TARIFF REFORM, AUTOPSY, A HORRIBLE DEATH, DR. WALSH, DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES, AND RECEPTION AND BALL

 

Arthur J. Balfour.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, October 2, 1903.

FOR TARIFF REFORM.

Premier Balfour Outlined His Policy In Speech at Sheffield.

BREAK FROM FISCAL TRAD1TIONS.

Controversy of 1846 Between Protection and Free Trade Inapplicable to Conditions in 1903—Asks For Power to Use Counter Tariffs—Drops Idea of Food Tax.

   Sheffield, Eng., Oct. 2.—The artillery drill hall, in which Premier Balfour made his tariff reform speech last evening, was packed by an expectant audience long before 8 o'clock, the hour at which Mr. Balfour was announced to begin speaking. An overflow meeting in Albert hall was also crowded, while thousands unable to obtain seats joined those inside the halls in patriotic songs and cheering.

   Mr. Balfour arrived shortly before 8 and was given an enthusiastic reception. He rose to speak at 8:05 p. m. and announced at the outset that he intended to confine his speech to tariff reform, which he said had come prominently to the front owing to the growing uneasiness among men of varied opinions. Mr. Chamberlain's speech in May, he added, would not have produced the effect it did if it had not fallen on ground already prepared, and the threats against Canada for granting preference to Great Britain brought home the helplessness of this country to deal with such a situation. Tariff attacks could only be met by tariff replies.

   This statement of the premier was greeted with prolonged cheering.

Wall of Hostile Tariffs.

   Continuing Mr. Balfour said that for 50 years England had watched in silence the building up of a wall of hostile tariffs against her. Even her colonies were building up a system of protection which, when it reached its natural conclusion, would make it as hard for the United Kingdom to export goods to her colonies as to export goods to the United States and other protected countries.

   For the present state of affairs, Mr. Balfour remarked, he did not know of a cure. The evil had gone too far; but he knew of a palliation.

   A nation depriving itself of the power of bargaining, Mr. Balfour pointed out, could never make a good bargain.

   Mr. Balfour did not think the country was ripe for the taxation of food; but the evils of food taxation had been exaggerated beyond what reason and logic justified. He advised the Unionist party that to tax food would be against public opinion and not within the limits of practical politics. He had given the topic his best thoughts and he was firmly convinced that his policy harmonized with the best traditions of the party and, as leader of the party, he meant to lead it.

Example of America and Germany.

   "I confess," proceeded Mr. Balfour, "that when I heard criticisms upon American and German policy, which caused those great industrial nations to accompany their marvelous commercial expansion with protective duties which must have thrown a most heavy burden upon the consumer, I feel that they have a retort to which I at least have no reply. They may well say that although protectionist they have established permanent free trade within the limits of their own country, where everything which can hamper production or limit the increase of wealth has been abolished by their patriotism and foresight, and they may well ask us whether we in the British empire can point to a similar picture and whether our vaunted free trade includes those great self-governing colonies which we proudly boast are to be the great buttresses of our empire in the future.

   "Free trade is indeed an empty name and a vain farce if it is a fact that foreign nations are setting themselves to divert our industries, exclude our manufactures and limit the international play of supply and demand. There has been a development of which Cobden and his contemporaries never dreamed—the development of the trust system under protection. The phenomenon is so new that I dare scarce venture to prophesy what development it is likely to take, but you may be absolutely sure that in the alliance of trusts and tariffs there is a danger to the capital and enterprise of this country which acts and reacts not mainly upon the capitalist, for he is at liberty to go to those regions where his industry will be looked after, but it will fall with its heaviest weight upon the artisan and the labor classes which are incapable of protecting their interests against such a calamity.

   "Is it common sense that we, the greatest commercial nation, should come forward and say 'we want to arrange treaties with you but we have nothing to give you; nothing to withhold from you. We throw ourselves upon your mercy and consideration.'

   "Did any man ever hear of successful negotiations without a nation having something to give which in case of necessity it might withhold? My fundamental and essential request to you tonight, to which the rest of my speech is subsidiary and accidental, is that the people of this country should give to its government that freedom of negotiation of which we have been deprived, not by force of circumstances or by the pressure of foreign powers  but by something I can only describe as our own pedantry and self-conceit.''

   Proceeding to deal with the questions of how the freedom he desired was to be used, Mr. Balfour thought that the question was rather unreasonable. No minister could say how the navy was going to be used in a few years hence. One can only say it is necessary to have a great navy in case of need.

