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| SS Cutch in 1898 before it was sold to Columbia and fitted with armaments. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, November 13, 1902.
AMERICAN CASUALTIES.
One of Bogota's Crew Killed and Three Wounded.
REBELS FIRED FROM AMBUSH.
Two Boats' Crews Attempted to Cull Out Two Rebel Provision Schooners. One of the Vessels Captured and the Other Set on Fire—Forty Rebels Reported Killed.
Panama, Nov. 13.—The first American casualties as a result of the revolution occurred Tuesday. The Colombian fleet captured a boat having on board correspondence showing the whereabouts of two revolutionary schooners loaded with provisions.
The government warships headed for the place and on arriving there the Bogota (formerly the Jesse Banning of San Francisco, manned by an American crew commanded by Captain Marmaduke, lowered the two boats with armed men but as the schooners were aground they waited until high tide to attack them.
In the meanwhile the revolutionists were discovered in ambush close to the beach and when the Bogota's boats pulled ahead the second time the rebels opened fire on them, killing the ship's armorer Richard Kane of Washington, and wounding George Walker, who was shot through the legs. A seaman named Clark and Lieutenant Yasquez were also wounded, but not seriously.
The Bogota and Chucuito then opened fire on the enemy and killed every man in sight. One shot fired at a group of 10 rebels who were most actively engaged in shooting at the boats' crews killed every one of them. Gunner Cross of the Bogota thinks that from 40 to 50 rebels were killed.
One of the schooners, the Helvetia, loaded with rice, was captured but the first shot fired at the second schooner set her on fire and she was completely destroyed with her cargo.
The body of Kane will be buried here with military honors.
A man named "R. Kain" has been mentioned in press dispatches as being one of the crew of the Bogota. It was also asserted that Kain fought under Dewey at the battle of Manila. Gunner J. Cross of the Bogota hails from Cedar Rapids, Ia. He is only 17 years of age.
INDEPENDENTS REPLY.
Answer of Individual Operators to Mr. Mitchell's Statement.
CLAIM WAGES ARE ADEQUATE.
Deny That Business of Mining Is Extra Hazardous—Say Demand For Payment by Legal Ton Is Equivalent to Asking a 40 Per Cent Increase In Wages.
Scranton, Nov. 13.—The answer of the independent operators of the Lackawanna and Wyoming region to the statement of President Mitchell of the mine workers' was made public last night.
In response to the demand for an increase in wages they say that the present wages are such as to enable the diligent and skilful miner to earn more per hour than any other class of labor, skilled or unskilled; in the towns in which their mines are located, and amply sufficient to allow him not only to maintain an American standard of living and educate his children, but to lay aside something for his old age. That some miners' wages are small, it is stated, is because they choose to exercise their option to work only a few hours a day.
In answering the contention that mining is extremely dangerous and unhealthy and tends to shorten life, the operators set forth a petition recently circulated in the interests of a candidate for mine inspector, which contained the names of 95 employes [sic] of one mine, 66 of whom had worked in the mine for 20 years or more, and 20 for 40 years or more and five for 50 years or more.
The demand for the weighing of coal and payment by the legal ton of 2,240 pounds instead of by the fictitious ton of 2,750 or 3,000 pounds is characterized as a thinly disguised effort to secure a forty per cent increase in wages.
The answer asserts that 2,750 pounds of coal as it comes from the mine is barely sufficient to produce a 2,240 pound ton of prepared coal.
Regarding the declaration of the miners that labor unions improve the morals and discipline of their members this comment is made:
"This may be true when applied to some organizations, but when applied to the miners' union, we enter a most emphatic denial, and propose to introduce evidence showing that prior to the advent of the United Mine Workers of America it was considered bad form to kill or main a citizen who attempted to exercise his constitutional right to sell his labor and that the vast number of brutal murders and beatings during the past five months show that the teachings of the United Mine Workers have brought about such moral obliquity that its members believed themselves justified in these acts; also the officers of the union justified this course by furnishing bail and counsel for those who have been guilty of these atrocious acts.
