The Judge's Missing Corn
A local officer of the law advertises a corn crop, only to find that publicity acts as an invitation to thieves.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Judge Howes purchased an extra fine three-acre patch of sweet corn with the intention of using it for his silo. Seeing that the crop was ripe for roasting, the Judge advertised the fact, hoping to find buyers. Instead of customers, he attracted 'feloniously inclined' persons who harvested the corn before he could, leaving his cows without their expected feed. The Judge found that even for an officer of the law, advertising has unintended consequences.
“Notwithstanding that Mr. Howes is an officer of the law, some feloniously inclined person or persons beat the judge to the patch.”
This is a classic 'be careful what you wish for' anecdote. It echoes modern frustrations with social media and digital marketing, where broadcasting one's inventory or location can sometimes invite more trouble than profit.
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