VENEZUELA PREPARES TO YIELD, COAL OPERATORS OPEN CASE, HANDWRITING ISSUE, AND CORTLAND COUNTY SUPERVISORS ADJOURN

 

Cipriano Castro.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, December 18, 1902.

REALIZE THE DANGER.

Venezuelans Preparing to Yield to Demands.

HAVE DECIDED TO ARBITRATE.

Leading Citizens of Caracas Sent a Joint Note to President Castro Asking Him to Give Full Powers to Minister Bowen to Effect a Settlement. Blockade In Force.

   Caracas, Dec. 18.—The awakening of the Venezuelan people to the present situation of their country is accompanied by feelings of bitterness and sorrow. Their fleet has been destroyed and their pride has been deeply wounded; they are now resigned to accept the affront which they consider has been offered them by the allies.

   During the last 10 days President Castro has acted with extraordinary energy. He has transformed the entire country into a vast camp, having raised more than 40,000 men whom he has well armed, equipped and transported from every direction to La Guairá and Puerto Cabello, hoping that the allies would attempt to land at one or both of these points.

   But there has been a change of feeling and the prominent men of Venezuela who were at one time ready to lead the people to the defense of their country now consider that justification to take the men of the republic away from their families and their work does not exist.

   They have resolved to discover a means to bring about arbitration or at least treat with the allies. The means sought is thought to lie through the United States legation and satisfactory results are on every hand expected to follow the attitude of the United States.

   A member of the ministry said to the correspondent of the press: "The United States has not prevented the allies from assailing us but it has obliged them to accept our terms."

   Rumors have been in circulation here lately of the capture of the last Venezuelan gunboat, the Miranda, at Maracaibo, by the German cruiser Falke. It is now reported, however, that the Miranda has taken refuge in the Lake of Maracaibo and that all the guns and ammunition which were on board have been disembarked.

 

PEACE IN COLOMBIA.

Revolutionary Generals and 2,000 Men Brought to Panama.

BUT FEW ARMED REBELS LEFT.

According to a Presidential Decree, Elections For Members of Congress Will Take Place the Second Sunday in March Next—Export Duties to Be Gradually Reduced.

   Panama, Dec. 18.—The Colombian gunboat Bogota has arrived here from Chiriquí towing five sailing vessels. She brings the former revolutionary generals, Morales, Berti and Gomez, and nearly 2,000 men to Panama.

   There now remains but a few revolutionists at Montego and the gunboat Padilla has been sent to that point.

   The situation in the interior of Columbia is becoming normal.

   According to a presidential decree which was published Tuesday, the elections for members of congress will take place the second Sunday in March, 1903.

   Beginning Jan. 1 export duties are to be diminished by 10 per cent each month until they are entirely abolished.

 

Photo of breaker boys, Pennsylvania Coal Co.

OPERATORS OPEN CASE.

Present Their Side of the Controversy With Mine Workers.

WAGE STATEMENTS CHALLENGED.

Counsel For Operators Declared Recognition of Union Was Not an Issue Before the Commission—Attorneys For Non-Union Men Called Witnesses.

   Scranton, Dec. 18.—The anthracite coal operators opened their side of the controversy with the mine workers before the strike commission and the attorneys for the non-union men began calling witnesses.

   The sessions were probably the liveliest yet held by the commission. At the morning session the miners' lawyers challenged the fairness of certain wage statements handed to the commission by the Pennsylvania Coal company and in the afternoon Lawyer Darrow had a spirited discussion with Chairman Gray as to whether or not the miners had a right to know who is paying the lawyers representing the non-union men before the commission. Mr. Darrow asserted they were employed by the coal operators.

   Preceding this Simon P. Wolverton, counsel for the Reading company, who delivered the opening address on behalf of all the large coal companies, made the point that the recognition of the union is not an issue before the commission, which brought out a protest from Mr. Darrow.

   The latter claimed that, if it were not, then the operators should be forbidden from presenting testimony that tended to show the union was responsible for all the alleged violence committed during the strike.

   Ira H. Burns, one of the attorneys for the independent operators, presented the opening statement of the individual companies.

