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| John Watson Hildreth. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday,
May 9, 1896.
OFF TO AUBURN.
Boy Train Wreckers Commence Their
Long Sentences Today.
ROME, N.
Y., May 9.—The boy train wreckers were taken to Auburn prison at 11 o'clock a.
m. today by Sheriff Weaver, Hildreth to spend the rest of his days there and
Plato and Hibbard, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, to remain for 40 years.
Celia
Perryn called at the jail to see Hildreth for the last time. She was
accompanied by her mother. Jailer Owens locked the three in a room for two
hours, where they enjoyed each other's company greatly. Hildreth embraced and
kissed Miss Perryn, and did not seem to care who knew it; neither did she. At
parting they again embraced and were loth to part. Both were in tears. Hildreth
said: "I love that girl and I am afraid this will break her heart, to say
nothing of my own."
Hibbard's
family was at the jail to give him goodbye. Those who witnessed the parting
were moved to tears.
ROME, N.
Y., May 9.—John Watson Hildreth, Herbert Plato, Theodore Hibbard started for
their new home in Auburn under the shadow of Copper John, on train 43, the
Buffalo local, which passes this station at 11:11. An immense crowd, that
became a turbulent mob at the station, lined the streets to see the boys on their
journey down from the jail. They were handcuffed together, Hibbard in the
middle, Plato on the right and Hildreth on the left side. They were in charge
of Sheriff Weaver, who was accompanied to the station by two deputies, and met
there by two police officers who helped make a passageway to the train.
The boys
did not seem downcast. Many people visited the jail during the morning to catch
a glimpse at the prisoners preparing for the trip. This seemed to please them
and they laughed and joked together. About half 10 Hibbard's parents and
his sister Maud, went to the jail and talked with him for some time. One of Plato's
brothers called to bid him farewell, and shed tears as the boy was taken away.
Hildreth had no visitors, except Attorney Searle, who came in to bid them all
goodbye.
During the
morning one of the prisoners in the jail, Robert Berr, who is held for forgery,
cut Hildreth's long hair, making him look a good deal younger. On his departure
Hildreth wore a black soft hat, a black suit and tie of the same sombre hue.
Hibbard and Plato also had on black suits, but Hibbard wore a light bow tie and
a black derby hat, while Plato had on a flaring pink four-in-hand and wore a
little cap, set jauntily on the back of his head. Before leaving the jail Plato
lighted a cigarette.
A number of
acquaintances shouted goodbye to the boys on the way through the city, and some
young girls shed a few tears. The crush at the station was something terrific.
The sheriff took the boys around the back way and got them into the baggage
room. Hundreds of people stood about the station struggling to get a glimpse of
the boys. When the train came in the police officers had to force a way through
the crowd to get the sheriff and his charges safely aboard. They will reach Syracuse
soon after noon and will take lunch there. They are due to arrive at Auburn at
1:25.
At the
station Hildreth said he considered that his sentence was no heavier than that
of the other boys. "After a man has spent twenty-four years in
prison," he said, "he will be about ready to die."
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| Photo copied from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland. |
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Work for Convicts.
Governor
Morton has signed the bills passed by the legislature at the instance of the
state prison commission and a number of changes are now in order in regard to
the care of the convicts with reference to their labor. There were six bills in
all which referred to this subject and all of them were drawn by Mr. W. J.
Mantanye of Cortland who was charged by the commission with the legislative work
of that body. The whole matter had been discussed very carefully by the
commission and the fruits of their labor as shown by the new laws will be
likely to bring about some admirable results.
When these
bills were introduced in the legislature and came up in the committee for
discussion it was found that the legislators were nearly all opposed to them
for the reason that there was a false impression regarding them. Mr. Mantanye
appeared before the committees and explained the situation as it now exists and
the changes purposed and the bills were all reported favorably, were passed and
have now been signed by the governor.
The idea
prevailed that the constitutional prohibition of labor which put convict goods
on the market in competition with free labor meant idleness for the convicts.
This is not at all the case. It is the intention of the commission to keep the
convicts at work. Any other course would be very bad for them. The proper
conduct of all the penal institutions involves employment of the inmates. But
such a competition as existed between convict and free labor was very largely
the cause of the sweat shops in New York. Take an instance. Laundered shirts
such as are sold at the stores in every city and town at from $1 to $1.75 each,
and for even higher prices, were made in the prisons for thirty cents per
dozen, calico and gingham dresses were made for fifty cents per dozen, heavy
overcoats at forty cents each, umbrellas at four cents each, shoes at seven
cents per pair. To meet such competition prices for free labor were ground down
to the lowest possible basis.