   "In my judgment," continued the premier, "It is equally necessary that this country should have its command of those instruments of negotiation for which I am pleading. The German states illustrate how a fiscal union had preceded and strengthened a political union, but as far as our colonies are concerned we have been content to see fiscal divisions growing up which no man of sober judgment can contemplate without disquiet."

   Concerning the question as to whether it was intended to reverse the verdict of the great case of free trade vs. protection of 1846, his answer was that the controversy of 1846 was of no interest to the present generation and was utterly inappropriate to 1903. He said:

   "Our grandfathers fought the battle in view of the actual situation. I ask the nation today to follow their example and not be misled by musty debates. The second question is 'do you desire to reverse and alter the fundamental fiscal tradition which has prevailed for two generations?' My answer is 'yes, I do.'"

 

AUTOPSY ON VAN WORMERS.

Brains Showed No Signs of Deficiency or Degeneracy.

   Dannemora, N. Y., Oct. 2.—The autopsies upon the three bodies of the Van Wormer brothers were made with great care, that upon the body of Burton being begun first. The autopsies were performed by the official physicians, Dr. Ransom, the prison surgeon; Dr. Carlos M. McDonald, who was present at the request of Prison Superintendent Collins, and Dr. Edmond A. Spitzka, the brain anatomist. Dr. McDonald said after the autopsies: "The operative part of the work was done by Dr. Spitzka. He remains at Dannemora for an exhaustive study of these three brains. The results will be published later with illustrations."

   "The results of the autopsies were entirely negative, so far as concerns pathological or diseased conditions, for the brains and other bodily organs of these young men were entirely normal, exhibiting no physical aspects unusual in well formed, well developed, well nourished young men in a state of health. The brains showed no suggestion of degeneracy, deficiency or defect.

   "In a word there was nothing in the physical aspects discoverable in these autopsies to differentiate these young men as criminals. But the results of Dr. Spitzka's minute study of the brains will undoubtedly be of great value in the field of brain anatomy."

   The bodies of the three Van Wormers were taken to Kinderhook by the noon train out of Plattsburg today, and will reach Kinderhook about 6 p. m. The expense of transportation of the bodies will be borne partially by Warden Deyo and Rev. Father Belanger. Father Belanger received yesterday from three little brothers in New York city three religious pictures and three medals for the Van Wormer brothers. They were withheld because it was feared they would affect the young men. On each of the three pictures were written a few words of cheer.

   Regarding the voltage of the current used, State Electrician Davis said last night: "A current of 1,820 volts was first applied for seven seconds. I then lowered it to 200 volts for two seconds, then sent it up, then again lowered it to 200 volts for the balance of the minute, then I threw it back up to 1,820 volts and immediately cut it off entirely."

 

CREMATED BODIES.

Considered Merchandise When Sent at Postal Rates.

   Washington, Oct. 2.—Third Assistant Postmaster General Madden has received a request for information as to the postage rates on cremated bodies. Mr. Madden, after due deliberation prepared a ruling to the effect, that cremated bodies should be classed as merchandise and should pay the regular rate of one cent for four ounces.

   As a result of his decision, four air tight tin canisters, containing the cremated remains of a family shipped from New York to San Francisco were forwarded from the Washington post office where they had been held up pending a determination of the postage rates for the journey.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Dispatch from Berlin.

   A dispatch from Berlin to The New York Sun says that Professor Von Behring, who discovered the diphtheria serum, believes that he has solved the problem of securing immunity from consumption by inoculating human beings with a harmless tuberculosis serum which can be obtained from cattle. It was to be expected that in the warfare against bacterial invasion, and in fighting disease germs with enemies of a milder character, the tuberculosis which has proved so great a foe to the human race would not be overlooked. Professor Von Behring agrees that tuberculosis is not inherited, but is not of the opinion of Professor Koch that bovine tuberculosis can not be transmitted to human beings. He thinks that, especially in the case of infants, milk from tuberculosis cows is the chief cause of the spread of consumption. The progress of the attempt to provide an anti-toxin for pulmonary tuberculosis will be viewed with the utmost interest by physicians and by the general public, for hitherto no specific has been found that in resisting the inroads of the disease will aid the tonic effect in general of pure air and wholesome diet and surroundings.

 

A HORRIBLE DEATH.

Fay Barber Drawn Into a Threshing Machine.

LEG GROUND INTO MINCE MEAT.

Tried to Cross the Cylinder Feed Box While it Was in Motion on the Ryan Farm in Spafford, N. Y.—Drawn in Clear up to Body—Cylinder Had to be Removed to Extricate the Body—Victim Lost Consciousness at Once and Died Very Soon.

