The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-08

the home of his son, Peter Fritz, OF
CPS Hemlock street, South Scranton.
A. d3O o'clock the dead body was
foulC in his room. The flesh was still
warm.
The person who found tn. body was
Mrs. Fritz, daughter-in-law of the
dead man. In telling a Tribune re-
porter of the causes which led to the
sudden death, she said that as the OLD
man lay PROSTATE on his bsd in the
early forenoon. tortured by the
thoughts of troubles brought on by
the ingratitude of those he had be-
frionded, she reminded him Of en-
eagement he had yesterday to consid-
er some legal matters.
1T brought all his troubles back to
him." Mrs Fritz said, between sobs,
"aud broke his heart"
ono Of the sad features Of the old
mans sudden demisa is that yesterday
was the time fixed for finally arrang-
Ing settlement Of the money matters
which have caused Mr.. Fritz so much
worry.
Matthew Fritz in his younger days
in fact all his life, was hardwork-
ing. thrifty man. He worked on farms
early in life, and lii" most farmer boys
Of the years gone by he had not the
opportunity of an education. He lived
with his parents near little village
called Blenhcim in tho central part
of tn state, where opportunities for
acquiring an education wee limited
So Mat" Fritz. as he was always
called, grew up q big lad, whose greet
es- wealth waa health ana honesty.
Some years aGO, the date j. not known,
he cam to this region ana formed the
acquaintance of John Learman
LEARAiAN NOW INSANE,
This man, Learman, is now a Pc
| tient in the insane ward at the Hill
| side Home, his mind failing from the
same trouble which yesterday stole the
| life oc Matthew Fritz.
| After his meeting with Lcarmdn the
| raw Countryman worked in this re-
I gion a. various jobs, in the mines, mills
| and Workshops. Finally. several years
| ago Lcarmau happened across a bar
| gain IN the purchase Of the old
"FrOck' farm at MoscOw. The price
asked was low, Learman liked farm
| life and in this he was encouraged by
| Matthew Fritz, whose love for the
| open fields OF his early days was still
] strong.
But Learman was poor. he had no
| money to buy the farm and in this
extremity he laid his case before his
| friend, Fritz. telling him of his pow
| erty. and ending by requesting a loan
| of $500. AS was mentioned before the
| farmer lad had been thrifty; all his
| life he had looked ahead to the rainy
| days Of old age. But he loved the
| farm, and when Learman ask d for the
| loan the old man scraped together his
| worldly goods and, by pinching and
| sacrifice, the necessary $500 was col
| leCtcd.
This ne gave to Leaman. accepting
| in lieu a first mortgage ON a house
which LeamaE owned i'm South Scran-
ton. He had implicit faith in the sue
| cess Of the farm and that after a few
| years Learman would pay back the
! money. Fritz wanted no interest. lie
! only asked that he be allowed to work
for his board ON the farm.
SOUGHT \ PARTNER.
With the $500 Lcarman sought a part
ner, who would consent to go halves
in working the farm. The partner was
secured in the person of James Bohan,
Of Cedar avenue, South Scranton. Thus
Loarman secured the purchase money
| for the farm. and with his family and
| old man Fritz he removed to Moscow.
! But the scheme was not IA success.
! 10 bridge over the difficulty, Learman
| got Il loan from a Scranton bank. and
| to do this it. was necessary to give a
mortgage on his property. The bank
| would accept nothing but a first mort
| gage ana as the $500 borrowed from
Fritz was still owing on the property
! in South Scranton, Learman was i'm a
! dilemma. Again he told his troubles
to Fritz and the ever-hopefui old man
| willingly surrendered his first mort
| gage claim to the bank and accepted
a second mortgage.
Thus fortified, Learman tided oven
another year. But IN August, 1896
came the crash. The bank executed on its
first mortgage on the property in South
| Scranton and after the claim was sat
shod there was nothing left for Fritz
The farm was sWamped in the gen.
eral deluxe. Mrs Learman died and
John Learman became a maniac on
the very day his wife crossed the dark
river.
Poor Mat Fritz, penniless, hearIhroli.
I
! shelter lie came 10 the home Of his
son. Peter Fritz, and for the mast yeal
ne was very despondent at times ovel
the outcome Of the farm venture, hut
was always treated with the greatest
kindness and consideration by his sul
and daughter-m-law and their five
children.
DAY OF SETTLEMENT
Yesterday was the laN set for Q
meeting between old man Fritz an(
the Bohans who still retained a hal
interest in the wreck of the Brock
farm Early in the morning old mal
Fritz went t. his bedruom cumplainin.
tina, be was ill Ills friends though, 4
was simply a passing Illness and h,
went 10 his bed in an upstairs room.
About 1880 o'cloci Mrs. Bohan CallCC
az the Fritz house and asked for tht
old man. They were to proceed to
gcthcr 10 the court house where pa
| ,,,,,, ,-,,,lt lao drawn tiNi1inr tho I.1