BURGLARS AND THIEVES

 

McGraw, N. Y. Post Office.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, October 28, 1898.

BURGLARS, THIEVES.

McGRAW POST OFFICE LOSES ABOUT $700 BY FORMER.

John Mallery off Marathon Loses About $90 in Cash and $1,200 in Notes by the Latter. Two Attempts at House Breaking.

   The town of Cortlandville has had an epidemic of thievery the past week. The most important was that of the McGraw post office early Tuesday morning the burglars first entered the blacksmith shop of D. Loomis & Son and borrowed the necessary tools, chisels, an iron bar and large monkey wrench. An effort was made to force up the lower sash of a front window but as the two sashes were screwed together this was impossible. By springing the door with chisels and the exertion of force the lock was forced in. After entering they lowered the curtains and probably proceeded by the aid of the electric light which is always left burning over the safe at night.

   The handle was broken off the safe and with this removed a hole was left for the insertion of high explosives. Empty canvass mail bags were evidently used to deaden the sound and light articles on top of the safe were removed to prevent fall and consequent extra noise. The explosion must have been terrific for that part of the door about the handle and combination was completely blown away and shattered and the inner door forced back against the drawers and shelves with a hole in it corresponding with the one in the outside door. The noise of the explosion was distinctly heard by two families who sleep in rooms above but they thought it some one in the bar room of the Rogers house.

   With the door off and no one around the rest was easy. The safe contained upwards of $625 in stamps of all denominations and about $70 in cash. This was all taken and 75 cents in change from the drawer at the stamp window. About $4 in nickels which were in a drawer covered with papers was overlooked. In fact, nothing else except a $5 pipe, which Ed. Robbins of Cortland had donated for the coming hose and band fair, was taken. Money orders and blanks in the safe drawers were badly mutilated.

   The jar from the explosion was sufficient to shake several glass from the front of boxes and cement and dust were thrown all about.

   The post office department was notified and the secret service are probably working on the case. The only known clue is the fact that two strange-acting strangers walked front Cortland to McGrawville late Monday afternoon.

   This is the fourth time a safe has been blown open in that room. The first time was in 1819 when P. H McGraw was postmaster. The next time was when it was the office of P. H. & A. P. McGraw who were dealing in produce. That time stocks and bonds of considerable value were taken. Four years ago the post office safe was blown open.

   If the department inspectors decide that Postmaster Burlingham has used proper precaution to protect the property which to us it seems he has more than done, the loss will fall on Uncle Sam and not Mr. Burlingham. The work seems to have been that of professionals.

   Monday Mr. John Mallery of Marathon was in Cortland to hear Roosevelt. When taking the 6:13 train for home he was jostled and tripped in the crowd at the depot and just as the train started he missed his wallet which contained about $90 in cash and notes and other paper to the amount of $l,200. The officers are at work upon the case but the clues are scarce.

   A few nights previous an attempt was made to turn the keys in both front and back door from the outside at the residence of J. C. Gray on Lincoln-ave. and a window was raised from the outside at the home of John Conway on Tompkins-st., but the intruders were frightened away by the occupant of the room.

 

The Youngest Tramp Known.

   When the accommodation train from the south on the D., L. & W. road arrived in Cortland Tuesday afternoon, a young tramp only eight years old was turned over to the chief of police. The boy had no jacket and seemed to be a professional despite his years. It required some time to trace his genealogy, but it was finally learned that his name was John Potter, and that he was the son of Charles H. Potter, who was convicted last March of assault and sent to Auburn prison for three years. The lad had tramped from Cincinnatus to Whitney's Point and had beat his way on the train as far as Cortland. Chief Linderman further learned that the lad's grandfather lived near the fair grounds in this village, and the young tramp was turned over to his tender mercy.

 

Board of Health Meetings.

   The board of health of Cortland village held a special meeting Wednesday evening to consider the small-pox question.  While there are no cases in the village, the board deem it advisable to be prepared for an emergency, if necessary. The board decided to call the attention of all school trustees to the matter and to urge upon them the necessity of preventing any communication between students and the affected district at McLean. Steps were taken to arrange tor quarantine regulations, and to select a site for a pest house.

   Health officer Didama was directed to investigate the necessity of a sewer on Graham avenue and report immediately.

 

A New Spire.

   The spire of St. Mary's Catholic church which was struck by lightning recently, is to be entirely removed, and will be replaced by one which, while not as high, is said by the architect to be much more pleasing to the eye. Bids for the work are now open and the plans can be seen at the parochial residence.

 

The Official Ballots.

   County Clerk Bushnell received Wednesday, from the secretary of state, the certificates of nomination for the ensuing election. There are to be six tickets represented on the official ballot, viz., Republican, Democratic, Socialistic Labor, Prohibition, Citizens' Union and Independent Citizens. The tickets for Cortland county will be printed at the DEMOCRAT office this year for the first time since the present ballot law went into effect. There will be but one ticket, there being no resolutions or amendments to vote upon. The ballot will be 13 by 16 inches in size.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   Make your cross under the star.