   It was arranged that the attorneys representing the non-union men should first call their witnesses and five witnesses were produced who testified that strikers had killed one man and had more or less seriously annoyed two other men who worked during the suspension.

   The first witness was Mrs. James Wenston, the wife of the murdered man, and the second was her son-in-law.

   Mr. Darrow asked the son-in-law who was paying for the lawyers who are representing the non-union men and then ensued the liveliest tilt that has occurred in the sessions of the commission.

   Counsel for the witness objected and Mr. Darrow insisted he and the commission had a right to know who were back of the non-union men, but Chairman Gray differed with him. The chairman said it made no difference if the operators were paying for the lawyers.

   Mr. Darrow insisted he had a right to know because this was a peculiar case and ex-Congressman Brumm, also for the miners, claimed that the non-union men had virtually formed a union because they had asked the commission to recognize them in the award and protect them from losing their places and that they also asked for an increase in pay.

   The colloquy was carried on for some time and finally Chairman Gray consulted his colleagues and as a result quietly answered that the commissioners thought it immaterial who was back of the non-union men. At 5 o'clock the commission adjourned until today.

 

NON UNION MEN.

On Witness Stand Before Anthracite Coal Commission.

   Scranton, Dec. 18.—The Philadelphia & Reading and Delaware, and Lackawanna & Western railroads filed statements of wages and hours of labor of their employees with the commission at the opening of the session this morning.

   Frederick Reynolds, a fireman with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western company, was the first witness called by the attorneys for the non-union men this morning. He said he had a family of seven to support and had worked during the strike. Reynolds said while returning from work one morning he met John Francis, a striker who with a number of others held him up. Witness said Francis said to him: "Reynolds if you don't quit work we will kill you."

   Counsel brought out the fact that during the trial of Francis he was asked by what authority he stopped people on the street and Francis replied that he got the authority from his "local."

   John Hoffman, a union man working at Drifton, was the next witness. He said he had gone on strike and become so desperate in need of food that he returned to work, the union having failed to do anything for him.

   One night he said, a crowd visited him at his home and told him to come down. Upon his refusal, Hoffman said, the order was given to load firearms. Witness said he tore shingles from the roof and escaped through the hole and then ran for nearly 15 miles. On his return next day the house and furniture were destroyed. Hoffman said he was compelled to leave the neighborhood.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

The Handwriting Issue.

   A problem which for several years past has perplexed public school authorities is that of handwriting. Is the style or system of penmanship likely to be most useful in practical life "vertical" or "slant"? Referring to this problem, the New York Sun in a recent editorial gives some interesting facts bearing upon it.

   Two and one-half years ago the board of school superintendents in New York became convinced that the vertical system was not desirable, and they passed resolutions recommending the slant system in its stead. The board's recommendation, however, virtually left the question of adopting the slant system to the discretion of the teachers individually. Supt. Jasper said: "We found that business people were opposed to employing persons who had been taught to write by the vertical system. It is good enough for use in libraries, but not in commercial life. It is a fad which, like many others, crept into our schools, and it should be abolished."

   A lively discussion of this question is now going on in Baltimore. Bankers and merchants and business men generally in Baltimore are up in arms against vertical penmanship, which has been taught in the public schools there for the last six years. The managers of the Baltimore business colleges say that they cannot find employment for graduates who have acquired the vertical style. The president of the Merchants' National bank of that city is one of many who believe that oblique handwriting is neater and more legible and capable of being executed with much greater speed than the other style and, moreover, that ability in a clerk to write only the vertical style is a serious objection to his employment.

   The superintendent of Baltimore's public schools, Mr. J. H. Van Sickle, presents the most forceful argument we have yet heard in behalf of the vertical or, as he calls it, the "natural," hand. He has arrayed on his side Thomas A. Edison, reputed to be the swiftest penman in America; former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury P. A. Vanderlip, the managers of telegraph companies in many of our principal cities, who are familiar with the handwriting of expert telegraphers—men able to write legibly from twenty-live to fifty words per minute: prominent printers, manufacturers and dealers in various parts of this country, and even college professors and physicians.

