davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
CHICKEN THIEF ESCAPES

Walter Pettyjohn, cOlored, went tC
the chicken house of William Griffith
one mile north of Milford along the
du Pont Boulevard, on Friday night
last, where he gathered two bags full
of chickens. He then proceeded to the
next farm owned by Mr.. Bennett,
where he got another bag full and
then started towards Milford. The
farmers discovered their loss on Mon
day morning early and tracked the
culprit to his home in the colored set
tlement in North Milford; but he saw
them coming and started to escape by
running out the northwestern side
of the town into a corn field and so
made his escape. He has not been
seen since in this vicinity. Two of
the bags of chickens were recovered,
but the other had been disposed of
and the owners were unable to iden-
tify them. The thief has a reputation
for stealing Chickens and at one time
stole a horse. About five years ago
he robbed the henneries of many far
mers in Milford Neck and ran the
chickens away, selling them to deal
ers who buy fowls and take them to
the city alive. An old horse and dear
born is the means by which robber-
les of this character are pulled off,
and the lazy, worthless loafers, who
refuse to work are the culprits. This
fellow Pettyjohn is a rather small
man, not yet reached middle age, and
a slick worker in stealing poultry.
Better have the shot gun handy to use
on night providers, and be sure to
shoot at the thieves.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
PERSONAL MENTION

Mrs. Florence Taylor of Logan. Pa.
is visiting Mrs. Bessie Gillespie.
Mrs. Cora Daniel of Wilmington is
the guest of her sister, Mrs. Dono-
van.
Earle Worthingt0n is spending the
weekend with his parents in Cham
bersburg, Pa.
Allie Truitt of Culpepper, Va. is
visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Frank P. Truitt.
Mrs. Disston W. Jacobs and her mo-
ther, Mrs. Gee, are visiting relatives
in Providence, R. 1.
Mrs. George S. Roach who has been
seriously ill for the past month is
able to be out once more.
Mrs. J. E. Scott has been spending
several weeks with friends in New
Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
Rev. Disston w. Jacobs, pastor of
the Avenue NJ. E. Church, is spending
the remainder of July among friends
in Rehoboth.
Myron B. Bryant of Pittsburgh, Pa,
is visiting his little son, Billy and par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Bryant of
Charles street.
Mr., and Mrs. Bennie Farrow and
two sons of Wilmington are spending
a few days with their relatives, Mr..
and Mrs. Frank D. Sapp and family
of Houston.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Hatfield of Lin
coin announce the engagement of
their daughter, Ellen to Mr.. Noval E.
of Camden, N. ]. No date
has yet been set for the wedding.
Mr.. and Mrs. Earl Ryder, of Leon
ardtown, Md, have been visiting the
Iatter's brother, Henry w. Harring-
ton. Mrs. Ryder resided in Milford
when a child but left here about fif-
teen years ago.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
ANNUAL FARMERS DAY
TO BE HELD AT The UNIVERSITY OF
DELAWARE AUGUST 4.

Prof. L. A. Clinton, director of the
Agricultural Extension Department ot
the New Jersey Agricultural College
will be the speaker of the day at the
18th annual Farmers Day meeting
and picnic held on Thursday, August
4, at the Experimental Farm of the
| University of Delaware. The subject
of his talk will be "The Will to Do"
What Prof. Clinton will discuss from
an agricultural viewpoint under this
topic, we are unable to, predict, but
from the richness of his experience as
leader in the Department of Agri-
culture during the war, and prior to
that as Director of the Connecticut
Experiment Station, farmer visitors
may expect one of the best addresses
ever heard at any Farmers Day exer-
cises.
Aside from the field trips which will
be made by the University inVestiga-
tors with groups of farmers, to see
the livestock and dairy, to observe the
crops and fertility experiments and
to study the orchard experimental
work, there will be in addition this
year some special features.
The Buck and Doe Run Farms of
Chester County, Pa, will make an ex-
hibit of their fine herd of Hereford
cattle which will be brought to the
University Farm direct from the Kent
Sussex Fair. In this herd visitors
will be given an opportunity of see
ing the best Hereford breeding and
some of the best individuals of that
famous breed of beef cattle in the
whole country. Special interest should
attach to these Hereford cattle as the
farm from which they come is organ
lied and under development by num-
ber of Delaware citizens. Their OBJ
ject is to call to the attention of Eas-
tern farmers, where conditions are
suitable for beef production, the Pc
culiar fitness of the Hereford breed
to Eastern conditions. They are now
cooperating with farmers of Delaware
in the distribution of seed stock in the
farming communities.
The students of the Rehabilitation |
Division of the University, who are
taking training under the provision of
he Federal government providing dis
lbled soldiers with vocational train !
uSS Will give ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ill pOu1- !
.ry culling. The time of year for this
profitable farm practice, which is
partly new to our people, is now at |
land. The object will be to give all
hose, who wish to learn, the neces-
ary pointers in culling out the I'M
profitable birds in their farm flocks
nd to be able to return home and put
heir observations into practice.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
KENT COUNTY TO
BORROW $5,OOO.OO
in ORDER TO TIDE OVER The AFFAIRS
OF The COUNTY UNTIL The TAXES
ARE RECEIVED.
$1,000 FOR EXTENSION WORK
LEVY COURT WOULD DISPENSE WITH
ALL CLEARICAL HELP OF The AS
SESSMENT BOARD.

