Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday,
January 25, 1894.
SHE WAS
DROWNED.
THAT IS
ALL THE CORONER'S JURY ARE ABLE TO SAY.
How Mrs.
Egbertson got Through so Small a Hole Into the Well is Still a Mystery.
For a week past the little village of Preble
and the surrounding country has been in a perfect ferment of excitement over
the drowning of Mrs. Lucinda Egbertson, who was found in a well upon the
premises of her nephew, Charles Hartman, on the hill two and one-half miles
east of Preble village, on the morning of Wednesday, January 17. How she came
there was a question, as the well was covered by a heavy platform of plank
nailed upon scanting and the opening was only 10 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches in size.
Mrs. Egbertson was a woman much above the medium size, whose weight was about
175 pounds and it did not seem plain to all that unassisted she could have
squeezed herself through such a diminutive opening to meet the dreadful fate
awaiting her.
People in that vicinity have done little
else than talk about the affair ever since. A coroner's jury was summoned on
Jan. 17. It viewed the remains that day and the location of affairs and then
adjourned until Wednesday, Jan. 24, when the inquest was held in the town hall
of Preble. A representative of The STANDARD was present. The hall was packed
from the beginning with an eager crowd of listeners of both sexes who occupied
every chair and bench and every foot of standing room, and even pressed forward
almost to the coroner and the jury itself, so anxious were they to drink in every word.
The inquest was conducted by Coroner George
D. Bradford of Homer, who pushed the affair with energy and questioned the
witnesses with skill, but every one was somewhat disappointed when the jury
finally brought in a verdict which was in substance that the deceased came to
her death by drowning and as to how she came in the well, they said they were
unable to state. The main point at issue, as to whether it was a suicide or
whether there was foul play connected with it, was thus passed by. It was
perhaps a little unfortunate that nearly all of the jury were neighbors of the
deceased and that from neighborly feeling for those of the family who remain
may have refrained from asking as searching questions as strangers might have
done. It was also a little unusual that the foreman of the jury was himself a
witness and was thus called upon to pass upon his own evidence, along with that
of the other witnesses.
From facts gleaned by the STANDARD man from
friends of the deceased, it appears that Mrs. Egbertson was a widow lady about
sixty years of age. Prior to the death of her husband which occurred some four
years ago, she lived with him upon a farm about two miles south of Tully
village next the D., L. & W. R. R. crossing of the straight road which
leads from Cortland through Christian Hollow to Syracuse. After Mr. Egbertson
died she went to live with a sister, Mrs. Jacob Schell in Tully, with whom she
stayed a year. She left that place two years ago to go to the farm in Preble
upon which was the well where she was found drowned, to take care of another
sister, Mrs. Hartman.
Mrs. Hartman owned this farm which was
worked by her son Charles, then
unmarried. Mrs. Hartman died a week after Mrs. Egbertson went there and the
latter stayed to keep house for her nephew. Last fall Charles was married and
took his wife home. Mrs. Egbertson, however, continued to remain there just the
same as before. The other facts in the case, as far as shown, appear in the
report of the inquest.
The adjourned session of the inquest
convened in the town hall at Preble at 11:10 A. M. on Wednesday, Jan 24,
Coroner George D. Bradford presiding. The jury was polled and answered to their
names as follows: James T. Steele, Henry Currie, Robert T. Mitchell, Joseph
McNeill, Robert Dorthey, Oscar Cornue.
The first witness was Patrick Galvin, who
had an honest face and who, in response to questions, told a straightforward
story that no amount of cross questioning could shake. Witness had worked for
Charles Hartman, the nephew of the deceased and had known Mrs. Egbertson since
last spring. He said the deceased was on friendly terms with the rest of the
family, and he never knew of their having any words or hard feelings. He
occupied a bedroom off the kitchen. The kitchen was used as a common
sittingroom. Went to bed on Tuesday night, Jan. 10, at about 9 o'clock. About 3
o'clock Wednesday morning Hartman arose and came down stairs. He usually arose about
6:30 A. M. Mrs. Egbertson called out to Hartman and inquired what the trouble
was and he replied, nothing except that his head ached and he thought he would
come down. There was no further conversation. Mrs. Egbertson slept in a bedroom
east of that occupied by witness, both opening out of kitchen. Witness did not
go to sleep again. Later on he heard Hartman give two or three awful groans.
Witness jumped from bed and went out into kitchen. He glanced at the clock. It
was 5:45. Hartman lay on the lounge. Mrs. Egbertson was there wholly dressed
except [missing line of type here] about her waist.
