WAS HE POISONED?

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 21, 1894.

WAS HE POISONED?

Loren N. Phelps of Solon Believed to Have Died from Arcentical Poisoning—Some Ugly Stories Afloat.

   On the night of December 7th, Loren N. Phelps, who lived on the Pritchard farm one mile east of Solon was taken suddenly ill and Drs. M. R. Smith and H. C. Hendricks were called. In spite of all their efforts Phelps died last Friday and coroner Geo. D. Bradford of Homer was notified. An examination was made by the doctors, the stomach was removed and was taken to Dr. William Manlius Smith, renowned chemist of Syracuse for analysis by the coroner.

   On Monday the coroner empanelled a jury, which after viewing the remains, adjourned subject to the call of the coroner. Some of the physicians who were present say that there were apparently evidences of poisoning about the intestines.

   Mr. D. S. Brown, a neighbor, is reported as saying that Phelps told him a day or two after he was taken sick that he had been poisoned by "them" and that the next day he repeated the story in Dr Smith's presence. It is claimed that his wife, Adelaide, sent their 15 year old daughter to the store of C. D.  Fish in McGrawville,  the day before he was taken sick, to purchase arsenic to use in killing rats.

   It is also said by the neighbors that the couple had been in the habit of quarreling and that the wife's preference for the society of one William Smith of Cortland, aged 22 years, was the principal cause of their trouble. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving they were in Cortland together and had a quarrel while here because the woman refused to return home with her husband, saying that she would ride home with Smith the day following.

   Phelps was about 40 years of age, but his wife is several years younger. He leaves a boy 17 years old, a girl of 15 and a boy of 7 years.

   Mrs. Phelps is evidently a woman of nerve and does not seem to feel very badly over her great loss. She is a native of Bradford, Pa. She denies that she and her husband ever had any serious trouble and says that the reason he insisted on her returning home from Cortland with him, was because he thought he was sick and needed her care and not because he was jealous of Smith, The neighbors do not agree with her but insist that they quarreled frequently. She claims that he was out of his head all the time while he was sick and that whatever he may have said during that time to the neighbors were simply the ravings of a diseased mind. Those who saw him say he was rational. No arrests have been made.

   The chemical analysis may not be finished short of ten days or two weeks.

   The funeral was held from the Baptist church in Solon Tuesday forenoon.

Elm Street bridge over the Tioughnioga river was built by the Cortland-Homer Traction Co.to access Cortland Park and McGrawville.

It is Time to Consider.

   The commissioners appointed for that purpose have decided that a road around McGrawville hill is necessary and the taxpayers of the town will have to foot the bill. This is all right and proper. The Cortland and Homer Traction Co. will want to use this new road; but will the Commissioner of Highways of the town grant them the right to do so after the town has paid for it, without recompense? The town and corporation has already given the Traction Co. about everything they have asked for, and it seems to the DEMOCRAT that it is about time to call a halt.

   It will be remembered that the DEMOCRAT objected strenuously last spring to granting the use of Port Watson-st. bridge for the use of the railway, but our objections were overruled. If the company runs cars over this bridge as often as they say they will, the bridge will he occupied by a car neatly all the time. Possibly horses owned in this village may in time become used to these cars, but very few of them will ever be so familiar with them that they will not jump over the railing every time they meet one on the bridge. In case of farmers residing in other towns east of here, and who come to town only three or four times a year, it will be still worse. Their horses will never get used to them and it is quite probable that the town will be called upon to defend many suits for damage. Giving the company the right to use this bridge is likely to drive away a large amount of trade from Cortland. The company should have been compelled to build their own bridge across the river at the continuation of Elm St., and the Highway Commissioner should not now grant it any further privileges that they do not pay for.

   Our citizens should arouse themselves before it is too late and protest against the giving away of any more franchises. Who will take hold of this matter?

Sullivan County White Caps.

   PORT JERVIS, N. Y., Dec 14.—Charles Barry of Acidalia, Sullivan county, was dragged from his bed out into the snow Wednesday night, and tarred and feathered. His wife was treated likewise in her bed. A mysterious death occurred in the neighborhood recently, and the behavior of Barry and his wife led the white caps to suppose they were responsible for it.

A New Cortland Industry.

   ALBANY. Dec. 17.—The McKee & Webb Manufacturing company was incorporated to-day to conduct a general foundry and machine business in Cortland. Capital $15,000; directors, John L. McKee, Arthur Webb, Thomas McKee and Thomas Smith of Cortland.

The Labor Platform.

   DENVER, Col., Dec. 17.—The report of the committee appointed to prepare a political platform was taken up for action in the convention of the American Federation of Labor There was a heated discussion over the preamble which declared in favor of independent political action by the trade unionists.

