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| Anthony Comstock. |
Cortland
Evening Standard, Wednesday,
March 25, 1896.
BAD DAY FOR COMSTOCK.
The
Jury Promptly Discharged His Assailant.
ANTHONY
RECEIVES A SCORING.
Dr. Leverson Quickly Acquitted of
the Charge of Breaking the Peace After Much Evidence as to His Good Character.
ALBANY,
March 25.—The trial of Dr. Montague R. Leverson of Port Richmond, S. I., who
was arrested in the Union depot on Feb. 19, charged with breach of the peace,
preferred by Anthony Comstock, was held in the court of special sessions here.
The charge states that Dr. Leverson, on the date mentioned, jumped upon a seat
in the depot, and, pointing to Anthony Comstock, said: "This is Anthony Comstock,
the notorious blackmailer, he never earned an honest dollar in his life."
A jury was
impaneled and three witnesses for the people were examined, whose testimony
merely corroborated in part the charge. The assistant district attorney then
declared the people's case closed.
The
defendant, Dr. Leverson, was first placed on the stand by the defense. He admitted
that he made the statements against Mr. Comstock as detailed in the charge, but
he stated that he had been provoked by remarks of Mr. Comstock.
On cross-examination
Dr. Leverson admitted that he did not know whether Comstock was a blackmailer
or not.
Several
witnesses were called who corroborated the testimony of the defendant.
Thomas E
Wilson, an editor of the New York World; Henry George and Edward W. Chamberlain
were called and testified to the good character of Dr. Leverson.
Ex-District
Attorney James W. Eaton, counsel for the defendant, asked each of the above
witnesses the following questions and received identically the same answers:
"Is
Mr. Comstock's reputation good or bad?"
"Bad."
"Would
you believe him under oath?'
"No."
Anthony
Comstock was then placed on the stand. After testifying in his own behalf he
was cross-examined at length by Mr. Eaton.
During the
cross-examination the question at issue was frequently lost sight of and Mr.
Comstock was subjected to an examination of his methods of suppressing vice.
Mr. Eaton
asked the defendant if certain accusations against him, published in
newspapers, were true.
"They
are not," replied Mr. Comstock.
"Did
you ever hear any accusations against you?" asked Mr. Eaton.
"I
never did," replied Mr. Comstock.
"Are
you deaf Mr. Comstock?" added Mr. Eaton. "Did not Mr. Andrews, before
a legislative committee some time ago, say that you were worse than any other
man that ever lived since the time of Judas?"
"I
never heard of it."
"Have
not ex-District Attorney Ridgeway and ex-Mayor Grant of New York said that you
would rather tell a lie than the truth?"
"I
never heard of such statements."
"Is
not your picture in the rogues' gallery in Summitt, N. J.?"
"It is
not."
"Were
you not dismissed by Sheriff Davidson of New York from his force because you
preferred improper charger against superior officers?"
"I was
not."
Mr.
Comstock's examination was continued in this vein for over two hours and after
some testimony had been offered in rebuttal, Mr. Eaton, for the defense, began
to sum up. He characterized Anthony Comstock as a "ruthless barbarian who
seized works of art which his obscene mind could not appreciate." He said
that Comstock's method was to get a man crazy with taunting remarks, until his
manhood rebelled and then he would have him arrested for a breach of the peace.
"Had I
been Dr. Leverson," said Mr. Eaton, "I would not have contented myself
with calling him a blackmailer, but I would have punched his big, fat
face."
The people
used very little time in summing up and the case was given to the jury.
Fifteen
minutes later the jury returned with a verdict of "not guilty" and
the defendant was discharged.
EIGHT-HOUR WORKING DAY.
Federation of Labor Will Attempt
to Enforce Their Plan.
INDIANAPOLIS,
March 25.—At today's session of the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor the subcommittee on the 8-hour problem submitted its
report.
It
recommends that May 1 be set as the day to inaugurate the 8-hour plan through the
country and that the carpenters be selected as the union to make the test.
The
committee will recommend a strike of all carpenters' unions that are forced to
work overtime, beginning on the day that the 8-hour plan goes into effect.
It is
expected that the council will unanimously indorse the action of its committee.
RED CROSS SOCIETY.
Can Carry on its Relief Work Only
in Cities.
CONSTANTINOPLE,
March 25. —The council of ministers has decided that the agents of the American
Red Cross society sent to Asia Minor to distribute relief to the suffering
Armenians shall work only in the cities. The overseers of the villages will
prepare lists and send the destitute inhabitants to the cities for relief. This
decision probably excludes Zeitoun as a center of relief. The council has also
decided that the Red Cross agents must use with power to make changes the lists
furnished by the Turkish relief commissions and that the distributions of
relief must be made conjointly with the commission. It is hoped here that in
practice the agents will be allowed much more freedom than these regulations
indicate.
Telegrams
received here from Marash say that typhoid fever is raging. Six Beyrouth physicians and two druggists will probably
be sent to work among the sick at that place.
SOLD THEIR GROCERY.
Palmer & Co. to be Succeeded
by G. O. Whitcomb.
When The STANDARD
went to press this afternoon arrangements had almost been completed whereby
Palmer & Co. were to sell their grocery stock and business to Mr. G. O. Whitcomb, formerly of Gilbertsville,
more recently of Whitney Point, and there was little doubt that the deal would
be completed.
