WHO KILLED PATRICK QUINLAN?—PART ONE

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 24, 1895.

WHO KILLED QUINLAN?

EXAMINATION OF MCDONALD AND CLARK.

The Prisoners Plead Not Guilty—Synopsis of the Evidence Taken Before Justice Dorr Smith.

   The examination in the case of John McDonald and Lewis Clark, arrested May 4 on the charge of killing Patrick Quinlan of Homer on the night of Dec. 21, 1894,  was commenced in the Grand Jury room in the Court House before Justice Dorr C. Smith last Friday morning. Dist. Attorney Burlingame and John Courtney, Jr., appeared for The People and Smith & Dickinson for the defendants. The prisoners plead not guilty and asked for separate examinations. The examination in the case of McDonald was commenced.

   THOS. DANE of Homer was the first witness sworn and he testified as follows: Was in Doyle's saloon in Homer between 8 and 9 o'clock on the evening of December 21, 1894. Clark and McDonald were there. I was in front room. Quinlan came in the back way. Heard him talk about selling his turkeys that day. Clark and McDonald came in from rear door and came into front room where I was. I talked with McDonald and Clark talked with Albert Salisbury. Prisoners remained in the room ten or fifteen minutes. Quinlan left by the rear door and about five minutes later prisoners went out the front door on Main-st. Before they left Clark said "It's about time for us to go up there" or "It's about time for us to go." Can't say positively which. They went south on Main-st. Had known Quinlan ten or fifteen years. Never saw him intoxicated. Did not see him drink anything that night. I left at 9 o'clock. Did not see McDonald or Clark again that night.

   HENRY D. KEELING sworn said: I found a pocketbook in my field April 26, about 100 rods from where Quinlan was killed and about a rod from the highway. It was identified as having belonged to Quinlan. Found on steep side hill and in most direct line from where Quinlan was killed to Homer village. Knew Quinlan number of years. He often crossed this field when going to and from Homer, but usually went about 20 rods from where pocketbook was found.

   ANN OATMAN testified: Live in Ithaca and know McDonald. Detective Hildebrant of Elmira came to my house last October and again about May 1st. I told him that McDonald had been to my house. I first saw McDonald three or four years since [ago]. He was at my house last winter and said "The coroner's jury were fools and that everything was dark against him." Was going to Trumansburgh to see his mother. He asked for something to eat. Said he came from Cortland and was looking for work. Said he had something in his breast pocket he could use and that he had used on other occasions. Told him honesty was the best policy. He had been drinking. This was last January. Have not seen him since, except once at the Reeves house, until to-day. My real name is Ann Straight and my father's name was Johnson.

   AMELIA REEVES testified: Live in Ithaca. McDonald the prisoner was at my house last January.

   JOHN DOYLE testified: I keep a saloon in Homer. Knew Quinlan. McDonald and Clark were in my saloon the night of the murder. Soon after 8 o'clock Quinlan said it was time to go home. He drank a glass of beer and went out the rear door that leads out on James-st. He was not intoxicated. Never saw him intoxicated but once and that was three or four years ago. When he came in that night it was through the back door. In about two minutes afterwards McDonald and Clark came in the same way. Albert Salisbury treated them and they went in the front room and sat down on a window-sill ten feet from where Quinlan sat by a table. Prisoners had been drinking but were not intoxicated. I had no conversation with them and heard none between Quinlan and them. Clark said after Quinlan went out "If we are going up there we had better go" and they left by front door.

   CORONER GEO. D. BRADFORD testified: That he resided in Homer and saw the body of Quinlan on the Monday following. He died Sunday night. Witness described the injuries received by Quinlan and said that a large club would produce the injuries if used with sufficient force. Thought two blows were struck. Could not have been conscious after receiving one such blow. Did not think the injuries could have been produced by a fall.

   DR. L. T. WHITE testified: I reside in Homer. Saw Quinlan about 3 P. M. the day before he died. Breathed heavily and was unconscious. Assisted by Drs. Higgins and Robinson removed the pieces of bone from the head Sunday night. He died a half hour later. Should say he died from compression of the brain produced by injuries inflicted by some one other than himself.

