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| Gen. Samuel Young. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, December 13, 1899.
ASSASSINS CAPTURED.
Probably Be Summarily Executed by American Troops.
COMMITTED NUMEROUS MURDERS.
Whole Island Swarming With Bandits Since Disintegration of Insurgent Army—Loot Small Towns and Keep Country in a State of Terror.
MANILA, Dec. 13.—Colonel Smith with a detachment of the Seventeenth infantry surrounded and captured, in a village near Malasqui, a party of guerrillas who had made their headquarters there. The party included the band which assassinated seven officials at Malasqui for friendliness to the Americans.
All the insurgents, who became bandits when the disintegration of the Filipino army began, kept the country around Malasqui in a state of terror for several weeks and committed 25 murders in less than that number of days. When they were caught they were promptly sent to General MacArthur's headquarters at Bayambang by train. It is expected that they will be speedily tried and shot or hung as example, if convicted.
The whole country north of San Fernando and between San Fernando and Manila, with the exception of within the permanent line of troops around the city and the closely patrolled stretches of railroad, swarms with similar bands. Probably they will be increased by men from Pilar's army, many of whom are making their way south to join the insurgent force in Cavite province. These people, for the most part, succeed in dodging General Grant's, Colonel Bell's and Colonel Hood's troops, who are scouring the country for them. They devote their energies to ambushing commissary wagons and to picking up soldiers who leave their commands. Every day some wagon train is fired upon or some soldier disappears.
General Wheeler's secretary, Mr. Garrett, was disarmed and slashed by a boloman almost within sight of headquarters, his assailant pursuing him almost into the headquarters building.
The policy of these ruffians is to [make] the country uninhabitable for Americans and to frighten the natives into refraining from giving any resistance to the Americans, as well as to compel the inhabitants to support the insurrection.
Frequently they raid and loot towns. A brother of the president of Imus went outside the town the other day to harvest some rice. He was captured by his compatriots, accused of being a spy and executed.
Only a small proportion of the insurgent arms have been surrendered and the problem of suppressing this guerrilla warfare is anything but easy of solution. Some of the American officers think it worse than fighting Indians owing to difficulties of the country and the trouble of locating the enemy, who resort, when hard pressed, to the Amigo dodge, and hide their guns.
Some of the Americans favor the issuance of a proclamation declaring all natives found with arms to be bandits, punishable as criminals instead of being treated as prisoners of war.
Information has been received at headquarters that 500 Spanish prisoners have been shipped from Vigan to Manila and that 1,500 others have been assembled at Vigan, including General Pena. Probably these are Spaniards released by General Young's troops in the Benguet district, where they were concentrated by the insurgents.
General Young reports the rescue of Brutne of the Nevada regiment and Edwards of the gunboat Yorktown, who have been held prisoners by the Filipinos. General Tino, conveying the American prisoners north, is hotly pursued. Aguinaldo is a fugitive in the mountains. His body guard has been destroyed and Gregorio del Pilar killed. General Concepcion has surrendered.
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| William McKinley. |
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
President McKinley helps along the project for the construction of a memorial bridge across the Potomac at Washington by favorable reference to the enterprise in his message to congress. It is proposed that the bridge shall be commemorative of the deeds of all our national heroes. The president says that "the proposed bridge would be a convenience to all the people from every part of the country who visit the national cemetery, an ornament to the capital of the nation and forever stand as a monument to American patriotism.'' The president's expression of faith that congress will advance the project will doubtless produce results at this session, provided the report of the chief of engineers upon the plans is submitted in season.
MORE EXCISE CONVICTIONS.
Two Have Pleaded Guilty and Others May Do So.
District Attorney Duffey's prosecution of the excise cases is being pushed with vigor. There have been two convictions of the unlawful sale of liquor since yesterday, two defendants have pleaded guilty and it is reported that others are about to do so.
The jury in the case of R. Burns Linderman came in shortly after supper last night bringing in a verdict of guilty.
