ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

 

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 23, 1898.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

GARRY E. CHAMBERS WENT TO McLEAN TO TRY IT.

Business Cares Thought to Have Unbalanced His Mind—Was Very Thorough and Complete in His Preparations, Showing It Was For Some Time Premeditated.

   Soon after last week's edition of the DEMOCRAT was ready for the postoffice we learned of the very sad attempt of Mr. Gary E. Chambers of Cortland to end his life while in a room at the Elm Tree house, McLean. The occurrence is sad in the extreme, for Mr. Chambers is more than well off in this world's goods and though 60 years of age has been married within the past year.

   A brief story of the act and his preparation for it is as follows. He is building an elegant residence on Tompkins-st. and Wednesday he gave the contractor, George Allport, directions as to how to proceed with various matters that might come up for some time to come, saying he might be out of town. On Thursday he arranged for his wife to visit relatives in the country so that his preparations of the day should excite no suspicion in her eyes. After she left town he drew up his will which he had duly witnessed. Since their marriage they have resided at the Cortland house but Thursday he took no dinner. He placed in a hand grip all the articles of clothing necessary to dress his remains and nothing else. At 3:17 he took the train for McLean, checking the grip. Arriving there he telegraphed his nephew D. E. Marsh of Ithaca, to come to McLean on the first train. He then went to the Elm Tree house and took a room. He was later heard to lock the door but when stifled groans were heard from the room and the clerk went up he found it unlocked and from blood stains it is evident he had unlocked it in order to render entrance easy.

   The sight that met the clerk's eyes on entering was terrible. Mr. Chambers was on his hands and knees over a wash bowl endeavoring to keep blood that was flowing from gashes in his neck and arms from getting on the carpet. The would-be suicide was perfectly conscious. He wanted Dr. Robinson and that gentleman though sick with fever dressed and went when he learned what was wanted. Dr. Dana of Cortland was also sent for.

   The physicians found the neck cut both front and back and long gashes in each fore arm. The cuts were made with a razor and, strange as it seems, no large vein or artery had been severed. The sewing up was a long, painful operation but Mr. Chambers retained his consciousness. In the room the further completeness of his preparation was manifest. He had removed all clothes but his undershirt and they were upon the bed carefully folded. Upon his hat was a sealed letter to Contractor Allport and a [post] addressed to his nephew or the undertaker containing complete directions for burial. Beside it was the railroad check for the grip containing his burial outfit.

   He gives no reason for the deed but it is thought that the added business cares in the building of his house and the change from the quiet life he had had in McLean, which was his home until his marriage, to that at the Cortland house, caused his mind to wander. There has been insanity in previous generations of his family.

   To his wife who was formerly Miss Mary Story of Moravia there goes out the sympathy of all. She was summoned and reached McLean that evening. After the wounds were dressed he allowed her to see him and she has since been constantly with him. His strong constitution and nerve power are shown in his complete consciousness through all and his careful instructions as to transpiring business affairs. Furthermore his complete recovery seems certain.

 

William H. Clark.

CLOSING OF RECEIVERSHIP.

   By an order recently granted by Judge Lyon at special term at Binghamton, Wm. H. Clark, permanent receiver of the late Cortland Howe Ventilating Stove Co., was directed to distribute among the preferred creditors of the company, including workmen and agents, their attorneys or assignees, the funds applicable to satisfying their claims, and upon filing receipts therefor said receiver to be discharged together with his bondsmen. Checks in payment of these claims have accordingly been made out, and can be had by those entitled to them by calling at the receiver's office room No. 21, third story of Standard building, and receipting for the same. The company now doing business under the name of the "Cortland Howe Ventilating Stove Co." is the successor to the old company, was formed after the dissolution of the original company and took the same name—Standard.

 

County Court Next Week.

