Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, May 25, 1903.
A MYSTERIOUS DEATH
Followed Explosion In Leather Dressing Establishment.
PHYSICIAN CALLED AT MIDNIGHT
Victim Supposed to Have Entered Building of a Rival Leather Dresser to Learn Formulas—Thought to Have Been Accompanied by His Brother Who Is Missing.
Gloversville, N. Y., May 25.—The police of this city, aided by the authorities of Fulton county, are investigating a mysterious explosion that occurred shortly after midnight Saturday morning and the sudden death of the son of the proprietor of a large leather dressing establishment of this city.
People living nearby heard the explosion and saw a person whose clothing was afire hurry away from the burning building.
Later a physician was hastily summoned to the residence of Michael J. Kennedy, senior member of the firm of M. J. Kennedy & Co., leather manufacturers, and Sunday morning was announced the death of the former's son, John Kennedy.
The family refuses to give out any information concerning Mr. Kennedy's death other than that at an early hour Saturday morning he appeared at his father's home and said he had met with an accident. Further than this the family decline to be interviewed.
Another son, Daniel C. Kennedy, is alleged to have accompanied his brother on his errand and is reported to have been injured also, but this statement is met with an emphatic denial by his family, who assert he is out of the city.
The supposition the police are working on is that John Kennedy entered the outbuilding where the explosion occurred with the evident intention of ascertaining what formula was used by their competitors in the manufacture of patent leather. While there the explosion occurred and he sustained injuries that caused his death.
The body of the dead man was badly burned and mutilated and the fact that his father's residence was situated only a short distance from the Mills Brothers establishment, and further that the person who was injured in the explosion was easily tracked toward the Kennedy residence, has led Coroner Palmer, District Attorney Egleston and Chief of Police Sperber to make a rigid investigation, which is now being carried on.
Fragments of burned flesh, portions of dismembered fingers and pieces of clothing have been found near the spot where the explosion occurred and there is a rumor to the effect that a warrant will be issued for Daniel C. Kennedy, whose whereabouts are unknown.
The Kennedys are among the oldest families in Gloversville, prominent in business circles and reputed to be wealthy. The connection between the death of John Kennedy and the explosion has caused a sensation in this city, where all the parties whose names are mentioned are widely known.
Don't Want Poor Girls to Be Educated.
Belleville, Ill., May 25.—A strong movement is on foot in this town, especially among the club women, to abolish the high school for girls on the ground that too much education is not good for the poorer classes and makes it harder to stock the servant girl market. On the other hand, the members of the school hoard and all the teachers, as well as a large number of citizens, are in favor of giving equal education to all, even though there should not be any domestic servants.
CAME FROM SAVAGERY
And Education Lifted us Up—Dr. Hillis Expresses Himself.
New York, May 25.—It has been announced by the Rev. Dr. Hillis, president of the foreign missionary society, that he had invited Booker T. Washington to speak in Plymouth church. Dr. Hillis said:
"If he does not wish to go to a hotel, or cannot find one, and will accept entertainment from me, and any one in my house shrinks from making up a bed for the colored educator, I will gladly make it up myself, and count it an honor so to do. As Saxons, we ourselves are not very far off from savagery. It is only fourteen hundred years since our forefathers were cannibals and made a drinking cup out of the skull of their enemies and drank blood. We were once foreigners, and devils, and we should not forget the pit from whence we were dug by Christian teachers. And we play false to our institutions and our fathers in so far as we refuse to lift a shield above the poor and the weak and the down trodden."
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Omaha Injunctions.
"Government by injunction" would appear to have about reached the limit in connection with the labor troubles at Omaha, Neb. A fortnight ago Judge Munger of the United States district court for Nebraska granted a temporary injunction restraining the striking union teamsters of Omaha from interfering in any improper way with nonunion teamsters. The order specifically forbade picketing, menacing by force of numbers congregated to intimidate, threatening directly or by procurement, following nonunion men to their homes to attack or frighten them and the further maintenance of an organization having for its object the restraint of interstate commerce by interfering with the movement of merchandise in transit through Omaha.
By way of retaliation the representatives of the union and of local labor organizations generally later secured from Judge Dickinson of the district court of Omaha, a state court, an injunction against the Business Men's association and others named as defendants. This injunction forbade them to threaten to injure the business or persons of any member of a labor union or any person who may desire to employ such union member. It also enjoined them from refusing to sell goods to employers of such union labor or from discriminating against them in prices; also, to quote the press report, it enjoined them—
From threatening or intimidating in any manner, any person into joining the said Business Men's association or any organizations to join labor unions.
From threatening or intimidating any person who may have become a member of said association or organization if he employs organized labor or recognizes labor unions into discontinuing such employment.
From imposing any fines upon its members or any person for violating any agreement not to employ organized labor or not to recognize a labor union.
From receiving or paying out any money whatever, in pursuance of any agreement to break up labor unions, except attorneys in this action.
From paying or offering any money to officers or members of unions directly or indirectly as a bribe to do or not to do any act in pursuance of any agreement of any of said defendants against such unions.
From importing or engaging agents or servants to import any laborers into the city of Omaha or state of Nebraska in pursuance of any existing plan to destroy labor organizations or under any similar or new arrangement or plan.
From bringing any other injunction suits or actions in pursuance of any general plan of prosecutions to break up labor unions or of any new or similar plans connected directly or indirectly with any existing plans.
The two instances illustrate how the injunction order may be made to "work both ways," though both apparently carry to undue length this much abused method of legal procedure. The wage earners of Omaha have an unquestioned right to organize and to strike if they choose to do so. To the extent of forbidding violence the order of Judge Munger was a perfectly proper injunction, though such acts could be punished under the common or statutory law without resort to the restraining process.