Under the
new law after Jan. 1, 1897, the prisoners in the state penal institutions will
be employed only in producing articles for use in the public institutions of
the state and its divisions. When it is considered that in the various charitable
institutions of this state, which include prisons, asylums, reform schools,
houses of industry and other such, there are 80,000 people to be cared for by
state funds it will be seen that even in this direction the convicts will have
plenty to do. There is clothing to be provided, food to be raised and prepared,
furniture to be made, stone to be cut and dressed for new buildings and every
necessity to be met. All of these heretofore have been bought and procured in
the open market. Now they will be provided and prepared as far as possible by
the convicts themselves.
The convicts
in the New York penitentiary at Blackwells Island have not been able to do half
the necessary work for use in public buildings in New York City. In Auburn prison is a stone-dressing plant to which
stone has been shipped by Chicago contractors, been prepared and then shipped
back to Chicago. That plant can be turned to use in the state needs. The prison
at Dannemora in the wilds of the Adirondacks has connected with it a farm of
several thousand acres which can be worked by convicts under guard. Last year
1,200 bushels of potatoes were raised. The warden says he could have raised
12,000 just as easily. A canning plant will be put in operation for the
preparation of canned goods for the other institutions, the raw mater all being
raised on the Dannemora prison farm. Much money by this means will be saved to
the state and at the same time the prison goods will not be put in the market
in competition with free labor. The only result will be that so much less will
be purchased by the state from the open market.
Another
provision of the new law is to require prisons to receive prisoners sentenced
for over a year who are now sent to county penitentiaries where the state pays
their board. At present the state pays about $2 a week for board and the board
only costs about $1 per week. The state might just as well save that extra
dollar for itself. It now pays about $160,000 per year for board of such
convicts.
At present
the penitentiaries of this state take to board under contract convicts sentenced
by United States courts outside of the state. Many of these come from the territories.
The new law provides that no such prisoners shall be received. The state has
enough convicts of its own to take care of. Another bad feature of this method
is that it adds so materially to the criminal classes of this state. When a
convict is discharged he is given a new suit of clothes, $5 in money and a
ticket to the place where he was convicted. In nine cases out of ten the
discharged convict doesn't care to return to his home. He sells his ticket to a
scalper, uses the money as long as it will go and then commits another crime
and either escapes or is caught and convicted in this state. The result is that
New York state becomes a veritable Botany Bay for criminals. Hereafter the
United States must make its own provision for them.
The new law
still further provides that all prisoners sentenced by United
States courts within the state for a period of over
one year must be sent to state prisons and not to penitentiaries.
All women
convicts sentenced for one year or over must now be sent to the woman's prison
at Auburn and not to penitentiaries, in which there are no facilities for
caring for them properly and where they cannot be kept separated from the men's
department. The woman's prison at Auburn is arranged with special regard to the
care of women and is graded somewhat on the plan of the Elmira reformatory.
Exemplary prisoners can rise from the lowest grade to the highest and as they
rise through the three grades they are granted more privileges with each
change. This puts a premium upon good conduct.
Taken as a
whole these laws are very excellent. The people voted against the competition
of free and convict labor and this constitutional amendment is now supplemented
by a law which it is believed will be most beneficent, equitable and
satisfactory in its operation and will serve as an additional protection for
our worthy and industrious working people.
INSTITUTE CLOSED.
A Profitable Week's Session—Resolutions
Adopted.
HOMER, May
9.—Conductor Sanford goes from here to conduct institutes for three weeks in
Albany county and thence for three additional weeks to Hamilton county to
conduct special institutes and make special visitations upon schools.
Commissioner Miller occupied the first division of the last afternoon in
an exposition of the law concerning teachers' contracts.
Following
him, Conductor Sanford opened the question box and answered the queries, most
of which were of a legal nature.
After
roll call, Conductor Hendrick made the last address of the week. His subject,
"The Highest Motive" was especially fitting to the hour. By this, he
meant the motive which the teacher inspires in his pupil apart from his
intellectual training of the child.
Throughout
the week the weather has been unusually favorable and all the teachers seem to
have enjoyed the institute and all seem to agree that it has been a session of
unusual profit. Most of the work presented has been filled with really
practical suggestions. The commissioners should be congratulated on securing so
efficient a corps of instructors.
The
commissioners each made a few closing remarks and Prof. Sanford once more took
the floor to add an earnest word of endorsement along the line of Prof.
Hendrick's remarks.
Principal
Bierce of Truxton then read appropriate resolutions as follows:
WHEREAS,
We, the teachers of Cortland county, desire to express our gratitude for the
kindness and courtesy shown us, and our appreciation of the benefits we have received
while at this institute, therefore be it
Resolved, That we
extend to the Columbia club, the board of education, the teachers of Homer
academy and the people of Homer our sincere thanks for the manner in which we
have been entertained and cared for.
Resolved, That to
the efforts of the conductors and their assistants, together with those of our
esteemed commissioners, is due the fact that we have enjoyed an unusually interesting
and profitable institute, and that we heartily endorse them in their methods of
work. And be it further
Resolved, That it
is the sense of the teachers of Cortland county that successful teaching have
some marked consideration in the certificates issued on uniform examinations.
