Cortland Standard, Saturday, September
7, 1895.
SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS.
Supposed
Suicide May Prove to be a Case of Murder.
LYONS, N. Y., Sept. 7.—Several interesting
things have come to light regarding the mysterious death of Miss Mary
Reisdorph, whose body was found in Black brook at the eastern end of this
village on Monday afternoon.
A bottle without a label, with the name of
Moore & Moore, druggists, blown in it, wrapped in a piece of a Rochester
daily paper dated Aug. 31, and tied with a blue twine, such as druggists use,
was found within 50 feet of where the body lay when discovered. It contained
chloroform, the odor of which was plainly detected upon uncorking it. This
bottle was lying within 10 feet of a spot opposite the position of the body
when discovered.
Marks, as if made in a struggle, were found,
footprints being distinguishable, which appear to be those of a man with
medium-sized feet and a woman with small feet, from the heels of one of whose
shoes nails protruded, making a plain mark on the ground. One of the heels of
Miss Reisdorph's shoes was worn so that the nails protruded.
About 10 feet from the footprints the
32-calibre revolver was found on the day the body was discovered.
The hat, wrap, ribbons and combs worn by the
young woman when last seen have not been discovered.
Rev.
Joseph Kneiskern.
The death of this aged minister, which has
been expected for some days past, took place this morning soon after 8 o'clock.
He was of German ancestry and was born in the town of Berne, Albany Co., N. Y.,
on April 10, 1810. It was not until he had reached full manhood that be became
a Christian, but so thorough was the change then wrought in him that he felt
that he must devote the remainder of his life to preaching the gospel.
After some preparatory study he first
entered Union college and was afterwards graduated at Rutgers college, New
Brunswick, in the class of 1838. For three years longer he remained in New
Brunswick as a student in the theological seminary of what was then the Dutch
Reformed, but is now the Reformed church, and in 1841, he was ordained to the
ministry and was installed pastor of the Presbyterian church in Knox, Albany
county. That church soon after became Dutch Reformed and the church of the same
denomination in Berne, his native place, was joined with it under his charge.
On Oct. 19, 1842, he married Miss Emily S.
Williams, a member of his own church in Knox, their married life continuing for
fifty-one years, when the union was severed by her death on Dec. 22, 1893.
The STANDARD of Oct. 11, 1892, contains an
interesting account of the surprise given the aged couple on the fiftieth
anniversary of their wedding day when a number of friends from the Presbyterian
church of this place called on them and left with them hearty congratulations
and a well filled purse.
In 1845 Mr. Kneiskern accepted a call to the
Dutch Reformed church of St. Johnsville, N. Y., and there he remained as pastor
for twenty-seven years. Having taken a severe cold at a burial service he yet
ventured to preach while still suffering from it, and the result was a severe
injury to his voice from which he never wholly recovered. With the hope that
his voice might be restored he was released by his church for three months and
a little later for a longer period which was spent in the South. The hope was
vain, however, and at last he felt constrained to resign his charge and to
abandon the hope of any further pastoral relation,
In 1872 he came with his wife and only
daughter to Cortland. For some years he supplied regularly the Presbyterian
church in Virgil until the infirmities of years and the growing weakness of his
voice compelled him to relinquish that service. He could not, however, wholly
cease from Christian work and his wife and daughter being members of the Presbyterian
church of Cortland, he now became a most valued teacher of a men's class in its
Sunday-school, a class embracing a considerable number of the well-known
business men of our town. Increasing infirmities must have long since made it a
task for him to discharge the duties of this place, but until within a few
weeks past he was always at his post, as he was always in his place in the
Sabbath services when it was possible and in the Thursday evening meeting, in
which his presence will be greatly missed. Better known by the members of that
church than by those of any other communion he has greatly endeared himself to
them and his memory will be cherished by them.
Some two weeks since he was stricken by
paralysis of his lower limbs and since then it has been evident that the end
was rapidly advancing. As was to be expected by all who knew him, it was
an end in regard to which he had no fear, but to which he looked forward
quietly and trustfully, knowing that he was safe in the keeping of him whom he
had so long loved to preach—until at last he fell asleep.
To his physician he said recently that he
had preached over 6,000 sermons, that he had married 390 couples and that he
had ministered at over 600 funerals. It was only through struggles that he
could get into the ministry, and help was given him by the board of education
of his church. It is an interesting witness of the character of the man that he
never forgot that help nor was content until he should pay back that money, the
last of the entire sum being repaid by him about a year ago, and leading him to
say that he had never had a happier hour in his life than when he knew that
that was all paid.
Salvation
Army.
At the Salvation Army meeting tonight
Jeremiah Anderson will give a sketch of his life as a slave, as a soldier in
the war and as a Christian.
