Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-08
FARMERS COME OUT VICTORIOUS.

Horse Dealers Claimed They Hni Made n
Contraet 10 isuy n Thoroughbred.
( Tho matter OF buying blooded stock
from strangers may be classified as a
delicate subject With three farmers Of
Chester county end 20 farmers of New
CASTLE county. And this all because Of
trying experience with ono Thomas
Mclaughlin, from whiub, however,
the farmers GANG out first beat.
Mr.. Mclaughlin appeared in Chester
county and Mill Creek hundred about
November. 1895, as representative OF
Mclaughlin Bros. of Columbus, O..
with wbnt he called a thoroughbred
French coach 'horsc, bearing tho name
OF Alanzac. gIie yoarned to soil the
stallion for 50, 600 and his scheme wss
TO organize ncumpany OF 20 farmers tn
buy tho borse, each man to take a
share Of 500 lie conferred with
numerous farmers, explaining the beno-
fit OF the scheme as proposed. and as
matter OF memorandum. he had each
man sign his name in book.
At last the day came when the farmers
were to hold a meeting and discuss the
matter. But about this time they
became acquainted with very une K
pected fact, namely that Mclaughlin
bad printed contract form in tho
little book in advance OF where they
bad signed their names. This contract
form was TO the effect that tbay were
10 execute joint and several notes OF
$4,000 to purchase the horse. Nc
Laughlin claimed that their signatures
were attached to this contract.
Tho feeling of the farmers. who are
men Of the best reputation for good
sense, uprightness and square dealing,
wben they learned OF this apparent
hunco trick, may we'll be imagined.
Instead of deciding TO buy Aluuznc
they determined TO go no further in the
matter before consulting counsel.
In hehalf OF the 80 farmers who had
signed the book, j. Harvey Whircman
Of this city was consulted. Acting
upon bis advice they declined to exc
cute the notes. Thereupun Mclaughlin
Bros. entered suit against tho Chester
county farmers In the United States
district court In Philadelphia. Those
named as defendants were Thomas b.
Hopes, Frank d. Walker, Thompson
j. Mccormick and James n. Walker.
Aa the last named ia Delaware man
the United States courti Philadelphia
bad no jurisdiction over him, and the
case continued against the other three
who are Pennsylyauians.
Tho other men who had signed their
names 10 Mr.. Mclaughlin little book
nre all OF this county, and are as fol
lows: Richard q. Buckingham, William
M. Enstburn, ID. Thompson Mitchell.
James a. Wilson, James Hospingor, Il.
b. Staggers,. DR., Elwocd Woodward,
Frank V. Wbitemap, Alfred W. Walker
Joseph Eastburp, John X. Chambers,
Harley A. Mous!ey, William ID. Arm
strong, Crawford Rankin, Jacob b.
Moore, John W. Worrall, John A.
Hopkins, 9. Candy Hopkins. Alphsus
Pennock, Thomas @. Mitchell. j..
Thomas Moore. Levi a. Moore, Thomas
Higgins, John @. Mitchell, Leslie G..
Walker, James Brown, A. ID. Chillas,
ID. W. Ghillas.
The case against the Pepnsylvanians
came up for trial nefore Judge Butler
ON Monday. Mclaughlin Bros. were
represented by ex-Judge John S.
Friosner OF Columbus, o., and Il. q.
Rhoades Of Philadelphia. The do
PENDANTS we're represented by j. Harvey
Whiteman of this city and George
Wharton Pepper OF Philadelphia. The
defendants' counsel made tine point
that the farmers had entered into nc
contract. The case wont to tho jury
Tuesday, and after 10 minutes de-
| Liberation a verdict for the defendants
was given. And 80 this farmers are
we'll out OF IL. g44H1
An incident in the matter was tina,
Mclaughlin, claiming that the stallion
had besn purchased, left it, and Ii was
seized on claims Of foreign attachment
taken out against him. The claims
amounted TO about $500 and to satisf,
them the stallion was sold, and is now
in the very section where McLaughlir
tried to interest the farmers.