Was it Murder? (Part 3 of 3)

Lehigh Valley R.R. (Jim Schug Trail)--left click image to enlarge.

 

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, May 22, 1901.
 

VERDICT OF CORONER.

Townsend Was Murdered, Robbed and His Body Placed on Track.

   Coroner E. M. Santee has rendered his verdict in regard to the death of Joseph Townsend: "The said Joseph Townsend was walking down the Lehigh Valley railroad tracks between 8 and 9 o'clock in the evening of May 11,1901, from the Dryden lake in the town of Dryden, Tompkins county, N. Y., to North Harford, Cortland county, N. Y., and when at a point opposite what is known as the Purvis woods he was feloniously assaulted by some person or persons not now positively known to this coroner and killed, after which he was robbed and his body placed upon the track of said railroad company just after the northbound passenger train had passed and before the southbound train reach that point. He had been fishing with five other colored men, who are exonerated from all blame in the matter.”

Editor's note: From the published coroner's inquest and verdict, we do not know Joseph Townsend's age or legal address, or family relationships. Our research indicates that Joseph Townsend was buried in the potter's field at the Cortland Rural Cemetery in 1901. He was 24 years old when he died. A quick search in the Cortland Evening Standard, from May 22 to June 22, 1901, did not find an indictment in the Townsend case by District Attorney Thomas H. Dowd or any mention of an investigation by Sheriff A. R. Overton. Of special interest, Lewis Perry, a farm hand who Dr. Santee earlier suspected of "knowing more about the matter than he told," was not referred to in the coroner's verdict.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, June 19, 1901.
 

Common Council

Sheriff’s Fees

   A regular meeting of the common council of the city of Cortland, N.Y., was held at the office of the clerk on the 18^th day of June , at 7:30 o'clock, at which were present Mayor Chas. F. Brown and Aldermen E. M. Yager, E. R. Wright, George F. Richard, T. C. Scudder, R. S. Pettigrew and Vern W. Skeele. Sheriff A. R. Overton came before the board and asked that the board reconsider its former action in placing his fees at 15 cents for each arrest made by him in the city. The sheriff stated that aside from arresting he had to arraign the prisoners, care for them while they were confined in the jail at a great deal of expense and worry at times, and he thought he amount was very small for the service rendered. The council stated that the fees had been placed lower to remedy an abuse of the sheriff's privileges in matters of arrest, in years gone by and not on account of the action of the present officer.  Mr. Overton stated that he had no desire to abuse any privilege that was given. On motion of Mr. Pettigrew seconded by Mr.-- and declared carried:
Resolved, That the prior resolution of this board, limiting and restricting the fees of the sheriff of Cortland in certain arrests at 25 cents be rescinded. On motion of Mr. Scudder, seconded by Mr.-- and declared carried:
Resolved, That the fees of the said sheriff in such cases be and is hereby fixed at $1 in each case.