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| Edmund Hope Driggs. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, June 25, 1903.
POSTOFFICE AFFAIRS.
Four Indictments Against Ex-Congressman Driggs.
HE RESERVED RIGHT TO PLEAD.
Had Previously Admitted He Received a Salary From the Brandt Dent Company For Helping to Introduce Their Automatic Cashier Machines in the Department.
New York, June 25.—Former Congressman Driggs was indicted by the federal grand jury in Brooklyn. He appeared before Judge Thomas and gave bail. The indictment grew out of the investigation into postoffice affairs made by the grand jury.
Four indictments were found, all practically alike. Each charges that Driggs between July 20 and 24, 1900, unlawfully agreed to receive and did receive a $500 check from the Brandt Dent company for procuring a contract from the United States government for making and delivering 250 automatic cashiers for the postoffice department.
To the first two indictments Mr. Driggs pleaded not guilty, reserving the right to plead later to the others, which contain 16 counts each, after his lawyer had read them. Mr. Driggs refused absolutely to comment on his indictment. He has previously admitted, however, receiving a salary of $12,500 from the Brandt Dent company for introducing its machines, but claimed that the work he did for the company was done before he was sworn in as congressman, but after his election, and declaring that he had done nothing to which the government could object.
The indictments were found under sections 171 and 172 of the revised statutes of the United States, which provide for the punishment of any person "receiving emolument while in the employ of the government."
Mr. Driggs was before the grand jury before the indictment was found.
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George White.
PETER SMITH DEAD.
Boy Who Was Shot During the Wilmington Lynching Died Yesterday.
Wilmington, Del., June 25.—Arthur Corwell was released on $5,000 bail last night. He will be given a further hearing today. Bail was promptly furnished.
Coroner McCormick had two sessions in the inquest on the remains of White.
When the inquest began the remains of White could not be found and after a long search they were found wrapped in paper on an ice chest. White weighed about 200 lbs., but only five pounds of flesh and bone was left of him after the lynchers had concluded their work.
The first session adjourned for lack of witnesses. Later the coroner again summoned the jury, which after some testimony brought in the following verdict:
"Resolved, That George White came to his death by being burned in a field by a party or parties unknown to this jury."
What the next step of the authorities will be is not known. The belief is growing that no one will ever be punished for the work of the mob.
Peter Smith, the boy who was shot while the mob was in the workhouse on Monday night, died Wednesday afternoon. The boy was an Italian. Who shot him, no one seems to know. The jail officials think he was shot by some one in the crowd.
GO AND GET A GUN.
Negro Preacher's Advice to His Race on the Subject of Lynchings.
Chicago, June 25.—Tbe Rev. C. H. Thomas, pastor of a negro church in Belleville, Ill., evoked tumults of applause last night at a meeting held in Quinn chapel to denounce the recent burning of David B. Wyatt by a Belleville mob. The preacher said:
"My Master said 'If there is no sword here sell your coat and get one.' If lynching and burning do not cease I say to every black man, sell your coat and get a gun." He then denounced Gov. Yates for failing to interfere.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Prevalence of Corruption.
It is gratifying to note that retribution has overtaken or is likely to overtake many of the corruptionists and criminals in public service, particularly to the municipal governments of some of the larger cities of the country, though it is feared that the lessen has not yet been so stern and complete as to wholly deter other evilly disposed and gain seeking men from attempting to intercept money belonging to municipalities and filch financial spoils from general revenues. The temptation will exist as long as the people are confiding and unconcerned, and the criminal practices are not likely to cease until the temptation is removed.
In the past great fortunes have been founded on flagrant infraction of the law. Some highly respected families in the United States have derived their standing from wealth procured in iniquity by unrespected forbears. Some large and potent corporations owe their existence and their influence to the sins of unscrupulous promoters and faithless public servants. What share of the vast fortunes, immense capital stocks, large profits and squandered money rightfully belongs to the public could not even be estimated, but it is certain that if public officials had invariably regarded public interests the bonded indebtedness of many a city would be less than it is and the tax rate would be lower.
The bribe giver, seeking a valuable franchise, is probably spurred by inordinate love of riches and by the easy prospect of amassing wealth at little effort. The bribe taker is usually poor, and the opportunity to get a few thousand dollars is often a temptation that he cannot resist, as a small fortune insures him independence. So the bribe giving and the bribe taking go on until thoughtful men are beginning almost to believe that "every man has his price."
It is perhaps too much to hope that all public servants will be brought to the point of absolute honesty and honor this side the millennium, but recent revelations emphasize the necessity of a higher public standard of civic righteousness and more rigid and drastic enforcement of the punitive laws against corruption and dishonesty in public office.
THE FRATERNITY RECEPTION.
Many Alumni and Friends of the Normal School Were Present.
One of the most enjoyable events of the Normal commencement took place at the Normal last evening when the six fraternities gave their thirteenth annual reception to their alumni a unite in making the occasion one of the most pleasant experiences of Normal life and no pains or expense is spared in the execution of plans.
The principal's office, the reception room, corridors, and the six fraternity rooms were thrown open and all were handsomely decorated. A general committee is appointed from the clubs to decorate the office, reception room and corridors. Each club decorates its own rooms and each vies with the other in having the rooms present a pleasing appearance. It is safe to say that they never appeared to better advantage than they did last evening. The decorations were of a more simple character than is often the case, it being the aim to avoid over decoration.
The Philomathean room was made very attractive by the use of daisy chains.
In the Alpha Delta room ferns predominated.