"We believe we will be able to prove such tremendous losses of life and money as the direct results of the methods of this particular union as to convince your honorable commission that it is not expedient to do any act which may contribute to its continued existence."
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| Judge Rowland Davis. |
FAILED TO MAKE A CASE.
Attempt to Show that D. E. Call Sold Short Weight Coal.
A proceeding was begun in city court yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock against D. E. Call upon the charge of illegal sale of coal in selling less than 2,000 pounds for a ton. The trial of the case was held before [Cortland] City Judge Davis this morning, and resulted in the discharge of the defendant.
Mrs. Estelła Newman of 22 Salisbury-st., was the complainant and she testified that on Nov. 10 she purchased a ton of coal of the defendant; that it looked to her as though it was short weight and consequently she had it removed and weighed on the scales at the Central market, where it weighed 1,640 pounds. She consulted her attorney, T. H. Dowd, who telephoned Mr. Call in regard to it. The evidence showed that Bert Truman, who lives near Mrs. Newman, offered to donate his team and wagon to remove the coal. It was also shown that the Trumans and Mr. Call had had some differences in the past because of previous happenings at Mr. Call's office. The coal according to the evidence was taken out of the cellar and loaded upon a wagon, permitted to remain in the yard at the residence of Mrs. Newman until the next morning, and then hauled to the scales to be weighed.
According to the city charter the mayor is given the authority to designate annually the public scales for the city. It was shown that this designation had been omitted and that the scales at the Central market, which had formerly been designated as the public scales, were no longer official city scales.
It was shown in addition to this that Mrs. Newman had offered to settle the matter for $75.
Mr. Call swore in his own defense that he personally weighed the coal that was delivered to Mrs. Newman and that it weighed 2,000 pounds. William Call, who delivered the coal, swore that he had loaded thousands of loads of coal and that in his judgment there was a ton of coal on the wagon. Another helper at the yards had seen the load and he swore that in his judgment there was a ton of coal upon the wagon.
At the close of the people's evidence Attorney Van Hoesen stated that it must be evident that the complainant had failed to establish a case, but as he wished to show Mr. Call's side he would not make a motion for his client's discharge until after the defense should be presented. After Mr. Call and the two employees had been sworn, Attorney Van Hoesen asked that the defendant be discharged on the grounds that the coal had been weighed on scales that were not designated by the mayor as the public scales of the city; that the complainant had not been accurate in getting the coal's weight; that the coal had been left out all night where it might easily be gotten at by any one who had rather take it from the wagon than to buy. The motion was granted, and the defendant was discharged.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
A Fenced-In Trolley Line.
A Scranton man, visiting New York, tells a Tribune reporter that between Wilkes-Barre and Carbondale, a distance of about 40 miles, there is nearing completion a third-rail trolley line that will handle both passengers and freight. The feature of the road is that the speed and service of steam roads will be secured. The cars are 52 feet long, the entire road is fenced in and a speed of 60 miles an hour will be attained. The power house and terminal station is at Scranton, and is a fine structure. At crossings where the road is protected by cattle guards, the train will have to coast, as the power rail, of course, could not be carried over. An interesting item of this statement is that the entire road is fenced in.
Routes and grades often stand in the way of this measure of safety, but it should be adopted whenever and wherever possible. Trolley roads are multiplying rapidly, and bring great advantages to the sections which they traverse, but are often so situated that high speed is a constant menace to life and limb. This is a point that should always be considered in laying out a line. The example of the road in Pennsylvania is worthy of attention.
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| Benn Conger. |
THE BLACKMAIL CASE.
Casar's Companion Collins Testifies for Defense.
THEY WERE NOT AFTER MONEY.
The Alleged Purpose of the Prisoner's Visit to Groton and of His Cali at the Brooks Farm on Aug. 9, Described— Ready for Summing Up.
The Ithaca Journal of Wednesday gives the following account of the progress of the Casar blackmail case in court at Ithaca:
The fate of Harlow Casar, the alleged blackmailer, who plotted to extort $12,000 from the Hon. Benn Conger of Groton now rests in the hands of the jury of twelve men, who have listened to the evidence submitted during the past two days and a half.
