The Cortland News, Friday, March 5, 1887.
MRS. DRUSE HANGED.
HERKIMER, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1887. - Mrs. Druse was executed at 11:48 this
forenoon. She was hysterical during the night, but grew more calm as the fatal hour approached, and walked to the
gallows with a firm step. Sheriff Cook and Under Sheriff Rice led the procession, followed by Rev. Powell and Mrs. Druse
and the physicians and deputies in order. The crowd about the Court House and yard was very quiet and orderly throughout.
At
11:42 Mrs. Druse and Dr. Powell knelt on the floor of the scaffold under the
rope, Mrs. Druse had her daughter's bouquet in her hand and closed her eyes
while Dr. Powell offered prayer.
At
the conclusion of the prayer Sheriff Cook asked Mrs. Druse if she had anything to
say why the judgment of law should not be carried out. Mrs. Druse turned to
Rev. Dr. Powell and said she had nothing to say. Deputy William McKinley pinned
Mrs. Druse's arms, knees, and feet. She maintained her composure and was firm
until Deputy Ballou put the black cap on her head and.adjusted the rope. Deputy
Manion, who stood at her right, then bid her goodby as she turned and looked
into his eyes, smiled and pressed his hand. Deputy Ballou adjusted the noose
under and back of Mrs. Druse's left ear and pulled the cap over her face. Mrs. Druse
moaned, cried and finally shrieked so loud that her voice was heard in the jail
and street adjoining. Sheriff Cook dropped his hand over his breast, and Deputy
Ballou sprung the trap. The 213 pound weight dropped at 11:48 a. m., and the
woman’s body was lifted about three feet above the floor of the gallows.
Mrs.
Druse's death under judgment of the law was far more easy and merciful than was
that of her victim, her husband, in December 1884. Death was due to strangulation.
ANOTHER MURDERESS
LOOKING FORWARD TO EXECUTIVE INTERPOSITION.
ALBANY, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1887.—It is not unlikely that Gov. Hill
will in a short time have another application to dispose of in the case of a
woman convicted of murder in the first degree. Mary Wileman was convicted in
Cattaraugus county in March 1886 of the crime of murder in the first degree
in having caused the death of her husband by administering poison to him by
means of a pumpkin pie, which she had specially prepared for him.
The
motives alleged were to get an insurance of $1,600 on the life of her husband which
was payable to her, and to get rid of him on account of her fondness for
another man, The case, as proved, showed the utmost deliberation—in fact, from
the very nature of the crime it could hardly have been otherwise than a willful
and premeditated murder.
The
case was taken to the general term of the Supreme Court on appeal and it is
understood that it has been argued before that court and that a decision
unfavorable to the defendant has been reached, and that an appeal has been
taken to the Court of Appeals from which a decision may be expected at an early
date.
O’NEILL AND ROURKE
IN SING SING.
NEW YORK, March 1, 1887.—"Honest
John" O'Neill, the convicted boodler, was taken to Sing Sing to-day.
Policeman William J. Rourke, Roundsman Montgomery’s slayer, who is to serve a
life imprisonment, went on the same train with O'Neill to Sing Sing. On arrival
at Sing Sing after the usual formalities O'Neill was assigned to work in the
State shoe shop, where he will begin his duties to-morrow. Rourke will be given
work in the shoe factory of the contractors.
WASHINGTON LETTER
(From our Regular
Correspondent.) Washington, Mar. 1, 1887.
Will
there be an extra session? This is an important question at the Capital just
now. You hear it discussed on every side. As to the probability and necessity for
a called session of the two Houses or a special session of the Senate, the opinions
of our law-makers differ widely. Some say the backward state of the appropriation bills, for which the Democratic branch of Congress is entirely to
blame, make a called session inevitable. Others say the work will all be done
and both houses will be ready to adjourn on next Friday.
Congressmen never want an extra session, but
the people of Washington always do. It is to their interest for Congress to
hang on as long as possible, and they would like for its sessions to be
perennial. The House is now working night and day in order to get through. Hon.
Mr. Butterworth, of Ohio, who is much opposed to an extra session, says the House
is very censurable for its delay of work. He is a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee of the House, but he
is a Republican member, and of course in the minority on a vote. He was speaking
of the unfairness on the part of the House in not giving the Senate time to
carefully consider these bills, but said he, "The only question involved
is that of amount; it is not as if there was any legislation connected with them.
The Senate can dispose of them in a very short time.”
There
has been a perfect pot-pourri in the proceedings of Congress during the past
week, and will be during the remaining few days. The calendars of both Houses are exceedingly cumbersome, and so much
business of great importance demands attention that the temptation to undue
haste is irresistible.
While
the matter of appointments and confirmations is not in itself sufficient to bring
about an extra session of the Senate, it contributes to the influences which may
produce a called session. Opinions respecting the President's power to appoint the
Inter-State Commerce Commissioners during a recess of the Senate are widely
apart. The President thinks he has the right to do so and Senator Sherman
agrees with him, as does also the Attorney General, who has rendered an opinion
and cited Attorney Generals Stanberry, Evarts, Williams, and Devens as precedents.