   Fay Barber, son of Frank Barber of Scott, N. Y., one of the owners and operators of Barber Brothers' threshing machine, met with a horrible death just before dark last night in the town of Spafford. The machine was in operation on the farm of Patsy Ryan in Spafford. Young Barber attempted to cross from the feed board over to the other side of the machine while it was going. In some way he slipped and one leg was caught in the rapidly whirling cylinder. He was drawn in clear up to the body and until he could not get any farther and the cylinder was clogged. The leg was literally torn to bits. As quickly as possible the machine was stopped, but the body was so wedged into the machine that the cylinder had to be removed to get him out. This took quite a little time. The unfortunate victim was conscious only long enough to murmur the words, as the men began to work over him, "Get me out."

   Dr. Barker was summoned from Spafford, but before he arrived the life had departed.

   Mr. Barber was 22 years of age. He is survived by his parents and three brothers. He was unmarried. It is reported that he had $1,000 life insurance in the Maccabees of Cortland, with an extra allowance of $50 for funeral expenses.

 

Death of Mrs. Reynolds.

   Mrs. O. H. Reynolds died at 7 o'clock this morning at her home two miles south of this village on South Hill. Her age was 86 years, 11 months, 28 days. Time of funeral will be given tomorrow.

 

Death of Mrs. Bentley.

   Mrs. Mary Scott Bentley aged 24 years died at her home 27 1/2 North Main-st., at 2 o'clock this morning after a year's illness from cancer of the stomach. She leaves no relatives besides her mother, Mrs. A. Scott of this city [Cortland]. The funeral will be held from the house Sunday morning at 8 o'clock. Interment will be made at Cardiff, N. Y.

 

Dr. Walsh's New Office.

   Dr. James Walsh will next week open an office at room 8 in the Burgess building, Cortland. This room is up one flight of stairs and is next the office of District Attorney Dowd. His office hours will be from 1 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p. m.

 

Democratic Primaries.

   The Democratic ward caucuses of this city are called for Wednesday evening, Oct. 7, from 7 to 8 o'clock. Five delegates will be elected in each ward to the city convention which is to be held in Fireman's hall on Thursday evening, Oct. 8, at 8 o'clock.

   The First ward caucus will be held at Grant's grocery, 109 Homer-ave.; the Second ward at Fireman's hall;  the Third ward at Potter's barber shop, 118 Main-st; the Fourth ward at Pierce's cigar store, 27 North Main-st.; Fifth ward at Dexter House, 3 Main-st.; Sixth ward at Emerald Hose building, Church-st.

 

RECEPTION AND BALL

Given by Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Call on Their Thirtieth Anniversary.

   The spacious hall and parlors of Dillon Brothers' Dancing academy were last evening the scene of one of the most delightful, and enjoyable as well as brilliant social functions which has been held in Cortland in a long time. The occasion was a reception and ball given by Mr. and Mrs. Duane E. Call of 46 Tompkins-st., celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of their marriage. The fact that this was the thirtieth anniversary of their wedding day was not announced in the invitations and was not made known to the guests until their arrival at the hall last evening. Two hundred and seventy-five invitations had been issued and more than two hundred guests were present.

   The hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion with a profusion of golden rod and hydrangeas, and many favorable comments were heard upon the transformations which have recently been wrought in the surroundings and how well adapted the academy is for such an event as took place there last night.

   The guests were cordially welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Call, Mr. and Mrs. T. K. Norris, the latter being the only daughter of the hosts. Misses Josephine Patrick, Frances Call and Ruth Schellenger performed the duties of ushers and directed the guests to dressing rooms. Cards and dancing were the order of the evening.

   Hollenbeck's orchestra of seven pieces furnished excellent music for dancing and played through the evening. There were many of the old fashioned dances upon the program, which was entirely informal, and these were greatly enjoyed, especially by the older guests. At 11 o'clock very dainty refreshments were served.

   The anniversary feature of the occasion added to the interest and enjoyment of the evening, and the bride and groom of thirty years ago were heartily congratulated by the guests, not only upon the completion of thirty years of married life, but upon the success of last evening's reception in honor of the event as well.

   The ceremony of thirty years ago was performed at the home of the bride in Truxton by Rev. John Long, at that time pastor of the Presbyterian church in that place. The wedding was a very quiet one, none but members of the family being present.