Mrs. Egbertson said to witness [Galvin] that
she thought Hartman was going to have a fit. Witness inquired if Hartman was
subject to fits and she replied that she never knew him to have one. Witness
thought that if Hartman was let alone he would go to sleep. Witness then put on
his boots and went to the barn, did the chores, and returned to the house at a
little before 7 o'clock. Found Hartman sitting by stove with a handkerchief
around his head. The table was set and there was a fire. Hartman asked witness
if he had seen his aunt, replied, no. Hartman called to her, and there was no
reply. Went into her bedroom and found that she was not there. Witness did not
enter the bed room. Hartman then called and looked in cellar and woodshed, up
in orchard and out in barn, and failed to get any response. Hartman didn't seem
to be excited. Mrs. Hartman usually came down stairs from 7:30 to 8 o'clock. Witness
proposed going to Joseph McNeill's and to Oscar Cornue's to see if Mrs.
Egbertson had gone up there. Hartman didn't want him to go, thought she would
comeback herself.
Mrs. Hartman came down stairs at about 7:30
and they had breakfast, and then Hartman told witness that perhaps he had
better go up to Mr. McNeill's and Mr. Cornue's and see if Mrs. Egbertson was
there. Mrs. Hartman was surprised to think Mrs. Egbertson didn't appear, but
did not appear anxious or excited. Witness swore that he did not remember a bit
of the conversation that passed between Mr. and Mrs. Hartman in regard to the disappearance
of Mrs. Egbertson.
Witness drew a pail of water from the well a
half hour before breakfast at about 7 o'clock. There was only a small hole and
had to let down a five quart pail three
times with a line to get water enough to make one large pailful. With the last
pail of water a piece of calico came up too, having been caught on the side of
the pail. Threw it aside and took water into house.
All continued looking for Mrs. Egbertson
until breakfast time. Hartman finished breakfast first, went outside and noticed
the piece of cloth on the ground; asked witness where he found that cloth. When
witness had told him he drew it up with the water, Hartman said he guessed he
would look in the well; returned in a minute and said that she was there.
Witness swore that since that morning he has
had no conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Hartman concerning this matter. Witness
did not see Mr. Hartman look into the well. After Mrs. Egbertson's body was
discovered Mr. Hartman told witness to go and call some of the near neighbors,
Mr. Cornue, Mr. McNeill and Mr. Steele. Witness did not help get Mrs. Egbertson's
body out of well. He left that place about 11 o'clock. Witness saw deceased
just after she had been taken from the well. Mr. Hartman said nothing about
trying to get deceased out of the well when she was first discovered, only told
witness to go after the neighbors. Had never seen the well with the platform covering
removed.
Mrs. Egbertson received a letter from Mr.
Van Bergen on the evening before her decease which made her cry. She said it
was about some money which she had expected to get and which she would not be
able to collect for some time and said she didn't know when she would get it. She
had a note for the amount, however. Said it was not a large sum of money, but
did not mention the amount.
The next witness was Edwin D. Crosley, an
attorney of Scott. He stated that he had
known the deceased for about two years and was somewhat acquainted with her
business affairs. Acknowledged that he knew about the terms of her will but
declined to make any statements regarding it, on the ground that such matters
were confidential between the deceased and himself as her attorney. It was
suggested to him that the will had been read and was now public property, but
witness in turn made the suggestion that if the jury desired to know its
contents the will itself could be introduced as evidence. He still declined to
say anything about it.
He did say, however, that about two years
ago he was summoned to Mr. Hartman's house. Found both Mrs. Egbertson and Mr.
Hartman sick and in tears. The former thought her nephew had been treated very
shabbily by the will of his mother just deceased. They wanted him to take hold
of their financial affairs and see what he could do. Witness assisted in
settling the estate of Mrs. Hartman, foreclosed two mortgages against the farm
and Mrs. Egbertson bid it off for $2,200 when it was sold at foreclosure sale.
Witness declined to state that this farm was ever deeded to Charles Hartman by
his aunt, because this would be a violation of confidence reposed in him as
attorney, but he did acknowledge that he had afterward drawn a mortgage for
Hartman upon this same place, made in favor of Mrs. Egbertson.
Jacob Schell was then produced and sworn. He
was the brother-in-law of the deceased. He had heard Mrs. Egbertson say that
she had some money in a Syracuse bank and a mortgage on a farm near Syracuse.
Deceased was subject to fits of despondency, and then used to say that she
wished she was dead and buried beside her husband. But she quickly recovered
from these attacks and then would be all right again. The rest of his testimony was unimportant.
