M. M. NEWTON CAUGHT ON A SHAFT AND HIRAM MESSENGER

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, April 2, 1897.

CAUGHT ON A SHAFT.

MORRELL M. NEWTON OF HOMER KILLED IN HIS FACTORY.

Climbed Up to Investigate Trouble In a Shaft and was Caught by a Key and Whirled to Death.

Special to the DEMOCRAT, March 31.

   A shocking accident resulting in the sudden death of Morrell M. Newton, a leading citizen and manufacturer of Homer, occurred on Saturday afternoon last. Mr. Newton, who was the senior member of the firm of Newton Brothers, woolen manufacturers, and who was the superintendent of the weaving department of the establishment, while walking through the long weaving room, noticed that something was wrong with the shafting, and climbed up for the purpose of investigating and remedying the trouble. In some way, though no one knows exactly how, his clothing caught in the machinery about the shafting which was going at a high rate of speed, at least 150 revolutions a minute.

   In an instant he was whirled over the shafting at a fearful rate, his body being beaten against the ceiling of the room each time he went round. An employee Fred Hart, who was standing near, was startled by Mr. Newton's cry for help, and seeing at a glance what had happened started to shut off the water power, but had to go down stairs to do it. When taken down from the shafting an examination showed that all the ribs on the right side and also both legs below the knees were broken. He was also sadly bruised about the body and head and much of his clothing torn from his body.

   Drs. Whitney and Parker, who were at once summoned, found that their skill was without avail, and Mr. Newton died in about half an hour after the accident.

   Mr. Newton came to Homer from Pitcher, Chenango Co., some fifteen years since and started the manufacture of woolens in what was known as the old cotton mill. A few years after his brother, D. D. Newton, joined him in the venture and together the two had built up a successful business, giving employment to about fifty hands. Mr. Newton was about 50 years of age and leaves a widow and one son, Lynn. Mrs. Leander Low of Preston, Chenango Co., and Mrs. Elijah Wildman of Syracuse, were his sisters. Mr. Newton was noted for his kindly and just treatment of his employees and his sad death caused great grief among them.

   Another thing lends added sadness to the tragedy. A few months ago Mrs. Newton, the wife, met with a serious accident and has been a sufferer ever since, but was just beginning to recover her strength. The terrible suddenness of the husbands death completely prostrated her and fears are entertained as to the final result.

   Mr. Newton has been for many years a deacon in the Baptist church. He was also a member of the Board of Education of the Homer Academy. The funeral was held from his late residence at No. 47 North Main-st., Wednesday morning at 10:30 o'clock. Rev. J. A. Hungate, pastor of the Baptist church, preached the funeral sermon. Interment was made in the cemetery in this village. There were many very beautiful floral offerings from those who knew him, especially the one from his late employees which was the piece entitled "gates ajar."

Alton B. Parker.

May Choose a Cortland Man.

   Judge Alton B. Parker of Kingston is suggested as a probable nominee of the Democratic party for judge of the Court of Appeals next fall. Already several members of the Democratic State Committee have expressed themselves in favor of his nomination and the general opinion seems to be that the judge would make a most acceptable candidate. At present Judge Parker is serving as a judge of the appellate division of Supreme Court for the first department. Clean, upright, irreproachable in character, Judge Parker would prove an admirable candidate.—Newburgh Register.

   Cortland is the old home of Judge Parker and his mother still resides here. He is well known and would make a most acceptable candidate to members of both parties in this section.

Fireman's Hall,  Main Street, Cortland, N. Y.

Want Protectives Disbanded.

   The board of engineers of the Cortland fire department held a meeting Monday evening and among other business appointed a committee to prepare and present resolutions to the village trustees asking to have the Protective Police disbanded. The matter will probably come before the next meeting of the trustees and will be strongly opposed by the Protectives and many business men.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

The State of Manhattan.

   Those who have long been proud of being citizens of this great commonwealth, the Empire State, and have been justly proud that the Nation's great metropolis, which under its enlarged charter becomes the second city in the world, is located within its borders, will hardly take kindly the bills introduced in the Legislature by Assemblyman Taintor having for their object the division of the State. That such a proposition will be favored by a large majority of the people of Greater New York there can be no doubt, and we regret to say that Legislators from the provincial districts have too often given the citizens of New York city reason to complain of what they are pleased to term hay-seed legislation.