The Kent County Levy Court at its
meeting on Tuesday received a COM
municatiOn from the Cooperative Ex-
tension Work Bureau asking for the
$1,000 appropriation as provided for
in the act of the last General Assem-
bly,. The Court ordered the amount
paid.
The report of the Dover Special
School District of the taxables in that
district was presented to the Court
and referee to the Board of Assess
ment for compilation.
In order to tide over the affairs of
the county until taxes are received,
there having been little taxes for the
present year paid due to the assess
ment books being completed only last
week, the court authorized the borrow
ing of $4,000 from the Farmers Bank.
The court recently received a COM
municatiOn signed by John A. Barnard
and Jonathan G. Cooper, two members
of the Kent County Board of Assess
ment suggesting that tine services of
Mrs. Herbert who was employed last
January for one year at $1,000 year
as stenographer and clerk be dispens-
ed with at the end of this month as
the work was about completed. Harry
B. GrieYes, third member of the
board did not sign the cemmunica-
tiOn.
When the board started the new
assessment system Mr.. Gibson, of
Georgetown, who had worked on the
Sussex county assessment was en-
plOyed at $125 month for four
months, Nothing was said in the COM
munication about dispensing with his
services.
A question arose as to whether the
Board of Assessment after employing
Mrs. Herbert at salary of $1,000 for
the year could dispense with her ser
vices in this way. The courts attor-
ney, r. r. Kenney was consulted and
he gave it as hisOpinion that the
Board of Assessment could recon-
mend whatever they chose, the Levy
Court, however, having the last word |
to say on the subject.
After much discussion the court au-
thorized the following communication
to be sent to the Board of Assessment:
Your communication of the 18th
inst, signed by Messrs. Barnard and +
Cooper, relative to the dispensing with
he services of Mrs. Herbert, receiv-
I'd.
In connection with the above, we
lote that the term of Mr.. Gibson who
vas employed has expired and in view
If the fact that the work of the Board
S practically completed, and will
therefore, be very light, we would sug-
rest that all clerical assistance be dis
'ensed with until January 1, 1922.
I'VE believe that you should arrange
-mong yourselves to look after what
title work will come in during the
lext five or six months, and that the
ne member in attendance at the office
ne or two days week, will be able !
o keep matters up to date"
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
HOSPITAL NOTES

tProf. Nickel and wife, formerly OF
Milford, are the proud parents of a
daughter, Helen May, born in the Mil
ford Emergency Hospital, last Friday.
1t was unique that George Short, a
life long friend of Richard Truitt,
should be the first patient to enter the
Richard Truitt Memorial Room in the
Milford Emergency Hospital. George
Short entered the hospital to have his
tonsils removed before starting on his
trip to South America.
The patients in the Milford Emer-
gency Hospital have been enjoying
the playthings and books, which were
sent to the hospital this past week.
There are two new bookcases in the
sun parlor of the hospital, which are
still quite empty. If you have any
entertaining light reading that you
have finished; books, good but such
as you would never read through
again; convalescing patients in the
hospital would surely enjoy them.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
DELAWARE FARM MORTGAGE
TOTAL is NOW $4,46O,41G

Mortgages to the amount of $4,460,-
416 are carried on farms in Delaware,
according to a report made by the
Federal census bureau and made pub
lie on Monday. In 1910 the amount
was $3,068,721. The increase since that
year has been asa per cent.
Total value of 2,021 Delaware farm
reporting mortgage debts for 1920 is
placed at $11 1,422,387, as compared
with 1903 farms in 1910 valued at $8,-
SO1 ,976. This shows an increase in to-
tai value of 29.8 per cent. in the ten
year period.
In 1910 the average value of Del
aware farms reporting mortgage debts
was S4,355. For the present year their
average value is placed at $6,OO2. The
average interest rate paid on mort
cages for 1920 is estimated at 81 per
cent.
The average debt per farm in Della
ware in 1910 was $1,518 and for 1920
is placed at S2,344.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
FISHERIES BOARD
TO APPEAL CASE
DIRECTORS OF LEWES COMPANY WILL
TAKE CHANCERY DECISION TO The
SUPREME COURT.
The LITIGATION CONTINUES
MORE THAN $4,000 is INVOLVED IN
ACTION DECIDED AGAINST THEM
A FEW WEEKS AGO.

