The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 10, 1901.
A BRUTAL ASSAULT.
ALBERT RICE OF CINCINNATUS THE VICTIM OF A RUFFAIN.
Supposed to Have Been the Work of Tramp Whom He Had Employed—Was Evidently Robbed of Quite a Sum of Money—His Mind is Not Yet Clear Enough for Him to Explain the Occurrence.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
Cincinnatus, N. Y., May 8.—Albert Rice, a well-known and highly respected farmer who resides about l 1/2 miles from this village, was assaulted and robbed last Friday night and lies at his home in a delirious condition. About a week before, a tramp appeared at the Rice farm and asked for employment, and as Mr. Rice was in need of help in his spring work, the stranger was hired. He worked faithfully until the morning before the assault, when after going to the field and plowing a few minutes he stopped and told Mr. Rice that the work was not to his liking and that he would quit. Mr. Rice went with him to the house and producing his wallet from a bedroom he counted from a large roll of bills and paid the man $3.75 for his week's service.
The tramp at first refused to accept so small an amount, but on being told that that was all he would receive he left the house and went to Cincinnatus village where he had his hair cut and was shaved at Frank Wiles' barber shop. Here and at other places he told of the large amount of money Mr. Rice carried on his person, and said that he was weak and it would not be much of a job for some one to knock him over and get it. During the day Mr. Rice drew from the Bank of Cincinnatus something over $130, and it is also known that he had besides at least $80.
After eating his supper he went to the barn to do his chores and at about 9 o'clock as he had not returned, his housekeeper, Mrs. Councilman, went to the barn and finding the doors closed and receiving no reply to her calls, she became alarmed and notified a near neighbor, who upon opening the door was confronted by Mr. Rice, who was groping about, with blood streaming from wounds on his head. He had strength to walk to the house with the assistance of his neighbor, but his mind was gone and his talk was incoherent. Dr. H. D. Watson of Cincinnatus was summoned, who found twelve gashes on the head, a fracture of the skull over the right eye, and the nose broken.
Just what had happened was not known at the village until the middle of the forenoon, at which time Sheriff Overton was notified of the affair and asked to assist in apprehending the tramp. Deputy Sheriff John Miller visited the scene of the assault in the afternoon to secure all information possible. An investigation of the barn disclosed that the assault was first made upon Mr. Rice while he was up stairs engaged in throwing down hay to his horses, and that he had probably rushed down the stairs to escape, and that his assailant had followed and continued the assault down stairs. It is probable that Mr. Rice was left by his assailant for dead at the foot of the stairs, where it is evident that he had lain for a time, but before being found he had wandered about, as is shown by the streams of blood everywhere to be seen in the barn. Mr. Rice is a bachelor and 65 years of age.
The tramp, who has disappeared, is described as being about 30 years old, about 5 l/2 feet high and weighing about 140 or 145 pounds; dark complexion with black eyes and hair; high forehead and smooth face. He has a scar under one ear and another upon his lip. When seen here he was dressed in a black coat and vest, light striped cotton pants, dark shirt and string neck tie, blue-black slouch hat and thick soled oil-grained work shoes. He purchased while in the village a black plaid negligee shirt and a white frock and a pair of white overalls, also a pair of leather suspenders and a heavy silver ring with a red stone setting. He talked with a brogue and may have been Irish, but more probably attained it from being city bred.
The weapon with which the assault is believed to have been made was found in a wagon box. It is an ash stick about 2 1/2 feet long, two inches wide and an inch thick. One end of the stick had been thinned down somewhat with a draw shave and there were marks upon it which indicated that it had been used as a wagon stake to slip into iron staples to keep wagon sideboards in place. The thick end of the stick is covered with blood in solid quantities and in spots as though spattered upon it. Upon the thinner end are plainly visible marks of bloody fingers.
