NORMAL SCHOOL NOTES

Cortland Normal School.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 27, 1892.

Normal School Notes.

   The appointments for commencement were made public, in part, yesterday, and were in general satisfactory and just to all students interested.

   With the occupancy of the new building next fall with its increase in seating capacity over the present one, and with the abolishment of the elementary English course, which has heretofore drawn a great many to this school, there will be considerable vacant space unless something is done to attract students to this institution.

   The problem that confronts every student who contemplates entering a Normal school is the one of cost of board and lodging. There are three classes of students, based upon the manner of boarding, in attendance at the Normal. First, Those hiring their board. Second, Those renting rooms—particularly the ladles—and boarding themselves. Third, Those renting rooms and hiring their food prepared, in part, purchasing the rest already prepared. All invariably board at the place at which they lodge. The first class pays from $3 to $4 per week for board and lodging. It expects good board and generally gets it. The second class pays less and has less with surprising irregularity as to the time it has it. It is a fact that every student who takes the regular term's work has but little time for anything else especially housekeeping, consequently she governs her eating by the amount of time in which she has to prepare her food.

   The third class pays more than the second class, and has less trouble by patronizing the dealer of prepared food-stuffs.

   There is a system of boarding that is in vogue in some of the villages containing other Normal schools, which works to the entire satisfaction of the students and the ones with whom they board and lodge. This is the boarding club system. There is no reason why the same plan could not be adopted here, and there are several reasons why it should be.

   First, It is cheaper, good board and lodging varying from $2.25 to $2.50 per week.

   Second, The food is of better quality by reason of being prepared every day.

   Third, Students have meals at regular hours without any of the trouble attending those of the second and third classes above, thus giving more time for study.

   Fourth, It cultivates a knowledge of social affairs by bringing the students in closer social contact.

HERE AND THERE.

   New style letter boxes have been received at the post-office and will be put in place in a few days.

   Mr. P. W. Collins, secretary of the Howe Stove works in this village, has taken out letters patent on a stove grate.

   The Delsarte entertainment by the ladles' clubs of the Normal will be given in the Opera House, Friday evening, June 3d.

   The H. M. Whitney Wagon Company have let the contract for heating their works by steam to E. P. Bates, of Syracuse.

   A grand May festival will be given by W. H. Purdy's dancing class this Friday evening, May 27th, at Peck's Hall, Marathon.

   English poultry raisers say that sunflower seed is the best food for chickens. It improves the egg and the plumage of the fowls.

   The contract for warming and ventilating the addition to the Cortland Normal has been let to E. P. Bates, of Syracuse, for $22,500.

   A litter of five young foxes are attracting considerable attention in the show window of J. O. Reid's meat market on South Main street.

   Mr. H. C. Hemenway has sold his candy kitchen business to Messrs. Fred A. Parker and H. C. Van Slyke, of this place. The new firm took possession of both stores last Tuesday morning.

   Last Friday, while Michael Kennedy was at work cutting welts with a machine in the Cortland Wagon Company's trim shop, he fed a portion of the first finger on the right hand to the machine.

   A Decoration party will be given at the Truxton House in Truxton, on Monday evening, May 30th. Butterfield's full orchestra will furnish music. Full bill, $1.25. John O'Connor, proprietor.

   The grocery house of Hooker & Wright of Homer has been closed. Mr. Wright retired from the firm last Thursday, and on the following day Mr. Hooker executed a bill of sale of the stock to his mother.

   The graduating class of the Normal this term will number at least 84. The Standard announces that the Elementary English course will be abolished in all the Normal schools of the State at the end of the present school year.

   The concert advertised to be given by Hitchcock Manufacturing Co. band and Mangang's orchestra, on Thursday evening, was postponed to Thursday evening, June 2d, for the reason that Mr. Mangang has not yet returned from his wedding trip.

   Last Wednesday, while at work on the track on his section, Thomas Carroll lost his balance by the sudden giving away of a tie he was pulling on, and [he] fell down an embankment, striking his side against a stone. No bones were broken, but he has been confined to the house with pleurisy since.—Marathon Independent.

