AHEAD OF THE COWCATCHER

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, February 10, 1894.

AHEAD OF THE COWCATCHER.

The Electric Light Now Used On Numerous Railroads.

   The electric headlight is now used on many railroads, and W. B. Sparks, who is interested in a southern road, says that his company has found it a very profitable investment. The lights cost about $375 each, fixed on the locomotive, and they cost no more than the oil light to maintain.

   The old headlight would not throw its light on a very dark night more than 130 feet, and it is impossible for an engineer to slow up his train in that distance, even with the emergency brake. Quite an item in the expense of the road used to be claims for cattle killed. During the rainy seasons the lands along the line of road became very wet; in places they are entirely covered with water, and the cattle come upon this track seeking some dry spot on which to sleep. When the old headlight was in use as many as 14 cows have been killed at one time, and the damage claims have sometimes amounted to over $1,000 per month.

   Now, the electric light throws its rays from half to three-quarters of a mile in front of the engines; obstructions can be easily seen at that distance, and some of the engineers insist that a switch disc can be more easily made out by it at night than in the daytime. The lights, moreover, do away with switch lights, which is quite a saving to roads that use them to any great extent. Mr. Sparks says that the engines using the electric headlights on his road have never killed a cow and he is confident that the saving in stock claims will more than pay for all the headlights on the road within two years.—Pittsburg Dispatch.

Three Queer Citizens.

   The Democrat quotes the following from the New York Sun: George Dumore has lived in the town of Moravia, Cayuga county, nearly eighty years, and, although a prosperous farmer, has never been outside of the township. The well-known villages of Cortland, Homer, Genoa, and Aurora are within ten miles of Moravia but Farmer Dumore has never been in either one of them. He has a brother and a sister who have lived eight miles from his farm for over sixty years, and he has not seen either of them for forty-five years.

   A neighbor of Dumore's, Nathan Tuthill, 74 years old, has lived in Moravia fifty years and he was never inside the village tavern or postoffice. He has lived half a century in one house, and never slept or ate a meal in any other house. He never tasted liquor, beer or tobacco, and never wrote a letter or signed a note or other obligation. Another neighbor of Dumore is Seth R. Webb, aged 83, who has been town clerk for fifty-four consecutive years.

ROBBED IN A SALOON.

Ex-Town Clerk William Corcoran the Victim.

   Another robbery occurred last night at the saloon on Railroad-st. owned by Hugh Corcoran. This time the victim was a brother of the proprietor, Ex-Town Clerk William Corcoran, who is manufacturing cigars at Syracuse, being a member of the firm of Corcoran & Duell. He went into the saloon, treated "the boys" and placed his pocketbook in his trousers' pocket. He sat down beside his brother, but soon the latter got up and some one else took his place beside Mr. Corcoran. When the latter went to get his pocketbook he discovered that it had mysteriously disappeared. A search was made but the book was not found.

   The names of the fourteen men who were in the saloon at the time were given to Chief Sager, and some of them were searched. Chief Sager and Officers Monroe and Jackson made an effort to find the guilty parties. As the chain of evidence against the suspected parties is not complete no warrant has as yet been sworn out.

   The pocketbook was made of black leather and contained a picture of a lady, an insurance receipt of George Chatterton and about $130 in bills of $20, $10 and $5 denominations.

May Undo the Jury's Work.

   ROCHESTER, Feb. 10.—A motion was argued in the court of sessions before Judge Werner to dismiss the indictment against Thomas Morgan, indicted by the grand jury on the charge of criminal intimacy with Louisa Lang, a female under the age of consent, on the ground that seven out of the 19 grand jurors, serving on the October grand jury, pay no taxes, or if they do their names do not appear on the assessment rolls. The second ground of the motion is that the statutes of 1890 require the supervisors to select the grand jury lists from the assessment rolls. Counsel read from decisions in support of his contention from every state in the Union, and made an earnest argument for the discharge of his client. Judge Werner took the papers in the case and reserved his decision. Should the motion be successful 85 indictments found by the October grand jury will be invalidated and 45 prisoners now serving sentences under those indictments may be set at liberty.

WATKINS BANK FAILURE.

Cashier Love's Defalcation Brought On by Losing Speculation.

   ELMIRA, Feb. 10.—The First National bank of Watkins has suspended Adrian Tuttle, president, and John W. Love, cashier. The bank failure was caused by the absconding of the cashier, John W. Love.

   The bank closed by order of the comptroller of the currency. In a short time a large crowd had surrounded the bank, clamoring for particulars and cash. They got none of the latter and little of the former.

