STAGE DRIVER WOOD

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 13, 1895.

STAGE DRIVER WOOD.

HE LEAVES HIS FAMILY AND TAKES UP HIS ABODE WITH MRS. UNDERWOOD.

McGrawville Citizens Very Much Excited—Horning Bees and Tar and Feathers Threatened.

   Last week Holland Wood, who has driven the express wagon between Cortland and McGrawville for some time past, left his family in the latter place, and taking his belongings, went to the house of Mrs. Margaret Underwood in the same place to live. For some time past his attentions in that quarter have been freely commented on by the citizens of McGrawville, and when he took up his residence there the feeling broke out and several spirited horning bees [people blowing horns] have taken place in front of and about hotel Underwood.

   Mrs. Underwood's first husband was named Alanson Underwood and the family lived in Freetown. Underwood died a few years ago and not long afterwards the widow married one Oliver Stafford, who resided near Messengerville until 8 or 10 years ago, when he moved to Dryden where he died four years since. Three years ago the widow moved to McGrawville where she has since resided. She has five daughters living and one son. Two of the girls are married and live with their husbands, but the other three girls lived with their mother.

   When Wood moved in the two eldest girls moved out, the youngest daughter, aged 10, remaining with her mother. When Wood came, the daughters remonstrated with their mother but in vain. Her reply to them was, "He has come to stay."

   The girls are highly respected in the community. Mrs. Wood has gone to live with her son who is an exemplary citizen. The people of the village are greatly excited and they say if the couple do not leave town by Saturday, tar and feathers and a rail will undoubtedly be brought into requisition.

   The girls who work in the corset factory gave the couple a serenade one night last week. Wood was engaged nearly all day Tuesday in putting in new lights in the windows where they had been broken out by stones in the hands of the indignant neighbors.

Reward Offered.

   The Syracuse, Binghamton and New York railroad company hereby offers a reward of $5,000 to whomsoever shall secure the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who caused the wreck of the express train at Preble on the night of Dec. 1, 1895.

   A. H. SCHWARZ, Supt.

Empire Express.

CORONERS INQUIRY.

WHO CAUSED THE WRECK?

Several Witnesses Being Sworn But Little Light Thrown on the Important Question.

   The coroner's inquest called to inquire into the cause of the wreck on the D. L. & W. road at Preble, was commenced at that place last Thursday morning.

   JOHN CARROLL being sworn says: I was a brakeman on the train; was sitting in the forward part of the sleeper. The first I knew that anything was wrong was when the air brakes were applied and the car stopped with a sudden jar. Got out as soon as possible and saw that the switch lever was blocked up. The switch light was not burning. I then went up the track as far as Tully to flag any train that might be coming along. Saw no one on the road to Tully. Think I was the first one at the switch.

   H. H. DARLING sworn says: I was conductor of the train that was wrecked. Was four minutes behind time at Tully. After leaving that station we ran at a speed of about forty or forty-five miles per hour. The witness here described the portion of the wrecked engine and cars. Engineer Young and fireman Roof were running that night for engineer Wm. Gray and fireman Michael Hogan, who composed the regular crew of the engine.

   W. W. WRIGHT sworn says: Am station agent at Preble and have been in the employ of the company as such since Nov. 15, 1869. Was at the station from 9:30 to 11:00 o'clock A. M on Dec. 1 last. Was there again from 6:00 o'clock to 9:00 P. M. At the latter hour all four switch lights were burning. I usually look to see if these lights are burning every night when I leave the station. I was called the night of the wreck and arrived at the station not far from 11:20 P. M. Lighted up and reported wreck to Syracuse office at once. Stayed at station until 7 o'clock the next morning. At about 1 o'clock A. M. of Dec. 2, I saw James Doyle take a wrench from the truck beam of a milk car. It could not have gone any distance in that place without falling off. No such tool is kept at the station. They are used by car repairers. The milk car had not been in the repair shops to my knowledge. The milk car came from the south. This car was shunted on the switch at 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon.

   WILLIAM E. SINCLAIR sworn says: Live in Syracuse and am a fireman. Was "dead-heading" my way to Binghamton to get my train. After wreck went to the engine and called engineer and fireman by name, could see neither of them. Went to switch which was blocked up with a board and "dead lever." The broken lock-lay on the end of the switch tie. Put the lock in my coat pocket and went back to the engine. Fireman Roof raised up and screamed. I stayed with him until he died which was at 1:50 A. M. on the train near Little York. All the wrenches belonging to the company were marked. Would almost swear the wrench found on the milk car was not a company wrench.

