LAVAN INQUEST CONTINUED

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday, March 5, 1897.

THE INQUEST CONTINUED.

NO NEW LIGHT THROWN ON THE SUBJECT OF THE MURDER.

Many Witnesses Sworn, but the Evidence is Largely Corroborative—Many More to be Called.

(From the Daily STANDARD of Tuesday, March 5.)

   The coroner’s inquest regarding Thomas Lavan of Preble was continued at the town hall in Preble village Monday afternoon at 1 o’clock. The little room is crowded with interested listeners at each session. The narration of each little detail by the witnesses is received in silence, and the village folk discuss the sad affair in subdued tones.

UNDER SHERIFF DWIGHT.

   The first witness yesterday afternoon was Estus L. Dwight of Cincinnatus, an under sheriff of the county, who visited the scene of the tragedy last Saturday. He testified as to measurements taken by himself on that day of the size of the kitchen, the location of blood spots, etc. His evidence threw no new light on the subject.

SHERIFF HILSINGER.

   Sheriff Hilsinger testified to his going there on Friday and his conversation with [suspect] Galvin. He said that he noticed blood on the back side of Galvin’s hands and fingers, but no marks, cuts or bruises are there. Galvin’s pants showed blood stains. These pants were put in evidence and were identified by the sheriff. It looked as though there was a footprint in the snow and ice where one of the pools of blood was located and as though the track had been made before the blood was left there. The pool of blood nearest the house looked as though something had lain in it. This was where Galvin claimed he found the body. Witness saw no other unusual marks or imprints in the snow. Witness saw no broken furniture in the house. Searched the house, but found no weapons that he thought had been used.

   The witness detailed the conversation with Galvin, and what the latter said to him was substantially what he had said to others, and what has already appeared in The STANDARD. The sheriff said that Galvin acted as though he was quite intoxicated and that while riding to Cortland that night Galvin’s breath smelled quite strongly of whiskey.

WILLIAM MCCALL.

   William McCall, a young man living southeast of Galvin’s house, testified to his being there several times at night, and that when Galvin thought he had stayed long enough had opened the door and told him to get out. This never happened but once.

JAMES DOROTHY.

   James Dorothy testified to his seeing Galvin unload wood at the store of Judson Wright in Tully on Thursday. Saw him going home a little after noon and saw Lavan get in with Galvin on the latter’s way home near Robert Dorothy’s.

FRED WOOD.

   Fred Wood, another resident of South America [sic], the region southeast of Galvin’s, had been at Galvin’s evenings. At one time four or five years ago Galvin threatened to hit him with a poker when ordering him out of the house. George Moore was also there. Both had been drinking. In answer to a question from Attorney John Courtney, Jr., witness said that he and Moore were subsequently arrested on complaint of Galvin, and were committed to the Cortland jail by Justice of the Peace Frank J. Collier. The inquest then adjourned until 10 o’clock this morning.

   District Attorney Miles E. Burlingame is in attendance at the inquest and assisted the coroner in examining witnesses. Attorney John Courtney, Jr., is in constant attendance in the interests of his client Galvin.

TUESDAY MORNING.

   The first witness called this morning was Mr. Charles Hartman, a neighbor of Galvin. Mr. Hartman testified that he saw Galvin start off Thursday morning toward Tully with his load of wood. At about 9 o’clock Friday morning he was at Galvin’s house and saw a vest lying under a tree. The balance of his evidence with one exception was corroborative of previous testimony and related to the condition of Lavan’s body and the appearance of the rooms and walls. The exception was that he testified that Galvin said to him that he expected Mrs. Lavan over that morning and he knew she would give him an awful talking to.

DANIEL O’SHEA.

   Daniel O’Shea was the next witness called. He is a son of Dennis O’Shea who was murdered a few years ago by Griswold on this same hill. He said he saw Galvin and Lavan together on Thursday at about 12:20 o’clock going into Galvin’s yard together in a sleigh. They had driven up just behind him as he returned from Preble. He slowed up as they turned into the yard and he shouted to Tommy and asked if he wanted a ride along with him. Tommy at first replied that he would ride along with him, and then said that he would not. He saw no more of them that day. He was down there at Galvin’s place on Friday morning, and he heard Galvin make the remark that he blew out his light when he went to bed that night. The rest of the witness’ testimony was wholly corroborative.

D. S. HUNT.

   The next witness was D. S. Hunt of Preble, son of Dr. H. D. Hunt. Witness said he was up at Galvin’s place Friday morning. Galvin told him that he and Lavan had a conversation in regard to cabbages and Lavan had told him that he and his wife would come down there the next day to get his cabbages. The rest of his evidence was corroborative. Witness said that he knew that snow fell Thursday night before midnight. It came in flurries.

OSCAR CORNUE.

   After a recess of an hour the inquest was continued at 2 o’clock this afternoon and Oscar Cornue was the first witness called. He said that he had on previous occasions seen Galvin in a state of intoxication. He was there at the house on Friday morning and had some conversation with Galvin.

   Did you ever, asked the coroner, hear the mention made of two men being at Galvin’s house at one time and Galvin raised a shovel in the attitude of striking one of them and the other interfered?