Frank K. Robertson of Ithaca came before the court and asked to have the order estreating his bail bonds revoked. He said the district attorney had directed him to be on hand Tuesday morning for trial and he had come on the first train Tuesday, but his case had been called and the order estreating his bail had been entered before the train got here. The district attorney admitted that he had told him to be here on Tuesday, but he meant at the opening of the court. However, as Robertson was then ready for trial he would ask that the order be revoked, which request the court granted.
The trial than began, J. H. Kelley appearing for the defendant. This case was in effect a repetition of the Jacobs case tried yesterday, Robertson being the principal while Jacobs was his bar tender. The same witnesses appeared for the prosecution—the county treasurer and the two Raines law inspectors Buttling and Little. The offense was alleged to have been committed on the fair grounds Aug. 31. Robertson in his own defense denied the sale of liquor and Jacobs was summoned as a further witness. He testified that he didn't know that he was selling liquor and didn't believe now that he did. The jury was out about five minutes and brought in a verdict of guilty.
In the case of The People vs. Stanley Raymond the defendant pleaded guilty this morning to the charge of unlawfully selling liquor.
John Murphy who was one of the defendants in the case of The People vs. John Murphy and Charles E. Rowe, whose bail bond was yesterday estreated appeared before the court and asked to have the order of estreatment revoked and asked to have his case considered separately from that of his associate in the indictment. The court granted this and this defendant then pleaded guilty to the indictment.
The case of The People vs. Ollie Ingraham and William Hess, indicted for the unlawful sale of liquor, was called. H. L. Bronson appeared for the defendant Ingraham and asked to put the case over the term on account of the illness of his client. The court held the matter over till 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon to permit Mr. Bronson to present evidence of Mr. Ingraham's illness. He did not, however, give any intimation that he would consider favorably the idea of putting the case over the term in any case, but spoke of letting the court take a recess till Mr. Ingraham was well enough to appear.
Court then adjourned till 2 o'clock to-morrow, at which time it is understood that the defendants in several of the other excise cases are to plead guilty.
MRS. BOLLES' WILL.
LEGAL STEPS IN PROGRESS AIMING TO SET IT ASIDE.
Mrs. Ida Elizabeth Bolles Seely Claims to be a Locally Adopted Daughter and Heir to the Estate by Contract Drawn Years Ago—Dr. Parker's Claim—Judge Knox, the Administrator, Ready to Defend the Will.
For some days rumors have been afloat of possible efforts to be made to break the will of the late Mrs. Henry A. Bolles, who died on Nov. 6 leaving no blood relatives nearer than second cousins, and who after making certain bequests in her will left the remainder of her property, which is estimated to amount to from $15,000 to $20,000, to Fred D. M. Ingersoll of Cortland, a highly respected and very estimable and worthy young man, the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Ingersoll. It is well known that Mrs. Bolles had had for years a deep affliction in a very serious deafness which to a certain extent cut her off from general intercourse with the world at large. Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll, who for twenty-five years had been neighbors and friends, as well as the son, had been very kind and attentive to her during the years of her widowhood and had ministered to her in a host of ways, so that it was undoubtedly in some degree, gratitude in addition to personal affection for them all which induced her to remember the son in this marked way in her last will and testament.
The STANDARD has been fully cognizant of the reports of intended will breaking, but had thought best to wait before speaking of the matter in detail till formal action of some kind should be taken, perhaps in a protest against the probate of the will, if such action was finally decided upon. But it now appears probable that a move will be made along another line which will be likely to antedate the attempt to probate the will.
The prime mover in this action will be Mrs. Ida Elizabeth Seely of Pittsford, N. Y., who claims to be a legally adopted daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Bolles and the sole heir to their estate. Mrs. Seely came to Cortland last night for consultation with her attorneys Dougherty & Miller.
