag of
money last Wednesday by two nice looking
aen, who had discovered way of living
without working, and have successfully
worked out the problem of how to get some-
thing for nothing.
| Every other man and boy has become a
self-appointed detective out there, and in
tellects are resorting to nickel Libraries
wherein Corn Can Cal, the Hero of Hairless
Gulch, captures 90 bandits with magnetic
black eve, and all that sort of thing, for in
spiration.
A Story That Interests the Neighbors.
The story of the nice mems method of
taking $500 away from Farmer Moutgom-
cry while that sharp-eyed gentleman was
looking at them is another illustration of
the old adage that the sharpest man has a
l
| river towns are greatly perturbed thereat
| A bronzed man wearing a damp calico
shirt, broad shapeless straw hat, and some
very bristly whiskers, said in his own
! peculiar style that Farmer Montgomery was
one of the sharpest fellows who ever hoed
corn hill, and he was ready to take an affi-
davit to that fact "Why. he has mixed
with more people in his 70 years." con-
tinued the hoer, ethan anyone in these
| parts, land the people who bunkoed him must
| have been assisted by some superhuman
agencv."
In Ford City there is but one topic of
conversation and that is Farmer Tom Mont
| gomery's experience with the sharpers. The
old gentleman is probably the best known
farmer in all of Armstrong county and is
universally liked and respected. He is
known as jolly, good natured man, fond
of good story, capital at telling them, cor
dial and liberal, but possessed of splendid
business ability. He has commincled with
people Of all kinds and never before had
occasion to view with regret his part of the
transaction with one exception. That was
a few years ago when he purchased piece
of property and forgot to have the title
made out in his name. He lost nothing by
this affair as he had men Ito deal with who
were his acquaintances and matters were
adjusted.
4 Shrewd Man of Business.
He has frequented Sheriffs' sales and
private sales; he has bought mortgaged
property and bought mortgages on
mortgaged property, and he has bought
clear property. He has traded horses and
loaned money and all such things which re-
quire some little thinking at times and has
never wept tears of the loser. In word,
Farmer Montgomery is business man, and
he had several sacks Of money in q Kittan-
ming bank for his own personal uses.
He is bright and shining light in the
Methodist Church, and has been for years
back. He is an esteemed man of the com
munity and ambitious boys point to him as
a model man and wish they were as he. He
has local fame, for he was Commissioner Of
Armstrong county in times of sore financial
need, and it was to his indefatigable efforts
that things were saved and again started on
the road to prosperity. Then he has an
other rare attribute-that of splendid
record as boy.
Montgomery was q splendid runner. In
point of fact he was the very best
sprinter in all of Armstrong county. He
could run faster, better and more grace
fully than any other boy in the county,
when it came to real Fourth of July
tests of speed, his brother was beaten.
And as for jumping and riding and
whistling and yelling and swimming and
shooting and rowing and diving and teas
ing, and walking tight ropes and riding
bareback cows and falling from housetops
and other brave feats, it was the same way.
He was without peer and of course every
body in the county accorded him first place.
Victim Of Misplaced Conf ,cncs.
But now his head hangs low and he for
gets to relate tales of his youth, for he is
ashamed of his misplaced confidence.
Last Tuesday afternoon Farmer Mont
gomery was hoeing in his cornfeld and
thinking over various things of which no
record has been made, when a man with |
looking buggy and quite by chance |
began conversation. He seemed |
to be posted on crops and in some
inexplicable way had hearl of one ex-Com- |
missioner Thomas Montgomery, who had |
won fame and fortune by inventing and pat
enting certain grain cradle. Then, to his |
unutterable surprise, he was informed that |!
he was talking to that famous and fortunate |
individual, and became so delightfully."- |
cordial and complimentary in his gladness |
that Mr.. Montgomery felt himself grow sew
eral inches.
The stranger hesitated to introduce him. |
self as the great son of the greater father,
and when the two had shaken hands he in |
troduced his subject, which was to procure |
a good, trustworthy man to assist him in |
purchasing farm in the locality. He was |
such a nice man and wore such good clothes, |
aud talked so correctly, that Mr.. Montgom |
cry was only too pleased to aid him, and |
made an appointment for the following day |
to select farm for the great son Of the |
greater father.
How the Trick Was Accomplished.
The hours moved but slowly for both |
Mr. Montgomery was anxious to help so
good man and the latter was equally anx- |
ious for other things that developed. The |
stranger and the hour came on at last, and |
Farmer Montgomery entered the formers |
buggy. The stranger drove and talked horse |
AMI grain cradles and other interesting
things until solitary individual appeared |
upon their dual view. The solitary indi-
yidual was armed with a beautiful field |
glass and great flow of language. With
the former he was surveying the broad acres
OF the Wallace estate. With the latter he |
won the love of Mr.. Montgomery and the
great son of greater father.
The solitary individual said he was the
agent of the Wallace farm and had been
looking over the property to see If mon
eyed purchaser was not in sight.
Farmer Montgomery listened to the gar
rulous solitary one and learned he would
sell the broad acres for SO, 900 in cash.
Then he advised the great son to purchase
and the latter nearly fell over himself in his
wild endeavor to do as he was bid.
Then q circumstance arose that was un-
foreseen by Mr.. Montgomery and that was
not unforeseen by the great son and the
solitary individual, as subsequent develop
ments proved The great son happened to