   County Judge Eggleston will preside at a term of county court which commences next Monday. The calendar contains twenty-two causes. The first six, criminal cases triable by jury, are indictments against Fred Davis for abduction; Chas. Mosher for keeping a disorderly house; William Kelly for assault in the first degree; Aaron Willis for bigamy; James Mehan for keeping a disorderly house and Elizabeth Chorley for misdemeanor.

   There are two criminal causes triable by Court, both being appeals from special sessions, Orville Pickert and Erving Carpenter being the defendants and District Attorney Duffey prosecuting for the People. None of the eight issues of fact triable by jury are cases of any particular prominence and the same is true of the other cases. Frank P. Burns and Philip Cumeo apply for naturalization.

 

Erie & Central New York Railroad.

(From Cincinnatus Times.)

   A foundation is being prepared for a water tank just south of the milk station. The company is exerting commendable efforts to get everything into shape before winter sets in.

   Bert Rice had a cow killed by the evening train on the Dutch hill crossing Friday.

   Lehigh Valley engine No. 531 is taking the place of engine 2, which was wrecked at McGrawville last week. John Ray of Auburn is the new engineer. He is an experienced and reliable railroad man. He is hauling the passenger trains with engine 531.

   Fireman Ahern, injured in the McGrawville accident, is about again.

   A new turn table has been purchased and will be put in position at the Cincinnatus station soon.

 

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

   Teachers of a marriageable turn of mind will hereafter have some hesitancy in signing contracts with the board of education of the district comprising Cortland village. The question of retaining teachers who have or may marry has frequently been discussed, but no action has ever been taken until Monday evening, when a resolution was passed directing that all future contracts with teachers shall contain a clause providing that if a teacher marries during her term of employment, it shall be entirely optional with the board whether it shall be annulled.

   The total registration in the public schools, as reported by Supt. F. E. Smith, is 962, divided as follows: Central 448, Schermerhorn street 177, Owego street 171, Pomeroy street 166.

   Several bills were audited, the most important being the following L. R. Lewis, heating contract, $502.66; Beard & Peck, furniture, $87.05; coal bills amounting to $1,053.01, in favor of the following dealers: D. E. Call $279.75, Maxson & Starin, $263.00, S. N. Holden & Co.,  $257.26, J. C. Seager, $253.00.

 

Village Trustees.

   Monday evening the village trustees held a regular meeting which, contrary to custom, was ready to adjourn at 9 o'clock. After reading the minutes Attorney B. A. Benedict addressed the board relative to the new side walk grade on Main-st. and requested that enough dirt be thrown over the curb opposite his residence to bring the lawn and walk to grade. He also offered to open a drive, during the work on the street, through his premises to Charles-st.

   Chief Barber of the fire department asked the board if it was their desire to dispose of the old hand engine and hook and ladder truck, saying that it is possible that Cincinnatus will purchase them. Trustee While and the chief were made a committee in the matter with power to act.

   Engineer Allen requested the appointment by the board of another paving inspector and from his list of eligibles Trustee White moved that Burdette Howard be appointed. Mr. Sprague seconded the motion. Trustee O'Leary moved to amend by making John C. Hannon the appointee. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Nodecker. The vote on the amendment was a tie and President Stilson voted with Messrs. White and Sprague and declared the amendment lost. The vote on the original motion stood the same and the President's vote elected Howard.

   Trustee White, committee on a tax on theater companies, reported that he had seen Manager Wallace of the opera house and that at the next meeting of the opera house company he (White) is to be present

   The matter of raising the necessary funds to defray the expense of paving as it progresses was brought up by President Stilson. He reported Counsel Kellogg's idea of having the engineer prepare an estimate of the cost of each property holder and after giving them a chance to pay it, to then issue bonds. As this would necessarily be to a large extent guesswork, though according to charter, it was decided to accept the proposition of the First National bank which offers to advance all the money needed at 5 per cent and hold the engineer's estimates as certificates of indebtedness till the work is completed and the bonds are sold.

   The board then adjourned.

 

General Nelson A. Miles.

CONDENSED WAR NEWS.

