ROUGH ON RATS AND HOSPITAL UPDATE

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, March 20, 1895.

ROUGH ON RATS.

FOUND IN FOOD PREPARED FOR MRS. NELSON BURGESS.

Her Husband Arrested for Attempting to Poison His Wife—Discharged on Her Failure to Appear Against Him.

   The STANDARD is in receipt of the following communication from Union Valley:

   To the Editor of the Standard:

   SIR—Union Valley is naturally one of those quiet, uneventful, cross-road  hamlets which completely bedeck our country from one end to the other. On March 4, when Officer Perry of Truxton left this town accompanied by Nelson Burgess whose home is on the western hillside about a half mile from the corners, all sorts of speculations and surmises were in the air as to what was up. This inquisitiveness was by no means lessened when it was learned that he had returned some time in the night, and that he and some of the neighbors who seemed to be in the secret were unusually full of business which seemed to center on the Burgess plantation.

   Not until Friday of that week was it definitely known that Burgess had been arrested, charged with attempting to poison his wife, that he had been admitted to bail by Justice [Lazelie] of Truxton in the sum of $500 and that William Baldwin of that place was his bondsman, and that the examination was to come off that week Saturday. Even then but little of the details surrounding the case were made known. Interest in the matter was by no means abated when the public was apprised of the fact that the principals had been to Truxton on Friday, the day before the one set down for the examination, and had signed certain "articles of agreement" wherein they agreed to a separation, and Burgess made over to his wife certain personal property, and that the examination would probably fall through owing to the non-appearance of Mrs. Burgess.

   The first intimation any one had regarding the case was the night before the great blizzard in the early part of February, when Mrs. Burgess, fearful lest she might drop out the ''haunts of men," apprised a neighbor of her suspicions that her husband was trying to poison her and left certain articles of food with this neighbor to have it examined by a physician or to be sent to a chemist. The storm cut off all communication with Mrs. Burgess for three days.

   On the Monday following the storm, when the shovelers, who went from the Valley to help open the road returned, one of the number carried a piece of strangely seasoned pie, which Mrs. Burgess handed him and which went to keep company with the articles she had left with the neighbor. During the work of opening the road Burgess talked a good deal about his wife's health and tried to impress the boys with the idea that she was badly off. In fact for some time previous he had been telling how poorly his wife was, and people had commented on his statements, as her appearance seemed hardly in keeping with his stories. Upon this occasion the boys found she had prepared dinner for them and was in the midst of the weekly wash.

   A day or two later he renewed his statements again; in fact his persistence was so great that Mrs. Burgess said she became convinced that her only safety lay in getting away. But how to do so without awakening his suspicions was a question difficult of solution as he manifested more or less opposition to her going anywhere. It is unnecessary to reveal all the circumstances leading up to her being sent for by her kinspeople at Truxton. Here she remained a little over a week, when her friends (the Mullers) having left for the South, she decided to return home once more. Several motives actuated her to take this step. Possibly her husband might have thought better about it and would give up the attempt, in which event she might live on awhile with him. Moreover she had been compelled by circumstances during the winter to surrender certain property rights in order to make good the promises of her husband to a party who had furnished funds for purchasing a farm on the opposite side of the road, and she hoped in some way to secure the interest thus surrendered before leaving him for good. Again, to return might be the means of securing additional proof of his intentions.

   While Mrs. Burgess was at Truxton Dr. Nelson gave her a prescription which she had filled before returning home. This bottle plays an important part in the closing scene of this strange story. Her husband it is said manifested much interest in the bottle, it seemed to have a peculiar fascination for him. Dr. Nelson's reputation as a physician was familiar to him, and he evidently had great faith in the efficacy of the prescription to restore her stomach to its normal condition, for he is said to have frequently urged her to take her medicine. This medicine, it is said, at first seemed to have a beneficial effect, but not a great while after her return home it lost its  potency for good. So marked was the bad effect upon her stomach that she abandoned its use for the time being, but instead of attributing this condition to the fact that the medicine had been tampered with, she was pleased to think it was possibly a change in her condition brought on by her surroundings and anxiety.

