HILDRETH CONVICTED

John Watson Hildreth.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, May 8, 1896.

HILDRETH CONVICTED.

Found Guilty of Murder in the Second Degree.

RECOMMENDATION TO LENIENCY.

Jury Arrived at the Verdict Shortly After Midnight This Morning—Other Prisoners Will Probably Plead Guilty to the Same Crime.

   ROME, N. Y., May 8.—J. Watson Hildreth, the boy train wrecker, was this morning declared guilty of murder in the second degree, with a recommendation to leniency.

   At 1 o'clock this morning a rap was heard on the jury room door and was answered by a court room official, who was told that jury was ready to report. They had been out since 7:15 p. m. yesterday.

   After they had filed into court, Foreman Richards announced the verdict, which was of murder in the second degree. The verdict of the jury recommended leniency.

   At the announcement Hildreth put his right hand to his forehead and turned slightly pale, but he made no demonstration.

   His father, who sat by his side, grasped the hand of his son and held it firmly. He, too, was calm.

   The court then adjourned until 9 a. m., when Hildreth will be sentenced.

   The first vote in the jury room resulted as follows: Guilty of murder, 7; not guilty, 2; blank, 2. Second ballot, guilty of murder, first degree, 2; second degree, 7; third degree, 1; not guilty, 1; blank, 1. Third ballot, murder, second degree, 9; not guilty, 2; murder, third degree, 1.

   All these ballots were taken previous to the instructions given to the jury by the judge after midnight. Soon after they had retired for the second time all of the jurors voted for murder in the second degree.

   Hildreth's three companions implicated in the train wrecking are now in jail awaiting trial, and it is probable that after the verdict of today their cases will be taken up together, and it is believed that they will conjointly plead guilty to the lesser degree of crime in which Hildreth was convicted.

   Judge McLennan's charge was evenly balanced. He read to the jury the law defining different stages of crime, from murder to felony, and plainly told the jury their duties in the case. He said they should render their verdict without fear or favor. He went over the details of the case from the time the train left Syracuse on the morning of the wreck on Nov. 19. The first thing for them to consider, he said, was whether the train was wrecked through human agencies. If so, who did it? If they found the defendant did it, or aided others, with intent to kill, he is guilty of murder in the first degree. The judge also told the jury that they could take into consideration the confession of the defendant if satisfied it was made of his own free will.

   Defendant's counsel requested the court to charge the jury in 10 different charges, but the court refused.

   A summons was served on J. Homer Hildreth for a $20 board bill contracted by his son, J. Watson Hildreth, while boarding at the Commercial hotel, of which Scott Cackett is proprietor. The summons is returnable before Justice Schwarz on May 17. Mr. Hildreth merely referred the matter to his attorney.

HILDRETH GUILTY.

SENTENCED TO AUBURN PRISON FOR LIFE.

Hibbard and Plato Plead Guilty and Get Forty Years Each in Auburn for Manslaughter.

   ROME, N. Y., May 8.—The jury in the case of John Watson Hildreth at 1:30 A. M. to-day returned a verdict of murder in the second degree. In reaching this conclusion four ballots were taken. Court took a recess till 9 A. M. to-day, when Judge McLennan sentenced Hildreth to Auburn prison for life. In passing sentence the judge said he thought the jury had dealt very leniently by Hildreth; they might have convicted him of the highest crime known to the law. He said Hildreth's crime was a terrible one under our civilization, almost as bad as poisoning the streams that come from the hillsides. Hildreth stood up and received his sentence without flinching, but after he sat down by the side of his father his eyes filled with tears and his lips trembled perceptibly.

   As soon as Hildreth had been sentenced he was taken back to jail and a few minutes thereafter Theodore Hibbard and Herbert Plato, the other indicted train wreckers, were brought into court. By advice of their counsel, Mr. Sayles, they withdrew their former pleas of not guilty to murder in the first degree and pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree on each of the two indictments against them in causing the deaths of Engineer Hager and Robert Bond.

   Mr. Sayles asked for clemency for the boys. Judge McLennan then sentenced the prisoners to forty years each in the Auburn state prison—twenty years on each indictment. The prisoners were very pale and seemed much downcast, but shed no tears.

BELIEVES HOLMES INNOCENT.

Lawyer Rotan Professes Faith in the Man Just Executed.

   PHILADELPHIA, May 8.—After the body of H. H. Holmes had been cut down it was placed in a plain pine box, the bottom and sides of which was covered with cement. This was done so that the material will harden about the corpse and practically fasten it to the box, preventing any attempt to steal the body.

   On the breast of the corpse lies a small silver cross, bearing the words "H. W. Mudgett, died May 7, 1896."

   Special officers are on guard at the vault.

