C N Leffel, who resides in the vicinity of Denver, brought to this city Wednesday, a
quantity of maple syrup which he offered for sale. After selling a portion of it, he
succeeded in getting in that frame of mind which made him forget the object of his visit
to Peru. He left his horse standing somewhere on a back street and consequently lost all
trace of it. Night ame on and the horse started for home, but when it reached the home of
Frank Bearss in Ridgeview it turned into his lane where it was found Thursday morning.
Mr. Bearss had the horse unhitched and fed and after it had eaten it was hitched to the
wagon again and tied to a post so that the owner might see it, if perchance, he passed
that way.
The officers were informed about the horse, who on investigation found it belonged to
Leffel. They also learned that Leffel who remained in town all night, started for Mexico
on foot Thursday morning, thinking that an acquaintance of his living at that place, had
found the horse and taken it home with him. Officer Clark was started in pursuit of
Leffel and overtook him several miles north of the city. He was brought back and
arraigned in Mayor Durand's court and assessed $10.60.
The syrup which Leffel failed to dispose of the day before was still in the vehicle where
he had left it. He wanted to turn this in on the fine, but the officers, being of the
opinion that it was not the genuine article, would not accept it.
Miami County Sentinel - 6 April 1898