YOUNG MEAD RETURNS AND KNIGHTS OF PLEASURE IN SCOTT

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 11, 1896.

YOUNG MEAD RETURNS.

Missing Bridegroom Found in Connecticut.

MOURNED AS DEAD SINCE JUNE.

Tells a Strange Story of Robbery and Subsequent Wanderings While His Mind Was Almost a Blank.

(Special to the Syracuse Herald.)

   Monday, Dec. 7.—Titus Mead, the 25-year-old son of Mrs. Francis Mead, who mysteriously disappeared from home on June 18 last before daylight on the day before his marriage with Miss Nellie White, has been found. He was brought home last night by his brother-in-law, David Batsford, from Rockville, Conn.

   Ever since the fateful night young Mead has been in a state of semi-unconsciousness until a week ago. The story he tells is a strange one.

   On the night of his strange disappearance Mead left the house of his sweet-heart's father, Porter White, shortly after midnight. He had gone about a quarter of a mile when in passing through some woods he was suddenly struck in the back by some unknown men. The blow felled him to the ground and his assailants at once rifled his pockets.

   It had been known that he had on the preceding day drawn money for his wedding trip, the sum being about $110. He had placed $50 in his inside vest pocket and the balance in his trousers' pocket. The men secured the money from his trousers, but did not discover the other bundle.

   Mead says that the next thing he remembers was reaching a barn which he thinks was near Summerhill. It was at night and he slept there.

LIVED THREE DAYS ON POPCORN.

   He says that he thought some one was after him and that he must avoid his pursuers by hiding. He continued walking on the following morning and after about three days reached Cincinnatus, where he obtained his first meal in three days. In the meantime he had been living on popcorn balls, which he had in his pockets on leaving home.

   His mind was at this time almost a total blank. He did not know where he was going and could not remember his name. When people would ask who he was he would give the first name he could think of.

   Walking on in aimless and indefinite way, Mead says he finally reached a railroad track. He saw a train coming, does not know whether it was a freight or passenger, jumped aboard of it and rode until it stopped about a half hour afterward.

   The train, it appeared to him, had come to a large city. He asked someone what place it was and was told that it was Troy. He walked along several streets and saw a sign hanging in front of a house which said "Boarders Taken." Here he secured a room and stayed for a week. His mind continued in the same unbalanced state.

   After remaining in Troy for about a week he left town and journeyed east, partly on foot and by train. At that time he took the name of Ivan Leroy.

   What he did after that he has not the faintest recollection until a month ago, when he brought up at a small town near Rockville. Conn. He then found that he was out of money and he began looking for work. He finally found a farmer and hired for a month at $8.

CARROLL READS THE NEWSPAPERS.

   A week ago to-day Mrs. Mead received a letter from a man named Carroll, who was the father-in-law of the farmer for whom Titus was working The old man said he had read in the papers accounts of the missing bridegroom and the young man's strange actions and close resemblance to the printed description, led him to believe that the young farm hand and the missing Mead were one and the same person. To be sure of the case Mr. Carroll wrote for an exact description of Mead and also the number of his watch and case, which his assailants on the night of the robbery had not taken.

   Mrs. Mead immediately wrote to Mr. Carroll, sending the description and the numbers of the watch. On Friday morning a telegram was received from Carroll stating that his suspicions were verified by the mother's information.

   Mrs. Mead's son-in-law, David Batsford, [left at once] for Rockville. Young Mead was greatly surprised to see him and [expressed] the utmost joyousness at the [unexpected] meeting. On the day before Mr. [Carroll] received his letter. Mead says he [then] for the first time remembered his [name].

   Mead and Batsford arrived home on the [8 o'clock] train last evening and the occasion was one of great excitement. Although a host of friends tried to surge [around] him, he was taken quietly to his mother's home. The meeting between the [son and] mother and the other members of the [family] was very affecting.

MISS WHITE STILL LOVES HIM.

   Miss White has not yet seen her lover, as friends think the shock might prove too [hard] for Titus' already shattered nerves. Miss White says that she firmly believed [Titus] was dead. Now that he has been returned to her, she is still faithful to him and is anxious to marry as soon as he has… recovered from his strange experience.

   Aside from looking careworn and very [tired], Mead has not changed much during [his] eventful trip. Mr. Carroll told Mr. Batsford that he thought Mead was [crazy] when he came there to work, and [he kept] a close watch over him during his stay with them. The young farm hand [had, however], acted quietly and did not [appear] to entertain any idea of committing rash acts. He performed his work [properly], but apparently mechanically.

THAT FATAL CROSSING.

EDWARD SHELDON KILLED BY A TRAIN NEAR MCLEAN.

The Same Crossing Where Mrs. Keenan Was Killed a Few Months Ago.

