Friday, February 14, 2014

MRS. DRUSE HANGED AT HERKIMER, N. Y.



The Cortland News, Friday, March 5, 1887.
MRS. DRUSE HANGED.
   HERKIMER, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1887. - Mrs. Druse was executed at 11:48 this forenoon. She was hysterical during the night, but grew more calm as the fatal hour approached, and walked to the gallows with a firm step. Sheriff Cook and Under Sheriff Rice led the procession, followed by Rev. Powell and Mrs. Druse and the physicians and deputies in order. The crowd about the Court House and yard was very quiet and orderly throughout.
   At 11:42 Mrs. Druse and Dr. Powell knelt on the floor of the scaffold under the rope, Mrs. Druse had her daughter's bouquet in her hand and closed her eyes while Dr. Powell offered prayer.
   At the conclusion of the prayer Sheriff Cook asked Mrs. Druse if she had anything to say why the judgment of law should not be carried out. Mrs. Druse turned to Rev. Dr. Powell and said she had nothing to say. Deputy William McKinley pinned Mrs. Druse's arms, knees, and feet. She maintained her composure and was firm until Deputy Ballou put the black cap on her head and.adjusted the rope. Deputy Manion, who stood at her right, then bid her goodby as she turned and looked into his eyes, smiled and pressed his hand. Deputy Ballou adjusted the noose under and back of Mrs. Druse's left ear and pulled the cap over her face. Mrs. Druse moaned, cried and finally shrieked so loud that her voice was heard in the jail and street adjoining. Sheriff Cook dropped his hand over his breast, and Deputy Ballou sprung the trap. The 213 pound weight dropped at 11:48 a. m., and the woman’s body was lifted about three feet above the floor of the gallows.
   Mrs. Druse's death under judgment of the law was far more easy and merciful than was that of her victim, her husband, in December 1884. Death was due to strangulation.

ANOTHER MURDERESS LOOKING FORWARD TO EXECUTIVE INTERPOSITION.
    ALBANY, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1887.—It is not unlikely that Gov. Hill will in a short time have another application to dispose of in the case of a woman convicted of murder in the first degree. Mary Wileman was convicted in Cattaraugus county in March 1886 of the crime of murder in the first degree in having caused the death of her husband by administering poison to him by means of a pumpkin pie, which she had specially prepared for him.
   The motives alleged were to get an insurance of $1,600 on the life of her husband which was payable to her, and to get rid of him on account of her fondness for another man, The case, as proved, showed the utmost deliberation—in fact, from the very nature of the crime it could hardly have been otherwise than a willful and premeditated murder.
   The case was taken to the general term of the Supreme Court on appeal and it is understood that it has been argued before that court and that a decision unfavorable to the defendant has been reached, and that an appeal has been taken to the Court of Appeals from which a decision may be expected at an early date.

O’NEILL AND ROURKE IN SING SING.
   NEW YORK, March 1, 1887.—"Honest John" O'Neill, the convicted boodler, was taken to Sing Sing to-day. Policeman William J. Rourke, Roundsman Montgomery’s slayer, who is to serve a life imprisonment, went on the same train with O'Neill to Sing Sing. On arrival at Sing Sing after the usual formalities O'Neill was assigned to work in the State shoe shop, where he will begin his duties to-morrow. Rourke will be given work in the shoe factory of the contractors.