It is quite evident that the assault had been planned in advance, and that another stick had also been prepared for a weapon. A piece of limb of a tree four feet long and two inches thick was also found in the barn with a large spot of clotted blood upon it, and it was thought that the blood simply dropped there; but while J. H. Murray and John Foster of this village were looking for clews they noticed that this was the only piece of wood of the kind in the barn. They took it up to the sugar-house and among the fire wood found another piece the end of which fitted exactly to the end of this stick, showing that the stick found had been cut from it. This stick was probably not used, as the wagon stake had seemed better adapted to the purpose.
On Saturday afternoon Frank Rice, nephew of Mr. Rice, swore out a warrant before Justice W. W. Wood for the arrest of the tramp on the charge of assault with intent to kill. Attorney J. H. Murray drew the papers. The warrant was issued in the name of Dick Roe, but since that time the sirname of Trunkley has been learned from Harvey Torrey, who worked with the tramp at Mr. Rice's and the papers have been changed to the name of Ed. Trunkley.
A reward of $300 for the arrest of the tramp wherever he may be found has been made and officers are on the track in every direction.
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| New York City financial district, viewing Broad Street to Wall Street, 1905. |
RICH IN TWO YEARS.
WONDERFUL SUCCESS OF A YOUNG MAN ON 'CHANGE.
Made $200,000,000 in Two Years—Won Lottery Prize, but Cannot Get His Money—Plucky Woman Drives Away Wharf Thugs—Scheme to Send an Ocean Greyhound From New York Every Day.
New York May 8.—The possibilities for a voting man to become rich in the Metropolis were never more clearly shown than in the case of Frank E. Brunley, who on Thursday last paid $70,000 for a seat on the Stock Exchange. Brunley is 27 years old and came to this city from a small town above Albany, where his parents reside, about thirteen years ago. He began work as an office boy at a salary of $2.50 a week, with a firm of bankers and brokers, and when he went home one night a few years later and told his aunt, with whom he boarded, that he had been promoted to telephone boy she patted him on the head and told him he would be a rich man some day. He is credited with cleaning up $200,000 within the past two years. Brunley never went to college. He graduated from a public school in Brooklyn when he was thirteen. Soon after, he set out to find a job. He went straight to Wall street and made a canvass of the offices. He got a place with Rolston & Bass, then at No. 16 Broad street. He was a bright lad, quick and ready, and his value was soon appreciated. For the past week he has been at his office until 1 o'clock in the morning trying to catch up with the work. Mr. Brunley is unmarried. He is very domestic and spends all his evenings and Sundays at home. It was remarked by his aunt that he had never carried a latch key, as he was always early at home at night until the past few days, when work has kept him away.
An ocean greyhound each day for Europe, instead of two or three fast steam ships departing on the same day, followed by a wait of three days before another rapid-traveling carrier sets out, is said to be one of J. Pierpont Morgan's hopes in organizing the Steamship trust. Mr. Morgan has more than one object in view, it is known. He wishes not only to bring about closer relations between trunk lines and ocean freight-carriers, but also to have a more practical sailing schedule of big steamers. He remarked a short time ago that it was a poor arrangement to have two fast steamers for Europe sail on the same day. He thought the sailings should be distributed and a fast ship leave New York every day in this age of progress.
Being reduced to the direst straits, winning an eighth of a capital prize of $30,000 and then not getting his money is what Abraham Prager, eighteen years old, thinks is about the hardest turn the fickle goddess of fortune can give him. Young Prager worked in Schachner's factory, and on last St. Patrick's Day an agent for a lottery company called at the shop. Many employees bought tickets. Prager wanted one and had but 15 cents and an eighth ticket cost 25 cents. '"Your boss will lend you 10 cents," said the agent. Prager went to his employer and asked for an advance of 10 cents, and, he says, Schachner suggested they buy the ticket between them. The young man consented and paid 13 cents and his employer 12. The drawing took place April 13 and the winning numbers were announced. Prager had the ticket and says that on April 17 his employer came to him and slapping him on the back remarked that their ticket had drawn a prize of $5. The boy in his suit says he turned over the ticket to Schachner, thinking he had been very lucky to win even that amount. When he went home and told his father of his good fortune the father insisted upon seeing a list of the winning numbers from the lottery and found that the ticket had won one-eighth of the capital prize and was really worth $3,750. Schachner refused to pay the money stating to a reporter: ''My wife has the money and they cannot do anything to me. The boy cannot prove that he was a partner and I offered him $850 to avoid trouble." Regarding a report that he had given $750 to the agent of the lottery company to keep the number from the boy, Schachner said: ''My wife paid the agent. I don't know how much he got.''
