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| Attorney O. U. Kellogg. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 9, 1900.
CORTLAND IN 1877.
INTERESTING LOCAL EVENTS OF THAT YEAR.
Prisoners Break Jail—Soldiers' Monument Unveiled and Dedicated—A Year of Suicides—Democrats Elect Hon. O. U. Kellogg for Member of Assembly—Heavy Bank Robbery.
One of the exciting events of 1877 in Cortland was the escape of four prisoners from the county jail on the night of May 15. The sheriff at that time was Harlow G. Borthwick. The prisoners were during the day hours allowed to occupy the main hall of the jail, and at night they were locked in cells. At about 9:30 o'clock Sheriff Borthwick proceeded to confine the prisoners in their cells, passing thro' the main door, which he locked. He then went through the door leading to the cells, which was immediately pushed to behind him and the hasp of the lock slipped into the staple. This was done by one of the prisoners concealed behind the door. The sheriff being securely fastened in the west hall, the prisoners at once unlocked the main door and walked out through the hall of the court house.
Mrs. Borthwick saw one of them and tried to hold him, but she was knocked down. The same fellow ran across the Normal grounds and was tackled by Ernest Webster, who was walking in the grounds and had heard the cries of Mrs. Borthwick. The four prisoners—Seth E. M. Jones, Michael Murtan, Thos. Oliphant and Ryan—escaped. Mrs. Borthwick released her husband, who at once began a search for his boarders. Murtan was found in a cellar in a house east of Homer. Ryan was caught within a few hours. Oliphant concealed himself in a hole in the wall of John Sears' house at East River, where he was afterwards discovered. Jones wandered down in Tioga county, and was found several days later asleep in a brush heap in the woods six miles from Owego.
HEAVY BANK ROBBERY.
The Cortland newspapers gave a lengthy account of the theft of a package of bonds, stocks, notes and mortgages, amounting to over $300,000, from the vault of the First National bank some time between Friday, Sept. 22, and the Monday following. The losses were, Wm. R. Randall $110,000, Franklin Hatch $4,000, Chas. W. Collins $1,500, H. Duell $1,000, Mrs. Louise Tanner $1,050, Mrs. Cecelia Holmes $900, Mrs. L. J. Holdridge $350, O. F. Forbes $7,000, Samuel Keator $3,500. As the vault had a time lock, it was known that the package must have been stolen in the day time, and we are informed by one who was quite a loser that it was supposed to be the work of a confederate of two strangers who went into the bank and engaged President Keator in conversation. Mr. Randall recovered his bonds by reason of the fact that they were not negotiable, but no other portion of the booty was ever found.
VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER.
At the April term of court the case of the People against Robert Morris Johnson, charged with murder, was tried. The particulars of this case were given in the record of 1876 in last week's issue, Wm. Costello having died from injuries received at the hands of Johnson at the "Sand Bank'' house near Blodgett Mills. District Attorney B. A. Benedict and B. T. Wright conducted the prosecution, and the prisoner was defended by J. W. Lee, W. H. Warren and H. C. Miner. The jury found a verdict in the third degree and the prisoner was sentenced to four years in Auburn prison.
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
May 30, Memorial Day, was a big day for Cortland, more people being in the village than at any time for years, the occasion being the unveiling and dedication of the soldiers' monument. People were present from every town in the county, and all villages on the line of the railroad sent large delegations. Maj. Gen. Wood of Syracuse and his staff were guests of the village, and several fire companies accepted an invitation to participate in the ceremonies. The procession was formed in the following order: Cortland band; Willoughby Post, G. A. R., of Homer; Maj. Gen. Wood and staff; Orator, president of the village, clergy, etc.; Homer band; Cortland County Tent of Order of Rechabites; Homer fire department; Marathon band; War Horse "Jim;" Marathon fire department; Odd Fellows band; Cortland fire department; Cortland county veterans; Grover Post, G. A. R.
The dedicatory exercises were held near the monument, the program being as follows: Music; Prayer by Rev. Geo. Bayless; Singing under direction of A. D. Blodgett; History of the Monument, Judge A. P. Smith; Unveiling statue under direction of Rev. Thos. Street; Benediction, Rev. John Alabaster.
Between $800 and $900 was raised at the service to aid in paying for the new monument.
JOHN COURTNEY ENTERS THE LAW.
The Marathon Independent of August 18, 1877, pays the following compliment to Attorney John Courtney: "John Courtney, Jr., left yesterday for a position in the new office of Warren & Kellogg, Cortland. For the past two years Mr. Courtney has been with W. J. Mantanye in this village, and has now finished his studies and is ready for admission to the bar. During the time John has been here. he has shown by his strict attention to business that he possesses qualifications for a successful career, and in the practice which he has had the past year he has given satisfaction to his clients.
