INQUEST CONCLUDES IN PATRICK QUINLAN'S DEATH

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, January 2, 1895.

QUINLAN'S DEATH.

CAUSED BY BLOWS BY PARTIES UNKNOWN.

Verdict Reached—Straightforward and Convincing Testimony by Son and Daughter.

   The inquest was continued at 1:35 P. M. Monday when Miss Julia Quinlan took the stand. She swore that she was the daughter of the late Patrick Quinlan. Her father left the house on Friday morning, Dec. 21, 1894, between 7 and 8 o'clock [A. M.] and returned a few minutes after 12 M. He left the house again a few minutes past 6 o'clock after he had eaten his supper. Her father had given her the turkey money that morning, but she did not see him take the money from his pocketbook. Her father had never said anything to indicate that he thought any one was watching him to get his money. She did not remember what her father did on Friday afternoon. Her father seldom came to the village in the evening. He did not say why he was going to the village when he left after supper. Her brother was at the barn at that time. She did not know how long after her father was gone it was before her brother came from the barn and put the milk in the tub of water. She retired at 9 P. M. that evening. Her brother was at the house with her during the evening. He retired when she did. They were alone that evening and she did not see any one about the premises that day or evening. She arose on Saturday morning at 5:45 A. M. Her brother was not up. She called him as soon as breakfast was ready. She told him her father was not at home. She said she thought he must have gone to his brother's, or stayed up with a man named Fanning who is sick in town. He stayed away from home nights very seldom. She and her brother went to the barn and milked. Then he started for the milk depot in the village.

   She did not know what time it was when her brother returned. He came into the kitchen where she was and said he had found his father and that both his eyes were black and be looked as though he had got hurt or fallen. Her brother said that he had his father in the wagon and that she must come and help get him out as soon as she could. There was nothing said about the father being intoxicated. She had never seen her father entirely under the influence of liquor. She and her brother carried the father into the house and laid him on the bed. They rubbed him and tried to revive him. Her brother told her that he found their father below the bridge; that he had also found some nails, a jackknife and a plug of tobacco. His clothes were on him, but his hat was not on his head. When they carried him into the house the brother brought him into the house. They sent for the doctor when their efforts to revive the father were unsuccessful. The brother started for the doctor at 12:15 noon. He returned soon, but witness did not remember how soon. He told how Dr. White was busy, but would start at 3 P. M. She stated that the doctor told her when he arrived that her father could not recover. This was the first time that they supposed that the father was seriously hurt.

   Miss Quinlan's further testimony was principally in corroboration of that given by Dr. White and related to the incidents which followed the visit of the priest and the doctor. She described her father's purse, but was unable to state anything concerning the father's papers or private documents.

THE SON'S TESTIMONY.

   Thomas Quinlan was next sworn. He testified that: He is the son of the murdered man. He drove to Homer with a load of poultry at about 10 A. M. He drove to O. B. Andrews' barn and then returned home reaching there at 11:15 A. M. His father was at Andrews' barn when he was there, but his father was not at home when he arrived. His father returned when he was eating dinner. His father gave the money which he received for the poultry to his daughter. The witness did not see the transaction. His father went to the lower pastures and returned a little before 5 o'clock. The witness was up at the barns during this time. They ate supper together at a little past 5 P. M. The father said during supper that he was going to the village after milking. The father and son did the milking. The father got through first and was just going down the road when the son was coming up to the house. Thos. Quinlan stated that he did not wake up during the night of Dec. 21, 1894. He arose the next morning when his sister called him, He started for the milk depot after the cows had been milked at a little past 7 A. M. As he drove along the first thing he saw, after crossing the bridge, was his father's overcoat. Then he discovered it was his father lying by the road, with his face down. The son called to him and receiving no answer drove on to the milk depot, thinking his father was drunk. He stopped at the Domestic bakery on his way home. He stopped when he reached the place where his father lay, took off his coat, rolled up and lifted his father into the wagon, placed him on the coat and then, turning out upon the grass, drove to the house. He did not discover that his father's pockets were turned wrong side out at that time. He did find his jackknife, a plug of tobacco and some nails in the road near by the place. At about 11 A. M. the son went down to the lower part of the farm and observed the place where he had found his father, more closely. At this point the witness identified the stick which the coroner produced as the one which he had seen lying near his father when he first discovered him.