   A suitable place for burial in Porto Rico for those of the United States forces who have already died and may hereafter die there, has been secured near Ponce, and a reinterment of the bodies will begin at once.

   It is reported that the Spanish peace commission will be composed of Senor Montero Rios, president of the senate; Senor Villarrutia, General Cerero, General Azcarraga and Senor Urzaiz, but further changes are possible.

   General Otis cables that no further force is required at Manila; health of command satisfactory; insurgents remaining quiet, and that business is reviving

   The Spanish evacuation commissioners in Porto Rico have agreed to begin the formal withdrawal of Spanish troops within the next two days.

   As a precaution1 against yellow fever Spain intends landing her troops from Cuba and Porto Rico at different places.

   General Miles is much improved and his physician thinks he will be attending to business again in a few days.

 

HERE AND THERE.

   Another $1.50 excursion to Niagara Falls next Sunday over the Lehigh Valley.

   Another excursion to Sylvan Beach next Sunday. This is your last chance this season.

   We are now ready to receive about twenty cords of wood on subscription and allow market prices.

   Our Summer Hill letter gives a list of some of the special premiums at the Summer Hill fair.

   A new clothing store called "The Model" opened for business in the south store of the Schermerhorn building yesterday.

   W. H. Hall gives another dancing party at the Virgil hotel next Friday night. Dance tickets 50 cents and supper 25.

   The DEMOCRAT would like to have a number of our subscribers bring in some wood. Anything can be used up to 30 inches in length, hard wood or slabs.

   W. H. Newton of the Excelsior Top Co. has purchased the stock and machinery of Mr. J. R. Ingalls, who has for a few years been manufacturing carriage trimmings in part of the Hayes chair shops, and will add the same to his business on Elm-st.

   Mrs. Nalinda Burdsell Geuteheus, widow of the late Mr. Beverly Geutcheus of East Homer, died suddenly at her residence Saturday, Sept. 17 in the 80th year of her age. The funeral was held Monday and burial made at East Homer.

   Attorney C. V. Coon has associated himself with Attorney E. W. Hyatt in the practice of law, and now has his office with Mr. Hyatt in the Broadway building. No formal co-partnership has been formed but they will for the present use the same office.—Homer Republican.

   Little George Warren Angell, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Angell, died at their home on Greenbush-st. Tuesday morning after a severe illness of two weeks from cholera infantum. It was a most obstinate case and battled the best medical aid. He was an exceptionally bright child and the parents have the sympathy of all in their affliction. The funeral was held yesterday morning.

   Two women, who said they had wheeled from Canada, were seeking employment here to-day. They were out of money and desired to earn sufficient to enable them to get to New York, where they claimed to have started from. The police "sized them up" as tramps but admitted that they were the first specimens of the sort they had seen on bicycles.—Ithaca Journal.

   Another of Cortland's old residents passed away last week Thursday night. It was the venerable Isaac M. Seaman, whose 82d birthday was the previous Sunday. His health has been failing for several years and an attack of biliousness brought on the end. Mr. Seaman was well known and most respected. He has for many years been an Odd Fellow, having passed the chairs in Vesta lodge and been one of the charter members of John L. Lewis lodge. A large number of members of the order attended the funeral Sunday.

   On Tuesday night of last week the granary of John H. Mallery in his barn on the old Shevalier farm north of this village was broken into, and between sixty and seventy bushels of very fine oats were put into bags. The thieves started north with their plunder, and when near the A. A. Carley farm a part of the wagon evidently broke, as they unloaded about 20 bushels of the grain and left it there. This was found in the morning by Mr. Couch, and led to the discovery of the theft. The work was done by some one more or less familiar with the surroundings of the place.—Marathon Independent.

 

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   Ground has just been broken tor a new Chemical Laboratory, costing $50,000, for Cornell University. The contract calls for the completion of the building on July 1^st next.

   Five States Milk Producers' association now has a membership of over 3,000 and the officers believe that by the last of September there will be fully 8,000 enrolled.

