Thursday, August 13, 2015

HUGH O'NEILL PARDONED



The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 12, 1890.

O'Neill Pardoned.

   Last Saturday Governor Hill granted a full pardon to Hugh O'Neill, who was convicted at the Circuit Court in this place, four or five years ago, upon the charge of arson in setting fire to the buildings on Railroad street, then occupied by the O'Neill Wagon Company, and owned by Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald. Readers of the DEMOCRAT will remember the circumstances as they were given in full at the time. 
   O'Neill had sold the stock and business to the Springville Wagon Company, which was a stock company located at Springville, Erie county, N. Y., and the stock was in process of removal at the time the fire occurred. It was claimed by the prosecution that the insurance exceeded to a considerable amount, the value of the stock and tools in the buildings. The insurance companies settled with O'Neill, but he was afterwards indicted and the trial resulted in his conviction of the crime. The defendant appealed to the General Term where the judgment was affirmed and afterward he appealed to the Court of Appeals which court affirmed the judgment of the Court below.
   The court sentenced O'Neill to five years hard labor in Auburn prison, where he was taken by the sheriff. He had served out nearly seventeen months of his term. The petition asking for his pardon was signed by the leading citizens of Cortland, every member of the jury before whom the case was tried and by many others. The Governor's action seems to meet with the entire approval of the citizens of this place.

First Baptist Church, Church Street, Cortland, circa 1900.
Repairing the Baptist Church Spire.
   The work of repairing the cyclone wrecked spire on the Baptist Church was taken by builder J. D. Keeler and slater W. J. McElheny. Failing to enlist the services of a painter, after three or four attempts, who would paint the bracket work at the top of the spire Deacon Keeler himself concluded to do the job, as the wood work was greatly in need of a coat of paint. James O'Neil accompanied the veteran builder and a large crowd of citizens anxiously watched the pair mount the ladder from the last staging to the bracket and then climb up 26 feet of ornamental work.
   The work was completed Monday and the carpenters and two slaters were photographed before any of the outside timbers were removed, Mr. Keeler gracefully posing at the top of the urn—186 feet from mother earth. Many of our citizens courageously climbed the stair on the inside of the tower as far as the bell while a few took a peep at the country from the inside as high as the stagings. It was a perilous undertaking, a necessary work in which "When duty calls, we must obey" was practically demonstrated.

Cortland Visits Elmira.
   As stated last week, the excursion of the Hitchcock Hose and Band to Elmira on Thursday was a decided success. Everybody enjoyed the day, which was exceedingly pleasant. Many remained over Friday to witness the prize drill contest of which the Daily Advertiser says: "The hose company drill was a magnificent exhibition. It was a contest between Hitchcock hose of Cortland, and Pritchard hose of Corning, and was won by the former, who scored ninety-seven points to their opponents' ninety-two. Both are well drilled companies and fine looking bodies of men."
   The prize was $150, to this sum was added $100 for the band and an additional $150 from the sale of tickets which gave the best reason to feel elated and caused a royal welcome to be extended upon their arrival on the 7:10 train Friday evening, each man's cap sporting a full-fledged rooster.
   Speaking of the demonstration Thursday the Elmira Evening Star, states: "Train arrived at 11 A. M., and the company marched from the E. C. & N. station through the principal streets to the Inter-State fair grounds. The procession reached from Main to Lake streets on Water street and was headed by the firm in carriages, next came the hose company, 50 strong, led by assistant chief Will Y. Ellet, of the Elmira fire department, and Hitchcock band, next came the Lodi band ahead of 600 employes. The Freeville brass band and East Troy were with the excursion which made a splendid show and created great enthusiasm as they marched down Water street." The Sunday Telegram adds that an engine drawing a string of wagons and carriages was a great feature of the parade, also that the process of building a cart by [Hitchcock] employes while parading around the track on the grounds was watched by a large and eager crowd.

