MRS. HAIGHT DIED IN AUBURN PRISON, AND BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS

 

Clip from Brooklyn Union, Feb. 11, 1884.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, April 8, 1899.

DIED IN AUBURN PRISON.

Mrs. Haight Who Committed Murder in DeRuyter in 1883.

   Augenette B. E. Haight, a murderer, who was for several years confined in the Onondaga county penitentiary, died Thursday in the woman's state prison in Auburn. Death was clue to epilepsy.

   Mrs. Haight was 71 years, old. She was serving a life sentence for killing her husband at DeRuyter, Madison county, Feb. 27, 1883. The crime was committed about 8 A. M. Haight, who was a commercial traveler, was confined to his bed and was awakened by a noise at his bedside. He saw his wife standing there with a revolver in her hand which she discharged, the bullet entering his temple. Death was not instantaneous, Haight living for some hours.

   In his ante-mortem statement he said that his wife committed the crime. The case was tried in Madison county, E. N. Wilson of Syracuse, then district attorney of Madison county, conducting the prosecution. The jury brought in a verdict of murder in the first degree and she was sentenced to be hanged. Gov. Cleveland was petitioned and on April 11, 1883, commuted the sentence to life imprisonment and she was taken to Onondaga county penitentiary, where she remained until transferred to Auburn on June 1, 1893. At the time of her reception at the woman's prison Mrs. Haight was in very feeble health and it was predicted that she would not survive another year. But she lived on, never complaining.

   Since her incarceration she has not done any work, being among the few who enjoyed the privilege of sitting around the prison corridors. As far as is known the dead woman has no relatives and should no claim be made for the body it will be turned over to the authorities of the Medical college of Syracuse university.

 

Placed in Jail

   Constable Albert Goldsmith yesterday arrested James Morse of Lapeer on a body execution and placed him in jail. The arrest was the outcome of a civil action tried before Justice Kelley sometime ago which resulted in a judgment being rendered in favor of Mrs. Helen Hammond against Morse. The judgment was not paid, and as the proceeding was known as an action in tort, the body execution followed.

 

Second-hand Bicycles for Sale.

   Three high-grade second-hand bicycles at a bargain. Two ladies' and one gentleman's. One of the ladies' wheels fitted with new $10 Boice non-puncturable tires. All three wheels in perfect order. At W. W. BENNETT'S, 37 Railroad-st., Cortland. [Paid Ad.]

 

Will Please the Public.

   Postmaster E. P. Leach of Blodgett Mills has, after considerable effort received notice from the department that a sealed packet of mail matter can be placed on the northound D., L. & W. train leaving there at 9:09 A. M. This packet will contain mail for Cortland and all points on the Lehigh Valley and E. & C. N. Y. railroads. Heretofore no mail from Blodgett Mills could reach Cortland and be delivered during banking hours of the same day. Also mail leaving Cortland by stage could not reach its destination until the following day. This new arrangement will prove of great convenience and value to the public.

 

Funeral of Mrs. Robertson.

   The funeral of Mrs. Robert S. Robertson was held at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the home of her sister, Mrs. Edward Stilson, 31 Owego-st., and was largely attended. Rev. John T. Stone, pastor of the Presbyterian church, offered prayer and Mrs. Charlotte Nash-Head sang "Jerusalem," with much expression and feeling, accompanied upon the piano by her sister, Mrs. James Walsh. Selected Scripture passages were read by Mr. Stone who made a closing prayer. The Fortnightly club, of which the deceased was a member, attended in a body.

   After the services announcement was made that the burial would be private and at the convenience of the family. A little later the remains were placed in the receiving vault at the Cortland Rural cemetery to await burial. The bearers were Arthur F. Stilson, Edward Stilson, James L. Robertson, Jr., Hugh S. Robertson, Benjamin L. Webb and Harold Collins.

 

Black Diamond Express, Lehigh Valley Railroad, 1896.

The Black Diamond Express.

   The Black Diamond Express, the quarterly publication of the Lehigh Valley R. R., changes its form with the March number just issued to the size of the popular magazine. It is a very readable publication. Issued by a railroad company it might be thought to be an advertising sheet pure and simple, but such is not the fact. It contains a brief and clean cut review of current events, a number of communications and articles of genuine literary merit, some papers on amateur photography and some bits of poetry and good stories. The advertising of the railroad comes in chiefly in the name itself and in the illustrations which are all fine half tones and which mostly show scenes and objects of interest along the line of the railroad.

 

A Communication.

   To the Editor of The STANDARD:

   SIR—Duties of unusual importance will confront our village board during the coming year. From present indications there is every reason to believe that the board fully realizes its responsibilities, and is trying honestly and courageously to meet them in the manner best calculated to advance the interests of the village.

