Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, March 24, 1899.
LYNCHING NEGROES.
Race War on In Little River County, Arkansas.
SEVEN NEGROES HUNG TO TREES.
White Men Armed and Looking For Fifteen or Twenty Others That Will Meet a Similar Fate When Overtaken—They Are Fleeing For Their Lives.
TEXARKANA, March 24.—A race war is on in Little River county and during the last 48 hours an indefinite number of negroes have met their death at the hands of the white population. Seven are known to have been lynched and the work is not yet done.
The bodies of the victims of the mob's vengeance are hanging to the limbs of trees in various parts of the county. The country is in a state of most intense excitement. White men are collecting in mobs, heavily armed and determined; negroes are fleeing for their lives.
The exact number of negroes who have been summarily dealt with may never be known. Seven bodies have been found and other victims are being hunted and will meet a similar fate when run to earth.
The dead are: "General" Duckett, Edwin Goodwin, Adam King, Joseph Jones, Benjamin Jones, Moses Jones and an unknown man.
Joe King and John Johnson were also taken in hand by mobs and whipped. They were afterwards turned loose, and have disappeared.
Little River county is in the extreme southwest corner of the state bordered on the west by the Indian Territory and on the south by Texas. The negro population is large and has for a long time proved very troublesome. Frequent murders have occurred and thefts and fights have become common affairs. One or two negroes have previously been severely dealt with when the people found it necessary to take the law into their own hands, but it was not until Tuesday that the trouble assumed a serious aspect. It then developed that carefully laid plans had been made by a number of negroes to precipitate a race war and that many white men had been marked for victims. It is learned that 23 negroes were implicated in this plot and the whites are now bent on meting out summary punishment to the entire coterie of conspirators.
Seven have been killed and the work of wiping out the entire list continues without relaxation. All implicated in the plot are known and parties of white men, varying in number from 25 to 50, are scouring the country for them. Wherever one is found he is quickly strung up and his body perforated with bullets.
The work of dispatching the first two or three was an easy matter, but the news soon spread among the negroes, who instead of making the resistance and offering the battle they had threatened, became panic-stricken and began getting out of the community as quickly as possible. Two, whose names were on the list of conspirators, got a good start and succeeded in reaching the Texas state line before being overtaken. They were swung up without ceremony.
The trouble arose over the killing of James Stockton by Duckett. Just prior to the lynching of Duckett, the negroes had planned the inauguration of the race war. Duckett was the leader and at his death the negroes let the matter drop. The citizens became greatly enraged. Joe King and John Johnson were taken to the woods and whipped. Other negroes made threats, but nothing occurred until the wholesale lynching began.
In the gang that was plotting for a race war were 23 negroes and it is probable the entire number have been killed. It is known to a certainty that the seven ringleaders are dead. The negroes are fleeing from the district. Three wagons full have arrived at Texarkana, having crossed Red river at Index at midnight.
Aaron Burr's Trick.
The Bank of Manhattan in New York city has decided to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of its establishment next month, and the old story of how it was founded by Aaron Burr will undoubtedly be retold with many details. The Bank of New York was doing a flourishing business, which tempted Burr to enter the field as a rival. He knew that he could not obtain a charter for a bank from the legislature, so he drew up a charter for a water company with a little joker in it empowering the company to employ its surplus capital in the purchase of public or other stocks or in "any other moneyed transactions or operations not inconsistent with the constitution or laws of the state," and the legislature granted it.
The company did build a waterworks, and its old wooden pipes turn up occasionally when excavations are made on Park row, but it also opened a bank which has long outlived the waterworks. The diminutive reservoir, which the company still maintains in order to preserve its charter, is surrounded by the walls of a building at Chambers street where New Elm street begins, and is visible from the street.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Panama Company's Courtesies.
Yesterday a party of United States senators and representatives sailed from New York to inspect the isthmian canal routes, Panama and Nicaragua. It has been estimated that the party will number sixty.
It is a party whose personnel will be scanned with interest, for it is quite out of the ordinary. Its members go on the invitation, and as guests, of representatives of the Panama Canal company. The Panama company is a foreign organization. It is hostile to the American enterprise through Nicaragua. Its agents were at Washington during all the late session of congress, active in rearing obstacles to the Nicaragua canal bill. They were given a hearing by the committee having the canal bill in charge, a concession that caused remark at the time. It is the invitation of these agents of a foreign interest, a rival of the water route favored by the United states, that congressmen of the United States accept for a sea trip. It is their hospitality these congressmen will enjoy. It will be an expensive outing. The Panama Canal company will pay the bills.
The Utica Herald very well says that there is nothing about this junket that American citizens can regard with pride. The Panama people would like to dispose of their enterprise. The building of a canal through Nicaragua would put an end to the Panama undertaking. To delay action on the Nicaragua project and enlist consideration of that at Panama are legitimate undertakings of the French company. For American congressmen to put themselves under obligation to that company is highly regrettable.
