A TERRIBLE SHOOTING AFFRAY

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June1, 1888.

A TERRIBLE SHOOTING AFFRAY.

Al Taylor of Lapeer Shoots Mell Friese of Hartford Mills on Decoration Day—Friese Will Probably Die.

   A terrible shooting affray occurred at Harford Mills on the afternoon of May 30. Al Taylor of Lapeer shot and probably mortally wounded Mell Friese, of Richford. Last winter Taylor and Friese both lived on Michigan Hill, in the town of Richford, Tioga county. Taylor is a married man and has a wife and four small children. Frieze is unmarried. These men had quarreled before, jealousy being the cause. Taylor claimed to have once found Friese and his (Taylor's) wife in the same bed, and had declared several times that he would kill Friese when he got a chance.

   Wednesday Charles Parker and Al Taylor came from Lapeer to Harford Mills, bringing a rifle with which they had been hunting on the way. Mell Friese also came from Michigan Hill. They all chanced to meet at L. E. Hays' grocery store about 2 o'clock P. M. Friese was standing on the steps in front of Hays' store and Taylor was sitting nearby. Parker was standing near with the rifle in hand with his back toward Taylor. Suddenly Taylor arose, came up behind Parker, snatched the gun from Parker's hands and quickly fired it at Frieze. The ball entered his breast a little above the heart and came out at his back. Friese ran into the grocery and tried to get behind some kegs and Taylor started after him but was stopped by those around him. An officer was summoned and he was soon taken into custody. Friese was taken to Trimmer's Hotel and a doctor called. He will probably die. 

S. H. DANIELS. [reporter]

   Taylor was brought to Cortland and lodged in jail Wednesday evening.— Ed .

Decoration Day Exercises.

   At an early hour last Wednesday morning the people of the village were astir and making active preparations for the exercises of the day. Business in the stores and factories was suspended, and all classes of citizens joined together to do honor to the Nation's heroic dead. Flags and bunting had been displayed early in the morning and many of the business places and private residences along the line of march were draped with exquisite taste.

   Promptly at 9:30 A. M., the 45th Separate Company left their drill room and marched down Main street where they were soon joined by Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R., Grover Relief Corps, and the officers of the village. There, headed by the Mechanics’ Band, the line of march indicated in last week's DEMOCRAT, was taken up. A brief halt was made at the Soldiers Monument and the programme printed last week carried out, after which the march was resumed to the cemetery on Tompkins street, where the memorial oration was delivered by the Rev. J. P. Porter, of Geneva. We regret that want of space precludes our publishing Mr. Foster's most eloquent and masterly address. It was a glowing tribute to the virtues and sacrifices of the Union soldiers and was listened to with close attention by the large audience present. At the conclusion of the oration the floral offerings were placed on the graves of the departed comrades and the different organizations marched again to Main street, where the order to "Break ranks" was given.

Notes.

   The Mechanics’ Band received many compliments for their fine appearance and the almost faultless rendering of the selections played. As previously announced, the 45th Separate Company N. G. S. N. Y., made their first appearance in public and won the admiration of the spectators by their soldierly bearing. Evidently the extra drills ordered by Captain Miller were productive of good effects, and had the service uniforms been at hand so the company could have appeared fully armed and equipped, their appearance would have been greatly improved. Another parade will probably take place during the summer.

   The ladies of Grover Relief Corps must have realized a neat sum from the sale of refreshments in the Garrison Block during the day.

   The veterans of Grover Post G. A. R. have evidently not yet forgotten the lessons they learned in camp on the field twenty five years ago. They marched with the steadiness of men just from the drill and their fine appearance was a source of much lively comment among the spectators.

   The music by the male quartette was specially fine and was one of the most enjoyable features of the day.

Firemen’s Convention.

   At a meeting of the executive committee held at Fireman's Hall last Monday night, reports of the various committees were received. The committee on solicitation reported its plans for raising funds and they are sure to prove successful. The Hall and Grounds committee has completed its work except the sinking of a large tank on the Driving Park grounds for the engine tests, and the building of a reviewing stand.

   The committee on railroads reported that negotiations were in progress that will ultimately result in the sale of round trip tickets at a one way rate. The committee on hotels made a nearly complete report, and the list will be completed soon. The secretary was instructed to notify

the chairman of all committees that did not report last Monday night, to call their committees together at once and to take action upon their special duties so that their work may be reported to the executive committee at its adjourned meeting to be held June 11, 1888.

   Since writing the above Chief Engineer Thompson informs us that all delegates and uniformed firemen attending the Convention will be able to purchase tickets from points over fifty miles distant from Cortland, for 2 1/2 cents per mile, round trip. Those purchasing tickets at stations less than fifty miles distant from Cortland will be charged 3 cents per mile, one way.

   All hose carriages or other fire apparatus accompanied by a company of 25 members or over will be transported to and from the Convention in flat cars over all trunk lines of railway for $2.50.

HERE AND THERE.

   A New York milk depot is to be located in Homer.

   The new fire bell is in place and the tone of it seems to be all that could be desired.