The
news that Palmer & Co. are to sell out will be received with general
regret. They have been in business here for a year and a quarter and have kept
a first-class stock and have been highly popular with the trade. They have not
yet made any plans for the future but it is to be hoped that they will not
leave town.
Mr.
Whitcomb has had some experience in this line of business and will doubtless
receive his share of the patronage of Cortland and vicinity.
A SAD AFFAIR.
Child Found Rough on Rats on a
Piece of Bread.
The funeral
of Bertha Whiting, the eighteen months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Whiting, was held at 2 o'clock this
afternoon. The cause of her death was poison by rough on rats. The poison had
been placed on bread and left on the third shelf in the pantry and it is
thought that the bread was accidentally knocked to the floor, where the little girl
found it Monday afternoon. She had eaten so much when discovered that her life
could not be saved, although Dr. Johnson was hastily summoned and did all in
his power to save her.
Parents
cannot be too careful in keeping poison entirely beyond the reach of children.
LITTLE TRUTH IN IT.
E. C. & N. Shops Will
Probably Remain Right Here.
A special
dispatch from Waverly to the Elmira Advertiser says: "It is reported that
the Lehigh Valley officials have decided to remove the old E., C. & N. shops from Cortland
to Sayre. This will be good news for Sayre people, but will have a serious
effect on Cortland business men. It is also said that they will
build a line from Horseheads to connect with the main line near Odessa."
It is
impossible to verify this report here in Cortland and there is little belief that
there is any truth in it. Master Mechanic George Richards and storekeeper James
Walsh were in Sayre on Monday of this week getting instructions about the
continuance of the regular business in Cortland. Nothing was said to them about
a removal and considerable was said which would indicate that the shops are to
remain here. The general idea is that the heavy work and the building of new rolling
stock will hereafter be done in Sayre, but that light repairs will continue here
and that there will be no lessening of the force employed here.
BREVITIES.
—"A
Girl Wanted" company arrived in town this morning from Elmira and are
registered at the Messenger House.
—The Dillon
Brothers entertain the members of the "Girl Wanted" company at their
home at 6 o'clock dinner to-night before the entertainment.
—All
members of the Y. M. C. A. gymnasium class who expect to take part in the
coming gymnasium exhibition are requested to be on hand tonight.
—The Elmira
Telegram on Sunday in connection with its account of the St.
Patrick's banquet last week published an excellent
cut of Mr. Edwin Duffey, the toastmaster.
—Mr. C. Fred Thompson has ordered 20,000 trout
fry from the state hatchery at Pleasant valley with which to stock the streams
in this vicinity. They are expected to arrive Friday.
—There will
be a special meeting of the A. O. H. at 7 o'clock to-night. It is expected that
John and Barry Dillon, who are
with a "A Girl Wanted" company, will be initiated into the order.
—About
twenty couples drove to the pleasant farm home of Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Kinney west of the village last evening, where a
very enjoyable evening was spent socially. Refreshments were served.
—Mrs.
Phoebe A. Phillips, who has been in failing health for some time, died
yesterday afternoon at the home of her daughter. Mrs. D. H. Griffith, 15 Elm-st.
The funeral will be held Friday at 8 o'clock and the burial will be in
Homer.
—The Ithaca
Journal says that when the next time table of the Lehigh Valley R. R. is issued
the station Ithaca on the old E., C & N. road will be designated East
Ithaca to distinguish it from the Ithaca station on the other side of the city
on the Geneva branch of the road.
Dillon Brothers Coming To-night.
A New York
flat-building constitutes the scene of "Girl Wanted," the new farce
comedy in which Frank Bush and an excellent company appear in Cortland to-night.
The first act passes in one of the flats, the second in a restaurant on the
ground floor, the third on a roof garden at the top of the building.
The event
of the evening will be the rendering of "Put Me Off at Buffalo" by John
and Harry Dillon, who are also the authors of "What Right Has He on Broadway."
WILL BOOM
CORTLAND.
LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD STRETCHING
OUT.
North to the St. Lawrence, East
to Rotterdam, Probably to Syracuse From Cortland.
The
Syracuse Post of this morning says: Whether the much talked of Lehigh Valley
railroad will come to Syracuse remains to be seen, but evidence goes to show
that its building would not be a difficult matter. This Lehigh Valley Railroad
company will build a new road this summer which will be of great benefit to
many towns in this part of the state.
The facts
concerning this were learned by a Post reporter last night from an official of
the Lehigh Valley road who was in the city. He stated that the company will
build this summer a branch running north from Camden, touching at Watertown,
Clayton, Ogdensburg and other junction points on the R., W. & O. road. A
line will also be run to Rotterdam, perhaps from Canastota, although the
starting point has not yet been decided on. This line will connect with the
Fitchburg line and will make a through line from Buffalo to Boston, which is
the aim of the company. The Lehigh Valley company obtained control of the E.,
C. & N. railroad with a view to building this road.
It is
understood that the company has for some time had this line under
consideration, and has at last arranged its plans definitely with the exception
of some minor details. However, it is assured that work will be commenced as soon
as possible and will be pushed through. This will open up to the Lehigh Valley
road a large part of Central New York.
"What
about the line which it is said may be built to Syracuse?" was asked.
"That
will probably be built from Cortland," was the reply. "If the company
builds such a line I should think that Cortland would be the best point, as it
is not so very far from Syracuse and would give an easy grade. I think that
when they are building they would come to Syracuse, as that would be tapping a
larger town than any of the others."
Further
particulars regarding the move could not be obtained.
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