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| New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell, Jr. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, October 25, 1902.
GOVERNOR AT BUFFALO.
He And Senator Depew Spoke at Two Mass Meetings.
TWO ENGAGEMENTS CANCELLED.
Governor Spoke Largely on Canal Improvement—Failure of Last Appropriation Due to Inadequacy of Plan. Method of Paying For Improvement by Long Time Bonds.
Buffalo, Oct. 25.—Two Republican mass meetings were held here last night, one at Jefferson park on the east side of the city and the other at Convention hall, which were both packed. Governor Odell and Senator Depew were the chief speakers at Convention hall.
Addresses were also made by Hon. Frank W. Higgins, candidate for lieutenant governor, and Hon. Nathan L. Miller, candidate for comptroller.
The governor came direct from Rochester, having cancelled his dates for the afternoon at Lockport and Niagara Falls, finding himself too fatigued to meet them.
The governor first paid tribute to the labor bureau of the state. He said the law which gives to workingmen shorter hours of labor, while seeking to protect him in his employment by punishing those who do not afford him proper safeguards in his work, exacts in return honest effort on his part to aid his employer and to protect his rights so that the interests of both become inseparable.
Speaking of the project of canal enlargement the governor said:
"The canal always has been of great importance to the state and I believe that if we are to maintain the commercial supremacy of our state and to retain our commerce, something should be done to improve conditions and to make the canal adequate for requirements of such commerce as naturally seeks the port of New York. Of course we must discount the fact that in the building of the west and in the development of its railroad facilities, a large part of that commerce which hitherto came as a matter of necessity, now comes as a matter of choice, and that if the port of New York is discriminated against because of the railroad combinations, because of the inadequate facilities for handling grain products of the farmers of the west, an enlarged canal will not entirely cure the evils, but that it will be but a beginning which must be followed up through legislation, which shall provide for additional docking facilities and other necessary details.
Failure of Last Appropriation.
"It is unfortunate that some of our people are opposed to such improvement as the one under contemplation. This may be accounted for through the failure of the last appropriation. But the greatest mistake at that time was that there was not a well thought out plan and that the absolute and ultimate cost of the improvement was not frankly told to the people. The greatest error, therefore, was in the deception thus practiced and which has led all to look askance upon every proposition since and upon the burden of debt which would follow."
After reviewing the canal legislation, the governor said the first step had already been taken in carrying out the plan suggested in the Republican platform.
"We have," he continued, "demonstrated the wisdom of hastening slowly and have placed the proposition in such form that it can be intelligently passed upon by the people. In fact, there is nothing that I know of which would prevent this proposition from being passed upon during the year 1903.
"Another serious obstacle has been removed by enactment of laws which provide almost funds enough to meet requirements of the state through indirect sources of revenue. The Republican party, while pledging itself to canal improvement, also pledges itself to the freedom from direct state taxes and has therefore the important work before it of providing such additional funds as may be necessary to meet annual charges in the sinking fund.
Constitutional Amendment.
"The next step that will be necessary will be lengthening of the period in which bonds may be paid, so that instead of 1-18 each year as we would be required to do under the constitution, the payments may be reduced to 1-50 or 1-75 each year. For that, of course a constitutional method must be devised and submitted to the people, but work need not be hindered, because with the new revenues which may be derived before first bonds would be due, a constitutional amendment could be framed and submitted which would permit the refunding of the bonds to be paid within 50 or 75 years.
"The point therefore which I wish to impress upon you is that the Republican party can be relied upon to make such canal improvements as are necessary, without delay, and that it will provide for the discharge and payment of the debt and interest without unduly burdening the people through additional taxation. With a Republican legislature I can promise you that no interests that are now taxed will be disturbed in any way."
Large Shipment of Coal.
Shamokin, Pa., Oct. 25.—Thirty thousand tons of coal were shipped from local collieries yesterday to Philadelphia and New York markets and 3,000 additional men went to work here. A few non-union men resigned and left the region. The Tenth regiment which is encamped here expects to be recalled soon owing to the peaceful conditions prevailing.
