An Eccentric Maiden in the Shadow of a Mother's Sin

The Cortland News, Friday, January 21, 1887.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The amount of school moneys apportioned to Cortland county for 1887 is $24,109.90.

   Martin Edgcomb will sell his house and lot, No. 30 Grant St., at a bargain. Call at once.

   The electric light and telephone wires came in contact Monday evening about six o'clock, causing the burning out of the instrument in Rooks & Brown's bakery and the annuciator in the central office. The light was shut off for about an hour.

   Thomas Dutcher, a laborer, who resides on Maple avenue, was last week arrested while acting in a violent manner. Physicians declared him insane and he will be sent to the asylum.

   Assemblyman Tisdale has been placed on the committees on Banks, Public Education, Trade and Manufacturers, and Sub-committee of the Whole. This is better treatment than Cortland county is in the habit of receiving.—Marathon Independent. Right you are, brother Adams, but Cortland county sent a better man to Albany than is usual, which accounts for it all.

   Mary Corl was arrested last week upon complaint of Ruth Corl tor attempting and threatening to stave Ruth's brains out and kill her the first chance she had. Mary claims that when she went into the Corl family by marrying Lucius Corl when she was 14 years old, she then had a good reputation but that she had been ill treated so much since then, that she is not very particular what she does now. She is a plump, fair looking woman of 22 years. The Corl report says the trouble has grown out of her intimate relations with a married man of this vicinity, of which intimacy her husband accused her, and called upon his mother to verify the fact. Whereupon Mary become wrathy [sic] and made the above threats and said further that she thought by the way she had been treated that she had a right to be in the company of said married man if she chose to or any other man who liked her. Upon giving bonds for her good behavior until the next Court of Sessions of the county, she was discharged.

   Hugh O'Neil, whose trial for arson a year ago created considerable excitement, was in town last week.

ANOTHER FIRE.

   At 11:42 Tuesday forenoon an alarm of fire was sounded calling the members of the fire department and citizens out in a snow blizzard then raging. The cause was fire in the house near the corner of Hubbard street and Clinton avenue, owned by J. Hub Wallace and leased by Fremont Seager.

   Owing to the long distance to the engine house and the difficulty in drawing the apparatus it was evident that the house was doomed to destruction. However. the steamer was attached to the fire well at Pendleton street and one stream put on the burning building. The flames were finally quenched but not before the house, with the exception of a portion of the upright part, was destroyed, and that was in a condition of innocuous desuetude.

   The loss on the building was about $1,000; insured for $700. Mr. Seager's loss on household goods is about $600 with no insurance. Only a few of the goods in the front room were saved. The fire originated in some paper rags which Mrs. Seager had been drying on the stove and had put into the rag bag.

DIED WITH HER SHEEP.

An Eccentric Maiden in the Shadow of a Mother’s Sin.

   SYRACUSE, Jan. 18, 1887.—The small farm house occupied for twenty years by Miss Albertine Hevener, six miles from here, was burned this morning and Miss Hevener lost her life in the flames. She lived alone and had always been considered very eccentric.  A payment on her farm was due to-day and from a letter left by her it was learned that she lacked $14 of having enough money to meet it. She had starved her cows and sheep and suffered privation in trying to get the money. Several sheep were found dead in the barn and the wool had been eaten from the backs of some of them. The cattle could not stand.

   Miss Hevener left a letter disposing of her property and a request to be buried on her farm. She described how she proposed to set fire to her house and destroy herself. She says:

   "Do not bury me in the graveyard. I do not wish to be buried anywhere near my mother. I have no respect for her. For her sin I am here and there is another world. I hope I may never see her. I want to be buried with my cows and sheep that I have worked for and loved so much."

   She directed that her body be placed in the barn in a box till warm weather. She had tried to poison her stock and took four sheep into the house to perish with her.

Silver and Golden Spangled Hamburgs

The Cortland News, Friday, January 14, 1887.

TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.

Fred Forbes Suicides by Hanging Tuesday Night.

   Some time between half-past seven last Tuesday night and daylight Wednesday morning Fred Forbes, who has been laboring under the hallucination that he was to be taken to a lunatic asylum, hung himself with his neck scarf in the out building connected with the brick school house, about a mile and a quarter west of this village.

   Mr. Forbes had been under treatment for his bodily and mental health at Mrs. Dr. Strowbridge's in this place since the 15th day of November last, and up to about the seventeenth of December had been gradually improving in health, and was in a fair way to recovery. A few days previous to that date however, a notice was served upon him to the effect that parties had begun proceedings before Judge Knox to have a commission in lunacy appointed to take charge of himself and property which amounted to about $25,000. At that time he had a relapse and in two days had run down in health, losing more than had been gained.

