USED DYNAMITE.
THE GANG
OF POST OFFICE BURGLARS NEAR BY.
They
Entered the Marathon Post Office Tuesday Morning.
(From the
Marathon Independent, Oct. 16.)
When assistant Post Master [Watson] Lynde
came to the post office at half past six yesterday morning, he was surprised to
find the front door open, and stepping into the room he was still further
surprised to find portions of the furniture distributed about the lobby, and
going behind the boxes to find the safe door lying over against the general
delivery and a general chaotic condition of its contents visible.
Watson is a man of great clearness of perception
and therefore from the evidence before him he concluded that a burglary had
been committed, and his conclusion was correct.
With tools stolen from Boyd's blacksmith shop,
the parties who performed the operation had sprung the front doors sufficiently
to admit of opening them, and once inside the lobby it was an easy matter with
a skeleton key to obtain access to the room where the safe stood. This safe was
less than ten feet from the front window and it is supposed therefore, that the
shade to the window was closed otherwise their operations would have been
observed.
The safe itself or what there is left of it,
gives evidence that they spent some time at work on it, as it bears marks in
several places of attempts to force it without use of explosives, which were
unsuccessful.
A hole was then drilled near the lock, and a
charge of dynamite put in. This blew off the outer casing of the safe, but did
not remove the lock, so a second charge was used, and this succeeded in
removing the door enmasse, throwing it across the room, and tearing out pieces
of the sockets in which the bolts were set. A small quantity of unused dynamite
was found lying beside the safe, wrapped in a Binghamton Republican of October 12th. There was also
a broken drill beside the tools taken from Boyd's shop.
Examination showed that the thieves had taken
what cash was in the safe, together with all the two cent stamps of which
there were over 2,000. No stamps of other denominations were taken. Just how
many stamps were in the office we are unable to state, as most of the stamps when
received by the post master are taken and deposited in the bank vault, from
which he gets a supply as wanted, and only by going over his report of stamps
sold and invoicing those an hand can he ascertain the exact amount.
There was also a little money in the safe.
The bulk of cash in the money order department is deposited each day and what comes
in later in the day, Mr. Wilson is in the habit of taking away from the office
for safe keeping, as well. It is fortunate that this has been his practice, for
over one hundred dollars worth of orders were sold and paid for in cash on
Monday evening after banking hours. There was also taken a pocket book
belonging to a party who had left it there for safe keeping, having no place at
his boarding house that he deemed safe. There was nearly $50 in it and it is
gone.
Postmaster Wilson was busy yesterday sorting
out his papers, vouchers, etc., which looked as if the rats had held high carnival
with them, and which are necessary to get in some kind of order to report to
the government. He takes his loss stoically, and is reticent as to the amount,
although he assures us that it will not exceed $200.
The force of the explosion must have been
considerable. Three of the pieces of the outer door were hurled through the
partitions as though they had been paper. Some of the glass in front of the
boxes was smashed and most of the boxes received some of the filling of the
door. Several people were awakened by the sound, and Dr. W. Spencer arose and
went to his windows and watched to see anything, but all was still. There were two
explosions, about ten minutes apart, and they occurred at about three o'clock.
The next question is "Who did it?"
The Binghamton dailies of last Saturday had
an account of there having been a party of four supposed post office burglars in
that place last Friday. The police were warned from New York to look out for them.
They were seen and one of them apprehended, while the other three got away.
Friday is not so far distant from Monday, nor Marathon so far away from
Binghamton, but that it could be the work of these parties. The method of operation
was exactly the same as that characterizing the burglary of the McGrawville post
office some time since, and a score of other post office robberies which we
have read of in the past six months.
The job was thoroughly done, whoever did it.
There are also stories told of strangers seen
in town Monday evening, and of suspicious actions, etc., which if true, would
indicate it to have been the work of this gang.