   One hundred fourteen dollars in revenue stamps were affixed to a deed at Dolgeville last week. A deed of tbe Dolgeville Felt Mills sold on mortgage foreclosure for $102,000.

   The State Experimental station [Geneva, N. Y.] reports that farmers can save an average of $7.50 per ton by buying the different ingredients and mixing their own commercial fertilizers.

   The recent storms have damaged the stone walks and gutters in Oneonta to such an extent that a special election has been called to appropriate $5,000 to repair the same.

   Charles McDermott, who recently died in the Cayuga County Almshouse, is found to have had a bank account of $8,000. His family have not known his whereabouts for six years.

   Daniel Smith of Griffin Corners has invented a needle to be used by surgeons in sewing wounds, which promises to fill a long felt want. A single thread is fastened directly to the end of the needle.

   Charlemagne Tower, minister to Austria, has presented to the village of Waterville as a site for the soldiers' and sailors' monument to be erected there, the plot of ground known as the Park House lot.

   Frank Cole of Unadilla walked from that place to Binghamton last week on a $12 wager that he could accomplish the trip, 85 miles in 18 hours. He won the wager in ten hours and thirty minutes.

   The price of incandescent electric lights for dwelling and store use has been fixed at $2.50 per year in Newport, Herkimer county. This is about 21 cents per month, an exceptionally low figure.

   The officials of the New York Central railroad are said to be seriously considering the advisability of building a branch from the R. W. & O. railroad to South Bay on Oneida Lake in Onondaga county.

   The Standard Light, Heat and Power company has been incorporated with a capital of $60,000, and intends to furnish electricity for the villages of Unadilla, Gilbertsville, Otego, Sidney, Franklin, Bainbridge and Afton.

   Watertown and Sackets Harbor are to be connected by a street railroad. The kind of a road to be built is a street surface railroad for the purpose of carrying freight and passengers. The amount of capital stock is $100,000.

   Professor Lindsey, the Elmira [balloon] aeronaut, has had a narrow escape at Waverly recently. He made a parachute drop and landed on the spire of the Catholic church. It was an hour and a half before a rigging was fixed up to land him safely to the ground.

   Rev. Dr. F. B. Vrooman, formerly a preacher in Elmira, is at the head of a gold mining company, for which he is having built at Nyack-on-Hudson, a fast twin screw steamer for navigation on the Yukon river; also an ocean steamer in Philadelphia.

   Niagara county almshouse has 110 inmates, a big increase over last year. Although Niagara county is one of the most fertile sections in the State, its almshouse contains more indigents according to ratio of population than any other county in Western New York.

   The four American liners which the Government used so effectively during the war—the St. Paul, the St. Louis, the Yale and the Harvard—have been returned to the company, the Government paying in addition to their charter price the sum of $250,000 for their reconversion into passenger ships.

   The report that the daily average number of deaths at Santiago de Cuba has fallen from 103 to 87, since the occupation of that city by our troops, shows the good effect of American methods of sanitation. Every house has been thoroughly examined by a board of inspectors, the streets have been cleaned, and the inhabitants are taught the lesson, which seems to be new to them, that filth is not merely offensive but is positively dangerous. The yellow fever for which Santiago was notorious will thus be stamped out.

 

TOWN OF VIRGIL.

   VIRGIL, Sept. 19—-This week the greatest excitement is Dryden fair.

   Next Sunday will be the last Sabbath of this conference year.

   At the Jay Ballou auction last Wednesday cows sold for $100.

   Mrs. Jane Kyes of Babcock Hollow visited friends in town last week.

   Leon Rounds and family of Cortland were at J. Price Rounds over Sunday.

   Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Kenyon of Cortland recently visited Geo. Hicks and wife.

   Niles Luce is visiting his mother Mrs. Catharine Luce and his old home friends.

   Earl Powers of Preble was in town last Wednesday and Thursday selling school supplies.

   At the social Friday evening $13 was cleared. It is to be paid on the M. E. pastor's salary.