We are sorry to have him go and shall miss his smiling face on our streets, but we are glad his fortunes are to be bettered by the change." From files of newspapers published in November of that year we learn that Mr. Courtney was admitted to practice law at Albany, passing an unusually creditable examination.
POLITICAL MATTERS.
The political complexion of the board of supervisors were changed from what it was the year previous, the Democrats electing only five members: H. M. Kingman from Cincinnatus, A. C. Carr from Preble, Dr. J. C. Nelson from Truxton, Roswell M. Price from Virgil, and Wilson Greene from Willet. The vote on supervisors in Taylor was a tie.
The Democrats elected several important officers in the town of Cortlandville.
At a Democratic county convention held in July the following delegates were chosen: to state convention, J. H. Palmer, A. T. Ney, C. L. Hathaway. To judiciary convention, O. U. Kellogg. To senatorial convention, John Courtney, Jr., B. B. Jones, M. Van Hoesen, F. P. McFeeley. D. I. Brownell.
The Democratic county ticket was as follows: County judge, S. S. Knox; member of assembly, O. U. Kellogg; justice of sessions, L Tarbell.
At the Republican county convention A. P. Smith was named for county judge, Jos. R. Dixon for member of assembly, and W. D. Hunt for justice of sessions.
The campaign was very exciting, and the election in November resulted in the choice of O. U. Kellogg for member of assembly by 91 majority in the county. Mr. Knox was defeated by the same majority of 91.
BRIEF MENTIONS.
W. H. Warren and O. U. Kellogg formed a law partnership in January.
Dorr C. Smith was appointed village clerk in January. He resigned the position in April, and was succeeded by Edward S. More.
Mark E. Holton and E. D. Mallery of Cortland took possession of the Junction House, Freeville, February 1.
A musical organization in Cortland at that time was very popular, known as the Cortland Mozart club, composed of the following singers: Mrs. G. A. Sears, Mrs. I. R. M. Pomeroy, soprano; Miss Sue C. Ingalls, mezzo-soprano; Mrs. W. H. Twiss, contralto; W D. Murphy, tenor; Chas. Tillinghast, W. F. Burdick, baritone.
At the annual meeting of the Cortland Co. Agricultural society, held Jan. 20, the treasurer reported a balance of $627.82 in his hands.
Jas. S. Squires bought an interest in the grocery business with C. W. Stoker.
Thomas Button opened a barber shop on his own account in February.
On the 13th of February what was known as "Masonic Hall block" was badly damaged by fire, the loss being estimated at $15,000. The occupants of the block, besides the Masonic fraternity, were J. D. Sherwood & Co., groceries; P. Sugarman, clothing; E. N. Johnson, dry goods.
A man named Roswell Lord, a sawyer in M. Wells' mill at Willet, was killed in February by falling against the saw.
E. H. Brewer and A. M. Schermerhorn formed a partnership in April to conduct the harness business.
R. H. Duell and B. A. Benedict formed a law partnership in April.
H. Shapley of Willet committed suicide April 11 by hanging himself.
During the month of April a petition was circulated asking that Lincoln-st. be changed to Lincoln-ave.
The great Murphy temperance movement swept over the country in '77, several meetings being held in Cortland and something over 1200 people signed the Murphy pledge.
John Northrup of Virgil committed suicide June 30 by hanging. He was 56 years old.
The Cortland post office was broken into July 9, and $25 in stamps and change taken.
Mrs. Frank Place was elected president of the W. C. T. U., organized in July.
Two lads named Geo. Brooks and Frank Slater were drowned in the river east of the county house July 29.
A fireman's tournament was held in Cortland September 4, the prizes awarded as follows: First, $75, Eagles of Marathon; second, $40, Tioughniogas of DeRuyter; third, $15, Water Witch company of Cortland.
The new fire bell arrived September 1. The cost was $575.
The project of building a horse railway between Cortland and Homer was seriously discussed in 1877.
On December 1 Chas. H. Warren and Stearns A. Williams leased the Dexter House for five years.
Alton B. Parker, a son of J. Brooks Parker, now chief judge of the court of appeals, was elected surrogate of Ulster county on the Democratic ticket.
Chas. H. Price bought a meat market late in the year of Henry Snyder.
In November, Abner A. Wilson of Willet committed suicide by hanging, making the third case in the county during the year, and the third in Willet within a year and a half.
Daniel S. Lamont accepted an editorial position on the Albany Argus in December.