   Mrs. Carrie A. Pitezel, widow of the man for whoso murder Holmes was hanged, was seen after the execution. She was too nervous to submit to an interview, but said she could not help feeling relief at the knowledge that Holmes is at last "out of the way."

   Her counsel, Thomas A. Fahey, said he still hoped to secure for his client some of the money paid for Holmes' so-called confession in restitution for the money out of which, the arch criminal defrauded her. He feared, however, that it was out of the jurisdiction of this state.

   Both Mrs. Pitezel and her lawyer place no faith in Holmes' last declaration of innocence.

   Lawyer Rotan does. After the hanging he asserted, with uplifted hand, to a group of witnesses: "I believe he died an innocent man."

EXECUTION IN INDIAN TERRITORY.

Choctaw Indian Legally Shot by the Deputy Sheriff.

   ANTLERS, May 8.—Charles Homos, a full-blooded Choctaw, has been legally shot at the Pushmatha court grounds, 30 miles west of here, for the murder of Charles Kiotubby, his stepson-in-law.

   Homos was led out of the courthouse, where religious services had been held, and placed on a box before the courthouse, five paces from the door. A blindfold was placed over his eyes and two deputy sheriffs stood on either side of Homos, holding his hands.

   Deputy Sheriff Bob Jackson did the shooting, standing just inside the courthouse door. Jackson missed the mark placed over the victim's heart, striking two inches beneath. The murderer lived for 10 minutes, suffering great agony.

   Homos' wife was present, but did not seem to be affected to any great extent.

Levi P. Morton.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Governor Morton.

(From the New York Sun.)

   It is rather amusing to read the Mugwump warnings to Governor Morton to beware of the wiles of the wicked Platt. Godkin, for instance, addresses him as if he was a political nursling likely to be led astray by a designing Boss, and to whose credulity even the most unmistakable Mugwump humbug could hopefully appeal.

   The truth is that the Hon. Levi Morton had his eye teeth cut many years ago. Before Godkin emigrated from Ireland the governor was already a successful man of affairs. He was prominent as a merchant before he became a leading banker more than thirty years ago; and his whole business life has been passed in competition with the ablest of traders and financiers. He is not the sort of man to be taken in by gold bricks and green goods. He is not an unsophisticated hayseed, but an alert and wide awake citizen of this very alert and wide awake town. People who have any capacity for judging character do not attempt to play transparent tricks on this astute gentleman. Nobody who is not dull in his own wits fails to see at once that he always has his wits about him, and an unusually large supply of the soundest and brightest kind.

   Governor Morton, moreover, is a man of long training and experience in politics. He has been a member of congress for two terms. He has been Minister to France, and he has been vice-president of the United States. Now he is governor of New York; and if any Republican is destined to be the next president there is no other who would fill the place with more honor and distinction. He is a sagacious and discriminating man, and his knowledge of the men in our public life is not exceeded by that of any other citizen of the republic. He knows all about Mr. Platt, for instance. Godkin can teach him nothing on that subject. He is not an hysterical Mugwump, but a man of cool judgment of whom nobody but a fool would think of trying to make a fool.

   The sum and substance of all we have said of Governor Morton can be expressed more tersely by saying that he is very able, a very astute, and a very clearheaded man, who enjoys and deserves the respect and confidence of all those who know him and are competent to discern his true quality, whether they are his political friends or his political opponents.

   ◘ Many excellent persons who under no circumstances would permit a copy of The Fireside Companion to come into their families nevertheless owe a greater debt than they are aware of to its founder, the late George Munro. When he, a poor young man, got a place at very small pay in the establishment of the American News company, he did not calmly anchor himself there for life.  His knowledge of the wide difference between the cost of making books and the high price at which they sell set him thinking out a plan for providing all the people with cheap and good literature.

   He matured the plan, and it made him a millionaire. Not only that, but it gave the people of this country many good books in cheap form. To Munro's Seaside Library thousands of intelligent persons owe a debt of genuine gratitude. The novels Munro brought out in the Seaside collection were many of them of the best class. Mr. Munro was a publisher, a philanthropist and many other things, but his memory will shine brightest of all as that of the man who brought down the price of books throughout the whole country and made it possible for poor people to enjoy good reading.

PLUCKY YANKEE TARS.

Knocked the Spots Off of John Bull's Sailors at Shanghai.

   SAN FRANCISCO, May 8.—A morning paper says fighting with champagne bottles as a beginner, and finishing with knives, a dozen or so of the tars of the U. S. gunboat Petrel whipped twice their weight in Britishers at Shanghai shortly before that vessel sailed for this port, where she arrived last week. The little gunboat was made the sport of a big British cruiser, and while a marine battle was averted by prompt apology, the sailors of the two warships took the matter ashore. A handful of the Petrel's men were tackled by a score of the lusty marines from the British cruiser Spartan, and champagne and blood flowed like water.