A gang of "dock rats," or young hoodlums as the country folks would say, went on board a canal boat last week to terrorize the people on board. The captain was away, and Mrs. Vedder was alone with her baby. She is a small woman, but full of pluck. She barred the doors of the cabin, and seizing a shot-gun loaded with buckshot, thrust the muzzle through the little window in the side of the cabin. The gang started to kick in the door of the cabin. Mrs. Vedder shouted that she would give them ten seconds to get ashore. "I'll count now, and if, when I reach ten, you aren't off this boat, I'll shoot!" she exclaimed. Then she began to count, and not slowly either: "One, two, three, four." But as she said the word "four" the gang took to its heels. "You keep off this boat, or the next time I won't do any counting, but I'll let you have it right at the start!" she called after them.
THE SUPREME COURT
LARGE NUMBER OF OUT-OF-TOWN ATTORNEYS PRESENT.
Many Cases Put Over the Term, as Usual—Hon. A. A. Carley Appointed Foreman of the Grand Jury, and Wm. H. Morgan Clerk—No Session of Court on Tuesday — Only One Case Tried Thus Far.
A large number of out-of-town attorneys were present at the opening of the May term of supreme court Monday morning, among them being Franklin Pierce, assistant district attorney of New York, a former citizen of Cortland, who is attorney in the action brought by Hortense O. Newton and Thomas H. Kennedy against the Cortland & Homer Traction company.
Upon the call of the grand jury, only one failed to respond to his name. Addison E. Buck was the only grand juror excused.
Judge Forbes named Hon. A. A. Carley as foreman, and Wm. H. Morgan was later chosen secretary. The judge's charge was exceedingly clear and specific upon certain points.
Nearly the entire forenoon was occupied by the court in hearing ex parte motions, and upon the call of the calendar the following dispositions of cases was made:
Over the term—Hortense O. Newton and another, as administratrix, etc., vs. The Cortland & Homer Traction Co., Franklin Pierce for plaintiff, Dickinson & Duffey for defendant.
Thomas H. Kennedy, as administrator, etc., vs. The Cortland & Homer Traction Co., Franklin Pierce for plaintiff, Dickinson & Duffey for defendant.
Sabra A. Cummings vs. Aaron R. Overton, Kellogg & Van Hoesen for plaintiff, Devine & Lillis for defendant.
Mary J. Alexander vs. Maurice W. Giles, Wm. S. Tuttle for plaintiff, Dickinson & Duffey for defendant.
Charles L Brown vs. Charles Antisdel, J. & T. E. Courtney for plaintiff, E. W. Hyatt for defendant.
G. W. Webster and J. H Webster vs. Milton Churchill, Leroy Churchill and George W. Bartlett. Bronson & Davis for plaintiffs, Elijah W. Holt for defendants.
Lewis S. Hayes vs. The Village of Cortland and Schuyler P. Bulkley as collector, etc., B. T. Wright for plaintiff, Kellogg & Van Hoesen for defendant.
Alice I. Morenus vs. Wm. E. Morenus, Edmund B. Jenks for plaintiff, E. S. Mathewson for defendant.
Chester F. Wickwire and others vs. Eugene F. Hopkins and others, Dougherty & Miller for plaintiff, Bronson & Davis for defendant.
