The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September
12, 1890.
O'Neill Pardoned.
Last
Saturday Governor Hill granted a full pardon to Hugh O'Neill, who was convicted
at the Circuit Court in this place, four or five years ago, upon the charge of arson
in setting fire to the buildings on Railroad street, then occupied by the O'Neill Wagon Company, and owned by Hon. L. J.
Fitzgerald. Readers of the DEMOCRAT will remember the circumstances as they
were given in full at the time.
O'Neill had sold the stock and business to the Springville Wagon Company, which was a stock company located at Springville, Erie county, N. Y., and the stock was in process of removal at the time the fire occurred. It was claimed by the prosecution that the insurance exceeded to a considerable amount, the value of the stock and tools in the buildings. The insurance companies settled with O'Neill, but he was afterwards indicted and the trial resulted in his conviction of the crime. The defendant appealed to the General Term where the judgment was affirmed and afterward he appealed to the Court of Appeals which court affirmed the judgment of the Court below.
The court sentenced O'Neill to five years hard labor in Auburn prison, where he was taken by the sheriff. He had served out nearly seventeen months of his term. The petition asking for his pardon was signed by the leading citizens of Cortland, every member of the jury before whom the case was tried and by many others. The Governor's action seems to meet with the entire approval of the citizens of this place.
O'Neill had sold the stock and business to the Springville Wagon Company, which was a stock company located at Springville, Erie county, N. Y., and the stock was in process of removal at the time the fire occurred. It was claimed by the prosecution that the insurance exceeded to a considerable amount, the value of the stock and tools in the buildings. The insurance companies settled with O'Neill, but he was afterwards indicted and the trial resulted in his conviction of the crime. The defendant appealed to the General Term where the judgment was affirmed and afterward he appealed to the Court of Appeals which court affirmed the judgment of the Court below.
The court sentenced O'Neill to five years hard labor in Auburn prison, where he was taken by the sheriff. He had served out nearly seventeen months of his term. The petition asking for his pardon was signed by the leading citizens of Cortland, every member of the jury before whom the case was tried and by many others. The Governor's action seems to meet with the entire approval of the citizens of this place.
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| First Baptist Church, Church Street, Cortland, circa 1900. |
Repairing the Baptist Church Spire.
The work
of repairing the cyclone wrecked spire on the Baptist Church was taken by
builder J. D. Keeler and slater W. J. McElheny. Failing to enlist the services
of a painter, after three or four attempts, who would paint the bracket work at
the top of the spire Deacon Keeler himself concluded to do the job, as the wood
work was greatly in need of a coat of paint. James O'Neil accompanied the veteran
builder and a large crowd of citizens anxiously watched the pair mount the
ladder from the last staging to the bracket and then climb up 26 feet of ornamental
work.
The work
was completed Monday and the carpenters and two slaters were photographed
before any of the outside timbers were removed, Mr. Keeler gracefully posing at
the top of the urn—186 feet from mother earth. Many of our citizens
courageously climbed the stair on the inside of the tower as far as the bell while
a few took a peep at the country from the inside as high as the stagings. It was
a perilous undertaking, a necessary work in which "When duty calls, we
must obey" was practically demonstrated.
Cortland Visits Elmira.
As stated
last week, the excursion of the Hitchcock Hose and Band to Elmira on Thursday
was a decided success. Everybody enjoyed the day, which was exceedingly
pleasant. Many remained over Friday to witness the prize drill contest of which
the Daily Advertiser says: "The hose company drill was a
magnificent exhibition. It was a contest between Hitchcock hose of Cortland,
and Pritchard hose of Corning, and was won by the former, who scored ninety-seven
points to their opponents' ninety-two. Both are well drilled companies and fine
looking bodies of men."
The prize
was $150, to this sum was added $100 for the band and an additional $150 from
the sale of tickets which gave the best reason to feel elated and caused a royal
welcome to be extended upon their arrival on the 7:10 train Friday evening, each
man's cap sporting a full-fledged rooster.