   FRED GRAHAM testified: Remember night in question. Know McDonald. He boarded at Michael Murphey's and occupied same room with me for three or four weeks previous to December 21. I had been hunting that day and came home and went to bed about 7 P. M. McDonald and Clark came in about 10 o'clock. Clark was sick and laid down on the couch. Soon after McDonald retired. They were both drunk. Never saw Quinlan drunk but once. Did not go to bed at 7 o'clock any other night while McDonald boarded there.

   THOMAS GERRARD testified: Have known McDonald since 1885. Knew Patrick Quinlan. Saw McDonald in a saloon on Port Watson-st. one night. Cora Godfrey was in the sitting room with another man. She and McDonald had some words. She said to him, "You remember the Quinlan case." He told her to keep still. He and I then went out. I said to him, "She gave you a bad blast in there." McDonald said if she didn't keep still it would make him trouble. Witness had never received or been offered money to find out the guilty parties. Dennis Quinlan had offered him money to get McDonald drunk and then pick him. Did not try to get him drunk but told him what they wanted me to do.  This was three weeks after the murder. I worked in the same shop with McDonald five or six weeks after this and never knew of his trying to escape. W. A. Shirley paid him 25 cents for car fare to come to Cortland and find out where Clark was.

   THOMAS QUINLAN sworn says: I am the only son of Patrick Quinlan deceased. Father sold $40 worth of turkeys December 21, and got his pay for them. He went down to Homer again about 6 o'clock that night. Saw nothing of him again until I carried the milk to the depot next morning.  Saw him lying by the road side with his face in his hands, apparently asleep and snoring. (Witness testimony as to going to Homer with the milk and carrying his father home on his return and as to what transpired afterwards was substantially the same as given before the coroner and which was published fully in these columns at the time.—ED.)

   After bringing him home, I went down to the place where he was found to look for his pocketbook. Saw the impression of a small shoe in the mud pointing towards the village. Saw no other tracks but two of my father's pointing west. The small track was further down the hill than father's and looked as if it had been made by some one walking on the grass on the path and the foot had slipped off. Above where father was found the mud looked as though it had been tread down. On Tuesday the Dist. Attorney drew up an offer of reward for $500 and myself and sister signed it. It was published. Did not employ Hildebrant or authorize anyone else to do so. When mother died she left two mortgages of $1,000 each on father's farm to myself and sister. Father had never paid or been asked to pay either principal or interest. The mortgages have run about seventeen years. Father was always kind to us and possessed a very amiable disposition. Deputy Sheriff Shirley of Homer had taken an active part in trying to find the murderers. I paid him $25 about a month ago. About a year ago father wanted me to take the farm and run it. I told him go on as his head was better than mine. Father and I agreed when I was 21 that I should be paid for my work. Last year I received about $100 and the year before $150. Found a club near where father lay the day after he was hurt. Never had any disagreement with father.

   ELBERT SALISBURY sworn testified: Was in Doyle's saloon in Homer a little after 7 P. M. December 21, 1894. Prisoners came in the back door while I was there. I bought them a drink and went in the front room and talked with Tom Danes. They followed and talked with Danes and myself. I was there only two or three minutes and then went out. Knew Patrick Quinlan but did not see him there that evening. Several other people were there.

   Sheriff Adam Hilsinger sworn, testified: I arrested McDonald May 4. Found a letter in his pocket addressed to John McDonald, Trumansburg, N. Y. The first part of the letter reads as follows:

   HOMER, N. Y., Jan. 24, 1895.

   DEAR MACK received your letter today and hasten to answer it. I am not very happy to-night have Bin Sick all day But am better since I got your letter you ask me if Fred Graham is in Homer he is not he is in Cortland now Dear they had him and Lue Clark and Mick sworn again last Saturday Mick sed Clark was scared to death he told me all about it I wish you could no what the fool sed ****** Good By my Dear Boy I am your ever true friend

   Miss JOSIE CORL

   Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y.

