GRUESOME CONFESSION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

The Journal, New York, March 31, 1896.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, December 8, 1896.

GRUESOME CONFESSION.

John Rech Tells How He Slew His Wife.

WAS THE WOMAN BURIED ALIVE?

His Story of the Strangling Confirms the Worst Horrors of the Crime—Lack of This Knowledge Saved the Murderer's Life.

   ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., Dec. 8.—John Rech, who strangled his wife and buried her body in the woods near their home at Estelville, last March, and who is now undergoing a 20 years' sentence in state prison, made a confession to ex-Sheriff Smith Johnson, shortly after his conviction and it has been made public.

   Rech explained to Johnson, who was in office at the time, how he came to tie the knotted handkerchiefs found around the strangled woman's neck. There had been more or less speculation over the question whether the woman had not been buried alive, but this was not proved at the trial, although the theory was odd.

   Rech says that after the quarrel in the house which ended in his strangling his wife with the muscular power of his hands, he at once made preparations to hide the evidences of his crime by burying the body in the woods.

   He had dug the grave and was carrying his victim's body toward it when he felt the quivering sighs of returning life. The open air had started respiration.

   Fearing the return of life and its consequences, he knotted the first handkerchief around her neck and, to make sure, tied a second one. They were drawn so tight that possibility of breathing was precluded.

   He dragged the body toward the grave and covered it with a few inches of dirt and then cut down the tree, thinking to hide the freshly turned ground.

   From this statement it appears that the theory that the woman was alive when buried is true.

   No doubt exists in the minds of those who have heard the story that if these facts had become known to the jury Rech would have paid the penalty of his crime by forfeiting his life on the scaffold.

Strait's Second Trial Opened.

   ELMIRA, N. Y., Dec. 8.—The trial of Martin V. Strait, for the murder of his wife and her sister in 1894, has commenced here. This is the second trial of Strait.

VENEZUELA ACCEPTS.

Will Call a Special Session of Congress to Arrange a Treaty.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.—The following statement given out of the state department embraces all of the information in the possession of the department respecting the treatment by Venezuela of the proposed arbitration treaty: Secretary Olney has received a telegram from Minister Andrade at Caracas to the effect, in substance, that the memorandum agreed upon between Great Britain and the United States for the settlement of the Venezuela boundary question is accepted by the Venezuelan government; that the memoranda will be published at Caracas at once, and that an extra session of the Venezuelan congress will be called as soon as possible, in order that the memorandum may be carried into effect by the necessary treaty between Great Britain and Venezuela.

Capt. Gen. Valeriano Weyler.

More Troops For Weyler.

   HAVANA, Dec. 8.—The steamship Bazon arrived here from Spain with reinforcements of 1,860 troops. Three of the men died while on the way over and six were suffering from smallpox when the steamer reached this port.

Cuban Expedition Seized.

   KINGSTON, Dec. 8.—The schooner Maggie, Captain Miller, was captured off Annott bay, Jamaica, with arms, ammunition and several prominent Cubans bound for Cuba on board, the capture was made by the Jamaican government under the foreign enlistment act.

Going to Help Cuba.

   KANKAKEE, Ill., Dec. 8.—Twenty men, apparently from well to do families, passed through here last night on their way to New Orleans to be joined by sixty others from various parts of the Union in an expedition to aid the Cuban insurgents. J. B. Hartman, who served five years in the United States army, was in charge.

THE LOST IS FOUND.

Titus Mead, Who Disappeared From Locke, Returns Home.

   Titus Mead, the 25-year-old young man of Locke who disappeared so mysteriously on June 18, on the night before his expected marriage to Miss Nellie White, has been found near Rockville, Ct., and has returned home. He seems in a dazed condition and up to a week ago remembered almost nothing about himself. It appears from his story that soon after he left Miss White's house that night he was attacked by highwaymen who stunned him by a blow upon the head and robbed him of the money he had provided for his wedding journey. When he came to himself he wandered along, not remembering who he was or knowing where he came from or where he was going. He finally reached Rockville, Ct., and hired out to a man at $8 per month. He has been there several months. His employer had seen the description of the missing young man and suspected who he might be, though he had given another name. He wrote for a detailed description and found that it was indeed Mead. His brother-in-law went on to bring him back.

   When Mead saw his relative his recollection seemed to return to him. He is glad to get home, but his mind seems badly shattered. Still it is hoped that he will recover.

BURGLARS AGAIN.

Stoker's Grocery Entered Last Night and the Money Drawer Rifled.

   There was further evidence last night of the existence of an organized gang of petty thieves in Cortland. The modus operandi seems to be the same in each case and should the miscreants be captured and proven guilty, a long term in the penitentiary would be their just deserts.

   Last night between 11:20 and 12:15 the grocery store of C. W. Stoker was entered in practically the same manner as have been other business places of late, and the contents of the money drawer in the office taken. Entrance was made by removing a pane of glass from a window at the rear of the store over the entrance to the cellar. The putty was removed and the glass carefully laid on a barrel standing near. This pane was easy of removal as the putty had not yet thoroughly hardened, the glass having been put in within a year to replace one that was broken by burglars last fall when the store was entered.