   In his further testimony the son merely corroborated the statements made by former witnesses. He admitted telling two stories to the district attorney about when he carried his father back to the house, and said that his reason for so doing was because he was ashamed of letting any one know of his seeming neglect. His reason for leaving his father there was that he might save time in getting his milk to the depot and he thought that his father was intoxicated and that it would not hurt him to lie a little longer and that no one would be the wiser if he should.

OTHER WITNESSES.

   Mrs. Anna Murphy, wife of Michael Murphy, the saloonkeeper, was sworn, but she knew nothing that the coroner asked her that bore upon the case at all.

   Patrick O'Conner testified to seeing Patrick Quinlan on the evening of Dec. 21 between 6 and 7 o'clock at Daniel Donahue's saloon. Chas. Healey, Henry Bedell and others were in the saloon at the same time. He spoke to Quinlan at that time and Quinlan told him how much money he had received that day for turkeys. Quinlan drank one glass of ale with the witness and left the latter in the saloon.

   Daniel Donahue next testified that he is a saloonkeeper in Homer and knew Patrick Quinlan whom he last saw alive on the evening of Dec. 21 at 6:30 or 7 P. M. Quinlan was in his saloon on Friday evening. He bought one glass of ale and paid five cents for it. Quinlan remained only about five minutes. Neither Louis Clark, John McDonald or Wilbur Butler were in his saloon on that evening.

   George A. Eldridge, one of the jurors who resides near Homer and whose farm adjoins that of Patrick Quinlan whom he has known ever since Quinlan moved to the farm where he was killed, swore that he saw Quinlan when he went home Friday evening, Dec. 21, 1894. His further statements revealed the following facts which were new to the jurors: He found the imprint of a shoe with pointed toe frozen in the mud in the road opposite to where Quinlan was found. This was the morning after the murder. On Monday he found a stick near the barn at the end of the private road which seems without doubt to have been the post from which the stick found by the body was broken.

   Geo. F. Pratt swore that he resides in Homer and kept the saloon by the name of "The Ink Stand." He said he was at his saloon on the evening of Dec. 21 from early in the afternoon until 11 P. M. Patrick Quinlan was not there that day. Fred Graham, John McDonald and Lou Clark were in there that day. McDonald came in about 7 P. M. Clark was with him. They asked for drinks, but got none as they had no money. They stayed about thirty minutes. He could not tell how many times or when McDonald had been in his place. On one occasion he spent about one dollar, but at just what time the witness did not know. McDonald had a two dollar bill when he spent the dollar.

   Fred Graham, a blacksmith in Homer, swore that be boarded at Murphy's and that he spent the night of Dec, 21 in his room at Murphy's. McDonald rooms with him and was there too. A third man, Clark, came in with McDonald and spent the night on the couch in the same room. Both McDonald and Clark were intoxicated.

   John Bennett, a carriage painter, was sworn. His testimony failed to throw any light upon the subject.

   Burt G. Darrow, a tinsmith, was also called, but his testimony was unimportant.

   Patrick Kinney, a saloonkeeper in Homer, was sworn, but nothing of importance was gained from him. An adjournment was then taken until 8 P. M.

EVENING SESSION.

   Wilbur Arthur Butler was the first witness called in the evening. He threw no light upon the murder.

   Richard F. Randall, the next witness, testified that he was a resident of Homer and keeps a liquor store, but he added nothing of interest to this case.

   John O'Connors was sworn, but his testimony was unimportant.

   George A. McChesney then testified that he kept the Hotel Windsor in Homer and that Patrick Quinlan was in his hotel on Friday, Dec. 21, between 12 and 1 P. M. He stated that McDonald was in his hotel on Tuesday afternoon with Mel Chapman and they had a drink, McDonald and Chapman called at the hotel again at about 10 P. M. They were both intoxicated. They asked for drinks on McDonald's credit. They were refused by McChesney. McDonald stated that he was a ''good man'' and asked McChesney if he thought that he (McDonald) would kill a man. Mr. MeCheasney told him that his statement was a strange one to make on the eve of a murder. McDonald said that he referred to the Quinlan case and that he understood that "he was booked for doing the job." Mel Chapman then told McDonald to keep his mouth shut. They sat down in the office and remained there till McChesney closed up. Then they refused to go until they had been treated. The proprietor opened the door and ordered them out. McDonald was the first to leave. Chapman stood in the doorway to prevent its closing and argued awhile, but finally allowed the proprietor to close and lock the door. During their stay they claimed to be able to show a $20 bill, but failed to do so.

