PHELPS DIED FROM POISON—STOLEN SKUNK SKINS

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 4, 1895.

PHELPS DIED FROM POISON.

ARSENIC FOUND IN PHELPS' STOMACH BY CHEMIST SMITH.

The Inquest Lasts Three Days and Adjourns to January 3, 1895.

   The Coroner's inquest instituted by Coroner Bradford to enquire into the cause of death of Loren N. Phelps of Solon, [N. Y.], was held in McGrawville last Thursday and continued and continued until Saturday when it was adjourned to yesterday at the same place. While chemist Smith was being examined the proceedings were held behind closed doors and no reporters were admitted. Dr. William Manlius Smith, the chemist, testified that he found traces of arsenic in Phelps' stomach in sufficient quantity to cause his death.

   Dr. H. C. Hendrick testified that he was present at the post-mortem examination. The internal organs of the body were found in a severe state of inflammation, but there were no indications that he had suffered from heart double or any other disease. He was unable to give an opinion as to the cause of death until after hearing the evidence of the chemist. His opinion now was that Phelps' death was caused by arsenical poisoning. Drs. Forshee and M. R. Smith who were also present at the post-mortem agreed in all essential particulars with Dr. Hendrick.

   C. D. Fish, a druggist of McGrawville, swore that on Dec. 7, 1894, he sold one-half ounce of arsenic to Adelia Phelps of Solon, who said she wanted it to kill rats.

   Mr. Deville S. Brown of Solon testified that he was called to the residence of Phelps, early Sunday morning Dec. 9. Phelps had been sick and was taken worse during the night previous. He called several times and was with him when he died. On several occasions Phelps had said "They are trying to poison me." On one occasion Mrs. Phelps was present and said she did not know how he got that notion in his head. Phelps also told him he had heard Willis Smith was going to work his farm another year and that as he was in the way they were going to put him out of the way. I never heard of any trouble in the family before this. Willis Smith is a young man who worked for Irving W. Phelps, a neighbor of the deceased, the past year, and who was frequently at Loren's house.

   Jennie May Phelps testified that she was 14 years old and that she was the daughter of deceased. On Wednesday, Dec. 5th, she visited at Emmett Finn's with her parents and youngest brother. Her father was taken ill the next morning and on Friday afternoon her mother went to McGrawville to see a doctor and get some medicine for him. Her father told her mother to go to Fish's drug store and buy some arsenic as he was tired of hearing the noise made by the rats. It was 6 o'clock when her mother started and when she came home at 9 o'clock she had arsenic in a small box. Saturday father was worse, ate no breakfast and took only a cup of coffee for dinner. At 3 o'clock Sunday morning her mother said her father was worse and sent her for Mr. Brown. She took a lantern and went to Brown's house, aroused him and Brown came home with her. The arsenic was mixed with meal for the rats. She went to Brown's for strychnine once before her father was taken sick and once afterwards. She got a bottle that she supposed contained strychnine but when she examined it found there was nothing in the bottle.  She was at home all the time during her father's illness except a part of the day on Tuesday before he died. The night before her father was taken sick he asked for a bowl of bread and milk. It was about 10 o'clock and just after we returned home from spending the evening at Mr. Finn's. After drinking the milk he noticed a sediment in the bottom of the bowl and spoke about it. Her mother explained that it was the impurities that got in the milk while milking. Witness took the same bowl and ate bread and milk from it without washing the bowl.

   Will Smith called at their house frequently and her mother had worked for his father before they moved to Cortland. When they moved to Cortland her mother went with them and it was several days before her father knew it. On Saturday before Thanksgiving her father drove to Cortland and tried to get her mother to come home with him. She told him she would come home with Smith the day following. Her father did not like it and threatened to make Smith take his colt that was in her father's barn away. Don't think he did tell him to do so. When Smith came next day Phelps asked him if his wife didn't come. Smith said "no, she had a spell on and refused to come." Her father said afterwards that he had found out that she did come as far as Mr. Byron's and rode back to Cortland the next day with Smith. Her father told her that when he reached McGrawville on the night her mother refused to come home with him from Cortland, that he had a great mind to stop at the drug store and procure some poison, take it and thus end his troubles. Finally he thought of his family and decided not to do it.