   Among the guests from out of town who were present last evening were: Mr. and Mrs. William Hardy, Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Tallett and Harry Blanchard of DeRuyter; Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Carley, Mr. and Mrs. George A. Brockway, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Fassett and Miss Porter of Homer and Mrs. Morse of Greene.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The editor of the Marathon Independent offers to make the very safe bet of a cookie that the next sheriff of Cortland county will be from Marathon, N. Y.

   —The Cleveland minstrels which appear at the Opera House tonight made an excellent parade this noon. There were two bands and they played well. One of them was composed of colored boys.

   —The new display advertisements for today are—L. & K. Freeman, Millinery display, page 5; Bosworth & Stilman, Treadeasy Shoes, page 6; Morse Clothing Co., Men's Furnishings, Specials, page 6.

   —The Cortland Science club will meet at the Hatch library tomorrow evening at 8 o'clock. The speaker will be Dr. F. D. Reese and his theme will be "Toxine and Antitoxine." The review of the last paper will be given by N. H. Gillette.

 

BIG FIRE AT SCOTT, N. Y.

 

Main Street, Scott, N. Y.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, October 1, 1903.

BIG FIRE IN SCOTT.

The Hotel Burned With Nearly all of its Contents.

OTHER BUILDINGS WERE ON FIRE

But Were Saved by Hard Work—No Means of Fighting the Fire Except by Buckets—Cortland Steamer Gets Nearly There—Fire Started in Chimney—Loss About $12,000, Insurance $7,000—Will be Rebuilt.

   At 3:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon fire broke out in the big three story hotel in Scott village owned by William J. Roche and within an hour the entire hotel with nearly all of its contents was burned to the ground, comparatively little being saved. The Alvord store across the street was on fire several times and was only saved by the most strenuous work on the part of the residents of the vicinity who formed themselves into a bucket brigade. The same is true of the big hotel barn. The house of Austin Brown next west of the hotel was badly blistered. Had there been the slightest wind in any direction the destruction of property would have been much greater but, as it was, there was scarcely a breath of breeze of any kind, and the flames shot straight up.

Structure of the Hotel.

   The Scott hotel, as it was called, a frame building of wood, stood on the north-west corner of the cross roads, at the center of Scott village, facing the east. The main part was a three-story structure 40 by 60 feet in size with a double deck piazza on the east side. A long wing 28 by 70 feet in size and two and one-half stories high extended to the north. The hotel contained thirty-eight rooms. On the first floor of the main part was the parlor, sitting room, reading room and bar room. Above were sleeping rooms. Upon the first floor of the wing [were] the diningroom [sic], kitchen and personal living rooms of the proprietor and his wife. Above was the big ball room, where so frequently dances have been held, for Mr. Roche's parties were well known far and side and these have helped to give the hotel much more than a local reputation. The hotel stood upon ground that sloped rapidly down the hill to the west in its rear, so that under the entire west side of the hotel was a big basement and cellar. At the front, this basement contained one large room used for the town hall and for public meetings. In its rear [were] the liquor room and a long cellar. The hotel was well furnished throughout. It was piped for water and a spring high on the big hill to the east furnished an abundant supply of pure water which was carried to almost every room and which supplied bath rooms and flush closets, a feature not usually found in the country hotel.

Surroundings.

   About sixty feet to the north of the hotel stood the big barn and stable, its long side and shingled roof turned toward the hotel. North of the barn were the two stores of C. C. Clark and Hamilton Whiting. Across the street from the hotel to the east, and on the north-east corner of the crossroads was the big three story store of B. Alvord, the building itself being owned by J. M. Cottrell. Next north of this was the meat market of J. Friar, the upper portion and wing being used as the dwelling for Mr. Friar's family. Next north of this was the residence of Ernest Clark and next the residence of Frank Booth. Adjoining the hotel on the west and next down the hill toward Glen Haven was the residence of Austin Brown. All of these buildings were in the most imminent danger and for a time it was believed that all would go. Across the street to the south of the hotel is the Ernest W. Childs' homestead, but this street is pretty wide and it was not thought that the fire would spread in that direction.

Fire Discovered.

   It was just 3:15 o'clock when Austin Brown, who lives in the house west of the hotel came out of his barn and around the corner of his house. Glancing toward the hotel be discovered smoke rising through every joint in the roof of the main part of the building and flames just beginning to show through the shingles next the chimney. He called to his wife "The hotel is on fire," and ran up the hill shouting "Fire."

   At just about the same moment Mrs. Friar, from the other side, saw practically the same thing and she rushed across the street and into Mrs. Roche's kitchen exclaiming, "You are all on fire."