The trial throughout has been one of the most interesting heard in this city in some time. It has been a stubborn fight between District Attorney Blood, who conducted the prosecution and M. M. Sweetland the prisoner's counsel. The evidence of the prosecution, submitted by nearly thirty witnesses, was closed yesterday afternoon. The defense was opened and continued until near noon today. The prisoner had few witnesses.
This afternoon both sides summed up each attorney speaking over an hour. Judge Almy began his charge to the jury shortly after 5 o'clock.
Yesterday's Proceedings.
John A. Clark, the expert witness on hand writing, was recalled yesterday afternoon and was on the stand until after 3 o'clock. The judge's ruling allowing the use of all the exhibits of specimens of Casar's writing afforded an opportunity for lengthy and detailed evidence. At the end of the testimony the district attorney asked the witness if in his opinion the prisoner was the author of the Conger letter. He answered in the affirmative.
Counsel Sweetland placed the witness under a severe cross-examination. To all his questions the witness gave quick response and his explanations of the dissimilarities in the characteristics of the writing were exhaustive. Counsel questioned the witness closely as to what he had received for his services or what he expected to receive. The answer was, "I have received nothing. I have not talked with the district attorney on the subject, but I expect to receive a reasonable compensation for my labor."
The Defense.
At 4:45 the prosecution rested and Counsel Sweetland presented his case to the jury. He outlined the prisoner's story concerning the events of the eventful night of Aug. 9 "when he was unfortunately arrested by mistake." He said the defense was laboring under many embarrassments in claiming its rights and attempted to explain a portion of the law on blackmailing which would pertain to the other indictment which hangs over the prisoner's head. This, however, was objected to by the district attorney as he said it had no bearing on the present case. It was ruled out by the judge.
"Harlow Casar," said his counsel, "is a man 44 years old. He has always lived with his parents at Peruville except the short time that he went West on business. He is industrious and was helping his father on the farm at the time of his arrest. On Aug. 9, Casar and a neighbor, John Collins, drove to Groton village. Casar went to the village for the purpose of getting his hair cut. He went about Groton during the evening and visited several places. One of these was Conger's store; here he purchased a cigar and some peppermint candy. Later he and Collins started for home taking the natural road which led past the Brooks farm. At that farm he stopped his horse and alighted from the wagon to attend to a call of nature. He had been out of the wagon some time and his first intimation that anything was wrong was when he heard a shot fired. Then he did what any one would have done. He got out of there. He had not seen any one and had no idea for what purpose the shot was fired. He jumped into the wagon and drove away as fast as he could.
"Upon arriving at Casar's barn the men discovered that the horse had been injured, but the wound did not appear to be serious. Casar said he would take the animal to a veterinary surgeon the next morning. Very prudently and naturally he did not want to go back over that road which he had found infested by persons who had developed the shooting habit. Collins went on home and Casar naturally went to bed, without disturbing his parents or raising any sort of a disturbance.''
Counsel then referred to the scene of the arrest, and the other proceeding which followed. "Then," he continued, "the prisoner went before the grand jury, which you all know is a one-sided affair. By that I mean, the evidence is produced against the prisoner, but he is not allowed to produce evidence for himself. The bail bond was fixed. He had offered all the money that he or his family had in the world as bail, but the bond was placed beyond their reach, and he has since remained in jail."
Collins Testifies.
Then John Collins was called as the first witness for the defense. He related the events of the visit to Groton. He said Casar was in a barber shop but whether he had his hair cut or not, he did not know. Arriving at the Brooks farm, he said Casar complained of a pain in his stomach and stated for what purpose he left the wagon. Witness testified that he knew nothing of the Conger letter; that there were but three shots fired on the Brooks farm.
At the opening of court this morning the testimony of John Collins for the defense was continued. He made a poor witness for the prisoner, being extremely nervous and unable to recall details of the events through which he passed on the night in question. Counsel Sweetland appealed to the court for its assistance because of the reticence of the witness.
Being cross-examined by the district attorney, the witness said it was upon Casar's suggestion that he had gone to Groton, that Casar suggested sitting on the hotel porch, and that when he asked Casar to go home, he replied that he was not ready. He also stated that he did not see any of Casar's clothing disarranged, either when he re-entered the wagon, or at the barn where they unhitched the horse by the light of a lantern.