   Last Monday Mr. Edward Sheldon, a widower, aged about 70 years, who lived with his son, Charles Sheldon, near Dryden village, was instantly killed by the Lehigh Valley train which is due in Cortland at 9:41 A. M. He was returning home from McLean driving a fine team hitched to a top buggy. At the crossing just beyond McLean he did not seem to hear the approaching train, though the engineer was making every effort to attract attention by the prolonged blowing of his whistle.

   It was too late to stop the train and when the rig was well upon the track the engine crashed into it. Mr. Sheldon was thrown over 100 feet and instantly killed. The horses landed in the ditch beside the track, one dead and the other nearly so. The wagon was a total wreck.

   The train carried the remains to McLean and the coroner was notified. It does not seem that any blame can attach to the engineer as he not only whistled at the proper distance but when he saw the approaching team the warning was kept up, but Mr. Sheldon appeared not to hear it.

   The circumstances of this accident are similar to those in the death of Mrs. Keenan at the same place a few months ago.

   Mr. Sheldon had grown quite deaf during the past few months and it is probable he did not hear the whistle. He was well known in this place, which he visited quite often. He had owned and bred many good horses and was very fond of fine horses.

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   Twenty tour trains atop at Van Etten, N. Y., daily.

   Marriages in New York city average 360 a week.

   Dunkirk has a woman barber and three women physicians.

   It is reported that the Black Diamond Express will begin running from New York to Chicago next spring.

   A Cattaraugus county orchardist has a tree on which 22 different varieties of apples are growing from grafts.

   The board of supervisors of Otsego county voted the sheriff $600 for taking charge of the court house grounds.

   John Wood of Norwich swapped horses 550 times in one year. In three days at the Walton fair be traded 34 times.

   It is reported that the Lehigh Valley will extend their E. C. & N. branch north from Camden to the Thousand Islands.

   A bill has been introduced in the general Assembly of Alabama prohibiting wheel women wearing tights, bloomers or divided skirts.

   Two years ago A. D. Pratt, an Oneonta blacksmith, had left him about $1,700. Last week be died in the poor house. Drink was the cause.

   Warden Stout of Auburn prison has resigned, the resignation to take effect

February 1st. It is thought his successor will be ex-Sheriff Mead of Auburn.

   A new separator has been placed in the Locke milk station. About 60 cans of milk and cream are supplied daily, the present price of milk being 2 1/3 cents a quart.

   Within a period of forty-eight hours, four of the six children of a Clifton

Springs household were taken away with diphtheria. Their ages ranged from two to six years.

   People in Wayne county are excited over a strange apparition which has the appearance of an angel. It has been seen soaring in the air in broad daylight by a score of people.

   With the close of the present year the McCarthys of Syracuse will abandon the wholesaling of dry goods. The rapid growth of their retail business is the reason for the change.

   A bald eagle, which it is thought will measure seven feet from tip to tip, flew over the heads of C. N. Baldwin and G. Van Kirk Monday morning as they were driving from Etna to Ithaca.

   Henry Shaw, Utica, was fooling with an airgun on Sunday and aimed it in a teasing way at a neighbor's little girl. The gun was discharged and the bullet entered the child's eye and the sight was destroyed.

   The Birdsall Manufacturing Company and the works of A. W. Stevens & Co , at Auburn have shutdown indefinitely. The employes who are thrown out of work in the face of a cold winter can only console themselves with the thought that "confidence is restored."—Cayuga Chief.

   At Monticello the other day Thomas Moore, a young man who was out of work, without money and in despair, broke a plate glass window in a store so that he would be arrested and sent to prison. This was his second offense of the same character and he was sentenced to six months in the county jail.

   Music plays an important part in the treatment of the insane at Willard State hospital and goes hand in hand with medicine and other remedial care in bettering their condition. They love a band, orchestra, vocal and instrumental concerts, pianos in wards for patients to play who can; and lately automatic instruments in wards where they could not have pianos.

   The habits of the household of the Emperor of Germany are very simple. They rise early, the Empress breakfasting alone with the Emperor. There is no lunch, but the royal family and, in consequence, the whole court dine at 1 o'clock. At 5 o'clock tea is served, a plain supper is eaten two or three hours later and the Emperor and Empress are rarely out of bed later than 10 o'clock.

   A drover who was shipping a carload of cattle from Davenport Center to Easton, Pa., was arrested in Oneonta Saturday on a charge of cruelty to animals. Into a small car he had crowded 27 cows and 22 hogs, and when they reached Oneonta three of the cows were dead and one dying. The drover, who was arrested, paid a fine of $25 along with costs and counsel fees to the amount of $40 more. The cattle were reloaded and on Sunday he left town.

   It is reported that John Brown of Canandaigua, was surprised one day last week by finding two small alligators swimming around in the cistern of his house. Further investigation resulted in his discovering two larger alligators near the bottom. The older ones are about three feet long. Where they came from is a mystery, as no such animals have ever been brought into the neighborhood. Mr. Brown placed the young ones in a glass jar and exhibited them in various parts of the village.