   On the other hand, the ring politicians of the city are responsible for many of the legislative acts, to which the people of New York city object and charge to hay-seed legislature. A notable example of this fact is the scheme of Leuterback, Gibbs and Odell, for the appointing of a State Commission which should have charge of and control the whole police force of Greater New York.

   New York city is as much entitled to home rule in all of her own municipal affairs, as any other city of the State, and any proposition to control the police force of any other city in the State by a State Commission, would be sat down upon at once by every member of the Legislature from the interior counties. It is true that Greater New York will have a large representation in the Legislature, but they have the population and the wealth, and are justly entitled to it.

   The question of taxation is also an important question for the balance of the State to consider. While we have not the assessed valuation by counties to refer to, we believe that we speak within bounds when we say that two thirds of the taxable property of the State is embraced within the district proposed for the new State of Manhattan. We believe that we have less to fear from legislation adverse to the interests of the rest of the State, on account of the large representation of New York city, then they have to fear the balance of the State, for as a rule they are too much interested in looking out for their own welfare to pay very much attention to legislation in which they have no interest at all.

   The grand old Empire State is good enough for us just as it is, and for one we are in no hurry to see another star added to Old Glory, if it must come from a dismemberment of the State of New York.

AN OLD CITIZEN GONE.

Hiram J. Messenger Dies at an Advanced Age.

   Death has removed another of the older business men who helped to give Cortland the start along the way that has placed her where she stands to-day. Eighty-one years ago, in 1816, Hiram J. Messenger was born in that part of Cortland county now known as Messengerville, the place having been subsequently named for him. About 1858, ambitious of making a name for himself in a business way, he came to Cortland and opened the Messenger Bank, thus becoming the rival and competitor of the old Randall Bank which up to that time had practically controlled in banking business in this locality.

   Early in the sixties Mr. Messenger became interested in the building up of Cortland, and showed his confidence in its future by investing largely in real estate. He built the Messenger House where it stands today, and also the Messenger block, known as the Taylor block and the Sugarman or Masonic hall block. A leading Cortland man said the other day, that it was Mr. Messenger who gave to Cortland its first great start, and who helped to lay the solid foundations that have since been built upon.

   When the Normal school was proposed Mr. Messenger became one of its most earnest advocates and supporters, aiding in every way to secure the success of the scheme. When the bonds voted in aid of the school were placed on the market it was found difficult to find purchasers and failure was feared. Mr. Messenger came to the rescue, raised the money and took $75,000 of the bonds. He always claimed that this act lay at the foundation of his subsequent financial troubles, by reason of his not being able to realize on his bonds. Mr. Messenger did not confine his banking operations to Cortland, but extended them to various localities in the state.

   During the early days of the war he was active in his endeavors to aid the Union cause, and gave time and money toward the raising of troops. In 1868 owing to financial difficulties the doors of the Messenger bank were closed and Mr. Messenger retired from alt active business and lived quietly until his death. For some time past he has been in feeble health, owing to his advanced age, and finally succumbed to paralysis of the heart. He leaves three sons, N. Heaton Messenger, Henry A. Messenger and Hiram J. Messenger, and one daughter, Mrs. Ella A. Wilcox, of Utica.

   The funeral took place on Tuesday last.

Mrs. C. W. Stoker.

   Mrs. C. W. Stoker passed away last Friday morning after an illness covering a period of nearly three years, the last six months of which have been spent entirely in her room. Though she has been a great sufferer, opiates often being necessary in order to afford her rest, she has during the entire time been patient and forbearing.

   She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Watrous of Cortland and was married to Mr. Chas. W. Stoker in 1872, since which time she has resided here. She has long been a member and most active worker in the Baptist church and, having a sweet alto voice, has become well-known to all of our citizens through participating in musical entertainments both in and out of the church. She has been present at every one of the twenty-two annual music festivals which have been given by Mr. A. Mahan.

   Mrs. Stoker was 45 years and 10 months old and is survived by her husband, a daughter, Miss M. Grace Stoker and two sons, Floyd W. and Romaine, and also by her parents, and a sister, Mrs. W. S. Hoxie of Cortland.

   The funeral was held at her late home on Church-st Sunday afternoon. Rev. Geo. H. Brigham assisted by Rev. A. Chapman officiated. Burial was in the Rural cemetery.

