Monday, November 10, 2014

THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND NO MORE HANGING IN NEW YORK STATE



Wheelmen on Parade, New York City, 1883.
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 8, 1888.

The Right of Way.

   MR. EDITOR: In the Standard of last week a member of what is called the Wheelman's Club, apologizes to the 45th Separate Company N. G. S. N. Y., and citizens in general for the disgraceful conduct of their brother wheelmen who disputed the right of way with the boys in blue on Decoration day.
   Why did they not apologize to the members of "Post Grover," the old veterans who marched with the Post, the "Woman's Relief Corps" and city fathers, as well as the 46th, (who were the escort) and citizens general? Why did they not apologize for the jeers that greeted the column from the windows of the Messenger House? Never before has any man or body of men or boys, on the ground or on wheels, in any State of the Union, North or South, dared to howl at a Union soldier while in line of march to or from the graves of their comrades in arms.
   Who had the best right to the right of way on Decoration Day? The old soldiers who turn out in procession and march to the cemeteries to pay tribute to the memory their dead comrades by scattering flowers over their graves, or a body of loaferish boys on wheels who turn out in procession and march through the streets obstructing travel, scaring women and children on the sidewalks and frightening horses by dashing swiftly past them, on the day set apart for memorial exercises!
   All wheelmen who took no active part with the rowdies who hooted and jeered from the windows of the Messenger House, or were not included among those who tried to ride through the lines on Grant street, are exonerated from all blame. The hour of the exercises was changed to accommodate the wheelmen who had advertised a tournament and invited surrounding clubs to participate, which makes the Cortland wheelmen all the more indignant at the loaferish conduct of some of their guests, as we believe only one of our town boys took part in the hooting or obstructing the street.
   OLD VET.



More Improvements.

   Extensive repairs are now making at Fireman's Hall whereby it will be greatly improved in appearance. A hard wood floor laid diagonally has been put down and a ceiling of Georgia pine substituted for the plastering. Both floor and ceiling will be finished in oil and will make the room lighter and more pleasant than heretofore.
   The membership of Water Witch Engine Co., will be at once increased to the full number of fifty men, and fifteen of these detailed for a new hose company which will be connected with and under the government of the Engine Co. A new hose cart will be purchased this week and as soon as it arrives the detail will be made for the new company. The members of Water Witch are fully determined to spare no effort to make their organization one of the best in fire department.



Of Interest to Lawyers.

   Among the batch of thirty-seven bills signed by the governor on Monday, was one of importance to lawyers and stenographers. It is an amendment to section 796 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and fixes the weight of paper which may be used by lawyers in serving copies. The bill also provides that all stenographic reports, and all printed cases, points and briefs on appeals, must be made on paper 8 x 10 1/2 inches.



Report of Health Officer.

   The following is the report of the Health officer of this village for the month of May 1888:
   Deaths 13; males 9, females 4, nativity, U. S. 12, males 1. [sic]
   Causes: lead poison, 1; pneumonia, 2; heart failure, 2; diphtheria, 3; old age 2; congestion of the brain, 2; congestion of the lungs, 1.
   Births 16, marriages 9.
   W. J. Moore, M. D.,
   Health Officer.



HERE AND THERE.

