Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, August 28, 1903.
DEMAND REPARATION.
For the Murder of Vice Consul Magelssen at Beirut.
ORDERS FOR EUROPEAN FLEET.
Minister Leishman at Constantinople Ordered to Demand an Investigation and Punishment of the Murderers—Attempt to Burn College at Harpoort—Anxiety For Americans.
Washington, Aug. 28.—Prompt and vigorous action is being taken by the United States government to secure the punishment of those persons implicated in the assassination of United States Consul William C. Magelssen at Beirut, Syria, Sunday.
Minister Leishman, at Constantinople, who reported the fact to the state department, has been instructed by the state department to demand a thorough investigation and the punishment of those involved in the crime, and the European squadron, consisting of three warships, has been ordered to proceed immediately to Beirut to support the demands.
This latter measure was determined upon as a result of conferences which have been held over the telegraph and telephone with the president at Oyster Bay. The latter felt that no time should be lost.
The president's determination to lose no time in getting the squadron to Beirut was also due in part to information received by Acting Secretary Loomis of the state department from the president of the American board of missions at Boston indicating that an attempt had been made to burn the Euphrates college building at Harpoort and that there was great anxiety for American residents.
Acting Secretary Loomis cabled to Minister Leishman to make immediate demands for the protection of all Americans at Beirut and to prevent any attack on the college.
Admiral Cotton, who was directed to hold his squadron in readiness to proceed at a moment’s notice to Beirut, cabled the navy department as follows, under date of Nice, France:
"Cable just received. Machias at Genoa for coal. Brooklyn has seven days, San Francisco six and a half days coal at 10 knots. Cannot exceed that speed with Machias. If squadron going west should coal at Marseilles if east at Genoa.
"COTTON."
Admiral Cotton's instructions are to sail at once.
Acting Secretary Loomis received a remarkable cablegram from Minister Leishman last night in which the latter states that he had called at the Turkish foreign office at Constantinople that evening and the minister of foreign affairs emphatically denied knowledge of the assassination. He also attempted to discredit it.
The department does not attach sufficient importance to Minister Leishman's last message to cancel the order for the squadron to sail.
Acting Secretary Darling and Captain Cowles of the bureau of navigation were in conference.
MOTIVE UNKNOWN
In Absence of Any Specific Information.
Washington, Aug. 28. In the absence of any specific information or of any of the details of the assassination of Vice Consul Magelssen, the state department is at a loss to ascribe a motive. The theory generally accepted is that he was slain by some criminal, who possibly added a personal grudge to the reward held out by his religion for the slaughter of one Christian.
TOWPATH FORBIDDEN.
Special Order by Mr. Boyd Requiring Automobiles to Keep Off.
Albany, Aug. 28.—Superintendent of Public Works Boyd has issued special orders forbidding the running of automobiles on the canal towpath.
The recent fatal accident near Fort Plain, by which Mr. Spaulding of New York was drowned in the canal while driving his auto along the path, has emphasized the matter because there was discovered upon the body of Mr. Spaulding what purported to be a "permit'' authorizing him to make use of the towpath, the only condition being that "speed should not exceed 20 miles an hour."
Not only was the permit spurious but Superintendent Boyd has not been able to identify the person assuming to have authority to grant the use of the canals for such purpose. The permit was issued by "W. S. Andrus" and was dated at Syracuse.
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| David J. Brewer. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Law's Delay and Lynching.
In a significant utterance on the alarming prevalence of mob rule and lynching and the remedy therefore Justice Brewer of the United States supreme court renews his suggestion made some years ago for the doing away with appeals in criminal cases. He points out that for a hundred years there was no appeal from judgment of conviction in criminal cases in our federal courts and no review except in a few cases, two justices sitting. A difference of opinion on a question of law was certified to the supreme court. In England, he observes, there is no appeal in criminal cases, although a question of law may be reserved by the presiding judge for the consideration of his colleagues.
Justice Brewer's recommendation is a tacit recognition of the fact that the courts are in part to blame for the spread and prevalence of the lynching mania. The constitutional right to "a speedy trial" which is guaranteed to the accused by the constitution inheres also to the public, which is the accuser. Courts are sometimes overruled and brushed aside by mobs for the reason that speedy trials are not granted. Frequently judges show too much tenderness for the criminal, even when his guilt is clear, and too little for the public, which has been wronged in the person of the criminal's victim.
Criminal prosecutions fail in their main purpose and are comparative failures when judges regard the courts as agencies for the punishment of criminals and not for the prevention of crime. Justice, to have any deterring effect, must be swift as well as sure. The present administration of criminal law gives too much scope to the skilled criminal lawyer. It is most difficult and expensive to convict a criminal who can raise the money to pay the cost of carrying on a long and tedious legal controversy over the "points" which a criminal lawyer of the first rank can always discover and raise in his client's favor, altogether independent of the question of his guilt.