Upon the completion of Gershom W. Bradford's new residence in November, 1877, some two hundred of his friends marched to his residence headed by the Odd Fellows band, and surprised him and his wife. Presents were made, and remarks were made E. A. Fish, Prof. Hoose, Dr. H. A. Bolles, A. F. Tanner.
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SAPHO SUPPRESSED.
Principals in Production Arrested and Held for Grand Jury.
NEW YORK, March 6.—Wallack's theater remained closed last night. Olga Nethersole, who has been playing the leading part in Sapho, Hamilton Revelle, the leading man, Marcus Meyer, manager of the company, and Theodore Moss, lessee of the theater, were each held in $500 bail for trial in special sessions yesterday by Magistrate Mott, in the Center Street police court. They were charged with producing a play that offended public decency, the complaints being made from the office of the district attorney.
The parties defendant were paroled in custody of their counsel until tomorrow, when they will again appear in Center Street court and give bail of $500 each.
Colonel Gardiner at once gave information of the decision to Chief of Police Devery. The chief notified the theatrical authorities interested that every participant in the play would be arrested if radical changes were not made. The management decided that the required changes in the play could not be made on such short notice and the house was closed for the night.
Equipments For British Army.
BINGHAMTON, N. Y., March 8.—The Faatz Brush and Felting company of Lestershire, has shipped to Southampton, England, an express car full of saddle clothes and saddle pommels to be used by the British army in South Africa. This is the first consignment in an order which will amount in value to about $50.000, and which will consume about 26,000 pounds of fine wool.
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| Samuel N. Holden. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
American coal is sold cheaper in Paris, France than in Philadelphia.
Reprinted copies of the city charter bill were received here Wednesday.
Keep your ear turned towards Albany. That is where Cortland's fate rests just now.
American agricultural implements are lower in price in St. Petersburg, Russia, than in St. Paul, Minn.
The National Democratic convention will be held in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, July 4. The day is well chosen.
The spring elections, with hardly a break, have been carried by the Democrats. Elmira is the only city where the Republicans won anything.
Thomas Fitzgerald is an old and respected resident of Cortland and his election to j the office of collector would be a just tribute to his age and integrity.
What do the village people think of the propriety of circulating an anonymous sheet which resorts to profanity to bolster up the cause of anti progress?
American sewing machines cost less in London, England, than in Leavenworth, Kan., and American boots and shoes are cheaper in Birmingham, England, than in Boston, Mass.
The time for argument has passed. The fate of the city charter now rests with the legislature and "Teddy, ' and there is no reason to doubt favorable action at their hands, and that Cortland will soon be a CITY.
While the Democratic and Republican village tickets are substantially alike, we urge all Democrats to make their cross under the star, as in that case they will not only vote for the city charter ticket, but will swell the vote for Democratic inspectors of election.
The city charter ticket presents a candidate for assessor who has won the respect of all his townsmen and one whose ability to correctly and fairly assess property is not even questioned by the obstructionist party. You make no mistake in voting for Eugene W. Bates.
No word of commendation need be spoken of the three candidates for school commissioner. Messrs. Brown, Hakes and Peck are men whose ability is well known. That such excellent candidates should be chosen on the ticket sure of election should be a matter of congratulation to all.
After the various arguments to the contrary it cannot be denied that all taxes rest upon the people and that the majority of the people are poor. Therefore, the only way of relieving the people of the burden of taxation is by retrenchment and economy in the expenditure of public funds.
The editor, or the publisher or the correspondent of the anonymous sheet yelept [sic] Citizens' Ticket (it is impossible to say in which capacity the writer serves) makes one assertion with which the people heartily agree, viz.: "The charter is practically sure to be a law."
Can the people of Cortland chose a better pilot for the coming year than the one who has served so acceptably in the president's chair the past year? The DEMOCRAT thinks not and is sure a majority of our people think likewise. Vote the ticket under the star and help elect Samuel N. Holden.
Syracuse having repudiated the Republican machine for some time past, it is proposed to bring an investigation to bear there, to add perhaps a little campaign thunder to the Republican fund of argument too woefully depleted in this state. But we fail to hear of an investigation in any of the regular Republican cities.
Nearly two weeks have elapsed and none of the facts or figures claimed at the opera house for the city charter have been questioned or disproved. The opposition hand bill contains naught that is contradictory, and the columns of the DEMOCRAT and Standard have been open had honest figures been obtained to combat a city charter.