ANOTHER MEMBER
Of the Strike Commission Appointed by Consent.
Washington, Oct. 25.—The president today appointed Hon. Carroll D. Wright a full member of the anthracite coal strike commission. This gives him authority to vote on all questions considered by the commission, although he will continue to act as the recorder. This appointment was only made after the consent of Mr. Baer representing the operators and President Mitchell representing the miners had been obtained.
Cortland County Coroner Ellis M. Santee.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
The Kiehl Case.
The evidence in the Kiehl alleged poisoning case does not seem to be of a character yet which would warrant the defendant in being held for the grand jury. Under the careful sifting of the attorneys only competent evidence is admitted and all hearsay evidence is excluded, and the poisoning part seems to be simmered down about to the point that if poison was administered at all it must have been done either in chocolate pie or in tea. Others besides Adam ate the chocolate pie and were not affected, so it was probably not in that. According to the evidence Adam scarcely ever drank tea and only took it on the night before he died because he was ill and thought that as a medicine it might do him good. No one could have foretold that he would ask for it and in consequence tea would have been about the last thing into which any one having designs upon his life would have been likely to have put poison, with the idea of its reaching and affecting him. It seems likely, therefore, that unless some more convincing evidence appears among the remaining witnesses, the middle of another week will see Maude Kiehl again a free woman.
Justice Vindicated.
Governor Odell's decision not to interfere with the sentence of the court in the Truck murder case will be very satisfactory to the residents of Cortland county, not because any one here is thirsting for the blood of John Truck, but because justice will thereby be vindicated. A deliberate coldblooded murder was committed in this county under highly aggravated circumstances. The penalty for that crime in this state is death by electrocution, and any sentence falling short of that would be a failure to mete out the full justice in the case. It was acknowledged that Truck was the murderer, and the only defense was insanity. A competent jury of reputable citizens of this county taking into consideration the testimony of experts upon insanity decided that Truck was sane and responsible for his acts. The court of appeals declared that there was no error in the trial of the case and that the judgment of conviction should stand. The attorney for the defendant then produced affidavits alleging new evidence on the subject of insanity and asking the governor to have him examined by experts. It does not seem that under the circumstances Governor Odell could have taken any different action from the careful conservative course which he followed. It is the right of every man to live out his natural life unless there is an unquestioned reason for his death. A convicted murderer sentenced to death should be given the benefit of every doubt. Had Truck been executed and afterward had evidence appeared showing that an error had been committed the governor would have been censured for haste. No one can censure him now for his caution and care. The experts after careful examination, not only of Truck at present after two years of imprisonment, but of Truck and his acts at the time the crime was committed, have declared him sane and responsible, and the governor says let the sentence of the court be carried out, and the people approve.
THE KIEHL CASE.
The Testimony of the Other Witnesses Called.
ADJOURNED TILL NEXT TUESDAY.
District Attorney Dowd Interviewed in Regard to the Evidence—Thinks Maude Cannot be Held—Coroner Santee Concludes That He Will Probably Not Take Up the Body of William Kiehl.
There was not time yesterday to get in type quite all the testimony that had been taken in the Kiehl case before the adjournment and other witnesses were sworn as stated below, Miss Frances Kiehl, the sister of the deceased Adam, continuing as follows:
I noticed he had forgotten to take the alarm clock up to his room, and I called to him and he came back after it. He said his head felt so he couldn't remember anything. He wound the alarm while he was leaving the kitchen. We expected about fifteen men to work for us through the week, and expected the two men with the [harvesting] machine in the morning. In the morning Henry, Lester and Albert arose before 1 did. They came down stairs and went to the barn. In the meantime I arose and built the fire.