   There was no one in the hotel at the time except Mr. and Mrs. Roche. They had had an uncommonly large number of people in the house at dinner and Mr. Roche was helping his wife do up the work resulting therefrom. At the alarming cry he ran through the house toward the front and opened a door leading to the upper floors. It looked to him as though a veritable fiery furnace was raging there. It was utterly impossible to get above the first floor in this part of the hotel, and not a thing was saved there.

Origin of the Fire.

   The fire is supposed to have started from a defective chimney. A wood fire in an oak stove had been kindled by Mr. Roche in the morning in the reading room. This had been kept going all day, and right after dinner Mr. Roche put in a big maple chunk and closed up the stove, thinking that the fire would keep all the afternoon. It is believed that the fire had been going for sometime in the attic in a smoldering way before it finally got to the air and broke out.

The Alarm Given.

   The cry of fire was quickly taken up. The church bells were rung, and in an incredibly short time, men, women and children from all over the village, and surrounding country began to assemble and begin to carry out property. Mr. Roche and three men succeeded in getting out of his bar room the large and handsome sideboard. The furniture from the lower rooms was all removed, including the personal effects of Mr. and Mrs. Roche. Crockery was packed into potato crates and carried out. In the attic of the main part where the fire started were fifteen beds which were used in doubling up in the rooms below when the hotel was crowded; also 160 chairs, a surplus from the ball room, beside many other pieces of furniture. All the furniture in the sleeping rooms was lost. Barrels and kegs from the cellar were pitched out of the windows and rolled in an indiscriminate mass upon the lawn of Austin Brown adjoining.

Fighting the Fire.

   There were no facilities in Scott for fighting fire except with pails, but a bucket brigade was formed and it did valiant and effective work. There was no use whatever in attempting to extinguish the flames in the hotel for they had too much of a start, but every effort was directed to the saving of nearby buildings, and the people worked desperately, for it looked to them as though the whole north end of the village would go. There was little breeze of any kind, but what there was carried sparks and embers to the north and east. While the women helped carry out property from the hotel, the men carried water.

   There was an abundance of water at hand. Between the hotel and the barn stands a big circular watering trough like the one at the Main and Clinton-ave, corner in Cortland. A powerful stream of water poured into this trough and furnished plenty of water till the fire became so hot that it was impossible to go to it. Then water was taken from wells and springs in the neighborhood.

   Several times the roof of the barn was on fire, but a force of men was on the roof all the time and as soon as a spark ignited a pail full of water extinguished it.

   The building most in danger was the Alvord store across the street, in which the postoffice [sic] is located. The blinds were closed at all windows upon the second and third floors to protect the glass and keep sparks out, but there were no blinds or shutters for the first floor and so hot were the flames that the big glass windows were cracked and broken. The paint was scorched and blistered, and time and again in several places the cornice and the clapboards near the top were on fire. F. M. Hazard lay flat down on his face on the ridge pole of this building while men brought water in buckets to him from behind. Leaning over the gable he dashed the water at the places where the fire started and kept a pretty constant stream flowing down over the front of the building till the period of greatest heat was past, and the building was saved.

   Water was also thrown upon the roof and front of the market and house of Mr. Friar.

   Down at the house of Austin Brown carpets were hung over the edge of the roof to protect the most exposed portions of the siding and these were kept soaked with water. Men on the roof watched out for sparks and promptly extinguished them. But in spite of it all the paint on the clapboards where the carpets did not protect was scorched and colored.

Help from Cortland.

   When the fire first broke out it looked as though no means at hand would be sufficient to protect the adjoining property, and a telephone call was sent to Cortland asking for help in the form of the steamer and hose. Homer would be nearer, but the Homer steamer is out of repair and useless. Chief E. N. Sherwood was summoned to Fireman's hall, but before he could get there D. F. Waters, the driver of the hook and ladder team, had arranged a plan of action. It seemed useless to take hose from Cortland, and Homer was asked to send that. Seven hundred feet of hose from Homer companies No. 1 and No. 2 were placed on a light truck belonging to Briggs Brothers, and accompanied by a few firemen, were hurried off to Scott.

Relays of Teams.

   Mr. Waters started to hitch the big city team upon the steamer but found that the tongue of the steamer was not as long as that on the hook and ladder truck and not long enough for the big black team and had to abandon that. The big truck team of Leroy Call was pressed into service and started for Homer with the steamer and with Engineer A. M. McNett, and Alvah Harmon. Chief Sherwood and A. B. Filzinger followed quickly in a buggy. The request for help came at 3:20 and at 3:40 the steamer started. It is a good eleven miles to Scott and all up grade and altogether too far for a single team to take the steamer at the speed at which it was pushed through, even though the roads were good, so relays of teams were arranged for. Nearly every other farmer on the Scott road has a telephone so it was easy to make arrangements.

