ASSAULTED AND ROBBED IN ITHACA

Harper's Weekly, Mar. 21, 1874.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, December 27, 1893.

ASSAULTED AND ROBBED.

Ithaca Toughs Too Much for a Cortland Man.

   William Graham, who lives at 170 Main-st., came to grief in Ithaca while celebrating Christmas. The Ithaca Journal says:

   William Graham, an employe [sic] of Wickwire's factory at Cortland, came to this city on Saturday to visit his cousin, "Jack" Graham, who works in the blacksmith shop of the Burns Brothers; celebrate Christmas and have a good time.

   William made a false start. He began his holiday observance by imbibing too much Ithaca tanglefoot, instead of seeking his cousin's hospitality.

   By midnight, he had lost his bearings, his power of locomotion, his watch and chain and coherence.

   At 1 o'clock he was in the office of Dr. E. J. Morgan, Jr., having a badly swollen gash under his left eye sewed up, while in a dazed way he detailed the particulars of his Christmas experience to Officers Smith and Conley.

   "Before midnight I was somewhere I don't know where, with some fellows, I don't know whom. I went out to try and find my way to my cousin's, when the gang, which had followed me, hit me three or four hard blows over the head and this one under the eye knocking me down and leaving me insensible. When I came to I found myself on the ground between railroad tracks, my dented hat at a distance and my head paining me so that I was nearly crazed. I felt for my little wallet of bills and found that it had not been taken from me."

   The victim could not tell the officers in which section of this city, to which he is a comparative stranger, he had been set upon or who his assailants were.

   It is not known whether he was given a dose of "knocker out" or from overindulgence in the "rot-gut" of groggeries forfeited his senses. He said his watch was silver, open face, bearing his initials "W. G." inside of the back case, and was a present to him.

   Officer Smith had noticed the man earlier in the evening unsteady in his walk, but peaceable. He thought he had fallen and hurt his eye and perhaps lost his watch.

   Dr. Morgan said it was not possible to definitely determine from the nature of the wound whether it was thus self-inflicted or the result of an assault. But he was inclined to believe Graham's story from the cut and the man's general appearance.

   Graham is a mechanic of stalwart build and rather prepossessing aspect and manner judged by his sorry plight when in the surgeon's hands. He was comfortably clad and bewailed the loss of a pair of new kid gloves although his hands were brawny and toil-grimmed. He was led away by Officer Conley to his cousin's hospitality saying: "I want you officers to find my watch and to find out for me who took it from me."

   From his tone it might be inferred that he would settle with the highway men without the formality of an arraignment before the recorder.

   From his towering height, length of arm and muscular development it may be likewise inferred that, if caught and identified, his assailants will fare better in the recorder's court than with the maul-like fists of Mr. Graham of Cortland.

   Clothed in his right mind, few Ithaca toughs would wisely invite passage at arms with him. As they undoubtedly found him and certainly left him he was helpless as a babe.

   There were many fights and quarrels at the inlet on Saturday night, but of these and of that section of the city the Cortland visitor professes entire ignorance.

Miss Yeargin's Body Found.

   ROCHESTER, Dec. 27.—A special from Ithaca, N. Y., says: The body of Miss Mary L. Yeargin. a student, who was drowned on Nov. 18 while boatriding on Cayuga lake with Professor Merriam of Cornell University was found at McKinney point. The body was badly decomposed and the face almost unrecognizable, but by marks on the clothing it is certain that it is the body of Miss Yeargin.

   It is the general impression that old man Bishop who went to the sheriff several days ago to see if the reward would not be increased for the discovery of the body knows more than he cares to tell as to where it has been for so long a time.

Found at Last.

   For the first time in its history, so far as is known, Cayuga lake has given up its dead. The body of Miss Mary L. Yeargin, who with Instructor Merriam of Cornell university was drowned Nov. 18, was yesterday afternoon washed ashore on the east side of the lake and was discovered by a trackman in the employ of the Lehigh Valley railroad. The features were swollen beyond recognition, but the body was recognized by the clothing, part of which was marked with her name. The coroner decided that no inquest was necessary.

A Holiday Wedding.

   There was a quiet home wedding this morning at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Moore at 16 Argyle Place when their daughter, Miss Lillie M. Wiles, was united in marriage with Mr. John W. Orr of Cortland. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. L. Robertson. Aside from the family there were no guests present. Mr. and Mrs. Orr left on the 10 o'clock train this morning for a short trip to Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore. They will stop at the last mentioned place for a few days to visit Mr. Orr's mother who resides there. Both the young people are well known in Cortland and the best wishes of many friends will go with them.

Another Lehigh Strike Threatened.

   ROCHESTER, Dec. 27.—A local leader of the recent Lehigh Valley strike said in an interview with a reporter: "The Lehigh Valley has violated nearly every pledge it has made and the time is rapidly coming when the men must act again. The outcome will be that a general strike will be ordered to bring the Lehigh officials to terms and force them to redeem their promise. We are awaiting developments and organizing. Unless the policy of the Lehigh changes radically within a month you will see the biggest railroad strike ever known in this country."

    It is claimed that some action will be taken in Buffalo this week calculated to bring matters to a head.

Unemployed Workmen Riot.

   AMSTERDAM, [Holland,] Dec. 27. —Two thousand unemployed workmen, organized into a parade by socialist agitators, marched in procession through the leading streets, though they were repeatedly dispersed by the police. Finally a detachment of the police, numbering 700, charged with drawn sabers upon the mob. The latter replied by showering stones at the police and pitched battles followed. A number of people on both sides were more or less injured. Three socialists and one policeman were severely wounded.