                            
                              THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
Proceedings in FullA Weak Ticket Nominated
                          Cortland Takes All the Cake.
   The convention was called to order by chairman Carley, who presented the name of Hon. M. M. Brown of Freetown, for chairman. The choice was ratified and Mr. Brown took the chair. C. A. Jones of McGrawville, and C. O. Newton of Homer, were chosen to act as secretaries, and Messrs. E. W. Childs of Scott, and A. E. Brainard of Marathon, were selected to act as tellers. The iron clad oath was administered to the officers by Dorr C. Smith, Esq., in an unusually impressive manner, after which the towns were called in alphabetical order and every town was found to be represented. Although Secretary Newton experienced more or less difficulty in pronouncing the names while calling the roll, after numerous corrections it was finally perfected.
   It appearing that there were two sets of delegates from Harford, Mr. Brooks of Marathon moved that a committee of three be appointed as a committee on contested seats. The chair appointed C. P. Walrad of Cortland, C. E. Boyden of Marathon, and C. J. Harris of Willett, as such committee. The committee retired to deliberate, and after hearing the statements of the chairman of each delegation reported in favor of allowing three members from each delegation to sit. On motion the report of the committee was adopted. The vote met with a decided "No," from the chairman of the Peck delegation, who announced that his delegation declined to sit unless the entire delegation was admitted.
   On motion of J. J. Wheaton of Marathon, the contestants, headed by Sherman Morse, were admitted to seats in the convention.
   At this point the Cuyler delegates asked permission of the chair to take front seats in the convention, which privilege, for reasons patent to all, was accorded them.
   Mr. I. J. Walker of Solon moved that the convention proceed to take an informal ballot for Member of Assembly. Carried.
   Major A. Sager of this place, who represented the town of Cincinnatus, forcibly presented the name of Hon. R. T. Peck of Cortland as a candidate for renomination.
   Mr. A. G. Smith of Marathon, presented the name of Jas. H. Tripp of the same place. Mr. Smith stated that Mr. Peck had promised that he would not be a candidate this year. That two years ago Mr. Peck was nominated after some very sharp practices on his part, and that the promises referred to could be proved beyond all question.
   Major Sager replied to Mr. Smith by saying that at the proper time and place Mr. Peck would meet and refute all charges brought against him. This was no time or place to answer such charges and the convention ought not to be bound by any agreement that had been entered into between candidates.
   An informal ballot was then taken with the following result:
   Whole number of votes cast 90, of which
   Rufus T. Peck, received 61.
   Jas. H. Tripp, 29.
   On motion of Major Sager, seconded by the entire Cuyler delegation as with one voice, the informal ballot was made formal and Mr. Peck was declared the nominee.
   Mr. Peck was called out and said that he did not seek this nomination so much because he wanted to return to Albany, but because of his unconquerable desire to work for the interests of the people of this county and of this State. The members of the legislature who came up from Brooklyn and New York will vote for any wicked measure that comes before the legislature and it becomes necessary for him to be there to oppose them. The remainder of his harangue was given up to a repetition of his speech on the canals delivered in the legislature last winter.
   The chair announced that the nomination of a candidate for County Treasurer was next in order.
   Mr. F. E. Price presented the name of Stephen K. Jones of Virgil.
   W. J. Mantanye presented the name of George Hammond of McGrawville, whose principal claim to the office was that he saw service for two years in the 157th regiment, and that there were forty republican votes in the family.
   Mr. F. M. Beardsley of Marathon presented the name of Lee Johnson of Marathon.
   Mr. C. O. Newton of Homer presented the name of Wm. H. Foster of Homer in a written address.
   Mr. Jerome Squires presented the name of Andrew S. Brown of Cortland, the present incumbent.
   An informal ballot was taken which resulted as follows:
   Whole number of votes cast 90, of which
   A. S. Brown, received 49
   Geo. Hammond, 5
   S. K. Jones, 15
   Lee Johnson, 12
   Wm. H. Foster, 9
   During the taking of the ballot some one secured Mr. D. M. Patrick’s hat, which created some confusion, but the tile [sic] was finally restored to him, and the vote proceeded.
   Jas. T. Steele of Preble moved that the ballot be declared formal which was carried, although there were several dissenting votes. It was pretty evident that the wily Treasurer had secured promises from several delegates to vote for him on the first ballot, the delegates supposing of course that a formal ballot would follow, when they could vote for the candidate of their choice. The sequel showed, however, that Mr. Brown was not quite so simple as the delegates who promised to give him a complimentary vote, for as soon as the vote was announced and it appeared that Brown had a majority of the votes cast; one of his delegates, who had been posted, at once moved that the ballot be declared formal and that Brown be also declared the unanimous nominee of the convention.
   The motion was made so soon after the announcement of the vote, and was so quickly put by the chairman, that his opponents had no time to rally. It was perfectly plain that a combination had been arranged to beat Brown after the first ballot, and he was undoubtedly aware of that fact. By the exercise of a little political shrewdness, he secured the plum which had been intended for another. There was no question but that Peck intended to have a candidate for Treasurer from one of the other towns, but when Peck undertakes to down Brown in a political deal, he will generally find that he has overrated his own abilities and underrated those of the opposite party.
   Mr. W. P. Henry of Solon moved that Dr. M. R. Smith of McGrawville be nominated for Coroner by acclamation.
   Major Sager moved as an amendment that Dr. William J. Moore of Cortland be nominated for Coroner by acclamation.
   A delegate from Cuyler nominated Dr. S. B. Clark of that town.
   The chair put the first motion but being unable to decide the same ordered a ballot which resulted as follows:
   Whole number of votes cast 72, of which
   M. R. Smith received 11
   W. J. Moore, 43
   B. B. Clark, 18
   The nomination of Dr. Moore was made unanimous.
   On motion of F. M. Beardsley of Marathon, Lewis Bouton of Cortland was nominated for Justice of Sessions.
   Shouts went up from all over the hall ''That's right, give the whole business to Cortland" and, "The other towns have no rights that Cortland is bound to respect." After appointing the following County Committee the convention adjourned.
COUNTY COMMITTEE.
   Cuyler—Henry Howe.
   Cincinnatus—Wilbur Holmes.
   Cortlandville—Jerome Squires, C. P. Walrad, Chas. E. Reed, C. A. Jones.
   Freetown—Joel F. Chrysler.
   Harford—W. W. Parker.
   Homer—C. O. Newton, S. M. Byram, H. Griffin.
   Lapeer—W. A. Hyde.
   Marathon—C. E. Boyden, F. M. Beardsley.
   Preble—James T. Steele.
   Scott—W. C. Bockes.
   Solon—W. C. Shuler.
   Taylor—R. L. Cass.
   Truxton—D. M. Patrick.
   Virgil ——————
   Willett—Charles J. Harris.
THE TICKET NOMINATED.
For Member of Assembly.
Rufus T. Peck, of Cortland.
For County Treasurer.
Andrew S. Brown, of Cortland.
For Coroner.
William J. Moore, of Cortland.
For Justice of Sessions.
 

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