   Mr. Edison acquired the vertical style when learning telegraphy. By its use he is said to have averaged fifty-two words per minute and to have turned out copy "as legible as print" even at this remarkable speed. Supt. Van Sickle offers the following statistics: The average speed of 600 public school children in fifteen cities who have studied the vertical style for from two to five years is 130 letters per minute, whereas the average of nearly 200 slant writers, all adults, is only 103 letters per minute. Mr. Van Sickle sums up as follows in the Baltimore Sun:

   "The vertical system is better than the slant system because the child naturally writes in that system, and also because it does not tend either to strain the eyes or to produce curvature of the spine. It is easier to write and easier to read than slanting script; it occupies less space and, under equal demands as to legibility, it can be written with greater speed than slant writing. We cannot get legible writing in the schools by the slant system. We can get it from ninety-nine out of every 100 pupils by the vertical system."

   Vertical handwriting is commonly spoken of as a fad which has sprung up within the last ten or twelve years. In reality, however, this style of writing is shown to antedate by more than a century the sloping method. Dr. Edward Brooks of Philadelphia, who has written a history of the two systems of penmanship in question, says that the slant system was unknown in any language until the sixteenth century. Prior to that time all chirography was vertical. It was, practically, the only hand written by the ancient Romans. When, during the middle ages, the cultivation of a fine style of penmanship was at its height in Italy, slant writing was never practiced. That style seems first to have been popularized by Queen Elizabeth, who fell in love with the new type of a Venetian printer, afterward known as italic, and fashioned her handwriting after it.

 

CORTLAND COUNTY SUPERVISORS ADJOURN.

Work of the Session Completed This Afternoon.

REPORTS OF SEVERAL COMMITTEES.

Routine Work Taken up This Morning—Committee to Consider Question of Making the Office of Sheriff a Salaried Office, Bring in a Report—Other Matters of the Closing Day.

   The committee appointed to look up the matter of making the office of sheriff a salaried office reported to the board of supervisors this morning as follows:

   We, the undersigned committee appointed to investigate the possibility of placing the office of sheriff of this county on the salary system, would respectfully report that we have given the subject considerable thought, have studied the various methods as followed by several counties which have made the change, and have been in communication with those well qualified to decide the question.

   Our conclusion is that while acknowledging that the system has considerable merit, we fail to discover any great financial benefit resulting from the change and that in all probability the efficiency of the service would be impaired. Therefore we recommend the continuance of the present system.

   M. A. Mynard, N. F. Webb, A. H. Bennett, Committee.

   On motion of Mr. Webb:

   Resolved, That the clerk of this board be authorized to communicate with Dr. Cheney, stating that through press of business it will be impossible for the supervisors to accept his kind invitation to visit the Normal school during this session.

   On motion of Mr. Johnson:

   Resolved, That the thanks of this board are due and are hereby tendered to the publishers of the Cortland Standard, the Cortland Democrat and the Homer Republican for their courtesy in furnishing this board with their papers during the session.

   On motion of Mr. Allen:

   Resolved, That the committee of one, Mr. D. C. Johnson, appointed at last year's session of this board to have charge of the purchase of all coal for the use of the county buildings, be continued for the ensuing year.

   At the session of the board yesterday afternoon, Elisha Williams, who was recently appointed county sealer of weights and measures, explained to the board that certain weights and measures of the outfit belonging to that office were missing and should be replaced; also that all of the weights and measures belonging to the office should be sealed by the state superintendent.

   On motion of Mr. Bennett:

   Resolved, That the clerk of this board be directed to investigate the matter and purchase new weights if necessary, pursuant to the request of the county sealer of weights and measures.

   On motion of Mr. Allen:

   Resolved, That the good roads committee as now constituted, consisting of Messrs. Webb, Kinyon and Rowe, be continued for another year.

   At 4:30 o'clock this afternoon the work of the board was brought to a close, and an adjournment was taken sine die.

 

CORTLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Annual Meeting and Election of Officers for the Ensuing Year.

