TWO FIRE ALARMS AND A TRAIN ROBBERY

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, April 15, 1887.

Two Alarms.

   About one o'clock last Friday afternoon the fire bell rung and the department turned out to find the coal sheds adjoining the gas buildings between this village and Homer, on fire. The smoke could be seen for a long distance. The firemen made as good time as was possible, considering the bad state of the roads, and arrived on the scene soon after the flames had communicated with the brick building used for manufacturing gas. The flames had a pretty good start but the fire was soon extinguished.

   Superintendent Truesdell informs us that the Homer & Cortland Gas Company's loss will amount to about $2,000. It is supposed that the fire originated from a spark from a passing locomotive on the S. & B. road. A large quantity of coal was burned, and the pile was still smoking on Sunday afternoon.

   It was at first thought that the machinery for manufacturing gas had been ruined and that both villages would be without gas until the damage could be repaired, but an examination showed that the machinery was injured but little.

   At about eight o'clock the same evening Adam Belcher went into the garret of his house on Pomeroy street, with a lantern minus a globe, and the building took fire. The department turned out but the fire was soon put out.

A BOLD EXPRESS ROBBERY.

MESSENGER LEAKE SHOT AND THE SAFE PLUNDERED.

The Man Found Lying on the Floor Of His Car When the Train Stopped at Utica—The Door was Forced Open, He Says.

   UTICA, March 31.— A very bold express robbery was committed on the West Shore railroad west of this city last night, and the agent was dangerously wounded. Just how and where the affair occurred it was difficult to learn. The facts of the case, as nearly as they can be ascertained, are these:

   Train No. 96, the Atlantic Express, which leaves Utica at 11:16 P. M., left Clark's Mills on time and arrived in this city according to the schedule. At the former place Express Messenger C. F. Leake was seen and everything was apparently all right. On reaching Utica the conductor opened the car door to ascertain why the agent did not appear to take charge of the express matter. To his horror he found the messenger lying on the floor of the car in a pool of blood and so weak that he was unable to give any intelligent account of what had happened. It was learned, however, that soon after leaving Clark's Mills a man suddenly appeared before him and demanded that he open the Express Company's strong box, at the same time leveling a revolver at his head. This the agent would not do, and a struggle ensued, during which the agent was shot in the right shoulder. He fell to the floor of the car, and the robber succeeded in rifling the box and escaping with a large sum of money. The robber left the car near the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad crossing in the city.

   The trainmen and others did all in their power for the wounded man and he revived somewhat, and it was thought best to take him through to Albany. On reaching Frankfort the agent was found to be so weak and faint it was not thought advisable to take him further, and his friends took him to a hotel there, where medical aid was summoned.

   A man was seen by some of the railroad men to jump from the train near the crossing, and there is little doubt that it was the robber. A vigilance committee was formed by the railroad men and others at the West Shore station in this city as soon as the train left, and armed with revolvers the party started out in pursuit of the robber.

   The Utica police were notified at once and officers were detailed to work up the case, although they have very little information to work on. It only requires seven minutes to make the trip between Clark's Mills and Utica, and the robber must have made very quick work. Mr. Leake declined to state the amount of money in the safe, but it is understood to have been quite large.

   At Frankfort Messenger Lake was attended by Doctor Skiff, who probed four inches for the ball, but was unable to find it. John Ehrhardt of Utica, who returned from New York last night, saw Mr. Leake and talked with him He was very weak, but told the story much more coherently than in Utica, having recovered from his dazed condition. He said that when the train was leaving Clark's Mills a man forced open the side door of the car and struck him with his fists. Mr. Leake threw up his right arm to ward off a second blow, and his assailant, probably thinking that he was drawing a revolver, pulled one himself and shot the messenger, the ball entering the flesh beneath the arm and passing up through into the shoulder. The robber then knocked Leake down and tied his hands and feet and dragged him to the safe and tied him to it. He then took the keys from Leake, opened the safe and abstracted its contents. The messenger had nearly succeeded in freeing himself when the conductor entered the car.

    Mr. Leake described the robber as a man six feet in height and weighing about 200 pounds. He wore dark clothes and had a black mask over his face. This description answers perfectly that given by Night Agent Barger of the burglar who assailed him at the West Shore station on the night of March 14th. Mr. Leake is not as seriously injured as was at first supposed, and his recovery is confidently expected.  

LEAKE'S ASSAILANT.

Charles Roark, With Several Aliases, and a Female Companion Arrested--Damaging Evidence Found.

   UTICA, April 3.—Charles O'Rourke, alias C. Roark, alias Samuel Hawkes, alias E. B. Walling, and a female companion, whose maiden name was Carrie Cotter, living with "Roark" as his wife, have been arrested in Suspension Bridge on the order of Chief McElwaine of this city—the man on the charge of shooting and robbing Express Messenger Leake of the National company on the West Shore train east, near Utica, last Wednesday evening. The woman is wanted as Roark's companion while in Utica.

   The police express officials and Pinkerton's detective[s] feel almost confident that they have Roark "dead to rights" in this case and also that he was the masked robber who got away with Night Agent Barger's money from the West Shore ticket drawer at the Utica station about 8 P. M. March 14.

   Roark—the last name he used in Utica— has been in and around this city for the past three months. His alleged wife accompanied him during the greater part of their stay in this city, the couple made their home at the Mansion house. Roark left the Mansion house at noon Wednesday and was admitted by the colored servant at 1 o'clock Thursday morning, about three hours after the robbery occurred. Roark and his wife went to sleep Thursday morning in debt fully $50. They arose the same morning and began paying their debts previous to their departure for Suspension Bridge.