Speaking
of the demonstration Thursday the Elmira Evening Star, states: "Train arrived at 11 A. M., and the company
marched from the E. C. & N. station through the principal streets to the
Inter-State fair
grounds. The procession reached from Main to Lake streets on Water street and
was headed by the firm in carriages, next came the hose company, 50 strong, led
by assistant chief Will Y. Ellet, of the Elmira fire department, and Hitchcock band, next
came the Lodi band ahead of 600 employes. The Freeville brass band and East
Troy were with the excursion which made a splendid show and created great
enthusiasm as they marched down Water street." The Sunday Telegram adds
that an engine drawing a string of wagons and carriages was a great feature of
the parade, also that the process of building a cart by [Hitchcock] employes while parading around the track
on the grounds was watched by a large and eager crowd.
Proceedings
in Full—A Weak Ticket Nominated—
Cortland Takes All the Cake.
Cortland Takes All the Cake.
The convention was called to order by chairman
Carley, who presented the name of Hon. M. M. Brown of Freetown, for chairman.
The choice was ratified and Mr. Brown took the chair. C. A. Jones of
McGrawville, and C. O. Newton of Homer, were chosen to act as secretaries, and
Messrs. E. W. Childs of Scott, and A. E. Brainard of Marathon, were selected to
act as tellers. The iron clad oath was administered to the officers by Dorr C. Smith,
Esq., in an unusually impressive manner, after which the towns were called in
alphabetical order and every town was found to be represented. Although
Secretary Newton experienced more or less difficulty in pronouncing the names
while calling the roll, after numerous corrections it was finally perfected.
It appearing that there were two sets of
delegates from Harford, Mr. Brooks of Marathon moved that a committee of three
be appointed as a committee on contested seats. The chair appointed C. P.
Walrad of Cortland, C. E. Boyden of Marathon, and C. J. Harris of Willett, as
such committee. The committee retired to deliberate, and after hearing the
statements of the chairman of each delegation reported in favor of allowing three
members from each delegation to sit. On motion the report of the committee was adopted.
The vote met with a decided "No," from the chairman of the Peck
delegation, who announced that his delegation declined to sit unless the entire
delegation was admitted.
On motion of J. J. Wheaton of Marathon, the
contestants, headed by Sherman Morse,
were admitted to seats in the convention.
At this point the Cuyler delegates asked permission
of the chair to take front seats in the convention, which privilege, for reasons
patent to all, was accorded them.
Mr. I. J. Walker of Solon moved that the
convention proceed to take an informal ballot for Member of Assembly. Carried.
Major A. Sager of this place, who
represented the town of Cincinnatus, forcibly presented the name of Hon. R. T.
Peck of Cortland as a candidate for renomination.
Mr. A. G. Smith of Marathon, presented the
name of Jas. H. Tripp of the same place. Mr. Smith stated that Mr. Peck had
promised that he would not be a candidate this year. That two years ago Mr. Peck
was nominated after some very sharp practices on his part, and that the
promises referred to could be proved beyond all question.
Major Sager replied to Mr. Smith by saying
that at the proper time and place Mr. Peck
would meet and refute all charges brought against him. This was no time or
place to answer such charges and the convention ought not to be bound by any agreement
that had been entered into between candidates.
An informal ballot was then taken with the
following result:
Whole number of votes cast 90, of which
Rufus T. Peck, received 61.
Jas. H. Tripp, 29.
On motion of Major Sager, seconded by the
entire Cuyler delegation as with one voice, the informal ballot was made formal
and Mr. Peck was declared the nominee.
Mr. Peck was called out and said that he did
not seek this nomination so much because he wanted to return to Albany, but
because of his unconquerable desire to work for the interests of the people of
this county and of this State. The members of the legislature who came up from
Brooklyn and New York will vote for any wicked measure that comes before the
legislature and it becomes necessary for him to be there to oppose them. The
remainder of his harangue was given up to a repetition of his speech on the
canals delivered in the legislature last winter.
The chair announced that the nomination of a
candidate for County Treasurer was next in order.
