The Cortland
News, Friday, April 16, 1886.
HANGING TOO GOOD FOR HIM.
A Fiend in Human Form Who Accomplished the Ruin of
a 13 Year Old Girl.
Overseer of the Poor, Wheeler, last week caused the
arrest of Charles L. Smith, on the charge of bastardy, and the examination has
been conducted before Justice Bierce, District-Attorney Bronson appearing in
behalf of the prosecution, and J. W. Suggett for the defense.
The
direct examination of Carrie Corl, Smith's victim, occupied only a few hours while
the great constitutional lawyer occupied eight days in the cross examination,
and his efforts to break the girls evidence down resulted only in bringing out
evidence enough to send his client to State prison for a term of years, and
causing an expense to the county beyond all precedent.
This
case is one in which the indignation of every honest man and woman in Christendom ought to rise to the highest point,
as the pure cussedness of the miscreant, Smith, is seldom equalled and never
surpassed.
The
history of the case as brought out by the cross examination is this:—Smith,
about a year and a half ago, came to Cortland and secured employment in one of
the factories; becoming acquainted with parties in Homer he made it convenient
to spend a portion of his time in that place, becoming acquainted with Carrie
Corl, a girl then only about 13 years of age, a scholar in the Homer Academy,
bright and smart beyond her years. By representing himself as an unmanned man, Smith
wormed himself into the good graces of Carrie, and under a promise of marriage
accomplished her ruin. Their illicit practices were kept up for some time,
until the girl found out that unless something was done she would soon become a
mother. This fact she communicated to her betrayer, who agreed to help her and accordingly procured oil
of tanzy with which to produce an abortion.
By the girl taking an overdose of the drug their
plans were frustrated and the facts became known. Smith was arrested on a charge
of attempting to produce an abortion and lodged in jail. He gave bail tor his
appearance before the grand jury, and when that body met he was indicted, but as
the case would not come on for trial at that term of court, he was again
released on bail. Last week he was again arrested on complaint of Overseer
Wheeler on the charge as given at the beginning of this article.
Although
the investigation has been held in private, enough of the testimony is known to
stamp Smith as one of the most unmitigated scoundrels that ever went unhung.
The girl comes of a family who do not bear the best of reputations, but as far
as can be learned from her teachers and intimates Carrie Corl was a pure and upright
girl until she met this fiend, Smith, who accomplished her ruin, and for which he
will be made to suffer it there is any justice to be had in the courts.
District-Attorney
Bronson is doing all in his power to collect evidence enough to indict Smith,
on this latter charge, who so vilely led this thirteen year old girl from the
paths of virtue, and who now, on the eve of becoming a mother, is without
friends and without money.
CORTLAND AND VICINITY.
Efforts are being made by the members of Grace
church to raise money for the erection of a new church edifice.
Deputy
Sheriff's Miller and Van Bergen arrested John Dillon and Chas. T. Mix about 1
o'clock Wednesday morning. They were taken before Justice Bouton and given the
privilege of contributing $10 to the County Treasury or spending 25 days in
jail.
The
local horsemen are "jogging" their horses daily at the fairgrounds,
and occasionally a lively little race interests the spectators. O. U. Kellogg's
"O. U. K.," H. H. Greenman's gray horse, and the new acquisition to
the Wickwire stables are all showing up well and promise to make it lively for
all who compete with them during the season.
John
Kiley, the man who was arrested some time since for disturbing the Salvation Army
meetings, and was released on bail, had a row with one of his fellow workers at
the wagon shop last Thursday and was discharged. His bondsmen surrendered him
to the sheriff on Friday and he now languishes in jail. Kiley is of a very
quarrelsome disposition, and it is said that his wile recently left him and went
to live with her parents because he abused her and neglected to provide for the
house, preferring to spend his wages in beer saloons.
W. B.
Stoppard has rented the large building on Pendleton street, opposite Maxson
& Starin's coal office, of Seymour &
Brown, for his creamery. The building is well located for that purpose
and will give plenty of room for engine and boiler, churns, cream pans, butter
workers etc., that will be necessary to thoroughly equip the concern. He has
received such encouragement from neighboring farmers that he is sure to start
by the 20th, and sooner if he can get things ready.
References:
Tansy Oil: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tansy
Tansy Herb: http://www.sisterzeus.com/Tansy.htm
Bastardy Laws: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_American_bastardy_laws
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