At 3 o'clock Sunday Jeremiah Anderson will
lead a praise meeting and will preach.
On Monday evening there will be a social reform
meeting in which the social and shelter branches of the army will be explained
by those who have been engaged in it. It will be illustrated on a small scale
by branches in operation.
A silver
collection will be taken to pay expenses.
One
Hundred Fifty-seventh Reunion.
The annual reunion of the One Hundred Fifty-seventh
Regt, N. Y. Vols. will be held at Chittenango on Thursday, Sept. 19. The E., C.
& N. R. R. will sell round trip tickets from points between Cortland and
DeRuyter to Canastota for two cents per mile. The tickets will be good
returning either that sight or the next day. It is expected that the most of
the veterans will go on the train leaving Cortland at 7:20 A. M.
HOMER
DEPARTMENT.
Gleanings
of News From Our Twin Village.
The Groton boys arrived early yesterday
afternoon, but not quite early enough for victors as their playing proved.
Umpire "Jockey" called the game at 3 P M. sharp. Umpire Heaphy of
Groton was in the diamond. The visitors took the field and Terry led off at the
bat with a one bagger. Bates followed suit, but the next two men were put out
and made the possibility of a score rather dubious. Girard saved the inning by
placing the ball between first and second, moving every man one base ahead.
Five scores were then run in before Wiegand was put out at the home plate for
the second time. In the second half Avery batted a heavy ball and reached first
base easily but though five men batted after him he barely had opportunity to
score before the third out was made. Homer scored one in the second inning and
the visitors ran up six was largely due to their opponents' carelessness.
At this point it was plain that the Homer
team had everything its own way. The game was not particularly brilliant as the
excitement died away after the first two innings and it was only a question of
how much the score would be. Shaw and Crozier were the battery for Groton and
Ketchum and Robt. Wright for Homer. Shaw pitched well, but our boys found no
difficulty in hitting him and placing the ball just outside of the diamond
between the shortstop and second baseman, which were weak. The visitors were
not heavy batters, but they made several very fair hits The Homer boys played
well with one or two exceptions. "Bottle was not quite up to the limit"
on the diamond though he batted well. Terry made a three bagger and Davis and
Wiegand each a two bagger. The score by innings is as follows:
Groton-1 6
2 0 1 0 0 1 1—12.
Homer-8 1
1 2 5 1 0 0 1—19.
The
County Ticket.
Whatever may be said of some of the methods
adopted before and after delegations were chosen to the Republican county
convention, the ticket which the convention placed in the field is certainly an
excellent one.
Judge Eggleston's renomination for county
judge was a foregone conclusion. Every one was in favor of it, and it was well
deserved. For nearly six years he has filled the office with faithfulness,
dignity, courtesy, impartiality and ability. No scandals have attached to his
discharge of its responsibilities, his integrity has never been questioned, and
he has never used his position for personal or factional ends. The surrogate's
office has been clean in every sense of the word. That Judge Eggleston will be
reelected goes without saying.
Whatever opposition there was to the nomination
of Mr. F. P. Saunders for member of assembly—and there was considerable—did not
come from any feeling of hostility to him personally or any idea that he was
not fully up to the average of Cortland county members in point of ability and
character. In fact his personal popularity and capacity for effective work were
his principal elements of strength. His experience in our county legislature,
where he represented for several years the Democratic town of Truxton, will be
a good preparation for service at Albany, and no one who knows him will need
any assurance that he will use his best efforts to make a creditable record for
himself and to serve the interests of his constituents in every way in his
power. He will appreciate before the close of his term, however, how impossible
it is for any new member to attain large influence, and should political combinations
defeat him for renomination he will be able to testify from personal knowledge
against the foolish and vicious custom which is becoming more firmly established in this county every year
of sending new and untried men to Albany. If there is one office, aside from
that of county judge, which should be divorced from all caucus and convention
dickerings and tradings, it is member of assembly. The county should take pride
in returning its members, till, by reason of length of service, they have gained
both experience and influence.
Dr. George D. Bradford for coroner is a
candidate who fills the bill in every way. An experienced and successful practicing
physician, a man of character and standing, who has already made an acceptable
record in this same office, he will again prove himself all that could be
asked.
The nomination of Lewis S. Barber for
justice of sessions, while apparently a compliment to an experienced and
capable justice of the peace, was an inexplicable proceeding. Under the
amendments to the constitution of the state adopted last fall, courts of
sessions, except in the county of New York, are abolished…after the last day of
December, 1895. The election notice this year does not call for the election of
a justice of sessions, and should Mr. Barber be voted for and elected, there
would, when Jan. 1, 1896 came, be no court for him to serve in. We therefore
omit his name from the list of Republican county nominations.
The
Convention.