   When James Love went to the postoffice and got his mail he received a letter from his brother, John Love, who for 10 years had been cashier of the bank, saying that his accounts were short, that the books had been falsified and that he was unable any longer to bear up under the strain, that no one was to blame, that he had brought the trouble entirely upon himself and that he was going away and would commit suicide by jumping into Seneca lake or by shooting himself.

   James Love quickly communicated the news to the bank officers and an examination showed that there was less than $5,000 in the bank. Further quick running over other books indicated a shortage of upwards of $100,000.

   John Love has a handsome young wife and one child living in Watkins.

   It is believed that Love carried the West Muncie (Ind.) Improvement company, which had met hard times, as long as the bank's money lasted and when it was all gone, decamped.

   A mackintosh and a vest belonging to the absent cashier were found on the dock. This circumstance is pointed to as indicating suicide, but it is said that the clothing was perfectly dry, although it rained and snowed.

   Few believe that Love is at the bottom of the lake. It was also rumored that a young woman had disappeared with him, but she was found to be visiting in Elmira.

   A story that a grass widow was mixed up in his affairs could not be substantiated. The First National bank has done the greatest share of the bank business of the town. Its capital was $50,000.

   Some people who had all they owned in the bank, either in stock or on deposit, will be about ruined. The last report showed $130,000 subject to check. The officers claim that everybody will be paid in full.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

A Hard Road.

   Mr. Thomas G. Shearman must be reaching the conclusion by long and rapid jumps that the free trade Jordan is a hard road to travel. After the unpleasantly warm reception given him at Gloversville he went to Utica and spoke in the city hall to an audience composed largely of the kind of Democrats who neither learn anything nor forget anything, and got through his speech safely. Then he was imprudent enough to ask for questions, and Col. G. V. Fairman of New York City, who happened to be present, put some ugly conundrums to him which he couldn't answer and didn't try to. Then the Bourbons tried to howl Fairman down, but the latter took the platform and fired stony facts at Reformer Shearman till the latter's fine theories were a mass of ruins.

   Shearman is famous as a freetrader who puts up less truth in larger-sized packages of falsehood than any other orator afloat. The Utica Herald comments on some of his statements as follows:

   "The panics are now past," said Mr. Shearman in his city hall argument in praise of these Democratic times, "and although the effect of the hard times remains, there have been many improvements. New mills and furnaces have been started up, and although the workmen are not earning the same wages now, $2 a day instead of $2.50 is better than nothing."

   The advantages of the "change" to workmen are told here with brutal frankness—a reduction of 30 per cent in wages. Mr. Shearman doesn't take notice of the workmen who are getting nothing, having nothing to do. The Democratic party has thrown hundreds of thousands out of work, and its representative tells those who have employment they shouldn't grumble. Work at 30 per cent less pay than under Republican rule "is better than nothing."

   If Mr. Shearman will give us an authenticated list of "new mills and furnaces that have started up" since the provisions of the Wilson bill were made known we will be glad to publish it. Mills, new and old, that stopped under the uncertainty of the Democrats' purpose and from lack of orders, have started up here and there to fill orders, and others have started solely to afford work for the suffering unemployed. Some have started up with deeper than 30 per cent cuts of wages, others with less. But in every case, and everywhere, the effects of the purpose to break down the protective tariff have been hurtful to labor and to business. Yet, wages 30 per cent off "are better than nothing."

  

◘ A public decorative league ought to be formed in every city, village and township of this country. Its object should be to improve roads, streets, landscapes, parks and the inside and outside of public buildings. In courthouses, town halls and schoolhouses there is scope for all the budding artistic instinct in the American soul. Public buildings may be improved by architectural additions, and beautified by paint and repairs, by decorating the walls and ceilings and by the addition of pictures and sculpture. The farmer will have his share of the work chiefly in improving the public roads and beautifying the landscape. He will first remove from the public view all unsightly objects and structures on his grounds. The expenses of the public decorative league can always be met if people are public spirited.

  

The British "A."

   It appears to be on us to stay. It is more persistent than the grip. It is very catching. The order has gone forth that it is to be adopted in the public schools. 'Tis well, to a certain extent. No doubt the broad British "a" sounds pleasanter than our brassy, American flat one. It is also true that a little of the British importation goes a good way. With the zeal of new converts, we are in danger of overdoing that English "a."

   Such words as ask, half, laugh and grass sound greatly more musical with the broad "a'' than with our old-time flat one. But when it comes to saying donce, foncy, hond and lond we "foncy" that it is running things into the ground.