   Adjourned to Monday.

MONDAY SESSION.

   GEO. W. ELBRIDGE testified: I live in Homer. Am 41 years old. My farm joins Quinlan's. Lived there since 1878. Saw Thomas Quinlan the morning after his father was hurt. He did not mention the fact to me. Sunday morning, December 23, I went to the place where Quinlan was found. Saw the prints of a pointed shoe or boot, size about 8 or 9 in the mud pointing northeast. It was quite stoney there. Did not look to see if there was a stone there of the right size to strike a man down with. The pocketbook was found in a direct line across lots toward Homer. The barbed wire fence could be avoided by passing through the bars that lead to the dugway [sic] and then to the Scott road. Saw the club in the road and found where it had been broken from the post on the west side of the barway [sic]. It was a fresh break and have since learned the two parts fitted together. Boards had evidently been nailed to the post as both pieces had nails in them. It would be difficult to turn a lumber wagon around in the narrow road where Quinlan was found. Had seen Quinlan intoxicated about a year ago and before that. Never heard of his quarreling with anybody nor of his having any trouble in his family. Should not think a drunken man with his overcoat on would suffer by lying on the ground awhile on such a morning as that of December 22 last.

   Examination adjourned to Friday, May 31, at 10 A. M.

Thirty-seven Cities.

   With the signing of the bill incorporating Johnstown, the number of cities in this state is increased to thirty seven. They are: Albany, Amsterdam, Auburn, Binghamton, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Cohoes, Corning, Dunkirk. Elmira. Gloversville, Hornellsville, Hudson, Ithaca, Jamestown, Kingston, Little Falls, Lockport, Long Island City, Middletown, Mt. Vernon, Newburg, New York, Niagara Falls, Ogdensburg, Olean, Oswego, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Rome, Schenectady, Syracuse, Troy, Utica, Watertown and Yonkers. The following counties contain two cities each: Albany, Chautauqua, Fulton, Niagara, Oneida, Orange, Stueben and Westchester.

Tuthill-Perkins.

   A quiet home wedding occurred Wednesday May 15, 1895, at 1 P. M. at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Perkins of South Cortland, N. Y. when their daughter, Ada, was united in marriage with Merton Tuthill of DeRuyter. The ceremony was performed by Rev. P. D. Perkins of Cincinnatus, N. Y. in the presence of a few of the relatives, after which an elaborate wedding dinner was served. The bride was prettily and tastefully attired in a gown of white silk trimmed with point lace and pearls, and the groom wore the conventional dress suit. Miss Mildred Williams of Cortland acted as bridesmaid, and Mr. Fred Perkins, brother of the bride, as best man. The bride is one of South Cortland's most charming young ladies, and the groom is highly respected by all who know him. The young couple have the best wishes of a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Tuthill left on the evening train, amid showers of rice, for parts unknown.

   Cortland, May 15,1895. COM.

  

Lillian Blauvelt.

HERE AND THERE.

   Decoration Day next Thursday.

   Sylvan Beach will open for the season next Monday.

   Be sure and attend the great meeting of the C. A. A. on the fair grounds to-morrow.

   Dr. Didama has moved his office to his residence, 73 North Main-st. It is connected with the telephone exchange.

   Mahan's 21st Music Festival begins June 3d. Greater attractions than ever. See advertisement in another column.

   John S. Johnson, the great bicycle rider, has been declared a class B man. He rides on the fair grounds to-morrow.

   C. F. Hornbeck, the jeweler, has moved from Ames' store to the rooms occupied by Holden & Seager, No. 3d Main-st. See his business card in another place.

   The great bicycle rider, John S. Johnson, will give an exhibition of fast riding on the fair grounds to-morrow. You may never have another chance to see the great wonder.

   There is a very large attendance at the Teachers' Institute now in session in this place and the proceedings have thus far been pronounced very instructive and interesting.

   Mme. Lillian Blauvelt, the most popular concert singer in America, and one of the most beautiful women, will sing at Mahan's Festival concerts on the evenings of June 6th and 7th, and the afternoon of the 7th.