   The jury before which he was examined decided that a commission was needed, but Judge Knox decided to hold the matter in abeyance for a time in order to ascertain if possible if there were hopes of Mr. Forbes' recovery, and it so, not to appoint the commission. However, Mr. Forbes had the idea in his mind that Wednesday Judge Knox was to appoint a commission which would immediately consign him to the cheapest asylum to be found, and this idea preyed upon his mind at intervals, and is probably what caused him to do the rash act.

   Tuesday evening he asked if he could go out walking, and in company with J. W. Strowbridge set out to take the air. While going down Court street he suddenly dodged into an alleyway and disappeared in the darkness. Search was instituted and kept up nearly all night, but without success.

   About eight o'clock Wednesday morning one of the school children discovered some one in the out house, and told the teacher, who asked Mr. Barber and Mr. Munson to investigate. They soon learned the truth and immediately notified the authorities. On investigation it was found that the body was that of young Forbes, who had evidently seated himself in the window while tying one end of his neck scarf to the rafters of the building and the other end around his neck. The head was only a foot from the roof and the feet about eight inches from the floor. The face was towards the door which was partially open so that the body was plainly visible from the yard, but not from the road as has been stated.

   Coroner Bradford was notified and under his direction the body was taken down and carried into the school house, where an inquest was held Wednesday afternoon, the jury bringing in a verdict that deceased came to his death by his own hand, while not in his right mind.

   This is the third attempt that deceased had made upon his own life. The first being on the third day of November when he tried to drown himself, the second on the 14th of November, when he attempted to take Paris green.

   Mr. Forbes was about 36 years of age, and of an amiable disposition when in good health His father died in the Canandaigua asylum and it was evidently the fear of sharing a like fate that drove the deceased to committing the deed.

Hamburg

CHICKEN FANCIERS HAPPY.

A Large Display of Poultry and Stock at the Pioneer Rink.

   The first annual exhibition of the Central New York Poultry and Pet Stock Club opened at the Pioneer Rink Tuesday morning, under favorable circumstances. There are between two and three hundreds coops, containing over 400 fowls of different varieties, embracing nearly every kind of fancy poultry known.

   Prominent among the exhibits are Eugene Powers’ display of Black, Silver and Goldpenciled and Silver and Golden spangled Hamburgs which attract much attention. Mr. Powers makes a specialty of these varieties and has by far the finest fowls in this line to be found. Messrs. Knapp Bros, display of White Leghorns also attracts much attention. Among the fowls these gentlemen exhibit are the ones which took first premium at the Madison Square exhibit last spring; one bird of the number they having been offered $100 for.

   W. A. Bristol exhibits Rose Comb Brown Leghorns and White Crested White Polish fowls in large numbers and on which a large number of premiums have been awarded [premiums were financial awards—CC editor]. Geo. R. Hammond, of McGrawville, also has a large exhibit of fowls. The other exhibitors have the best birds of their flocks there and among them are some exceedingly fine specimens, but space forbids that we give a complete summary of the entries or premiums awarded.

   The attendance at the rink has been fair, but hardly sufficient as yet to warrant the statement that much more than expenses will be realized.

CORTLAND COUNTY FARMER’S CLUB.

   The annual meeting of the club was fairly attended in spite of the cold weather. President Blodgett called the meeting to order at the usual hour and after some remarks upon the work of the club in the past nine years, expressed a desire that some one else should be chosen to preside. The club thought otherwise, however. The election of officers resulted as follows:

   President—A. D. Blodgett.

   Vice-President—J. D. F. Woolston.

   Secretary—C. M. Bean.

   Treasurer—A. P. Rowley.

   Director for three years—J. L. Gillett.

   The chair appointed as committee on questions for the coming year, B. F. Tillinghast, H. P. Goodrich, E. C. Beach, Dr. I. A. Beach, J. D. F. Woolston and the secretary.

   The treasurer reported the receipts of the past year $13.85, expenditures $12.00, leaving a balance in his hands of $1.85. Report was accepted. The secretary briefly reviewed the work taken up the past year.

   Mr. Rowley: I would like to see one session devoted to some such question as this, "the benefits to the farming class of the cultivation of flowers in and around their homes." I claim the farmers ought to be well educated and their homes made attractive.

   Mr. Woolston: There is no profession which requires such a diversity of talents as agriculture. The future welfare of our country depends upon how our children are educated.

   On motion the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

   Resolved, The course of our Congressmen, Senator Warner Miller and Hon. Frank Hiscock, member from this district, deserves our highest commendation and we hereby extend our thanks for their untiring and powerful efforts to protect the dairy interest of the country.

