MRS. FLEMING SET FREE AND A NOVEL BIRTHDAY PARTY

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, June 24, 1896.

MRS. FLEMING SET FREE.

Acquitted of the Murder of Her Mother.

VERDICT GIVEN THIS MORNING.

The Jury Remained Out Nearly Twelve Hours—The  Prisoner Promptly Discharged by Recorder Goff and Taken Away by Her Friends.

   NEW YORK, June 24.—Mary Alice Almont Livingston Fleming, on trial for the murder of her mother, Mrs. Evelina M. Bliss, by poison on the night of Aug. 30, 1895, has been declared by a jury innocent.

   Recorder Goff began his charge to the jury at 10 minutes to 11 yesterday morning and occupied two hours and 15 minutes in his delivery.

   The recorder touched on the motive, premeditations and deliberations, and said that it was possible to find a verdict of less than murder in the first degree.

   The jury retired at 1:19 p. m. and took until 12:51 this morning to reach its verdict. Mrs. Fleming entered the courtroom a moment after the jury, dressed in black and with a deathlike pallor on her face. She appeared nervous and waved her fan vigorously. When the foreman announced that the jury had found the defendant not guilty Mrs. Fleming seemed deeply touched and buried her face in her hands. Later she arose and thanked the jury.

   Florence Bliss, Mrs. Fleming's half sister, and a number of her friends rushed forward, all eager to grasp her hand and congratulate her upon her acquittal.

   The trial had lasted seven weeks and two days.

   The recorder discharged Mrs. Fleming from custody and, accompanied by Matron Smith of the Tombs, she proceeded to the prison, where she got her baby boy, entered a carriage and was driven rapidly away.

OPERATIONS IN CUBA.

The Usual Batch of Blue Pencil News From Havana.

   HAVANA, June 24.—Advices from Cardenas show that the expedition which recently landed on the beach of Camacho in that district was protected by a numerous band of insurgents. The troops, however, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caston, attacked the enemy and inflicted a loss of 23 killed upon the protecting party. The column also captured a great number of Mauser rifles and many boxes of ammunition. The troops are still in pursuit of the insurgents, and further details are awaited.

   A dispatch from Matanzas says that in an engagement at Sabanillo, province of Matanzas, the aide-de-camp of Enrique Rodrigues, the well known insurgent leader, has been killed.

   Colonel Escudero was engaged with the insurgents under Vila near Bolondron. The enemy abandoned 100 saddled horses.

   The combined columns of Spanish troops which are moving against Antonio Maceo have captured insurgent camps between the Sierra, San Claudio, Cabanas, Vigia and Brimales, where the enemy was dislodged from entrenched positions with the loss of 14 killed. Among the latter were Ramon Bovira, an aide-decamp of Perico Delgado, and another insurgent officer. The troops also captured nine prisoners and the enemy retired with many more dead and wounded. The troops had [11] men seriously wounded and one officer, one doctor and 15 soldiers slightly wounded.

   The local guerrilla of Madruga has been engaged with the insurgents commanded by Hernandez. The latter was among the killed and his body has been identified.

   Andricain, the insurgent leader, has burned 5,000 tons of cane at the plantations of Reunion, Deseada and Chucho, in the province of Matanzas. The insurgent major, Francisco Varona, has been killed in an engagement with the Spanish troops near Salud, province of Havana.

More Troops For Cuba.

   MADRID, June 24.—It is stated that the government has decided to send 100,000 additional troops to Cuba by the end of the present year.

Whiteface Mountain.

A Stiff Climb.

   E. D. Hayes, with a gentlemen from the Maple Grove cottage, left the other day at 12:20 P. M. for the top of old Whiteface. They rowed to the foot of the mountain in thirty-five minutes, made the ascent, stayed 30 minutes upon the summit and reached home at 6:30 P. M.—Essex County News.

   The gentleman referred to is Mr. W. W. Bennett of Cortland and who was at Lake Placid with his wife. The climb they took was a rather stiff one and they broke the record in the ascent of the mountain. The row which was made on the lake was six miles long. Then came the climb of four miles straight up, the last mile and a quarter of which was over bare rock as steep as the roof of a gothic cottage.

At the Cayuga Lake House.

   Last Friday evening the Kappa Alpha society at Cornell university took its annual ride on Cayuga lake and landed at the Cayuga Lake House and enjoyed a most sumptuous dinner. There were 214 at the two long tables in the handsome diningroom and, after several jolly songs, there was dancing in the commodious parlor. Mr. Dudley S. Phinney, the proprietor, and J. J. Donnelly, his chief clerk, did everything to make all happy. The weather was exceptionally fine and a great many enjoyed a row on the lake or a stroll on the lawn and spacious grounds. It was voted by all a most delightful event.