The proceedings of the Republican county
convention appear in full in yesterday's and to-day's STANDARD and tell their
own story. A. P. Smith helped represent Freetown, and H. L. Bronson and N. L.
Miller did a like favor for Lapeer. Miller is the judicial delegate. Smith is a
state delegate and Bronson heads the senatorial delegation. ''Dick'' Duell is a
member of the county committee. Under such influences it was not to be expected
that the claims of the contesting delegation from this town headed by Mr. T. H.
Wickwire would be recognized—and the result justified the lack of expectation.
HUTCHINGS
FAMILY
Hold
Their Fourth Annual Reunion with Clayton Hutchings of Virgil.
The fourth annual reunion of the Hutchings
family was held at the home of Clayton Hutchings in Virgil Sept. 5, 1895, and
was one of the most pleasant reunions ever held. The guests began to arrive in
early morning and by the time for dinner one hundred thirty were present.
Dinner was served under a large tent on the lawn, after which the assemblage
was called to order and prayer was offered by Rev. S. W. Schoonover. Remarks
followed by Rev. Mr. Dayton of the Baptist church at Virgil. Mr. Dayton spoke
of the pleasure of again meeting with so many kind people and rehearsing the
scenes of the past and of renewing the fraternal spirit. He said that such
reunions led to a higher and nobler life and closed by hoping that all might
meet at the next reunion and at the great reunion when all nations shall be
gathered together.
The election of officers for the coming year
resulted as follows:
President—William Hutchings.
Vice-President—Frank Yaples.
Secretary—Miss Bertha Hutchings.
This was followed by a song by Miss Price
entitled "The Tunnell" and a poem by Miss Vantine of Groton entitled "Our
Ancient Forefathers."
The next reunion will be held with Wesley
Hutchings in Virgil the first Thursday in September, 1896.
Those in attendance from a distance were Mr.
and Mrs. George Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. John Rockefeller, Mr. and Mrs. Dell
Hildebrant of Caroline, Mr. and Mrs. Starr White, Miss Julia Hutchings,
Syracuse, Mr. and Mrs. Orson Reynolds, Mr. John Hutchings of Allegany county, Mrs.
Abbie Brown, Great Bend, Pa., Mrs. Rush, Weedsport, Miss Vantine, Groton.
CORTLAND
BARBER BAILED.
Charged
With Larceny by Dorwin J. Chadwick.
The Syracuse Post of this morning says:
James K. Parker, the Cortland barber who was arrested June 16 last, charged
with the larceny of $350 by Dorwin Chadwick also of Cortland, was admitted to
bail in $500 yesterday afternoon. The man's release was secured through the
efforts of his wife. She has been working in his behalf since the day his
arrest was made. Finally she succeeded in interesting E. N. Wilson in the case.
He talked to the district attorney and the result was that yesterday the order
for bail was signed.
Parker's wife was awaiting his arrival at
the police court and the scene between the two was very affecting. It is possible
that the case will now be settled outside of the court.
BREVITIES.
—The Y. M. C. A. bathrooms will be closed
to-night at 10 o'clock for one week for renovation.
—Pants is an abbreviation of pantaloons, and
bloomers are still more abbreviated than pants.—Wichita Eagle.
—McDermott's orchestra furnished fine music
for an informal dancing party of forty couples last night at the park. The
party broke up shortly before 12 o'clock, all having had a very pleasant time.
—Misses Jessie and Ruth Hill entertained a
few of their young friends last night at
their home, 83 Tompkins-st. Vocal and instrumental music, games and delicious
refreshments formed the entertainment of the evening.
—The Rev. J. F. Ewing of the diocese of
Michigan will assist the rector in the services at Grace church to-morrow and
will preach the sermon at the morning service. The evening service will begin
at 7:30 and the rector will preach.
—This is an ideal picnic day and the
Sunday-school of the First M. E. church with their friends are enjoying
themselves immensely at the park. A large number went at 10 o'clock and many
more went over at noon for dinner.
—At the Baptist church to-morrow evening
there will be a service in the interest of young people's work. An address will
be given by Miss Ella D. MacLaurin of Boston. It will be a rare opportunity to
hear this gifted speaker. All are cordially welcome,
—The remains of Mrs. Mary J. Clark, who died
at Caroline Center, N. Y., Thursday,
aged 61 years, were brought to Cortland at 4 o'clock this afternoon for burial.
Deceased was a sister of Mr. James A. Nixon of Cortland who was in Caroline
Center this morning attending the funeral services.
—This is a great day for the park. Crowds of
people have been going all day long. Round trip excursion tickets under the
auspices of the M. E. Sunday-school have
been on sale at various places for five cents and a five-cent roundtrip ticket
catches the crowd. It is also believed to be the only Saturday since the park
opened that it has not rained. True, it did rain about 7 o'clock this morning,
but that was too early to count or to hinder.
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