In reply to questions Mr. Dougherty set forth the claims of his client somewhat as follows: In 1857 there lived in Rome, N. Y., one Helen Weston, a child 5 years old. Her father sickened and died that year. She was one of five children. Her mother was very poor and quite unable to bring them all up properly. Helen interested the attention of Dr. Mary Walker who then lived in Rome and who finally brought her to Cortland to exhibit her to a friend of hers, Sheriff John Samson, who had expressed the desire to adopt a little girl. Mr. Sampson wished for an older child and Dr. Walker and the child spent the night with Dr. and Mrs. Bolles, the two physicians knowing each other well in a professional way. Both Dr. and Mrs. Bolles were pleased with the child and decided to adopt her if a satisfactory arrangement could be made with the mother. Dr. Walker conducted the arrangements. Dr. and Mrs. Bolles wanted complete control of the child and a contract to that effect. This was granted and the contract was properly drawn and executed by both parties by which the child was turned over to them in every sense of the word. Dr. and Mrs. Bolles agreed to adopt the child, educate her, provide for her needs, and at their death leave her their property. Her name was at the same time changed from Helen Weston to Ida Elizabeth Bolles. This contract Mr. Dougherty says he now has in his possession.
Mr. Dougherty says that the little girl continued to live with Dr. and Mrs. Bolles and it was sixteen years from that time before Dr. Walker saw her again. When the child had grown to young womanhood and had reached the age of 22 years she married Dr. Seely of Pittsford, N. Y. She has throughout all these years continued the most cordial relations with both Dr. and Mrs. Bolles and Mr. Dougherty says that within a few weeks before Mrs. Bolles' death she received letters from the latter addressed "My dear daughter," and that she always called Mrs. Bolles "mother" when writing to her or addressing her and always signed herself as "daughter" in writing to her.
Mr. Dougherty says that the firm of Dougherty & Miller has been retained by Mrs. Seely to look after her interests and that their plan of action will be not to wait for the probate of the will and then contest it, but to at once bring an action against all the heirs and legatees as defendants to set aside the will and to give Mrs. Seely the control and possession of the property. In other words Mr. Dougherty said that he expected that it would be a repetition of the case of Floyd E. Gates, which they carried through to a successful decision and had him declared the rightful heir of Alonzo W. Gates, deceased, the conditions, Mr. Dougherty said, being much the same in the two cases.
But there are others who feel aggrieved besides Mrs. Seely at the will of Mrs. Bolles. Among them are Dr. Charles W. Parker of Chicago. Dr. Parker is a beneficiary under the will, but feels that he should have received more. He has retained Norman H. Camp of Chicago and Branson & Davis of Cortland as his attorneys to look after his interests in the matter. Mr. Bronson said to a STANDARD man that he had not yet decided upon his course of procedure, but that Dr. Parker assuredly had interests there which should be guarded. He said that the doctor had lived with Dr. and Mrs. Bolles for a number of years. As a specialist of the eye and ear he had attracted a large degree of practice to that office, and in the later years of the joint practice of Dr. Bolles and Dr. Parker the major part of the earnings had come from Dr. Parker. The latter had drawn nothing out of the common purse but his clothing and immediate living expenses. He had every reason to believe that he was to be the sole heir of Dr. and Mrs. Bolles and was surprised to find another claimant for that right, to say nothing of the property going to others outside. Mr. Bronson estimated that Dr. Parker had contributed at least $7,500 to the estate which was rightfully his as being his own earnings.
Speaking of Dr. Parker's claim Attorney Dougherty said he could see no possible reason why that gentleman should attempt to break the will, as he was already a beneficiary to the amount of about $5,000 while if the will should be set aside in favor of Mrs. Seely, as he anticipated, would prove true none of the other heirs would get anything even as provided for by the will, as Mrs. Seely would get it all. Consequently he should suppose that all the beneficiaries would be anxious to have it sustained as against Mrs. Seely.
Attorney B. A. Benedict has been consulted by the members of the Kinney family who are related to Mrs. Bolles with the idea of having their interests looked out for if the will should be broken or can be broken.
Judge S. S. Knox was Mrs. Bolles' legal adviser, drew the will and is its administrator. When called upon by a STANDARD man he replied that he had little to say about the matter. He did not care to defend the will through the newspapers, but he expected that he should be ready in the courts for any attacks that might be made upon it. He was not yet ready to offer the will for probate. It had been a long and a hard task to get track of all the relatives as they were so widely scattered and to get notice to them of the time for probating the will. But that preliminary was nearly accomplished and then the will would be offered for probate. He had every reason to believe that Mrs. Bolles was in the full and absolute possession of her senses with a clear and unclouded mind when she made her will and he had no reason to think that it would not and could not be maintained to the last provision. Further than this he preferred to say nothing.
