TOO MUCH MARRIED

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, April 10, 1891.

TOO MUCH MARRIED.

The Fair Nora Seems to Have a Plethora of Husbands.

   Mrs. Hubby or Parker, who has been living with Mr. W. H. Hubby in this place the past winter, and who recently left for Syracuse with one Parker, who claimed her as his wife, a full account of which appeared in the DEMOCRAT last week and the week before, seems to have a mania for marrying.

   A Batavia dispatch to the Buffalo News says:

   About two years ago Alfred Kempston, an employe [sic] of the Baker Gun company of Batavia, left his house for his accustomed day's labor. Behind him he left his wife and two children aged five and two years. Upon his return he learned that his spouse was missing. What was at first supposed to be but a temporary absence developed into a permanent one. Prior to her departure, Mrs. Kempston informed several people that it was her intention to leave her husband. She gave as her reason ill treatment, which the neighbors found hard to believe, as Kempston is a good, honest, thrifty man, and who is not addicted to drink. He is thirty-two years old and she twenty-five and above the general run in good looks.

   During the last two years not the least idea was entertained by the deserted husband or the parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Bidlock, of the whereabouts of the wife. On Thursday a Syracuse paper under the heading "Who is Nora Bidlock?" went on to tell that a young woman who formerly went by that name was the wife of one William Hubby of Cortland, that the young woman was also the wife of one H. P. Parker or was supposed by that gentleman to be, and that one James Saunderson likewise labored under the delusion that he had a just and equitable claim to the woman of extraordinary matrimonial inclinations, as his other half. However all this may be, the man who is considered to have the prior lien is Alfred Kempston of Batavia.

   Kempston realizes to its full extent the disgrace which his wife has brought upon herself, and sympathies with her deeply, notwithstanding the fact that she has been exceedingly wayward. He says that he will never live with his wife again, and that he will, at the earliest opportunity, institute proceedings for a divorce.

A Rascal at Large.

   Monday afternoon a man somewhat scented with the perfume of ardent spirits, knocked at the door of Miss Fairchild's department in the Pomeroy street ward school and asked to see a little girl named Chaffee, immediately stepping into the room, but by request of the teacher he retired to the cloak room where, the girl states, he inquired where Emmett Grant lived. The girl answered that she did not know, and he departed. Shortly afterward a Chaffee girl in Mrs. Rice's department of the same building, received permission to leave the room. Upon entering the girls' closet she encountered a man (his description corresponding with the first caller) whom she claims made indecent approaches. She screamed and the man hastily departed. He was subsequently located, and an officer searched the premises, but failed to find him.

   Parties claiming to know him said his name was Edwards, and a warrant on complaint of the girl was issued and delivered to officer Sager. It was afterward learned that his name was Howes, and he was said to be at the home of one Clough, near Tisdale's Mills, instead of at Grant's, on East avenue, where it was reported he stayed Monday night.

   Officer Sager and Mr. Chaffee found a man at Clough's, eating supper, who answered the description pretty well, though he had his coat off. Mrs. Clough is reported to have claimed he was her brother, and had been there the previous night, and would stay Tuesday night. After some conversation the officer and Mr. Chaffee returned to Cortland. After returning home they became satisfied that the man they had seen at Clough's was the party wanted, and they returned to Clough's, but the brother had disappeared, and has not been seen since, although diligent search has been made for him.

PHINEAS T. BARNUM.

The Greatest Showman on Earth is Dead—He Passes Away After a Lingering Illness of Many Weeks.

   BRIDGEPORT, Conn., April 7.—The great showman, P. T. Barnum, passed away at 6:22 this evening in the presence of his grief-stricken family. During Mr. Barnum's illness, which began twenty-one weeks ago last Friday, there were frequent fluctuations in his condition, from each of which he rallied, although in each instance with slightly lowered vitality. The change for the worse, which occurred last night, however, was so much more pronounced than the previous attacks that it convinced the physicians their patient had not many more hours to live. After the attack, which came upon him shortly before mid-night, Mr. Barnum suffered much pain. He seemed to realize be could not live much longer, and spoke of the approaching end with calmness. During his illness the physicians had been careful about administering sedatives through fear they might produce ulterior ill effects.

   Last night Mr. Barnum said when all hope was gone he wished to be given sedatives, which would allay his pain and make death as peaceful as possible. The first sedative was given at 10:10 o'clock this morning. It was understood by the patient and his family to mean that the end was near. Mrs. Barnum remained at her husband's side throughout the night. In alternate spells of dozing and in conversation which showed his brain to be as clear as ever, Mr. Barnum passed the hours until four o'clock this morning, when he sank into a condition of stupor. To rouse him from this was difficult. A faint gleam of recognition once indicated that he had knowledge of his surroundings or knew the faces about him. Thus matters went on until 10 o'clock this morning when he was again aroused, and his mental faculties appeared brighter than at any time during the several hours previous.

   Among those in the room were Mrs. Barnum, Rev. L. B. Fisher, pastor of the Universalist church; Mrs. D. W. L.Thompson, his daughter; Mrs. Clarue, of New York, a granddaughter; Miss May Read, his niece; Mrs. W. H. Bushtell, of New York, and daughter; Clinton H. Seeley, his grandson and principal heir; Benjamin Fish, Mrs. Barnum's brother, and Dr. Hubbard.