   H. D. Burdick, of Cuyler, has a remarkable hen. Every day she flies upon the roof of the house, walks to the chimney, cackling and singing, goes down the flue and deposits her egg in the bottom. They propose to let her hatch them there and see how she will get the chickens out of the chimney.—DeRuyter Gleaner.

   The annual souvenir of the Taughannock House, located on the shore of Cayuga Lake, is on our table. The book is illustrated with engravings of some of the principal views in the vicinity of this noted summer resort. It is an elegant place for families to spend a few days during the heated term at moderate charges for most excellent accommodations. The place is under the management of Mr. H. D. Freer, of the Ithaca Hotel, who was a former resident of Cortland [and managed the hotel at Virgil, N. Y.—CC editor.] Send for a copy of the little book.

   Gov. Flower has signed the bill for the relief of the drafted men of 1863.

   The Emerald base ball tossers play the Seneca Falls club at that place on Saturday.

   The 45th Separate Company will elect a Captain in place of Capt. Dunsmoor, resigned, at the armory to-night.

   The Odd Fellows of this district hold their Sixth annual basket picnic at Floral Trout park, Cortland, Saturday, June 18th.

   A full account of the burning of Mr. Champlain's house in the town of Virgil, Tuesday, night, will be found in our Blodgett's Mills correspondence.

   According to the McGrawville Sentinel, a cat belonging to Lafayette Tripp, who resides south of that place, is bringing up two young woodchucks with her family of kittens. 

   Tramps are abroad offering "Something for Nothing." The first is a very bad ten cent picture pretending to represent Rosa Bonheur'a "Fair." The last represents one or more copies of the Cortland Standard which are thrown in as a premium to the pictures. Remember the fate of Geo. Fitts and beware of these buncoers.

   Farmers who wish to avoid the depredations of the mischievous crow and defiant crow blackbird in their corn fields, should not fail to use a very limited amount of coal tar in preparing their seed for the ground. There is something about tar that birds and fowl do not relish, and it does its work very effectively.

   A. H. Barber Hose Co. No. 3 went to Cortland, on Thursday night, as the guests of Water Witch Engine and Hose Co., and were most royalty entertained by them. They were met at the station and escorted to the Cortland House, and put in possession thereof. Later they were taken to the armory where the Fair was in progress and witnessed a pleasing entertainment, and a magnificent drill by the Water Witch Co. At the close of the drill, Ed L. Adams, for Barber Hose, presented to Water Witch a silver water pitcher, which was accepted for that company by Captain Drake, in a very neat and telling speech. The Marathon boys are enthusiastic over their visit. — Marathon Independent.

TOWN REPORTS.

BLODGETT'S MILLS.

   Lilly Snell has chicken-pox.

   Little Lloyd White has the measles.

   John McVean of Marathon was calling on friends here Tuesday.

   Chicken-pox, mumps and measles are the prevailing diseases here.

   Mrs. Millard Raymond and family are visiting her parents in DeRuyter.

   Harris Spencer, who has been in Groton at work, is home sick, with the mumps.

   Miss Ida Simpson of McGrawville is sick at her mother's here. Dr. Smith attends her.

   Rev. E. P. St. John gave an interesting lecture at the M. E. church Monday evening.

   A temperance lecture at the Baptist church Tuesday evening drew out a large audience.

   Decoration day will be observed here in the evening. Hon. A. P. Smith will deliver the address in the evening.

   McGrawville grange, by invitation, spent last Wednesday evening with Blodgett's Mills grange at the residence of Mr. Hiram Reese.

   The B. M. U. have sold the entire season's make of cheese to D. Crane of McGrawville, the Utica Monday ruling price being paid weekly.

   The young ladies' circle of King's daughters are invited to spend Saturday afternoon with Mrs. James Stafford. Warm [maple] sugar will be served.

   Hilsinger Bros. shipped a large wagon to parties in New York Tuesday. The wagon weighed over thirteen hundred pounds and is capable of carrying five tons weight.

