ROLAND B. MOLINEUX IN SING SING PRISON, AND PROPOSED CORTLAND CITY CHARTER

 

Roland B. Molineux.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, February 17, 1900.

MOLINEUX IN SING SING.

Now Occupies a Cell in Murderers' Row.

PRISONER CALM AND UNSHAKEN.

Protested His Innocence and Denounced Men and Method by Which His Conviction Was Secured.

   SING SING, N. Y., Feb. 17.—When the New York Central train reached Sing Sing at 3.15 yesterday afternoon a crowd of 500 persons had gathered about the depot in expectation of catching a sight of the famous prisoner, Roland B. Molineux. Sheriff Grell was the first to alight. Then came Molineux handcuffed to Deputy Sheriff Kelly. After them walked Deputy Sheriff Harris.

   Next came General Molineux and his son Leslie, and George Gordon Battle, a partner of Bartow S. Weeks. A hack was waiting for Sheriff Grell, his deputies and the prisoner. The others followed in carriages.

   About the penitentiary another crowd of perhaps 1,000 persons had gathered. The party did not enter the warden's office, but passed directly down the stairs to the door of Principal Keeper Connaughton's office. There they stopped for a moment while Molineux said farewell to his father, brother and lawyer Battle.

   A hand clasp, a word to each and Molineux started to follow his guards. As he did so, he said:

   "Good bye, governor."

   His father merely answered: "Good bye, boy."

   After this the prisoner was examined by the keeper regarding his birth, age, place of residence, etc. He was escorted to the bathrooms, and when he emerged from the bath he found the clothing furnished by the state awaiting him. At the door of the death house he passed into the custody of Keepers Davis, Hubble and Hugh Lovery, who were on duty. His guards during the night were George W. Fox, and Patrick McMahon.

   A few minutes before 6 o'clock last night he enjoyed a supper of broiled bluefish, potatoes, bread, tea and fruit. He seemed calm and unshaken up to the time when he disappeared behind the bars in the death house.

 

CLAIMS HIS INNOCENCE.

Dramatic Incidents Connected With Molineux Sentence.

   NEW YORK, Feb. 17.—There have been many dramatic incidents connected with the trial of Roland B. Molineux for the murder of Mrs. Katherine J. Adams, but none more dramatic than the reply of the prisoner yesterday when he appeared before Recorder Goff for sentence to death in the electric chair.

   Heretofore though entering a plea of not guilty at the beginning of the trial, Molineux has always declined to say one word in his own defense, even when the character of his wife was attacked by witnesses and by Assistant District Attorney Osborne; but yesterday when the conventional legal question of whether there was any reason why sentence should not be pronounced upon him was asked by the recorder, the prisoner defended his wife and referred to an action of the assistant district attorney as that of a "blackguard."

   Molineux's statement was brief and soon after he made it he was hurried out of the court room, through a throng of thousands of cheering people, to the Grand Central depot and thence on a New York Central train to Sing Sing, where he rests in one of the new cages in the death house in the state prison there.

   Every word that Molineux said cut the air like a knife, so intense was the stillness of the court room. Standing with head erect, his slight frame bent far back, his position one that would please the trained athlete or the master of military tactics, his eye fixed upon the recorder, apparently as defiant as ever, certainly as much at ease as though in a favorite club room or at the home of some social friend, Molineux protested his innocence, and denounced the men and the methods by which his conviction was procured. His tones were well modulated, his manner earnest, his words solemn and apparently sincere, and he raised his voice towards the close and denounced the prosecuting officials with dramatic fervor.

   The recorder sentenced the prisoner to be electrocuted in the week beginning March 26.

 

Lord Roberts.

Boer Stores Captured.

   LONDON, Feb. 17.—A dispatch to the war office from Lord Roberts says that General Kelly-Kenny's brigrade Friday captured seventy-eight wagons of stores and ammunition belonging to General Cronje.

 

Boers Retreating, British Following.

   JACOBSDAL, Friday, Feb. 16, via Modder River.—General Cronje, with 10,000 men is in full retreat towards Bloemfontein. General Kelley-Kenny is fighting a rear guard and harassing the retreat.