   Charles C. Stone, William G. Berry, George J. Murphy and George I. Crain took their places upon the stand, but told nothing of importance.

TUESDAY MORNING.

   At 10:10 P. M. the coroner adjourned the inquest which was again continued at 12:10 Tuesday noon. Frank Johnson was called to the stand. He could remember very little.

   Lou Clark was called to the witness stand next and swore that he was 25 years old and had resided in Homer for eleven years. He is a carriage painter. He had worked for the Cortland Wagon company for five weeks, but quit on Friday, Dec. 21. This witness was subjected to a very rigid examination, but beyond his testifying that he drank a good many times on the night of Dec. 21 at a number of different places, little was learned from him. At the conclusion of Clark's testimony a recess of two hours was taken.

   The same witness was again called to the stand after the recess. He testified that he first heard of Quinlan's death on the Saturday after he was killed. He said he did not know Patrick Quinlan when he was alive and did not know where he lived, but little besides that was of interest was learned from him.

   After Clark concluded his testimony John McDonald was produced and sworn. His testimony was much the same as given by Clark.

   When McDonald concluded his testimony the evidence was turned over to the jury at 8:30, Tuesday evening. After about thirty minutes' deliberation they rendered the following verdict:

    Patrick Quinlan came to his death upon the night of Dec. 23, 1894. Said death was the result of the injury received upon the head, Dec. 21, between the hours of 8 o'clock P. M. and 8 o'clock A. M., Dec 22. Said injury was inflicted by a person or persons at present unknown to the jury.

   The inquest was dismissed and the jurors discharged by the coroner at 9 P. M. on Tuesday evening.

  

Parsons' Directory in 1896.

   Mr. Samuel Parsons of Syracuse, who for so many years has prepared the directory of Cortland, Homer, Marathon and McGrawville, was in town yesterday looking over the ground to see whether it was advisable to prepare a new directory this year. After talking with a number of the business men he decided to follow his former custom of getting out the directory every two years and consequently will not try it this year, but will be on hand in January, 1896, ready for the new book.

   Mr. Parsons promises to introduce in the work next year a new and valuable feature never used in Cortland heretofore. It is a duplex directory. In addition to the customary directory of names alphabetically arranged, it will be a directory of streets, taking each street in turn and giving the name and number in order of every person living upon the street. This will be particularly useful to business men.

Crandall typewriter.

Lucien S. Crandall.

CRANDALL VS. ALDRICH.

A Libel Suit for $406,000 about Typewriters.

   One of the most interesting causes on the calendar of the January circuit court to be held in Syracuse, says The Standard of that city, is a libel suit brought by Lucien S. Crandall, the well known typewriter inventor formerly of Cortland, against Bruce S. Aldrich of Syracuse to recover damages alleged to have been sustained by the plaintiff through the alleged wrongful, unlawful, willful, malicious and libelous interference of the defendant in frustrating a deal which Crandall claims to have made with the representative of the corporation commonly known as the "typewriter trust" whereby, for a consideration amounting to about $400,000, Crandall was to transfer to them all interest in the patent rights, letters patent and inventions pertaining to the Excelsior typewriting machine, and also the capital stock and plant of the Parish Manufacturing company, a corporation located in Parish, N. Y., for the manufacture of the Crandall level typewriter. The alleged libel is based on the contents of a letter and a telegram which Mr. Aldrich admits he sent from Tucson, Ariz. To Charles N. Fowler, the promoter of the typewriter trust. In them Mr. Aldrich claimed that he himself was the owner of the Crandall patents, they having been transferred to him as lessee of the Parish Manufacturing company. Mr. Crandall, on the other hand, claims to own all of the patents and to own80 per cent of the capital stock of the Parish Manufacturing company. The sale to the "trust" was not made, and Mr. Crandall brings suit against Mr. Aldrich for damages in the considerable sum of $406,000.

It is Ithaca's Gain.

