Great Bend - Some parties in town who have a fondness for helping themselves to the sap which drops from the maples along the streets, declare that maple sap this year acts as a most vigorous cathartic. This discovery was made soon after one of the owners of the trees put an amount of croton oil in the sap buckets for the purpose of gratifying the appetites of the ones who "swipe" his sap.

Uniondale - What! oh! what! is the attraction at Pleasant Mount? Some we know, or else our boys would not wander that way so much and not return till the wee small hours. We are on to them and oh, we are rubber necked enough to find the cause.

Forest Lake - There were four men in this place who cut, split and piled twelve cord of two foot wood in one day, one man stopping at three o'clock. Who can beat that?

Pleasant Valley - A number of the young people of this place attended the singing school at Jackson Valley. AND John Curley, of Middletown, had a severe attack of measles, but we are glad to say that he is improving, but his daughter is very ill with the same disease at this writing.

Montrose - The bicycle season has opened with a rush. Boyd & Cooley inform us that they have already sold eleven wheels.

Birchardville - For the benefit of the public, [we] will say that Birchardville consists of 2 stores, 2 blacksmith shops, wagon shop, feed and saw mill, creamery, undertaking establishment, church and a number of residences; it is a very prosperous place and we feel very proud of it.

Susquehanna - The presence of the too-previous robin and the omnivorous crow is prime evidence of the presence of almanac spring. Watch the early crocus and the earlier tramp-cuss, get ready to move or clean house--and keep on your flannels!

Ararat - March 8th, being the 70th birthday of Mrs. Olive Bushnell, notwithstanding the bad condition of the roads, over 20 of her friends gathered at her home, giving her a glad surprise.

Hopbottom - The entertainment given by the Willing Workers, Friday evening, was well attended and greatly enjoyed by all. The ladies wish to express their thanks to the friends from Montrose who so ably assisted, and also Mr. J. M. Jeffers for furnishing a conveyance to bring them here. Many complimentary remarks were made by our people in favor of Leonard Titsworth, Van Munger, Robert Raynsford and Bert Barney, and everyone was delighted with Mr. Joe Barney's solo. Miss Jeffers received her share of applause for the recitations she so ably rendered, and although Miss Titsworth was the smallest one of the company, she was in nowise to be overlooked for she sang very sweetly.

News Brief: Until recently, only those having ample means were able to possess a talking machine, but now there has been placed upon the market a Graphophone at a price within the reach of all. For home entertainment it is unsurpassed. You can sit at your own fireside and enjoy the music of artists, both vocal and instrumen-tal, by investing $5 in this wonderful invention.

Rush - The Pepper Murder (concluded) - The warrants were served upon them at the jail, and hearings waived and the case will go before the March Grand Jury. The District Attorney throughout the investigation and in all his labors connected with this case has had the hearty cooperation and support of Commissioners Tingley, Harrington and Haire, without which the successful solution of the crime might never have been accomplished. Rumors of confession are rife, the latest story being that both of the accused have given their version of the crime. Just what truth there is in this story cannot be ascertained, but it is believed that either one or both of the prisoners have made some admissions, on which the stories of "confession" are founded. At the inquest of the accused, T. J. Davies, Esq., visited them at the jail and had a talk with them, but whether or not he will engage in their defense is not yet decided. From the March 17, 1898 Montrose Democrat - Smith and Shew

Examined: Each Accuses the Other of Killing A. J. Pepper. Smith and Shew, the murderers of A. J. Pepper, were brought from the jail to the office of Justice Courtright Monday, where they were formally charged with murder, preparatory to bringing them before the Grand Jury Monday, March 28. The principal witnesses was Selden Munger, who testified that Shew had confessed to him (after his arrest) that Smith killed Pepper and that he (Shew) helped to bind him. This was enough to inculpate both in the murder, equally so no further testimony was taken, although it is understood that Smith, after his arrest, confessed, also, that he and Shew did the job, but that it was Shew who struck the blows that killed Pepper and that he (Smith) helped to bind him. Each seemed to think that if he could lay the striking onto the other, he would get off easier, though the law makes no such distinction--they are both presumed to be equally guilty before the law. They sent for T. J. Davies, Esq., as attorney.