   Mr. Woolston gave an outline of the proposed organization to protect the people from the operations of the patent right swindlers. He read the by-laws by which it would be governed and stated that there was no intention to resist the demands of claims which competent attorneys thought valid.

   The question of road making was then taken up.

   Mr. Bean, W. A.: As I understand it, the question is, whether we shall follow our present system or have the tax included with our regular town tax, and the money expended by suitable persons who make that their business. While each method has its objections as well as advantages, I am convinced we should have better roads if the system was changed. At present some districts, with incompetent and indifferent overseers perform little labor; in others there is enough labor performed but it is misdirected. A few districts pursue an intelligent system and have good roads. But the other system has been followed in the eastern States with great success. It tends to equalize the burden of keeping up difficult roads and the sparsely settled portions of the town. As a whole, I think such a system would be better than our present one.

   Club adjourned for two weeks. Saturday, Jan. 22: Subject of "Road Making" will be continued.

 Saturday, January 8, 1887

C. M. BEAN. Sec.

BANK ELECTIONS.

National Bank of Cortland.

   At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the National Bank of Cortland held on Tuesday last the following named persons were chosen Directors:

   B. A. Benedict, Robert Bushby, Geo. L. Cole, C. W. Collins, Wm. H. Clark, L. J. Fitzgerald. Wesley Hooker, F. N. Harrington, G. J. Mager, A. P. McGraw, C. E. Selover, F. C. Straat. John D. Schermerhom, C. F. Thompson, D. F. Wallace.

   At the meeting of the Directors, immediately afterwards, the bank officers of the past year were re-elected as follows:

   President—Wesley Hooker.

   Vice-President—Geo. L. Cole.

   Cashier—Chas. E. Selover.

   Attorney—Byron A. Benedict.

   Clerk— Chas. W. Collins.

First National Bank.

   At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the First National Bank, held on Tuesday afternoon last, the following directors were re-elected:

   Samuel Keator, E. Keator, O. U. Kellogg, R. B. Smith, M. Van Hoesen, C. W. Stoker, E. C. Carley, A. A. Carley, Robert Purvis, T. H. Wickwire, H. Cowan, C. F. Wickwire, Ransom Warren. The directors re-elected the following officers:

   President—Samuel Keator.

   Vice-President —R. Bruce Smith.

   Cashier—E. Keator.

   Attorney—O. U. Kellogg.

Second National Bank.

   The Stockholders of the Second National Bank elected the following directors on Tuesday last:

   E. A. Fish, H. F. Benton, M. S. Bierce, Wn. B. Stoppard, M. H. McGraw, Jas R. Schermerhom, A. L. Cole, Fitz Boynton, L. J. Fitzgerald, D. F. Wallace, H. Wells, Geo. C. Hubbard, C. B. Hitchcock, Earnest M. Hulbert, T. H. Wickwire, C. F. Wickwire.

   At a subsequent meeting of the directors the following officers were elected:

   President—Fitz Boynton.

   Vice President—L. J. Fitzgerald.

   Cashier—E. D. Barker.

Savings Bank.

   The annual election of officers of the Saving's Bank occurred on Monday last with this result:

   President—-Frederick Hyde,

   Vice-Presidents—Horace P. Goodrich, Geo. N. Copeland.

   Secretary—Benj. L. Webb.

   Treasurer—Calvin P. Walrad.

   Attorney—-R. H. Duell.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   Mrs. Ann Cooper, of Horseheads, was found frozen to death in her house at that place Sunday morning.

   Barney Riley was before Justice Squires on Friday last for public intoxication. Eleven dollars or ten days. Days.

   There is fine skating at the trout ponds and large numbers enjoy the sport daily. Messrs. Robinson & Allport do everything for the comfort of their guests.

   About 2 a. m., last Friday morning, the building owned and occupied by

Thomas Mourin as a furniture store, about mid-way between this place and Homer, was destroyed by fire from some cause unknown. The entire stock and Mr. Mourin's books were burned. Loss $3,800. Insured with N. H. Messenger for $3,100.

   An alarm of fire was sounded about noon last Saturday, the house at the corner of Maple avenue and Adams street [Homer Avenue] having been discovered to be on fire. The hose companies soon had two streams from the water works hydrant at Lincoln avenue, but the flames had already been subdued from pails. A small hole was burned in the roof. It was owned by J. S. Samson and occupied by C. E. Reed. Insured.

   George White, who was recently injured by a D. L. & W. train near Blodgett’s Mills, has settled with the company, they agreeing to pay all expenses while he is unable to work and giving him $100. Joseph Dodd who was with him at the time wants $5,000 damages, which the company refuses to pay, and a law suit will probably follow.