   At the annual meeting of the Cortland Fire department at Fireman's hall last evening the following officers for the ensuing year were elected:

   Chief Engineer—E. N. Sherwood.

   First Assistant Engineer—M. V. Lane.

   Second Assistant Engineer—Willard H. Gilbert.

   Secretary—Eugene Eastman.

   Treasurer—M. E. Sarvay.

 

Death of William Kelley.

   William Kelley, who was about 90 years of age, died at 10 o'clock this morning at the home of John Cooligan on Railroad-st.

   Mr. Kelley had until recently lived in Solon. He is survived by two sons, Henry Kelley of Solon and John Kelley of Minnesota, and by three daughters, Mary, Annie and Lizzie, all of whom live west. The funeral arrangements will be made later.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Today's indications point to a white Christmas.

   —Syracuse wants three-cent fares on the street cars.

   —The Normal school closes tomorrow for the Christmas vacation.

   —The semi-annual election of officers of Pecos Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, will occur at 7:30 o'clock this evening.

   —The best creamery butter is quoted at 30 and 31 cents per pound and it costs as much to get one dozen eggs as it does to buy a pound of creamery butter.

   —Without anticipating the action of the courts, it is quite safe to say that the investigation which is being carried on by Coroner Santee in Cortland county clearly indicates a crime.—Syracuse Post-Standard.

   —The temporary dam built at the outlet of Dryden lake by the milk supply company, to raise the level of the lake about 2 feet, was carried away yesterday letting a miniature freshet down Virgil creek.—Dryden Herald.

   —The new display advertisements today are—Baker & Angell, Sorosis shoes, page 6; Opera House, "Maude Hillman Co.," page 5; Baker & Angell, Shoes for Christmas, page 7; Hollister Hardware and Plumbing Co., Christmas demands, etc., page 8; G. H. Wiltsie, Holiday gifts, page 6; L. and K. Freeman, Homer, Millinery sale, page 8; Cortland Fish and Oyster Co., Fish and oysters, Page 7.

 

ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS, THE VENEZUELAN SITUATION, KIEHL INVESTIGATION, CORTLAND HOSPITAL ADDITION, AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

Samuel Gompers.

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, December 17, 1902.

ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS.

Mr. Gompers Asserted That Coal Companies Brought Them to State of Pennsylvania.

   Scranton, Dec. 17.—Notwlthstanding the fact that the mine workers announced that they had closed their case with the exception of calling one more witness, the entire two sessions of the strike commission were consumed in hearing three witnesses for the men.

   They were John C. Haddock, an individual operator; Rev. Dr. Peter Roberts, who is assisting the miners, and President Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor. The principal point in Mr. Haddock's testimony was that he favored giving the mine workers concessions under certain conditions.

   President Gompers testified as an expert in the trade union movement. He created a stir when he strongly implied during his examination that the coal companies are responsible for bringing immigrants to the coal regions. When one of the lawyers for the coal companies asked him if he knew it from personal knowledge, he said he could prove it if necessary.

   The hours of labor of the workmen generally throughout the country, he continued, have been materially reduced by the trades union movement.

   Regarding trade agreements, Mr. Gompers said they have always been advantageous to both the workman and his employer.

   Chairman Gray, who is taking an especial interest in boycotts, asked Mr. Gompers what he thought of such methods.

   The witness said he would boycott any person that is unfair to the workmen, but would not boycott a man who chooses to do business with the person that is boycotted.

   The question of recognition of the union was then taken up and Mr. Gompers said that employers made a mistake when they refused to recognize organized labor. The employer, he said, has no moral right to refuse to confer with a committee of his employes [sic].

   In reply to Bishop Spalding Mr. Gompers said he would not favor incorporating a union.

   Mr. Gompers was then cross-examined by James Torrey, counsel of the Delaware & Hudson company, who asked the witness if he did not believe that members of the United Mine Workers of America should be 21 years of age and able to read and write before they are admitted to membership in the union.

   To this the witness replied: "Yes, ten years from now and when the companies stop bringing illiterate foreigners to this country. They are brought here by the companies and the labor union must protect them and see that they get their rights."