But
Messrs. Edmunds, Harris, Pugh, and other Senators of prominence declare that
the President has no show of Constitutional right to field a newly created office
when the Senate is not in session to give its advice and consent. They hold
that his power in the matter is limited to fill vacancies temporarily which may
happen during the recess.
There
is a good deal of speculation as to what the President will do with the bill recently
passed by both Houses of Congress making a Department of Agriculture and an
addition to the Cabinet to be called the Secretary of Agriculture. This bill
has been pending in Congress for years and was passed once before by both
branches, but was vetoed by President Arthur. Agriculturists generally have
petitioned for its passage of late and it is thought Mr. Cleveland will not
veto it for fear of imperiling his political future.
It
has been just thirty eight years since a Congress created a new Executive Department.
Our first President began his administration with a Cabinet of three members:
the Secretaries of State, Treasury [and] War. At the beginning of his second term,
however, the Attorney General was added to his official household, and later the
Navy Department was organized. The Cabinet then consisted of five members until
1829, when the Postmaster General was added. Twenty years later Congress organized
the last Department, that of the Interior, and President Taylor made Thomas
Ewing of Ohio, its first Secretary.
As
soon as Mr. Corcoran, the venerable and widely known Washington philanthropist,
learned of the arrival of Mrs. Grant in this city, he called to see her. She
has also been visited by all the employees of the White House who were there
during her residence in it.
Mrs.
Cleveland had grown a little fatigued from the numerous official hospitalities which
always crowd the last fortnight of the gay season, and welcomed the quiet of
Lent.
Such
mild festivities as Shakespearean, German and French readings, whist clubs, Dorcas
meetings, musicales and sewing schools, are now in order, and seem to be full
of interest to those who give up all social pomps and vanities during the
Lenten season.
REX.
REX.
TOWN CORRESPONDENCE.
South Cortland, Mar.3,
1887.
The
storm of Saturday, Sunday and Monday blockaded our roads worse than at any
other time this winter.
Alvirus
Steadman was 81 years old last Saturday and he is as smart and active as many
men are at sixty.
L. H.
Gee was calling on friends in this place the first of the week.
Virgil-Gee Hill,
Mar. 2, 1887.
The
social at Clinton Trapp's on Wednesday evening was one of the most enjoyable events
of the season. About 50 were present.
Winter
seems to have taken a new and a stronger lease of life, as the past few days
have been very severe.
Truxton, Mar. 3,
1887.
Mrs.
Amos L. Kenney has met with a sad accident. On Saturday last while frying cakes
she tipped the grease kettle over into the fire which flamed up into her lace
and burned her face and one hand quite badly, in an instant the house was filled
with black smoke and a match safe filled with matches took fire. She succeeded
in extinguishing that and buried her face and head in a bed quilt and ran to
the door and cried for help, which soon arrived, and did all possible for the
suffering woman. Had it not been for her presence of mind and quick action it
might have resulted in a fatal calamity. On the same day the wife of Patrick
Comfort had a stroke of paralysis and fell with one hand on the stove and
burned it badly.
Mr.
Mack, the gentleman who has rented Dillenbeck's hotel arrived here on Tuesday
with grip sack in hand to take possession of the hotel as agreed. Owing to the
great blow and the falling snow the cars were blocked several miles out and he came on
foot leaving his wile and baggage to come when the train did.
Hunt’s Corners, Mar.
2, 1887.
Within
the past few weeks there has been considerable said and written in relation to
the family troubles of our townsman, Egbert Peak. As if the trouble and
anxiety, and the falsehoods told by a wayward child were not sufficient to
satisfy the cravings of a miserable gossipy set of human beings, that delight in
dragging every one else down as low as themselves! Have those that assisted in
the circulation of these falsehoods gained anything by it, or are they any better
off morally, mentally or financially? If not, what was the object? Was it to turn
the eyes of the public in another direction from themselves? The majority of the
better class of the people of this community are satisfied that what has been said
and published derogatory to Mrs. Peak's character is false and cruel, and
without foundation.
Preble, Mar. 3,
1887.
F. T.
Van Hoesen has purchased the Klock estate for $6,000, which is very cheap property.
Fred, come up our way next year.
Mrs.
P. Nichols has received a dower from her father's estate, Martin Van Derwalker,
of Christian Hollow. Mr. Nichols is looking after farms to purchase. My friend,
come up Bennett Hollow.
Our
dog man and two boys started out for a fox chase last week Wednesday, and soon
started an old fox. There was a lively chase which caused the boys to travel some
less than a hundred miles. Just before dark the dogs caught the fox in front of
John Mack's house, but before the boys could get there, the hide was taken from
the fox, leaving the carcass for their day's work.
Roxalana Druse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxana_Druse
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