Mr. Wilson writes the DEMOCRAT under date of
October 16, that among the papers stolen from the P. O. safe Monday night was a
check for $25.00 drawn on the First National bank of Marathon, N.Y., by Byron
E. Wilson to the order of Mrs. G. W. Copeland and endorsed by her, dated Oct.
14, 1895. Payment has been stopped on this check and all persons are cautioned
against taking the check.
Mr. Wilson informs us that he had but very
little money in the safe, not over four or five dollars in small change, and
not over $50 worth of stamps were taken, so the affair was not so bad as it
might have been. The safe of course was totally ruined, and a large number of
papers of no negotiable value, both relating to the P. O. and his private
business were taken, which will make a good deal of inconvenience.
Separated
Thirty Years.
MARATHON, Oct. 10.—Mrs. Thad Diggs and
mother, Mrs. Griffin (colored) left on Tuesday evening for their old home in Norwalk,
Va. They go to meet husband and father, Mr. Griffin, from whom they have been
separated for 33 years, not knowing whether he was living or dead since the
war. Mrs. Diggs will return by spring, while Mrs. Griffin will remain South.
Home for
Veteran's Wives.
ALBANY, Oct. 14. —The trustees of the Home
for Veterans' Wives, Widows and Army Nurses to be erected by the state at
Oxford, Chenango county, met at the office of State Architect Perry to-day and awarded
the contract for the construction of the home to Andrew Douglas of Binghamton
for $22,997 and for the plumbing to Chambers & Casey of Rochester for $1,880.
NOT AFRAID
OF FIREBUGS.
 |
| Postcard view of "present house." |
Mr.
Rockefeller Will Build a Chateau Finer Than Any in America.
POCANTICO HILLS, N. Y., Oct. 13—John D.
Rockefeller says in regard to the firing of his barns: "I do not know who
could have done this, but I suppose it must have been the same person who has
fired twenty-two barns in this neighborhood in the past six months. What the
object was in so doing I cannot say. It must be that they like to see barns
burn."
When asked whether the report that he was
going to move away from here was true he answered that he was not, but he was
not going to build the new mansion on his place for some time. Close friends of
Mr. Rockefeller say he will soon begin the erection of a chateau, which will
rival that of George Vanderbilt in North Carolina.
It is said that Mr. Rockefeller intends to
build a mammoth mansion of white stone, which will stand near his present
house, commanding a magnificent view of the Hudson river. The architecture will
be of the renaissance style, and the building will probably contain several
hundred rooms. The house will be lavishly furnished, and will be lighted by
electricity. He will also build a large dairy, an arboretum and stables with
accommodations for over two hundred horses. In architecture, finish, furnishing
and decorations it promises to be the finest country establishment in America.
THE
POLLING PLACES.
Don't
Fail to Register To-day or Tomorrow.
The Cortlandville town board has fixed the
following polling places for registration and election on November 5:
Dist. No. 1—Village hall, McGrawville.
Dist. No. 2—M. E. Corwin's carpenter shop,
71 Pomeroy-st.
Dist. No. 3—Cortland Steam laundry, 78 Clinton-ave.
Dist. No. 4—J. L. Watrous' livery barn, 22
Clinton-ave.
Dist. No. 5—Warner Rood's barn, 16
Madison-st.
Dist. No. 6—Thomas Ellsworth's carpenter
shop, 75 Lincoln-ave.
Dist. No. 7—Firemen's Hall, Main-st.
Dist. No. 8—George Allport's barn, Tompkins-st.
Dist. No. 9—Nottingham's shop, 135 Main-st.
Dist. No. 10—John Hubbard's hall, Blodgett
Mills.
Every one within the corporation of the
village of Cortland is required under the new law to appear in person at
his polling place and register on Oct. 18 or 19 if he desires to vote upon Nov.
5.
The inspectors of election are required
under the same law to place upon the registration lists the names of all voters
in their respective districts who live outside of the corporation, but who vote
within it. The only perfectly safe way however, is to go in person and be sure
that your name is registered.