   News has just reached here of a terrible occurrence which happened Tuesday night on Snyder Hill, about three miles south of this place, in which Mr. Alexander Champlain lost his life. Mr. Champlain, little more than a year ago, moved here from Groton to the Ephriam Woodward place, now occupied by R. D. Pierce. This spring he purchased a small place of Henry Winters in which he and his wife lived alone. It was Mr. Champlain's custom before retiring each night to secure kindling wood for the morning. This he left in the woodhouse, where the fire is supposed to have originated. As he was smoking at the time, it is thought he must have dropped fire from his pipe. The family were awakened about 12 o'clock by the crackling of the flames. They had only time to get out in their night clothes. For some unknown reason Mr. Champlain returned to the bedroom and was seen no more by his wife, who was the only one then at the fire. The charred remains of Mr. Champlain were taken from the debris, this Wednesday morning. Nothing was saved from the fire. Mr. Champlain was an able-bodied man of about seventy years.

Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland, page 59.

LITTLE YORK.

   Austin Wright is now disposing of his third car of phosphate this season.

   We are watching the windward side of the lake for spearing lights while one who was arrested last year is watching the leeward. Preble pirates slip into Goodell lake ofttimes—but take warning—it must stop.

   Theron Gutchus reports that many of his Lombard plum trees seem to be dying. They were the first successful lot after the great blight years ago. "Wash" Dayton set them in his hen park and last year they were loaded with plums.

   Superintendent Schwartz and family have been at the Raymond house twice recently and enjoyed a breath of lake air together with a square lunch. He is disgusted with the low lying shores of Tully lake and the inconvenience of getting from the railroad to it.

   There are great possibilities for Little York lake as a place for cottages with a small outlay of capital. Take the north end of Lord's place, with a narrow strip from Henry Gates' to the Ice Co.'s lot, and you would have dry ground on which to build and a fine lake breeze. The only drawback is the lack of shade trees, but each lot owner could easily and quickly supply these by transplanting good sized trees. A good half mile track could easily be made around the shore which would be free from any traffic. Five minutes’ walk would take you to the station and business men either from Syracuse, or Cortland could establish their families and be with them every night and at their business the most of each day. There are beautiful springs on either hillside which would furnish healthful water with a small expense. A foot bridge from the ice house to no-man’s-land would open the possibilities for a large number of cottages on the Tallman estate. On this point there is at present many suitable shade trees and bushes growing which could be utilized.

   Two weeks ago we called attention to the hotels and beautiful drives from Cortland to this place. The same would be an inducement to getting board if cottagers did not wish to board themselves. It don't add any pleasure to be tucked away in some almost unapproachable nook either on Skaneateles or other lakes for the summer vacation. The most we require is rest from the confusion of traffic. The spot we have mentioned could be obtained at a fair compensation for farming lands and would be a good investment for a company who wish to build for themselves a quiet summer cottage. We have no patent on the above suggestions and anyone is at liberty to look over the grounds and act on them.

SCOTT.

   Dull weather for everything but grass and ducks. News seem to be scarce and we don't have much time to manufacture any.

   Lightning recently struck the wire fence belonging to John Landphier, and ran along splitting a large number of posts, some of them to splinters.

   Born, to Mr. and Mrs. George Fox, a boy.

   Decoration services at the M. E. church. Speaking by H. M. Kellogg of Cortland and A. E. Seymour of McGrawville.

   Word comes to us that the brilliant attorney of Scott was arrested and thrown into Auburn jail last Monday for shooting at John Jones, who was on the lake returning from Borodino to his home in New Hope. The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon. We hear that Crosley demanded of Jones that he halt but he rowed along, when the shot came, as we hear, just grazing Jones. It is expected that Crosley will get out of jail in season to run the next Republican caucus. We also hear that measures are being taken to punish Crosley on the charge of gathering up the old, worn out nets of the country and putting them in the lake, and then resurrecting them, and claiming and obtaining $5.00 a piece for all taken out.

EAST HOMER.

   Mr. John Rose is visiting friends in town.

   Mr. L. Brooks is in quite poor health at present.

   M. D. Murphy, Jr. has organized a select singing class in this place.

   Mr. H. M. Murdough of Boston, Mass., is spending a few days with friends here.