   At Homer the big bay truck team of Schenck Brothers was waiting for the steamer to come up and it took but two or three minutes to change horses and move on again. Three miles further up the road is Frank Rice's farm and as the steamer arrived there it found Mr. Rice's splendid pair of draught horses all ready, and on it went again at a tremendous pace. Three miles further at Walter Jones' farm four horses were waiting to take the steamer on up the last hills to Scott, but a telephone message was received that the fire had probably done its worst and that the other buildings had been saved and it was not necessary to go further. So a halt was made for a little time to wait developments, and as word continued to be favorable the faces were turned back homeward, but the pace was slower than when on the way up. A thorough examination of the steamer was made this morning and it appears that it is in no respect injured by its rapid trip. Only one nut could be found that had even started. It is, however, to be given an immediate test to see that it is in perfect working order.

The Standard Gets the News.

   The Standard got the news of the fire at 3:20 and ten minutes later two representatives were on their way to Scott. The Standard team was the first out of Cortland and the first to arrive at Scott from this city. Afterward a number of automobiles and several carriages arrived from Cortland. At the time The Standard men got there the hotel was pretty well down, and the helpers were beginning to take the rescued goods to places of safety.

Loss and Insurance.

   Mr. Roche was asked about his loss and insurance. He said that the building could not be replaced for $8,000 and his inventory a few months ago showed that the goods and personal property amounted to about $4,000. He, therefore, places the loss at not less than $12,000. He had $5,000 insurance on the building and $2,000 on the contents, all placed with W. H. Foster of Homer. He says he shall rebuild at once. When be made this statement in reply to a Standard man's question his words were greeted with cheers by the crowd of bystanders who heard. They said they had feared that he would not put up another building.

   Mr. Roche said further that he should have a hotel open last night. He owns the building, once used as a hotel, on the corner diagonally opposite from the burned building, and he said that he should open a hotel there without any delay whatever.

Former Hotel Was Burned.

   It is worthy of note that the hotel which preceded this one was burned on the same site twenty-five years ago last May. The fire then started in the barn from pipes from some young men who were smoking there. The flames spread to the hotel and both barn and hotel were wholly destroyed. The owner at that time was Charles Dunbar and it was 6 years before he rebuilt. The hotel burned yesterday was put up nineteen years ago this summer for Mr. Dunbar by Francis M. Hazard, Sherman Brown and John Cleveland. Mr. Hazard recalled the fact yesterday that they completed their work on election day nineteen years ago and that after voting, he went to New York that night, partly on business and partly to hear the returns from the presidential election concerning which there was so much excitement. It was the year of Cleveland's first election.

Sympathy for Mr. Roche.

   Mr. Roche has been the owner of this hotel since ten years ago last July. He has been a very popular and successful proprietor and Mrs. Roche has been just as capable and successful in the charge of her part of the business as her husband in his. The hotel has been a favorite gathering place for people from all over that section of the country and, as stated before, their periodical parties have always been popular and well patronized. On all sides yesterday was heard expressions of sympathy for Mr. and Mrs. Roche in their loss, but words of gratification at the prospects that a new hotel is to go up from the ashes of the old one.

   At the same time, while all were commiserating the loss that had fallen upon the place they were thankful that it was no greater, for at one time it seemed as though the whole north half of the village was to be destroyed.

   Fire has fallen heavily upon Scott in recent months, for the large and handsome dwelling owned by Mrs. John Landphier and occupied by the family of D. J. Cottrell was burned in Jan. 24 of this year and has not been rebuilt.

   During the progress of the fire yesterday the workers were much refreshed by the hot coffee and lemonade prepared and served by the ladies of the village.

 

 

VAN WORMER BROTHERS EXECUTED

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, October 1, 1903.

ENTERED FATAL CHAIR.

Three Van Wormer Boys Electrocuted This Forenoon.

WONDERFUL DISPLAY OF NERVE.

Saw Nobody During the Morning but the Two Priests and the Prison Doctor—Received Yesterday a Written Farewell From Their Stepmother. Story of Their Crime.

   Dannemora, N. Y., Oct. 1.—Willis, Burton and Frederick Van Wormer were electrocuted this morning at Clinton prison between 11:20 and 12 o'clock. They were aroused about 7 o'clock in the morning and received and doned the clothing in which they were to die.

