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| Edward Joel Pennington. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, May 22, 1900.
E. J. PENNINGTON
TO HONOR CORTLAND WITH A FORCED VISIT JUNE 1.
The Inventor of the Motor Cycle That was to Have Been Built in Cortland Left Town in 1895 with Numerous Bills Unpaid—Arrested by Sheriff Brainard in New York on Sunday.
For several years Cortland people have been wondering concerning the whereabouts of one Edward J. Pennington who was quite a conspicuous figure here in the fall of 1894 and the winter of 1895. He came to the place claiming to be the president of the Cleveland Motor Cycle Co. of Cleveland, O., manufacturer of a motor cycle of which he was the inventor. He made arrangements with the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. to turn its big wagon plant into a cycle factory and claimed that the first order for machines was to be 50,000. Two thousand men were to be employed, and it was claimed that as a bicycle factory this one would be three times as large as the largest in the country. It is needless to say that these things did not materialize.
Mr. Pennington stayed in Cortland for some months. One or two motor cycles were built, and they seemed to work perfectly on a run of four or five miles, but on a longer run they would get hot, and needed a supply of water constantly on hand to keep the machinery cool. In other words the principle was all right, but they had not then reached a state of perfection.
Early in 1895 Mr. Pennington left Cortland to return no more, and since that time some of the people of the place have been looking for him anxiously. Delos Bauder, then proprietor of the Cortland House, yearned for a sight of his face long enough to have him settle a board bill at the hotel amounting to upwards of $200. F. Daehler had furnished him some expensive suits of clothing which he forgot to settle for, for everything he ordered was of the very finest quality. The Second National bank had cashed a sight draft of his for $100 upon a party in Cleveland, signed and endorsed by himself, and the draft came back marked "refused." A printer's bill was also among the matters that escaped his recollection. There were also some other accounts here in the place.
Two years ago Mr. Pennington returned from a trip to Europe and several of these numerous bills were placed in the hands of Franklin Pierce of New York to collect, but Mr. Pennington got wind of it and departed again for London. He returned to New York a few days ago, claiming to be the inventor of a new motor cycle for use in war—a machine that would carry a dozen men and a rapid fire gun and which was all armored. On good roads this machine was said to develop the speed of seventy-five miles per hour.
No sooner had the news been received in Cortland that Mr. Pennington was again in this country than the Cortland people decided that they wanted to see him. Accordingly Sheriff Brainard on Saturday night started for New York armed with a warrant sworn out by Delos Bauder before City Judge R. L. Davis. The story of the arrest is told in the New York World of Monday and is accompanied by a cut of the defendant and what is said to be Sheriff [Arthur] Brainard. The artist was evidently acquainted with Pennington's appearance, but one would never recognize our jolly rotund sheriff in the spare and lean Uncle Sam-like individual with the long chin whiskers. It is fair to conclude that the artist had never seen Art. The World's dates are also a little inaccurate. However, The World says:
Edward J. Pennington, inventor of airships and motor cycles, elegant in dress and resplendent with jewels, was arrested yesterday as he was leaving his swell apartments in the Berkeley at 20 Fifth-Ave.
He was arrested by Sheriff Brainard of Cortland county, this state, on a warrant which charges Pennington with leaving unpaid a hotel bill in Cortland two years ago. The complainant is Delos Bauder, and he swore out the warrant Saturday before City Judge Rowland L. Davis of Cortland. There are several tradespeople in Cortland who have claims against Pennington, and a draft for $100 which he gave to the Second National bank there was returned by the person on whom it was drawn endorsed "Refused." Pennington left Cortland suddenly in July, [1895], and never returned.
Lawyer Franklin Pierce of 81 Nassau-st., who represents several of the Cortland creditors, has been watching for Pennington for over two years.
Sheriff Brainard arrived here yesterday morning, and with Lawyer Pierce went to police headquarters. Detective Sergeant Sheridan detailed Detectives Rein and Kenney to assist. They went to the Berkeley and waited. It was 2 o'clock before Pennington came forth. He is a finely built man, over six feet high and very erect in carriage. He was faultlessly attired in frock coat, pearl-gray trousers, silk hat, light gloves and highly polished patent-leathers. His man had ordered a cab, which was waiting.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Pennington," said the sheriff. "Don't you remember me up in Cortland?"
"Can't say that I do," said Pennington. "I'll be back in a few minutes and see you."