   The Burnham Bros. are making and selling a great number of screen doors in their wire works.

   Mrs. S. M. I. Henry of Evanston, Ill., will occupy the pulpit of the M. E. church on Sunday morning, May 29.

   Decoration day will be observed in this place in the evening. All are requested to meet at the church at seven o'clock and march to the cemetery to decorate the soldiers' graves, and then return to the church where a literary program will be furnished.

 

OSWEGO'S GREAT FIRE OF 1892 AND OLIVER CURTIS PERRY SENTENCED

 

Grain elevators at Oswego, N. Y.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 27, 1892.

OSWEGO’S GREAT FIRE.

A VAST AND VALUABLE PROPERTY DESTROYED.

Mills, Elevators and Lumber Docks Involved—The Old and Famous

Washington Mill of Penfield, Lyon & Company Wiped Out—Loss and

Insurance.

Special Dispatch to the Syracuse Herald.

   Oswego, May 21.—Shortly after 11 o'clock last night a fire broke out in the

upper stories of the Washington mill and elevator, owned by Penfield, Lyon & Company and proved to be the most disastrous conflagration Oswego has had since the elevator and lumber fire several years ago. The Washington mill was the centre of a block of five elevators between Seneca and Cayuga streets, on the east bank of the Oswego river. The Corn exchange and the Continental elevators were to the south and the Columbia and Merchants' elevators to the north, all joined, and in reality amounting to one great structure. Across the street northerly was the Marine elevator, owned by T. Kingsford & Son. The fire spread rapidly, and before scores of men could remove the books from the office of Penfield, Lyon & Company and deposit them in a grain car close to the office, the fire had gained such headway that they were forced to leave.

   The firemen worked hard. Upon the discovery of the fire they wired Syracuse and Fulton for aid. Both responded, Chief Engineer Reilly of Syracuse coming in person. It was after 8 o'clock when they arrived, and the ruin was complete. In less than half an hour after the start the five Monarch elevators, which were familiar to everyone who has ever been in Oswego, were in a grand blaze hotter than a furnace. The sight was grand. The fire worked so rapidly that the firemen with difficulty saved their carts, standing hundreds of feet from the blaze. Cars upon the track burned, and the sparks and sheets of fire swept the river front, firing Rathbun's lumber upon the island in the harbor, the yards below on the west side and setting fire to the rigging of the schooner Mystic Star, lying upon the west side near the pier.

   With his small department, Chief Blackburn made heroic battle, distributing his forces as best he could. It was a question whether the Marine elevator, 100 feet north, could be saved. It was ironed from top to bottom. The wind took the sparks so that only the south cupola was touched by them. Streams were poured upon the outside and inside, and the walls of the Merchants' elevator, south, fell one story at a time, so that they did not come nearer the Marine. The heat was so intense that the elevator caught [fire], and the firemen had only escaped when volumes of smoke, succeeded by an explosion, took the roof off and a fierce blaze followed. All hope of saving it was then abandoned, and the work was centered upon the adjoining property and the New York, Ontario & Western trestle. The citizens lent their aid, the Life Saving crew fought the Island fire and at 3 o'clock the conflagration was under control. Citizens dropped a canal boat from the East side near the lower bridge down to the island dock with lines and made her a bridge for use in getting hose and firemen across.

   There were numerous small fires which volunteer pail brigades extinguished. For several hours it looked as though the Western harbor property was doomed. The Weight & Boyle sash and door factory worked their immense pumps and saved their lumber on the west side opposite the fire and also the great Northwestern elevator.