   Mr. Torrey asked him if he could prove that coal companies were guilty of such a thing, and the witness replied that he felt certain it was true, because he had seen copies of circulars which have been sent around in Southern Europe asking people to come into Pennsylvania and saying there was plenty of money to be earned in the mines.

   Mr. Torrey asked if the steamship companies were not the authors of those circulars, to which Mr. Gompers replied that he had seen 10, 20 and 30 men huddled together in huts in the anthracite coal fields, and he noted that it was not long after they arrived here that they were given employment in the mines. He offered to give to the commission the name of a man who could give the facts to the commission. He did not care to make his name public.

 

Mrs. Grant's Funeral.

   Washington, Dec. 17.—It has been decided that short religious services shall be held in this city for the late Mrs. U. S. Grant and that the remains will be placed by the side of those of her husband in the tomb at Riverside park, New York.

 

SMS Panther.

                                       "NOT A MEASURE OF WAR."

     German Commander's Statement Before Seizing Venezuelan Ships.

   Caracas, Dec. 17.—Before the Germans seized the Venezuelan warships Commander Eckermann of the Panther sent notes to the respective Venezuelan commanders demanding that they abandon their vessels, adding: "This is not a measure of war on Germany's part, but we propose to provisionally seize your ship in order to oblige Venezuela to recognize our just demands. In case you disobey and wish to defend your ships, I shall forcibly prevent you."

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

The Venezuelan Situation.

   That the necessity should arise for European powers to make a hostile demonstration against a sovereign state on this hemisphere, as to whose political destinies the United States has in the promulgation of the Monroe doctrine assumed to have a certain oversight, is a matter of no small concern to this nation. It has been repeatedly declared by this government that it did not propose to shelter under the Monroe doctrine South American and Central American nations from the just effects of their own misdeeds or failures to fulfill international obligations. This was reaffirmed by President Roosevelt in his late message in these words: "It behooves each one to maintain order within its own borders and to discharge its just obligations to foreigners." Still the situation in Venezuela, where Great Britain and Germany seek by combined force of arms to collect apparently just debts, is one to excite apprehension and call for the exhibition of wise statesmanship and diplomacy on the part of our state department.

   The English and German claims are based partly on the destruction of property belonging to citizens of Germany and Great Britain and partly on the failure of Venezuela to make proper provision for the payment of its national debts.

   The liabilities of Venezuela incurred under the influence of President Castro, are stated by the London Mail with greater specification than we have seen elsewhere. The chief "battle horse" seems to be a loan of $10,000,000 negotiated in 1890 and bearing interest at 5 per cent. This is apparently a strictly public and government obligation, with no question about ''guarantee." Two-thirds of this loan is due to Germans, the rest to Britons and Frenchmen. The interest is four years in arrears. Then there is a German railway built at a "cost" of $15,000,000, or at least that is what the Germans charged and the Venezuelans agreed to pay, of which the London Times says that the railway built with it has received "much the same treatment with the English ones."

   Apparently the only way in which the Germans and Britons thought that they could collect these claims was the seizure and retention of the customs receipts of the port of La Guairá, which President Castro resisted with such force as was within his power. As the customs receipts of La Guairá for the last six months have averaged only about 600,00 bolivars, worth 20 cents each of our money, it will take the creditors a rather long time to recover the full amount of their claim. It is even doubtful whether the current receipts of the collector of La Guairá, even should he, contrary to his instincts and traditions, honestly turn them all in, would meet the current expenses of the warships sent to collect them.

   While the landing of marines by a European power on the territory of an American state and the seizure of customs for legitimate debt are perhaps not in violation of the Monroe doctrine, clearly the United States cannot, if it maintains its traditions, permit a European power or powers to go much further than that. Doubtless there is an understanding at Washington as to how far the Europeans can go in their debt collecting process, so there is perhaps no cause to get excited over a prospect of serious complications.

 

KEIHL INVESTIGATION.

Important Testimony Given by Preble Witnesses.

THERE WAS NO EMBALMING.