The next witness was Charles Hartman
[missing line of type here] about him that the chief interest of the afternoon
centered. He was a tall powerfully built man of about forty years, but he
looked as though he was just recovering from a severe illness, as he said that
he was. It is understood that he has been unwell much of the time for a number
of months past. Coroner Bradford first asked Mr. Hartman if he had any reason
to suspect that suspicion might rest upon him for being in any way responsible
for the death of Lucinda Egbertson. Mr. Hartman replied in the negative, and
was then sworn. Witness said he had resided in Preble since he was a small boy.
He had heard Mrs. Egbertson's will read since her death. Deceased willed
witness $1,540. Witness had not yet learned the extent of the property of the
deceased. He had heard deceased say prior to her death that she thought
something of him, but had never heard her say that she had remembered him in
the will. Had never known deceased to make any attempts at suicide. Had often
known her to feel bad and cry. He had remonstrated with her and comforted her
and she always felt better. Never gave any reason for her bad feelings. Witness
remembers deceased getting a letter on the evening of Jan. 16. There was a slip
of paper in it about Robert Van Bergen being appointed an administrator. She
cried over it. Asked why she cried: said "nothing." Witness knew no more
about the contents of the letter than what she told him. Didn't know what
became of the letter.
Upon
the Tuesday evening prior to the morning when Mrs. Egbertson was found dead, Mrs.
Egbertson prepared the supper. Witness [Hartman] was not able to sleep that
night. Had a bad headache. Arose at about 2:30 A. M., went down stairs and
built a fire. Then lay down on lounge and slept until almost 7 o'clock. Mrs. Hartman came down just after witness awoke.
They missed Mrs. Egbertson. Sent Galvin to the barn to look for her. Witness
and his wife wondered where Mrs. Egbertson was; they wondered if she could have
gone to her sister's five miles away. They looked all around, and then at breakfast.
Didn't remember any of the conversation between self and wife about the missing
aunt. Then they looked again. Witness passed the well and noticed calico rag
lying on ground. Asked Galvin where that came from. Galvin said he drew it out
of the well. Witness went right back and looked into the well, saw a person's
foot stick up from the water and some clothes. A pole with an iron hook lay close by with which he had sometimes
obtained the pail when the cord had broken with which they had dipped up water.
Pokes around with the pole and discovered that a person was in the well. Mrs.
Hartman was then near, had followed witness outside of the house. Sent Galvin
for neighbors at once. Was in the house when they arrived.
The cover has been on the well
for a number of years. It was built of planks nailed upon scanting. There was
quite a large opening there at first. Last fall when witness was ill his wife
had laid other boards over and nailed them down making a smaller opening.
When neighbors arrived witness
told them that his aunt must have gone into the well of her own accord. He did
not assist in getting the body out, for he was not well enough. A doctor had been called the day before to
prescribe for him. He had taken medicine the previous day and night which the
physician prescribed. Witness said, it didn't occur to him to try to get the
body out of the well with what help he had there when he first discovered that some
one was in there; it didn't occur to him to try to save the life of the person
then in the well. Witness stated that he did not discourage Galvin in his idea
of going to the neighbors' to look for Mrs. Egbertson before they had
discovered her body. Witness thought the well was about eighteen feet deep and
may be six feet down to the water.
James T. Steele, foreman of
the jury was sworn. He said he lived near Mr. Hartman. He told of being
summoned to Mr. Hartman's on the morning of Jan, 17 because "the
old lady was in the well." As he approached the well he saw a woman
kneeling down and looking into the well. She arose quickly and went into the
house. Thought she was Mrs. Hartman but wasn't sure. Witness first looked in
the well and saw the clothing, and as he supposed, the body. Then tried all the
pieces of the platform to see if he could lift them up. Found them all fastened
tight; witness then went through the woodshed and rapped at kitchen door. Mrs.
Hartman partially opened the door and stood there holding the door. Witness
asked if he could come in. Mrs. Hartman said "Wait a minute." Then
she closed or nearly closed the door for a minute or more, then opened it and
said "Come in." Witness then entered. In a moment or two Mr. Hartman
came in from the hallway at the front of the house. Had no conversation with
Mr. Hartman about the matter.
Mr. Hartman was recalled to
the stand. He said Mrs. Egbertson kept her valuable papers, will included, in a
valise in her bedroom, Witness carried that valise into the parlor before Mrs.
Ebertson's body was brought in. Witness swore that he did not open the valise
or see it opened until Mrs. Schell came during the middle of the forenoon. He
did not see the will until Mrs. Schell came. He removed the valise because they
wanted to put Mrs. Egbertson's body in the bedroom.