   Much of the elevator property being owned and insured out of town, it is difficult to obtain a complete list of the losses. The assessed valuation of the elevators burned is $148,000. This is not one-half of the value, as the assessors have reduced the amount because of non-productiveness. The Washington mill and elevator, where the fire started, is valued at $100,000 by Penfield, Lyon & Company, and is insured for $40,000 on building and machinery and $20,000 on stock. The Columbia, owned by the Jesse Hoyt estate, New York, is insured there. The Merchants', owned by the W. D. Smith estate and W. D. Matthews & Company of Toronto, is assessed at $50,000, and is without insurance. The insurance on the Continental, owned by the W. P. Irwin estate and the Delos Dewolf estate, is not yet known. The Corn exchange owned by John B. Hankinson, New York, is partly insured. The Marine, owned by Kingsford & Son, is insured for $40,000 on the building, $35,000 on Kingsford's corn and $45,000 on the Perot Malt company's malt and barley. The loss is fairly covered. W. O. Mastin, miller, occupying the Columbia, says his loss is $6,500, and he is fully insured. The Northwestern elevator was on fire several times, and 150,000 bushels of grain in store is slightly damaged by water. E. W. Rathbun & Company's loss on lumber is $12,000 and is covered by insurance. There was $400,000 worth of lumber exposed to the fire in this company's yard. There are numerous small losses to offices and buildings adjacent. A competent grain man estimates that the elevators cost $350,000.

   The Marine and the Washington mills and elevator did good business, but the others have been practically closed since the barley tariff was raised. Not a dozen men are thrown out of employment.

   The total loss is now estimated at less than $400,000.

A YOUNG BOY BEHEADED.

He Falls Under the Drive Wheel of a Switch Engine, Which Severs His

Head From His Body and Amputates One Hand.

From the Binghamton Republican, May 25.

   Richard Forbes, aged ten years, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Forbes of Liberty street, was killed in the Erie railroad yard last evening about 6:30 o'clock. Young Forbes with a companion named Charles Lake, was playing about the Erie tracks just east of Liberty street, and in some manner fell under the wheels of a switch engine on the East bound track, of which Frank Short is engineer. Whether or not he attempted to catch on the engine is not known. As soon as the wheel caught him he uttered a piercing shriek, which attracted the attention of James Ash, a trackman, who was near by. Ash shouted to the engineer, but the noise made by the locomotive drowned his cry and the next moment Ash saw the big drive wheel pass over the head of the boy, completely crushing it and severing it from the body.

   A crowd soon collected on the scene and as quickly as possible the remains were picked up and removed to the residence of the lad's parents. The headless body presented a horrible spectacle. One hand was cut off at the wrist, and the fingers of the other hand were severed. The brains were scattered along the rails. Coroner Pierce after ascertaining the facts concluded not to hold an inquest.

Oliver Curtis Perry.

PERRY IN AUBURN PRISON.

HE IS SENTENCED PRACTICALLY FOR A LIFETIME.

The Scene in Court—Before Leaving Lyons the Train Robber Makes

Presents to a Friend—His Conduct on the Journey to Prison and in

Auburn.

From the Syracuse Herald.

   LYONS, May 20.— The Grand jury in the Perry case came into court at 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon and presented four indictments against the train robber. The first indictment charged burglary in the third degree and robbery in the first degree, in entering the car of the American Express company at Utica, September 19, 1891, and relieving Express Messenger Moore of $5,000. The second charges discharging firearms at a locomotive, in firing into the cab of the engine in which Engineer McGilvery and fireman Bulger were pursuing him on the morning of February 21st, 1892. The third charges burglary in the third degree and assault in the first degree in entering the car occupied by Express Messenger McInerney Sunday morning, February 21st, and attempting to rob the messenger. The fourth charges assault in the first degree in attacking the express messenger on the 21st of February last and coming within very little of killing McInerney.

   The court room was filled at 5:10 P. M. when Perry was arraigned, many ladies being in the audience. He entered the Court House hand-cuffed to Sheriff Thornton on one side and Deputy Sheriff Reynolds on the other. He was also guarded by Deputy Sheriff Collins, his captor, the American Express company's guard, and Deputy Trowbridge. As District Attorney Sawyer was reading the indictments, Perry who was dressed in a neat-fitting suit of gray material, stood up. His face, which was swarthy at the time of his capture, was of ghastly paleness. It was evident that he was embarrassed, and with difficulty he pleaded "Guilty" to each of the charges. At the conclusion of the reading District Attorney Sawyer moved that sentence be pronounced.