   Michael Haley lost the tip of one of his fingers in the machinery in the Cortland Wagon Works, last Saturday.

   By a law recently passed the poormaster in every town is obliged to keep a record of every person the town helps, their age, etc.

   Frank Evans has started a stage line between this place and Groton. The stage leaves Groton at 8 A. M. and Cortland at 3 P. M.

   Messrs. Daley & Mullin expect to have a new hotel finished on the site of the one recently burned in Truxton, by October 1st, next.

   The Ithaca High School nine played a game of ball with the Normals on the fair grounds, last Saturday, the former winning by a score of 12 to 10.

   The Floral Trout Park will be opened to the public for the season tomorrow. Mechanics’ band and Fischer's orchestra will be present both afternoon and evening.

   The Common Council of Utica have made a contract with the Warner & Scharf Asphalt Paving company to pave the principal street of that city with Trinidad asphalt pavement.

   The Oneida Dispatch says: That landlord Stoddard, of Sylvan Beach, "has engaged about twenty young ladies from the Cortland Normal School as waiters" during the coming season.

   Engineers of the E. C. & N. railway are at work making a survey and taking measurements for the proposed iron trestle which is to supersede the wooden structure at Brookton. It is estimated that the trestle, which is to be seventy-five feet high and one hundred feet long, will cost $25,000.—Ithaca Journal.

   The H. & C. Horse Railway are now running cars that leave Homer and Cortland at 6:15 A. M and 6:10 P. M. The company are talking of making trips each half hour.

   At 10 o’clock last Thursday night, an alarm of fire was given and the department responded. A blaze had started in the back part of a house on Elm street, near the Cortland Top and Rail Company’s building owned by Theo. Stevenson. By the time the department arrived, the fire had been extinguished by the occupants. Little damage was done.

   The D. L. & W. R. R. Company have built a handsome little park just north of their passenger depot of this place.

   A daily line of steamers will be run in connection with the D. L. & W. R. R. from Oswego to the Thousand Islands, this season. The time table will soon be published.

A BATTALION DRILL CORPS.

A Battalion Drill Corps from the Western Part of the State to Attend the Firemen’s Convention in August.

   The following report of a meeting of the representatives of several Hose Companies held in Rochester, April 25th, will be of interest to our readers. The following companies were represented:

   Brantford Hose Co., of Brantford, Ontario, represented by Geo. D. Calder, Captain.

   Hydrant Hose Co., of Lockport, represented by F. G. Derrison, Foreman, Dr. A. J. Allen, Drill Master, Geo. W. Maine, John Smith.

   Citizens Hose Co., of Olean, represented by A. P. Pope, Foreman, W. H. Simpson, Chief Engineer F. D.

   Merrill Hose Co., of Canandaigua, represented by P. W. Bryan, Foreman, H. H. Lane, Secretary, F. B. Merrill.

   After some preliminary talk of the object of the gathering, the meeting was called to order, and W. H. Simpson elected chairman and H. H. Lane secretary. It was moved by F . B. Merrill that an expression of the members be taken as to the advisability and desirability of the respective companies attending Cortland as a battalion and giving an exhibition drill. The motion was unanimously carried. Mr. Bryan was then invited to explain the proposed battalion drill, after which it was moved and carried that Mr. Bryan take command of the battalion and forward to the drill master of each company a full and complete list of the moves which the battalion should execute, not to exceed ten in number. It was also decided that each company be allowed to give several moves independent of the battalion moves, not to exceed ten. 
   On motion, the chair appointed Geo. D. Calder, H. H. Lane, and F. B. Merrill a committee to arrange for transportation and hotel accommodation. On motion, the chair appointed Mr. Thyng, of Citizens Hose, Mr. Morrison. of Hydrant Hose, Mr. Calder, of Brantford Hose, and Mr. Lane, of Merrill Hose, a committee to confer with a view to inviting some company to join in making the battalion five companies. On motion, A. P. Pope, Geo. D. Calder and F. B. Merrill were appointed a committee on music. It was decided that one band should be engaged for the battalion, the expense to be equally divided among the companies participating. After a thorough discussion as to whether the battalion movements should be executed in threes or fours, it was decided in favor of threes—but each company, in its special drill, was to use either threes or fours, as they might choose. On motion, Mr. Merrill was appointed a committee of one to suggest some pleasant excursion for Saturday that might be taken on the return from Cortland.
   It was the expression of all that the drill would be a grand success and redound greatly to the credit of each company participating. It was thought advisable that all the companies should meet at Rochester Thursday, August 23, not later than 12 M., and have a practice drill on the grounds of the Rochester Base Ball Club. This drill would probably take two or three hours. The grounds are adjacent to the railroad, and after the drill the companies take a special train and go direct to Cortland, arriving there about 6 P. M.  

   Friday would be given up to the drill and a good time generally. As Saturday would be broken up, and most of the members would like to put the day in pleasantly, it was proposed that some plan for an excursion be formulated to the different companies for their ratification. 

   The Battalion have adopted as their watchword "On to Cortland," and as their motto: "Let 'er go, Gallagher!"