William Earle, the Undertaker, Testifies Positively that no Fluid Was Used—Nine Witnesses Were Examined by the Coroner at Preble Tuesday—Case Adjourned Until Friday When Maud Kiehl, Prof. Chamot and Physicians Who Made Autopsy will be Put on the Stand.

   Coroner E. M. Santee is proceeding [with] the examination of witnesses in the Kiehl case as fast as the circumstances attendant upon such an investigation will permit. Nine witnesses were examined yesterday in Preble. Their testimony had a direct bearing upon what transpired immediately following the death of William Kiehl, and the incidents connected with the funeral. The persons who were at the house and helped in the preparations for the funeral told what they had seen and of conversations that had been held.

   Undertaker William Earl was one of the most important witnesses examined up to this time. He told of his visit to the house and what was done by him in preparing the body for burial. He asserted positively that the body of William Kiehl was not embalmed. His testimony was in direct contradiction of a statement that it is claimed has been made by George Fenner, a brother of Mrs. Maud Kiehl, to the effect that a large quantity of embalming fluid was pumped into the body.

   Testimony was also introduced to show what Mrs. Adelaide Fenner, the mother of Maude, said to her daughter shortly after the death of William Kiehl. Dr. Hunt testified to the fact that he prescribed for William Kiehl on Tuesday before he died and that on the following Thursday found him suffering from a well developed case of pneumonia.

   At the close of yesterday's session in Preble, N. Y., the inquest was adjourned until Friday morning at 10 o'clock at the courthouse in Cortland. Several important witnesses are yet to be called. Among the number are Mrs. Maude Kiehl, Prof. E. M. Chamot, who made the analysis of the remains, and Drs. Dana and Higgins, who made an examination of the body.

   A summary of the evidence brought out at Tuesday's sessions is as follows:

Mrs. Hattie Henderson.

   Mrs. Hattie Henderson, the wife of John Henderson, was the first witness called. She told of going to the Hiscock farm in company with Mrs. George Henderson on the afternoon of Feb. 10, 1902, the day after William Kiehl's death. She and her sister-in-law scrubbed the kitchen floor and while they were thus engaged George Fenner and Mrs. Adelaide Fenner came in. George went into the diningroom where Maude was and the door was closed after him. Continuing Mrs. Henderson said: Mrs. Fenner merely spoke to me and started for the diningroom where Maude met her at the door. Mrs. Fenner said, "Oh, you poor child you.'' Maude said nothing. Mrs. Fenner then came back, took off her wraps and sat down by the kitchen stove. Mrs. Fenner then inquired of Maude what Will's symptoms had been. Maude told her about the vomiting and Mrs. Fenner said "that's just the way your poor father died." Mrs. Fenner chided Maude for not doing more for Will.

   The undertaker came before supper. When he came George Fenner sat by the diningroom door in the kitchen. The undertaker came in with what appeared to be an undertaker's case, loosened his overcoat and went direct to the room where the body was. George Fenner sat still and did not at any time leave the kitchen while the undertaker was there. Mrs. Henderson next went to the house at about 8:30 o'clock Tuesday morning. She assisted about the work and helped Mrs. Fenner about washing the bedding and a lot of clothes used about Will in his sickness. She testified that in the afternoon of the same day she heard Mrs. Fenner say to Maude in substance: "When you get the life insurance, keep it in your own hands, and don't you pay the funeral expenses. You have nothing more to do with the funeral expenses than if you were not his wife. You and Roger can go home with me. What things you've got you sell and get your money for."

   The weather was intensely cold from the death until after the funeral.

Laura Henderson.

   Laura Henderson went with her sister-in-law, Hattie Henderson, to the Kiehl home on the day following the death of William to assist in the work necessary in getting ready for the funeral. Her testimony corroborated that of her sister-in-law and added nothing to the evidence already brought out.

Ann F. Haynes.