Members of the party excuse their action on the score that they wish to "see for themselves," It is a vain excuse. Senator Frye, who goes not, says; "I have been engaged in a consideration of this canal project more or less all the time for nearly twenty-five years, and am satisfied that whatever entertainment the Panama Canal company may afford the members of congress on that trip, it can not give them any information they do not have now or which is not much more accessible here." Of course not. Months would be necessary to an examination of the Nicaragua route alone. The congressmen are not engineers. They would know nothing of what was below the surface, even if they traversed the entire route. They would know no more of the Panama route and its great difficulties than they could see, and all that they can learn more of in the library of congress. The American people expect their congress to authorize the building of an Isthmian canal, under American auspices, under American authority. They do not want the enterprise delayed by entanglement with the impracticable Panama scheme. They regret that congressmen permit their future course in the matter to be open to question by accepting lavish courtesies at the hands of enemies of the American enterprise.
COUNTY COURT.
Congdon Found Guilty—Decisions of Appeal Cases Handed Down.
The case of The People vs. Erving Congdon, indicted for criminally receiving stolen property, went to the jury about 11 o'clock and reported at 2:30 a verdict of guilty with a recommendation for mercy. It will be remembered that Congdon was charged with receiving a horse and buggy that had been stolen from an Elmira liveryman which was brought along to his place near Blodgett Mills last September by a man named Cole, who had hired it several weeks before in Elmira. Sentence will be imposed to-morrow morning.
All the jurymen were excused till April 24 when court will again convene and the case of The People vs. Orville Pickert, indicted for assault in the second decree, will be tried.
The case of George F. Chisholm vs. The Climax Road Machine Co. was settled out of court. Dougherty & Miller for plaintiff. Kellogg & Van Hoesen for defendant.
The case of Henry Howes, John Snell and Alpha G. Snell, respondents,vs. William McAdam, appellant, and the case of Alson Boyce, respondent, vs. William McAdam, appellant, were set down for argument to-morrow morning at 10:30 o'clock.
Patrick Keefe was naturalized as a citizen of the United States.
Judge Eggleston then handed down the following decisions:
George H. Hout, respondent, vs. Jerome R. Hathway, appellant. Judgment affirmed with costs. Brouson & Davis for plaintiff. E. E. Mellon for defendant.
Abbie A. House, respondent, vs. William A. Morse, et. al., appellant. Judgment affirmed with costs. Wallace E. Burdick for plaintiff. H. D. Messenger for defendant.
J. M. Seacord, respondent, vs. Henry O'Donnell, appellant. Judgment reversed with costs. C. V. Coon for plaintiff. John O'Donnell for defendant.
OVER A HORSE.
Litigation Begun Before Justice Kelley This Morning.
Columbus Casper Wilcox of Solon appeared before Justice of the Peace John H. Kelley this morning as plaintiff in an action brought against John W. Ayres of Lapeer. Mr. Wilcox claims that on or about March 10, 1898, the defendant Ayres came to his house in Solon and represented that he held a valid chattel mortgage on a certain horse then possessed by Wilcox, and claimed possession of the same. The plaintiff further claims that Ayres showed him a document purporting to be the mortgage and that he then and there took the horse. The plaintiff alleges it addition that the mortgage was invalid and that the taking of the horse was unlawful; that he was afterward compelled to pay and did pay the defendant the sum of $34 to obtain the return of the property. Mr. Wilcox claims also damages in the sum of $25, making $59 in all, together with the costs.
The defendant interposed a general denial and asked for a jury trial which was granted, and the case was adjourned until April 7.
E. C. Alger for plaintiff, James Dougherty for defendant.
PUSHING THE WORK.
Building Rapidly Assuming Shape For Wall Paper Plant.
At the hands of Contractor Frank W. Groat and his force of carpenters, the Hitchcock building on Elm-st. is rapidly assuming shape for the Wallace Wall Paper company for the manufacture of wall paper. About half of the brick columns have been placed in position in the cellar. The floors of all five stories, together with the roof, are being raised so that the floors will be level. In places, the floors had settled somewhat.
A gang of men is excavating east of the north end of the building for the powerhouse, and this is found to be a difficult job. The ground is frozen solid as rock to a depth of 10 inches, and it is impossible to dig with pick and shovel alone, so heavy iron wedges and iron beetles are used to split the earth, when it can be removed in great chunks.
HOLSTEINS OR NOT.
A Correspondent Taken to Task for His Statements.
On Tuesday, March 21, the following paragraph appeared in a letter from Preble published in The STANDARD:
On the strength of the Five States Milk Producers' association there will be about ten silos [going] up in this vicinity this spring. It is being reported from good authority that this syndicate will oblige the milk producers to dispose of their Holstein stock and also erect cement stables sooner or later and for fear of this many of our milkmen will make the change this spring.
The writer of the above was Mr. George M. Baldwin of Preble, who is not our regular correspondent from that place, but who sends an occasional letter. The publication of the item raised a storm among the Holstein breeders who are members of the Five States Milk Producers' association, and brought denials of the truth of the statements made from Mr. M. S. Nye, secretary and treasurer of the Preble branch of this organization and from Mr. H. T. Coon of Little York, who is the secretary of the entire Central organization of this association.
