DOUBLE EXECUTION AT SING SING

Electric chair at Sing Sing prison.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, April 23, 1896.

DOUBLE EXECUTION.

Two Wife Murderers Pay the Penalty in the Chair.

   SING SING, N. Y., April 23.—There was a double execution at the state prison here this morning. The victims were Louis P. Herrmann and Charles Pustolka, both of New York City, both Germans and wife murderers. Herrmann shot and killed his wife during a quarrel on July 17, 1895, and Pustolka stabbed his spouse to death on Aug. 28 last because he suspected her of infidelity.

   Hermann asked as a special favor that he be executed first and Warden Sage granted the request, though he had originally intended to send the other man to the chair in advance of his associate victim. The warden was undoubtedly influenced in his first decision by a desire to have the more disagreeable part of the affair over as soon as possible. Pustolka was of a highly nervous temperament and it was feared he might make a scene in the execution chamber, while Herrmann was stolid and apparently indifferent of his fate and no trouble was anticipated in his case.

   The witnesses to the executions were invited to be present at 11 o'clock and the major portion of them arrived on the train reaching here from New York at 10:30 A. M.

   Shortly after 11 o'clock they assembled in the prison office, and were escorted to the execution chamber by Warden Sage and his assistants. Herrmann was brought into the electrocution chamber at 11:16, and at 11:17:30 the current was shot through his body. After fifty seconds it was turned off and Dr. Irvine, the prison physician made an examination, as a result of which he announced that the man was not dead. At 11:19 the current was again turned on at full force for five seconds. Another examination was made by the doctors present and at 11:21 Herrman was pronounced dead.

   Hermann's body was removed from the chair and placed on a dissecting table in a room adjoining the electrocution chamber, and a new set of witnesses was admitted to see the second execution. Pustolka was brought into the room at 11:42. He did not make the expected scene, but walked firmly to the chair. At 11:43:20 the signal was given by Dr. Irvine, and the current was applied for 50 seconds. After a little more than a minute it was turned on five seconds, and at 11:40 the doctors declared the second victim dead. Both executions were pronounced entirely successful.

   The two victims of the law did not sleep much last night, though in the case of Hermann, there was no dread of his approaching doom. The parting yesterday between Pustolka and his little daughter was very pathetic.

William McKinley.

MCKINLEY MEETING

To be Held at the Opera House To-morrow Night.

   The arrangements for the McKinley massmeeting [sic] at 8 o'clock on Friday evening have been completed and everything seems to indicate that the leaders of the movement in Cortland have met with considerable encouragement in their efforts to boom the candidacy of the great apostle of protection. The committee has been notified that Senator Frank Pavey of New York and Col. Chas. H. Denison of Ohio, who have been speaking in the different cities of the state in McKinley's behalf, will be sent to Cortland as the speakers for Friday evening. It is expected also that a delegation will be selected at the meeting to be sent to the congressional convention which will soon meet at Auburn, N. Y.

   The leaders of the movement in Cortland are very enthusiastic and express great confidence that McKinley will be the successful candidate at the St. Louis convention.

   One of them said in an interview with a STANDARD reporter this morning, "we wish the people to understood that the movement which has been inaugurated in Cortland is not intended as an opposition to our worthy and respected governor. If we thought it possible that Governor Morton could secure the nomination, nothing would be done by the friends of Wm. McKinley in Cortland county which would in any way embarrass the candidacy of Mr. Morton. But we feel that his candidacy is simply a subterfuge and that its aim is to secure the defeat of the leading Republican of the country. Cortland is a manufacturing village. Its prosperity is dependent entirely on the success of its different manufacturing interests. Under the baneful influence of Democratic misrule Cortland has suffered seriously and it is not strange that our working men as well as our business men should flock to the standard of that great statesman whose name is synonymous with industrial prosperity. We believe him to be the only logical candidate for presidential nomination and we do not hesitate to come out boldly as public spirited citizens and express our honest convictions. It is the duty of New York state to lend its aid in securing his nomination."

   At the meeting to-morrow night the quartet will sing a new song prepared specially for this occasion by Mr. J. B. Hunt of Cortland, whose song 'David

B." will be remembered in a recent campaign.

Rebuilt Cortland Forging Company.

The Forging Company.

