SAYS SHE IS INNOCENT

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, June 22, 1896.

SAYS SHE IS INNOCENT.

Mrs. Fleming Confident of Acquittal.

WILL TRY TO LIVE DOWN HER SINS.

The Long and Tedious Trial Drawing to a Close—Her Case Will Probably Be Given to the Jury on Tuesday.

 Sympathy Expressed For Her.

   NEW YORK, June 22.—Mary Alice Livingston Fleming, confined in the Tombs prison charged with having poisoned her mother, Mrs. Bliss, expects to walk out of the Center street bastille before the present week is passed a free woman. She said so in an interview.

   "The summing up will probably be today," said she, "and I think that by

Tuesday the recorder will charge the jury. I firmly believe I shall be acquitted. I shall be confined here 10 months, a long time, and although I have kept up through it all, have undergone a severe nervous strain and tried to smile and look cheerful, even when I was broken-hearted. I have denied myself to everyone, even friends. I have merely been trying to defend myself; that is natural.

   "Because I have sinned three times is no reason why I should be accused of 67 crimes. Perhaps I have been foolish—I was foolish—but others besides me have been foolish, too, and sinned, only in many cases it is not publicly known. Human nature is weak. Those who know me well know that I am naturally of a kind and generous and forgiving disposition. I never, as far as I know, intentionally did a wrong or injustice to anyone. I was never called to the bed of a sick friend but what I responded and did all in my power for them, even to my detriment. That is my nature. Some don't understand me. You know that some people cannot make their nature understood. I am such a person. But I will be free soon, I have no doubt, and then will take a much needed rest."

   Mrs. Fleming said that she read the papers a good deal, played with her baby, attended service in the chapel and sought solace in her Bible. She sleeps well and the past few days has had a good appetite and been very cheerful. If she gets out of prison she will go at once to relatives in this city.

   "What are my plans for the future? Well, I can scarcely say that I have any, but I hope to spend this summer with my children at some seaside resort. After that? Well, I think I shall return to New York and live this matter down. The place to live anything down, you know, is where you get in the trouble. This I shall do. If I have lost any of my friends on account of this terrible accusation, I shall try to win them back, to convince them of my innocence, and feel as though I could face the world, knowing in my own heart that I am innocent.

   "Because I sinned, they said— some said—'I guess she did it,' and so I was charged with the crime of poisoning my mother. If I have sinned, I alone am responsible for my acts. Others have broken their marriage vows—I have never been placed in that position. I am not so bad a woman as some paint me. The fact that I know I am innocent buoyed me up all through this terrible ordeal through which I have passed."

   "We all believe here that she will be acquitted," said Matron Gardiner. "She is a pretty, attractive and very charming woman, not at all the horrid thing some of the papers would try to make her, and we believe n her innocence."

GOING TO CUBA.

American War Vessels Being Fitted Out at Brooklyn Navy Yard.

   NEW YORK, June 22.—A report is being circulated to-day that the religious services were omitted on some of the vessels at the Brooklyn navy yard yesterday because the crews were working and that at least two vessels were being prepared to start at once for Cuban waters, one of them being the New York. It in said that the officers at the yard think steps are being taken to protect the United States citizens in Cuba. The rule is not to omit religious services on Sundays except where emergencies prevail. It is said there was little Sunday rest for anyone in the vessels yesterday.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Mrs. Eliza Brigham Afflicted With a Mania for Self Destruction.

   Mm. Eliza Brigham, a lady 66 years old, has for several years lived with her daughter, Mrs. George A. Norton, at 7 Graham-ave, [Cortland]. For the past two years the family have perceived that her mind has been affected. This has grown upon her so that during the last two months she has been very far from right. She has been at intervals affected with a terrible mania for self destruction. In more sane moments she has shrunk from this feeling and has expressed her fear that she should commit suicide. The family have kept close watch upon her all the time and have kept locked up or removed from the house everything they could think of which she might use in her efforts at suicide. It had been determined this week to send her to a private asylum at Rochester in the hopes that she might be successfully treated.

   Saturday night she retired as usual, occupying a room off that of Mr. and Mrs. Norton. They have slept for weeks with one eye open. Mr. Norton looked in at her room yesterday morning about daylight and she was sleeping quietly. He fell into a little sleep and then at 5:30 looked in again. She was gone. He ran through the house looking for her. He found her lying on the floor of the dining room with blood flowing from wounds in her scalp. She had hunted for knives, scissors and razors, but could find none, and had taken a small tack hammer having one sharp edge. With this she had struck herself on the head eight or nine times inflicting bad wounds. She was conscious, but dazed from the blows. After a little while she said she wished she had succeeded in her effort.

   Dr. Reese was called and dressed the wounds, and she is on a fair way to recover. When she gets well she will probably be taken to a hospital for treatment.

THE YOUNG'S HORSE CASE.

Defendants Plead Not Guilty—Remanded to Jail in Default of Bail.

   The case of The People vs. Albert Cornell and Wm. Woodworth, charged with grand larceny in the second degree in attempting to steal a team of horses and wagon from liveryman T. H. Young on the night of June 14, was brought up in Police Justice Mellon's court this morning. Attorney W. C. Crombie appeared for the defendants. They pleaded not guilty to the charge and their examination was again adjourned, until Tuesday, June 30, at 10 o'clock. The matter of bail was left open to give them a chance to procure bail if possible and until they were able to do so they were remanded to the care of the sheriff.

REPUBLICAN LEAGUE.

To Hold a Grand Ratification Meeting at Their Rooms To-night.

