Friday, December 20, 2013

Cortland Man Prosecuted for Bastardy


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.
 
 
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