"You'll have to see me now," said the sheriff. "I've got a warrant for you."
"No good on Sunday," said Pennington nonchalantly, preparing to step into his cab.
"Just as good as gold," said the sheriff. "The judge was afraid you'd be going to London to-morrow, and fixed it so it would work any time."
Pennington submitted gracefully when he found there was no escape and drove to headquarters with his captors. He gave his age as 40 years, said he was born in the United States, was married and that he was an inventor and engineer. Proprietor James Slater of the Berkeley later appeared and went on his bail bond. His case will be called in Jefferson Market police court this morning.
When Pennington went to Cortland in [1895] it was as president of the Motor-Cycle company of Cleveland, O. His letterhead contained the names of several prominent business men in Cleveland as officers and directors with him. He contracted with the Hitchcock Manufacturing company to make his auto-cycles.
The sheriff says this account of the arrest is a little highly colored and slightly imaginative, but nevertheless they got their man, though he was difficult to get at. He was living in those flats into which no one could gain entrance till he had presented his card to the colored man at the door and had stated his business and the attendant had been directed to show the visitor up. They were told that Mr. Pennington was not in and it wasn't known when he would be in. But while they waited they heard another caller told that he would be in at 8 o'clock, and another was admitted at once. Finally they found the owner of the flats who lived in the building and he got them into sight of their man in a very few minutes.
The Evening Sun of last night says: Edward J. Pennington, the motor cycle inventor and promoter, who was arrested yesterday afternoon at The Berkeley, 20 Fifth-ave., where he lives, on the charge of leaving unpaid a hotel bill of $96 in Cortland, N. Y., was arraigned on that charge in the Tombs police court this morning. Magistrate Deuel held the prisoner in $1,000 bail for examination on June 1. The examination will take place before City Judge Rowland Davis at Cortland, on that day. The warrant on which Pennington was arrested by Sheriff Brainard of Cortland county, was issued by Judge Davis. James Skater, the proprietor of The Berkeley, qualified this morning as bondsman for the prisoner.
Counsel for the prisoner moved that the arrest be vacated, but he did not press the matter so the magistrate endorsed the papers, thereby making the execution of the warrant regular. Pennington said, after leaving court, that the debt incurred at the hotel in Cortland had been on the part of his employees and not himself personally.
Sheriff Brainard returned this morning. He says that Attorney Pierce yesterday served papers on Pennington by which he will be held for the payment of six other bills, the most of them being due to Cortland parties.
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| Judge Alton B. Parker. |
JUDGE ALTON B. PARKER
May be the Democratic Candidate for Vice-President.
NEW YORK, May 22.—Strong influences are at work to secure the Democratic nomination for vice-president for Alton B. Parker, chief judge of the court of appeals of New York, says a Washington dispatch to The World. Numerous Democrats have been in Washington the last few days, called by the meeting of Democratic clubs and the Congressional campaign committee. It is claimed that the nomination of Justice Parker would meet with the hearty approval of the southern and western Democrats who otherwise would object to the selection of an eastern man. Judge Parker's friends say that with his name on the ticket Bryan might carry New York. They point out that Judge Parker had 60,889 plurality in 1897, just a year after McKinley's plurality of 268,469, whereas Augustus Van Wyck was defeated in 1898 by 17,786.
CONTRACT LET.
WARNER-QUINLAN ASPHALT CO. UNDERBIDS ALL OTHERS.
Groton-ave. Paving to be Done by New Firm—Four Bids Received by Board of Public Works and Opened Last Night—Estimated Cost $25,570—Other Matters Taken Up by the Board.
A new firm will put in the paving on Groton-ave., as a result of the sealed bids for that work which were opened last night and passed upon by the board of public works. Four bids were received on two propositions for paving, first with asphalt and stone curbing, and second with asphalt and Portland cement curbing. The four bids on the two propositions were as follows:
Metropolitan Asphalt Paving Co., New York, proposition one, $27,874.50; proposition two, $26,524.
Standard Asphalt Paving Co., New York, proposition one, $27,676; proposition two, $26,062.
Warner-Quinlan Asphalt Co., New York, proposition one; $25,570; proposition two, $24,398.
Warren Scharff Asphalt Co., proposition one, $25,825; proposition two, $24,698.50.
As soon as the bids were opened the board went into executive session, and did not come to any definite conclusion till nearly 2 o'clock in the morning. At one time it looked very much as though the bids would all be rejected and new ones called for. This, however, was averted by a motion that the contract be awarded the lowest bidder.