Mr. F. E. Price presented the name of Stephen
K. Jones of Virgil.
W. J. Mantanye presented the name of George
Hammond of McGrawville, whose principal claim to the office was that he saw
service for two years in the 157th regiment, and that there were forty
republican votes in the family.
Mr. F. M. Beardsley of Marathon presented the
name of Lee Johnson of Marathon.
Mr. C. O. Newton of Homer presented the name
of Wm. H. Foster of Homer in a written address.
Mr. Jerome Squires presented the name of
Andrew S. Brown of Cortland, the present incumbent.
An informal ballot was taken which resulted as
follows:
Whole number of votes cast 90, of which
A. S. Brown, received 49
Geo. Hammond, 5
S. K. Jones, 15
Lee Johnson, 12
Wm. H. Foster, 9
During the taking of the ballot some one
secured Mr. D. M. Patrick’s hat, which created some confusion, but the tile
[sic] was finally restored to him, and the vote proceeded.
Jas. T. Steele of Preble moved that the ballot
be declared formal which was carried, although there were several dissenting votes.
It was pretty evident that the wily Treasurer had secured promises from several
delegates to vote for him on the first ballot, the delegates supposing of course
that a formal ballot would follow, when they could vote for the candidate of their
choice. The sequel showed, however, that Mr. Brown was not quite so simple as the
delegates who promised to give him a complimentary vote, for as soon as the vote
was announced and it appeared that Brown had a majority of the votes cast; one
of his delegates, who had been posted, at once moved that the ballot be
declared formal and that Brown be also declared the unanimous nominee of the
convention.
The motion was made so soon after the announcement
of the vote, and was so quickly put by the chairman, that his opponents had no
time to rally. It was perfectly plain that a combination had been arranged to
beat Brown after the first ballot, and he was undoubtedly aware of that fact.
By the exercise of a little political shrewdness, he secured the plum which had
been intended for another. There was no question but that Peck intended
to have a candidate for Treasurer from one of the other towns, but when Peck
undertakes to down Brown in a political deal, he will generally find that he
has overrated his own abilities and underrated those of the opposite party.
Mr. W. P. Henry of Solon moved that Dr. M. R.
Smith of McGrawville be nominated for Coroner by acclamation.
Major Sager moved as an amendment that Dr.
William J. Moore of Cortland be nominated for Coroner by acclamation.
A delegate from Cuyler nominated Dr. S. B. Clark
of that town.
The chair put the first motion but being unable
to decide the same ordered a ballot which resulted as follows:
Whole number of votes cast 72, of which
M. R. Smith received 11
W. J. Moore, 43
B. B. Clark, 18
The nomination of Dr. Moore was made unanimous.
On motion of F. M. Beardsley of Marathon, Lewis
Bouton of Cortland was nominated for Justice of Sessions.
Shouts went up from all over the hall ''That's
right, give the whole business to Cortland" and, "The other towns
have no rights that Cortland is bound to respect." After
appointing the following County Committee the convention adjourned.
COUNTY COMMITTEE.
Cuyler—Henry Howe.
Cincinnatus—Wilbur Holmes.
Cortlandville—Jerome Squires, C. P. Walrad,
Chas. E. Reed, C. A. Jones.
Freetown—Joel F. Chrysler.
Harford—W. W. Parker.
Homer—C. O. Newton, S. M. Byram, H. Griffin.
Lapeer—W. A. Hyde.
Marathon—C. E. Boyden, F. M. Beardsley.
Preble—James T. Steele.
Scott—W. C. Bockes.
Solon—W. C. Shuler.
Taylor—R. L. Cass.
Truxton—D. M. Patrick.
Virgil ——————
Willett—Charles J. Harris.
THE TICKET NOMINATED.
For Member of Assembly.
Rufus T. Peck, of Cortland.
For County Treasurer.
Andrew S. Brown, of Cortland.
For Coroner.
William J. Moore, of Cortland.
For Justice of Sessions.
Lewis Bouton, of Cortland.
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