David O. Crofoot et al. vs. The Tully Pipe Line Co., Dougherty & Miller for plaintiff, John L King for defendant.
The cases settled were:
Mabel Cummings vs. George H. Ames, Dougherty & Miller for plaintiff, John H. Kelley for defendant.
Elwyn R. Wright vs. Charles H. Armsted, Bronson & Davis for plaintiff, Robbins & Dolson for defendant.
Settlement was made in the following cases:
Lawrence Hayes vs. William Fitzgerald, John O'Donnell for plaintiff, J. & T. E. Courtney for defendant. John O'Donnell vs. Albert F. Kinney, Bouton & Champlin for plaintiff, J. & T. E. Courtney for defendant.
The first case on trial was that of George H. Brooks against The Erie Fire Insurance Co. This was an action to recover $800 and interest from Oct. 9, 1899, for an insurance on property insured by the defendant and destroyed by fire at that date. The defense is a dispute over the title and ownership of the property. J. & T. E. Courtney, assisted by Judge J. E. Eggleston for the plaintiff, V. H Worden of Buffalo, assisted by Hon. O. U. Kellogg for defendant.
The court adjourned from Monday until Wednesday morning on account of the necessary absence of Judge Forbes on Tuesday.
In the case of George H. Brooks against the Erie Fire Insurance Co., the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $876.
JUDGE G. A. FORBES.
Cheerful Greeting Accorded Cortland Attorneys on Monday.
The opening of the May term of supreme court Monday morning brought to Cortland Judge Gerrit A. Forbes, who presides over the court. Judge Forbes has a fund of wit and humor that makes him a very pleasant and agreeable entertainer, and his thorough knowledge of law with his fairness in all judicial decisions have given him a popularity excelled by few.
Considerable of his original humor cropped out in the court room Monday morning previous to opening of court, and as the Democrat representative was present, we are sure the judge will pardon us for quoting some of his witty remarks.
Deputy Clerk S. K. Jones was rather forcing the season when Judge Forbes entered the room, being minus his coat, and his Honor jocularly inquired if this was to be a shirt-waist court. His greeting to old friends was given with a hearty '"Hello, Gat!" (Crier Van Hoesen); ''How are you, Ben?" (B. T. Wright); ''Hello, Jim!'' (Jas. Dougherty), and so on.
Seating himself in one of the easy chairs within the attorney's enclosure, Judge Forbes became the center of a group who thoroughly enjoyed a few stories from his lips, one of which was related of a witness who was giving evidence in the case of a man charged with conducting a gambling place, and who was questioned something like this:
"Did you ever play cards at the place?"
"Yes."
"Ever play for money?"
"No."
"Ever play for drinks?"
"No."
"Ever play for cigars?"
"No."
"Well, did you ever see any chips there?"
"Oh, yes."
The attorney was now getting some tangible evidence, as he thought, so he fired this question at the witness:
"Now what did you do with the chips?"
"Never got any."
Later, while hearing excuses from jurors, he asked one applicant for exemption what his occupation was. "Making cheese," was the reply.
"We must have cheese," drily remarked the judge. "I think the juror should be excused.''
PAGE FOUR—SHORT EDITORIALS.
Is Cortland to have its third murder trial within four years?
The reporter who wrote up the report of the Albert Rice assault for the Standard Monday evening must have been a space-writer.
President McKinley wants a quiet Fourth of July. The president is forgetting how to maintain his popularity with the younger generation.
The Democrats of Cortland county will not give away the judgeship this coming fall as they did in 1895. In fact, they propose to go in and win.
Russell Sage says that unless the boys in Wall-st. behave, disaster is inevitable, and Russell has his eye on things ready to be there when the fall comes.
Two young men have been arrested for passing money made by their uncle. If he had been their Uncle Sam it would have been quite a different matter.
We take it for granted that our board of public works have not forgotten that the Railroad-st. pavement is to receive considerable attention at their hands this season.