   Among the responsibilities that the present board will have to meet are the claims of Mrs. Hyatt and Mrs. Hamilton for damages, which these ladies allege that they have suffered in consequence of raising the grade on South Main-st. Whether the damages complained of could have been lessened or avoided by a lower grade on that street need not now be considered, because the grade as now fixed will undoubtedly so remain. That by reason of the high grade complained of, the premises of Mrs. Hyatt and Mrs. Hamilton have been rendered less desirable and less sightly, is apparent to every one passing along that portion of the street. The damages resulting to these ladies is a question that now confronts, not only the village board, but every taxpayer in the village. The avenues that lead to a long, tedious and expensive litigation between these parties and the village will always remain open.

   Before entering upon a litigation liable to be long and burdensome, would it not be wise for all concerned to have, if possible, an amicable adjustment. It must be assumed that the village desires to do what is just and proper. All these ladies can justly ask of the village is that their respective premises be put in as good condition as they were before the grade was raised. It would seem that filling in and raising the grade or surface of these premises, so as to correspond with the grade of the street would restore the sightliness and value of the premises. When these premises are so restored the gravamen of the claims made by the respective owners of these premises will cease to exist, or at least be of little moment.  The conditions are such that the village fathers can raise the grade on the premises in question the proper height without adding very much to the expenses that must be incurred upon Union-st., in consequence of the high grade where Union intersects Main. If the village should decide to macadamize some portion or all of Union-st., the earth that would have to be removed from Union-st. could easily be removed to the premises in question, and would be nearly or quite sufficient to raise the grade on these premises high enough to conform to the present grade of Main-st. in front of them.

   The village would necessarily incur considerable expense in raising the grade on these premises as suggested. It is quite apparent, however, that such expense would be much less than the cost and expense of the two actions, that will have to be met and defended unless they are avoided by some amicable adjustment. Unless some adjustment is had, in addition to the cost and expenses spoken of, there is serious danger that each of the ladies who have now presented claims will obtain judgments for the damages they have suffered in consequence of the high grade on Main-st.

   The manner of reaching some just and amicable disposition of these claims should and doubtless will receive the earnest consideration of the board. It is highly important that this matter should receive prompt attention, thus avoiding needless cost and expense, if possible. The course suggested may not be the best one, but it seems feasible, and is believed to be worthy of consideration.

   TAXPAYER.

 

A REQUEST

Which Will be Cheerfully Compiled with by The Standard.

   The STANDARD is in receipt of the following communication from the McGrawville M. E. church which will explain itself:

   MCGRAWVILLE, N. Y., April 6, 1899.

   To the Cortland Standard Printing Co:

   DEAR SIRS—At a meeting of the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church of McGrawville, N. Y., held April 5, 1899, the following preamble and resolution was adopted, eight members out of a total membership of nine being present and voting unanimously for such resolution.

   WHEREAS, The sentiment of the members of this church and of this board is opposed to the manner in which items of interest from this church have appeared and now appears in The STANDARD,

   Resolved, That we request the Standard Printing Co. to print all communications and items from this church as being from "The Methodist Episcopal church of McGrawville" or "McGrawville Methodist Episcopal church" and so to designate the church wherever referred to in The STANDARD.

   The single member of the board of trustees unable to be present at the above mentioned meeting concurs in the action taken, making the action of the full board of nine members unanimously in favor of the resolution.

   D. E. ENSIGN, Sec. of Board of Trustees.

   As this action of the board of trustees is in accordance with a suggestion of The STANDARD to some of the members of that church when this matter was referred to in a personal interview a short time ago we shall most cheerfully comply with the request.

 

Tom Howard Once More.

   Clayton H. Buell's series of stories on the experiences of Tom Howard in space, on the back of the phantom Marion Mills the guideless wonder, being published in the Elmira Telegram, are now attracting much attention. The circulation of The Telegram is increasing at a rapid rate in Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, and in the cities of the East and West. In Cortland, where Mr. Buell's abilities are well known, the demand for The Telegram is greater than ever. The fourth installment of this story will appear to-morrow.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The Epworth league of the First M. E. church will hold its regular monthly business meeting Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Mrs. Mary P., widow of the late John S. Clohecy, died at her home in Albany on Sunday, April 2. The deceased was a sister of Mrs. O. V. Eldredge of Cortland and formerly lived in Auburn.

   —The next regular meeting of the Women's Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. will be held in the Y. M. C. A. parlor Tuesday afternoon at 3:30o'clock. It is important every member of the organization be present as much new business is to be brought before the ladies.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Kennedy Bros., Bicycles, page 6; C. F. Brown, Paints, page 4; J. T. Davern, Ferris Good Sense waists, page 8; McGraw & Osgood, Newest styles, page 5; W. H. Angell, Seed, page 6; Opera House, "The Bells of Shandon." page 5.