   THOMAS FLANIGAN sworn says: Was head brakeman of the train. I went down the track with a flag after the wreck but saw no one on the way.

   DR. W. G. MCDONALD of Preble swore that he arrived at the station at 11:45 and that Roof died from an indented fracture on top of the head. Dr. Jerome Angel swore that he examined Roof's body after it arrived in Cortland and that every rib on the left side was broken. One or two other witnesses were sworn but nothing new was elicited.

   Adjourned to Tuesday Dec. 10, at 10:30 A. M.

   The examination of witnesses was resumed on Tuesday morning last.

   CHAS. C. DEAN sworn says: I was baggageman of the wrecked train. Helped save the baggage. I found the switch in same position as testified to by previous witnesses. I carry a switch key that is supposed to unlock all the switches, but in some cases it won't work. In such cases if it is necessary to change the switch I break the lock. Every trainman must report the fact at headquarters whenever he breaks a switch lock.

   JOHN GRACE sworn says: Am a section hand and live in the north end of the station at Preble. Was at the station night of wreck. Put switchlights up at 6 o'clock. Saw no one around station before the wreck. The lights were burning all right at 9 o'clock. There is no such wrench about the station as the one found on truck beam of milk car. No such wrench is used on this section.

   THOS. MAYLON sworn says: Am section foreman and commenced work Nov. 6, taking the place of Frank Springstein. Saw Grace put up the lights.

   JAMES DOYLE sworn says: I was conductor of the freight train that followed the wrecked train night of Dec. 1. I found the wrench on the milk car truck that night. Wrench was lying on the edge of beam nearly ready to fall off. After leaving the station I, with the rest of the trainmen, made an examination of my train but found no one on board but the crew.

   SEREL PIERCE sworn says: I live in Preble. Reached the wreck soon after the cars began to burn. When the freight train pulled out I stood with others on the east side of the tracks opposite the wreck. Can't remember who the others were. Saw a man standing on the top of a car near the middle of the train. He had on an overcoat. Heard someone say, "That looks like Springstein." Can't remember who said it.

   The evidence was closed and the matter was left to the jury. After an hour's deliberation they reported that "The switch was set so as to wreck the train by some person or persons to them unknown, and that the same was done with malicious intent."

SHALL WE PAVE?

A PUBLIC MEETING CALLED.

The Question to be Discussed in Fireman's Hall To-night—Citizens Should Turn Out—Provisions of a Proposed Bill.

   Last Friday night the trustees held a special meeting for the purpose of taking steps to secure an expression of the citizens and taxpayers on the question of paving the streets of Cortland. All will agree that something should be done to improve our streets as some of them, at least, are in a horrid condition. One of our citizens, whose business requires him to travel in every part of this and several adjoining states said to the writer recently, "I am proud of Cortland until I come to look at our streets and then I am disgusted. I visit nearly every town of the size of Cortland in the state several times a year and this is the only town I know of that pretends to be keeping up with the times, the principal streets of which are not paved. Four or five years ago Hornellsville was noted for the impassable condition of its streets, but now they have five or six miles of good pavement and at a very small cost to the city."

   The plan adopted by the city fathers of Hornellsville was similar to the one proposed in a bill which has been prepared by Judge S. S. Knox at the request of the trustees, the provisions of which will be discussed at a public meeting to be held in Fireman's hall this Friday evening at 7:30 o'clock. The following are the main provisions in the bill as drafted by Judge Knox:

   The property owners representing a majority of the linear feet frontage on any street or portion of a street may petition the board of trustees for the paving or improvement of that street or portion of street. A public meeting shall then be called at which the matter may be discussed pro and con by any taxpayer. At the next meeting of the board the question shall be considered by them as to materiel to be used and decide by a vote whether to pave that street or not and if it is decided in the affirmative to employ a competent engineer who shall draw all the plans, establish the grades, etc. Then bids shall be advertised for, the board, however, reserving the right to reject any or all bids. The one to whom the contract is awarded shall furnish bonds for the completion of the work and shall be held responsible for any damage and for payments on all liens.