   Herbert Phelps, aged 18 years, a son of the deceased, testified that on the Saturday night referred to he sat by his father's bed. His father had been making some figures which he gave to him in case he should die. He also explained certain deals he had and told him to remember them and not to tell anyone of their talk. At another time he said he had been examining witness revolver but found no cartridges. Witness put the revolver away and slept with his father as he did not know what might occur. The arsenic was kept in the pantry and his father went in there several times while sick, usually after something to eat. He might have taken the arsenic if he wished to do so. On one occasion his father asked for water. His mother said better have milk and while she was getting it, Brown, who was present, gave him some water from a dipper. When his mother returned she said sharply, "Don't leave that water, throw it out doors." Brown threw it out. Except in the above particulars witness' testimony corroborated that of his sister.

   Several other witnesses were sworn but their testimony was unimportant. The inquest was then adjourned to Jan. 3 at 10 A. M.

HERE AND THERE.

   Maher Brothers have a new advertisement on this page.

   Warren, Tanner & Co. have a new advertisement on this page.

   Martin & Call have moved their coal office to Fitz Boynton & Co.'s drug store.

   The newly elected officers of the C. M. B. A. were installed last evening by District Deputy Charles Corcoran.

   Miss Fanny Rice will present the laughable comedy entitled "A Frau's Frolic" in Cortland opera house to-night.

  Dr. A. J. Forward of Bouckville is to locate at Union Valley, Cortland county, to practice medicine.—Oneida Union.

   The regular meeting of the Loyal Circle of Kings Daughters will meet at the home of Mrs. Johnson, 54 North Main-st., Friday afternoon at 2:30 P. M. prompt.  

   Black and grey squirrels, hares, rabbits, and ruffed grouse, commonly known as partridge, cannot be hunted since January 1st. 1895, as the season ended that day.

   Messrs. Nelson & Call have moved their stock of carriage hardware to the store recently erected for them on the south side of Clayton-ave., where they have roomy and handsome quarters.

   The new sheriff, Adam Hillsinger, took possession last Tuesday. He has made the following appointments. Under Sheriff, Aaron Overton, Virgil; Deputy Sheriffs, James Edwards, Cortland, H. P. Henry, McGrawville and W. A. Shirley, Homer.

   Messrs. Bruce Dillenbeck and Grant Keyser, who live near the head of Dryden Lake, were on trial Saturday before Justice Ross and a jury on the charge of stealing skunk skins from Theodore Harding, of Harford; but the jury disagreed and the case will be re-tried Jan. 16th.

   The regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. will be held in their rooms on Saturday Jan. 5 at 2:30 P. M. Devotional service will be conducted by Miss Libbie Robertson. Items of interest are desired from all members of the union and the earnest request is for a large attendance.

   The children of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Perkins made them a very pleasant surprise Christmas. At 2 P. M. Mrs. Eugene Lang and Mrs. Charles Slocum served a bountiful dinner. In the evening maple sugar was served. Those present were Charles Slocum and family, Martin Williams and family from Freetown, Colonel Sager and family from East Cortland, Eugene Lang and wife of Virgil and Mr. Z. Tuthill of DeRuyter.

   On Wednesday Mr. James S. Squires, sold the Squires block occupied by Nelson & Call and Baker & Angell on Main-st. to Mr. William Martin of the firm of Martin & Call. Consideration not given. The building will be thoroughly repaired.

   Articles of incorporation for the Little York Ice Company of Cortland were filed in the Secretary of State's office at Albany last week Thursday. Capital, $25,000. The following are the directors named in the letters of incorporation: T. H. Wickwire, Edward Keator and D. W. Van Hoesen of Cortland and H. B. Stevens of Binghamton, formerly of Groton. Mr. Stevens will have charge of the Binghamton branch of the business. Edward Keator is president and D. W. Van Hoesen, secretary and treasurer.

