Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday, March 23, 1900.
AWAITING EXECUTION.
JOHN TRUCK IN THE CONDEMNED CELLS AT AUBURN PRISON.
Made His Trip Quietly and Enjoyed the Notoriety—Talked all the Way—A Youth at Groton Inquired of the Prisoner if Truck was on the Train.
John Truck, the condemned murderer of Frank W. Miller, is safely confined in the condemned cells of Auburn prison, and there he will remain till the week beginning April 29, when he will be taken into the execution chamber which is in the next room to the cells and there in the electric chair he will pay the penalty of his crime. Of course this is upon the supposition that no successful effort is made for a new trial or for an appeal or for a stay of execution of any kind.
Truck made the trip to Auburn quietly Monday. He was handcuffed to Alphonso Wagner, a boy who was being taken to the Industrial school at Rochester. Truck was in [the] charge of Officer John Miller and Wagner in [the] charge of Officer F. M. Hazzard. A Standard man accompanied the party to Auburn. The crowd at the Lehigh Valley station in Cortland was referred to yesterday. That same crowd was duplicated, only in a lesser degree all along the line. The new s that the prisoner was to go through had seemingly preceded him and eager eyes were strained to catch a glimpse of him at every station. All Freeville was on hand at the junction as well as a large part of Dryden. “Which is he, which is he,” was the whispered question as they saw the two men handcuffed together crossing the platform to take the train on the other division. At Groton a troop of men and boys came stringing through the car looking intently at each man. Truck and Wagner were sitting well back in the smoking car, the hands wearing the bracelets being down between them so that they were o u t of sight. By the time the head of the procession had reached Truck the leader had seen no one whom he thought was the murderer and was disappointed and he stopped short by his side and inquired of Truck, “Say, is that man Truck that is being taken to Auburn any where on this car?” Truck grinned while Wagner laughed outright and the former replied, “Guess he is, right here.” The look on that man’s face was a puzzler, to think that he had actually asked Truck himself if the prisoner was there. He made no reply whatever, but gazed at him a moment in astonishment and then hurried on. The crowd followed him, and the shout that arose at the end of the car at his expense nearly took the roof off as the others slapped the questioner on the back. Truck laughed too, as he said, “Guess he didn’t know he had struck the very fellow himself.”
As the train neared Auburn Wagner remarked to his fellow, “Well, I’m glad I’m not going where you are. I’m perfectly willing to go on to Rochester.” Truck talked incessantly between the puffs of his cigar about his new trial. “The celebration this time is nothing compared with the one they’ll have when I come back,” he said.
At Auburn the whole party rode up to the prison in a sleigh omnibus. Truck seemed to keep his eyes on everything. He was probably taking his last look at the bright sunlight and was breathing in for the last time the pure out-of-doors air. As the five men alighted from the omnibus a few passersby stopped to take a look at the new arrivals. The heavy bolt turned and the big gates swung back and Truck was within prison walls. He climbed the long flight of steps leading up to the main entrance and passed in out of the open air. Hence forth he will be confined within doors except in the improbable event of a new trial or an appeal which will call for his being brought back to Cortland to be retried or re-sentenced.
Warden Mead was on hand with a group of officers while two or three newspaper men hovered near. The two prisoners were taken through to the rear reception room, the handcuffs were removed from Truck, and Officer Hazzard’s wrist took the place of the murderer’s as he turned to go with Wagner to the New York Central station across the street to take the train for Rochester.
Truck had barely time to turn for a good bye to the officer who had come with him and the newspaper man who had accompanied them. “Bear in mind that I’ll be back soon for my new trial,” were his last words.
At 10:35 o’clock he was taken in to the inner corridor and led in to the office of the principal keeper which closely adjoins. There Warden Mead read to him the death warrant, which was published in these columns Tuesday. He was then stripped of all his clothing and given a bath. A new outfit of clothing complete was provided for him, and all his former clothing was taken away to insure the fact that nothing which might have been concealed in his clothing was retained in his possession. His new suit is not made of the usual stripes worn by the prisoners. Condemned prisoners are not required to wear these. Then he was led down to occupy one of the five condemned cells in the chamber below
These cells are not open to the public view and no one is permitted to go there aside from the officers in charge, except the counsel of a prisoner, his spiritual adviser or some of his nearest relatives. But it may be said upon hearsay evidence that the five cells are placed side by side. They are about ten feet square with solid walls upon three sides of them, the front side being wholly of iron bars. In the corridor in front is always an officer, sometimes more than one. His eye can constantly be upon everything that goes on in the cells.
Before Truck was taken down there only two of the five were occupied. These two condemned prisoners are George A. Smith of Monroe county, a wife murderer; and Squire Tankard of Chautauqua county, who murdered his wife’s sister.
