CUTE MRS. HALLIDAY

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, October 23, 1893.

CUTE MRS. HALLIDAY.

SHE IS EITHER VERY CRAZY OR VERY CLEVER.

The Radical Change In Her Demeanor More Puzzling Than Her Incoherent

Talk—She Seems Quite Cheerful and Talks Rationally—Asked For Some

Work and Spends Her Time in Sewing.

   MONTICELLO, N. Y., Oct. 23.— There seems to be no doubt that Mrs. Lizzie Halliday is either rapidly regaining her sanity or has decided to cease feigning the actions and speech of a maniac. After her recovery from a severe attack of illness several weeks ago, Sheriff Beecher noticed a radical change in her demeanor.

   She seemed disposed to talk rationally about incidents in her life, and no longer referred to the visionary burglars that she alleged constantly haunted her during the first weeks of her imprisonment.

   A larger and better ventilated cell was fitted up for her on the second floor of the jail, and on her removal there she manifested a great interest in keeping the apartment tidy and gave more attention to her personal appearance.

   She asked for some work with which to occupy her time, and Mrs. Beecher has cut out several dresses and given them to her to sew together. While she is thus engaged she seems perfectly content and chats pleasantly with the members of the sheriff's family, whom she calls by name.

   All of her conversation is perfectly rational, but she refuses to discuss with strangers any circumstance of the crime with which she is charged.

   It is apparent that she fears an attempt to draw her into making disclosures that might fasten conviction on her. With Sheriff Beecher she is more communicative, but in none of her conversations with him has she added anything new to the rambling, incoherent story she told a month ago. While the details are often varied, the main facts remain the same.

   She insists that the McQuillan women were brought to her house by several men, who drank whisky and fought. Old McQuillan, she asserts, was there, but her husband, Paul Halliday, did not come home. She was assaulted and rendered unconscious, and claims she was not aware that the murders had been committed until Sheriff Beecher informed her of the fact on Thursday and told her she was accused of the crimes.

   She declares she was not even aware of her arrest until Thursday, when, on recovering her reason, she found herself in a cell and learned from the sheriff that she was in prison on suspicion of having murdered her husband.

   The calmness and apparent contentment shown by the woman has increased the suspicion entertained by many persons who have come in contact with her during her imprisonment that her sudden return to reason is a mere ruse on her part to create the belief that she has been insane since she was locked up.

   It is argued that if she was unaware of the murders until Thursday, the knowledge of the crimes and the fact that she was accused of them would have weighed too heavily upon her mind for her to have become so cheerful in so short a time. It is not believed she could have come to regard her situation with equanimity in two days, yet she shows none of the grief and excitement which would naturally be displayed by a person under the first weight of a grave accusation.

   Even when talking to the sheriff about the tragedy she has shown little horror since Thursday, but inquires into all the details with evident interest.

   But if she is shamming she is decidedly clever, according to the sheriff, who has been unable to catch her on a single point which would indicate that she had a previous knowledge of the murders.

   The woman has often boasted of her skill in assuming various characters and of her self-control, and Sheriff Beecher is strongly inclined to believe that she did not overestimate her cunning.

   She is paler and somewhat thinner than when she first came to Monticello.

Foy Electrocuted.

   DANNAMORA, N. Y., Oct. 23.—Foy was successfully electrocuted at Clinton prison at 11:50 o'clock this morning for the murder of his mistress at Saratoga on May 13, 1892.

THREATENED HIS LIFE.

A Sunday Squabble at the Belcher Mansion.

   Norman Morse came about 9 o'clock this morning in Police Justice Bull's office to explain a little fracas that occurred at the residence of the Belcher family yesterday. It seems from his story that young Mrs. Belcher attempted to correct a wayward daughter with a broom stick when Morse, who is very gallant, being unable to see a young female undergo such punishment, interfered.

   The first move of Mrs. Belcher, as Morse tells the story, was to bang him on the side of his head with a dinner plate. She then grabbed a carving knife from the table and backed him into a corner and threatened his life. To make his escape with a whole hide he was obliged to give her a blow straight from the shoulder, which blackened the eye of the aroused female.