   At 8:30 the two priests administered their first and last communion in the full membership of the Roman Catholic church, and this, with the prescribed prayers for those in extreme peril of death, invested the morning with the utmost solemnity. The priests did not leave them until the physicians in the death chamber pronounced them dead.

   About 9 o'clock they were visited by Dr. Ransom, who took note of their condition. They received no other visitors.

   At 11:20 the first of the condemned men was led to the chair. The second brother followed as soon as the first was pronounced dead. The executions were over at noon.

 

LAST DAY ON EARTH.

Warden Says They Passed Ordeal of Preparation Unflinchingly.

   Dannemora, N. Y., Oct. 1.—On the eve of the execution the three Van Wormer boys were in better condition physically and mentally than any of the many others who have met their fate in the death chamber here. They passed the afternoon through a most trying ordeal when the prison barber entered their cells and shaved their faces and a patch on the head of each where one of the electrodes was to be applied. Each of the brothers chatted cheerfully with the barber, and none showed the least perturbation.

   Following this they received in writing from their stepmother the farewell which she had been prevented from delivering in person. They expressed pleasure at receiving this letter and at the fact that they had not been subjected to the ordeal of a farewell face to face.

   The most striking exhibition of their remarkable self-control was given at their farewell with Warden Deyo, whom they next saw beside the fatal chair. One by one, with outstretched hands, they grasped that of the kindly warden, who was himself overcome by emotion. Each assured the warden that he thoroughly appreciated that he was passing his last hours on earth, and that they would face death bravely. Willis, the oldest, who has appeared most sensitive, was particularly firm and told the warden: "Mr. Warden, we are thoroughly prepared to go, and none of us will give you any trouble. We thank you for your kindness, and we know that everything possible has been done for us."

   Warden Deyo said afterward: "l never saw another such exhibition of nerve. The two keepers and myself were decidedly more overcome than they were. They were apparently entirely resigned to their fate and, of all the men whom I have seen awaiting death, they gave the best assurance of being able to go through the ordeal unflinchingly.''

Story of the Crime.

   The story of the crime which ended in the electrocution of the three Van Wormer brothers is as follows;

   On Christmas eve, 1901, the three Van Wormers and their cousin Harvey Bruce drove from their home in Kinderhook to Greendale, where Peter Hałlenbeck, their uncle, resided.

   Before reaching the Hałlenbeck home they put on masks and thus disguised forced their way into the house.

   Hałlenbeck, his wife and mother were at home and the old man immediately seized hold of one of the brothers. The four men immediately fired repeatedly at Hałlenbeck, while the women fled to the upper apartment and locked the door.

   Hałlenbeck managed to escape from the ruffians, but fell dead in an attempt to get upstairs.

   The four men were arrested shortly afterwards. It had been known they had made threats against their uncle, who had aroused their enmity by foreclosing a mortgage which he had held on the property belonging to their stepmother.

   Their conviction was made possible through the evidence of their accomplice, Harvey Bruce, who turned state's evidence, and who has been sentenced to 18 years in state's prison.

   For two years they have been fighting for their lives, and have twice been reprieved by the governor pending appeals for new trials, but in each instance the judgment of the lower court has been affirmed.

   A parallel case occurred in New York state in 1825, three brothers named Thayer being hanged in Buffalo for the murder of a peddler named John Love.

 

TRIPLE EXECUTION.

The Three Van Wormers Pay the Penalty of Murder.

ALL OVER IN FIFTEEN MINUTES.

Boys Unable to Sleep Till After 2 o'clock and then Sleep Soundly Till Morning—Arrange the Order of Execution Themselves and Warden Deyo Accepts it—Oldest First, then Youngest, then Middle One—One Breaks Down When He Bids the Death Watch Good-bye—Rapid Work of the Executioners.

   Dannemora, N. Y., Oct. 1—A solemn hush hung over Clinton prison this morning and the bright skies of yesterday had given way to dull, leaden clouds which threatened rain at any moment. Within their narrow cells iu the death house, Willis, Burton and Frederick Van Wormer are making final preparations to meet their Maker. They spent practically a sleepless night and it was not until about 3 o'clock this morning that they bade each other good night and dropped off into a sound slumber.

   When their supper was taken in last night, shortly before 10 o'clock, Burton, who occupies a cell across from Willis and Frederick, remarked that he was not afraid to die and would meet death bravely.