Another murderer was also brought into the prison about a half hour after Truck. This was Horace P. Norton of Herkimer county who murdered his common law wife. His conviction was for murder in the second degree and his sentence was imprisonment for life. His coming brought the prison population up to 1,199. Warden Mead said that doubtless some one else would arrive during the day to bring it up to an even 1,200.
On Saturday Truck is to be photographed and measured according to the Bertillon system, and then his life will settle down to the hum drum uninterrupted every day routine till the fatal day arrives.
Through the courtesy of the warden the two Cortland men were conducted through the greater part of the prison and observed the inmates at work. Over 1,000 of them are now daily engaged at their work at some trade. It was interesting to note the fine work done in furniture manufacturing, in weaving, in the machinery department and in the wood working shops. Everything that is used in the different public institutions of the state that can be made in the prisons is made there and is well made. The warden says he frequently receives orders for 10,000 yards of toweling at a time from some insane asylum or other institution, and other things in proportion. But it is a pitiful sight to see so many men there all deprived of their liberty for cause.
This is not Truck’s first experience in Auburn. He was received there on Jan. 29, 1884, for burglary in the third degree in stealing a cow in Christian Hollow, and was discharged May 28, 1886.
Reference was made by Dr. White upon the trial to Dr. Sefton having seen Truck before. The Standard man called upon Dr. Sefton Monday at his private sanitarium, “The Pines,” in the south part of the city. Dr. Sefton said that his knowledge of Truck prior to examining him in Cortland was confined to a single meeting with him. When he saw him here he knew he had seen him before somewhere, but when or where he was unable to state. He asked Truck if he had ever seen him (the doctor) before. Truck replied in the affirmative. Dr. Sefton inquired where and when. Truck replied that just before he was discharged from Auburn prison during his previous confinement he had applied for medicine to Dr. Sefton, who because of the prison physician’s illness or absence from duty for a day or two was substituting there. Dr. Sefton had examined into his case then and had said that he guessed he wasn’t very sick and didn’t need any medicine and had declined to give him any. Truck remembered him from that. That was his whole acquaintance with him.
Crowned with the Laurels of a City.
The City of Cortland with a population of 10,000 will be first advertised to the world through “Grip’s” Historical Souvenir of Cortland. The publication completes the village era from the first log house erected in 1792 in front of the Mason Loring place, when Cortland was a part of Homer, to March 16, 1900, when the city charter became a law—chap. 160, laws of 1900. Step by step the advance of Cortland is recorded. The first century of its growth is crowned with the laurels of a city. Men who have served the county, town and village—finally, the first city officers appear in the pages of this souvenir.
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THE COMMON COUNCIL.
THE VILLAGE TRUSTEES FORMALLY QUALIFY AS CITY ALDERMEN.
Addison E. Buck in the Third Ward and Wm. G. McKinney in the Fifth Duly Confirmed Aldermen—Political Complexion of the Council.
The first meeting of the common council for the new city of Cortland was held Monday evening at the office of the city clerk for the purpose of organizing and selecting two aldermen, one each for the Third and Fifth wards. Trustees Wood, Thompson, Yager and Skeele were present and qualified as aldermen and are, by a provision of the charter, now entitled to a place in the council, representing wards as follows: Wood, Fourth ward; C. Fred Thompson, Second ward; E. M. Yager, First ward; and Verne W. Skeele, Sixth ward. This left the Third and Fifth wards to be supplied by the council.
Mayor Holden stated that according to the terms of the city charter it devolved upon him to present two names for alderman in these wards, and that as such for the Third he would name Mr. Addison E. Buck. Alderman Thompson moved the confirmation and Alderman Wood called for the yeas and nays, and all the members voted affirmatively. Mr. Buck was declared elected and upon qualifying will be seated in the common council.
For alderman in the Fifth ward, Mayor Holden named Mr. Wm. G. McKinney, and in so doing stated that he wished to return the courtesy which the Democratic party had shown in the recent election. Mr. Thompson again moved the confirmation and Mr. Skeele seconded it. The yeas and nays were called, and the vote stood at a tie, Thompson and Skeele voting yea, Wood and Yager voting nay. This brought the vote to the mayor for decision and he promptly cast the deciding ballot for Mr. McKinney, stating as he did so that to his knowledge the aldermen had no personal prejudices against the candidate or the policy of choosing a Democrat from the Fifth ward, but he understood that they had another candidate in view.
It may be stated right here that though Mayor Holden made the nominations of the two aldermen; he did it upon the suggestion of the four aldermen who had already qualified. The mayor had intimated that he intended to appoint a Republican and a Democrat, and the Republican members of the council indicated to him Mr. Buck as their choice, while the Democratic members fixed upon Mr. McKinney [as] their choice. Both being acceptable to the mayor, he nominated both of them.