   The melee occurred on Washington's birthday and the events which led up to it was on the night before. The Spartan arrived at Shanghai shortly after the Petrel dropped anchor there. That there was no love lost between the crews of the vessels was manifest from the start, and the officers were only polite to each other.

   Even politeness was forgotten on the night of Feb. 21, when the search light of the Spartan was turned on the deck of the Petrel. Every nook and corner of the little gunboat was explored, and then, to add insult to injury, the light was withdrawn, leaving all in gloom, and then turned on again as if those on the Spartan wanted to see how the Yankees liked the treatment. There were mutterings among the forward hands of the Petrel and a scene of excitement on the quarter deck, where the officers were gathered.

   Capt. Emory wrote a curt note to the commander of the Spartan and dispatched it without loss of time. The searchlight was not turned on the Petrel again that night, and a note of apology for the discourtesy was received from the Spartan's captain. The officers on the Petrel were satisfied, but their greetings to the Spartan's quarter deck thereafter were stiffer than ever.

   The blue jackets of the Petrel were far from being satisfied and among themselves swore vengeance for the insult. The men had not long to wait. Eight or ten of them were seated in an upper room in a saloon on the following day when about twenty of the Spartan's men entered. The Yankees were drinking grog and singing patriotic songs, when the biggest Englishman in the intruding crew suggested that they throw the Yankees through the windows. The British tars started up the stairs, but none of them reached the top. The door above was suddenly opened, and through it came a shower of glasses, bottles and cases of champagne which had been stored in the little room. When everything that could be utilized as a weapon was gone the American sailors came flying down the stairs, and the battle became a hand to hand conflict. Knives were drawn and used freely, and the English forces were badly cut up. When they were finally routed, half a dozen of their men lay bleeding on the floor.

   The British consul subsequently held an official inquiry into the affair and the court decided against the Spartan's crew. It assessed the ship the cost of the damage, which amounted to several thousand dollars.

A Bunco Game.

   A very smooth bunco game has been worked on several Cortland people within the last few days. The fakir enters a place with a large sack full of cotton handkerchiefs. He throws out one by one about thirty handkerchiefs and offers the whole lot for $1.00. He keeps coming down to twenty-five cents and in most cases makes a sale. Then he offers one to do them in, rolls them up carefully and departs. When the package is opened the purchaser finds he has purchased five or six of the cheapest kind of handkerchiefs.

A Convenient Store.

   Mr. F. I. Graham has got moved and pretty well settled in his new store in the Graham building, 12 Main-st., which he finds very convenient indeed. The store is admirably lighted and the large double windows afford abundant space for exhibiting goods, particularly bicycles in which Mr. Graham does a flourishing business in the proper season, The store proper is now devoted exclusively to the prescription department of the drug business, though a cigar case and a case of choice candies occupy conspicuous places. Opening from this is a little business office, and further back is a large room where paint is kept in stock. Another room is used to store all heavy goods, and in the extreme rear is a workroom and laboratory. Mr. Graham has in his new quarters plenty of room for his rapidly growing business, and is well pleased with his location.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Fine Stereopticon Lecture by Prof. Sanford on Mexico.

   HOMER, May 8.—Miss Rice took the platform yesterday afternoon after the opening exercises and resolved the whole institute into a drawing class. All were made to draw a schoolhouse and fence surrounding its yard.

   After a brief recess Conductor Hendrick treated the subject of "Practical Hygiene" for forty-five minutes in a manner at once lively and interesting.

Under this head, he complied with the law by giving a brief resume of the nature of and instruction concerning alcoholic drinks and narcotics in a very brief and concise manner.

   At 8 o'clock the Congregational church was filled to its utmost capacity to listen to Conductor Sanford's stereopticon lecture on a "Mid-summer Trip to Mexico," a description of a trip taken with the definite object of preparing this lecture for institute work. Prof. Sanford is a very pleasant speaker and his descriptions added to the beauty of the views and the fine apparatus made the lecture the greatest treat of the season in this village.

   Before turning to the views, Mr. Sanford brought out two boys arrayed in the native Mexican garb which he explained. These boys also gave the Mexican salute which consists of a mutual embrace given with the right arms when each slaps his friend on the back and they end by a handshake.

   Having given a few hints on Mexican history and the wonders that archaeology may unearth, then the speaker by means of his views led his audience from El Paso on the Rio Grande down through the city of Mexico and thence to the coast at Vera Cruz. Many of the views were finely colored and gave a correct idea of the beautiful foliage of that warm climate in the midst of which there are so many snow-capped mountains.

   Although so near home, most of us are by no means familiar with Mexico and this lecture gave so complete an idea of the people and manners as well as the cities and industries that all must feel a new interest in the country.