 

GRAND OPENING.

Baseball Fair Opens To-night Under Favorable Conditions.

   All arrangements are now completed for the grand opening of the [Cortland] baseball fair at C. A. A. hall to-night, the donations are practically all in, the booths are all arranged, the decorations are all completed and everything bids fair for a fine display, and a general good time is expected.

   The five booths are well filled with the donations, and these have been placed in the booths very tastily. The ladies' booth is particularly striking and the grocery corner presents an elaborate display. Candy, lemonade, etc., will be sold at some of the booths. About one hundred flags have been used in the decorations and these with the bunting and fancy articles contributed have transformed the hall into a palace of beauty. Two prizes will be awarded to-night—a ton of coal and a smoking set.

   At 10 o'clock the hall will be cleared and dancing will be in order till 11:58. Happy Bill Daniels' orchestra will furnish music for the occasion.

   Additional donations received are:

   Howe Stove Co., stove, $40.00

   A. P. McGraw, skirt and mackintosh, $19.00

   F. B. Nourse, table lamp, $10.00

   Mitchell & Strowbridge, lard, $1.00

   Jas. Riley, cigars, $1.00

   A. M. Jewett, jardinière, $1.00

   J. J. Reider, fruit dish, $4.00

   The donations now aggregate $691.75, and there are enough yet to come in to make the amount an even $700. The stove given by the Howe Ventilating Stove Co. will be given away in a contest between two boys who are now hard at work for it. [Cortland Athletic Association was raising money for a semi-pro baseball team—CC ed.]

 

THE PROPOSED CITY CHARTER.

Petition to the Legislature Being Numerously Signed.

   Early last evening a petition to the legislature was put in circulation asking that body to pass the proposed new city charter for Cortland. It has already been signed by nearly all the manufacturers and a very large proportion of the business men of the place. The saving of about $10,000 a year in the machinery of government is an argument that appeals with much force to the ordinary taxpayer.

   It may be wondered how this comes about and may be thought that this is not the usual experience of city governments. But those having the matter in charge have prepared a schedule of expenses under the present regime, taking the expenditures of 1899 for a basis, and have compared it with the proposed salary list under the city charter, and it actually justifies the claim. In explanation of this it should be remembered that Cortland village pays 82 per cent of the taxes of the town of Cortlandville, and that in a number of cases the village pays for government from which it receives no direct benefit. For instance, the village of [Cortland] pays 82 per cent of the salary of the commissioner of highways and receives no benefit from his services, for he has no jurisdiction within the village corporation. But we have here a street commissioner who draws his salary. Consequently the village pays two officers for doing the work of one. This is obviated under the proposed charter. There is also the same dual system in the matter of collector, of assessors, of truant officers and of town clerk. Under the proposed charter the town outside of the corporate limits would take care of itself and the city would take care of itself.

    The city charter calls for the election of a mayor and aldermen and such officers as are usual in cities, being much the same as at present under our village government. It also calls for a city chamberlain whose duties include the office of collector of taxes and city treasurer.

   There is also a city court presided over by a judge known as the city judge. This city court will have both criminal and civil jurisdiction.

   In connection with the plan of city government the common council is the financial and administrative center and the supervisor of all departments. There is a fire board which has charge of the fire money and the maintenance of the fire department; a police board which has charge of the police funds and police department; a board of public works which has charge of all streets, pavements, highways, bridges, etc. The board of public health has the usual powers given to a local board of health by the public health act. The school board is constituted very much like the present school board.

   The charter provides that all village officers shall become city officers and hold office as such till Dec. 31, 1900. There will be but one election during the year and that will be in connection with the general election in November—another saving in expense. All town officers resident in or occupying offices in the village of Cortland will be retained as city officers until Dec. 31, 1900. The act will take effect as soon as signed by the governor.

   These are some of the provisions of the bill. Others will be given later, and as soon as possible we shall endeavor to publish the entire bill for the information of the public.

 

His Annual Visit.

