Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1906 — A GASOLINE ENGINE HOSS TRADE [ARTICLE]

A GASOLINE ENGINE HOSS TRADE

There was considerable excitement along the industrial center of Cullen street, Tuesday, over a gasoline engine trade, which rivaled a double ended horse swop in the interest it attracted. It seems A. B. Claspell, who has a general re pair shop there, traded, or thought he had traded, a two horse power engine, more or less wheezy and a kicker, to Edwin W. Stahl, of Mt Ayr, or near there, tor a four horse power engine, somewhat afflicted with stringhalt, and a little balky, and whieh was at Lute Hemphill’s shop, on Front street. A combination desk and secretary, from Mr. Claspell’s residence, was to go t(rMr. Stahl as boot. Both engines and the desk had been duly inspect ed by the parties and Mr. Stahl helped Mr. Claspell take up his engine and move it out on the side walk. At that point Mr. Stahl justified his name by stalling the trade, and refused to proceed any further until he was given a written guarantee that the Claspell engine had no chattel mortgage concealed in its innards, and that it would run all right. Mr. Claspell admitted that the engine had been provided with a mortgage attachment but the holder thereof had given him written permission to trade for a bigger engine and he to hold the larger one for his claim. As to its running all right each man saw what he was trading for and no guarantees were included in the trade. Mr. Stahl said there would be no trade, t&en, and went home. Mr. Claspell consulted legal advice and went and got the Stahl engine and put it in his shop. Mr. Stahl, when he heard what was done, sent word that he was coming over with a man of tearful reputation behind him, and would shed every drop in his veins bu: what he got his engine. Claspell said he would take it over his dead body, if he took it at all, and proceeded to mount gnard, day and night, with a big revolver. Wednesday was the day when blood was expected to flow, but instead Mr. Stahl adopted the better course of coming over and beginning a suit tojreplevin the engine, and which suit is set for trial Saturday, before Squire Irwin.