This Was Doylestown, 1909

Thief ransacks Doylestown house -

A thief ransacked and robbed the bungalow of Elmer E. Stout, a former keeper of the County Prison, on West Oakland avenue on Thursday evening between 7:30 and 9 o'clock.

It is believed he got away with about $40, which was in a metal box left with Mr. Stout by a friend for safekeeping; some silverware, a watch chain, two stick-pins and a lot of old coins. A solid gold watch and three gold pieces which were in the metal box were not taken.

Mr. Stout left the house at 7:30 and came up town. When he returned to the house accompanied by his son, Joseph Stout, about 9 o'clock, the house had been thoroughly and most completely ransacked. Furniture was awry, and at the bottom of the open stairway by the side window was a pillow case with five silver sppons and a jewel case in it.

From this room, Mr. Stout and his son went to the dining room, where they found the sideboard had been thoroughly ransacked. The drawers had been taken out and the floor was strewn with the contents and a number of apples from a fruit stand which stood on top of the sideboard.

But it was on the second floor that the thief made the greatest wreck of things. Every bureau and washstand and box in the room had been thoroughly and completely scattered about the floor. The drawers were lying about with their contents in a mixed-up mass.

A large trunk in one room was broken open, and from this the thief got the metal box from which the money was taken. Why the watch, which has a fine solid gold case and works, was not taken is a mystery. The $2.50 and two $1 gold pieces which were left were probably overlooked, for they made a very small package wrapped in tissue paper and were in one of the two wallets in the box.

Whoever the thief was, he must have made very quick work, for the house was only vacant for an hour and a half. The ransacking of the rooms, the forcing of the trunk and the breaking open of the strong metal box surely took considerable time.

Officer A.R. Atkinson was called as soon as the robbery was discovered and made a careful investigation of the premises.

Doylestown Fire Company's baseball team defeats Ambler -

The Ambler firemen came to Doylestown on Thursday afternoon and were defeated by the local fire laddies in the fastest game of baseball played on the local athletic ground this season by a score of 3 to 2.

There were a number of good plays made by both teams, but there was very little effective stick work. The error columns show that the infielders and outfielders were pretty generally on to their jobs.

Doylestown scored one run in the first inning and two runs in the fourth inning, while pitcher Smith held the Amblerites scoreless through eight innings. Smith yielded only four hits and struck out eight in the entire game.

It looked very much as if the locals were going to give the visitors a clear white coating of wash. But in the ninth inning, with two men out and while everybody was getting ready to take the homeward hike, Ambler scored two earned runs and had a man on third base. A little scratch hit would have tied the score and made things decidedly interesting.

Afterward, tables were set at the fire house and a luncheon was spread that was thoroughly enjoyed, having been prepared under the able management of Restauranteur Charles H. Heist. Socially, the affair was a success, and the visitors expressed their appreciation of the courtesies extended by the local firemen.

A return game will be played at Ambler on Thursday, September 2, and probably a third game at Doylestown later.

Council narrowly approves water supply reservoir -

Town Council wrestled for two hours Friday night over technicalities in the plans and specifications prepared by Engineer Joseph L. Sweigard for the guidance of contractors who will be asked to submit bids for construction of a 530,000-gallon reinforced concrete reservoir to hold Doylestown's water supply.

Each provision was gone over carefully. Four councilmen were in favor of the plans and four were opposed, and President Wilson cast the deciding vote in favor. The clerk was instructed to cerfify that the plans had been approved, and now the advertisements for bids will be inserted.

Councilman Watson objected to advertising for bids, arguing that the borough has not the money to go ahead and no prospects of getting it. That objection was very neatly met by Councilman John G. Randall, who explained that there will be $5,000 in the treasury and $7,500 which can be raised on the margin in the bonded indebtedness by a note which can afterward be wiped out by an issue of bonds.

A financial institution of the town, he said, has signified its willingness to furnish the money. He added that it had been learned that the borough could raise a further sum by getting credit with the electric company and the coal dealers who are willing to make such an arrangement for six months or a longer period.