The directors of the LeWes Fisher
les Company will appeal the case de-
clded against them several weeks ago
by Chancellor Charles M. Curtis to
the Supreme Court of the State, it was
announced on Monday by David J.
Reinhardt, counsel for some of the de-
PENDANTS.
Robert Pennington, who is another
of the defendants against whom the
decision was given, said he had not
determined his future course, as there
had not been a general conference on
the question of appeal, although it
was being considered.
The directors of the company are
William c. Lofand, James T. Lank,
Harlan M. Joseph, William H. Book
hammer, John R. Baylis and Will
liam ]. Thompson.
All of the defendants with the ex-
ceptiOn of Mr.. Pennington, live in
Lewes and vicinity. AS the result of
action started by stockholder about
two years ago, Joseph L. Cahall was
appointed receiver for the Fisheries
Company and after an Investigation
by his counsel, Henry Ridgely, of Do
yer, action was started against the di-
rectors named and Mr.. Pennington for
the return of large sums of money
which it was alleged were illegally Sc
cured from the Fisheries Company.
Chancellor Curtis, in his decision
handed down June 10, ordered the
six didectOrs to repay to the receiver
within three months a total of $685.
22l with interest from specified dates
from 1912 to 1918, being money re-
ceived as dividends on certain shares
of stock which the receiver contended
was illegally secured. They were also
ordered to return $40 shares of stock
Of the company to the receiver.
Previous to the appointment of the
receiver, the plant and one or more
boats had been sold to Mr.. Pennington.
The Chancellor, in his decision, or
1ered Mr.. Pennington to pay to the re-
ceiver $2,168.36 within three months,
hat representing the products of the
company, disposed of while he was in
charge, and also to return certain
)ther amounts.
1t is from this decision that the six
directors have decided to take an ap-
zeal to the Supreme Court of the
State.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
BALDWIN REAPPOINTED
AS STATE DETECTIVE

Former State Detective George T.
Baldwin, whose appointment by Gov
ernor Denney was refused confrma-
ton by the State Senate at the recent
regular session, was reappointed Fri
day by the governor. This step was
taken, it was understood, at the re-
quest of Attorney General Sylvester
D. Townsend, Jr. Mr.. Baldwin was in
formed of his appointment last Sat-
urday.
State Detective Baldwin was for
merly connected with the du Pont Co.,
serving under Major Sylvester. Prior
to that time he was in the United
States Secret Service, and at one time
he was located in Hawaii, where he
was connected with one of the big
sugar plantations.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
BENJAMIN A. HAZEL DEAD
PROMINENT In BUSINESS, POLITICS and
AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.

Benjamin A. HAZEL, a prominent
DelaWarean and resident of Smyrna,
died Thursday, July 18th, 1921. Mr.
HAZEL was born on September T.,
1874, on Deer Park farm, nine miles
west of Smyrna and was the son of
William Anderson and Lydia Wilds
Hazell His family has always been
prominent throughout that part of the
State.
After spending his early days on
the farm, Mr.. HAZEL removed to
Smyrna, where he attended the
schools. Early in life he entered the
employ of the Ralph Scotch Snuff
Company and for many years he was
a travelling salesman. He visited as
such all parts of the United States
even before the days when the rail-
ways had penetrated many parts of
the country. Mr.. HAZEL was very pro-
ficient in his vocation and was rated
as one of the best men in that busi-
ness in the country.
After many years ION the road"
Mr.. HAZEL became an important Of
fetal in the Snuff Company and al
one time was superintendent of the
plant at Gainesville, Tennessee, and
then superintendent of the plant of
the American Snuff Company at York
lyn, near Wilmington, the Ralph Com
pany having been taken over in the
combination.
Mr.. HAZEL for some time lived in
Philadelphia, where he was an Off
GER of the American Snuff Company.
He had a large circle of friends in
Philadelphia as well as in Delaware.
Mr.. HAZEL was also very much in
terested in the Tonopah Mining Com
pany, being heavy stockholder along
with other Delawareans.
During the greater part of his life |
Mr.. Hazell was active in the Demo-
cratic party and no person had more |
influence in Democratic circles of the /
State than he. He was a member of
the Legislature during the session fol-
lowing the election of 1896 and he
was delegate from Delaware to the
National Democratic conventions held
at San Francisco and st. Louis. At one
of the Democratic State conventions
he was prominently mentioned as the
Democratic candidate for Governor
and could probably have had the nom
ination had he so desired.
0OLHS years ago NT. ddZell r6LlreQ
from his position with the American
Snuff Company and returned to Smyr-
ma. He bought large number of {
farms in that part of the State and {
took great pleasure in improving
them until they became models in ev- {
cry respect. {
He was reckoned as the wealthiest {
person in that part of Delaware. Mr..
HAZEL is survived by two brothers, &
William Denney HAZEL, of Smyrna, +
and Charles d. HAZEL, of Norwood,
Pa, and by seven nieces and three
The funeral took place from
he home of his brother, William Dem
ley HAZEL Saturday morning last.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
ROBERT ELLIOTT NAMED
DELAWARE DRY AGENT