   Justice Bull told him that as the fracas had occurred outside the corporation, he had no jurisdiction in the matter. Norman then asked if Lewis Bouton was still a justice of the peace, and, on receiving a negative reply, he started for Justice Dorr C. Smith's and Justice H. A. Dickinson's offices to pour out his story in their sympathizing ears. Norman is a son of the late Mary Nobles, who has quite a reputation in these parts.

THE GRIDLEY FAMILY.

Josephine the Boss of the Ranch. Dan Henpecked.

   A strange gathering was that in Justice Mulholland's police court in Syracuse one day last week when the justices of the three police courts of Syracuse, Binghamton and Cortland were represented. The two former in person, Recorder Frank H. Downs of Binghamton sitting beside Justice Mulholland to see how police matters are run in Syracuse, and Justice Bull by letter. There was an unusually large grist of offenders on the docket and one case in particular which has given all three justices considerable trouble.

   Daniel Gridley charged his wife Josephine with husband-beating. She put in a counter charge of self-defence, claiming he struck her. Daniel put in evidence a letter from Police Justice Bull of Cortland, saying that "You can bet on Josephine every time they have a scrap." Judge Mulholland was inclined to believe Josephine by far the better fighter of the two, but could not sustain her husband's charge.

   This letter was really genuine and it come about in this manner. Dan wrote to Justice Bull and said that his wife was raising — with him and wished him to write Justice Mulholland what a — — she was. Justice Bull thought by this that Dan and Josephine had had a fight and he wrote to the Syracuse justice that he could bet on Josephine every time.

   Recorder Downs was asked his opinion and he also, having had some experience with the Gridley family, seconded Justice Bull's statement and all agreed that Josephine was the "boss of the family."

GOOD RACES AT THE PARK.

A Poor Attendance—Bicycle and Foot-Ball Events.

   Weather Prophet D. D. Lovell's predicted weather was fully realized on Saturday, but the races at the driving park did not attract as large a crowd as they deserved. The following is a summary:

                      2:35 CLASS, TROTTING AND PACING.

   NoTrouble, 1-1-1

   Benedicts, 2-2-3

   Grey Wonder, 4-4-2

   Thistle's Dolley, 3-3-4

   Time-2:30; 2:38 ¼; 2:32.

   FREE FOR ALL.

   Halo, 1-1-1

   Dudley Wonder, 2-3-2

   Wanda, 3-2-3

   Time-2:28; 2:25 ¼; 2:24 ¼

   Each race was a warm contest from start to finish and each horse had to work to gain his place in the race.

   The football game between the new Cortland eleven and the Ithaca Grammar school team resulted in a victory for the Cortland boys by a score of 16 to 0. Both teams did some very poor playing during the first half of the game, but Bobbie Mills was put in the Cortland team and with Fralick did excellent playing in the last half and succeeded in winning the game with the above score.

   In the bicycle races Harry Clark started on the scratch in the one-mile handicap and won the race in 3:11. Harry Wells was given a fifteen-yard handicap and gained second place and Lewie Maul with a sixty yard handicap came in third. John Morgan, who had a thirty yard handicap did not start.

   Harry Clark started on the scratch in the half-mile handicap and also won the race in 1:32. Lewie Maul, with a forty yard handicap, gained second place, Charles Riley with fifty yards gained third and Harry Wells, with ten yards, fourth.

   There were only two starters, LeRoy Clark and John Morgan, in the half-mile for boys under fourteen years of age and the race was easily won in 1:39 By John Morgan.

   As Charles Riley was the only one entered in the half-mile consideration he was given the race.

He Let Them Run.

   A man came to the Cortland House stables Saturday afternoon and rented of the proprietor, Mr. Harry Young, a team of spirited horses to drive to Ithaca. He drove to Hitchcock's shop for a friend. The horses were both "feeling their oats" and, as a train came along, they danced up and down. The driver struck them with a whip and one of the horses kicked over the pole. The man thought that it was about time he made his exit and accordingly got out of the wagon and made no effort to stop the team as they started up Elm-st. at a very good gait. They ran up Groton-ave. and just this side of the old pottery building the pole to the buggy struck the back of a lumber wagon with a hay rack, which was going in the same direction. A lady stopped them and Mr. Young soon arrived on the scene and took them back to the barn. The horses received several scratches, but no other damage was done except to the pole of the buggy, which was splintered.