It is hardly probable that appeals in criminal cases will ever be altogether abolished, nor is it clear that they ought to be since judges are fallible, but appeals should be greatly restricted and made very much less common.
It is apparent that there is urgently needed a judicial reform that will permit the machinery of justice to move with greater celerity and sureness.
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| William Greenman. |
LAST DAY OF THE FAIR
A Steady Downpour of Rain Interferes with Closing Program.
THURSDAY WAS THE DAY FOR PEOPLE.
A Big Success Notwithstanding Two Rainy Days—A Fine Balloon Ascension—Exciting Races—McGrawville Grange Wins Tug of War—Large Crowd Witnesses the Fireworks—Baby Show Today—Most of Today's Events Declared Off.
This is the last day of the Cortland county fair and a cold, wet, gloomy, disagreeable day it has been. Rain began falling at an early hour this morning and continued, almost without interruption, for a greater portion of the day. There was nothing of importance doing at the grounds this forenoon. Everything was drenched. Contrasted with yesterday the grounds presented a scene of desolation. The great crowds seemed to have melted away during the night, the attractions of the midway were practically closed, the merry-go-round lacked its merry crowd, the numerous venders of various merchandise were no longer crying their wares, visitors in the buildings were lacking, the dining tents were no longer a scene of activity, the special events for the day, the races, the balloon ascension and others were declared off, and altogether the scene was in marked contrast to that which the grounds presented on Wednesday and Thursday.
During the afternoon, however, many people went to the grounds and while many features of the previous days were lacking and the rain continued most of the time, the place presented a scene of activity scarcely to be expected.
Notwithstanding all this, the fact that the fair has been one of the most successful ever held by the Cortland County Agricultural society in all its history can not be gainsaid. The results have again demonstrated the wisdom of the liberal policy of the management and point conclusively to the fact that the Cortland County fair stands second to none in point of general excellence, attendance and attractive features.
The marked success of the fair is in no small measure due to the well directed efforts of the secretary, W. J. Greenman. With a corps of able and well trained assistants the preliminaries have been well arranged and all the details in connection with the fair have been kept well in hand. To his able generalship must be attributed the remarkable growth of the fair and the increased interest in the event which have marked his administration.
President F. H. Sears and Treasurer Charles F. Brown have likewise been untiring in their efforts to bring about the results which have been so satisfactory to all concerned,
Thursday's Record.
Wednesday was a record breaking day so far as receipts were concerned—more tickets being sold than on any single day in the history of the society, though Thursday's crowd was larger on account of additional season and family tickets. The number of season tickets sold reached nearly 2,300.
The weather Thursday was all that any one could ask for. The day was comfortably cool and slightly cloudy, yet not enough to threaten rain. The grounds were in excellent condition and the attractions at their best. The attendance was even greater than on Wednesday. It is the opinion of some of the men connected with the management of the fair that there were more people upon the grounds yesterday than ever before in the history of the Cortland county fair. All seemed happy and contented. It is worth one's time to attend the fair simply to notice the people there. Some are present out of curiosity, others to see their friends, and talk over the events of the year, others to see tbe exhibitions and are in search of new ideas and ways of putting them in practice. It is a cosmopolitan crowd. People are present from every walk in life and every one goes away knowing more of the mass of humanity than he did before attending a county fair.
Some More Exhibits.
There are several fine exhibits which have not been before mentioned in these columns. Among them it that of J. B. Kellogg in the fair house. This booth, which is handsomely trimmed and decorated, is filled with an excellent array of ladies' furnishings, including suits, shirtwaists, dressing skirts, furs, etc.
Another exhibit in the building that has not previously been mentioned is that of V. W. Hoxie of 32 Owego-st., Cortland. It consists of a novel display of lamps which generate their own gas. These lamps are manufactured by the Standard Gas Lamp Co. of Chicago and the exhibit, on account of its extreme novelty, was the center of considerable interest.
On the Grounds.
In the enclosure formed by the track one found several fine exhibits. Keator & Wells had a large tent where they were showing a splendid line of their wagons and carryalls.
The Cortland Implement company had one of their Advance manure spreaders on exhibition and commanded considerable attention.
L. R. Lewis exhibited samples of the Perfection milk cooler and farmers' wonder feed cooker and farm boiler.
The farmers' exchange were showing a number of hand-made farm wagons and a Blizzard ensilage cutter with blower attached.