The common council as it now stands and will continue till Jan. 1, 1901, is composed of six aldermen, three each of Republicans and Democrats, and a Republican mayor. The charter provides for a meeting of the council the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month, so the first regular meeting will occur on April 3. There will, however, be many extra meetings. It was noticeably evident from the remarks made Monday night by the aldermen that there is a tendency among the fathers to go slow in the matter of appointments and secure good men. “Above all else, gentlemen,” said Mr. Thompson, “let us start the city under the supervision of good men.” And this sentiment seemed to prevail, and it is the general impression that in selecting Mr. Buck and Mr. McKinney the council h as made a good start.
The aldermen then talked of some of the provision of the charter, and of the officers under the village charter that hold over under the present government. The police justice will still continue in office as city judge. The constables will hold over, but they must re-qualify within ten days after the charter went into effect, which date was the 16th of March. The aldermen next November will be elected for one and two years, those from the wards designated by the odd numbers, One, Three and Five will be elected for one year, the others, for two years. Thereafter each alderman will be elected for two years.
The appropriations voted at the last charter election are, by the terms of the charter, now declared void. The common council however, has power to raise the money required for all the branches which the appropriations covered, but this amount must not exceed one per cent of the assessed value of the city.
The sewer board remains as the hoard of public works. The duties of this board, as the name indicates, is much broader than formerly. It has the appointment of a superintendent of public works. The present street commissioner continues in office till the superintendent is appointed.
The first meeting, after the aldermen were appointed, was an informal talk upon the provisions of the charter, and the council feels that it will be necessary to get together often and discuss the charter. Adjournment was had till Thursday evening at 7:30 o’clock.
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| Ferdinand E. Smith. |
A Fine Regents Paper.
Superintendent F. E. Smith has received a letter from the New York Education stating that instead of making out a set of answers for Regents questions in each subject for publication in their paper as was their custom, there had been sent from the Regents a number of the best papers in each subject from which to select sets of answers, and the paper in Elementary English submitted by Miss Iva Barnes of the Central school has been selected for the answers in this subject.
The paper referred to was written by Miss Iva during the last examinations and is pronounced by the superintendent to be a model of neatness and accuracy.
Will Remove on April 1.
On April 1 McEvoy Brothers will move their store from the Martin building to the Wells block on Clinton-ave. After that date they will also discontinue the boot and shoe department and will deal only in furniture and undertaking.
THE A. O. H. BANQUET
Was Held in Empire Hall on Thursday Evening, March 22.
The third annual banquet of the A. O. H. in honor of St. Patrick was held Thursday evening, March 22, at 8:30 in Empire hall, and the following gentlemen had promised to respond to toasts: Mayor James K. McGuire, James J. Barrett, and John W. Dorsey of Syracuse; Edward W. Hyatt of Homer; Rev. J. J. McLoghlin, Edwin Duffey, Dr. J. M. Milne, T. H. Dowd and N. L. Miller of Cortland. The vocalists were to be John Byrnes, Wm. P. Walsh, Joseph McGuire, Chas. B. Dowd and Grenville Bowker. McDermott’s orchestra was to furnish the music.
Death of Mrs. Ryan.
Mrs. Margaret Ryan died at the home of her daughter Mrs. Ira D. Hyde, 7 Monroe Heights, Tuesday afternoon at about 5 o’clock of paralysis. Deceased is survived by six children: Stephen Ryan of South Otselic, James and T. J. Ryan of Racine, Wis.; Patrick Ryan, Mrs. Ira D. Hyde and Mrs. Daniel Lucy of Cortland.
The funeral services were held at the house Thursday morning at 9 o’clock and at St. Mary’s church at 9:30.
Death of Mr. Griffith.
Abram Griffith, an old and respected resident of East Homer, died at his home on Wednesday morning at 7 o’clock after an illness of two years. He had been gradually failing for some time. His age was 69 years. The funeral will be held on Saturday at 1 o’clock at the house and at 2 o’clock at the church. Burial at East Homer.
HON. DANIEL E. WHITMORE.
Sudden Death of a Prominent Resident of Cortland County.
Hon. Daniel E. Whitmore, whose death from pneumonia Tuesday morning- at his home in Marathon was noted in that night’s STANDARD, was born Jan. 6, 1825, at Columbus, Chenango Co. He was the second of a family of nine children of Luther and Elsie (Perkins) Whitmore and his grandparents on his father’s side came from Connecticut, and on his mother’s side from Rhode Island. He attended the common schools of his native town and in 1846 was graduated from the Albany Normal school, now the Albany Normal college, standing among the first in a class of forty-six members. He was a teacher at the age of 15, and in [1843] took charge of the English department of the Cortland academy under the celebrated principal, Prof S. B. Woolworth. Among his pupils was David R. Locke, afterward famous as Petroleum V. Nasby. He was at a later time principal of the school in Marathon, teacher in the Homer academy and principal of the school at Canandaigua. In 1857 he w as elected school commissioner in district No. 1 of Cortland county, which position he held for five consecutive terms of three years each. During this time the common schools showed marked and steady growth and the teachers were brought into highly harmonious relations with each other. For eight years Mr. Whitmore was president of the board of education of the Marathon Union school and academy. In 1872 Hamilton college conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts.
