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Subject: News from Pennsburg - April 16, 1904
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 01:11:14 EDT
Ref: Town and Country Newspaper
Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA
Saturday - April 16, 1904
FOOLISH WOMEN DUPED
A clairvoyant giving her name as Madame BUCKLEN, who held forth in apartments
at Ninth and Court Streets, Allentown, fleeced some dozens of women out of
several thousand dollars worth of valuables and skipped. Her success is a sad
commentary on the gullibility of women. It is said, at any rate, that Allentown
is a good field for fortune tellers, as a great many women and some men are
good customers. Madame BUCKLEN was the smartest of her ilk that ever blew into
Allentown. She was good-looking and such a smooth talker. She let know her
presence by means of invitations mailed to the ladies. She wasn't like those
vulgar gypsies who take your hand and your coin right off and rattle off something
nice about your future. She was dignified and delierate and didn't grab at
quarters and halves. She never told fortunes right off; that wasn't the way to
do, she explained. Her callers were advised to come at some date agreed upon,
dressed in their best - silks, jewelry and all. Coming like a bride to the altar
was the way to approach a clairvoyant, the madame said. The effect of it was
to bring around the man wanted as a husband by the lady seeking to have her
fortune told. Madame BUCKLEN wouldn't even then tell fortunes. She got her
customers to deposit their jewelry with her. The jewelry she dusted with "love
powder" - talc probably - and told the ladies to come around in a week or two
after the charm had developed. When they came to have their fortunes told after
these elaborate preliminaries they were invariably told that the charm hadn't
worked yet. Some waited patiently others got suspicious. Among the madame's
callers last Thursday were her sisters Lou and Retta, aged 20 and 16 respectively,
of Red Hill. While they were there two young woman called who had left
valuable worth a considerable amount, one a watch and the other a diamond ring. The
young women got the old story that the charm hadn't worked, whereupon they
demanded their valuable and a fuss ensued. Not getting their jewelry the young
women reported to police headquarters. Several officers hurried out to arrest
the clairvoyant, but by the time they got to the house she and her sisters had
fled. The sisters were arrested at the Terminal station as they were about to
take a train for Red Hill. They had a grip containing several hundred dollars
worth of the valuables out of which the madame had swindled her dupes. In
default of bail the sisters were committed to jail. They protested innocence, but
sent several mysterious telegrams. The madame has not yet been apprehended.
Chief EASTMAN, with three others visited the BUCKLEN home at Hoppenville, on
Friday morning. They searched the house but failed to find Madame BUCKLEN. Sarah
BUCKLEN, aged 72 years, the mother of the three girls, was arrested and taken
to Allentown. Two charges were brought against the woman, that of receiving
stolen goods and that of false pretense. The madame gave her name as REYNOLDS
while operating in Allentown. The mother and daughters were placed in prison and
on Monday were given a hearing there. The prisoners were represented by Hon.
Harry G. STILES. The hearing was held by Alderman E.F. BERKEMEYER. The
prisoners entered bail in the sum of $1200 furnished by Dr. Jesse HILLEGASS for a
further hearing on April 21, on the charge of receiving stolen goods preferred by
Chief EASTMAN. Upon the charge of false pretense preferred by Detective John
F. HAINES, the prisoners were held under $1500 bail by Alderman FRY for a
hearing on the same day at 2.30 o'clock in the afternoon. Under the charges brought
by Detective HAINES they are held under the names of Madame, Jennie and Emily
REYNOLDS. Under the latter charge they were held under $1500 bail which was
also furnished by Dr. HILLEGASS. The prisoners left for Red Hill on the 9.45
Perkiomen Train on Wednesday morning. The BUCKLEN family purchased the CLAWSON
farm near Hoppenville, several years ago and have been engaged in the horse
business. During the summer months they roam through the county on the gypsy
style, buy and trade horses wherever they can.
COST OF MAINTAINING INSANE PATIENT
The cost of maintaining each patient at the State Asylum for the Chronic
Insane at Wernersville is $2.96 a week.
ENGAGING SNAP SHOTS
George FOLK, of near Rahn's station, visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin
FOLK, of this borough on Saturday. Mr. FOLK is compelled to use crutches to
get along on account of a sore leg.
Clayton H. FRYER, of this borough, made a business trip to Philadelphia on
Monday.
Charles SCHOLL, of this borough, spent Monday in Philadelphia.
N.B. KEELY and Oswin KLINE, of East Greenville, represented that borough at
the Democratic County Convention on Tuesday.
George FOLK, of this borough, is having a frame addition built to the rear of
his house.
Dr. W.H. HUNSBERGER, of this borough, made a business trip to Philadelphia on
Monday.
C.A. KNEULE, Sylvester ADAMS and Leo SECHLER represented Pennsburg borough at
the Democratic County Convention at Norristown on Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Thos. E. MARSTELLER, of this borough on Saturday and Sunday
visited relatives and friends at Egypt, Lehigh County.
Eugene BISCHOFF, of Harrisburg, a former compositor in this office spent
Sunday and Monday with friends in this borough.
William J. SCHAEFFER, of this borough, on Wednesday moved to Royersford where
he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store.
Charles DIMMIG, D.J. SNYDER, Wm. MOLL, John HARING, all of Upper Hanover
represented the township at the Democratic County Convention on Tuesday.
Rev. William GOTTSHALL, of Schwenksville, spent several days in these
boroughs this week.
E.W. SCHOLL, of this borough, made a business trip to Philadelphia Thursday.
A.G. CASSELBERRY, of Reading, Assistant Superintendent of the International
Correspondence Schools of Scranton, made a business trip to these boroughs this
week. The school has quite a number of students throughout this section.
Frank DELONG, of East Greenville, was the lucky one to get the suit this week
in the Focht, Oberly & Co. suit club, of Allentown.
Mrs. A.E. KURTZ and Mrs. Charles DIMMIG, of East Greenville, spent Wednesday
at Allentown.
John U. HENDRICKS, proprietor of the Perkiomen Hotel, Schwenksville, was one
of the appraisers of the stock at the Eagle Hotel. The appraisement was made
this week.
Alvin MOLL, of this borough, on Tuesday moved to Green Lane. He expects to
open a barber shop in that town.
HOLLAND SECURES A PLUM
President ROOSEVELT on Wednesday decided to appoint United States District
Attorney James B. HOLLAND to the additional United States Judgeship of the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He has held his present office since July, 1900.
He is a resident of Conshohocken and has been the chief leader of the
Montgomery County Republicans since 1857. HOLLAND's first assistant, J. Whittaker
THOMPSON, will act as District Attorney until a successor shall be appointed.
State Senator John C. GRADY is mentioned for the District Attorneyship.
WILL VOTE FOR A PASTOR
The St. Mark's Lutheran congregation of Pennsburg, will on Sunday April 24th
vote for a pastor. Rev. KISTLER, of Athol, will be extended a call in case the
election should prove favorable. The election will be held immediately after
the regular church services.
DEATH WATCH IS AN EXPENSIVE ONE
Berks county is paying $100 a month to two watchmen who watch Mrs. John
EDWARDS and Samuel GREASON who have been convicted of the murder of John EDWARDS.
The watch has cost the county over $4800 already.
THIEVES STAY TO MILK THE COWS
Not satisfied with securing immense lots of poultry grain and feed in a raid
on the farm of Samuel L. KREIDER, of near Lebanon, daring thieves milked five
of his cows and got away with 70 quarts of milk.
150 CHICKS FROM 165 EGGS
Frank HOFFMAN, a successful poultry man, of near Macungie, got 150 nice
chicks from an incubator holding 165 eggs. This percentage is very seldom made.
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