Testimony Excluded.
The testimony of several witnesses called by Counsel Sweetland was not allowed. George C. Mowry of the Tompkins County National bank was called as an expert witness on handwriting. Counsel asked him questions regarding the discrimination between writing of farm hands and clerks. It was objected to and sustained. Counsel said that if this question could not be answered he could have no further use for the witness. The ruling stood and Mr. Mowry was dismissed.
Dr. Genung of Freeville was called and asked to testify to the physical condition of the prisoner. Mr. Blood's objection was sustained. Counsel said he wanted to show by this witness that the physical condition of the prisoner was such that he could not, assuming that he wrote the letter, carry out the threat to do physical harm to Mr. Conger. This was ruled out as incompetent and all of Dr. Genung's testimony was excluded.
Without placing the prisoner on the stand, Counsel Sweetland rested his case at 11:30 o'clock and the court took a recess until this afternoon.
The jury last night brought in a verdict of guilty, but recommended mercy. Sentence was not imposed at that time.
FOR GOOD ROADS.
Two Resolutions Voted by Board of Supervisors
UNDER STATE GOOD ROADS ACT.
One for Six-Tenths of a Mile in Cincinnatus, the Other for Two Miles in Cortlandville—Report from the Good Roads Convention—Reports from Various County Officials—Communications.
Second Day, Wednesday, Nov. 12.
At the session this day the committees for this session of the board were announced as follows:
Equalization—Peek, Bennett, Webb, Kinyon, Rowe, Wavle, Barber.
Footing Assessment Rolls—Walrad, Chatterton, Bennett, Webb, Hunt, Shuler, Jordan.
Erroneous Assessment—Baker, O'Donnell, Parker.
County Judge and Justices—Mynard Hunt, Barber.
County Clerk and Sheriff—Rowe, Kinyon, Shuler.
County Treasurer—Shuler, Robinson, Allen.
District Attorney—Chatterton, Walrad, Johnson.
Superintendent of the Poor—Webb, Wavle, Jordan.
School and Loan Commissioners—Barber, Chatterton, Jordan.
Jurisprudence—O'Donnell, Johnson, Hunt.
Printing—Allen, Mynard, Baker.
Constables' Bills—Wavle, Peck, Robinson.
Coroners' Bills—McBirney, Webb, Baker.
Miscellaneous Bills—Kinyon, Walrad, Parker.
Appropriations— Hunt, Bennett, Peck.
Supervisors and Clerk—Robinson, Allen, O'Donnell.
Courthouse and Jail—Webb, Johnson, McBirney.
County Buildings—Rowe, Bennett, Baker.
State Tax for Canals.
A communication was read from State Comptroller Miller stating that the total valuation of property in this county is $11,759,971, and that the state tax to be levied upon Cortland county this year is $1,528.80 which is at the rate of .13 mills upon the dollar, and this sum is wholly for the canal debt sinking fund as prescribed by Chapter 615, laws of 1902. Also that Cortland county's share of the tax for compensation of stenographers for the Sixth judicial district is $911.01.
Local Charges.
A communication was read from the clerk of LeCouteuix St. Mary's institution for the Improved Instruction of Deaf Mutes at Buffalo saying that Donald James Dillon, 5 years old, is a county pupil there, having been appointed Sept. 8, 1902, by Oliver F. Allen, supervisor of the First ward of the city of Cortland in accordance with Chapter 36, laws of 1892.
A communication was read from Craig Colony, Sonyea, N. Y., saying that Kittie B. Van Valkenburg, 31 years old, of Truxton, N. Y., an epileptic, was admitted to the institution Aug. 7, 1902, on application of E. J. Bockes, superintendent of the poor.
Surrogate's Report.
The report of Judge J. E. Eggleston, surrogate of Cortland county, was received and placed on file. It shows that between Nov. 11, 1901, and Nov. 10, 1902, fees to the amount of $80.45 had been received and charged by the surrogate and applied to the payment of the salary of the surrogate's clerk, and that $419.91 of the salary of the clerk still remains due and unpaid.