   Mrs. Anna Richardson, alias Maud Wilbur, &c., an inmate of a house kept by Fannie Strong in Binghamton, was discovered dead in her bed Monday morning. It was thought that she had committed suicide but an autopsy revealed that that was not the case. Her home was formerly in this village where her husband now lives.

Sherwood Elopes with Chiquita Banana

The original Miss Chiquita Banana

Sherwood without any disguise whatsoever

     Sherwood has eloped with Miss Chiquita Banana. It’s true, or my name isn’t Bill Clinton.

     Some of you may remember Sherwood, the English speaking chimp, who was raised and trained right here in Cortland County by Mr. M. A. D. Shine. Often called “Mad” by his neighbors for his exotic menagerie in Cortland, the eccentric Mr. Shine is a retired circus man. “Mad” he may be, but he did find the kindness in his heart to warn the public when Sherwood escaped from a River Street lodging over three years ago.
     After he escaped, Sherwood got hungry and boldly applied for food stamps at the Cortland County Social Services Department. Not being a human, his request was denied. Concluding that he was the victim of discrimination, he went on a rampage at the county office building. He trashed an office at the Social Services Department, then punched and knocked out the chairman of the county legislature in a third floor men’s room. He stole the chairman’s clothes, put them on, and proceeded to the chamber of the legislature. He was wearing an excellent disguise, we are told. The former chairman, Jack B. Nimble, was known for his thick bushy beard and uncut long hair. He had the same dark complexion as Sherwood, and the same wide mouth and toothy grin. Both, when speaking, had a nearly identical heavy Cortland accent. They both said “Saraquse,” when referring to Syracuse, New York.
     Mistaking Sherwood for Jack B. Nimble, the legislators allowed him to conduct the meeting as chairman. Sherwood presided over the passage of a record number of resolutions, the legislators reduced spending and borrowing and accomplished more public economy and efficiency in one session than the county legislature had accomplished over the last thirty years. After the meeting, knowing that the sheriff was looking for him, Sherwood disappeared. A fugitive from justice, he went on the lam.
     While he was hiding from the short arm of Cortland County's law, Sherwood submitted several intriguing articles to the Cortland Contrarian. Finding that his articles were offensive, worthless and in bad taste, we published all of them. One of them, in particular, received a great amount of attention. It was captioned Scoop Shovels Donated to County Legislators. It was obvious that Sherwood was not a tree-top jungle, zoo or laboratory product. He had a fist as powerful as Clint Eastwood’s Clyde, and a sense of social awareness and an intelligence on par with New York Congressman Charlie Rangel.
     That leads us to the reported elopement. According to the online weekly Free Government Money, a non-profit newspaper with ties to Congressman Rangel, that distinguished New York Congressman met Cortland's Sherwood, Saturday night last, at a Harlem night club. Sherwood was wearing another clever disguise, as he presented the convincing appearance of a junk dealer. Congressman Rangel offered Sherwood an internship in Washington, but Sherwood claimed that he had a writing job lined up with Free Government Money, and so declined the offer. “I provide for them too,” Congressman Rangel said.
     More people gathered around Congressman Rangel’s table, many of them smiling and telling him he was doing an excellent job in Washington. “You know how to bring home the bacon and the bread,” one of his admirers said. At some point, Congressman Rangel introduced his new friend Sherwood to Miss Chiquita Banana, a night club singer and show girl, and that started a smoldering fire. Sherwood and Chiquita were seen at the club dancing and laughing and hanging all over each other, according to the newspaper report. When Sherwood took a bite from a banana on Chiquita’s banana-loaded hat, Congressman Rangel, who was watching them, remarked, “Charming-- love at first bite.” Everyone who heard him laughed.
     When Sherwood and Chiquita returned to Congressman Rangel’s table, one of the guests told them about the congressman’s remark. Although the joke was on them, they both laughed loudly. Congressman Rangel, who is about eighty-three years old but doesn’t look a day past sixty, doesn’t have the staying power he used to have. He was getting tired, and he told his friends he would leave shortly. Before Congressman Rangel left the night club, he offered Sherwood and Chiquita a two-week free vacation at his rental resort in the Dominican Republic. "Have a good time on me," he said.The infatuated couple accepted the generous offer on the spot—who wouldn’t? The newspaper claimed they eloped and flew to the island on a United States government plane, thanks to the political machinations of the New York congressman.
     There is an outstanding warrant for the arrest of Sherwood in New York. Let’s hope the police look elsewhere. There are bigger and older fish to fry.

Recommended:

Conjecture and Rumor: http://www.jeffpaine.blogspot.com/2012/02/conjecture-and-rumor.html

Has Anyone Seen Sherwood?: http://www.jeffpaine.blogspot.com/2011/10/has-anyone-seen-sherwood.html