The Danford Chemical Co., S. D., Ballard agent, was displaying the Waston steel sprayer for fruit trees and potatoes and "Bug Death," an insect exterminator manufactured by them. They had potatoes, where "bug death" had been used on exhibition, contrasted with others where Paris green had been used. Mr. Ballard also showed a fine line of harnesses, robes, whips, blankets, etc., and two kinds of stock food.
G. S. Cady of Moravia also had a number of wagons on exhibition. Among them was a coal wagon which attracted some attention.
The Driving Contest.
The J. B. Kellogg driving contest came off yesterday. There were thirteen entries and there were some especially fine turnouts among them. Perley Dickinson, the starter in the races, acted as judge and a very efficient judge he was. The first prize, consisting of a tailor made suit valued at $15 was awarded to Miss Dora Reagan of Blodgett Mills.
The Balloon Ascension.
The balloon ascension Thursday afternoon was one of the events of the day and one of the most successful ever give by Prof. Hutchinson. There was scarcely a breeze stirring and the balloon went almost straight up to a height of more than 2,000 feet. It was in full view of all the people in the grand stand and was a pretty sight as it floated gracefully from its moorings.
The Human Bomb.
At the signal from Prof. Hutchinson, the fuse was lighted by the aeronaut and the explosion of the bomb was distinctly heard by the thousands of spectators. The parachute opened and the young man floated to the earth landing near the West road to Homer. The balloon came down in the field between the fairground and the West road.
The parachute is 41 feet long, so that the occupant of the bomb has to fall 41 feet before the parachute straightens out and then from 200 to 300 feet more of rapid earthward motion follows before the parachute opens and performs its life saving function.
The balloon is made of the very best unbleached sheeting of which it takes 1,100 yards. Prof. Hutchinson always carries two or three of these balloons for emergencies that often arise.
The parachute is made of 70 yards of half bleached muslin of the best quality, very light but tightly woven. The bomb is made of willow and cloth, the inner casing of papier mache coated with glue. When the explosion takes place, the inner casing bursts, the outer part opens and the aeronaut and parachute drop out.
The explosion is made with ordinary gun powder to which the aeronaut touches a lighted cigar when he hears the report of Prof. Hutchinson's gun.
The Fireworks.
The fireworks, which were given at the fairgrounds last evening, were witnessed by a crowd which numbered well into the thousands.
Several thousand people remained on the grounds from the afternoon while many came for the fireworks alone. The grandstand was filled as far back as one could go and still see the display, while on the grounds every available board, box and place of advantage was occupied.'
The fireworks were excellent. First came a salute from three 9-inch shells followed by a dazzling display of colored lights which changed color five times. Then came a flight of twenty-five rockets containing Pain's latest tints and electric effects. Three batteries of mines were next set off and a discharge of bombs followed. Rockets, showers, fountains, bombets and aerial novelties followed each other in rapid succession. The set pieces and some special displays were very good.
The display was among the best ever seen in this part of the state and the management is to be congratulated upon the excellency and success of this feature of the fair. The Cortland City band furnished excellent music and added to the enjoyment of the occasion.
The Tug of War.
The tug of war contest between teams from granges in the county for the corn harvester offered by the Cortland County Agricultural society and the D. M. Osborne Co. was won by the team from the McGrawville grange.
There were four entries and the teams were made up as follows:
Cortlandville: Ralph Hatfield, Leo Letts, Ed. Stevens, Uriah Cobb.
Homer: Benj. Rice, Fred Finch, Homer Jones, Claude E. Landphier,
Marathon: P. Francis, S. Hammond, George Reagan, Preston Conrad.
McGrawville: Frank Dunbar, Will King, Will Reaks, Rufus Rowe.
The first pull was between McGraw and Cortland and McGraw won. The second between Homer and Marathon resulted in favor of Homer. Then the two winning teams went at it to decide the supremacy. The combined weight of the Homer team was 670 pounds while McGrawville tipped the scale at 855. Homer put up a strong pull but lost to the McGrawville giants by 1 3/4 inches.
The Baby Show.
There were twenty-four entries in the baby show this forenoon for the set of dishes offered by the Fair Stores of Cortland and Homer for first and one ton of coal by Maxson & Starin, second. The first was awarded to the child of Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Totman of McGraw, the second to Mr. and Mrs. Bradley J. Lane of Cortland.
Fair Notes.
Secretary Greenman closed yesterday six places of attraction on the midway which were found doing business contrary to the rules of the society.
Very few cases of picked pockets were reported for so large a crowd. A man in the grandstand lost $20 Thursday afternoon and some other smaller amounts are reported.
[Thursday horse racing events omitted—CC ed.]
BREVITIES.
—The new display advertisements for today are—G. H. Wiltsie, Last days of anniversary sale, page 6; Opera House, "The Merchant of Venice," page 5; R. W. Mitchell, The best meats, page 5.
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