Possibly the Missing Man.

   Word has been received in Cortland hat may possibly throw some light

upon the mystery noted in the telegraphic dispatches a few days ago about Titus Mead of Locke who disappeared on the eve of his wedding day. It will be remembered that he had a considerable sum of money on his person that night in preparation for his wedding trip and foul play was suspected. A man answering to his description even to a slight physical deformity due to an accident was seen in Auburn wandering about in a dazed manner.

   The next day the remains of a man were found in a pond near Sennett. Friends have gone to identify them if possible. It is thought he may have been robbed and have become dazed from a blow on the head and have fallen into the pond.

   This afternoon there in a report that comes too late to be verified that friends of the missing man have consulted Mrs. Wood, the clairvoyant, who lives between Cortland and Groton. She told them that the young man had been murdered near an iron railroad bridge in the vicinity of Locke and that his body was buried close by. When asked to describe the murderer, she declined to do so at present.

BREVITIES.

   —One drunk was fined $3 in police court this morning.

   —Quite a number of Cortland people attended commencement exercises at Dryden last evening.

   —The annual parade and inspection of the Cortland Fire department will be held this year on July 4.

   —There will be a private dancing party to-night at Vesta lodge rooms and McDermott's orchestra will furnish music.

   —Rev. Dawson Edwards has been appointed pastor of the A. M. E. Zion church of Cortland, Homer and Dryden, and will hereafter conduct the local services of that church in Collins' hall.

   —Water Witch Steamer and Hose Co. will hold a special meeting to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock to take action in reference to participating in the Fourth of July celebration.

   —Mr. Jas. F. Costello is acting as superintendent of the Fire alarm system and looking after affairs at the engine house, while Superintendent Bickford is enjoying a short vacation.

   —The mission bands of the Presbyterian church were to have picnicked at the park to-day, but the picnic has been postponed on account of the weather. If fair to-morrow the picnic will be held.

   —The funeral of Mrs. Jerry Whiting, who died yesterday morning at her home on the Wickwire farm on the McGrawville road, will be held at the house to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial in Rural cemetery.

   —Rev. C. J. Greenwood, pastor of Immanuel Baptist church, Utica, last Sunday evening preached upon "Lessons from the St. Louis Convention." The Utica Herald published a half-column summary of the sermon, and it appears that Mr. Greenwood found some very valuable religious lessons from a political gathering.

   —It is usually thought to be doing pretty well to have new potatoes in this climate by July 4, but Mrs. Donald Monroe, who lives west of the village, has got nearly two weeks ahead of the season and has new potatoes larger than one's fist. They are ripe too and are in fine condition to eat. She thinks this is about the earliest season in her recollection.

   —Don't fail to see that negro at the Opera House to-night. There will be a feast of fun and frolic.

A Novel Birthday Party.

   Saturday, June 20, was the thirteenth birthday of Miss Millie D. Townsend, daughter of Mrs. Townsend, teacher in the intermediate department of the McGrawville school, and the event was made a gala day by Miss Millie and her schoolmates. It was not observed in the ordinary birthday party style, but a carefully selected and well prepared program was rendered to interest the 105 invited guests.

   First on the program, the story of Cinderella was read by Mrs. Townsend, while the children gave a very neat presentment of the same in pantomime style. Miss Millie acted as the fairy God-mother, while Master Harold Gillett and Miss Bessie Randall took the part of prince and princess. The latter appeared by royal escort mounted on the neat little Shetland ponies belonging to the McGraw children. Following this "Little Red Riding Hood," and "The Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe" were also read by Mrs. Townsend, and selected ones acted their parts very creditably.

   Between the acts and for the grand march, music was furnished by some half dozen boys. Miss Katherine Townsend sang the difficult lullaby (Dutch) songs from Amelia Barr's productions, and it may be added here that she covered herself with honor.

   After the program refreshments of ice cream and cake were served, and as a whole the afternoon was not only pleasantly but profitably passed. There were nearly a score of the older ones present. Among them being Dr. and Mrs. Hendrick, P. H. McGraw,  Rev. J. J. Cowles, Rev. and Mrs. B. J. Brooker, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. McGraw, Henry Ayers and sister Millie, Mr. Gillett and Rev. Mr. Rice. Much credit is due to Miss Millie, as she had the exclusive superintending of the whole affair—erecting of the stage, arranging and making of costumes, etc., only calling upon older ones to assist in producing.

   It is the intention of Mrs. Townsend now, with the assistance of other local talent to reproduce the foregoing plays and add several new ones, and give to the public on the evening of July 7 an entertainment of high order. A small admission of 5 cents and 10 cents will be charged, the proceeds to go to the Armenian fund. Program and other particulars later.