   Mr. Young afterwards hitched up the team and drove about town.

BREVITIES.

   —Two men from Fairbanks Electric Works at Homer were at work to-day fixing the fire alarm system.

   —Regular monthly meeting of the Young Men's Christian association in their parlors this evening at 8 o'clock.

   —The young ladies' mission circle of the First M. E. church will serve a ten-cent supper in the church parlors next Wednesday evening.

   —The mother's meeting (north) will be held at the home of Mrs. E. M. Yager, 40 Maple-ave., Wednesday Oct. 25, at 2 P. M. Subject, "Character Building." All ladies are cordially invited.

   —Will Harris, about 20 years of age, who lives at Van Ettenville, a brakeman on the freight train on the E., C. & N. going west, was killed while coupling cars at Ithaca shortly after noon to-day.

   —Mr. B. R. Knapp's Rose Comb White Leghorn fowls are on exhibition at the World's Fair, where they won first prize on breeding pen, first on cock, second on hen, first on cockerel, first on pullet. A good record, and a good recommendation.

   —Nearly all the Cortland people who went to Chicago in the special coach and were in the horrible accident at Jackson, returned yesterday morning. The car they went in was left in Jackson for repairs, but they secured a special coach to Buffalo and had a car by themselves to Binghamton.

   —As the local freight, No. 24, was pulling out a cabbage car from the switch at Homer at about 9:30 o'clock this morning an axle broke and blocked the southbound main track. The through vestibule train came down on the northbound track from Preble to Cortland, where it was again switched to the southbound track.

   —County Clerk S. K. Jones has procured a manual for the inspectors of election, polling and ballot clerks for each district; with notes, forms and instructions. The work was compiled by Mr. F. G. Jewett, clerk in the office of the secretary of state, was published this fall and is complete in every respect. The chairman of the boards may call for them at any time at the county clerk's office. There is one book for each district and the books are the property of the county clerk and should be returned to him after election.

   —Rev. Dr. Campbell in leaving the First M. E. church of Cortland for a charge in the city of Syracuse will be greatly missed and his departure sincerely regretted by a large circle of friends, both in and out of his own communion. It is not too much to say of him that this village has rarely, if ever, had a pastor of any denomination who was more faithful, laborious or devoted, or one under whose care his immediate church showed greater growth or seemed to enjoy a larger measure of prosperity. His sincerity, industry and earnestness, and his happy manner in meeting the people in general, have combined to conciliate favor towards him, and he will be followed to his new and larger field of labor by the best wishes for his increased success and usefulness.

ANOTHER TEST CASE.

Of the Legality of Women Voting for School Commissioners.

   Another case to test the constitutionality of the law of 1892 in relation to the legality of women voting for school commissioners throughout the different school commissioner districts, was instituted in Whitestown, Oneida county, Saturday, where Mrs. Inez Seeley and Mrs. Julia McKenzie had registered. An application to strike the names from the registry lists was made by James W. Watts, and the following order was granted to Judge Merwin:

   It is ordered that the board of inspectors of election for the first election district of the town of Whitestown, and the said Inez Seeley and Julia McKenzie, whose registration is alleged to have been illegal, show cause before me at my chambers at the court house in the city of Utica, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon of the 24th day of Oct. 1893, why the names of the said Inez Seeley and Julia McKenzie should not be erased from the register of voters of said district.

   It is further ordered that notice of this application be given by the service of a copy of this order and the affidavits of James W. Watts at least twenty-four hours before the hour named for showing cause.

   The case will be argued before Judge Merwin Wednesday at 11 A. M.

The Women Voting Question.

[Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, Oct. 21, 1893.]

   Judge Merwin decides that the law of 1892 does not confer upon women the right to vote for school commissioners in the city Utica, those officers in that city not being in the category with the school commissioners of the country districts. The case submitted, it thus appears, did not involve the real points "sought to be determined, and while the lady's name as sought to be stricken from the registry is ordered so stricken, the court does not consider the question of woman's right to register and vote for commissioners in the rural districts.

   This result, says the Utica Herald, was feared in advance; but the Bacon case was made up to gain time if possible. It is understood a case will be made today from one of the towns in Oneida county, when the constitutional restriction of the election suffrage to male citizens will be squarely before the court.