   Mrs. Ann F. Haynes was one of the first persons, outside the family, to arrive at the house after the death of William Kiehl on the night of Feb. 9. She testified that Albert Powers came for her and that she and Mrs. Schuyler Cornue went with Mr. Powers to the Hiscock farm where they arrived about midnight. Maude Kiehl, Adam Kiehl and Fred Shearar were there when they arrived, and the Hendersons came in soon after. John Henderson went into the room where the body was and witness went in shortly afterwards. The bed was in a terribly mixed up, confused state. The body lay just as when he breathed his last. Everything taken from the bed was wet as was also the carpet in front of the bed. The body was removed from the room to the next room north. All the bedding was taken from the room and the room was cleaned up the next day.

   Adam was asked to help but he did not want to go through the room where the body was lying. Mrs. Haynes and Cornue remained at the house until the next Monday afternoon.

John Henderson.

   John Henderson arrived at the house shortly after the last witness. He went to the room where the body was. He described the condition of the room, the body and the bed where the body lay. George Henderson came in and helped wash and dress the body and take it into the north room. When the undertaker came about 5 o'clock, George Fenner sat by the kitchen stove. Henderson went into the room where the undertaker was and held the light which he made an incision in the abdomen to let out the gas. Nothing was injected into the body and after arranging the body he and the undertaker left the room together.

Undertaker Earle Sworn.

   The undertaker who had charge of the funeral and who prepared the body for burial was William L. Earle of Tully. He has been in the undertaking business for thirty years. He testified to being called to attend the body of William Kiehl on the morning of Feb. 10, and of a trip to Amber to attend another case before arriving at the Kiehl home. He said: I finally arrived not far from 5:30 o'clock in the afternoon. I went in at the back door, and asked some one in the kitchen where the body was. No one went with me into the front room. Very shortly after, John Henderson came in and assisted me in caring for the body. 1 found the abdomen bloated and made the insertion to relieve that condition. I also withdrew about a quart of fluid from the body. I did not inject anything into the body. I am positive of this, for I used all the embalming fluid I had with me at Amber before coming to Preble. I was not in the room with the Kiehl body over fifteen or twenty minutes and did not return there again until the day of the funeral. When I placed the body in the casket, I think it was frozen. The body was very rigid and it would not have been so at that time had it not been frozen. There was no fire in the room where the body was and the weather was severely cold. There was nothing about the body to indicate decomposition. When I returned to place the body in the casket I did not use any embalming fluid and did not at any time use any on that body. I did not leave any fluid of any kind to be put upon his face. I did not deem it necessary. In my own mind I am sure of this.

   I remember saying to Mr. Henderson when he came into the room that I thought that there was something radically wrong with the death. I also said to Mrs. Kiehl, the mother of William, "If I were you I would have an autopsy in this case. I think there is something radically wrong." As near as I can remember she replied, "It can't be so, do not say anything about it."

   In talking with Mrs. Adam Kiehl, Sr., I said, "I verily believe that William has not died of pneumonia any more than I have it."

   At the time of Adam's death Mrs. Adam Kiehl said to me: "Mr. Earle, there have been times since Will's death that I have not been satisfied and I have wanted to see you and talk with you about it."

Corroborate the Testimony.

   George Henderson corroborated what his brother had said about what took place on the night William Kiehl died and on the morning following.

   George H. Ackles was at the house on the day before William's death. He went to the door of the room where William was in bed and spoke with him.

   George Masters, the town clerk of Preble, was sworn to prove records filed with him concerning William Kiehl's death.

Dr. H. D. Hunt.

   The last witness sworn was Dr. H. D. Hunt of Preble. Dr. Hunt said: I prescribed for William Kiehl at my office on Tuesday before he died. He came in complaining of a cold. I made no examination except to look into his throat and examine his lungs. I next saw him at his home on Thursday in the afternoon. I then found a well developed case of pneumonia. I examined his lungs and bronchi. I called it bronchial pneumonia.. I was not in the house to exceed fifteen minutes and I am willing to swear positively that he had pneumonia on Thursday before he died. I never saw William Kiehł after that Thursday visit.

 

Cortland Hospital in year 1900.

ADDITION TO THE HOSPITAL.

More Room is Needed—Building to Commence in Early Spring.

   It has become an unquestionable fact that the Cortland hospital needs more room and that the time has come when more room must be provided in order that all who apply for treatment may be accommodated.