I was getting breakfast when Maude arose and came out. The baby was asleep in bed. I knew Adam had not arisen, but did not call him as I knew he would get up if he was well as soon as he heard the alarm. The baby woke up and Maude got it and dressed it in the kitchen. Henry was the first man to come in from the barn and I asked him to go up stairs and call Adam. He did so and he came to the stairs and called my name. I went up stairs and found Henry on the floor near the bed with Maude's baby in his arms. Adam was lying on his back with his arms folded, and his hair combed as he had combed it the night before. He had a pleasant look upon his face. I went down stairs and told Albert to go after the doctor. I told Maude that Adam was dead and she made no reply. I went right back up stairs and stayed there until the doctor came. Maude came upstairs with Mrs. Perkins, but I cannot say how long she remained there. Maude went to the barn sometimes when Adam put up his team over night. Maude Kiehl was the wife of my brother William. William and Adam were in partnership and Maude kept house for them. The night of my brother William's funeral at my father's home [there] were present Lillian, Marion, two smaller sisters, Henry, Maude and Adam. Adam was lying on the couch, Maude was sitting by the side of him, rubbing his hair with her hands.
Upon cross examination, witness said the scene just described occurred in the sittingroom. Adam was lying there ill with a cold. Could not say whether Maude was conversing with Adam about his sickness or not. What Maude did was done in the presence of the whole family. The day of the funeral Adam asked Frances if she would come to the Hiscock farm and keep house for him and she said she would. Maude returned to her mother's home a short time after William's funeral. Frances had placed the mixture of corn meal and strychnine in a tin cover and placed it in an empty room up stairs. The cover used belonged to a coffee can. The mixture was also placed in a similar cover in the pantry. The desired effect was obtained as a number of mice were found dead.
The witness also testified to not having paid any particular attention to the bottle after having used a part of the contents. Could not say whether the bottle had been removed by any one or not. Could not state whether any of the contents had been removed during the time by any one or not. She was very much surprised to find him dead although she knew he was sick the night before. All that week she had eaten breakfast and dinner with Adam, Maude also being present. She did not notice conversation between Maude and Adam to any extent. On the Saturday morning that Adam's body was found, she said she wished she knew what time it was, and Maude asked her three different times after that why she did not go up stairs and get the clock. Friday noon at the dinner table Maude asked her after Adam had gone out, if she knew when Adam was to be married, and she replied that she did not.
Lillian Kiehl.
Lillian Kiehl, aged 15, a younger sister of the deceased, was the second witness. She said: "I went to the church to the funeral and to the burying ground after William's death. I was at my father's house the night on which Maude and Adam sat upon the sofa. Did not see Maude crying any of the time. I do recall a conversation that I had with Maude, on the Sunday following Adam's death. Maude said to my father that they had reported in South Hollow that Adam had been poisoned, and she then came into the room where I was and said she was sorry she had told my father, as he would tell it all around. She had never seen any undue familiarity between Maude and Adam.
Mrs. Alice Perkins.
Mrs. Alice Perkins, a resident of Little York, said: "I was at the house on the morning of Adam's death. I arrived there between 6 and 7, as I had carried my husband there to work. Maude Kiehl was the first person I saw in the house. 1 passed up stairs to Adam's room and Maude had preceded me. Frances was on the floor kneeling by the bedside. Frances exclaimed "Oh, Adam, this will kill poor ma, and said to the baby, "Come and see your Uncle Adam that kissed you so nice last night when you went to bed." Maude also cried. Both appeared to be stricken with grief. I felt of the body and the face was cold.
Mrs. Charles Shearer.
Mrs. Charles Shearer of the town of Cortlandville, a sister of Adam Kiehl, said she never heard Adam speak of committing suicide. She was not cross-examined.
Fred Shearer.
Fred Shearer, also of the town of Cortlandville, testified that he never had any conversation with Maude Kiehl concerning the engagement of Adam Kiehl and Amelia Abbott. He was not cross-examined.
Albert Rheilman.
Albert Rheilman of Little York testified that he had talked with Adam Kiehl concerning the business affairs of the latter, but Adam had never referred to his debts to him. He never had any conversation with Adam while the defendant was present. He was not cross-examined.
Maude Rheilman.