Developments will be looked forward to with interest.
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING.
Mr. Kinney's Grievance Taken Up in Detail.
The village board of trustees met last night at Fireman's hall and resumed the work left over from the grievance meeting held Monday night which was adjourned that the records in the so-called State-st. matter might be examined.
Attorney T. E. Courtney appeared before the board and stated that Mr. Kinney's deed calls for space between Mr. Murphey's property on the west and Mr. White's on the east less 30 feet which was to be used as a public highway and for no other purpose; and that Mr. Kinney has no claim on the 30 feet only such as others have.
It appears that about 1876 H. Cordelo Smith owned the lot and up to that time it had not been divided, but included the lot now owned by Mr. Kinney, the driveway, known as State-st., and the lots between Mr. Kinney's and the Normal school grounds. About this time Mr. Smith cut off four lots from the north side of his lot and gave a right of way from them to Port Watson-st. Now the question is who owns the thirty feet west of Mr. Kinney which was given for a driveway.
Mr. Courtney submitted as evidence a map of State-st. made by F. E. Knight in 1877, and deeds dating forward from 1853. On motion, it was decided to divide Mr. Kinney's assessment into two parts in order that he might pay the assessment upon the part undisputed by him. The thirty feet right of way is still assessed to Mr. Kinney.
On motion, the time limit for paying assessments for the paving of Lincoln-ave., Tompkins and Port Watson-sts. was fixed at Jan. 1, 1900, and it was also decided that notices to this effect should be printed twice each week in the Cortland Daily STANDARD and in each issue of the Cortland Democrat till the time for payment ceases.
Trustee Wood said that the Wallace Paper Co. had sent in another complaint of surface water from Elm-st. flooding their cellars. Messrs. Wood and Sprague were detailed to look into the matter at once.
Upon invitation from the officers of the Dairymen's convention, it was decided that the board attend in a body the meeting of the association at the Opera House, Thursday at 10 A. M.
The board then adjourned to meet again next Monday night.
CHRISTMAS SALE
By the King's Daughter's Circles of Grace Church, Dec 18.
The three King's Daughter's Circles of Grace church will hold a Christmas sale of fancy articles in the vacant store in the Keator building on the corner of Main and Port Watson-sts., on Monday afternoon and evening, Dec. 18. Among the articles on sale there will be a particularly large assortment of fancy handkerchiefs, sofa pillows and aprons, but all kinds of articles will be for sale. The affair will be under the superintendency of Miss Elizabeth Turner, assisted by Mrs. G. H. Ames, Mrs. E. M. Santee and Mrs. N. H. Waters, who are in charge of the three circles.
Supper will be served at 5 o'clock and from that time forward by the Ladies' Guild of the church for 25 cents. Admission to the room free. The public is cordially invited.
BREVITIES.
—Regular meeting of Excelsior Hook and Ladder Co. to-night.
—David R. Shults is taking down the large elm tree in front of C. W. Stoker's residence on Church-st.
—The Kindergarten association will meet to-morrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock at the Normal kindergarten.
—Regular meeting and election of officers Water Witch Steamer and Hose Co. in Fireman's hall to-night.
—Edgar J. Haskell died at the home of his sister, Mrs. A. B. Roark, 147 Groton-ave., yesterday at 5:30 P. M., aged 27 years. The funeral will be held Friday at 2:30 from the house, Rev. J. C. B. Moyer officiating. Deceased had been sick about a year with consumption.
—New display advertisements to-day are: C.
F. Brown, The best Christmas gifts,
page 6; F. D. Smith, A Christmas gift, page 6; Buck & Lane,
Something like a Christmas gift, page 4; D. McCarthy & Son, Holiday
gifts, page 7; Cortland Opera House, "Hearts of Oak," page 5;
Stowell's Christmas display, page 4.
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