A SLIPPERY THIEF

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, October 20, 1893.

A SLIPPERY THIEF.

Charles R. Spear Steals Cash—A Bad Lot. He Attempts to Shoot Sheriff Miller.

   Last Friday evening both members of the firm of Schermerhorn & Graham went to tea a little before 6 P. M. Mr. Schermerhorn returned at the usual hour, about 6:30 P. M. Immediately after his arrival, some butter was brought to the store by Mr. E. C. Rindge and when the same was unloaded, Mr. Schermerhorn started to go down town but the spring lock on the door would not work. He soon discovered that the hole in which the bolt of the lock works had been torn out. He went to the cash drawer and found that $110 that was in the same when he went to tea was gone. The safe had not been meddled with.

   One Charles R. Spear had been hanging about the place more or less and he was suspected. Spear had been seen not far from the premises about 7 o'clock. Sheriff Miller was notified and after telegraphing in different directions hitched up his horse and drove to Homer. At the Mansion house in that place he learned that Spear had hired a horse to go to McGrawville with his wife and that he promised to be back in time to take the 11:12 train south.

   Sheriff Miller and officer Shirley waited for him to return. It was about 10 o'clock when they returned and Spear and his wife were both placed under arrest and taken into the bar-room. The woman said she had no money and was not searched. The officers found $87.76 on Spear's person. The sheriff counted the money on the bar and while counting same officer Shirley said "Look out, John!"

   Miller turned in time to see a revolver facing him and struck the weapon up, the bullet passed between the men's heads and landed in the ceiling between the heads of Mr. Antisdell and his bar-tender. Spear was dumped on the floor and the officers attempted to get the revolver away from him, but he fired the same and the ball passed through his right ear and entered the scalp. The revolver was secured and the prisoner was handcuffed. Dr. L. T. White examined the wound and decided that if was not necessary to probe for the bullet as it could be seen lying under the scalp.

   Spear was brought to Cortland and taken before Justice Bull and his examination set down for Monday at 1 o'clock. He admitted to Sheriff Miller that he had previously stolen $35 in gold from the same firm. His wife was searched and $7 was found on her person. Dr. H. S. Edson and Dr. H. C. Gazlay removed the bullet on Saturday.

   Spear will be remembered as the young man who stole C. H. V. Elliott's Columbian bicycle about a year ago. He is now in jail awaiting the action of the grand jury which is in session.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   Every lady who desires to vote for Mrs. M. E. Rice for School Commissioner, should see that her name is registered tomorrow. Mrs. Rice is the candidate in the First School Commissioner District which is composed of the towns of Cortlandville, Cincinnatus, Freetown, Harford, Lapeer, Marathon, Virgil and Willett. Ladles who are 21 years of age and upwards and who have resided in the election district thirty days, in the county four months and in the state one year are qualified to vote.

   The order has gone forth from the managers of the G. O. P. to the Republican Inspectors of election in the First Commissioners district in this county to refuse to put the names of ladies on the register to-morrow, even where they apply in person, and some of the inspectors say they will refuse to register the names of the ladies who apply. This is a highhanded outrage upon the part of all concerned in it and ought to prove a genuine boomerang and injure the projectors of the scheme. The ladles should not be frightened, but should make the offer to register at all hazards.

   The Standard of a recent date made the claim that women could not vote for School Commissioners. The claim is founded upon an opinion written by one C. M. Dennison of Utica, chief supervisor of elections in the northern district of New York. Mr. Dennison is not an authority on the subject and his opinion is worth about as much as that of any third-rate lawyer in Utica and no more. The laws of 1880 give women the right to hold the office of School Commissioner and the laws of 1892 give to every person who could hold the office the right to vote for candidates for that office. The Standard is fearful that Mrs. Rice will be elected, and plainly shows that it has but little faith in the correctness of Dennison's opinion, when it calls upon "every Republican to see that not only his wife but his sisters, his cousins and his aunts and all his other female relatives are registered and on hand to vote for Nathan L. Miller." There is no politics in the office of School Commissioner and ought not to be, but our neighbor would put polities in his bible and in his evening supplication. Ladies can vote for School Commissioner. The Standard's attempt to bluff the ladies will fall as it ought to.

   The popularity of HUGH DUFFEY, Democratic candidate for state treasurer, at his own home is well illustrated in a clipping elsewhere republished from the Cortland DEMOCRAT, giving an account of a rousing non-partisan citizens' ratification of his nomination. Wherever known Mr. DUFFEY is highly thought of and respected as a substantial business man who has worked his way up from the ranks of the toilers, and is amply qualified for the office of State Treasurer.—Lockport Daily Sun.

  

Wanted.

   Scholars wanted to learn Telegraphy. Satisfaction guaranteed. Operator of ten years experience teaches. For particulars and terms address, Marathon telegraph college, Marathon, N. Y., Box 102.

Mechanical lever voting machine.

HERE AND THERE.

   Be sure and attend the races on the Fair Grounds to-morrow afternoon.

   If you expect to vote you should see that your name is registered tomorrow.