   The Republican league, will hold a grand ratification meeting at their rooms to-night at 8 o'clock, to which all are invited. Ten minute speeches will be made by Judge A. P. Smith, Judge J. E. Eggleston. Hon. R. T. Peck, N. L. Miller, A. E. Seymour, George S. Sands and others.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Cycles and Bicycles.

   If current reports are to be accepted the hard times are not to be attributed solely to Democratic tariff follies or free silver hallucinations, but to the bicycle craze. The Baltimore Sun has taken the trouble to gather the announced figures regarding the effect of the wheel mania upon various industries, and it finds the liveries charge to it a loss of $20,000,000, the saddlery and carriage factories $25,000,000, the jewelers $10,000,000, the tailors $10,000 000, piano makers $13,500,000, the cigar dealers $7,000,000, street railways $3,000,000, steam roads and steamers $2,500,000, theatres $2,000,000, and the liquor dealers $2,500,000. The dealers in feminine dry goods claim a decline of 20 per cent in their business, and the sellers of light literature note a reduction of 25 per cent in their trade.

   The Troy Times foots these figures up and says: Here is a total close to $100,000,000, and practically all of this has gone toward the gratification of the cycling fever. The wheel makers have profited at the expense of other manufacturers and dealers, and in consequence the latter have fallen upon hard times. Therefore it is reasonable to conclude that not tariff or silver alone, but wheels also have caused the upsetting in trade and industry. The 2 to 1 ratio of the ready-to-wear bicycle suit has driven out the tailor-made outfit, and the horseless two-wheeler has decirculationized the four-wheeler and its oats-eating motive power. The cyclometer and the bicycle lamp have demonetized the watch and the diamond ring, and the wayside spring has decurrencyized the beer barrel.

   The national conventions may not recognize these facts, and will go on talking about tariff follies and free silver madness. Yet the fact may remain that not alone wheels in the heads but wheels on the roads are turning things topsy-turvey. However, there is no cause for mourning. There is a close bond of sympathy between level headed people and the bicycle. The windy whirring of the metal wheels makes sensible persons weary, and the bicycle also is afflicted with the pneumatic tire. Cycles and sense are working together for the banishment of cogged intellectuals, and both agree that the mental regeneration must be thorough, even if heads have to be broken to accomplish it.

   So the changing of industrial and trade conditions is not wholly to be regretted. Worldly matters always have run in cycles, and now they are running in bicycles. That is the only difference. It is one of degree, not of kind. Get a wheel and fall into the procession.

It Works Both Ways.

   While American industries have been prostrated, wages low, workmen idle, and farm produce selling at ruinous prices under the present Democratic tariff, our mechanics and farmers have seen one side of tariff reform. To see the other side and find out who is benefited by the Wilson-Gorman law they have only to look to England and Canada. England during the last two years, according to all accounts, has enjoyed remarkable prosperity and is rejoicing that we have been fools enough to open our markets to her. Canadian farmers have been as happy and prosperous an English manufacturers.

   A leading Canadian newspaper says that the farmers on its side of the line, dividing the two countries, "have had their position much improved by the considerable reduction that has taken place in the United States in the duties on live stock and farm produce." It farther says "the effect of this reduction is felt in better prices for Canadian produce, which prove an earnest of what unrestricted trade between the two countries would do for our farmers." This Canadian authority then proceeds to particularize as follows:

   Taking the last trade returns as a basis, our farmers receive each year $94,000 more for their horses, $288,000 more for their sheep, $140,000 more for their wool, $238,000 more for their barley and $188,000 more for their hay than they received under the old tariff. The list might be extended, but these items are sufficient to give an adequate idea of the scope of the advantages which the new tariff confers on our farmers.

   Canadian farmers are thus receiving far more for their produce than when we were under the McKinley law, and American farmers are being pinched as never before. How do Cortland county farmers like the contrast? Do any of them want any more tariff reform practiced on farm products?

MCGRAWVILLE.

Crisp Local Happenings at the Corset City.

   Secretary of War D. S. Lamont left Sunday morning for Washington. Mrs. Lamont and family having left Friday evening for their summer residence at Seabright, N. J.

   Mr. Floyd Beers, who dispenses perfumes, codfish, etc., at the corner store, has a new perfume which he has just discovered. He will answer all inquiries and furnish samples for some time to come [guessing skunk left a calling card near his store--CC editor].

   The ball game announced in The STANDARD for Saturday between the second nines of Cortland and McGrawville was played on the school grounds. At the end of the first inning the score stood 4 to 1 in favor of Cortland, but at the end of the second stood 12 to 6 in favor of the home team and when the game was closed at the end of the fifth inning by reason of rain it stood 24 to 9 in favor of McGrawville. There were some good plays on both sides and the local club feel quite elated over their first game. They are minus the ball and catcher's glove, however, although they are on the still hunt and are pretty sure who took the glove. If evidence enough can be found it will be an expensive glove for one young man.

   The Republicans of this village—and that means nearly everybody—will give vent to their satisfaction in the nomination of McKinley and Hobart by a genuine "blow out" Tuesday evening. A parade, in which everybody big and little, are invited to take part, will start from the rooms of the McGraw Republican club on Church-st. (instead of Centre-st. where first stated) and, after a short parade, will march to the opera house, where speeches and music will be in order. County Committeeman A. P. McGraw is the moving spirit and this alone ensures a successful time. He has engaged a band and glee club and ordered fireworks and now let all turn out and help to make it an old-time rally.