   The New Years reception Tuesday evening given by the ladies auxiliary to the members and friends of the Y. M. C. A. was largely attended ice cream and cake were served from 7:00 to 8:30 o'clock in the reading rooms, after which a number of amusing contests were participated in by the boys in the gymnasium, also a game of basket ball by the young men of the association under the direction of Secretary Osterhout. All present seemed pleased with the evening's entertainment and will doubtless "come again."

   The man who was struck by an engine on the E. C. & N road between this place and Loring's station last Thursday was Christopher Benson, who resided near the track on Railroad-st., and the body was taken to his home instead of to the home of Hector Cowan. For nearly a year past he has been employed by the company as trackwalker and was known as an industrious and respectable citizen. His left leg was fractured above the knee and both ankles were broken. At the time he was struck, the blizzard was raging so that the engineer could not see the forward end of his engine. He leaves a wife and six children. The family moved here from Oneida county about two years ago.

TOWN REPORTS.

Cincinnatus.

   The W. C. T. U. held a mother's meeting with Mrs. P. D. Perkins on Thursday afternoon of this week

   Miss Celia Williams has returned home from her visit to Brooklyn and expects to leave soon for Florida, where she will spend the remainder of the winter.

   Bert Livermore and Miss Nellie Hall of German were married by Rev. O. L. Cooper at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Asa Mudge in this place on Wednesday, December 26.

   Our community was greatly shocked last Wednesday by the accidental shooting of George Rockwell the 19 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Rockwell, who reside about two and one half miles south of this village on the Willett road. Mr. Rockwell and his other son had gone to McDonough leaving Mrs. Rockwell and George alone on the place. About eleven o'clock young Rockwell started for the river for the purpose of securing minnows for bait, carrying his gun, fishing net, axe and other tools. In passing through the gate from the yard into the road, it is supposed that the net caught in some manner and that in trying to get it loose, the gun was accidently discharged. The charge of shot entered the left cheek and passed upward and out of the top of his head. Mrs. Rockwell, hearing the report, rushed to the door, where she saw her son lying unconscious by the gate, and running to the next neighbors' she secured help to carry the body of the unfortunate boy to the house. A physician was immediately sent for, but difficulty was experienced in finding one, and before he arrived young Rockwell died without regaining consciousness. The funeral was held Saturday, the remains being interred in this village.

Little York.

   Skating on the lakes.

   Geo. Gilkerson of Homer is working for J. R. Hathway.

   John Frazer and wife of Homer visited their daughter, Mrs. Grant Selover, Christmas.

   Frank Salisbury is still shipping cabbage from this station. The present price is $4 per ton.

   Mrs. J. R. Hathway and Mrs. A. G. Walker spent Christmas in Cortland with Mrs. M. D. Murphey.

   The heavy snow fall of last week made the roads almost impassable for a time, but the sleighing is fine now.

   Dewitt Messenger and Fred Shearer went to Syracuse recently and purchased two horses. They are good looking animals.

Truxton.

   Dr. Angel of Cortland was in town Sunday.

   Mrs. J. C. Connic is visiting friends in Syracuse.

   Mrs. A. L. Lansing was in Union Valley several days last week.

   George Short of New York is in the place calling on friends.

   Mrs. Jane Smith, widow of Lewis Smith, died at the residence of Wm. Beattie last week Thursday. She was 78 years old.

   George Andrews of Pitcher, who will manage the firkin and tub factory of Waldo & Haggerty in this place, was in town last week.

   Dr. J. C. Nelson, who was thrown from a wagon Dec. 23, is improving as is also Wm. Baldwin, who had a slight shock of paralysis last week Friday.

   Anthony Nix, a well-known farmer of this town died Sunday night. Mr. Nix was born in Ireland, but came to America and settled in Truxton on the same farm where he died about 50 years ago about 80 years old at the time of his death [sic]. He leaves three sons and three daughters to mourn his loss.

   [Mr. Nix was born in Ireland, but came to America and settled about 50 years ago in Truxton on the same farm where he died. He was about 80 years old.]