The Agonians and Clionians made little or no attempt at decorating, their newly appointed rooms speaking for themselves. The new fire place in the Agonian room showed to advantage, giving the room a cheerful, homelike appearance.
The decorations in the boys' club rooms were simple and well adapted to the surroundings.
The work of the general committee was shown on the lower floor. The decorations here consisted of palms, ferns, banners, screens, etc, which were arranged with artistic effect.
The guests on their arrival were welcomed by a reception committee consisting of Prof. Booth, Miss Bishop, Miss Goodhue, and the presidents of the girls' clubs. An informal reception committee met the guests in each of the clubrooms. Light refreshments were served in each of the fraternity rooms.
The Normal orchestra and the Normal Mandolin and Guitar club furnished music throughout the evening. The attendance was large, between three and four hundred being present, and the reception was one of the most enjoyable ever held. The committee in charge was untiring in its efforts to make the reception a success and that it was a great success is to a great extent due to their efforts.
MAIL CLERK DARBY
Struck by a Swinging Door on a Passing Train.
C. C. Darby met with a painful accident Tuesday evening which is confining him to the house for the present. Mr. Darby was the mail clerk on the North bound Lackawanna train which leaves Cortland at 4:32. The train makes but few stops between Binghamton and Syracuse, the mail pouches being caught at way stations by the crane provided for that purpose. The train usually passes a freight train on another track just before reaching Chenango Forks. Tuesday, Mr. Darby opened the door so as to be ready to throw off the pouch for Chenango Forks just as the train was passing the freight. As he looked out to see how far they were from the station, he noticed that the door of a refrigerator car stood open. The door of a refrigerator car is so thick that it will not slide like doors on ordinary freight cars, but opens outward. He jerked his head back, but not in time to avoid being struck by the swinging door. A hood with a thick glass front is worn at these times by the clerks to keep cinders out of their eyes. Mr. Darby had one on and the glass front was broken and a piece of the glass struck him on the nose, cutting him severely. The angular artery was severed, and the wound bled profusely. Mr. Darby stuck to his post and threw off and caught the pouches at every station except one.
When Homer, N. Y., was reached, Mr. Blaney, a mail clerk residing there, took Mr. Darby's place in response to a telegram, and sorted mail, which Mr. Darby was unable to do, as his glasses were broken. Mr. Blaney worked very rapidly and had the mail all sorted before Syracuse was reached. Mr. Darby remained on the train, threw off, caught and opened pouches, etc. On arriving at Oswego he went to a physician and had the wound dressed. The physician found it impossible to probe for glass, as the cut bled so profusely. Mr. Darby states that the wound is doing well and that he does not anticipate much trouble from it, but thinks it strange that he should be the only one out of the four clerks on this division of the Lackawanna to meet with accidents.
Admitted to the Bar.
Clarence E. Pitts, formerly of Cheningo, Cortland county, for the past three years a student with D. P. Morehouse, Oswego's leading attorney, has just passed with honor the examination for admission to the bar, and will be sworn in as an attorney and counselor of the supreme court at Rochester, July 7. Mr. Pitts is well known at Cuyler, Truxton, etc., as he resided at Cuyler and Cheningo six years and taught school in Taylor and Cheningo. He has a large practice already at Oswego, and is fitting up a suite of offices at 8 Grant block, Oswego, which he will at once take possession of.
Death of Charles A. Edgcomb.
Charles A. Edgcomb died at 3:15 yesterday afternoon at his home, 17 Hubbard-st., after an illness of but a few days. For a number of years he had been a great sufferer from rheumatism, but last Saturday he was attacked with what seemed to be nervous prostration, and from that time forward the decline was rapid.
Deceased was the oldest son of Isaac A. and Clarissa W. Edgcomb, and was born in Groton, N. Y., May 9, 1829. Fifteen years later he moved with his parents to the newly purchased farm west of Homer village and there lived till about 1860, when they moved into the village itself.
Twenty years ago he bought a farm in Spafford which continued to be his home till last fall when he came to Cortland to reside. In his younger days he was for a number of years a teacher in the public schools. For many years he was a member of the M. E. church of Homer, but had recently sent for his letter to unite with the Congregational church in this city. The letter, however, had for lack of opportunity, not yet been acted upon.
Mr. Edgcomb is survived by his wife and son Ray and three brothers, Isaac, Martin, and George W. Edgcomb of this city. The funeral will be held at the house tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock, and will be conducted by Rev. James Rain, pastor of the Congregational church.
Has a Talking Machine.
Judge Edward B. Thomas of the United States circuit court, Eastern district of New York, who is the president of the Cortland County society of New York City, heard the story told by Judge Eggleston at the annual reunion of the society last April, and seems to have laid claim to it and adapted it, for according to the Brooklyn Eagle he claims to have a friend who is the worst henpecked man he ever knew. On a recent occasion an agent for a phonograph company dropped into the friend's office and inquired if he had a talking machine at home. "Yep," was the reply. "And may I ask of what company you bought it?" persisted the agent. "Didn't buy it; married it."
BREVITIES.
—McDermott's orchestra goes to Tully tonight to furnish music for a dancing party, and tomorrow night has an engagement at Truxton.
—There were four weddings at St. Patrick's church in Binghamton yesterday arranged on a schedule of fifteen minutes apart, the retiring wedding party meeting the next candidates as they were entering the church.
—The new display advertisements today are—A. S. Burgess, Boys' clothing, page 8; G. H. Wiltsie, Clearance sale, page 5; Opera House, "Dilger-Cornell Co.," page 5; M. A. Case, Sale of corsets, page 6; First National Bank, bank accounts, page 5.
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