   In reply to Justice Rumsey's explanation that the law would give him two days' respite before sentence was pronounced, Perry said he was ready then to receive it. The prisoner gave his name as Oliver Curtis Perry and that he was born in Fulton county, N. Y., was twenty-six years old, a carpenter by trade and had followed that vocation, could read, had had religious instructions, was not married, had been convicted before and knew no cause why the Court should not pass sentence upon him.

   Justice Rumsey then sentenced Perry to be confined in Auburn prison at hard labor for the crimes of burglary (second offense, the first having been committed in Minnesota years ago), for twenty years. For the crime of burglary in the second degree, five years, to be served at the expiration of the preceding sentence. For assault in the first degree, ten years, to be served in the same manner. For the other charge of burglary in the second degree, five years. For discharging fire arms at a locomotive, nine and one-fourth years. Perry was surprised at the severity of his sentence and was staggered. It required his utmost efforts to retain his standing position. The full time of his sentence is forty-nine years and three months and by good behavior he will reduce it to twenty-nine years, four months and twenty-three days, being entitled to release from prison October 23d, 1923, when he will be fifty-five years old.

   It is understood that Perry refused to plead guilty until he had been assured that about $300 in his possession at the time he was arrested and his whole extensive and carefully selected arsenal should remain his individual property. This request was finally acceded to.

PERRY LEAVES LYONS.

   LYONS, May 20.—At 11 o'clock this morning a large crowd gathered at the station to see Oliver Curtis Perry off. At train time Sheriff Thornton, Perry and the guard appeared. Perry shook hands with a large number, but held a big handkerchief to his face and had very little to say. He presented his diary to Nelson Myrick, a friend, and also gave him a piece of gold and a fifty dollar bill. He was in good spirits and seemed to be glad to leave.

   Perry wore the diamond ring upon the third finger of his right hand which had been returned to him by Deputy Collins.

   Attorney Ray, his counsel, made a motion before Justice Rumsey this morning, which was granted, allowing him to turn over the money found on his person, all of the unidentified jewelry and other personal effects to Mr. Ray to be turned over to his father.

HE ARRIVES AT AUBURN.

   AUBURN, May 20.—Perry, the train robber, arrived on the 12:55 P. M. train today. A large crowd gathered at the station and at the prison gate. Perry was taken to the Home restaurant, where he received his last square meal. The crowd followed and blocked the street in front of the restaurant. A policeman was stationed at the door to keep the crowd back. Perry appeared to enjoy the excitement. When the train was passing the prison wall he asked if that was the prison, and on being informed that it was, said, "I now have a home." He laughed and joked during the meal, and ate heartily. When through he was taken to the prison, where the usual questions were propounded. Sheriff Thornton said Perry had been remarkably well during the trip.

 

ALLEGED BUNCO MAN

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 27, 1892.

AN ALLEGED BUNCO MAN.

George Fitts of McLean Causes the Arrest of William C. Keating of Schenectady on the Charge of Buncoing Him out of $6,000—The Examination

Before Justice Smith—The Prisoner Held for His Appearance Before the Grand Jury.

   George Fitts, is a well-to-do farmer, fifty-six years of age, and resides on one of his farms about two miles northwest of McLean in the town of Groton. He is a money-maker and every enterprise in which he is known to have been engaged has always turned out to the benefit of his bank account, until the one which forms the subject of this article. People who knew George Fitts, and he is pretty well known in this and the adjoining county of Tompkins, were greatly surprised last fall to learn that he had been buncoed out of $6,000 in clear cash. The story as told by him is as follows:

   On the morning of the 25th day of September last, a slick looking, sandy complexioned man drove up to his house and introduced himself as a nephew of the late Judge Boardman of Ithaca and the cashier of Tompkins County Bank. Incidentally he informed Mr. Fitts that he wanted a farm for his sister, who was wealthy and had two wild sons that she could do nothing with. Consequently she wanted to get them on a farm. He inquired of Fitts if he knew of a good one for sale. The latter said that the Syke's farm was for sale and when asked if he would go with him to see it, readily consented and the two drove away to look at the farm which is located a mile or so north from Fitt’s home. The stranger, who said his name was  Boardman, appeared to be well posted with regard to the names and financial standing of people in that vicinity and as he was an entertaining talker the ride was not an unpleasant one.