If, on the other hand, the bitterness of the struggle now going on in Omaha has led the employers and business men to resort to illegal methods to coerce others into acting with them the restraining order of Judge Dickinson was perfectly proper in so far as it was necessary. The employers have no right to threaten or to boycott any one who employs union labor, to coerce employers into joining them in resisting union demands or to do anything which has for its object the disruption of labor unions which have a right to exist. If, however, they have descended to bribery of the officers or members of the unions they have been guilty of acts contrary to public policy and destructive of business morality, which are punishable under the common or statutory law, and thus far at least an injunction was unnecessary.
At all events, the rival injunctions do nothing to clarify the situation at Omaha and might as well not have been issued.
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| Floral Trout Pond Park sketch, courtesy of Cortland County Historical Society. |
SEA LIONS ESCAPE.
Had Started Down the Tioughnioga River to the Ocean.
The two sea lions which were last week received in Cortland from California and which were placed in the trout ponds at the old Floral Trout park escaped Saturday night. They cut a bee line to the Tioughnioga river and seem to have started down stream for the ocean. As soon as missed a strict search was made for them and they were found Sunday clear down the river as far as Messengerville. They were recaptured and restored to the park, and will be confined so they cannot get away.
Notice for Masons.
A special communication of Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M., will be held at the lodge rooms on Tuesday, May 26, at 1:15 p. m. sharp, for the purpose of attending the funeral of the late Josiah Hart. The lodge will march first to the house, 67 Railroad-st., and will then go to the Universalist church at 2 o'clock, where the funeral will be held. Burial in Cortland Rural cemetery. Masonic service at the grave.
Death Josiah Hart.
Josiah Hart of 57 Railroad-st. died at the hospital Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. He had been taken to the hospital a few days ago for better care. His age was 84 years and 10 months.
The deceased was born in Virgil July 25, 1819, He moved to Cortland at an early ago where he learned the carpenter's trade which he followed as long as his health and increasing years permitted. He was a charter member of Cortlandville Lodge, No, 470, F. and A. M. which is to have charge of the funeral which will be held in the Universalist church, of which he was a member, at 2 p. m. Tuesday. He is survived by one son, Josiah Hart, Jr.
Death of James Mack.
The death of James Mack occurred at his home, 82 Madison-st. at 7:30 o'clock Sunday morning as a result of heart failure, death coming while he was asleep.
Mr. Mack, who was about 58 years old, has been in ill health for some time, suffering considerably from rheumatism. He has been confined to the house for about a year, during which time he has had a complication of diseases. He was a carpenter by trade and has lived in Cortland nearly twenty-five years, having moved here from Truxton. He married Anna Daly of Preble in December, 1872. He is survived by one son, Harold J. Mack of Cortland, and three daughters, Mary E. and Lena K. Mack of New York, and Lillian A. Mack of Cortland, also one brother, Michael Mack of Cortland and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Meldrim and Mrs. John Kelley, both of Brooklyn. The funeral will be held from the house Tuesday morning at 8:30 and from St. Mary's church at 9 o'clock. Interment at Cortland.
Ladies' Literary Club.
The Ladies' Literary club met with Miss Roe, 77 Railroad-st. Saturday afternoon May 23. The following program was presented:
Famous Swords, Miss Mudge.
Italian Peasantry, Mrs. Kate Johnson.
Conversation—What qualities of character are common to all Italian cities and to the genius of the Italians, Mrs. Turner.
Reading—Italian Marbles, Mrs. Cornish.
Reading—Italian Festivals, Miss Roe.
Review of Year, Mrs. Jayne.
Recitation—Poem, Miss Fairchild.
President's Day will be observed June 3, at the home of the president, Mrs. Jayne, at 4 o'clock.
The Best Way to Teach History.
The idea of object-teaching, the foundation of the Froebel system of instruction, has in recent years met with general acceptance and adoption in almost every branch of education, high and low, with resultant benefits which are beyond question. Even such subjects as grammar and arithmetic are now taught in this way so far as practicable, and with marked advantage over the old dry and abstract methods. The practice of teaching history by making pilgrimages to the very scenes where great historical events have occurred is an application of the same principle and much more valuable in the way of impressing the reality of history upon the minds of the young than any amount of mere text-book instruction could be. A recent issue of the "Four-Track Series," published by the New York Central management, gives a description of the historical sites in the immediate vicinity of New York, which will be of exceeding value for the guidance of teachers and others who desire to adopt this method of historical study. One of the best ways to develop civic pride and promote good citizenship lies in this very direction, an increase of knowledge of local history being accompanied with an increase of interest in matters of local government and a higher concern for what affects the welfare and good name of the community.— From Leslie's Weekly.
BREVITIES.
—Forest fires swept over a portion of Mt. Toppin, north of Little York yesterday.
—Mr. and Mrs. F. Daehler have just moved to their new home, 53 Greenbush-st.
—The Cortland City band will give a concert Tuesday evening at the corner of Main and Court-sts.
—McEvoy Bros. and Peck's furniture store will close every evening at 6 o'clock except Saturday and Monday evenings.
—A special meeting of the N. P. L. will be held Tuesday evening at 7:30 o'clock. Every member is requested to be present.
—A program meeting of the Farther Lights society of the First Baptist church will be held at the home of Mrs. B. L. Bentley, 11 Monroe Heights, this evening at 7:30 o'clock.
—The new display advertisements today are—S. Simmons, Clothing, page 5; G. H. Wiltsie, Wash Skirts, etc., page 8; C. F. Brown, ready mixed paints, page 8.
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