   Within the past few months it has been necessary to refuse patients who have applied for admission simply for the lack of private rooms. Such is the crowded condition of the hospital that the authorities are unable not only to supply rooms for the sick but to furnish sleeping rooms for the nurses, and it has been necessary to rent rooms in private houses near the hospital for their accommodation. The room rent thus paid would go a long way toward paying the interest on a new building.

   The board of lady managers have taken this matter under consideration and in order to meet the existing conditions have practically decided to erect a building on the north side of the present hospital. Plans will be completed during the winter and it is expected that work on the new building can be commenced in the early spring.

 

THE SUPERVISORS.

Met this Morning After Extending Tax Rolls.

   The supervisors meet again today after extending their tax rolls. Every member of the board was present except Mr. Chatterton of the Fifth ward, who has attended only one session of the board on account of illness. He was reported this morning as being much improved. The supervisors reported the following rates of taxation in the several towns and in the city of Cortland:

 

   At the meeting of the board this morning the clerk read the writ of certiorari, issued by Hon. Burr Mattice,  which restrained the board from inserting in the tax rolls of the town of Preble the amount to pay the costs of the Preble tax appeal, pending the proceedings. This was ordered received and placed on file.

   On motion of Mr. Bennett:

   Whereas, The state board of tax commissioners of the state of New York is and by their decision dated Dec. 3, 1902, dismissing the appeal of the town of Preble, fixed the appellant’s costs and expenses at the sum of $1,000, and the respondent’s costs and expenses at the sum of $1,000, and directed that said sum of $2,000 be levied by this board at its present annual session upon the town of Preble; and

   Whereas, the balance of the costs and expenses of this board incurred in defending said appeal amounting to the sum of $1,398.07 was heretofore audited and allowed as a county charge and its proper proportion thereof was levied and assessed upon said town of Preble; and

   Whereas, In accordance with the direction of the said state board of tax commissioners, the said sum of $2,000 was heretofore levied upon said town of Preble, and thereafter and after the board of supervisors of Cortland county had adjourned, an order, purporting to have been made by Hon. Burr Mattice, justice of the supreme court, was served upon the clerk and chairman of said board of supervisors of Cortland granting a certiorari and staying all proceedings upon the decision and determination of said board of tax commissioners, and restraining this board from imposing, levying or collecting said sum of $2,000 or inserting the same in the tax roll of said town of Preble, and also restraining this board from levying any sum upon the taxable property of the said town of Preble for costs and expenses pending said certiorari, or until the further order of the court:

   Now therefore resolved, That in obedience to said order, the board of supervisors of Cortland county suspend all further proceedings with reference to the levying, assessing or collecting of said sum of $2,000, and of the sum of $65.57, being the proportion of the expenses incurred by this board in defending said appeal, apportioned and levied upon the said town of Preble pending said certiorari, or until the further order of the supreme court, and that the supervisor of the town of Preble [Dr. Hunt] be authorized and directed to omit the said sums last mentioned in extending the tax roll of said town of Preble for the current year.

   The resolution was unanimously carried.

   The tax rate for the town of Preble as given above does not include these sums.

   The town board of Scott petitioned for improvement of the highway that extends through that town on the Homer-Scott road through the village of Scott to the iron bridge, being a distance of about two and one-half miles. This road would join the one that the town of Homer has petitioned for.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The Woman's Foreign Mission society will have charge of the Thursday evening meeting at the Presbyterian church. Under their auspices the pastor will deliver a lecture on Persia, illustrated with the stereopticon.

   —Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather there was a good attendance at the meeting of the Primary and Junior unions at the First Baptist church last evening. Subjects of interest to Sunday school workers were discussed.

   —The new display advertisements today are—The New York store, Specials for this week, page 4; W. W. Walters, Shoes for Christmas, page 7; C. F. Brown, Pyrographic outfits, page 4; The Corner Grocery, Christmas sale, page 6; E. H. Medes, City grocery, Banner oats, holly, etc., page 6; Smith & Beaudry, Books, etc., page 7.