   A boy named Linderman down in New Jersey caught an owl a few weeks ago, and tried to tame it. On Saturday he went to the cage to feed the bird and after it had eaten he took it out and began playing with it. The owl flew on his shoulder and began to pick at his eyes in a ferocious manner. The boy became bewildered at the suddeness of the attack and before he could do anything to defend himself the owl had nearly torn out one of his eyes. Young Linderman fought the bird for some time before he called for help. His mother, hearing his call, ran out. She picked up a stick and beat the enraged owl off, but it is feared the boy will lose his eye.

HERE AND THERE.

   Cortland stores will nearly all be open evenings till after the holidays.

   The new steel ceiling on C. F. Brown's drug store is in place and adds much to the attractions of the store.

   Mr. Lewis S. Hayes is selling chairs at his factory at manufacturer's prices. See his advertisement elsewhere.

   Warren. Tanner & Co. are selling seasonable dry goods. See their new advertisement on the eighth page.

   Joiner's business college has a larger number of pupils enrolled than ever before and new ones are entering almost daily.

   The lady members of the St. Vitus club give a leap year party in the gymnasium of the Cortland Athletic Association this evening.

   "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as presented by Stowe's company at the opera house Saturday evening was well received by a good audience.

   Vesta Lodge, I O. O. F., will hold their third annual ball in their rooms Christmas night. Daniels' full orchestra and a turkey supper. 

   The Loyal Circle of Kings Daughters will meet with Mrs. Hyatt on the corner of South Main and Union-sts., Friday, December 11th, 1896, at 2:30 A. M.

   Young Fred Dillon went too far out on the ice near the mill dam last Saturday afternoon and it let him into the water. With much difficulty he was rescued by comrades.

   The fee awarded Sheriff Hilsinger by Justice McLennan of Syracuse for serving the attachment of the Salt Springs bank of that city against the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. is $1,000.

   Smokers may be glad to learn that a piece of cotton or wool steeped in a five per cent solution of pyrogalic acid and inserted in the pipe or cigar holder, neutralizes the ill effects of nicotine.

   Mrs. Emma Potter, who was arrested in Syracuse for shoplifting, was discharged when the authorities learned that she was addicted to the use of morphine and really not responsible for her acts.

   Dr. E. M. Santee came near being suffocated by illuminating gas last Saturday night at his home on Groton-ave. He retired early and turned the gas low. When Mrs. Santee went into the room some hours later she found him in an unconscious condition, but succeeded in restoring him without calling assistance. It is supposed that the gas was extinguished by the closing of a door leading into another room soon after he retired.

   Grover Post Corps, No. 96, will serve samp and milk, Indian bread, pumpkin pie, cheese, cake, fried cakes and coffee, all for 10 cents next Saturday evening, December 12th from 5 to 8 o'clock at Grand Army hall. The public are cordially invited to come and take supper with them and help a worthy cause.

   "Happy Bill" Daniels has secured the services of Mr. H. W Carver of Connecticut, who will play the harp with the "Professor's" orchestra this winter. The orchestra is booked for nearly every evening until New Year's.

TOWN OF SCOTT.

   Word comes that Henry Sweet of Rochester, once a resident of this town, is just alive.

   John B. Brown of this town recently made a well in Cortlandville with his boring mill.

   This seems to be a winter without snow in this section. A great time to work in the woods.

   M. G. Frisbie and wife and Wm. H. Brown and wife have been visiting in Onondaga Valley.

   E. F. Whitcomb stayed all night at Cortland last Friday night with a sick horse. It was better next day so that he came home with it.

   Richard Darling of Preble visited his brother Isaac last Sunday and Isaac returned home with him for the purpose of visiting friends in Syracuse.

   It rather looks as though Judge Eggleston and Supervisor R. Bruce Smith were in it to help pay for building the new roads in East Scott, which foot up about $2,600.

   C. N. Knapp has his new shop completed and is prepared to do all sorts of repairing, such as watches, clocks, tin ware etc., putting on roofing,  putting up eave troughs, etc. He will be found in rooms in the rear of his house or residence.

   We understand that a club was organized in town last Saturday night, called the "Knights of Pleasure," with officers as follows: President, Fred Slocum; Sec., Charles Winchester; Treasurer, Percy Babcock. It starts off with 10 members, with prospect of more to follow.

   If any one thinks the Prohibition party is dead let them read the account of the banquet held a few days since at Poughkeepsie, given by the late candidate for Governor, W. W. Smith, at which those present in a few minutes raised $12,000, and immediately voted to put into the field herein New York state an organizer and that man is the Rev. C. H. Mead.

   According to reports, the roads of East Scott are becoming infested with highwaymen. It is reported that one man on the new road was attacked and $15 taken and he himself left unconscious; two others by use of the [horse] whip escaped. One of the bandits, as is supposed by groans heard, was run over. It seems too bad that a road costing so much as the late newly built gulf stream road should of necessity have to be abandoned; but who wants to be killed in the dark and in the woods.