   On the Sunday evening preceding his arrest, he took the little girl living with them, Gracie Ammerman, who is about eleven years old and a distant relative of his wife, and went to North Pitcher to attend church. This Gracie Ammerman is a bright girl for one of her age, and had been the one whose watchfulness and care have done much to throw light on the defendant's acts, as it is claimed. Upon this occasion she made an excuse for stopping at a neighbor's, who was aware of what was going on, stated that she and her aunt, as she called Mrs. Burgess, were very fearful that something new was up and requested them to go up there during their absence. This was done and it was during this visit that Mrs. Burgess upon inspecting her medicine became convinced that the same blue-like substance, which had been found in the articles of food, was also apparently abundant in the bottle of medicine. It may not be uninteresting to know that the medicine was carried away and was forwarded to Dr. Higgins of Cortland and that this like all the other articles sent, as Dr. Higgins stated, revealed the presence of arsenic. It may be interesting to the reader also to know that a bottle of similar size and shape was placed on the shelf in its stead, filled with sale molasses, ashes, etc , and that one of the first moves made by Burgess after being arrested was to secure this bottle which has not since been seen.

   Of course a great many of his acquaintances were unable to credit the report at first, but after his arrest and return to the Valley, and they had conversed with him on the subject, many doubts seemed to be removed. Not to the world at large has it been known that the [shiny], genial exterior which he put on in public was not always manifest at home and consequently many are at a loss for a motive. The property trouble has been mentioned and there are some who hint quite strongly that there is a woman in the case. But, it is not necessary to assign the motive at this time, nor is it perhaps proper to answer all the questions which will necessarily suggest themselves to the reader. It may not lessen the degree of interest as to the cause when it is stated that Mrs. Burgess is and always has been, a woman of exemplary character, faithful in the discharge of all her duties at home and to the community, and that her veracity is beyond question. Nor is it the intention to give the impression that Mr. Burgess was destitute of good qualities. As a neighbor, none was more kind and obliging than he. His services were ever at the command of those who were sick or needy. He was a member of the M. E. church at this place, and was actively prominent in the Lincklaen revival which was terminated by the blizzard. Since this affair became public he has withdrawn from the church.

   The statements which have been published to the effect that since the criminal proceedings at Truxton were dropped they had been living together is false. It is true that both returned to the old home, but it is said that the relationship of man and wife was never resumed and others were present with them. Both had interests there, but it is not so now, for Mrs. Burgess has bought him out and assumed the debts and he has gone. If he sought to break up his home, he has succeeded.

   * * * [Marks of the letter writer.]

   Since receiving the above we have communicated with Justice [Lazelie] of Truxton and from him have learned that the statements therein contained regarding the arrest of Mr. Burgess and the charges preferred and the signing of the "articles of agreement" and his discharge because of the non-appearance of his wife at the time set for the examination are true. We have also seen Dr. Higgins and have learned from him that he had received a powder, which he was told was taken from Mr. Burgess' pocket, also a quantity of pop corn, a bottle of medicine, a piece of pie and some bread and milk. He had made a chemical examination of the powder, of the pop corn and of the medicine. The powder he found to be rough on rats. He found traces of rough on rats on the pop corn and rough on rats strongly impregnated the medicine. The pie and the bread and milk he did not examine. Dr. Higgins said that arsenic is one of the chief ingredients which is used in the composition of rough on rats.

   Dr. P. M. Neary who recently moved from Union Valley to Cortland has been the medical adviser of Mrs. Burgess through this difficulty. He was seen by a STANDARD man to-day. He said that he had known all about this affair and he verified the main points in the above communication to the best of his knowledge and belief. This would seem to be a case that would call for the action of the grand jury.

An Important Feature.

   In order to have the kitchen arrangements of his new house [on Tompkins St.] complete Mr. Duane E. Call has placed in that room a Magee range purchased from H. M. Kellogg, having a hood or canopy above it, the purpose of which is to catch and carry into the flue any smoke or steam which may arise from cooking. This is an important feature as it prevents any of these gases being diffused through the house.

At the Hospital.

   Mrs. C. H. Barber of Homer had a cancer removed from her left breast this morning at the hospital. The operation was performed by Dr. F. W. Higgins assisted by Drs. Reese and Sornberger of Cortland and Robinson of Homer. The patient stood the operation well and from present indications is in a fair way to be restored to perfect health.

THE CORTLAND HOSPITAL.

WILL BE BEADY FOR OCCUPATION ABOUT APRIL 1.

A Fine Building Well Located and Admirably Adapted to its Purpose—Brief Description.