   After leaving the Sykes farm they drove about a mile when they saw a man sitting at the roadside wearing a linen duster and who inquired the road to Virgil. He then said a large fortune had been left him and that he had lost considerable of it through bad luck and unfortunate investments and speculations. The man also said he had been gambling and taking a piece of cloth from his pocket which he called a toadskin said, if Fitts could guess the right card he could win some money. Boardman bet and won $5. The latter urged Fitts to bet, but he declined. Boardman then hit Fitts a wrap on the hip and the latter says he experienced a sort of shock. Boardman then said to Fitts that the man on the roadside had $10,000 or $20,000 and was evidently weak-minded and that they might as well have the money as some one else.  Boardman and the stranger bet $6,000 on a card and the former proposed that Fitts do the same. Boardman put $6,000 in a tin box in the bottom of the wagon, locked it and handed the key to the stranger. He had again given Fitts a rap on the hip and had him induced to come to Cortland to try and raise the money. Boardman enjoined Fitts to be very quiet about the matter as he was running for office and if it became known that he was engaged in a game of the kind it might injure his canvass.

   They drove to Fitt’s house to get some checks that he had and then left for Cortland. They went to the Second National Bank and Fitts made and signed a note payable to Fitz Boynton’s order, which the latter endorsed and then went with him to the First national Bank and obtained the money, Boardman in the meantime remaining in the wagon. Fitts did not tell a soul what he wanted so much money for and claims that all this time he was hynotised or mesmerized by Boardman and was entirely under his control.

   On the way back, they found the stranger in the edge of the woods at the old Camp Meeting ground between this village and McLean, busily engaged in manipulating his cards. They stopped and entered into conversation with him. The stranger came up to the side of the buggy that Fitts was on and began talking. Boardman demanded the $6,000, which Fitts had in his side pocket and as the latter took the money out Boardman snatched the package and threw it in a [squared in] box in the bottom of the buggy. He then locked a tin box and handed it to Fitts saying the money was in it and directing him to take it home and take care of it. Fitts told Boardman he might carry him home as it was four miles from that place, but Boardman ordered him out of the wagon and told him they would be over next morning to look at the farm. The stranger got into the buggy and the two drove toward Cortland. 
   When Fitts got home he opened the box with a hammer. It contained a stone wrapped in blue wadding paper but no money. The men did not return the next morning nor have they called upon him since. This is substantially Fitts' story of the transaction.

   Boardman and the stranger, who is believed to be one Frank L. Smith, alias Frank Lockwood, alias B. F. Chase, alias B. F. Grant, drove through Cortland to Lincklaen, Chenango county, where their horse gave out and they hired landlord Darling to carry them to DeRuyter where they took the train for Canastota. They sent $20 in a letter to the owner of the livery house in Groton, telling him where to find his rig.

   Fitts seemed to be anxious to keep the matter quiet and was very uncommunicative in regard to the transaction for several days after it happened, but it finally came out in one form or another in the papers. He was evidently chagrined over the fact that he had been so easily done up, and his reputation for business shrewdness and sagacity knocked higher than a kite and for a time he seemed to prefer to pocket the loss, rather than own up that he was the victim of his own cupidity. Very little was done to arrest the parties who buncoed him until recently.

   Some months since Fitts received a letter from a detective named Norris of Springfield, O., offering to find the men who had taken his money. On the 1st of April last Norris came to Cortland and met Fitts at the Second National Bank. Norris had a large book containing photographs of most of the prominent crooks in the country. Fitts picked out one, which he said he was sure was the one who took his money and gave his name as Boardman. Norris informed him that the man went by the name of Charles E. Davis, alias Red Austin. Fitts also picked out another photograph which he was quite sure represented the weak-minded card player and was told that his name was Frank L. Smith, alias Frank Lockwood, alias B. F. Chase, alias B. F. Grant. The detective offered to arrest the men for $800 to be paid in advance. Fitts declined to pay in advance. He was willing to pay the money after the men had been arrested, but this arrangement not being satisfactory to Norris, all negotiations were terminated.