Soldiers' Monument.
A communication was received and filed from H. M. Kellogg, secretary and treasurer of the Cortland County Soldiers' Monumental association, showing that $17.74 had been paid during the year for care of the soldiers' monument and requesting an appropriation of $25 for care and improvements the coming year, certain improvements to the plot and fence being required.
Good Roads Convention.
A report was received from Supervisor A. R. Rowe, the delegate to the state good roads convention giving a report of the proceedings of that convention. It appeared that 110 supervisors and fifty highway commissioners, besides others interested, attended the convention. A committee of two from each judicial district presented a report favoring the bonding of the state for $10,000,000 for good roads, recommending the passage of a state wide tire law, making the money system of working roads compulsory, and urging the passage of a law requiring the employment of prison labor for crushing stones for road building.
The report was discussed in detail in the convention. The money system of road building seemed to be growing in favor. If the sum recommended were realized by bonding 1,250 miles of macadam road could be built. The convention, however, passed a resolution asking for the appropriation of $1,000,000. Wide tires were favored.
Good Roads in Cincinnatus.
At the afternoon session Dr. Kinyon presented a resolution for the state improvement of a section of road in Cincinnatus extending from the junction of North and South Main-sts. and East and West Main-sts. in the village of Cincinnatus extending west about 90 rods to the Taylor four corners, thence south on Railroad-st. a distance of about 102 rods to a point opposite the E. & C. N. Y. R. R. station, a distance of about six-tenths of a mile. The ayes and nays were called for and resulted as follows:
Aye—Messrs. Kinyon, Walrad, Johnson, Peck, Baker, Rowe, Barber, Wavle, Parker, Robinson, Shuler, Jordan, Webb, Crosley—14.
Nay—None.
Absent—Messrs. Allen, Chatterton, Mynard, Bennett, Hunt, O'Donnell, McBirney—7.
Visit County Alms House.
A communication was received from Superintendent of the Poor E. J. Bockes, inviting the board to visit and inspect the almshouse either as a whole or by a committee.
Mr. Bennett moved that a committee be appointed to inspect the almshouse. Carried. At a later time the chairman appointed as such committee Messrs. Johnson, Shuler and Robinson.
Good Road to South Cortland.
Mr. Peck introduced a resolution for the building of a state road from the Cortland city limits on Tompkins-st. to the watering trough in South Cortland a distance of 2 miles. The total cost of this is estimated at $16,700, of which the county's share is $8,350, the appropriation of which was called for in the resolution. An aye and nay vote was called for resulting as follows:
Aye—Messrs. Kinyon, Walrad, Johnson, Allen, Peck, Baker, Rowe, Barber, Wavle, Bennett, Parker, Robinson,Hunt, Shuler, O'Donnell, Webb, McBirney, Crosley—18.
Nay—Messrs. Mynard, Jordan—2.
Absent—Mr. Chatterton—1.
At 4:30 the board adjourned for the day.
Third Day, Thursday, Nov. 13.
When the board convened this morning three petitions were presented for relief in the matter of erroneous assessments, two being in the town of
Lapeer and one in the town of Cortlandville; also one petition to add certain omitted accounts to the abstract of the town of Lapeer.
District Attorney T. H. Dowd presented his report showing that no fines or penalties had been collected by himself during the past year.
BREVITIES.
—"The Show Girl" company left this morning to fill an engagement at Bath, N. Y.
—A regular meeting of Cortlandville grange will be held in G. A. R. hall tomorrow night. The third and fourth degrees will be conferred.
—The Woman's Home Missionary society of the First M. E. church will hold a meeting Friday at 2:30 p. m. at the home of Mrs. P. W. Higgins, 61 Lincoln-ave.
— "A regular Dryden fair day," was the comment made by a resident of Cortland this noon upon the weather on this hot and seemingly September day.
—The new display advertisements today are—Buck & Lane, Oil heaters, etc., page 4; Perkins & Quick, Last 3 days of burnt and carved leather demonstration, page 4; Cortland Fish and Oyster Co., Details of fish and oyster business, page 6.
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