The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-06-22
QUICK RETRBUTION.
Fred ClugStOn Wrote Threatening Let
terS Demanding Money and
Was Apprehended.
SENT TO STATE REFORNATORY.

L
of last week, swift justice was
meted out to Fred Clugston when
Judge Swope sentenced him tC
a term Of not less than thirteen
months in the State Reformatory
at Huntingdon, Pa, and within
an hour from the-tlme he receiv-
ed his sentence, Clugston, in
charge of Sheriff Harris, was on
his way to prison. The story of
the circumstances which led TO
Fred's ENHANCEMENT IN the mesh
es of the law is as follows:
Fred was born IN Washington,
D. c., where his mother now re-
sides. His father is a boatman
on the g. & o. canal. Fred is
now Is years of eSe. During the
past four or five years Fred has
been employed during the sum
mer season on the farm Of John
F.. Kendall, in Ayr township
Since last March he has been a
farmland IN the employ of Nor
row M. Kendall two miles south
of McConnelIsburg. Both his
employers say that Fred was an
excellent hand, and a nice young
fellow to have about.
Fred thought it would be nice
to have a horse and buggy. There
is nothing wrong in having a
horse and buggy, ii a young man
has the money first; but to get
the horse and buggy first, and
then try to get the money to pay
for the outfit afterwards, may
mean disappointment, worry, not
to say more serious trouble. The
sum seemed so much larger after
1t became a debt, than it did when
his head was filled with visions of
the good times he would have
driving nice team, and the say
lngs from his monthly earnings
dld was not diminish the amount
owed very rapidly.
Then he began to plan for a
quicker way to raise the money.
But here Is where he "fell down. "
On Sunday evening, June llth,
a member of John f.. Kendall's
family found a note at Mr.. Ken.
dall's barn. Fearing thatlt might
cause their father to have a sleep
less night, Mr.. Kendall's daugh.
ters decided not to give him the
note until Monday morning. The
note read.
June II 1910.
Dear Sir.-I wish to let you
know that wish Hundred Dollars
From you and to be paid over till to-
morrow night If it is not why you will
be sorry for it as your barn shall burn
and mabe your house will wait till
the harvest is in before burn your
barn So you see mean business so
put the money in that letter box out at
the end of the lane on big road do not
fail or ii will be your loss not mime
II you say one word to any one about
this you shall rue it and will keep
spys on you, il you try to trick me or
woch me look ont.
Yours
Silly Sim,
p. S.
Have it there till tomorrow night
and this letter with it.
Silly Sim.
This letter was gwen to Mr..
Kendall Monday morning, and of
course, disturbed hlm. The
handwriting was recognized as
Fred's.
After consulting with a few of
his nelghbors, it was decided to
place decoy letter in the mail
box Monday evening and await
results. When evening came, the
letter was placed IN the box.
1t happened that on that same
evening Fred had business at
Webster Mills and drove down to
that place, of course, passing the
letter box. On account of the
light of the moon he was able to
see the letter IN the box as he
drove by; but tor some reason,
he did not stop at the box on his
way down nor on his return. No
one else came to claim the letter.
AT Morrow KendalPs on We'd.
nesday morning, Fred was the
first to go to the barn. When
Morrow reached the barn shortly |
afterward, his attention was call. |