PAGE
FOUR—EDITORIALS.
George C. Hubbard made one of the best
supervisors the town of Cortlandville ever had. He is a clear-headed, able young
business man and would make a first-class member of assembly. If elected he
will represent all the people and make a clean record. Democrats and
republicans are alike interested in his election, and independents will consult
their own interests by voting for him.
James J. Beldon was nominated for mayor of
Syracuse by the independent republicans last Friday evening but he positively
declined to run and E. A. Powell was
nominated Tuesday evening. Powell also declined. The Hendricks people have
nominated Charles F. Saul and the democratic candidate is James K. McGuire. On
Wednesday evening the in dependents held another convention and nominated
Charles G. Baldwin, who has accepted.
Farmers will find a true friend in the
democratic candidate for member of assembly should he be elected. He
understands as fully as any man can the needs of the farming community and he
is in full sympathy with the farmers. Mr. Hubbard is not a politician, he is an
honest and thoroughly reliable business man who will work for the interests of
the people instead of the politicians. What the people need is more business
and less politics in the legislature. Vote for George C. Hubbard for member of
assembly.
Mr. Saunders, the republican candidate for
member of assembly, is undoubtedly a good judge of neat cattle and is a
discriminating buyer, but it is not believed he will have an opportunity to
show his ability in that direction in the legislature. What Cortland county
needs to represent it in the legislature of this state is a first-class
business man who has the ability to distinguish between good and bad
legislation and who will vote and work for good measures and against the bad
ones every time. George C. Hubbard will do this and there is no mistake about
it. Republicans have as much interest in his election as democrats and they should
show the courage of their convictions by voting for him.
WASHINGTON
LETTER.
[From
Our Regular Correspondent.]
WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 14th. 1895.—President
Cleveland will not have to put in any time in familiarizing himself with
current public business, because during his absence from Washington reports of all
important matters in each of the executive departments have been regularly made
to him, just as they are when he is at the White House, and whenever necessary
he has directed what action should be taken. No official programme of the trip
to the Atlanta Exposition has yet been announced but it is understood that the
president will be accompanied by all the members of the Cabinet, and that neither
Mrs. Cleveland nor any of the Cabinet ladies will go. The party will be due at
the exposition on the 22nd inst. which is to be celebrated as "Presidents
Day."
The United States Supreme Court reassembled
to-day for the fall session, Chief Justice Fuller presiding. There are 770
cases on the docket, against 818 at the opening of last year's fall session. If
any of the learned Justices know anything of the President's intention as to
the existing vacancy in their ranks they are not talking about it where
any newspaper men can hear them.
Much interest was expressed in Washington
over the rumor that the managers of the proposed Corbett-Fitzsimmons fight were
figuring on the use of a government reservation in Arkansas for that
exhibition. The government has spoken in no uncertain tone, through Secretaries
Lamont and Smith and Attorney General Harmon and if the sluggers do not heed
they will regret their hard-headedness. No prize fight will be allowed upon
any government [Indian] reservation in Arkansas or upon any other spot of
ground over which the United States Government has direct control and if
necessary to prevent it, or to arrest the participators the government stands
ready to call out the army. But nobody in Washington thinks anything of that sort
will be necessary. Neither the fighters nor their managers will be foolish
enough to defy Uncle Sam.
The "money talks" has just been
proven by a Washington man who replied to the boastful claims concerning
Kentucky and Maryland which republicans have been making, with a public offer
to wager any amount from $100 to $5,000 that the democrats elect their ticket
in both states; also, that a majority of the Kentucky legislature will be
democratic. This mans money actually talks so loud that it has frightened the
republican blowhards into silence. It is unnecessary to say that betting is
something which nobody ought to do, but at the same time it must be
acknowledged that there are times when an offer to bet, backed with cash,
serves a good purpose.