   Everyone ought to see "Squire Haskins" and his excellent company in Cortland Opera House this evening.

   A social party will be given at armory, Oct. 27. Music by Daniels full orchestra. Dance tickets, 50 cents.

   Mr. John H. Day, of this place, has leased the Mansion House in Homer of Mr. Chas. Antisdel. He took possession on Monday.

   The Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D., Bishop of Syracuse, will administer conformation in St. Patrick's church at Truxton, at 10 o'clock A. M., on the 26th inst.

   The firm of Waters & Merrill, merchant tailors and clothiers of Homer, has been dissolved by mutual consent. The new firm will be known as Chas. R. Morrill & Co.

   We call attention to the notice of "Marathon Telegraph College" in another column. The proprietors have had ten years practical experience in the business and are thoroughly competent.

   The high wind and bad weather last Saturday compelled the managers to postpone the [trotting & pacing] races until to-morrow afternoon. Some very fast time will be made to-morrow as several flyers have been entered.

   The game of football which took place on the Fair Grounds last Saturday afternoon, between the Normals and Cazenovias, was won by the latter by a score of 4 to 0. It is claimed by many who were present that the referee's score was wrong and that it should have been 4 to 4.

   The polling place in Dist. No. 7 has been changed from Fireman's hall to the building formerly occupied by the Democrat on West Court-st. The change is made by the town board because the latter building will afford more room and will not interfere with other business that must be transacted in Firemen's hall.

   Isaac Fultz, a farmer living near Lock Pond, in the town of Summerhill, committed suicide by hanging himself last Sunday night. No cause can be assigned for the act except that he had been despondent for some time. He owned his farm and was in prosperous circumstances. He was unmarried and about 34 years of age.

   The front of the large oven of Mr. J. G. Bridenbecker's bakery on North Main-st. was blown out at an early hour Tuesday morning and the gas set fire to some of the surroundings. Mr. Bridenbecker escaped in a hurry. As soon as possible he went back and put out the fire. The oven was repaired and put in order again Wednesday.

   Messrs. W. A. Wallace and George McKean have purchased the lease and stock in the European hotel and billiard parlor on Court-st, of Mr. Geo. O. Squires and will hereafter conduct the same. Mr. Wallace is well and favorably known as one of the proprietors of the Brunswick for several years, and is popular with the public. Mr. McKean has many friends who will be pleased to patronize him. The new firm took possession Tuesday.

   The Myers American Ballot Machine company of Rochester will exhibit one of their full-sized machines in the Hulbert building on West Court St., on Monday, Oct. 23, at 2 o'clock P. M. This machine records the vote, and announces the result immediately after closing the polls. The machine is well worth seeing. The proprietors offer to furnish a machine for use at the town meeting in 1894. If the electors do not conclude to purchase it after trial, no charge will be made for its use.

   Geo. Chaffee, whose examination before Justice Bull has occupied the attention of the court for some days, was held for the grand jury on the charge of manslaughter in the second degree, the justice rendering his decision to that effect last Monday. In the afternoon Judge Forbes fixed his ball at $1000, which was furnished by Major A. Sager. J. A. Jayne, E. D. Barker and Ira W. Watkins. It will be remembered that Chaffee had charge of the engine No. 7 that left the round house and caused the accident on the D. L. & W. just north of the village last June.

   On Sunday, October 8th, a party of four men from this village went chestnutting on the farm of Henry Murray in Lapeer, in a chestnut grove. They were seen there and a boy sent to warn them away, but they paid no attention. After one or two more warnings Mr. Murray went in person to see about it, and a discussion arose and as a result the men pitched on Mr. Murray and assaulted him, and as we learn threatened him with a revolver. A warrant was issued for their arrest, and on Wednesday last an examination was had, and the four men fined $8.75 each.—Marathon Independent.

   The dwelling house of H. Bennett on Prospect-st. in Homer was destroyed by fire last Friday night. The household goods were saved. Insured for $800 which will cover the loss.

   Dr. F. J. Cheney has purchased a building lot from the north side of F. J. Doubleday's premises on Church-st. The lot is 60x188 feet. Dr. Cheney expects to build on the same as soon as the weather will permit in the spring.

   The Sweeney, Alvido and Goetze company will appear in Cortland Opera House, Saturday evening, Oct. 21. Lovers of good music, dancing, acrobatic feats and legerdemain should attend. Lots of fun. Tickets on sale at Wallace's.

   Last Friday a handsome deer was received by Mr. C. Fred Thompson from Ed. Harrington, who is camping in the North Woods. It was a young buck and the fattest one we ever saw. On Saturday it was cut up and the editor of the DEMOCRAT, thanks to Mr. Thompson, had a bang up Sunday breakfast of venison steak.

   The wind storm of last Friday night was a howling success in these parts. Fences were torn down, trees uprooted and barns unroofed in different parts of the town. The two tall smoke stacks—60 and 70 feet high respectively—on the Cortland Chair and Cabinet company's works were blown over, and a portion of the tin roof on the Wickwire factory was torn up and pushed to one side. The only wonder is that the damage was no worse.