   The truth always lies between two extremes. The best educated and purest speaking English people generally do not say "I foncy." They pronounce their a's about half way between the cockney broad one and our American flat one. He, therefore, who would get the best English pronunciation will not say "donce." If we could imitate the soft, pleasant voices of the cultivated English ladies and gentlemen instead of being in such a desperate hurry to say "I foncy," we would do better.

BREVITIES.

   —J. A. Wayle was yesterday appointed postmaster in Harford.

   —MR. F. L. CRANDALL and family have been called to Pompey by the death of Mr. Crandall's mother.

   —The regular meeting of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will be held Monday evening at Empire hall.

   —Prof. D. L. Bardwell will address the 4 o'clock meeting in the Y. M. C. A. rooms Sunday afternoon.

   —Rev. G. H. Brigham will preach at the Blodgett Mills Baptist church tomorrow morning at 10:30.

   —Forty new students entered the Normal this term, either by certificate or an examination.—Oneonta Herald.

   —A meeting of the St. Vincent De Paul society will be held at St. Mary's church after second mass to-morrow.

   —Remember the "White City" illustrated lecture to-night at the Universalist church. Admission 10 and 20 cents.

   —Mr. Homer Hayes has just completed a very neat desk for the European Hotel. It was put in place this morning.

   —The Department encampment of the G. A. R. and the Department convention of the W. R. C. occurs at Rochester, Feb. 21 and 22,

   —The Epworth league of the First M. E. church will hold a business meeting to-night in the church parlors, beginning at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Prof. W. A. Cornish will conduct the service at Memorial Baptist chapel on Tompkins-st. next Sunday at 4 P. M. All are cordially invited.

   —Next Monday is the anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The STANDARD of that day will contain some very interesting matter in reference to the great president.

   —After The STANDARD went to press yesterday it was decided that the meeting, for the nomination of an excise commissioner favorable to license should be held at 7:30 o'clock Monday evening instead of last evening.

   —Rev. O. M. Hilton, who gives the illustrated lecture at the Universalist church to-night, will remain in town over Sunday and preach in this church at both services. Rev. H. W. Carr preaches in Auburn to-morrow.

   —All Epworth leaguers are requested to be present at 7:30 o'clock to-night at the First M. E. church to consider matters pertaining to the conference convention to be held here March 1 and 2, The meeting will be a very important one.

   —The Athlete for February is just out and contains a fine half-tone cut of the old Randall house, leased by the Cortland Athletic association for a clubhouse, together with a description of the house and a history of the association.

   —Charles T. Ellis gave pleasure to an audience at the Stone opera house last evening, appearing in "Count Casper," … singing in a way which always pleases his auditors. Mr. Ellis is always welcome to Binghamton.—Binghamton Republican, to-day.

   —A son of John McCall was drowned in a spring on Mr. McCall's farm on Mt. Topping between Little York and Preble on Wednesday afternoon. The boy who was subject to fits, went to a spring near the house for water, and undoubtedly while there had a fit and fell into the spring and was drowned. His continued absence was noted, and a search revealed the above result.

   —Lucius R. Wilson, the convicted murderer of Detective James Harvey, whose appeal for a new trial to the court of appeals was this week denied, was yesterday brought to Syracuse and sentenced by Judge Williams to death at Auburn prison, some time during the week of March 12. He wished to speak in court, and it was denied him. He was also denied permission to speak to reporters. He was taken back to Auburn on the afternoon train.

   —After The STANDARD went to press yesterday afternoon Mr. F. A. Bickford discovered that the cause of the false alarm of fire was a broken insulated wire on the corner of Port Watson and Pendleton-sts., which the wind was blowing about alternately breaking and closing the circuit. There is a very strong sweep of wind at this point, and this is the third time that a wire has been broken. Mr. Bickford has now adjusted matters so that he says the wire will never break at this place again.

  

Tea Table Talk.

   While the expression, "It was Hobson's choice," is very frequently used, comparatively few have any idea of its origin. The first man in England to let out a high class of road or hackney horses, or to keep what would be nearest to what in this country would be termed a first-class livery stable, was Tobias Hobson. He had, however, one peculiar custom, and a rule from which he would never deviate under any consideration, similar to the custom that was common with the street car horses which were used to help up the hill before they were so generally replaced by electricity and the cables. Hobson had no particular stalls for any of his horses, and whoever came was obliged to take the one nearest the door no matter how many there were in the stable, or go without, which soon gave choice.—Exchange.