   They arrived at Suspension Bridge Thursday night and went quietly to the home where they lived before going to Utica, and where their household goods were. Yesterday they went around and paid between $200 and $800 of old debts. They paid Mrs. Buttery for rent, $100, Cornell for furniture, $10, and others. They paid their debts mostly in silver, but used a few notes which were torn on the corners as if done in opening packages.

   O'Rourke is a powerful man, six feet high, weighs about 240 pounds, 41 years old, and came to Suspension Bridge from St. Catherines, Ont. He has also been in Syracuse and Oswego. He was married about two years ago to Miss Carrie E. Cotter of Oswego. The evidence against the man is very strong. Some of the money he had had torn corners, and the pieces of bills found with the express envelopes in the Hatfield woods fit these torn bills.

HERE AND THERE.

   Homer people are talking of putting in an electric fire-alarm apparatus.

   Abner Sheffield, of Homer, broke his leg while wrestling last Thursday evening.

   A very large number of new houses are to be erected in this place the coming season.

   The monthly payroll for last month, of the Cortland Wagon Company, amounted to $16,000.

   The bill, allowing the Cortland Opera House company to mortgage the property, has passed the Senate.

   The First National Bank will occupy the north side of J. C. Gray’s jewelry store, while the new building is being erected.

   Frank Smith, an employee in the Cortland Top and Rail shops, had one of his thumbs injured in a thread cutting machine last week.

   Easter services were held in all the churches in this place, last Sunday, and were well attended. The floral offerings were very handsome.

   The Co-operative Wagon Company, of Homer, are about to erect new shops on land of A. B Smith and L. L. Rood, nearly opposite the Homer and Cortland Gas works.

   The Normal students have organized a baseball club for 1887. A. S. Thompson is president; A. J. Baldwin, vice president; E. J. Barnes, secretary; F. R. McFall, treasurer; Gorman, captain, and S. J. Ellsworth, manager.

   The plans for the nine new stores, on Railroad street [Central Avenue], have been drawn and adopted, and architect Elliot, of Syracuse, is engaged in drawing the specifications. The projectors of this enterprise expect to commence work in a few days.

   J. H. May, proprietor of the hotel in Virgil, has purchased the stage route between this village and Virgil. Mr. May is a live man, and will be prompt in making his trips. Orders left at the Arnold House, in this place, will receive prompt attention.

   Theodore Compton, who was arrested in Ithaca, a few days since, on the charge of obtaining money and goods of Daniel Bouton, of this village, by false pretenses, was examined on Tuesday before Justice Squires and sentenced to the county jail for thirty days.

   Lewis & Kalrisky have opened their variety store at No. 9 Port Watson St.

They have a very large stock of laces, gloves, handkerchiefs, and notions of all kinds, which they offer to customers at very low prices. Read their new advertisement on fourth page.

   Architect Elliot, of Syracuse, furnished the plans for the new banking house for the First National bank in this place. Those who have seen the plans and ought to know, say that when completed, it will be the handsomest banking house in central New York. Mr. D. G. Corwin will have charge of its construction.

   George Sullivan, who was charged last week with assaulting Mrs. Solomon Sager, of this place, was arrested in Cazenovia, last Wednesday evening, for intoxication, and sent to the Onondaga penitentiary for sixty days. Sheriff Van Hoesen sent the warrant to the officer in charge of the penitentiary, and he will be arrested and brought to this place upon the expiration of his present sentence.

   The Tioughnioga was on the rampage last Sunday and Monday. The banks overflowed on both sides of the river at Port Watson bridge, on Monday. Sunday night the water in Dry Creek overflowed and surrounded several houses, corner of North Main and Adams street, to a depth of two or three feet. The streams have not been so high in this section for several years. Trains were delayed on the E. C & N. near Truxton, for several hours on Monday, owing to high water and several obstructions which had been washed upon the track.

Personal.

   F. M. Taylor, editor of the Cazenovia Republican was a welcome caller at the DEMOCRAT office last Friday.

   Dorr C. Smith has moved his law office from rooms in Second National Bank building to rooms on second floor of Masonic BLOCK, over Sherwood Bros. grocery store.

   W. Corcoran of this place and B. F. Kinney, of Truxton, who signed to play with the Danbury's [baseball team--CC editor] have been notified to report at Danbury, Conn. , on Saturday.

   Will Lyman has disposed of his saloon in McGrawville and has accepted a situation as shipping clerk in a large wagon factory in Amesbury, Mass.

Killed His Horse.

   Last Thursday George Pelton, of Preble, undertook to drive across Preble flats to Stanton's Mills, with a load of grain. When he arrived at the railway crossing he discovered the work train coming from the north, but concluded that he had plenty of time to cross the track before the train drove on. It had not occurred to him to look towards the south, to see if there was danger in that direction.

   Just as his team arrived on the track the fast passenger train from the south came thundering along and struck the team, clearing them from the sleigh and throwing them on top of a high snow bank on one side of the track, leaving Mr. Pelton sitting quietly on his load of grain, fortunately uninjured. One of the horse’s legs was broken and he had to be killed while the other was not injured in the least.

   The sleigh being heavily loaded undoubtedly saved Mr. Pelton's life, otherwise it would have swung around against the train. Mr. Pelton will look both ways hereafter when crossing railway tracks.