   The Cortland hospital is about to be moved from its present cramped and in many respects inconvenient quarters [on Clayton Ave.] into the building purchased in January by the Cortland Hospital association for its permanent location. The purchase was a most fortunate one. It was a bargain to be able to secure that large lot at the head of North Main-st. with its commodious and well built brick home in good repair for $6,000. Few changes or improvements were needed, but such as were called for have been nearly completed and upon some evening before April 1 the whole building will be thrown open to the public upon the occasion of the annual hospital reception, and it is hoped that a large number of the residents of both Cortland and Homer will then be present and look over the house and also partake of the elaborate tea which is to be served.

   A STANDARD reporter was invited to inspect the house on Tuesday and spent an hour there very pleasantly. Since the house has come into the possession of the present owners steam heat has been introduced into every room in the building. The contract for this was let to E. P. Bates of Syracuse, and he has done his work in a highly satisfactory manner. New paint has been freely used upon the interior of the house, and several of the rooms have had new paper as well.

   If the house had been built specially for a hospital it could hardly have been arranged better. At the left of the entrance upon the first floor was the spacious parlor in the old mansion. This is to be used as the men's ward and will easily accommodate in case of need six or eight single beds. The office and reception room, which will be the only public room in the house, will be the large room at the rear of the hall. At the right of the entrance hall is a good sized room which will be used for patients whose ailments are of a surgical rather than a medical nature. In the rear of this is a small room which will be known as the preparatory room. The operating room opens directly from this on the north side of the house. In the preparatory room ether or other aesthetics will be administered before the patient is carried into the operating room and placed upon the table.

   The operating room in its location is most admirably adapted to its purpose. It is in a wing rather apart from the wards. It is splendidly lighted having three large windows to the north and a glass door to the east. A door opens from this into the diningroom which is in the rear of the public reception room. The diningroom has opening from it besides numerous closets, a large storeroom for medical supplies, a spacious pantry where the nurses can have abundant place to prepare medicines and food, and also a small bedroom for the hospital cook. The large kitchen is at the rear and will have all the conveniences that will be required.

   Four stairways lead to the second floor so that no steps need be wasted in roundabout ways to get up or down. The women's ward will be found in the two rooms at the northeast corner over the surgical room and the preparatory room. There are two rooms over the men's ward on the south side of the hall. The large, sunny room at the southeast corner has been selected by Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Beach as the Henry Merrick Beach memorial room which they endow for their deceased son. This hospital must always have a particular interest for Mrs. Beach, not only because of the memorial room, but because the house itself was built by her father long years ago. The other room south of the hall will be reserved as a private room for patients. At the rear of the front hall and over the public reception room is another large airy room with south exposure which is to be reserved for private patients. A long back hall opens from the front hall and extends to the extreme rear of the house. Upon the north side of the hall are three rooms—a small room to be used for the present to keep the linen in, a larger room for patients, and the third is a general storeroom. At the south of the hall are two fair-sized rooms for the head nurse and her assistants, and beyond is a bathroom.

   It is impossible to adequately describe in words the conveniences and the excellent points of this necessary and long desired building, but it is to be hoped that many will manifest their interest in the work of the Hospital association by being present upon the night of the opening reception, and then each can get a clear idea of the building and its equipments.

BREVITIES.

   —Four tramps spent the night in the cooler.

   —Advertise in The STANDARD'S "want" column.

   —A resident of Cortland says that one year ago last Monday night the frogs peeped.

   —On account of Lent there will be no Ladies' night in the Tioughnioga clubrooms to-night.

   —Cortland has lost more property by fire during the last two months than Ithaca has in five years.—Ithaca Journal.

   —The gentlemen who serve the supper at the Homer-ave. church this evening make a special request that the ladies be present and sample their menu.

   —There will be a special meeting of the board of managers of the Hospital association at the hospital to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon at 3 o'clock.

   —The following schedule has been fixed for the police by the new board of trustees: Chief Sager 7 A. M. to 9 P. M., Jackson 10 A. M to 10 P. M., Monroe 7 P. M. to 4 A. M., Parker 10 P. M. to 7 A. M. This will make two day and two night police.

   —The electric trolley wire connections from the Groton and Clinton-ave. lines of electric railway were made to-day. A car will soon be running on this branch. The small wires carrying the incandescent lamp circuit are also being replaced by the large wires.

   —Now is the time to advertise If you have houses or rooms to rent or if you want accommodations. If you have anything to sell, say so. People are every day buying and selling property, renting houses, securing help and getting places to work all through The STANDARD'S "want" column. Everybody reads it. You press the button, the advertisement in The STANDARD does the rest.