   "I have no more fear of that chair tomorrow," he said to Keeper Nash, "than I have of eating my supper. I can stand it to see the other two boys go and be the last to meet my fate."

   The boys looked forward eagerly to the visit this morning of Father Belanger, and his assistant Father Charboneau. The priests entered the prison shortly after 8 o'clock and went at once to the death house to administer the first and last communion.

Final Preparations.

   State Electrician Davis was at the prison at 7 o'clock to see that final preparations were complete. He examined the clothing to see that the right legs of the trousers were properly slit to the line to allow the application of the electrode. The prison barber yesterday afternoon visited them in their cells and shaved a portion of the hair from their heads to allow the adjustment of the helmet.

   There will be no change in the prison routine on account of the executions and the men will march in at the usual time. Although, as is always the case, efforts have been made to keep the affair from becoming known among the convicts, yet because of the unaccountable way in which news travels about the prison there are few among the 1,010 prisoners who do not know that three young lives are to be blotted out today. The boys will be the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth victims to meet death in Clinton's execution chamber. Seven were executed in the original chair, the last being the famous "Bat" Shea. A new and stronger chair was then built at the prison and it is in this the boys will sit.

   While some of the witnesses arrived yesterday, the majority arrived on the morning train.

Wish for Three Chairs.

   When William T. Murphy, the death watch, left the death house at 8 o'clock this morning the boys all shook hands with him and bade him goodbye, thanking him for the kindness he had shown them. Home, friends and their fate of the morrow were freely discussed by the boys before they retired last night.

   "By tomorrow night at this time I suppose we will all be back in Kinderhook," remarked one of them.

   "I wish there were three chairs so we could all go together," said Fred.

   Willis was the first to announce his intention of retiring. It was 2:10 a. m. when he bade the others good night and went to his cot. Half an hour later Fred and Burton said good night after requesting that they be called at "7 o'clock. All three went to sleep almost immediately and sleep soundly until 1:15 when they were awakened by Mr. Murphy. They greeted him cheerily and asked of each other how they felt. Each said he felt equal to the ordeal which he was about to face.

Order Decided Upon.

   At 8:30 Warden Deyo said it had been decided to take in Willis the oldest, first, Frederick, the youngest, second, and Burton, last.

   This arrangement was agreed upon by the boys themselves after a long discussion during the night. They decided that Willis should be permitted to go first because of his ill health and consequent weakness. Willis, throughout his long confinement here, has been afflicted with lung trouble. Up to the very last hour, even this morning, Willis has taken a spoonful of cod liver oil after each meal. It was this condition of his health that determined the others as to his right to first consideration in the death march to the chair.

The Last Night.

   The boys spent the greater part of last night in reading their Bible and gave special study to a book expounding and explaining the Catholic faith which had been furnished them by Father Belanger. This they read and studied earnestly and it was passed repeatedly from one cell to the other, each marking pages which seemed to particularly interest and to which they desired to direct the special attention of the others.

   Although the boys retained their nerve, they did display some weakness on the final parting with the death watch, who had been their most intimate associate during their long confinement. When it came to the final parting, Fred, the youngest, broke down completely and wept piteously. His distress was clearly in the parting rather than in the thought of his impending death.

The Witnesses.

   Warden Deyo this morning announced the list of witnesses as follows: Dr. J. B. Ransom, prison Physician; Dr. Edward Spitzka of New York; Dr. Carlos McDonald of New York; Dr. T. W. Van Iangen of Syracuse; Dr. L. B. Honeyford of Cairo; Philip H. Campbell of Saratoga; Dr. A. W. Cutler of Oneonta; Dr. W. E. Clough of West Chazy; Warden Silas W. Berry of the Eastern reformatory at Napanoch; George E. Graham, John F. Tremain, Richard G. Conover of Albany; W. A. Willis of New York and James Kavanaugh and Howard D. Hadley of Plattsburgh.

Bulletins of Execution.

   11:26—The witnesses have started for the death chamber.

   11:32—After the usual test of the chair with a bank of incandescent lamps, the first man, Willis Van Wormer, oldest of the brothers, has been summoned.

   11:34 1/2—Willis Van Wormer has entered the death chamber.

   11:35 1/2—Current turned on into Willis' body.

   11:37—Willis Van Wormer declared dead.

   11:41 1/2—Frederick has entered death chamber.

   11:42—Current turned on Frederick.

   11:43 1/2—Frederick declared dead.

   11:47—Burton enters death chamber.

   11:48—Current turned on Burton.

   11:48 1/2—Burton declared dead.

   The triple execution had been completed within just 15 minutes.