   Don't miss being in Homer Monday night to hear Hon. John B. Stanchfield.

   The Democratic Club rooms are open day and evening. Democrats from all localities are always welcome.

   "Teddy" is registered at Oyster Bay, but he ought to vote where he paid his 1897 taxes.—Binghamton Leader.

   The voters will settle all questions as to eligibility. With a minority of the votes on November 8, even Elihu Root will be unable to make Roosevelt eligible.

   A big hosiery mill at Laconia, N. H., has shut down owing to the depression in business. This does not indicate that employment is seeking labor, as Dr. Depew said in his speech at Cortland on Monday.

   Roosevelt's explanation at Cortland of why he didn't pay his taxes at Oyster Bay doesn't explain why he made affidavit that he was a resident of Washington in order to dodge taxes in New York.—Syracuse Courier.

   The Tammany voters in New York are said to be nearly all registered. The falling off is on the Republican side, and it indicates that the Democratic majority will be larger than even the most sanguine anticipated.

   When voting, don't forget that the office of coroner is to be filled and that Dr. Halsey J. Ball of Scott is an excellent man for the position. He is not only an able physician but in every sense a gentleman and worthy of any man's vote.

   While wearing Platt's collar, Roosevelt could not hope to stiffen the civil service linen after Black had taken the starch out of it, even though the people were willing to let a Republican tax dodger try the experiment.—Syracuse Courier.

   Republican papers have devoted columns this week to figuring out a victory for their party from the registration figures. Nevertheless all signs point to the election of Van Wyck and the entire Democratic ticket by an overwhelming majority.

   The Sands' vote in this county can be easily told by counting the lists of vice-presidents and secretaries for the Roosevelt meetings which were published on Monday's Standard. It seems to be an accurate poll as prepared by Duell-Brown-Clark-Dowd-Alger.

   A vote for R. Bruce Smith is a vote to keep A. S. Brown out of the Cortland post office.

   It must have been a case of "pot call the kettle black" when William H. Clark last fall assailed Dowd-Alger-Brown-Corcoran et. al., for he is now consorting with them, head and hands.

   Now that the registry is completed, make arrangements to get every Democratic voter in Cortland county to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8. A full vote means a glorious victory.

   Interest in Colonel Roosevelt's residence is now nothing more than the outcropping of a pardonable curiosity to know where "Teddy" will be "at home" after the November cyclone has struck him.—Binghamton Leader.

   If Roosevelt stands on the Republican state platform, he will have to remain standing, for every time he moves he will be in danger of stumbling over the plank endorsing Governor Black's administration.—Poughkeepsie News Press.

   "If I were elected Governor, in all matters of importance I would consult Senator Platt as the leader of the party." That avowal is enough to make any man who likes to see an honest administration of public office vote for Van Wyck. He recognizes no boss.

   The question as to how to vote for local candidates is easy: Let every man who does not want to see A. S. Brown made post master and Dick Duell deputy P. M. vote for R. Bruce Smith. If there are any who wish to see that combination as Uncle Sam's agents then Geo. S. Sands is the man to vote for.

   All reports from Brooklyn are to the effect that the city of churches will roll up a magnificent majority for Augustus Van Wyck for Governor. He is best liked where he is best known; he responds to the hardest test of all, intimate acquaintance. Familiarity breeds no contempt for Justice Van Wyck. He will undoubtedly emerge from this campaign a winner on his record and his fitness.

   The Cortland Standard has our thanks for reproducing in its own columns a large part of our editorial matter of last week. Their comments on the same and the articles published are doing the candidacy of R. Bruce Smith much good and several letters have been received by him from Standard readers who were convinced by the articles that he is the candidate to elect. Sound common sense always appeals to the voters.

   The Homer Republican says "There is no muzzle on Theodore." alluding to Monday's speech, "when he answered satisfactorily a question as to the payment of his taxes." If the answer was so satisfactory, will the Republican kindly tell us Teddy's explanation of why he made affidavit to a residence in Washington (see elsewhere on this page) and why he has not yet paid his 1897 taxes? This part of his "satisfactory answer" must have escaped us in Monday's cheering.

   The bid which brother Clark of the Standard is making for the Cortland postmastership is pitiful to see. He has printed everyone of Mr. [Sereno] Payne's long speeches and his daily movements and recently, very recently, after a year spent on the fence taken up the cause of what he thinks is the winning faction of Payne's party. But were he not blinded by his own ideas and wishes, he would know what everyone else does, that A. S. Brown has the promise of the post office job in case Mr. Payne is returned, which is very doubtful. It is said that his sole object in supporting Sands is in the hope of getting the job which entitles a man to write P. M. Cortland after his name.

