MRS. DRUSE FOUND GUILTY OF MURDERING HER HUSBAND

The Cortland News, Friday, October 9, 1885.

FIGHTING FOR THE CHILD.

Mr. and Mrs. Steele using every means Except Legal Ones to see Who Shall Have Possession of Their Offspring.

   On Monday last Mrs. Clarence Steele attempted to get forcible possession of her young son from her mother-in-law, from the latter's residence on Port Watson St., but was unsuccessful.

   There is a long story connected with the affair and the feud is of long standing. It seems that Steele and his wife were married some seven or eight years ago when Steele was less than eighteen years old. They lived together for some years until their boy was about five years old, when Steele, finding he could have no peace with his wife, took the boy and left her, going to reside with his mother in Binghamton. There he resided until last summer when Mr. Crandall, of the Crandall Rail Co., went to Binghamton and wanted to hire Steele to come here to work in his shop. Steele objected at first on the ground that he did not wish to be anywhere near his wife or her people, as they would be in a fracas continually. Mr. Crandall finally persuaded Steele to enter his employ, and the latter with his mother, brother and step-father came to Cortland and took up their residence on Port Watson street.

   He had not been in Cortland many days before Mrs. Steele had him arrested for desertion and he was placed under bonds for her support. While he was under arrest Mrs. Steele went to the residence of his mother and took the boy away with her.

   One day after his discharge while Steele was passing the house where his wife was stopping he saw his little son on the door step and he sprang over the fence and took the boy with him.

   Mrs. Steele last week swore out a warrant for the arrest of her husband tor kidnapping, which paper, however, has not yet been served.

   On Monday Mrs. Steele went to the residence of her husband's mother, Mrs. Conrad, and gained admittance to the house, where a regular fight ensued for the possession of the child, the mother coming out second best in the encounter, as Mr. Conrad appeared on the scene at an opportune moment and turned the tide in favor of the grandmother. Mrs. Steele's clothes were nearly torn off her body and she received some ugly scratches on her face and hands. She had a warrant issued for the arrest of Conrad, and made ugly threats against others.

   The sympathy of all who know the inside facts of the affair sympathize with Steele, as he is a young man of good character and upright in ever particular, while his wife bears an unsavory reputation among these who are acquainted with her, and the common report is that she is not fit to care for a young child. What the outgrowth of the affair will be, time alone can tell.

 

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The Prohibitionists will open the campaign with a rally at the Cortland Opera House to-morrow evening, Oct. 10. H. Clay Bascom, their nominee for Governor, will address the meeting.

   Snow, the butter thief who was caught by Mr. Braman last week, was brought before Justice Bouton on Monday and remanded to the county jail to await the action of the Grand Jury now in session.

   A recent Supreme Court decision is to the effect that a town board of audit has no power to audit and allow claims which have been passed upon and rejected by a prior board.

   Pliny Wilson, of Willett, while on his way home from Cortland on Friday, was attacked with a partial stroke of paralysis while at the home of his son, Byron, in this village. He was taken home on Saturday.— Marathon Independent.

   Next Sunday morning Oct. 11th, Rev. George Adams will preach on "The Higher Places." In the evening his subject will be "Patterns." In the Universalist church in McLean at 3 o'clock p. m. of the same day, Mr. Adams will preach on casting out Devils.

   At the semi-annual meeting of the Young Men's Sodality of St. Mary's Catholic church, held Sept, 29, 1885, the following officers were elected:—Director, Rev. Father John McLoughlin; President, Chas. Corcoran; Vice President, Daniel Buckley; Secretary, Henry Dowd; Treasurer, John Callahan.

   A plug blew out of the water main on Orchard street Monday afternoon and the water came pouring down the hill in a torrent frightening property holders about out of their wits for fear their houses would be undermined. The water had full possession of the street for about 20 minutes until it could be turned off.

   G. I. Pruden and Lyman Jones have purchased the old Page Photograph Gallery in the Samson Block and will take possession October 21. Mr. Pruden has had charge of the Evans Branch Gallery in this place since its opening and is well and favorably known as an excellent workman. The new firm desire a share of the public patronage and will guarantee satisfaction.

  

Ladies Playing Football.

   SYRACUSE, Oct. 7.—Twelve married ladies of this city played a game of foot ball at Long Branch, a summer resort near this city, yesterday afternoon. The contest was private, and was witnessed by [women] only.

 

Corporate Proceedings.

   At a regular meeting of the board of trustees of the village of Cortland held at Firemen's Hall, Oct. 5th, 1885, at 7:30 p. m. Present—George C. Hubbard, A. M. Schermerhorn, Theo. Stevenson and Wm. B. Stoppard, trustees.

   On motion, George C. Hubbard was chosen president pro tem.

   The reading of the minutes of the last meeting was suspended.

   Petitions for location of fire hydrants on Clinton avenue and Elm street and for location of gas lamps at certain points of Greenbush street and on the Normal school grounds, were left for consideration The following bills were allowed and ordered paid: [list of bills omitted by CC editor.]

   On motion an order was made directing a reduction of wages in the pay of laborers on the street from $3.50 to $3.00 per day for team work, and from $1.50 to $1.25 per day on other laborers.

   A resolution was passed extending the warrant for the collection of the village taxes for 30 days.

   On motion meeting adjourned to Oct. 12th, at 7:30 p. m., at Firemen's Hall.

 

IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

Mrs. Druse Found Guilty of Murdering Her Husband.

   LITTLE FALLS, N. Y., Oct. 4.—The trial of Mrs. Druse for the murder of her husband closed at Herkimer at 12:20 this morning. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. It was the most brutal murder ever known in this part of the State. It is probable that the first person ever hanged in the county will be a woman.

   ROME, Oct. 6.—The Herkimer court house was crowded this morning by people of both sexes and all ages to listen to the sentence of Mrs. Druse. At 9 o'clock Mrs. Druse was escorted into the court room by officer Wilson. She looked haggard and worn. On the opening of court counselor Luce made a motion for a new trial, which was denied by Justice Williams. The prisoner was then told to stand up. She arose and Justice Williams, sentenced her to be hanged on Wednesday, November 25th. Mrs. Druse never flinched nor showed any emotion until she was passing out of the court room, when she burst into tears. Counselor Luce will secure a stay of proceedings and appeal the case on a motion for a new trial.

 

Reference:
1) Roxana Flowers (Mrs. Druse): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxana_Flowers
2) NYGENWEB, Roxalana Druse: http://herkimer.nygenweb.net/warren/druseroxalana.html