Senator Ball, of Delaware, has rec
commended the appointment of Robert
Elliott, of Seaford, for Prohibition Di-
rector for the State of Delaware, it
was announced on Tuesday. The
nomination of Mr.. Elliott is expected
to be sent to the Senate within few
days. The appointment of a Prohibi-
ton Director for Delaware to sue
ceed Director Boyce has been held up
for several months. The Sussex Coun-
ty Republican Committee recommend
ed Roy Bennett, of Milford, for the
job; but opposition to Mr.. Bennett la
ter developed. Elliott was then select
ed by the committee, and his name
recommended to Delaware's represen-
tatives at Washington.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
Sees BIG TOMATO SHORTAGE
SUSSEX GAMER PREDICTS HIGH PRICES
THIS WINTER FOR CANNED GOODS.

High prices for canned goods, es-
pecially tomatoes, were fOrecasted by
State Senator Asa Bennett, of Frank
ford, Sussex county, at the National
Gamers Association in convention at
Chicago.
Tomatoes are even worse off than
other canned goods" said Senator
Bennett.
Most of the tomatoes in the mar
ket come from Maryland, Delaware
and New Jersey. The farmers reduced
their acreage to a certain extent be-
cause of the low 1920 prices, but the
thing which did the real damage was
a severe drought. 1t began after the
young plants were set out, and con-
tinued until about two weeks ago.
The tomato pack is going to run about
20 per cent of normal"
One cause of the reduced acreage,
Mr.. Bennett said, was the inability of
the Gamers to finance large crops.
"The canning companies were hit
hard in 1920" he continued. prices
were high because of a combination
of high labor costs and high mater
ials. The government released it's
huge stock of canned goods at cost.
Money conditions tightened, and it
was a case of throwing canned goods
on the market for almost any price
they would bring in order to meet
mortgages and notes.
'The result was that in 1921 only
the largest companies could buy large
crops from the farmers. Add to that
the unfaVOrable weather conditions,
and you have the reason for the short
age.'
The green pea crop will run about
half of what it was last year, while
the reduction of the acreage in sugar
corn will bring a new pack, that will
be little over "a third of the 1920
output.
The salmon industry, western can
ners reported, is still striving to re-
cover from the effects of the world |
war, and a very small pack is ex-
pected. The daily and semi-daily diet |
Of gold fish" dispensed in company
nesses apparently killed off the fond
ness for the pink-heshed fish, and the
are shaping their output to
meet the anticipated conditions. A
arge surplus of the 1920 pack, how
,ver, is being carried over.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
TOLD IN A FEW LINES
Its Fair time now.
Its vacation time now.

Its Fair time now.
Its vacation time now.
Going to the Fair at Harrington
next week?
Sweet corn is plentiful in Milford
markets now.
The base ball craze is passing for
this season in Milford.
Lima beans are coming into the To-
cal markets-but the price is high.
The crop of high bush huckleberries
is an absolute failure this year in Del
aware.
Ounces were all killed by the freeze
OF April. Jelly will be scarce next
winter.
Flowing sod ground for wheat SOW
ing next fall is progressing now in
this vicinity.
WilliamsVille M. E. Church-Sunday
school, 2:SO, followed by preaching.
Topic, Belief"
The mosquito crop has been a large
one for the past two weeks but it is
little better now.
The tar and stone treatment of Mil
ford streets, should lessen the mosuui-
to scourge a lOt-if tar is any deter
ent
The M. P. Sunday school picnicked
at Oak Orchard on Tuesday, July 12,
and on the following Thursday the
Avenue M. E. school spent the day at
that popular resort
Big Thursday at the Bayshore
beaches starts with the first Thurs
day in August with Bowers Beach and
each following week at the next beach
to the south of that resort.
The Ladies Aid of Milford Neck will
meet Friday evening, July 29th. Re-
ireshments will be served free. There
will also be an important business
meeting at the church, the same even
ng.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
ATHLETE DROWNED IN VAIN
EFFORT TO RESCUE COUSIN