   It is to be hoped that Roosevelt, Depew and the others who came to Cortland Monday had on their winter flannels for a more freezing reception could hardly be imagined. Republican papers have devoted columns to the crowds that have met the Roosevelt caravan and they did the same of Cortland but those in Cortland know better. There was, to be sure, a representative in town from most of the surrounding towns and some had two or three, but rumor says they came on a salary. In any event the wagon loads of voters who usually come in to hear campaign speeches of either party were absent. To be sure the opera house and Taylor hall were filled and some were at the armory but of whom were these crowds made up? The schools all closed early and the students and scholars from 10 years of age up, flocked in a body, and these aggregations of course contained few voters. Then curiosity seekers, mostly ladies, formed another large per cent of the audiences. It is safe to say that not over one in ten of the hearers were voters. This chill must have been nearly equal to that one at Troy two weeks ago and we hope the lesson learned there and at other points along the route has taught the Republican candidate to dress accordingly.

 

HERE AND THERE.

   Burgess has a new adv. on page eight.

   The first snow of the season fell yesterday.

   Lincoln lodge. I. O. G. T., celebrated its thirty-second anniversary last Monday evening.

   Adjusters have settled the losses at the fire of the Bennett & Horton wagon shop last week.

   We would call attention to the urgent need of bed linen at the hospital as noticed in another column.

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

   The special premiums awarded at the Summer Hill fair will be found in our weekly letter from that hustling little town.

   According to the Cazenovia Republican John O'Connnell expects to have his electric light plant at that place in operation next week.

   The Ithaca Journal says a Spaniard is going through the country selling dyed sparrows for canaries. He is meeting with success.

   Several light cars in the center of a Lehigh Valley freight train were derailed at Etna last Friday evening. No one injured and little damage done.

   The Curtis Stock company are playing all the week at the opera house and their entertainments are all first class. The house should be packed.

   Chas. W. Townsend is now particularly happy. It's a girl, born Tuesday and "Cy" thinks it was a lucky wind that blew him to Cortland two years ago.

   Dr. Fred M. Miller has returned from his trip abroad and is spending a short time with his parents on Warren-st. The doctor talks interestingly of the sights in the old world.—Marathon Independent.

   Whether the disease at McLean is smallpox or not, it seems to be capable of spreading, and should be carefully watched. Medical men do not agree as to what it is, though all say it is not at present dangerous in its results.

   J. D. Clark, George Murphy and Frank Lannigan went to Ithaca to play with Patsey Conway's band on the trip to Geneva with the Knights Templar excursion. Patsey had thirty men behind him.

   The north end of the Main-st. pavement is complete as far as Madison-st. and work is now going on between the hotels. The street is open to traffic on the east side of the tracks from Court-st. to the Cortland house and that side of the tracks will be completed to the Messenger house by to-morrow night unless the weather prevents.

   Bennett & Horton, whose wagon shed was destroyed by fire a week ago Sunday morning, are negotiating for the purchase of the lot in Railroad-st. [Central Ave.] just east of the Presbyterian church. If the deal is consummated the small dwelling located in front will be moved to the rear, and the new shop erected on the north end of the lot.

   The land upon which the depot stands at East Ithaca was never owned by the railroad company until last Tuesday when Attorney D. W. Van Hoesen of this place, as attorney for the Elmira, Cortland & Northern railroad company, was in Ithaca and attended to the drawing of the papers by which the land is deeded to the company.

 

PEACE COMMISSIONERS.

Progress of the Great Tribunal in Paris.

PHILIPPINE QUESTION REACHED.

The Cuban Question Has Probably Been Disposed of—Spain Makes a Protest Against the Battleships Oregon and Iowa Going to the Philippines.

   PARIS, Oct. 27.—The American peace commissioners held a session of several hours, prior to the joint session of the two commissions which lasted one hour and five minutes. Both the Spanish and American commissioners were more reticent after this session than ever before. 

   The Americans fully appreciate not only their own serious responsibilities but also the delicate position of their Spanish colleagues, to the burden of whose duties here is now added the critical political situation at Madrid, which may compel the president of the Spanish commission (who is also president of the Spanish senate), Senor M. Rios, to leave Paris.

   The Madrid correspondent of the Temps, in confirming the report that Premier Sagasta and the Queen Regent have prevailed upon the minister of war, General Correa, to indefinitely postpone his resignation pending the peace negotiations, says they are represented to the general that his withdrawal might entail not only the fall of the cabinet but cause the resignation of certain members of the Spanish peace commission including Senor Montero Rios and thereby gravely compromise the issue of the peace negotiations.

   The correspondent of the Temps adds: ''The net result is that an open crisis seems to have been avoided until the conclusion of the treaty of peace. In any case this has done away with the necessity for an ad interim government  which was lately suggested as likely to be the only solution of the present difficulties.''

   As the peace negotiations are now nearing the discussion of the Philippine question, the Americans feel that no stage of the proceedings has so demanded their considerate treatment. It may not be stated with certainty that the Cuban question has received its last consideration by the Americans, nor that the Spaniards have accepted at the United States refusal to assume any portion of the Cuban debt. It may, however, be affirmed that the Philippine question has not been reached but it may be discussed at the next joint session, which will be the first occasion during these negotiations of a joint session of the commissions being held on succeeding days, which fact is in some degree significant.