   The question of cost enters very materially into the question. Upon investigation it has been found that the cost of paving varies from $2.50 to $3 per square yard. The proposed bill provides for the payment for paving as fellows: All intersections of streets shall be paved at the expense of the village. The expense of paving of any street shall be borne jointly by the village and property owners in the following proportion: The village to pay one-third and the property owners two-thirds. The portion borne by the village shall be paid by issuing long term bonds at a rate per cent not exceeding four per cent. The portion borne by the property owners shall be paid by them in proportion to their linear feet frontage and shall be assessed upon their property for three successive years and shall be included in their annual taxes.

   When it is remembered that by the terms of the franchise of the electric road the Traction company is required to pave between the rails and switches and two feet on either side it is seen that there will be comparatively little left to be done by the village and property owners especially upon Main and Railroad-sts., which will probably be paved first.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   CHENANGO—"Cyclone" Smith, who came to Norwich two years ago with a pugilistic combination and remained here for some time, was arrested in Syracuse, Monday, for jumping his board bill and stealing an overcoat.

   A Bainbridge audience, which paid the price of admission to see a first class variety performance and were treated to a fake show, retaliated by treating the managers of the company to eggs and mud. One of the managers was conducted to the hotel by an officer to protect him from the mob of outraged patrons.

   MADISON—An Egyptian mummy, supposed to be 3,000 years old, is exhibited in a show window of Munroe & Parsons, Oneida merchants.

   Forty-one licensed nets were drawn in Oneida Lake last week from which 7,000 pounds of fish were taken, according to the Lakeside Press.

   The tires used on the horseless carriage which was successful at the Chicago contest of such vehicles recently, were made by the Columbia Pneumatic Wheel Company of Oneida.

   TOMPKINS—The work of manufacturing bicycles will soon begin at the shops of the Crandall Machine Co. in Groton.

   During the fall Jacob Decamp and Fred Edsall of North Lansing have caught fifty-two coons.

   Landscape gardeners are planting ivy around the buildings on the Cornell campus. Next year the walls will be ivy green.

   Every student who enters Cornell University is required to dissect a cat as a part of his prescribed work during the freshman or sophomore year, and thereby Dr. Burt G. Wilder is the means of the extermination of about four hundred sleek Tompkins county cats per annum—N. Y. Herald.

   A serious loss to the business interest of Groton is incurred by the unexpected death of Dexter H. Marsh, which took place at an early hour one day last week at the residence of his brother in Chicago, where he had stopped with his wife on their return from Colorado. Mr. Marsh was taken with a chill the Friday night previous, and pneumonia rapidly developed, which resulted in his death, as stated. He was 55 years old, for nearly thirty years had been  identified with the First National Bank of Groton, as cashier, and lastly as president. He was also largely interested in most of the manufacturing interests of Groton.

HERE AND THERE.

   The Ancient Order of Hibernians will have a grand ball on New Year's eve in Taylor hall.

   A Farmer's Institute is to be held in Marathon on Monday and Tuesday, January 12 and 13.

   The Traction Company's snow plow has arrived and is ready for business. It will be operated by the baggage car.

   Mr. E. Dodge has voluntarily closed the doors of his liquor store in the Churchill building and no business is being done there.

   The insurance adjusters have settled the loss on Cooper Bros. foundry and machine shops to the entire satisfaction of all parties.

   The Little York Ice Co. have built an addition to their storehouse at Little York which will nearly double their storage capacity.

   Passengers on the electric cars bound to or from Homer or McGrawville can now ride through by paying fare once if they so inform the conductor when they board the car.

   The Howard Stock company had a good house last night and gave general satisfaction. The company will appear again tonight and to-morrow night in an entire change of programme.

   The game law which recently went into effect makes ferretting rabbits illegal with a heavy fine. It also makes it illegal to kill them, except during the month of October and November.—Exchange.

   The coroner's jury which has been investigating the cause of death of Fillmore Thurston of Whitney Point, a full account of whose illness and death was recently published in these columns returned a verdict wherein they find that deceased came to his death from arsenical poisoning and that they believe the same was administered by his wife, Eliza Thurston. Dr. Wm. Manlius Smith, the noted chemist of Syracuse, swore that he found sufficient arsenic in the deceased man's internal organs to produce death.