   Guiseppi Campanari, leading baritone of the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York and one of the world's greatest vocalists, will appear at the afternoon and evening concerts, Mahan's Music Festival, June 6th.

   Sautelle & Ewers circus tent was full of people, both afternoon and evening, last Thursday and the show was a good one. All the acts were good, much better in fact than is often seen in higher priced and more pretentious shows.

   A new law authorizes villages to appropriate $100 annually to defray the expenses of a parade of the local fire department; and another directs villages to raise a sum not to exceed $500 each year to pay salaries of the local boards of health.

   Daniels full orchestra has been engaged to furnish music for dancing at the Memorial ball to be given at the Scott hotel in Scott, N. Y., Thursday evening, May 30. An elegant program has been arranged with a grand concert from 8 to 9 o'clock.

   Wednesday morning while James Vader was currying a colt in the stables of Mr. R. D. Brown, two miles east of this village, the colt kicked and broke Mr. Vader's left arm.

   Messrs. Beers & Warfield have purchased the pottery building on Groton-ave., and will use the same for manufacturing all kinds of plastering and cement, and for storing the same.

   Vesta Lodge, I. O. O. F., worked the first degree on four candidates and the second degree on eighteen last Monday evening. Supper was served in the dining rooms. Representatives from the lodges at Borodino, Homer, Preble and Marathon were present.

   Regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. on Saturday, May 25. Consecration service at 2:30 P. M., conducted by Miss Libbie Robertson. Program for the after meeting will be a Mothers' Union meeting under the supervision of the superintendent, Mrs. J. S. Squires.

   On Friday evening last about fifty of the young friends of Miss Belle Snyder and Mr. W. Clifton Wolcott made them a pleasant surprise at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Howe on Maple-ave., where Miss Snyder boards. The party was given in honor of their birthday which occurred on the following Sunday. Several beautiful and useful presents were left as reminders of a pleasant evening.

   Superintendent Albert Allen of the E. C. & N. R. R. has granted special train service for Ithaca and intermediate stations on the evening of June 6, on account of the Music Festival. The train will leave Cortland at 11 P. M. for Ithaca, stopping at McLean, Freeville and Etna, giving the people along the line a fine opportunity to attend the concerts and return to their homes the same evening at excursion rates.

  

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   A sturgeon, weighing over 200 pounds, was caught in the river at Troy.

   Patrick Cumber of Coventry had a leg broken at Sidney recently, while scuffling.

   A number of Mongolian pheasants were recently placed in the woods near Oneonta.

   Wm. Donley who was hit in the head by a pitched ball while at Deposit last week, died of his injuries May 10th.

   Joe Dunffee, the Syracuse pugilist, met Dan Creedon at Coney Island last Monday evening and was knocked out in the second round.

   Ephraim Beardsley, the Sidney Center murderer, has been ordered confined in the Matteawan asylum for insane criminals by Judge Forbes.

   M. M. Pomeroy, better known as "Brick"' Pomeroy, who in 1853 was "devil" in the Luminary, Waverly's first paper, afterward prominent in the newspaper world, in supplementary proceedings recently instituted against him by a domestic, testified that he was penniless.

   After September 1, a girl under 18 cannot be lawfully married in this state without the consent of her parents. Clergymen who perform the ceremony are liable to fine and imprisonment, and the girl's declaration of her age, if she is under the statutory limit, cannot be put in evidence in bar of punishment.

   The people of the State of New York are just $150,882.48 richer by the death of D. Edgar Crouse. Syracuse's deceased millionaire. Under the inheritance tax law that is the amount which goes into the people's pockets on the disposal of the millions. The cost of settling the estate is estimated at $175,000.

   The supervisors' law in Sullivan county prohibiting the killing of deer for five years expires with the end of this season. As a result that county will furnish a great hunting ground for sportsmen. Deer in that section is uncommonly plenty and with the protection given them have become very tame, and in many cases will feed about the barns of the farmers. They are harmless, and the public opinion seems to be that they should be protected. It is probable that another prohibitory law will be passed.