G.L. Ward & Vick, editor of newspaper at Liberty, came to Rock Island railroad station proposing to sell "sickle grinders" (aka mowing machine knife grinders) allegedly patented & designed to sharpen mowing blades. Hash agreed to buy grinders & exclusive right to sell them in Warren & White Counties & gave note to pay for same. Ward never delivered sickle grinders to Hash, but sold note to Cunningham (who had store in Rock Island w/grandson W.A. Moore), who sued to collect it.