   Mr. P. Conway, the [present] and successful leader of the Cortland City band, left this morning for Ithaca, which will be his future home and where he has accepted the position of leader of the Cornell University Cadet band and instructor upon the cornet in the Ithaca Conservatory of Music. Mr. Martin Conway goes next week to Ithaca to take the place as leading trombone player in the same band. Cortland's loss will be Ithaca's gain, and it will be a serious loss to the Cortland City band to be deprived of two of its foremost members, one of them being the leader. The best wishes of their many friends here, however, will go with them.

F. H. COBB & CO.

Successors of the Well-Known Firm of Cobb & Perkins.

   The partnership which has existed between Frank H. Cobb and William J. Perkins for nearly twenty years was yesterday dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Perkins retiring. For the past two years Mr. Perkins has not been in his usual health and every effort was an exertion. Though he does not consider himself by any means a sick man he has determined to take a rest of some considerable time and has accordingly withdrawn from the firm.

   It was Feb. 12, I875, when Mr. Perkins bought the interest of Joseph E. Eggleston in the bakery business which had for two years been conducted by Eggleston & Cobb. The new firm became Cobb & Perkins. They were located in the old store so well remembered on Court-st. The second year of the partnership of Eggleston & Cobb a first venture was made in the wholesaling of crackers. The new firm has from the first kept enlarging and extending the business, which for many years now has comprised the wholesaling of confectionery, fruit, cigars and tobacco with trade extending throughout all central New York and northern Pennsylvania. A wholesale and retail business was done on Court-st. until the place became too small and cramped. In May, 1892, the retail part was sold, and the wholesale business was moved to the large double store in the Grand Central [Central Avenue] where three floors and a basement are now used and are none too large. The volume of trade has increased most marvelously.

   The two partners have throughout been the warmest friends and separate with mutual regrets. Both have been pushers and the large business which they have built up has been due to their united and harmonious work and to fair and honest dealing in all respects.

   Mr. Cobb continues the business. Mr. L. G. Davis and Mr. D. L. Stanford are each to take an interest in the concern which will now be styled F. H.Cobb & Co. Mr. Davis has been an employee of Cobb & Perkins for thirteen years, and for the past eleven years has been on the road for them. Mr. Stanford has a thorough knowledge of and experience with fruit and has been with the firm for several years.

   The new firm will be a strong one. Mr. Cobb will bring to it all the experience of years of success, and the other two members will each take care of their individual parts of the business with renewed energy because of the new interests and the new responsibilities.

F. Daehler's store.

Smith partnered with Beaudry in 1897. Photos of Mr. Beaudry and his store were copied from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland.

G. F. Beaudry.

A FORTUNATE FIRE.

The Beaudry Building Has a Narrow Escape.

   What might have resulted in a very serious conflagration was discovered just in time in the Beaudry building [65 Main Street, Cortland] at about 10 o'clock Monday evening. Mr. Beaudry heard a crackling noise and thought that it was hail falling upon the skylight, which extends through the center of the building from the roof to the first floor. Mr. Beaudry asked several persons who came in if it was hailing and, as they replied in the negative, he began to investigate. On looking up the skylight he discovered a slight blaze in the rafters of the building between the roof and ceiling of the third floor.

   It did not take them long to rush to the scuttle hole in the Clover club room and a bucket brigade was formed.

   An alarm of fire was sent in from box 333 at the engine house. The fire department responded quickly. About two hours previous Mr. N. J. Peck transferred his official belongings as chief of the department to Mr. A. G. Bosworth, the chief-elect. The latter accordingly acted as chief. Mr. Bosworth went up the ladder and upon investigation ordered a chemical fire extinguisher from the Hook's new truck, which had been hauled down [Main Street] by hand, It was the first time that the extinguisher had been tried, and it worked perfectly. As the bucket brigade had kept the fire under control till the arrival of the fire department the fire was extinguished in short order. Although no water was thrown, the Orris boys were the first to get their hose filled with water, The Hitchcock company read the alarm wrong and were endeavoring to find the fire in the eastern part of the town. The other companies were all on hand ready for action.

   Monday afternoon a tinner was at work on the roof of the building and shortly after 4 o'clock left the building. He dumped his fire pot in the snow on the roof and covered it with snow, thinking that it would be extinguished. Instead, it heated the tin, which set fire to the beams. It must have smouldered till it was discovered, A delay of a few minutes would undoubtedly have caused a big fire as it would have caught the draught from the skylight,

   Mr. Beaudry estimates his damage at about $500. The Clover club was damaged about $30. Both were fully covered by insurance.