The Washington times., 1908-03-19
lrate Farmer Doesn't
Relish Paying Commits
sion to Wed a Mar
ried Woman.
Daniel Cupid
Collection Agent

If the willy little fellow who Is usu-
ally engaged Ia piercing hears had an
office in + street. he would probably
nang out sign Ike the one above. The
word matchmaker" would be erased
from his business cards. and Mr. Cupid
would let all the world know that he
had given uD the Idea Of tying any
more nuptial knots. There Is more
money in the collection business.
John n. Burch. a contractor. living at
Si5 Thirteenth street southwest. Is un-
doubtedly the only man IN the United
States who fully realized the present
conditions and possibilities OF the mat
rimoniai market, and took advantage
OF it. Mr. Burch didn't attempt 10 do
anything along the old familiar lines
OF matrimonial agency. agreeing to
ind a nice dOmestcated. handsome and
Congenial wife for a tWo-cent stamp.
and then oner 20 send a lis OF eligible
women for dollar. He had a better
scheme.
The scheme worked 10 perfection. The
only trouble with the whole business
was that John II. Burch got arrested
this morning on a charge OF obtaining
money by false pretenses.
Besides being a general contractor and
Well digger Hureh Is an all around busi-
ness man and sometimes delves into
real estate as a side issue. He says
OF himself.
Il am always open % any proposl-
ton that there's money in"
Beginning Of Trouble.
William Daniels. or Bancroft. Va. a
shor- distance from Alexandria. decided
few weeks ago that he had more land
than he wanted. and offered 10 sell a
portion OF his farm. Burch was com
missioned 10 sell the property for 81. 500
According 10 Burch. he was TO receive
a commission OF $500.
In a remarkably short time Bureh
secured n purchaser. Mrs. Susan Lock-
wood, OF Ills Eighth street northwest.
decided 10 buy the property for the
price asked Mrs. Lockwood didn't
nave an Of the necessary SI,S00 in ready
cash, but Burch said he thought il could
be fixed up II she could pay $500 down
mrs lockwood agreed 20 do this, ard
the sale was properly recorded.
IAe money was paid 20 Daniels, Burch
said, and then he dropped around for
MS commission. For some reason the
commission was not forthcoming. This
irTitated Burch very much. ell didn't
intend that $500 should slip through his
fingers in any such manner Instead
OF taking the matter into court. Burch
decided 10 try another means. He didn't
display his wrath TO Mr.. Daniels Ap-
paTently, he bore no tl-Wlll against the
farmer, and several times he called
on him al his nome near Bancroft.
Agrees to Furnish Wife.
one day he made a proposition that
looked good to Daniels. He agreed to
furnish a wife for the rarmer. II the
latter would be willing TO pay him his
commission. Daniels has nearly reached
the half century mark, but has never
married. In fact, he never even gave <
a thought When BUrch suggested that
he needed a wife 10 look after him
and, minister 20 his wants In his old
age, Daniels began 70 sit up and take
notice. He decided that a wife was Just
what he needed to complete his happi-
All right he is said to have told
Burch. You get me a nice wife and
I'll give you the $500 He still had the
notes of Mrs. Lockwood for the balance
on the farm.
Burch found al nrst il was not such
an easy matter 70 md wife for an
other man. After a canvass OF ali the
unmarried women he knew he found
that he was up against a hard problem.
But solve IL he would.
A few days ago ne iOlu Il MIS- E4dElF,
who is employed at a house on Sixth
street as a servant. that he wanted TO
fnd a wife for Daniels. Burch had not
been acquainted with Mrs. Early very
long and doesn't know her first name.
Burch and Mrs. Early talked il over,
and finally reached an agreement.
She Was Married, But
Mrs. Early told Burch she was mar
ried. but not living with her husband
OF course, she explained. it would be
impossible for her TO marry Daniels,
but she was willing that Burch should
go ahead with the arrangements for
the wedding. The agreement, accord
ing 10 Burch, was that when he re-
ceIved the $3.50 Mrs. Early was to get
$50 and then they would call all bets
of.
Daniels was introduced 70 Mrs. Early
and # was d case of love at first sight;
that IS, so far as the man was con-
CeIned. Mrs. Early apparently recipro-
Gated his affections, and arrangements
were completed for the marriage. Dam
rangements and was perfectly willing
to come across with the $500.
The Farmer Makes Good.
A few days ago he paid over the
money, aud Burch says ne gave Mrs.
Early $50 After that Daniel was in
formed that he had fallen in love with
a married woman. and that the we'd
ding must be called off When in