The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-12
l FAIRFIELD ;. !!
A Village Fright Man With a Gun- Hurry Call for Police Wouldn't Tell His Story Mothers Day-historical Society.

SVSASSys
 Because an unknown wanderer, somewhat the worse for intoxicants, appeared in Southport on Saturday last and applied for lodgings at the FL wood house, which is just below the west bound debot, and there was no room for him, and somebody happened to see the man, and fancied he resem- bled a Michigan clergyman who is charged with murdering a man ana burning up his remains in couple of stoves, the village was soon all on tip toe with excitement. and if reports are true not a few men and women were chilled to their marrow bones. The man wore a long coat, fur cap and had a sandy moustache. Such a specimen of humanity on the streets or Southport was too much Tor the VlVlo tmaginations of some of the local resi- dents, and they telephoned to Sherin Burr of Fairfield to come down and arrest the gentleman. MT. Burr thou. ht better of it, and did not go. It was not charged that any breach of the peace had been committed, that he had used abusive language or even committed an assault. He was sus- pected of looking like a man in Mich igan. But 1t was acknowledged that his hands were hard and horny with work, and therefore he could not be a preacher after the approved pattern. The news flew all over town that there was a murderer in the vicinity or the postofhce, and that he had gun. Sonnet hing like forty or more men as- sembled to look at the suspected m dividua1, and an account of the dread ful apparition was telephoned to Bridgeport. But it so happens the DO lice of that city have no right to ar rest man in Southport, so the lnnap- ltants of that peaceful district hao 10 proceed to fortify themselves. It IS affirmed they called upon the postmas- ter to weigh and measure the man. and take all of his points, then com pare them with the clergyman who had flown the coop in Michigan. The two sheets did not balance, ana the conclusion was reluctantly redcneo that the strange man had some otner lnor1eratous secret hidden ln ms breast. He was shy and reticent and failed to satisfy the curiosity of the native resi- dents. He got glass of beer at one place and paid for it in foreign c.ofrS.51 He told different stories about himself. And finally he executed a grand coupe by handing to MT. Scnln who keeps a saloon across the street and around the corner from the post office. the unprecedented sum of $260. The man was acute enough to get wit nesses to the transaction, and a plan WAS laid to nab" him when he called for his money on Monday morning. But allla plans fail in dry weather ana the man called and every cent was palo over to him. It was thought yester- day afternoon that he was still in the town. somewhere, and might be wan- derinp. about in search of fresh sa- loon. AS. he did not appear to be Tn any hurry to decamp, and as 1t soon became known that he did not carry a gun, and as he had money enough to settle all his bills, the conclusion was finally reached that the great un- known was on @ bum and having good time. The excitement did not reach as far north as Fairfield center, and the ladies and children continue to go to the postoffice and library as us- ual,. unafraid and unmolested.
 Friday last Miss Keogh who Keeps school insone of the rooms in the Pick. cit building, invited the mothers Of the town to visit the school for the purpose of seeing what the children had done during the day, and for an opportunity to get acquainted with the teacher. The walls or the scnooi roone were lined with numerous specimens or the new business hand writing which is now being taught in the schools; with many examples in arithmetic, and with wash drawings made With ink Some of these were quite art1stlc and effective. The mOtueFSJTeSPoiio0o to the invit ation and the long process sior, was headed by Mrs. Burr and Mrs. Child. They were pleased with all they saw, and delighted to meet Miss Keogh.
 Last evening at the library hall, be- fore the Historical Society, Rev. pr. Frank s. Child gave an address on Congregationalism and the Episcopacy in Fairfield during the Revolution. MT. Child has made thorough and deep study of this interesting topic, and he was. listened to with marked attention.
 The Oneida A. c. played the B. H. s. hockey team at Brooklawn Saturday and were defeated only to 0. Harry Middlebrooks and Hawley made the four points for the winning team.
 John Smith, formerly of Southport. but who has been working in the West for several, years, is looking up old :,couaintances here this week. MT. smith is an expert telegraph operator md has been in the employ of dozen GffferentS roads since his departure from his native town.