   The money drawer in the office was pried open and the contents amounting to $6 or $7 in small change, was taken. Nothing else is missing. The burglary must have taken place between 11:20 and 12:15 as at those hours Officer Gooding went through the alley at the rear of the block, everything being all right on his first visit, but the second time he discovered the open window.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Thirteenth Day, Monday, Dec. 7.

   The board convened at 1:30 P. M. and was called to order by Chairman Crane. The rollcall showed a quorum present. The journal of the previous day was read and approved.

   The clerk read a communication from the state board of tax commissioners which was ordered placed on file.

   Another communication from the state board of tax commissioners was read by the clerk which, on motion of Mr. Hammond, was referred to a special committee consisting of Messrs. Crane, Smith and Childs, who were directed to report Tuesday morning.

   On motion of Mr. Tuttle:

   Resolved, That the use of the court room be granted for the purpose of holding a farmers' institute the present winter, provided a date can be arranged not to interfere with the court.

   A petition from the highway commissioner of the town of Cuyler was read that the requisition of $250 needed for that town which had been omitted from the town abstract be added to it. On motion of Mr. Lee, the clerk was directed to add the amount to the abstract.

   Under special orders the resolution of Mr. Hunt regarding the county board of equalization was called from the table and put on its passage. Mr. Childs called for the ayes and nays. The clerk called the roll with the following result:

   Ayes—Messrs. Smith, Tuttle, Hunt and Greene—4.

   Nays—Messrs. Corning, Lee, Brown, Surdam, Hammond, Childs, Bingham, O'Donnell, Holton and Crane—10.

   Absent—Mr. DeLong.

   The resolution was declared lost.

   On motion of Mr. Lee the privileges of the floor were extended to Henry D. Waters of Cuyler, a former member and former clerk of the board. Mr. Waters spoke briefly upon the subject of taxation and thanked the board for the courtesy extended.

   On motion of Mr. Lee, a vote of thanks was extended to Mr. Waters for his remarks.

   On motion of Mr. Lee:

   Resolved, That the clerk of this board and Mr. Childs be associated as a committee to make a compilation of the resolutions and rules passed by this and former boards of supervisors which are still in force and report at the next annual session.

   The bond of W. H. Foster, county treasurer-elect, was read by the clerk and, on motion of Mr. Hunt, the same was duly approved by the board.

   At 4:30 the board adjourned till Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock.

"Sambo" In Town.

   "Sambo," the colored banjo player, arrived at Beard & Peck's this morning and will be on exhibition in their show window for a few days. This gentleman of color is a marvelous wonder in the art of singing and excelled by few on the banjo.

BREVITIES.

   —President's message on third page.

   —Four tramps were given lodging at the police station last night.

   —G. E. Butler this morning photographed the board of supervisors and clerk in his rooms.

   —The jury in the case of The People against Charles Delemater, which was on trial in police court yesterday afternoon, rendered a verdict of not guilty.

   —The ladies of the St. Vitus Dancing club are arranging for a leap year party to be given in the hall of the Cortland Athletic association Friday evening.

   —The Ladies' Aid society of the Universalist church will hold a meeting to-morrow afternoon. In the evening they will serve the monthly ten-cent supper. Strangers are cordially invited to be present and patronize.

   —New advertisements to-day are—G. J. Mager & Co., Insinuations, etc., page 6; C. F. Brown, Pocketbooks, page 6; F. B. Nourse, Holiday Announcement, page 5; A. S. Burgess, Greatest Clothing House, page 7; Tanner Bros., Furs, page 6.

   —Invitations have been issued for the wedding of Mr. Sanford J. Ellsworth and Miss Annie Cleveland Putnam, which will occur at the home of the bride's mother, Mrs. Caroline B. Putnam in Eau Claire, Wis., Dec. 22, at 8 o'clock P. M. They will be at home after Jan. 1, at Far Rockaway, L. I.

A NARROW ESCAPE.

Dr. E. M. Santee Rendered Unconscious from Escaping Gas.

   Dr. E. M. Santee had a narrow escape last Saturday night from asphyxiation from escaping illuminating gas. He had been without sleep for several nights owing to professional duties and Saturday evening retired at 6 o'clock. He turned down the gas low in his room and went at once to sleep. A door into another room stood open within a few feet of the gas burner. A half hour after he had retired this was closed by another member of the family leaving the sleeping room without ventilation. It is thought that the rush of air accompanying the closing of this door must have extinguished the gas. At any rate when Mrs. Santee came upstairs soon after 10 o'clock the room was so filled with gas that she could hardly get through it to turn off the stop upon the burner in question and throw the windows wide open.  The doctor was unconscious. She drew the bed directly in front of the window and let the fresh night breeze blow over his face, and rolled him back and forth to arouse him. It was a full half hour before she could get him far enough recovered to speak to her. Then he spoke in a half unconscious way. But she saw that he was coming out of it all right and did not send for other help.

   Next morning the doctor had a most distressing headache and did not remember the first thing about the occurrence of the previous night and of his wife's efforts to arouse him.

   The warning is plain. No one should leave gas turned down very low in a room where there is the possibility of its blowing out either from drafts from opened windows or from any other source. Had Dr. Santee been left to himself a short time longer he would probably have been beyond help.