HERE AND THERE.

   Maude Hillman at the opera house all next week.

   Case & Ruggles advertise separate skirts and ready-made suits in their new advertisement in this issue.

   Lincoln J. Carters' play "The Defaulter" at the opera house Monday evening was a splendid production.

   C. W. Stoker, the grocer, has just received a carload of seeds. He has a new advertisement on this page.

   Sousa and his wonderful band gave one of their unparalleled entertainments at the opera house Wednesday afternoon.

   We would call attention to the poem delivered by J. D. F. Woolston at the recent banquet of Pomona grange which will be found on our third page.

   G. J. Maycumber, the insurance agent, has moved his office to a larger and lighter one in the Schermerhorn building. It is one of the rooms vacated by G. J. Mager & Co.

   Fred Dillon forged a pass to the theater Monday evening and Tuesday Chief Linderman carried him to the Rochester Industrial school from which he had been paroled.

   Hugh Corcoran has leased the building formerly occupied by John Howard on Port Watson st. and it has been fitted up as a hotel. Hugh has closed his place on Railroad-st. and may now be found in his new quarters.

   Frank D. Fuller, proprietor of the Travelers' home in Railroad street, has leased a portion of the Randall house, No 12 Tompkins street, and will on April 1, open a first-class boarding house for the accommodation of the public.

   One year ago next Wednesday occurred the fire which laid in ashes the works of the Cortland Forging Co. The large, well equipped shops which have replaced those burned are an ornament to our town and any city would be proud of them.

   Secretary A. C. Kinney of the C. A. A. has forwarded to President I. B Potter of the L. A. W. a petition over seven feet in length in favor of the Higbie-Armstrong good roads bill which is before the legislature. Mr. Potter will forward this and many others to our law makers.

   A reception was tendered deputy grand master of this district, G. E. Ingraham, in John L. Lewis lodge rooms Saturday evening. Mr. Ingraham is now located in Buffalo and was in town to remove his family to that city. Speeches were in order and at the close Mr. Ingraham was presented with an elegant past grands collar.

   Supervisors John O'Donnell of Truxton, B. R. Corning of Cincinnatus and H. D. Hunt of Preble held a meeting at the Cortland House last Saturday for the purpose of looking up the matter of presenting the State with a claim in the matter of the insane buildings at the County almshouse. Since the State authorities began taking care of the insane the buildings have become useless No decided action was taken and the meeting was adjourned until Saturday, April 10.

   The members of the Cortland county monumental association met on Saturday evening last in the office of Smith & Dickenson to devise means for transporting the cannon and shells recently donated by the government from New York to Cortland. The president, Judge A. P. Smith, was directed by the association to confer with the transportation companies, and it is expected that satisfactory rates will be secured. The entire outfit consists of two eight inch howitzers, weighing 2,614 pounds each, and 40 shells, which will weigh from 80 to 100 pounds each.

HOMER.

   HOMER, March 30.—Dr. D. W. Burdick of Syracuse is calling on friends in town.

   For particulars of the death of Mr. W. W. Newton see first page.

   Moving is the general order of business here now, everyone seems to be changing their place of residence.

   The shoemaking tools and household goods of the late J. H. Lay were sold at auction by G. I. Crane Saturday afternoon.

   Mr. C. D Dillenbeck has been appointed by the Cortland & Homer Electric Light Co. to take charge of the lights in this village.

   Mr. John Wilber, who has been employed in the meat market of Moore & Merrick for the past year, has entered into partnership with J. A. Friar.

   Mr. Leonard Morse has opened a bicycle repair shop just back of Babcock's barber shop, where he will be pleased to see all those who have bicycles to be repaired.

   The chair which has been occupied by M. M. Newton, who taught a bible class at the Baptist church, and which was vacant Sunday on account of his sad death, was draped in mourning and trimmed with calla lilies.

   The remains of Mrs. James W. Fenner, formerly of this village, were brought here from Holly, N. Y. Tuesday morning and a brief funeral service was held in the Congregational church. She leaves three sisters, Mrs. William Blaney of this village, Mrs. Arthur Gray of Binghamton, and Mrs. H. C. Wicks of Truxton, and two brothers, Frank Dennison of this village, and Henry L. Dennison of Truxton. F. S. Stover officiated. Burial in Glenwood cemetery of this village.