The Warner-Quinlan Asphalt Paving Co. comes to Cortland well recommended. It has put down some of the best sheet asphalt that Syracuse ever had placed upon its streets, and the board is confident that the new company will do at least as good work as Cortland ever had done in this line of work. The contract calls for the work to be begun on or before June 1, and to be completed Sept. 1, 1900. The company makes all excavations and furnishes all materials.
Mr. Edwin Duffey came before the board in the early part of the evening and entered a complaint of certain cattle buyers who were in the habit of driving their stock down Port Watson-st. and of letting them tramp upon the lawns along the street where the residents were trying to start grass plots. Not only did they permit the stock to run upon these places but also, he said, it seemed that they were intentionally driving their herds on the space between the curbing and the fence on the south side of the street until regular cattle paths were being established there. A discussion of this by the board led also to the discussion of the manner in which dirt, ashes, and manure were being distributed about the streets from teamster's wagons. This, the board reasoned, was a source of unnecessary work, and ought to be prohibited, and Mr. Duffey was instructed to go before the common council and say that the board of public works recommended that ordinances be passed that would abate the nuisances.
Hon. F. P. Saunders and Mr. Harrison Wells came before the board to speak of the paving of Clinton-ave. Mr. Saunders stated that they were informed that a petition of the property holders was useless unless a resolution was first passed by the board of public works. The board wanted the petition in order that it might know what was the property-owners' wish in the matter. It was gleaned from the remarks made that many of the people of that street were in favor of paving all the way to the stone bridge. Others favored pavement as far as Pendleton-st. while a few were in favor of stopping at the D., L, & W. railroad tracks. The board suggested to the gentlemen that they draw up two petitions, one for the pavement of the street to the river bridge, and the other to go as far as the railroad crossing. The board intimated that it was ready to act when the people's opinions were ascertained.
FARMERS NOW SEE LIGHT.
DID NOT UNDERSTAND MILK SITUATION IN NEW YORK.
Experts Say the Price Must Depend on Profits That Can be Made on Butter and Cheese and Cannot be Determined Five Years in Advance.
(From the New York Tribune, May 17.)
When the plan of William Graves and Charles R. Flint to raise the price of milk was first announced, The Tribune said many persons were of the opinion that the farmers were being hoodwinked, and would find out that the ultimate design was not to benefit them but a new set of middlemen. This was partly corroborated yesterday when one of the established wholesale milk dealers of this city received the following telegram from the farmers who had held back their milk at a certain station:
We hope you will take our milk back. We think we have been deceived.
It is believed by the milk dealers and others connected with the handling of milk in this city that the farmers of the Five States Milk Producers' association do not fully understand the situation here. It is understood that the farmers who sent this telegram believed that their committee in securing William Graves with his promise to form a company to handle the milk of the association in New York at an advanced price had secured a market which would take their milk as soon as they stopped sending to the regular milk dealers. It is said that they were informed at a meeting held in Binghamton a week or more ago, which Mr. Graves attended, that their milk had been sold to responsible parties. Just how Mr. Graves was to handle their milk with no cans and no means of cooling the milk before shipment was not explained. Up to the present time it is said he has not had a can of milk consigned to him nor a can ordered from him.
Mr. Graves' method of creating a market and a supply up to the present time has proved unsuccessful. The milk receipts yesterday were heavy. The receipts over some of the roads, it was said, exceeded those of any previous day within six years. There was sufficient milk to supply the trade, but unfortunately some of the dealers were unable to locate the surplus in season to escape being pinched in serving their customers. Part of the milk was from stations which have commenced sending milk again, and 500 or 600 cans came from entirely new sources. The dealers, in order to meet the emergency, enlisted the services of some of the butter and cheese factories, and they rallied to their support. The interests of the butter and cheese manufacturers are similar to those of the milk dealers, as the success of the scheme of Mr. Graves will increase the price of their supply of milk. For this reason they were willing to assist the milk dealers in their efforts.
It is said that about one hundred cans of milk which had not gone out previously were withheld yesterday. The dealers estimate that the amount withheld showed a decrease from that of Tuesday. This would mean that the amount was less than two thousand cans. Owing to the hot weather of Tuesday some of the milk which entered the city yesterday was sour.