The same mail which brought Mr. Nye's denial brought also a letter from Mr. Baldwin. Some people having questioned the matter to him in person, and in the letter he cites as authority for his statement a quotation from the New York Tribune. We wrote to Mr. Baldwin to send us the quotation or refer us to the issue of The Tribune containing the article. Mr. Baldwin sent us the clipping and in it the name of the Five States Milk Producers' association is not mentioned, nor is there a word said about cement stables. The article in question was printed in The Tribune of Feb. 15 and was a quotation from Brook Farm in The Country Gentleman. That article does say that The New York Condensed Milk company "has declared Holsteins to be deficient in butter fats, and is determined to weed them out of their herds," but it has nothing to say about the Five States Milk Producers' association. And this article was answered in a later issue of The New York Farmer, and the fallacy of certain statements in it was shown. It should also be borne in mind that The New York Condensed Milk company is only one among a large number of such organizations and so far as we can learn is the only one to question the milk of Holstein cattle.
Mr. Baldwin must have gotten pretty badly mixed up between the two organizations. But apparently not a word has been said against Holsteins or their milk in connection with the Five States Milk Producers' association, and members of it who are possessors of Holstein cattle may rest easy. We regret that annoyance should have been caused by the original paragraph. Holstein cattle have too many friends, not only in this county, but throughout the country in general to make it pleasant for any one to get into a controversy over them. Some believe in them and others favor other breeds, and both are honest in their operations and beliefs, and we do not care to be a party to an attack on any breed of cattle.
An Old Bill.
Mr. M. Michelson has on exhibition in his window at 10 Main-st. a bill which is somewhat of a curiosity. It is a one dollar bill issued by the Randall bank of Cortland when that institution was doing business as a state bank. The date of the bill is 1862 and bears the signature of J. Hubbard, cashier, and W. R. Randall, banker. A portrait of William Randall also appears on the face of the bill.
BOY PLEADED GUILTY.
Sentenced to Rochester Industrial School and Sentence Suspended.
William Smith, the 14-year-old son of William Smith of Taylor-st., was arraigned before Police Justice Davis late yesterday afternoon on the charge of vagrancy and associating with boys of reputed bad character.
It will be remembered that this is one of the three lads who ran away from school and town March 9, and were about a week afterwards located at Schenectady. The other two boys, Harry Ray and John Garrity, are understood to be in a Catholic school in Utica. The board of education is using its best efforts to enforce the truancy law in Cortland, and is determined to break up the tendency among some of the boys in the public schools of the village. The board stands as a unit behind Truant Officer Birdlebough in this matter, and in the future boys who take it into their heads to run away from school may expect to hear something drop and drop bard. The Smith boy yesterday pleaded guilty to the charge and received a sentence of commitment to the Rochester Industrial school.
Upon one condition, and one condition only, was the sentence suspended, and that is upon good behavior. The young man promised to attend school regularly and faithfully under penalty of being sent to Rochester upon the least offence [sic]. Six members of the board of education and the superintendent of schools were in the courtroom during the proceedings, and the suspension of sentence in this one case seemed to meet their approval.
PANEL OF JURORS
Drawn to Try the Ministers at the Mock Court April 4 and 5.
The following panel of jurors, all residents of Cortland, was drawn this morning at the Cortland county clerk's office by Clerk Albert W. Edgcomb to serve at the stupendous court to be held at Normal hall on the evenings of April 4 and 5, at which time four Cortland ministers are to be prosecuted for an infringement of the eight-hour law:
C. F. Wickwire, F. D. Smith, C. P. Walrad, Wm. H. Clark, Leonard Goodwin, T. H. Wickwire, F. Dachler, Edward Keator, T. N. Hollister, F. J. Peck, Dr. F. J. Cheney, D. F. Wallace, Chas. F. Brown, Dorr C. Smith, A. H. Winchell, Chas. A. Brownell, H. M. Kellogg, N. J. Peck, W. H. Newton. Geo. L. Warren, H. B. Hubbard, A. A. Carley, C. F. Thompson, Hugh Duffey, H. M. Whitney, G. J. Maycumber, Ernest M. Hulbert, Edward Alley, C. E. Rowley, Hector Cowan, F. H. Cobb, G. J. Mager, Robt. H. Beard, A. J. Murray, F. E. Smith.
BREVITIES.
—Mr. F. C. Parsons residence has been connected with the telephone exchange.
—Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co. has decided to purchase forty new uniforms. The order has not been placed.
—New display advertisements to-day are—C. F. Thompson, Pickups, page 7; The Johnson Laboratories, Dyspepsia tablets, page 7.
—Dr. S. Clay Markley of Cortland, an itinerant healer, announces that there is an oil well near Unadilla. The doctor has clairvoyant powers, he says, and in a dream he saw the well.—Oneonta Herald.
—Mrs. Minnie Graham, wife of L. D. Graham of Cortland, died at 2 o'clock this morning at the home of her daughter, Miss Edith Graham at Rochester, of cancer of the liver. She was taken there for treatment two weeks ago. Her age was 51 years. Mr. Graham went to Rochester this afternoon. The funeral arrangements have not yet been made.
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