''The Citizens' Ticket," an independent paper to be published every little while, made its first appearance this week. Rev. J. L. Robertson, "for fourteen years pastor of the Presbyterian church of Cortland," is said to be one of the managing editors. The claim is also made, but we cannot believe it after perusing a copy. that the paper is run on the principle of the Sheldon experiment soon to be tried in Kansas, namely, that the acceptance of every article is based on the query ''What would Jesus do" about it. We welcome our whilom contemporary into the journalistic ranks.
City charter opponents make a great cry about defeating the will of the people" and they quote the last town meeting to prove that the proposed city of Cortland would be dry "ten to one." Kindly reflect on facts. The town of Cortlandville voted to not license hotels, but did the village so vote? No. The votes cast within the proposed city limits show a balance in favor of licensing hotels. It is only when the figures of the McGrawville, Blodgett Mills and other outlying districts are counted that the balance is against granting hotel licenses.
We have heard much about a mongrel ticket, meaning that at the head of this column. This is made up of Democrats and Republicans, all straight party men and none who have even been classed as kickers, reformers, etc. Have you examined the list of candidates on the Citizens' ticket? That is made up of Prohibitionists and Republicans and some of the latter have long been known as chronic kickers. Did not "the pot call the kettle black?"
HERE AND THERE.
March will have two full moons. Bully for March.
Regular meeting of the Cortlandville grange this evening.
The first robin story is postponed on account of the weather.
Miss Grace Stevenson was the guest of friends in Syracuse last week.
A conundrum: If March comes in like two lions, how ought it to go out?
Butter and cheese producers are looking forward to a successful year. So let it be.
The trolley cars in Cortland have been playing in hard luck since the heavy storm.
Runaways [horses] were quite numerous Monday, but none of them were of a very serious nature.
Why shouldn't Cortland become a city, when the Pullman Palace Car company names a sleeper "Cortland?"
The Loyal Circle of Kings' Daughters will meet with Mrs. S. N. Gooding, 148 Port Watson-st., at 1 o'clock.
The recent cold snap and heavy body of snow will hold the sap in maple trees until the proper time for a rush.
Mr. Barney, proprietor of the restaurant in the DEMOCRAT building, has chosen a pretty name, the "Laurel," for his cafe.
If any one in Cortland believes that figures lie, let him read the six column financial report of the retiring officers in this issue.
The first of March was tough on the moving brigade. Many changes of residence, however, took place in the village during the week.
Our correspondents must bear with us until the close of the Truck trial. We are simply obliged to condense, but we mean to treat all alike.
Albert Sheffield of Homer, who has been at the Cortland hospital for some time, was on Monday pronounced insane and taken to the Binghamton state hospital.
Shortly after Easter Cortland will have a cake-walk in which many prominent dancers from Binghamton, Syracuse and other places will participate.
An old maid's convention was held at Knoxboro, over in Oneida County, last Friday. Cortland could hold a similar convention and fill every seat in the Opera House.
Ed. N. Sherwood, who has worked for the Benton Lumber company for several years, had the misfortune to run his left hand against a saw last Friday afternoon and three ringers were terribly lacerated.
Hundreds of people, many of them small girls and boys, are turned away daily from the court-room because there is no room for them. A large number of ladies are daily spectators of the proceedings.
The first M. E., First Baptist and Presbyterian churches united with the Congregational church Sunday evening in a farewell service for Rev. W. H. Pound, who closed his pastorate with that church at that time.
The old residents Cortland were tickled half to death with the storm of last Wednesday night and Thursday, as they were so forcibly reminded of their boyhood days, when they had snow storms that were storms.
Arch W. Stevens, who has conducted a barber shop on Railroad-st. for several years, has sold out to Everett C. Warlick, who can handle a razor equal to any expert. Mr. Stevens will engage in the poultry business on Fitz-ave.
Time evens up all things. While we have been congratulating ourselves that the winter was to pass without the usual familiarity with the snow shovel, along comes enough of the beautiful to make one's back ache for a month.
Mrs. S. E. Maine has assumed the management of the Manlius Eagle, and we believe she will run that paper successfully. The subscribers of the Eagle will doubtless be admonished to "remember the Maine" when their subscriptions are due.
Among the many turnovers of cutters and other vehicles since the heavy snow of last Thursday, none have made a bigger spread than the upsetting of a mammoth load of wallpaper consigned to Messrs. McKinney & Doubleday, at the junction of Church and Railroad-sts., last Friday afternoon.
Prof. F. E. Smith and Mrs. Martha Sampson were the opposing counsel in police court Tuesday morning, in the case of The People against Mrs. Sampson, the charge against the defendant being a violation of the truant law. Prof. Smith won his case, Mrs. Sampson being found guilty. She was given a suspended sentence upon the promise that she would send her daughter to school.
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