WASHINGTON LETTER
(From our Regular Correspondent.) Washington, Mar. 1, 1887.
   Will there be an extra session? This is an important question at the Capital just now. You hear it discussed on every side. As to the probability and necessity for a called session of the two Houses or a special session of the Senate, the opinions of our law-makers differ widely. Some say the backward state of the appropriation bills, for which the Democratic branch of Congress is entirely to blame, make a called session inevitable. Others say the work will all be done and both houses will be ready to adjourn on next Friday.
   Congressmen never want an extra session, but the people of Washington always do. It is to their interest for Congress to hang on as long as possible, and they would like for its sessions to be perennial. The House is now working night and day in order to get through. Hon. Mr. Butterworth, of Ohio, who is much opposed to an extra session, says the House is very censurable for its delay of work. He is a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee of the House, but he is a Republican member, and of course in the minority on a vote. He was speaking of the unfairness on the part of the House in not giving the Senate time to carefully consider these bills, but said he, "The only question involved is that of amount; it is not as if there was any legislation connected with them. The Senate can dispose of them in a very short time.”
   There has been a perfect pot-pourri in the proceedings of Congress during the past week, and will be during the remaining few days. The calendars of both Houses are exceedingly cumbersome, and so much business of great importance demands attention that the temptation to undue haste is irresistible.
   While the matter of appointments and confirmations is not in itself sufficient to bring about an extra session of the Senate, it contributes to the influences which may produce a called session. Opinions respecting the President's power to appoint the Inter-State Commerce Commissioners during a recess of the Senate are widely apart. The President thinks he has the right to do so and Senator Sherman agrees with him, as does also the Attorney General, who has rendered an opinion and cited Attorney Generals Stanberry, Evarts, Williams, and Devens as precedents.
   But Messrs. Edmunds, Harris, Pugh, and other Senators of prominence declare that the President has no show of Constitutional right to field a newly created office when the Senate is not in session to give its advice and consent. They hold that his power in the matter is limited to fill vacancies temporarily which may happen during the recess.
   There is a good deal of speculation as to what the President will do with the bill recently passed by both Houses of Congress making a Department of Agriculture and an addition to the Cabinet to be called the Secretary of Agriculture. This bill has been pending in Congress for years and was passed once before by both branches, but was vetoed by President Arthur. Agriculturists generally have petitioned for its passage of late and it is thought Mr. Cleveland will not veto it for fear of imperiling his political future.
   It has been just thirty eight years since a Congress created a new Executive Department. Our first President began his administration with a Cabinet of three members: the Secretaries of State, Treasury [and] War. At the beginning of his second term, however, the Attorney General was added to his official household, and later the Navy Department was organized. The Cabinet then consisted of five members until 1829, when the Postmaster General was added. Twenty years later Congress organized the last Department, that of the Interior, and President Taylor made Thomas Ewing of Ohio, its first Secretary.
   As soon as Mr. Corcoran, the venerable and widely known Washington philanthropist, learned of the arrival of Mrs. Grant in this city, he called to see her. She has also been visited by all the employees of the White House who were there during her residence in it.
   Mrs. Cleveland had grown a little fatigued from the numerous official hospitalities which always crowd the last fortnight of the gay season, and welcomed the quiet of Lent.
   Such mild festivities as Shakespearean, German and French readings, whist clubs, Dorcas meetings, musicales and sewing schools, are now in order, and seem to be full of interest to those who give up all social pomps and vanities during the Lenten season. 
REX.

TOWN CORRESPONDENCE.
South Cortland, Mar.3, 1887.
   The storm of Saturday, Sunday and Monday blockaded our roads worse than at any other time this winter.
   Alvirus Steadman was 81 years old last Saturday and he is as smart and active as many men are at sixty.
   L. H. Gee was calling on friends in this place the first of the week.

Virgil-Gee Hill, Mar. 2, 1887.
   The social at Clinton Trapp's on Wednesday evening was one of the most enjoyable events of the season. About 50 were present.
   Winter seems to have taken a new and a stronger lease of life, as the past few days have been very severe.

Truxton, Mar. 3, 1887.
   Mrs. Amos L. Kenney has met with a sad accident. On Saturday last while frying cakes she tipped the grease kettle over into the fire which flamed up into her lace and burned her face and one hand quite badly, in an instant the house was filled with black smoke and a match safe filled with matches took fire. She succeeded in extinguishing that and buried her face and head in a bed quilt and ran to the door and cried for help, which soon arrived, and did all possible for the suffering woman. Had it not been for her presence of mind and quick action it might have resulted in a fatal calamity. On the same day the wife of Patrick Comfort had a stroke of paralysis and fell with one hand on the stove and burned it badly.
   Mr. Mack, the gentleman who has rented Dillenbeck's hotel arrived here on Tuesday with grip sack in hand to take possession of the hotel as agreed. Owing to the great blow and the falling snow the cars were blocked several miles out and he came on foot leaving his wile and baggage to come when the train did.

Hunt’s Corners, Mar. 2, 1887.
   Within the past few weeks there has been considerable said and written in relation to the family troubles of our townsman, Egbert Peak. As if the trouble and anxiety, and the falsehoods told by a wayward child were not sufficient to satisfy the cravings of a miserable gossipy set of human beings, that delight in dragging every one else down as low as themselves! Have those that assisted in the circulation of these falsehoods gained anything by it, or are they any better off morally, mentally or financially? If not, what was the object? Was it to turn the eyes of the public in another direction from themselves? The majority of the better class of the people of this community are satisfied that what has been said and published derogatory to Mrs. Peak's character is false and cruel, and without foundation.

Preble, Mar. 3, 1887.
   F. T. Van Hoesen has purchased the Klock estate for $6,000, which is very cheap property. Fred, come up our way next year.
   Mrs. P. Nichols has received a dower from her father's estate, Martin Van Derwalker, of Christian Hollow. Mr. Nichols is looking after farms to purchase. My friend, come up Bennett Hollow.
   Our dog man and two boys started out for a fox chase last week Wednesday, and soon started an old fox. There was a lively chase which caused the boys to travel some less than a hundred miles. Just before dark the dogs caught the fox in front of John Mack's house, but before the boys could get there, the hide was taken from the fox, leaving the carcass for their day's work.

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