GEORGE D.
BAILEY, McGrawville,
F. J.
BIERCE, Truxton,
Committee
on Resolutions.
The
resolutions were unanimously adopted and the institute adjourned.
BREVITIES.
—New
advertisements to-day are—A. Mahan, pianos, page 5.
—The store
of McKinney & Doubleday has been connected with phone exchange.
—The
directors of the Cortland County Agricultural society held a meeting this
afternoon at 3 o'clock.
—The
Ladies' Afternoon Whist club was to-day entertained by Mrs. George Ames, 9 Monroe Heights.
—The
Cortland Commandery, K. T., worked the Knight Templar degree last night. The
election of officers will occur May 22.
—The Sons
of Veterans exemplified the first and second degrees on two candidates last
night. Aaron Sager, Jr., was appointed color sergeant.
—There will
be a regular conclave of Cortland Commandery, No. 50, K. T., to-night. The work
will be in the Red Cross or Templar degree.
—A parlor
meeting of the Epworth league of the First M. E. church will be held at the
residence of Wm. H. Morgan, 11 Arthur-ave., this evening from 7 to 9.
—Messrs. H.
D. and L. C. Fredericks are putting up the Keystone suspension fence on the
Randall lot, east side of South Main-st. The fence is of ten wires.
—Rev. J. L.
Robertson, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will to-morrow morning exchange
with Rev. J. J. Cowles of the Presbyterian church at McGrawville.
—A special
train of two coaches passed through town at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon
carrying Syracuse Masons to Binghamton where the third degree was exemplified
last night.
—Under the
heading, "An Old House in New Dress," The Sunnyside, a journal
devoted to the interests of undertakers, in its issue of May 1 contains an
article very complimentary to the undertaking firm of Fletcher & Bangs of
Cortland.
—The Normal
baseball team left at 9 o'clock this morning for Ithaca where they play the
high school team this afternoon. They were accompanied by a large delegation
from the Normal, both ladies and gentlemen, making forty- five in all.
—Henry A.
Cooper of Auburn is eight feet and six inches tall in his stocking feet, and is
said to be undoubtedly the tallest man in the world. He is 35 years old and
weighs 375 pounds. He is still growing and at one time, while ill with fever,
grew twenty-six inches in twenty-two weeks.—Ithaca Journal.
—On Monday
evening, May 18, a musicale will be given at the home of
Mrs. C. L. Kinney, 54 Port Watson-st., under the
auspices of the Ladies' Aid society of the Presbyterian church. Some of the
beat local talent will take part. The program will begin at 8:30 o'clock, so that all
the business men who may be detained in stores can attend.
—The Dryden
Agricultural society has recently purchased several acres of land adjoining the
fair ground on the west and will make many further improvements, including an
enlargement of the grand stand, changes and additions to the sheds, etc., the
increased space doing away with the necessity of exhibiting livestock inside
the track.
Defendant Discharged.
The trial
in the case of The People against Mott Rood of Homer was concluded before
Justice Dickinson yesterday afternoon. The defense introduced some testimony to
show that it was not the intent of the defendant to abandon the horse, which
was the point on which the whole case rested.
Justice Dickinson decided the case in favor of the
defendant, but gave him a severe reprimand and warned him that should he ever
be brought up again on a like charge and convicted he would be placed where for
a long time he could not be in a position to ill-treat dumb animals.
HACKENSACK,
N. J., April 26—The Second Reform church was filled with wheelmen and wheelwomen
this evening to listen to a sermon by Pastor
Johnson entitled, "To Heaven on a Wheel."
The minister in the course of his sermon said: "The Wheel is going to be a
factor in making a new race, for the coming man will be hardier and sturdier
than his fathers. The bicycle is a fatal machine for the dude."—Bicycling World.
McGRAWVILLE.
Crisp Local Happenings at the Corset
City.
MCGRAWVILLE,
May 9.—Mr. Nat Smith of Cortland was in town yesterday.
Mr. A. L.
Kinney is visiting friends in Madison county.
Mr. and Mrs.
Byron Lyons spent Sunday in South Cortland.
Mr. Frank
Pratt has engaged to work for Birdseye Hicks for four months and has commenced
his labors.
Mrs. Huldah
Pritchard and son Charlie are visiting her son Will Pritchard.
Mr. George
Oliver enjoyed a fishing trip on the river yesterday and brought back quite a
fine string of fish.
Mr. James
Wood of Cortland passed through town yesterday. Fishing is very good east of
here.
A new
veranda is being added to the residence of George Palmer on Centre-st. Foundations
are being laid for an addition to the house of Mrs. George Townsend on Spring-st.
Luell Harvey has built a new platform in front of his barber shop and other
improvements show that McGrawville is
not dead if it is quiet just now.
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