Herman D. Hunt, physician and
surgeon, was the next witness. He said that he resided in Preble and was called
to go to the house of Charles Hartman on the morning of Jan. 17, and he
assisted in removing the body of Mrs. Egbertson from the well. Before removing her,
witness observed that the well platform was apparently as it had been for some
time, did not seem to have been disturbed. Witness laid a newspaper over the
opening and cut a pattern of it. The platform was then removed and ropes were
procured, nooses were made in the ropes and slipped over the feet of the body
and it was drawn up.
After a brief examination the
body was carried into the back kitchen and witness, assisted by Mr. Van Bergen,
removed the clothing. He examined the body carefully for wounds or injuries, none
were found except slight bruises on the forearms, the left a little more than the
right. Witness had since measured the pattern of the opening and found it to be
10 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches. He summoned the coroner. When that gentleman arrived
witness was summoned by the coroner to go and assist in inquiring into the
cause of death.
The previous examination was
repeated and certain measurements were made in the presence of the coroner and
the jury. The measurement around the shoulders was 41 inches; around chest 38
inches, around hips 39 inches. Height was 65 inches. Witness estimated that the
body would have weighed 170 to 175 pounds. She was quite a fleshy person, he
said.
On Jan. 19 witness made a post
mortem examination of the body, assisted by the coroner at Mr. Hartman's house.
An examination of the chest, heart and lungs showed the signs of death from
suffocation. The witness said he was able to form an opinion as to the cause of
the death, and should say that it was caused by drowning.
The coroner then inquired of
the jury if they desired to examine any more witnesses. He said that they were
to give the verdict and it was his duty to produce the evidence as far as
possible if they wanted more. After a moment's consultation the jury decided
not to examine any more witnesses and at 4:40 P. M. the inquest was ended and
the case was passed over to the jury.
The town hall was then cleared
and the jury left to themselves. Little knots of people hung around anxious to
know the result. They had not long to wait for within fifteen minutes the jury
submitted to the coroner the following verdict:
STATE OF NEW YORK,
COUNTY OF CORTLAND,
TOWN OF PREBLE.
At an inquest begun on the
17th day of January, 1894, in the town of Preble, county of Cortland and state
of New York, before George D. Bradford, a coroner of said county, and Henry
Currie, Robert T. Mitchell, Joseph McNeill, James T. Steele, Robert Dorthey and
Oscar Cornue, good and lawful men of said county, sworn to inquire how, where,
when and in what manner Lucinda Egbertson, then and there lying dead, came to her
death, and continued Jan. 27, do say upon their oaths that she came to her death
by drowning in the well on the place of Charles Hartman in the town of Preble
aforesaid on the morning of January 17, 1894. How she came in the well the jury
are unable to say.
JAMES T. STEELE, Foreman,
HENRY CURRIE,
ROBERT T MITCHELL,
JOSEPH MCNEILL,
ROBERT DORTHEY,
OSCAR CORNUE.
A Fight With the Fish Pirates.
A lively fight with the fish
pirates in Oswego has lately been going on with E. D. Crosley an attorney [also
game warden who lived in Scott, N. Y.—CC editor] for the People and C. N.
Bulger employed against him. Attorney Crosley found that some of his witnesses
had been spirited away and the sheriff was employed to serve subpoenas. One
witness did not obey and an attachment was issued. When he appeared before the
court he had forgotten all he knew. One other tried the same dodge. Judge
McLennan ordered him to stay in the court room, sent for the district attorney and
ordered that his case for perjury be presented to the grand jury.
The case of the People vs.
John Black on account of failure of proof was decided in favor of the
defendant—also that of Robert Black. In the case of the People vs. James
Burgdorf and John Eagan, the verdict of the jury was against them for $100
each. Judge McLennan held that if several parties were present and saw the
violation of law and were in any way interested in it each party were liable for
$100 fine. If there was only an attempt to violate, he held that it made no
difference whether any fish were caught or not. A judgment by stipulation was entered
against Wm. Henryhan, Samuel Baker and James Johnson for $100 and costs.
Upon the solicitation of the
defendants the following cases were settled: People vs. Burton Bliss, W. D.
Rhines, (who is a justice of the peace) Wm. Rhines, Wm. Peacock, Martin Rhines,
Ira Lord, Patrick Boil. It was universally conceded by all present that
violations of the fish and game law [netting fish] were somewhat expensive
luxuries. Attorney Crosley asked the court to hear all his cases the week he
was there, as he had to be in Cortland on the 15th, and in Morrisville on the
29th. Whereupon the court ordered that all his cases be heard at once
irrespective of the rest of the calendar.
Milk to be Examined.
By direction of the Cortland
board of health Dr. W. L. Baker will within the next two weeks call upon all of
the milkmen who furnish milk in Cortland and examine all their cows to see if
they are in a healthy condition.
BY ORDER OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