   It is to be regretted that some portions of the audience should have been so uneasy as to interfere with the comfort of those who were interested. On such occasions, an officer should be in attendance.

   The Teachers' National association which convenes at Buffalo in July is being advertised at the institute. Very great inducements will be offered, for Superintendent Skinner has promised that 5,000 New York teachers will be present. It is expected that if enough can be secured from this county, a special [railroad] car will be furnished for them.

   The advanced section was dispensed with for the morning and at the first period Miss Rice took up this division with "Drawing" before the intermediate and Prof. Hendrick on "Parent and Teacher" from the standpoint of the parent before the primary. Mr. Hendrick says the tendency of the times is to a socialistic form of government. The people are looking more to the state and less to the family for the care of the child, and the child must go younger to school, this though deplorable, is nevertheless true.

   Miss Rice filled the second period as well with practical instruction in her special line. She sets aside many of the formalities commonly taught as essentials for teachers and confines herself to practical instruction in sketching of figures, models and designs.

   The second period in the intermediate was occupied by Mrs. Warren Hunt of Marathon, teacher in the intermediate of Homer academy. The subject which she treated in a very interesting manner was "Elementary Science."

   The two commissioners addressed the teachers under their respective charge separately, at the third period of the forenoon.

CHARGED WITH CRUELTY.

Mott Rood of Homer on Trial Before Justice Dickinson.

   Mott Rood of Homer is on trial before Justice H. A. Dickinson this afternoon on the charge of cruelty to animals. E. E. Mellon appears for The People and W. C. Crombie for the defence. It is alleged that defendant on the night of April 23 left the horse at the Sager corner in this village after having over driven it; that when found the horse was in an exhausted condition. The prosecution called Lewis Rood who said the horse was his and that on the night in question his brother, the prisoner, came home saying that the horse dropped down dead with him [sic] at Cortland. He came down that night and found that the horse was at Baker Bros.' barn and the next day he came after it.

   Dr. W. L. Baker told of his seeing the horse in the street covered with a cold sweat, panting, and nearly exhausted. He with the assistance of Officers Smith and Jackson took the horse to his barn on Port Watson-st. and cared for it.

   The officers were each sworn and testified to their finding the horse after midnight, notifying Dr. Baker and assisting the horse to its feet and to the barn.

BREVITIES.

   —To-day is Arbor day.

   —This month there will be a fine opportunity to see the planet Mercury after unset.

   —The Ladies' Afternoon Whist club was to-day entertained by Mrs. George Ames, 9 Monroe Heights.

   —The Elmira Telegram has just begun its eighteenth year. It has had a record of great success and prosperity.

   —The Lehigh Valley railroad company, it is said, will spend $500,000 on improving their road beds this summer.

   —New advertisements to-day are—Dey Brothers, dress goods, page 6; Bacon, Chappell & Co., dry goods, page 5; Wm. Grady, bicycles, page 6.

   —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 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.

   —Attorney Thomas H. Dowd as referee yesterday sold on mortgage foreclosure at the courthouse 100 acres in the town of Truxton. It was purchased by the mortgagee, Mary Sheridan, for $600.

   —Mr. Charles Mee, Jr., while picking up an old board at his residence on Homer-ave. to-day had the misfortune to run a rusty nail deep into the fleshy part of the hand at the thumb joint. Dr. F. D. Reese dressed the wound.

   —The advertising car of Washburn's circus is here to-day on the Lehigh Valley tracks, having come from Sayre. A gang of men is at work billing the town for the circus which will be held May 21 and for which the fair grounds have been hired.

   —Charleston, S. C., has just voted unanimously to exempt from taxation for a period of five years any and every factory that may be established there. The wideawake cities that have few or no manufactures in their midst are hustling for some these days.

   —Mr. George A. Hulbert as attorney for Jane Sexton assignee on Thursday morning in Marathon sold at public auction the farm in Lapeer owned by Royal L. Johnson. The highest bid was $1,400, and it was sold at that figure to Jane Sexton, the assignee of the mortgage. There are seventy-one acres in the farm.

   —The annual May party of Vesta lodge, I. O. O. F., last night was attended by over seventy-five couples and was a very pleasant affair. Daniels' orchestra furnished music and there were twenty-four dances on the program. The refreshments were in charge of Caterer B. H. Bosworth. The list of committees who officiated have been published previously.

   —Messrs. A. M. Schermerhorn, A. B. Nelson and F. B. Nourse boarded the

4:20 train yesterday afternoon bound for the wild regions to the north of here. They were equipped with a large amount of ammunition, firearms and fishing tackle. They disclaimed all knowledge of when they would return, but it is hoped they will soon find their way back to tell of their bloodcurdling adventures and of how they forced the game and fish into complete submission.