It is a notorious fact that hundreds of republicans
in the government service are open contributors to the campaign fund of their party
whenever there is a campaign in the state to which they are credited, but just
as soon as a democratic state committee sends out a circular to the democrats
from that state who are employed in Washington there is a howl from republicans
and assistant republicans that the civil service law is being violated. The
latest howl is now on, and was started because Mr. Ril T. Baker, Secretary of
the Ohio State Democratic Association of Washington mailed a circular letter to
the residences of Ohio democrats now in the government service, notifying them
that he was prepared to receive contributions to aid in defraying the expenses
of Governor Campbell's campaign. Mr. Baker isn't scared even a little bit by
the howl, of which he says: "Campbell is fighting the moneybags and
ringsters who controlled the last legislature of Ohio. Everybody knows he is a
poor man, and that, money is needed for legitimate campaign expenses. As a partisan,
representing a large number of influential Ohio democrats, and backed by the
influence and help of leading democrats from other states, I propose to continue
receiving contributions which, I am happy to state, are steadily coming in. I
am in receipt of many letters from democrats in the government departments who
are indignant at the idea that they cannot contribute their share towards electing
a man of their choice. I find nothing in the civil service law against my
action, and I have the precedent before me of the President of the United
States as a democratic citizen sending in his contribution to help his
party."
Hon. Samuel E. Morse of Indiana, who aided
in winning the recent democratic victory in Indianapolis, Mr. Harrison's home, and
who enjoys the reputation of being a shrewd political observer, says: "The
prospects of democratic success at our next state election are most promising and
although the republicans have an advantage in their hold-over senators, the indications
for a democratic legislature are good. I believe that we will not only carry
Indiana in 1896 but that the same influences at work there will carry the
country for the National Democratic ticket."
HERE AND
THERE.
Election, November 5th.
Register either to-day or to-morrow.
Old newspapers for sale at this office.
All new acts this year in "The Country
Circus."
The biggest show of the season, "The Country
Circus."
The report of the First National bank is published
in another column.
Muldoon, the champion wrestling pony, is
with "The Country Circus."
Don't fail to see "A Summer
Shower" in the opera house this evening.
La Belle Tina, the young, graceful and
daring aerial sprite is with "The Country Circus."
The [trolley] cars do not run to the park
now. Should good weather come they will resume their trips.
Mr. Frank Thompson, the celebrated cornet
soloist of Sousa's Band, is now with "The Country Circus."
Mr. J. J. Gillett has purchased a machine
for clipping horses. Call on him at his stables, 13 Orchard-st., for a first-class
job.
The sewers have been completed and the work
of grading and leveling off the streets will be finished by to-morrow night.
Commissioner Rindge has a force of twenty
men engaged in building the new highway [Kellogg Road] from Hon. O. U. Kellogg's
farm residence to Port Watson-st.
The three most novel and daring acrobats in
the world, "The Lamonts," are with "The Country Circus."
Miss Ollie does all sorts of somersaults in full skirts.
H. C. Hemingway of this place has purchased
Carl Dillenbeck's business in the Riggs block in Homer and has taken
possession. He will open a Candy Kitchen.
Louis Snell and Joseph Shaper were committed
to Cortland jail last Monday evening on the charge of arson. It seems they
entered a box car at Preble and started a fire on the floor which burned
a hole through the same.
The Assassination club of Homer has rented rooms
in the Murray block and the same are being fitted up for their use. If the club
is as wicked as its name would indicate, we should advise Cortland people to
give the town a wide berth.
Messrs. Yager & Marshall, proprietors of
the Fair store in this place, have purchased Mr. H. E. Hannum's stock of
groceries in Homer and as soon as the goods can be disposed of will fill the
store with a stock of goods similar to that in their Cortland store.
The Ithaca High School football team
defeated the Normals on the fair grounds last Saturday by a score of 6 to 0. L.