In 1873 Mr. Whitmore became a wholesale produce dealer in Marathon, conducting his business as a branch of the firm of George B. Whitmore & Co., of New York, in which at a little later time his brother was the head of the firm and his own two sons the associate partners. In later years he built up a valuable fire insurance business.
In politics Mr. Whitmore was originally a Whig, but united with the Republican party upon its organization. In 1871 and 1872 he was a delegate of his party to state conventions. He was supervisor from his town for three years and was once chairman of the board. He held the office of justice of the peace intermittently for a long term of years. In 1875 he w as elected member of assembly from Cortland county, defeating his opponent, Hon. Daniel S. Lamont, by 138 votes.
Mr. Whitmore was one of the organizers and charter trustees of the Cortland Savings bank; he was one of the organizers of the First National bank of Marathon and continued as one of its directors up to the time of his death. He was also a trustee of the Peck Memorial library of Marathon.
In his church relations Mr. Whitmore was a Presbyterian and a member of the church of that denomination in Marathon. He was one of the elders of the church and for years had been the clerk of the session. For fifteen years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school. For three years he was a commissioner and examiner of Auburn Theological seminary.
On July 9, 1850, Mr. Whitmore was married to Lydia M. Shattuck of Marathon. Three sons were born to them: Daniel Webster, Fran k E., and David L. The first and third are residents of New York and members of the wholesale produce firm of George B. Whitmore & Co. The second son is conducting a produce business in Marathon. Mrs. Whitmore and all three sons survive, as well as four brothers: John L., Henry I., and Lee H., all of Minnesota; Hon. George B. Whitmore of Sherburne, N.Y., and one sister, Mrs. Alice Robinson of South New Berlin, N. Y.
As stated Tuesday Mr. Whitmore had been in usual health till he took cold last Thursday from sitting in a cold hall during a session of a farmers’ institute in Marathon. Pneumonia developed, the progress of the disease was rapid and the end came almost before the family realized that the patient was dangerously ill. Dr. Field was the attending physician and Dr. A. Bishop of Binghamton was called in counsel. Both felt from the beginning that there was little hope because of Mr. Whitmore’s advanced age. His two sons arrived from New York Tuesday morning on the 6:28 train, in time to he recognized by their father before the end came at 8 o’clock.
The funeral will be held Friday at 2 o’clock, and will be conducted by Rev. J. H. F. Blue, D. D., pastor of the Presbyterian church.
The death of Mr. Whitmore was startlingly sudden. Just a week before the day of his death he was in The Standard office, and the writer [William H. Clark] had a very pleasant conversation with him concerning the days spent together in Albany in the legislature of 1875. He then seemed as well and bright and strong as he had for years past, and his chances of life good for many years to come. Daniel E. Whitmore was much more than an ordinary man. He combined good natural abilities, sound habits, extensive business experience, careful self culture and high character. He had read and thought much and carefully, and was exceptionally intelligent and interesting in conversation. Clear and positive in his views, he was tenacious of his convictions and had the courage to maintain them against any opposition. During his long service as school commissioner, he was a valuable, faithful and industrious public servant. In the legislature his sterling qualities were fully appreciated, and he commanded the respect and esteem of his colleagues. In his business, family and social relations he was above reproach, his acquaintance was very wide, and those who knew him were, almost universally, his friends. Always public spirited and actively interested in the general welfare, there were few if any projects which promised good to the community where he lived which did not have his cordial support, and with which he was not prominently identified.
In church matters, he not only occupied a responsible place, as the facts of his biography show, but he was a man of deep and sincere spiritual feeling, and one who believed that religion was not for a single day in the week or confined within the pale of a single church, but was a life as well as a profession, and ought to be both comprehensive and earnest. In every sense of the words, and in the best ways, he was a leading man in the community where he lived. His death, like that of others of his type of character, leaves a vacancy, outside of his immediate family and friends, which in certain ways cannot be filled. Any community would be the better if there were more men in it such as Daniel E. Whitmore was.
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| Booker T. Washington. |
Booker T. Washington.
Booker T. Washington, the principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial institute, Tuskegee. Ala., will deliver a lecture at [Cortland] Normal hall on Wednesday evening, March 28. This will be the last entertainment in the Normal [School] course. Mr. Washington is attracting the attention of thinking people all over this country, and his lecture will be one of the prime attractions of the season.
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