   Acting on the information he had obtained however, Fitts went before Justice Dorr C. Smith and swore out a warrant for the arrest of the parties named. Here the matter rested until a little over a week ago when Fitts saw a paragraph in a Troy paper saying that William C. Keating of Rome had been indicted, charged with assisting buncoer O'Brien to escape. The paper also slated that Keating was arrested at Schenectady, that he had a very unsavory reputation and was also known as Red Austin, Charles Davis and by other aliases. Fitts cut the slip out and mailed it to sheriff Miller who went to Lincklaen on Friday last and taking landlord Darling with him started for Schenectady.

   Keating keeps a drinking place in that city and when Miller called at the place and asked for cigars, Darling saw Keating sitting at a table in his shirt-sleeves in another room and informed Miller that he was one of the men he carried to DeRuyter last September. The two left the place and after having their warrant endorsed, returned to the saloon accompanied by assistant chief of Police DeForrest and arrested their man. Keating made no particular objection and the sheriff brought his man home Saturday evening and lodged him in jail.

   An examination was to have been held on Monday but owing to the fact that witnesses could not be procured in time, it was postponed until Tuesday at 10 o'clock, since which time it has been in progress.

   Fitts swore to the statement substantially as above related and said he was quite sure that Keating was the man who took his money. C. W. Hall, the Groton livery stable keeper, was positive that the prisoner was the man who had his horse. Landlord L. E. Darling of Lincklaen said the men arrived at his place between 8 and 9 o'clock at night and he took them to DeRuyter. He said he thought the prisoner was one of the men. E. N. Andrews, merchant at Lincklaen, whose horse was used by Darling to take the men to DeRuyter, said in his opinion the prisoner was one of the men. Mr. John W. Breed, 60 years of age, who resided in the town of Cuyler last September, swore that two men in a buggy came to his house in the latter part of September about dusk and wanted him to carry them to Lincklaen. Thought prisoner was one of the men.

   The people rested their case at 3:45 P. M. on Wednesday and on motion of prisoners’ counsel the examination was adjourned to Wednesday next to enable prisoner to produce witnesses. It is under stood that he will attempt to prove an alibi. Last September it is claimed he was in the flour and feed business in Rome with one N. Turney, and it is claimed that he will be able to show from the books, several charges made in his own hand-writing that day and that he will prove by witnesses, that he was home on the 25th day of September 1891. The people were represented on the examination by District attorney Jerome Squires. Hon H. S. Patten of Whltesboro, John K. Mason of Rome, and John Courtney Jr., of this place appeared for the prisoner. The latter cross-examined the witnesses for the people.

 

"Something for Nothing."

   Many people who have heard the evidence in the examination of Keating, charged with defrauding George Fitts out of $6,000, think that the latter would not have proved such an easy victim if he had not been quite so anxious to obtain "something for nothing" from the weak-minded "three card monte" man on the 25th day of September last. It simply illustrates the fact that even honest men are not always as honest and high-minded in their dealings with others as they ought to be, and that the partition wall between strict integrity and downright dishonesty is so weak and thin, that [it is] liable to topple and fall on very slight provocation.

   The disposition to do right needs cultivating by the best people, because the evil one is always present with tempting promises, and hundreds of good people are tempted and fall. The love of money has proved the curse of thousands. It tempts the miser as well as the burglar and both are likely to suffer from their desire to obtain more than belongs to them. If Fitts had not entered into a scheme with Boardman, whom he undoubtedly believed to be a respectable citizen, to take advantage of the weak-minded card player, he could have shook Boardman while in this place and rid himself of his influence, but when he arrived at the woods and found himself trapped and in the power of two rascals, he undoubtedly exercised good judgment in delivering the money to the robbers. The money was what they had been scheming for and they would undoubtedly have taken it whether by fair or foul means. 
   No one takes the least stock in the mesmerism or hypnotism story although Fitts may believe it himself. While he may not be entitled to much sympathy it does not follow that the robbers are entitled to any. If they are found and identified they should receive the severest punishment the law allows.