After a lengthy discussion, a resolution was adopted empowering Council to issue an indebtedness of $7,500 by raising that amount on a note. There was but one dissenting vote, Mr. DuBois, who is opposed to a concrete reservoir.

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Doylestown Township High School alumni hold picnic -

The annual picnic of the alumni assocation of the Doylestown Township High School [on Sandy Ridge Road] was held Friday at the Narrows on the Delaware.

The picnic, which was to have been held on Tuesday, but which was postponed due to rain, was an ideal success. A more pleasant day could not have been found, and a slight shower in the afternoon only made things more pleasant.

The party left Doylestown in a special streetcar at 9 a.m., arriving at the Narrows about 11 a.m. Dinner, one of the finest, was eaten, and the party departed for Ringing Rocks.

On their return, and after a slight rest, some went to "Flat Rock." Boating on the canal was also indulged in.

Supper was eaten and then the picnickers departed, tired but happy, and almost wishing they had another day of such pleasure.

There were 40 alumni and friends at the picnic. It is to be regrettted that Prof. A.J. Gayman was not able to attend.

Automobilist creates excitement -

Doylestown had a genuine bit of excitement about 8 o'clock Wednesday evening, when a 1908 Ford automobile, driven by a young man named M.H. VanHorn, of Columbia, N.J., crashed into a telephone pole outside the Fountain House.

When he arrived, VanHorn turned the machine into the Fountain House yard and the engine stopped. Jumping out, he ran to the front of the machine and cranked it, and a second later the automobile started off toward Jenkins' paint store with VanHorn trying to put it back so it wouldn't run. Naturally, his strength wasn't sufficient, so he got out of the road and the machine crashed into a telephone pole, bending the axle so that it wouldn't run.

Seeing the machine was badly damaged at the axle, he offered to sell it for $50. He said if he couldn't sell it he would give it away, although he had just bought it from Frederick S. Weidner, of Belvidere, N.J. Suspicion was aroused that he might have stolen the machine, and Officer A.R. Atkinson called on him for explanation.

VanHorn said he had left his home in Columbia when his wife was taken sick, to go to Line Lexington for his mother-in-law, Mrs. Isaac Bartholomew, and on the way had stopped at Belvidere, where he bought the machine. He admitted he did not have a Pennsylvania license to operate the machine, but claimed he had gotten permission to run on Mr. Weidner's tag, No. 1128, which was on the machine.

Officer Atkinson and Daniel G. Fretz tried to get into telephone communication with people whom VanHorn said could corroborate his story. This satisfied the men that the stranger's story was all right, and Mr. Fretz bought the machine from him.

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Doylestown Town Notes -

A number of friends were delightfully entertained Tuesday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Bitzer on West State street, it being the birthday of Mrs. Bitzer. The evening was delightfully spent with vocal and instrumental music, humorous selections and social intercourse, after which excellent refreshments were served.

Letter Carrier Harvey Fisher is taking a week's vacation.

Miss Lettie Watson has been ill for several days at her home on East Oakland avenue.

Members of the Doylestown Band are delighted with a letter of appreciation they received from W.A. Frankenfield, of Ottsville, who had charge of the Tincium picnic at which the local musicians furnished music Saturday.

A horse belonging to Joseph Voell was taken with colic as he was driving up Donaldson street Tuesday evening.

Henrietta Tettemer has purchased a property on Bridge street for $2,000.

About fifty members of the Carversville Sunday school arrived in town early Tuesday morning and left on the trolley cars for Willow Grove Park, where they held their annual picnic.

Edward Neis is spending some time in Scranton with schoolmates from Villanova College.

Misses Rose, Anna and Emma Siegler have returned to Doylestown after spending a week in Sellersville with Mrs. James Pursell.

Frank Worthington was surprised Monday evening by a large number of friends who gathered at his home on Hamilton street to celebrate his birthday. The evening was spent in playing cards and other games, and with music.

Elmer Barnes is improving from an attack of blood poisoning which has kept him confined to the house for nearly a week.

Thieves have been visiting the Intelligencer office recently. On one occasion sixteen steel paper rolls were taken, which could only have happened at night and with the use of a wagon. At other times the oil tanks have been tapped heavily.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of Aug. 15-21, 1909