   A lively hail storm put in an appearance at Homer last Saturday afternoon, doing considerable damage. 
   An extension to Madison street through Schermerhorn [Grace Street] to Adams [Homer Ave.], has been laid out and will be opened to the public in a short time.
   Sherwood Bros., the popular Main street grocers, have a very fine new delivery wagon made for them by the Cortland Omnibus & Cab Co.
   The Prohibitionists are the first in the field. They have a handsome banner containing the names of their candidates stretched across Main street.
   Floral Trout Ponds were formally opened to the public last Saturday. A large crowd was in attendance, notwithstanding the inclement weather.
   Dr. A. J. White has removed from the Schermerhorn block to his elegant new office which he has built adjoining his residence No. 56 Port Watson street.
   Captain Miller has purchased of Beard & Son, the Main street furniture dealers, an elegant roll top cherry desk for the armory of the 45th Separate company.
   We understand that H. J. Messenger, Esq., will soon commence the erection of a new brick block on the site of Pioneer rink, recently destroyed by fire on Orchard street. 
   The once noted springs, at Pitcher Springs, are to be revived. The buildings are to be repaired and improved at once. The springs are said to possess rare medicinal properties.
   Melville Frieze, who was shot by Adelbert Taylor at Harford Mills last week, Wednesday, is gaining slowly, and his friends now have strong hope of his ultimate recovery.
   The signal service flag was displayed on the Wallace block for the first time, Wedesday morning. Cards giving an explanation of the signals may be had at Wallace’s book store.
   A. G. Newton represents Water Witch Engine company in the Firemen's Convention to be held here in August. Dr. S. J. Sornberger performs a like service for the Protective Police, and E. G. Gould is the delegate appointed to represent Orris Hose company.
   The Howe Stove Co. will begin work at once on two large buildings which they expect to have ready for occupancy in the early fall. As soon as the buildings are completed the plant of the company will be moved from Fulton to this village, and more men employed.
   At the competitive examination for the for the free scholarship at Cornell University, held at the Court House last Saturday. J. G. Brown, of Harford, attained the highest standing, and Arthur Baldwin second. We understand that Mr. Brown will enter the University at the commencement of the next school year.
   The teachers in the First Commissioners' District will hold a meeting at Marathon, June 15th and 16th for the purpose of organizing a Teachers' Association. Reduced rates have been secured on the railroad, an interesting program made out, and a cordial invitation is extended to teachers and friends of education to be present.
   Wednesday morning, while Mrs. J. W. Keese and Mrs. Hattie Hallock were out riding, they stopped in front of one of the stores at the Grand central block, and Mrs. Keese alighted and went in, leaving Mrs. Hallock alone in the carriage. The horse became frightened by the electric light which was being lowered, and turned sharply around, throwing Mrs. Hallock out, and breaking her leg. She was at once taken to her home, No. 44 Union street, and the broken limb properly cared for by Dr. Hoag. Mrs. Keese's little son, who was also in the carriage, received several cuts and bruises about the head and face.
   Mr. C. F. Wickwire has purchased Mrs. Hewett’s house and lot on Tompkins street, besides a strip of land from Mr. H. C. Goodrich, and will soon commence the erection of a handsome new residence on the premises.
   The Tioughnioga Bathing House is now open, and tickets good for the season may be procured for the sum of $1.00, when the holder furnishes his own suit, or suits will be furnished for $1.00 extra. The river has been deepened and cleared of all obstructions, and several new boats added. Tickets are now on sale at Mr. E. O. Kingman's, No. 15 Washington street.
   Mr. John O. Reid is now the sole manufacturer of the road cart formerly made by J. H. Tallmadge, he having purchased Mr. Tallmadge's patents and interest in the concern. Mr. Reid will at once begin to build these popular carts on a large scale, and he possesses the necessary push to make the manufacture of these vehicles one of the principal industries of Cortland. We wish him success.



No More Hanging.

   Governor Hill, on Monday last, signed the bill abolishing hanging for all murders committed after January 1st, 1889, and substituting death by electricity therefor. The bill provides that when any prisoner shall be sentenced to death, he shall be immediately conveyed by the sheriff to one of the State prisons, and there be kept in solitary confinement until the day of execution. During this time he can be visited only by officers, relatives, physician, clergyman or counsel. The court imposing the sentence names merely the week in which the execution shall take place, the day being left to the discretion of the principal keeper of the prison.
   The execution will be private, only officials, clergymen, physicians and a limited number of citizens being allowed to be present. After the execution funeral services may be held in prison and the body shall be delivered into the custody of relatives, if requested, or decently buried in the prison grounds.
   The bill is the outcome of a suggestion made by Gov. Hill in his first message to the Legislature in 1885, which characterized hanging as a barbarous relic of the dark ages, and recommending that measures more adapted to the humanity of the present century be adopted.
   The DEMOCRAT is not disposed to find fault with the action of the Legislature or the Governor in the premises, but it believes that this law should not have been enacted. We can see no reason why the murderer's exit from this world should be made any less painful or barbarous than was that of his victim. In most cases the latter does not deserve his fate, while in nearly every instance the murderer richly deserves the fate that the present law metes out to him. One of the principal objects the founders of the present law had in view, was to make the punishment of crime so severe and odious as to prevent people from the commission of crime. The new law makes the punishment painless and removes one of the principal objects of punishment.
   The DEMOCRAT has always regarded Gov, Hill as a very level headed man, but it is said that every person has a weak spot somewhere, and the Governor, it seems, is no exception to the rule. We must confess that we are somewhat surprised at the Governor's weakness in this direction, but nothing better could have been expected from the Legislature of last winter.

No comments:

Post a Comment