Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-10
( SMOOTH swlNDLE.
Beware 3of the Venerable Parson and
Young Couple Who Follow.

\ .
Young Couple Who Follow.
The most ingenious and elaborate
swindle of the century was perpetrat-
ed on an unsuspecting farmer of a
near by county and his family one day
last week. AS result of it the wor-
thy agriculturist is out $3.50. One ev-
|eEing just as the farmer had finished
his chores fine looking man in cleri-
cal garb drove up to the house in a
buggy. He requested shelter for the
might and was given the best room in
the house The stranger admitted
that he was minister of the gospel
and that he was on his way to visit
some relatives thirty miles away. Hav-
ing his own horse and buggy he pre-
ferred driving as the roads and wealth
er We're good. The stranger was ex-
ceedingly lrbane. He made himself
pleasant to the daughters of the fam
Ely, discussed religious matters with
them and the folks asked blessing
at the table with unctuous earnestness
and read prayers.
Next morning the stranger read
prayers again and was being shown
around the farm when another buggy
drove up in which sat a young man
and woman They said they wanted
to be married and asked to be direct
ed to the nearest ordained minister.
The idea Immediately occurred to the
farmers wife that some relief from
the dull monotony of farm life could
| be obtained by having the marriage
occur in her own house, provided, of
course that the reverend gentleman
who was temporarily her guest would
consent to officiate. The daughters of
the farmer were much pleased at the
prospect. The young couple gave. their
names and ages, swore to the identity
of their respective mothers and faith
ers, lined up along side of the family
organ and looked properly impressed
as the reverend gentleman read the
marriage service.
| To give proper eclat to somewhat
unusual occasion the farmers oldest
daughter played Mendelssohn's we'd
ding march on the organ, and the good
wife served pumpkin pie in generous
fat slices, besides cake and coffee. Ev-
erybody seemed as pleased as posi-
BILE and especially the young married
couple, who showered blessings on the
generous old farmer, his kindhearted
wife, and above all, on the benign in
4 dividual with the bald spot on the
back of his iron gray head who had
performed the ceremony. The farmer
and his family gladly signed the mar
riage certificate as witnesses and the
bride and groom departed. After that
the minister delivered we'll winded
homily on the uncertainties of mar
ried life, the necessity for mature re-
Election on the part of the person in
tending to marry and of the RESPONSE
bilities of the minister in such mat
tiers. Then the farmer helped his rev
erend guest to hitch up, received a
blessing for his hospitality and went
back into the house to discuss with
his family the advantages of even
brief intercourse with men of such at
tainments as those of their late guest.
Now for a sequel. A day or two ago
the farmer was notified that note of
his, of which he had no cognizance,
had been discounted at the Carver
county bank, the amount being $3.50.
] The worthy man drove to town, ex.
amined the note, found that the sig
mature attached to it was indeed his
and that the witnesses were his wife
and daughter. Then it flashed upon
him that the signatures We're those
which he and his family had attached
| innocently enough to the document
recording the marriage at his home
The signatures were required because
they were the witnesses of the cere
mony.