   Mr. Barnum was fully conscious, although his nearly exhausted powers made it impossible for him to talk. The messages be conveyed with his eyes were more expressive than words. With the exception of himself, all were in tears. At about 10 o'clock Rev. Mr. Fisher spoke to Mr. Barnum words of religious consolation. Mr. Barnum's eyes brightened as the scriptural promises were recalled to him and he half nodded his head in assent. Shortly after 11 o'clock he took a sedative and soon after sank into a peaceful sleep. Mrs. Thompson, his daughter, sat by the bedside holding his hand in hers from the time of her arrival in the sick room.

   At 3:30 P. M. Mr. Barnum sank into a comatose condition and did not again become conscious. When the end came it was peaceful and apparently painless. The physicians say Mr. Barnum had no organic disease, his enfeebled heart action during the past few months being due to failure of his powers, resulting from old age. Mr. Barnum wished his funeral to be private and unostentatious. He directed that the interment should be in the Mountain Grove cemetery where, several years ago, he erected a massive granite monument of simple design.

   The funeral will be held Friday afternoon in the North Congregational church and will be conducted by the Rev. L. B. Fisher, the Universalist pastor, assisted by Rev. Charles Ray Palmer, of the North church. Mr. Barnum had an intense horror of embalming, or of having his body placed on ice after death. The remains will therefore be kept in a dark, cool room in the house. The body will then be enclosed in a hermetically sealed metallic casket.

Murder Among Peanut Men.

   SYRACUSE, April 7.—Antonio Guerni shot and killed Nichola Devita in a quarrel to-night in front of their peanut stands in Clinton square. The murder was the result of a feud of long standing, growing out of a rivalry over their business. Devita was a rich man in the eyes of the Italian colony, owning two houses here.

Item.

   Tuesday morning Walter Forshee, proprietor of "The Brunswick," at Homer, was arraigned before Justice Kingsbury, charged with violating the excise laws. He plead guilty and received a sentence of sixty days in the penitentiary and a fine of $25. Other saloons were closed the same morning and the proprietors made no effort to open up. Public rumor was current that all would be served alike.

                            Death of a Pioneer of Cortland County.

          "Mr. Wm. A. Polley, born July 24, 1810. Died March 23, 1891."

   Thus read the opening of an obituary notice as published in the Columbus (Wisconsin) Democrat of March 27, 1891. Mr. Polley will be remembered as a native of Homer, being a son of the late Pliney and Alvira Polley, a direct descendant of the sturdy New England stock—hailing from Massachusetts. He married Miss Eunice Bartlett while yet a resident of Homer. Three children were the fruits of this union—Edwin, who was killed in the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 8, 1862, as a member of the 3d Wisconsin regiment; John and Alice, who still survive and are residents of Sebetha, Wisconsin.

   In 1857 Mr. Polley removed to Columbus and was instrumental in the success of his adopted town. During the month of May, 1863, he was married to Mary Pomeroy, who was the comfort of his declining years. A carpenter by trade as well as an industrious agriculturalist, Mr. Polley is accredited the construction of the old Judge Stevens bridge in this village. In 1875 Mr. Polley was attacked with a disease known as nodular rheumatism, the effect of which is ankylosis, from which he obtained freedom only in the grave.

Death of Dr. Fred I. Stacy.

   Dr. Frederick I. Stacy died at his home in Binghamton, last Saturday at 6 P. M., after a painful illness of about three weeks duration, aged thirty-one years. Dr. Stacy was born in Harford, this county, and was the only son of William Stacy of that town. He was well known to many citizens of this place, and was highly respected for his manly qualities and fine talents. The Binghamton Republican contains the following:

   At an early age he entered the Cortland Normal school and graduated from that institution with high honors. After that he graduated with honors from the Syracuse University, and later on was principal of the High School at Union. He studied medicine and located in this city in May, 1885, and has enjoyed a large and successful practice here since that time.

   He was married in the fall of '85, to Miss Belle Badger, of Union, who with an infant son survives him.

   Seldom is it one's duty to record the death of a man, whose decease will leave more sorrowing hearts than will the death of Dr. Stacy. A true man, sympathetic, conscientious, pains-taking and careful, he brought into the sick room, not only the skill of one of the ablest of physicians, but the smile and sunshine of love and interest in all those who came under his healing care. Many a life in this city owes its existence to-day to his unwearied care and skill, and to these and a large circle of warm friends, his death is a personal bereavement. To the bereaved wife and son the warmest of human sympathy and love is extended.

   The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon, at 1 o'clock, and owing to the health of Mrs. Stacy was private. The remains were interred in the cemetery at Union, N. Y.

Hospital Notes.

   On last Friday morning, Dr. F. W. Higgins made application for the admission of Myron Terbush, of Appalachin, a Normal student, who is ill with inflammatory rheumatism. Although the hospital was not to be opened for patients until Monday, a room was immediately put in readiness for his reception, and in the afternoon he was removed from his boarding place on Groton avenue. A competent male nurse is in attendance upon him, and the board of managers is endeavoring to do everything possible for his care and treatment.

   Generous aid is being given by the public in donations of furnishings for the house, and two more rooms are now in readiness for occupancy.

   Application for admission may be made to any member of the executive committee, which consists of Mrs. J. H. Hoose, 76 Railroad-st.; Mrs. F. O. Hyatt, 182 S. Main-st.; Mrs. A. E. Buck, 27 Union st.; Mrs. A. H. Watkins, 38 Homer ave.; Mrs. G. I. Pruden, 15 Maple ave.