A few Orange county farmers who produce milk met at Goshen on Tuesday but adjourned without taking any action. Some of Mr. Graves' published statements have been laughed at by persons who have spent their entire lives in the milk business because of their absurdity. One of these is the idea that the price of a commodity which is as perishable as milk, and which is so easily affected by the grass crop and the butter and cheese market, can be definitely fixed five years in advance. A man who a number of years ago was a large manufacturer of butter and cheese, and who now has charge of the milk business of one of the large railroads entering the city, said a day or two ago: "All this talk about the dealer arbitrarily setting the price of milk, and this scheme of Graves to set the price of milk in advance for five years, is nonsense. The price is regulated by the butter and cheese market. The Milk Exchange is obliged to set a price sufficiently high to attract milk from the cheese factories. He must keep in advance of the butter and cheese market. The farmer does not understand this."
The Milk Dealers' association had not concluded its inquiry into the legal aspect of the situation yesterday, and consequently no decision was reached as to whether it would be wise to make an effort to secure indictments against those who have been most instrumental in ordering the limitation of the supply of milk.
Teachers Engaged.
At a meeting of the school board last night two teachers were elected to positions for the coming year. These were Miss Edith Turner, who for a number of years has been teaching at Fairport, but is now enjoying a year's leave of absence at her home in Cortland, and Miss Anna G. Butler of the Brooklyn schools. Miss Turner graduated from Cortland Normal in 1885, and Miss Butler in 1895.
Ella Wood Townley Promises to Keep Away for Six Months.
Ella Wood Townley, who was arrested last Friday for disorderly conduct, appeared in court this morning and withdrew her former plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty. Upon her promise to leave the city, the court gave a suspended sentence for six months and warned her, under penalty of the severest measures in his jurisdiction, not to appear in Cortland within the time specified. She promised to be out of the place inside of twenty-four hours, and departed from court seemingly happy with Fred Powers of Atwaters, Tompkins Co., who had interceded in her behalf.
Political Equality Club.
At the regular meeting of the Political Equality club the following officers were elected:
President—Mrs. Lucy Linderman, reelected.
First Vice-President—Mrs. Dr. Lydia A. Strowbridge.
Second Vice-President—Mrs. N. J. Parsons.
Recording Secretary— Mrs. Annie E. Bentley.
Corresponding Secretary—Mrs. Laura Stearns.
Treasurer—Mrs. U. S. Milburn.
Executive Committee—Miss Myra Norton and Mrs. Nellie Marley.
VIRGIL, N. Y.
VIRGIL, May 16.—Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Webb Goodell, May 8, a son.
Several from this place are attending court this week.
John Raymond is having a new monument set in the Virgil cemetery, purchased of S. M. Benjamin of Cortland.
Mr. and Mrs. John Seamans and son Ray of Marathon were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Tyler last Sunday.
Mrs. S. Bacon was called to Etna to-day on account of the dangerous illness of her daughter, Mrs. Charles Apgar.
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Robinson are rejoicing over the addition of a son in their family, born the 14th.
Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Rounds of Solon were in town the first of the week.
Mr. and Mrs. Will Munson and children of Lapeer spent Sunday at Stephen Mudge's.
Mrs. Louise Danes of Homer spent last week with her sister Mrs. Chas. Munson.
Mrs. and Mrs. Warren Foster and son Glenn of Etna spent Sunday with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Foster.
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Barry were called to Freetown last Saturday by the dangerous illness of their grandson, Gaines Hall.
The many friends of Mr. I. V. Johnson in this place were very sorry to hear of his misfortune and all hope for his complete recovery.
Mr. N. J. Sherman has gone to North Hector and Watkins to spend a few days, and while he is absent Mrs. Sherman will visit at Cortland and Varna.
Memorial services will be held at the M. E. church, Sunday, May 27. Rev. F. I. Smith will conduct the services.
The many friends of Mrs. B. Franklin were pained to hear of her death at her home in Locke. Word was received here Monday of her illness, followed yesterday by the message that she passed away Monday at 10 o'clock P. M. None of the particulars have yet been learned.
Last Monday evening about one hundred self-invited friends and neighbors of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Gee assembled at their pleasant home, the occasion being the tenth anniversary of their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Gee were taken completely by surprise, but they were equal to the occasion, and a right good time was enjoyed by all. During the evening the company were entertained by some very fine music furnished by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Chrisman and Mr. Frank Verreau. Very nice refreshments were served, which the company had so thoughtfully provided. Mr. and Mrs. Gee were presented by the company and also by some of their friends who were unable to be present, a beautiful set of decorated dishes. At a late hour the company departed for their homes leaving their best wishes for the future happiness of Mr. and Mrs. Gee.