   Yes.

   Who told you this? Fred Wood.

   Who did he say were there?

   Stephen Aldrich and James Aldrich. Witness testified further that he was at Galvin’s house on Friday morning and saw a vest lying under an apple tree, and saw that it was in two pieces. There was snow on it and he was certain the snow had fallen after the vest had been thrown there.

FRANK STEELE.

   The next witness was Frank Steele, son of James T. Steele. He testified that he was out to a party on Thursday night and did not get home till near morning. It was after 4 o’clock when he drove past Galvin’s. He saw a very bright light there in the kitchen, but didn’t see any one there, nor did he hear anything. He didn’t see any one about the place at all. There were no curtains to the window. He couldn’t tell whether the light came from a lamp or a lantern. It was snowing hard at the time. He didn’t see any tracks leading up to the house or any tracks anywhere about. Witness was down there next morning with his father at about 9 o’clock. He hitched his horse to the apple tree, but didn’t notice any vest there. He was there at the house again at 11 o’clock and heard George Blacklock ask Galvin whose vest that was under the tree. Galvin inquired if there was a vest there and the answer was that a vest was certainly there. Well, replied Galvin, it must be Tommy’s.

   This witness was on stand when The STANDARD went to press. A number of other witnesses were on hand to be sworn and several others had been sent for. It was decided to hold an evening session to-night and Coroner Bradford was asked if it was likely that the inquest could be finished to-night.

   “We can finish it,” said the coroner, “if the night is long enough.”

She Drew a Revolver.

   Superintendent of the Poor O. P. Miner was telephoned for to go to Preble Wednesday morning to consider the case of Mrs. Fannie Stickney who seems, in the opinion of complainants, to show decided signs of insanity. Mrs. Stickney is a lady about 50 years old who lives alone in the village of Preble. She is a widow and her husband was killed a few months ago near Wilkesbarre by an explosion. She is said to have been a little queer for some time.

   Tuesday it is alleged that she came down to Homer on the afternoon passenger train and presented at the First National bank a check which she had drawn for a sum of money payable to her own order. As she had no account there of course the draft was not honored. She thereupon gave Mr. W. H. Crane, the cashier, a very sharp talking to for refusing to give her the money.

   She returned to Preble on the afternoon train and drew a revolver upon Dr. H. D. Hunt in his drugstore because he did not immediately fall in with some whim of hers.  Afterward she flourished the revolver at Landlord Ercanbrack of the Preble hotel. The Preble people think that it is time some steps were taken to care for her. Mr. Miner will doubtless take the proper steps.

DECLARED INSANE.

The woman Had a Revolver in Her Muff for Any One Who Arrested Her.

   Mrs. Fannie Stickney of Preble, who is mentioned in another column as brandishing a revolver in several public places in Preble on the day before, was examined by Drs. E. A. Didama and P. M. Neary as to her sanity Thursday morning by the direction of Superintendent of the Poor O. P. Miner. Fearing that she might possibly do some damage, a clever ruse was worked to get her outside her house and make the examination possible.

   A message was sent summoning her to the telephone office, which is in J. H. Cummings’ store. As she entered the door, she was taken in charge by Constables Dorothy and Porter of Preble. She had in her muff a revolver with five chambers loaded. She was relieved of this and taken to the office of Dr. H. D. Hunt, where the examination was made, and she was declared insane.

   She was ordered committed to the Binghamton state hospital by Judge Eggleston this afternoon, and attendants from that institution will go to Preble for her to-day.

BREVITIES.

   —The Alpha C. L. S. C. will meet with Mrs. F. J. Doubleday, 44 Port Watson-st., Monday evening, March 8, at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Court reconvened Thursday and the trial of the Corwin case was continued. It had not been finished when The STANDARD went to press.

   —Every voter should read the explanation regarding the special propositions to be voted for at charter election next Tuesday which are given on our fourth page to-day.

   —At a meeting of the Cornell university alumni in New York Saturday night $2,300 were raised to support the university navy this year in its rowing contests and in preparation therefor.

   —Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Mee, Jr., entertained several of their friends Tuesday evening at their home, 110 Main-st. Warm maple sugar was served during the evening and a pleasant social time was enjoyed by all present.

   —The steel tired car wheels used on passenger trains are good for about 150,000 miles, while Lehigh passenger coaches equipped with paper wheels are said to have covered 700,000 miles in one instance, at least.

   —The faculty of Mount Holyoke college announce a gift to the college of $40,000 for a dormitory by John D. Rockefeller of New York. Mount Holyoke college will soon be in far better condition than it was before the fire.

   —The Men’s Bible class of the Presbyterian church are making extensive plans for the sociable to be held in the church parlors this evening under their auspices. All members of the church and congregation are urged to be present.

   —A regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. will be held on Tuesday, March 9, at 2:45 P. M. Consecration service will be conducted by Mrs. Alma Walker, followed by business meeting and quarterly reports of superintendents of departments.

   —A teachers’ institute for the first district of Cortland county will be held in Cortland April 26, and will be conducted by Prof. A. C. McLachlan. At the same time the institute of the second district will be held in Homer and will be conducted by Prof. Sanford.