His life vain sacrifice on the altar
of heroism, NAPLES Johnson, recently
married graduate from the George
town High School last term, was
drowned Sunday afternoon trying to
rescue his cousin, Horace Fleetwood,
Jr., who also lost his life.
While the young men were bathing
in the old Furnace Millpond, near
Georgetown, Fleetwood was seized
with cramps and rendered helpless.
johnson swan speedily to his aid,
struggled to bring his cousin to shore
and in his efforts to do so became eX-
hausted, sinking, with Fleetwood, to
death.
Both bodies were recovered in a
short time, but all efforts to restore
consciousness were unavailing.
Johnson was one of the most pop
ular young men in Georgetown. He
was the star pitcher of the Georgetown
baseball team, captain Of last years
high school football team and one of
the crack all around athletes of that
section. Ten days after his graduation
from High School, in June, he was
married to a classmate.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
WILLIAM r. RIGGS DROWNED

William R. Riggs while swimming
at Slaughter Beach last Sunday after
noon was stricken with cramp and
drowned far outside the safety limit,
before help could reach him. The
body was recovered about six hours
after the accident and brought to his
home near Milford, on the Wynkoop
Farm, from whence the funeral took
place on Wednesday, and interment
made in the family burial ground in
Odd Fellows cemetery.
With his wife he had gone to
Slaughter Beach, where hundreds of
their friends were enjoying the cool
breeze from the salt water and SWIM
ming in the waves. He was an expert
swimmer and after bathing in shore
he started to swim to a boat anchored
in the Offing. When about two hun
dred yards from the shore, he called
for help and struggled to maintain,
himself aaOat until assistance could
reach him. A boat manned with the
best swimmers on the shore put off,
but just as they got within fifty yards
he sank and did not appear again.
Every effort was made to reach him
by diving, hauling a seine and drag
ging with ropes between boats, but
without avail until the tide receded
was the body found.
Mr.. Riggs was aged "a years and
leaves a, wife, but no children. He
married Miss Elizabeth Deputy, daugh- |
ter of the late William E. Deputy and
Mrs. Clara Grier Deputy. He was en-
gagged in farming on large scale just
at the eastern side of South Milford.
He was of a happy disposition and |
had not an enemy in the world. He |
was a member of the Grange, the Ma
sonic Fraternity, the Odd Fellows and
4 Tall Cedar of Lebanon. His father,
Captain. Peter Riggs, retired sea cap
ain, survives him and resides on his
arm, near Milford.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
ia ILL CEDARS TO
PLAY CAMBRIDGE

J. R. Charles, has arranged game
of ball at fredericksburg, Md, for Fri
day afternoon, in connection with the
celebration to be held there by the
Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Mr.. Charles
has picked his team from members of
the Tall Cedars of the peninsula, and
every one of them is crack baseball
player now Connected with the various
teams of the peninsula. His lineup
will be as follows: Wright, Mardella
Springs, Nd, left field; Fowler, Laur-
ell, End base; Melvin, East New Mar.
ket, Md, Short stop; Legar, Milford,
third base; Wiley, Lincoln City, right
field; Pettyjohn, Milford, center field;
Jones, Salisbury, Md, catcher; Hum
mel, Harrington, pitcher; Cantner,
Bradley, Andrews, fredericksburg, Md,
and Parsons, Seaford, substitutes.
This team will have for it's opponents
the strong Cambridge, Nd, team.
Milford chronicle., 1921-07-22
REV. JACOBS REFUSES
CALL TO SINGAPORE

= Rev. Disston w. Jacobs has just re-
fused call to become pastor of Wes-
ley Church, Singapore, Malaysia.
Bishop G. H. Buckley, formerly Dis
trict Superintendent of the Philadel-
phia Conference, who was elected
bishop at the General Conference of
1920, cabled the Board of Foreign Mis-
sions of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, requesting them to invite Rev.
Jacobs to this important and excep-
tional missionary work.
While the opportunity appealed to
him very much, still, having just so
recently become pastor of Avenue M.
E. Church, this town, he felt it JUS
tice to his present work to decline the
honor of working with Bishop Bick-
ley at Singapore.
His choice will be gladly received
by the people of Milford, who hold
Rev. Jacobs in high esteem.