Negro Lynching.

   SAVANNAH, Dec. 27.—A special to the Morning News from Bainbridge, Ga., says: "Calvin Thomas, the negro who assaulted Mrs. Seller, was taken from jail by unknown parties and hanged."

Change of Program.

   The committee having in charge the preparations of a play at the

Opera House on Friday and Saturday evenings, Jan. 5 and 6, for the benefit of the poor of Cortland have been obliged to make a change in the play. They had intended presenting "Myrtle Ferns," but have been unsuccessful in securing the manuscript, and have decided to produce in its stead a four-act comedy of New York life, entitled "The Lost Heir,'' written by Dr. G. A. Tompkins of Cortland. This is one of four plays which the doctor has written, three of which have been very successfully presented by first-class companies. The fourth is still undergoing revision at his hands, preparatory to being put upon the stage.

   This play is bright and breezy and the players are hard at work at their lines. Mr. G. J. Mager has been made secretary and treasurer of the committee having this work in hand, which is of itself a sufficient guaranty that the financial part of it will be looked after with great care.

RELIEF FOR THE NEEDY.

Tioughnioga Club Appoints a Committee to Take the Work in Charge.

   The special meeting of the Tioughnioga club held last evening at the club parlors for the purpose of taking action to relieve whatever destitution may exist in our village was very largely attended and much interest was shown. The meeting was called to order by President Hooker, who stated its object and made a number of well considered suggestions concerning the work proposed, and the methods by which it might best be undertaken. An informal discussion of the matter followed which was taken part in by Messrs. R. T. Peck, B. A. Benedict, J. E. Eggleston, C. E. Ingalls, L. F. Stillman, C. F. Brown, R. C. Tillinghast, E. E. Mellon, F. D. Smith, and W. H. Clark, as a result of which the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

   Resolved, That a committee of nine be chosen at this meeting with full power to investigate whatever destitution may exist in our village, and—if it may seem best—to appoint sub-committees from the members of this club, and to associate with such subcommittees representatives of other organizations, and to plan and carry out any measures which may seem necessary and advisable to relieve the necessities of such persons as may be found deserving of assistance.

   President Hooker having requested that any committee to do this work should be chosen by the meeting instead of being appointed by the chair, it was moved and carried that the chair name a committee of three to nominate the relief committee provided for in the resolution The chair named Messrs. F. D. Smith, R. T. Peck and C. F. Brown, who retired and after consultation reported the following names: J. E. Eggleston, R. T. Peck, T. H. Wickwire, W. H. Newton, G. C. Hubbard, L. F. Stillman, A. Mahan, F. Daehler, C. P. Walrad—Mr. Smith stating that Mr. Peck's name had been placed on the list by the action of the other two members of the nominating committee. The report was unanimously adopted.

   Mr. Hugh Duffey placed at the disposal of the committee for the immediate relief of any who were in pressing need, ten sacks of flour, and stated that he felt authorized to do the same in behalf of Mr. L. J. Fitzgerald [Proprietor, Cortland Wagon Co.]

   On motion of O. C. Smith a subscript-paper was also prepared to be presented to the members of the club for voluntary subscriptions.

   On motion of Mr. Duffey it was resolved that when the meeting adjourned it should be to Tuesday evening next.

   On motion of Mr. Smith the relief committee was instructed to report to the board of directors at their monthly meetings.

   The meeting then adjourned.

   The action of the members of the Tioughnioga club, as above reported, promise thorough and efficient work in the relief of any suffering which may exist in our town as a result of the present business depression. The relief committee chosen is an excellent one and is clothed with full power to call to its assistance any other members of the club, and to associate with itself members of any other organizations, thus providing for concerted, energetic and harmonious action on the part of all who are in sympathy with the work.

   The interest manifested at the meeting was evidently sincere and of a kind which would not waste itself in words, and there can be no doubt that any calls made by the committee for help, pecuniary or otherwise, will be cheerfully met. The various churches and the King's Daughters have already done good work in relieving destitution where it has come to their knowledge, and if a plan can be arranged, as ought easily to be done, by which these organizations can act with the club committee, an investigation can be set on foot which will discover every case of real want in the village and put it in the way to be relieved.

BREVITIES.

   —By special request the Christmas music of the choir at the Presbyterian church will be repeated next Sunday.

   —There will be a regular meeting of the Royal Arcanum this evening. The installation of officers will occur on Jan. 13.

   —The W. C. T. U. have a Christmas tree this afternoon at the county alms house and distributes presents to all the inmates.

   —The Ancient Order of United Workmen will hold a musical and literary social in Vesta lodge rooms on Friday evening, Dec. 29, at 7:30 sharp. Entertainment and refreshments will be free to all those holding tickets.

   —Miss Angle Gleason entertained a number of friends last evening at her home 16 Elm-st., the party being given in honor of her guest, Miss Louise Winfield of Syracuse. Very nice refreshments were served. Some very novel games were played and the evening was a delightful one to all.

   —Bert Wood, who is employed in the factory of the Cortland Chair and Cabinet Co., yesterday caught his right hand in a shaper. Four fingers were badly lacerated. The ring finger had to be amputated by Dr. Reese, who fears that his patient may also lose another finger, but hopes to save the others.

   —Those who stayed away from the lecture of Dr. L. H. Pearce last evening missed a good thing. It is not saying too much to state that the audience were delighted. The story, so charmingly told, was intensely interesting from beginning to end and the pictures of Prof. Guion especially fine. Tonight the subject will be "My walks about, and adventures in Jerusalem." Lecture to commence promptly at 8 o'clock.