Mr. Levi Terpenning died at the home of his son, Augustus Terpenning, at Deckerville, Sanilas Co., Mich., May 11, at the age of 87 years, 3 months and 13 days. Two weeks before his death he was stricken with paralysis which with old age was the cause of his death. During his last illness he was very patient which was remarked by all who were with him. Mr. Terpenning was born Jan 28, 1813, at Shongon Mts., Ulster Co. He was the oldest of nine children. He moved with his parents to Virgil when 2 years of age, and where he lived for sixty-eight years continuously. At his marriage with his second wife he moved to Genoa, and at her death he returned to Virgil, where he remained a few years, and for about nine years he lived with his son at Michigan. He experienced religion in early life and was one of the deacons of the Congregational church of this place, and when this church was changed to the Presbyterian, he was one of the elders, which office he held as long as he lived here. During his residence at Genoa he was elder of the church there, and was one of the charter elders of the Presbyterian church at Deckerville. Funeral Services were held at the sons Saturday morning, his pastor conducting the services, and the eiders of the church acting as bearers. At his request his remains were brought to Virgil for burial, and services were held at the home of his daughter-in-law Mrs. Alice Terpenning, Tuesday at 11 o'clock, Rev. F. I. Smith officiating. He is survived by one son, Augustus of Michigan, and an adopted daughter, Mrs. Nettie Johnson of this place, and two brothers, Freeman of McLean and William of Virgil, also two sisters, Mrs. Laura Butts of Scott and Mrs. Abigail Forshee of Harford.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Taxing Bachelors.
A hundred and fifty years ago there was a law in Maryland taxing the incomes of bachelors. The object of it was fairly to distribute the burdens of taxation throughout the community. Married men have homes and property of their own, while bachelors live in hotels and boarding houses and have no use for real estate except as an investment. There have been frequent suggestions in various quarters that the law should be revived.
Commenting upon this, subject the Utica Press says: Its objects would be two-fold: it might increase marriages and it would add to the revenues in a way to lessen the burdens upon men of family. Some people fear that as in England the men are not as much given to marrying, the same custom may prevail to an alarming extent here. Such fears, however, seem farfetched in this country, where the population of children is large enough to insure a growing population for years to come. An English statistician has prepared the following table showing the proportion of marriages in a thousand in England:
A feature of the tabular statement which will strike many as being curious is that more Englishmen marry between the ages of 40 and 45 than between the ages of 25 and 30. It is said that American figures would show a reverse to be true in this country. A Yankee makes up his mind quicker than a Briton. It goes without saying that the taxation of bachelors would be vigorously opposed by that seemingly happy element in the community. Men fail to marry for various reasons best known to themselves. In some cases it is their misfortune, not their fault. If any such taxation scheme gets under headway there should be some discrimination between voluntary and involuntary bachelorhood. A man who has done his best to get a wife and has asked a woman to supply his deficiency in that particular and has been refused, ought not to be taxed as much as another who has never sought to improve his condition. In all fairness there ought to be exemption for all who can prove that they have honestly sought the hand of some lady in marriage and been unconditionally refused.
BREVITIES.
—Rehearsal of the Conservatory of Music commencement chorus this evening at 8 o'clock at the conservatory.
—The Ladies' Literary club will meet with Mrs. N. H. Gillette, 20 West Court-st., to-morrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock.
—There will be a meeting of the Kindergarten association at the Normal [School] kindergarten Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock.
—The Democratic caucuses of the several districts of the old town of Cortlandville will be held Thursday night of this week to elect delegates to the county convention next Tuesday.
—Another effort was made this morning in surrogate's court to prove the will of the late Mrs. H. A. Bolles, but one more adjournment was finally agreed upon by mutual consent. The will will now be presented on Tuesday, June 12, at 10 o'clock A. M.
—New display advertisements to-day are—F. I. Graham, Headaches, page 7; Burgess, Characteristic of this store, etc., page 8; M. A. Case, Dry goods, page 6; Palmer & Co., Morrow coaster-brakes free, page 4; Warren, Tanner & Co., Shirt waists, etc., page 8.
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