H. Tucker won the one-mile open, the one-half mile open, the one-fourth mile
open and the two-mile open bicycle races. Brownell
Bulkley won the one-mile open to Normal school riders.
Mrs. Alva Nichols has become proprietor of
the Mansion House in Homer. She will
hereafter conduct the same with her brother, Mr. Charles Nichols, as a partner.
Mr. Nichols has had charge of the hotel before and was a popular landlord. Mr.
Chas. Antisdel, the former proprietor, has moved to his farm west of Cortland.
When the breezy blooming bloomers are
universally the go, how will tailors press the creases in them, we should like
to know? When the baby's head is nodding and wants to take a nap, how can mamma
lull her darling in a [bifurcated] lap? How can Bridget shoo the chickens with
no skirts to flop and fling, when the creatures go a grubbing in the garden in
the spring? But the question most annoying that our speculations catch: Can she
vie with men in action when she goes to strike a match?—Ex.
TOWN REPORTS.
TRUXTON.
Rev. E. A. Huntington, our new
M. E. divine, preached his first sermon here last Sunday.
Mrs. Sarah Heath, who has kept
house for Hosea M. Kenney for a number of years, has moved to Grain's Mills.
The "Truxton Centennial"
netted the M. E. Society about $40. There were several interesting papers read,
especially the one giving a sketch of the life of Dr. John Miller.
Mrs. Cyrus Smith, who was
taken to the insane asylum at Binghamton last week Monday, died there last
Monday, and was brought here for burial Wednesday. The funeral services were
held in the Baptist church at 1 o'clock P. M.
We gave an account last week
of the killing of the first black bear that was slain in this town, as it was
narrated to us by Joseph Jeffrey a son of John Jeffrey. A few years after that
occurred another bear was shot near the same spot, this time by Mr. Jeffrey. He
had a sow with a litter of pigs on the side of a steep bluff just back of his
cabin, and hearing squealing one night, he seized his gun which he always kept
loaded with leaden slugs. He started up the bluff to investigate the cause of
the turmoil. On getting near the hollow made by an upturned tree where the sow and
pigs had been staying, he saw the mother hog making a brave fight to defend
her young from what he took to be a bear, and taking the best aim he could, fired
at the marauder. The bear, which was mortally hit, rolled down the hill and Jeffrey,
thinking it was after him ran precipitately for the house, not stopping to look
back until he reached it. He then saw that he had not been pursued, and
reloading his gun, ventured back and found the animal dead at the foot of the
hill.
SCOTT.
The apple market seems to be gaining
strength here.
E. P Burdick fell from an apple
tree last Monday and was hurt quite severely.
Two hundred ninety-seven names
were placed upon the registry list in this town last Saturday.
There seems to be quite a
demand for laborers of late. Considerable work yet is to be done.
Austin Brown of this place has
received word that his sister, Mrs. Edwin Miller of Scranton, Pa., lies at the
point of death.
Charles Winchester started for
DeRuyter last Tuesday, having got word from there that his sister, Anna, is sick
with the fever.
Scott and Spafford boys took
another twist at baseball last Saturday at Spafford. The Scott boys made
seventeen scores while Spafford had to be content with none.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H.
Fairbanks of Homer entertained about 60 invited guests at their home on Scott
road, Wednesday evening, Oct. 9th. Most of those present were residents of
Homer but there were also some from Scott, Cortlandville, Ithaca and Syracuse.
The occasion was the fortieth anniversary of their marriage. The cards of
invitation requested that no presents be brought. The viands were numerous and
of the latest style. The time was pleasantly spent in social chat, and vocal
and instrumental music. The clock and lamp had a little mishap. The former got
a set back and the latter fell down stairs. The damage, however, was not very
heavy and the mistake of not getting away on time we think will not be serious,
as the midnight hour found most of the guests at their homes or on their way
there. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks are held in high esteem by the community in which
they live and we venture to say that their many friends wish them forty years
more of wedded life with health and strength to enjoy it.
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