   The matter of the insurance upon the buildings of the Cortland Forging Co. has been adjusted, and the company will in a day or two get their insurance in full. The loss on stock and machinery was settled a few days ago.

   The question is now before the company as to whether they shall rebuild the works. There are many reasons for and against, and a decision may not be arrived at under two weeks. Very flattering offers have been received from a number of places to locate elsewhere, but it has been about decided not to accept any one of these. They will probably either rebuild in Cortland or not at all. It is to be earnestly hoped for the good of the village that they will rebuild, and the decision will be anxiously awaited.

A Successful Cortland Boy.

   Mr. Edward B. Kelley has been for the past eighteen months performing the part of Squire Tucker in Augustus Thomas' play of "Alabama" and has been the recipient of the most flattering newspaper notices in New York, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco and all the other cities in which he has appeared with this company, Mr. Kelly is the son of Mrs. E. Kelly, who was Miss Olive Gates, well known here some years ago. Mr. Kelly has not been in Cortland for a number of years and is looking forward to renewing old acquaintances when he comes here with his company next Monday night.

BREVITIES.

  —The high wind of Tuesday evening unroofed a barn belonging to H. J. Reese at Blodgett Mills.

   —Within the past two days three wagons have broken down on the Main-st. cobblestone pavement.

   —The Alpha C. L. S. C. will meet with Mrs. Wilber Stephens, 9 Water-st., Monday evening, April 28, at 7:30 o'clock.

   —The Loyal Circle of King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. S. Rindge, 57

N. Main-st., Friday, April 24, at 2:30 P. M.

   —A meeting of the board of managers of the hospital will be held at the home of Mrs. Hyatt, Monday, April 27, at 3 P. M.

   —Rev. H. A. Cordo and family are moving into the new Baptist parsonage this week.—Whitman, Mass., cor., Brockton Times.

   —Regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. on Saturday, April 25 at 8 P. M. Devotional conducted by Mrs. J. S. Squires. Program: L. T. L. work by Mrs. E. C. Cotton.

   —New advertisements to-day are—Keating Wheel Co., look below, page 5; W. J. Perkins, experience teaches, page 6; I. Whiteson, delightful surprise for shoppers, page 5.

   —George M. Scribner, who has been in jail since April 9 awaiting action of the grand jury on charges preferred by Florence Newman of Homer, was yesterday released on $500 bail.

   —In making an excavation for sewer connection on Port Watson-st. this morning, an Italian was partly buried by the bank caving in. He was extricated in a short time, but was a badly frightened Italian.

   —Mr. W. D. Riley has moved his barn to its new location on his own lot and the cellar is being dug for the new house to be erected on Church-st. by Messrs. W. W. Kelsey and D. H. Bingham.

   —"Happy Bill" Daniels' first annual ball occurs this evening in Taylor hall. The orchestra will be assisted by Mr. Grant Sullivan, trombone player of Binghamton, who arrived on the 4:20 train this afternoon.

   —Mr. Donald Robertson and company arrived in town this morning and are registered at the Cortland House. They will present "The Man in the Iron Mask" at the Opera House to-night, The company is a very strong one and carries a large amount of special scenery.

   —The latest whim of women cyclists is to have their wheels painted to match their dress. In the London streets are seen cycles in various shades of green, brown and terra cotta. The fashion was started by Lady Warwick, who in summer had her wheel painted white, and who dressed in white from head to foot.

   —A United Press dispatch to The STANDARD this afternoon announced that John H. B. Gordon has just been appointed postmaster at Truxton. Mr. Gordon has been acting postmaster since the death of the postmaster, Dr. Judson C. Nelson. He is also the agent of the Lehigh Valley railroad at that place and the appointment is considered a very good one.

   —A large number of Cortland people are expecting to go to Marathon to-morrow and Saturday night to witness the operatic minstrel production under the direction of Mr. George H. Willey. Mr. Arthur Williams of Cortland will give an exhibition of bagpunching [sic] and Mr. Charles Roe, also of Cortland will entertain with his funny songs and jokes.

   —As Deputy County Clerk H. T. Bushnell in company with Mr. H. J.

Harrington was going home after business hours yesterday afternoon, he was run into by a bicycle ridden by a young man whose name was not learned. The collision occurred just as the two gentlemen started to cross Groton-ave. at the Cortland House corner. The young man was riding down Groton-ave. on the south side at a rapid rate.