   Demont and Floyd Ryan, Orris Winslow and Iva Ballou have gone back to the Cortland Normal [School].

   David Sweet and Nathan Adams of McLean were calling on friends in town the first of the week.

   Mrs. Mark Holton of Freeville visited her mother Mrs. Susan Lewis and sister Mrs. Minard last week.

   John Downs had a horse, harness and top buggy taken last night from his barn east of this place on Snyder hill.

   Jay Ballou has gone to one of the Eastern States to work. George Wilcox will care for the Stockton the farm vacated by Mr. Ballou, for Mr. Smith of Cortland.

 

TOWN OF TRUXTON.

   TRUXTON, Sept. 20. The Truxton creamery is receiving over 20,000 pounds of milk daily.

   Dennis Pender has his new residence well under way. It will be a fine one when completed.

   Messrs. John and Jerry O'Connor and their wives and Miss Cornelius O'Connor left last week to visit friends in Minnesota.

   Alex Lansing, L. D. Widger, John A. Shepard and Evert McChesney attended the reunion of the 157th N. Y. at Canastota yesterday.

   George Hollenbeck died Sunday, Sept. 11, and was buried last week Tuesday. He was a member of the G. A. R. who had charge of the funeral services. He served during the Rebellion [civil war] in the 185th N. Y. Volunteers

   Jerome McAllister died of heart disease last Saturday morning. The funeral was held at the family residence on Monday and was attended by quite a large number of people. The services were in charge of Rev. E. W. Bingham of the Baptist church. Mr. McAllister was born in this town in the year, 1841 and spent his life here. He was married to Miss Thressa Corey in 1866 and they lived a happy and contented life until disease fell upon him a few months ago. Seven children were born to them, four daughters and three sons, all of whom are living. We can truly say that Jerome McAllister was a faithful husband, an affectionate father and an honest citizen, for we have known him all his life. His desires all centered in his family and home.

 

SCOTT ROAD.

   SCOTT ROAD, Sept. 20.—Filling silo is the order of the day at N. Cutler's.

   Mrs. Lewis Babcock is entertaining her sister from Canastota.

   Miss Marye E. Tomlynson visited over Sunday with friends on East Hill.

   Walter Stoker and Thomas Kennedy are drawing cabbage to Homer at $5 per ton.

   Watson Black has had a new farm bell erected. Watson is never late to dinner now.

   Mr. and Mrs. Devillo Norton of Spafford recently visited their sister Mrs. George Springer.

   Miss Myrtice L. Anthony has returned to her work at Chas. Fairbanks after spending a few weeks at her home on Brake Hill.

   Saturday, Sept. 17, about ninety of the friends and relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Babcock met at their home three miles north of Homer, the occasion being the 25th anniversary of their marriage, it being their silver wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock were presented with a plate containing silver coins. After partaking of a bountiful repast, which was served on the lawn, the guests departed leaving their best wishes with the couple who had journeyed together for a quarter of a century.

 

TOWN OF CINCINNATUS.

   CINCINNATUS, Sept. 20.—Mr. and Mrs. Taylor of Norwich visited their son Charles Saturday and Sunday.

   Floyd Hakes and family spent last week with friends in Greene and Binghamton.

   Mr. and Mrs. Holmes Reed of Binghamton are the pleasant guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rathbun's.

   Mrs. Burghar, who has been visiting her niece Mrs. John Murray, returned to Lake View last Sunday.

   Mrs. Bennett with her two granddaughters, Florence and Marguerite, are spending some time with friends in town.

   Floyd Perkins of South Otselic is buying large quantities of potatoes and cabbage, and shipping them from this station.

   Mrs. Frye, who has been spending the summer with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edson Rogers, has returned to her home in Newark. N. J.

   Mrs. Stella Bolster and Mrs. Kittie Klem are in the city buying millinery goods for the fall trade. Mrs. Klem is getting the latest designs in dress making.