Maude Rheilman, also of Little York, said she saw Adam Kiehl at Little York the Monday before he died, and that she had asked him about his cold.
Upon cross-examination she said that Adam had told her at that time that be had a terrible cold and was not getting better from it.
Another witness was called, but after reading the testimony of this witness at the time of the inquest, District Attorney Dowd stated that there was nothing to be proved by him, so the party was excused.
An adjournment was then taken till next Tuesday morning, Oct. 28, at 10 o'clock, at which time the remaining four or five witnesses will be called.
District Attorney Interviewed.
A Standard man inquired of District Attorney Dowd as to his opinion of the evidence which is being produced to connect Maude Kiehl with the death of her brother-in-law Adam Kiehl, and he expressed the belief that from his study of the case there would be nothing to hold her on. He had had this opinion from the time he first looked into the matter. Much of the so-called evidence which creeps in at a coroner's inquest could have no place in a court of justice. Hearsay evidence is always excluded. Reports of what the neighbors had said, of what Adam is alleged to have said before his death, could not be admitted on a trial. All of this is being excluded in this examination. District Attorney Dowd thought that Maude Kiehl would without qu6stion be released at the end of the examination.
The Body of William.
Coroner Santee had thought to exhume the body of William Kiehl, who died last February, to see if any traces of poisoning could be found there. He was asked today if that was still his purpose and he said he could not tell till he had consulted with the district attorney. The testimony of Frances Kiehl showed that when she first had the bottle of strychnine last June it was sealed and that fact would prevent the possibility of the contents of that bottle being the cause of the death of any one before that date. The coroner said that he thought if Maude should be released because of lack of evidence to convict her with the death of Adam the whole matter would quiet down. Under those conditions he should not go ahead to take up Williams body unless there was a strong sentiment in the neighborhood of the Kiehl home to demand it. To do so would entail an expense of about $200 upon the county.
Believed to Be Insane.
Joseph Gammel of Groton-ave., Cortland, an old and feeble gentleman, was taken into custody this morning, as he had become violently insane. A commission will be appointed at once to inquire into his sanity. It is thought that he will have to be sent to asylum.
WATCH THE HEADINGS
And be Sure That the Right Tickets for the Right Show Are Secured.
Patrons of the Cortland Opera House purchasing tickets at the Grand Central restaurant where frequently charts are displayed side by side for several entertainments upon successive nights are urged to watch the heading of the chart where the name of each entertainment is plainly written and be sure that the seats are selected from the right chart for the desired entertainment. It has happened several times lately that errors have been made and the fault is with the purchaser not with the clerk. If a person approaches a chart, puts his finger upon a couple of seats and says " I want those two seats" the clerk supposes he knows what he is talking about and gets the tickets accordingly, and if when the purchaser comes to the Opera House and finds those seats occupied and discovers that his tickets are for another night it is very unpleasant all around to say the least. It is not necessary to detail all the complications that follow. There need be no error if the name on the chart is observed or if the purchaser states to the salesman the name of the show for which tickets are sought. In other words, the manager of the Opera House desires every one to follow out the old maxim, "Be sure you are right, and then go ahead."
BREVITIES.
—Rev. D. D. King, pastor of the Homer-ave. M. E. church, will address the meeting at the county jail at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
—Program meeting of the Farther Lights society, First Baptist church, at Miss Grace Pearson's, 3 Argyle Place, Monday evening 7:30.
—Rev. Warren W. Way, rector of Grace Episcopal church, exchanges tomorrow with Rev. William Bours Clarke of Seneca Falls, a former rector, who will officiate at all the services of the day.
—The Universalist Leader published in full a sermon by Rev. U. S. Milburn of Cortland upon "Tolstoi's religious faith as expressed in his answer to the synod which excommunicated him." The text is taken from Mal. ii, 6 [sic].
—New display advertisements today are—W. W. Walters, Shoes, page 7; Opera House, "Wormwood," page 5; Haight & Freese Co., Stocks, bonds etc., page 3; G. H. Wiltsie, special sale of carpets and curtains, page 8.
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