   Delegate Tobin of Rochester declared that labor leaders sold their positions for personal profit. President Gompers denied Tobin's statements.

   The preamble was finally stricken out.

   The first nine sections of the platform were adopted as follows: Compulsory education; direct legislation by the use of the referendum; a legal work day of not more than eight hours; sanitary inspection of workshop, mine and home; liability of employers for injury to health, body or life; the abolition of contract system in all public work; the abolition of the sweating system; the municipal ownership of street cars and gas and electric plants for public distribution of light, heat and power; Nationalization of telegraphs, telephones, railroads and mines.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   TOMPKINS.—The Fall term of the Cornell University closes on Dec. 21.

   Automatic sprinklers are being put into the Lyceum Opera House, Ithaca.

   Ithaca ice men have already harvested ice four inches in thickness, for immediate use.

   The Ithaca Salvation Army hold meetings at the County House the second Sunday in each month.

   Osmer J. Brooks, a gun tester at the gun shop, was badly burned in the face while testing a gun one day last week. Dr. Lockerby attended him.

   Five young boys were recently arrested in Ithaca for gambling. The police made a raid and found the boys in an unfrequented cellar.

   Founder's Day will be observed at Cornell, Jan. 11 in the Armory. Charles A. Dana, editor of the New York Sun, will make the address.

   A mammoth fulling mill, of a size suitable for the big and heavy pieces of cloth manufactured there, has recently been put into the Dryden woolen mill, and other improvements are underway at that busy place.

   B. A. Stevens of Ithaca, has sold his horse "Ultimatum" to Ed Cornea, who has also purchased of A . H. Platts a half brother to the Stevens horse. It is said the pair brought $800. They are to be taken to New York.

   The Kelsey Furnace Company of Syracuse are negotiating with parties in McLean for property, so they can move their plant to that place and manufacture the celebrated Kelsey furnace.

   The board of trustees of Southworth library in Dryden, held a meeting Thursday and decided to close the library Jan. 1st., until means are provided for the salary of the librarian and janitor and adopted a resolution to join the university of the state of New York and thus avail themselves of the advantages of the regents management and aid. It is thought the village will make the needed appropriation at the next election and the new library building be kept open daily with reading rooms provided with the leading dailies and magazines.

HERE AND THERE.

   Harper Bros. are advertising their publications in our columns.

   Burgess, the clothier, has a new advertisement on the last page.

   For fancy bric-a-brac for Christmas go to Mrs. J. T. Davern & Co's.

   The Cortland Beef Co. is shipping large quantities of poultry to New York.

   Christmas next Tuesday. May it be a merry one to every reader of the DEMOCRAT.

   To-morrow the D. L. & W. will run an excursion to New York and return for $5.80.

   C. F. Brown has something to say about Christmas goods in our advertising columns.

   Read Ament & Brazee's new advertisement before purchasing your Christmas presents.

   Bartholomew's trained horses in the Opera House next Monday and Tuesday evenings.

   The board of Regents have granted charters to the union free schools in Truxton and Tully.

   Bingham & Miller, the clothiers, have something new to say to our readers on the last page.

   On Saturday night, Dec. 29, "Shore Acres" will be presented in the Opera House. It is an excellent play.

   The prospectus of the New York Sun, one of the oldest of New York journals, will be found in another column.

   Handkerchiefs, fancy pillows, cushions, all kinds of embroidered mats and trays for Christmas trade at Mrs. J. T. Davern & Co's.

   The court of appeals has decided that fish in a pond on a farm is personal property and is not a part of the real estate.—Exchange.

   Last week Hon. O. U. Kellogg sold a fine brood mare and two two year-old colts to C. W. Young of Syracuse. Consideration, $1,500.

   Alexander McDowell, Esq., the well known lawyer of Whitney's Point, died at his home in that place last Sunday of pneumonia, aged 74 years.

   Passage, Overton & Sarvay, the shoe dealers in the Grand Central block, have an advertisement in another place. Be sure and examine their fine stock of goods for the holidays.

   Bartholomew's Equine Paradox will appear in Cortland Opera House, Monday and Tuesday evenings, Dec. 24 and 25. Twenty-five educated horses that are marvels of intelligence. This entertainment is worth going many miles to see. Don't miss it. Evening prices 35, 35 and 50 cents. Matinee in the afternoon for the children.

   P. Launcelot Hines, local editor of the Standard undertook to tame the new Motor Cycle on Church-st., yesterday afternoon. In a twinkling he was spread out very thin on the sidewalk and had not expert Dr. Santee been present to help him off the field of battle, he would undoubtedly still be resting on the cold, cold ground.