   District Deputy Durham of Oneida will visit Cortlandville lodge No. 470, F. & A. M., next Tuesday evening. Second degree work will be given several candidates. Invitations have been extended to DeRuyter, Cincinnatus and Homer lodges, and it is expected that about two hundred fifty guests from these places will be present. Special trains will be run to accommodate the visitors. A banquet will be given in the banquet rooms. The refreshments will be furnished by Filzinger and served by Caterer Rood.

 

Cortland Opera House.

"The Span of Life."

   With an entirely new and elaborate scenic environment, marvelous mechanical effects, brilliant electric illuminations, and an exceptionally strong company of metropolitan actors, the favorite sensational melo-drama, "The Span of Life," will be the attraction at the Opera House next Monday evening, and it will prove potent to fill the house and please the people, for this its own long period of popular favor is a guarantee. Messrs. Zimmerman and Donazetta, the managers, promise that the production this season will in every respect eclipse that of any previous year as "The Span" has always been given on the most elaborate scale, much can be expected. The famous acrobats, the Donazottas, are a strong feature of this presentation, and their work is so well known that words of praise can not be too liberally bestowed on them.

 

A Birthday Surprise.

   Yesterday was the 61st birthday of Mrs. M. Michelson of 93 Lincoln-ave. About sixty friends called unannounced last night and spent a very pleasant evening with Mr. and Mrs. Michelson. Music and cards proved highly attractive and very fine refreshments which the ladies brought with them were served. A remarkably handsome lamp was presented to Mrs.  Michelson as a reminder of the occasion, and it was nearly 2 o'clock before the merry making ceased and the guests departed to their homes.

 

Secure Badges.

   Sidepath licenses are now on sale and may be produced at any of the following places: G. F. Beaudry's, Kennedy Bros.', Buck & Lane's and Jas. A. Farrell's; or of any member of the badge committee, composed of Messrs. E. M. Santee, H. L. deClercq and Henry L. Beebe. The chairman of this committee, Dr. E. M. Santee, has been authorized to select police for the enforcement of the [bicycle] sidepath laws which will be vigorously enforced.

 

Auction.

  The undersigned will sell at public auction on the George Tanner farm, 1 1/2 miles south of Freetown Corners, on the road leading to Marathon, on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 10 A. M., the following property, to wit: Eight good dairy cows, coming in, two 3-year-old heifers, coming in, two 2-year-old heifers, coming in, one brown horse 8 years old, kind and gentle, one bay horse 9 years old, kind and gentle, one wide tire lumber wagon, one platform wagon, pole and shafts, one milk wagon, pole and shafts, one new bobsled, one McCormick mower, nearly new (5-foot cut), one set heavy double harness, nearly new, one single harness, one champion horse rake, one spring-tooth harrow, one flat-land plow, one Ithaca horse hoe, one cutting box, one grind stone, one caldron kettle, one log chain, one crosscut saw, some household goods and other things too numerous to mention. Terms of Sales: All sums of $10 and under cash, over that amount a credit of nine months will be given on good approved, interest-bearing notes, payable at the Second National bank, Cortland.

   MRS. M. J. DECKER.

   A. B. Gardner, Auctioneer.

  

BREVITIES.

   —Rev. E. B. Ostrander of East Springfield, N. Y., will preach in the Congregational church to-morrow morning and evening.

   —The moving pictures of the Jeffries-Sharkey fight which were advertised for the Opera House this afternoon and to-night are declared off.

   —A regular meeting of Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R., is called for Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock. A full attendance is earnestly desired.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Buck & Lane, A beauty in the kitchen, page 6; Warren, Tanner & Co., Bobbinet curtain, page 6; Daehler, The British lion, page 8.

   —On account of the repetition of the "Chimes of Normandy," the members of the chorus choir of the First M. E. church will not meet to-night for rehearsal, but are requested to meet in the church parlor to-morrow at a quarter of 10 o'clock for a short drill.

   —A special meeting of the presbytery of Binghamton has been called to meet in the North Presbyterian church of Binghamton on Monday, Feb. 26, to take action upon the resignation of Rev. John T. Stone from the pastorate of the Presbyterian church of Cortland and his dismissal to the Baltimore presbytery.