A woman near Binghamton has dislocated her jaw by talking. She evidently wanted to say too much, her words became tangled and there was an explosion.
It is given out that during President McKinley's Western tour he will fully explain his attitude on the important questions growing out of his imperialistic policy. We did not suppose that the tour was to last as long as that.
A well-dressed man, who has been hanging about the White House at Washington, is supposed to be insane. It is fair to assume that any sane man would know that the president distributed all the patronage before he left for the West.
A Republican Paper's Opinion.
The Democrat is pleased to note as an endorser of its frequent comments upon the extravagance of the late legislature, so able a newspaper as the New York Press. The Press is a good Republican paper, but it is not hidebound.
It is not blind to the faults of its party and it doesn't hesitate to speak its mind freely when it finds things are not as they should be. Listen to this utterance by the Press:
''The rottenest legislation ever attempted by a New York legislature came from the body which has just adjourned. From the opening to the closing day of the session the dominating influence within the legislature was a gang of political crooks and thieves. Every bit of rottenness that was cut out of their legislation was removed not by the members, but by [Republican] Governor Odell. Every bit of rottenness that stayed in was kept there not against the protests of the members but against the protests and efforts of the governor. The legislature itself has been a disgrace to New York, and no man, Republican or Democrat, shall gainsay it."
HERE AND THERE.
"Improvement" is the watchword all over Cortland this season.
R. B. Linderman is putting in a new front in Hotel Burns, North Main-st.
The Cortland state league team played in hard luck at Binghamton last week.
Tomorrow will be a great day for the boys and girls, all owing to Sig. Sautelle.
The first state league game in Cortland will be played next Monday with Albany as the visitors.
Eighteen persons were received into the First Baptist church last Sunday—ten by letter and eight by baptism.
S. S. Stearns, of the late firm of Sprague & Stearns, has sold his interest in the coal and hay business to A. A. Sprague.
The Loyal Circle of Kings Daughters will meet with Mrs. A. A. Sprague, 144 Port Watson-st., this afternoon at three o'clock.
A car loaded with coal ran down Seager's coal dump Tuesday afternoon, colliding with other loaded cars and making something of a wreck.
The New York papers report that Hon. Daniel S. Lamont, who has many friends and admirers in Cortland, made more than a million dollars by the recent rise in Northern Pacific stock.
Four girls, said to be from Brewery hill, were arrested Tuesday night on the charge of public intoxication, and in city court the following morning they pleaded guilty, and were given five days or $5. They chose the jail.
The Marathon home talent minstrel entertainment, in which some of our Cortland talent will assist, was advertised to take place May 14, but in consequence of incomplete arrangements the affair is postponed, the date to be given later.
A bright new comet is sky-larking around in vacant space, being seen just before sunrise. It is described as orange color with two steamers. If one must get up that early to see it, we fear that few Cortland people will ever gaze upon the comet.
James S. Burgess of Marathon has made a claim against the state for $2,000 damages, growing out of the fact that the state, in creating the canal feeder near DeRuyter several years since, dammed up and diverted to the north, waters that should have flowed into the Tioughnioga river.
Of what use are our city ordinances if they are not to be enforced! While walking in Tompkins-st. Tuesday evening while yet it was light, the local editor saw a young lad run down on the sidewalk by a bicycle rider, and at about the same time one of our city physicians was hurrying by pedestrians on his wheel. And Tompkins-st. has an asphalt surface, too. [Paved as far as the Rural Cemetery from Main St.—CC ed.]
At a special meeting of the Homer-ave. M. E. Epworth League, held Wednesday evening, Miss Martha Welke was elected secretary in place of Miss Eva Bowen, resigned. The following were chosen delegates to the district convention at DeRuyter: Miss Fannie Andrews, H. B. Ingalls, Miss Emily Hammond. Alternates, Oliver Jennison, W. Kelley.
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