Early News

Rochester, Monroe, NY
Democrat & Chronicle
Sat. Mar. 25, 1905

DEATH AGAIN AT WORK FOR SMITH

Mrs. Myers Important as Birdie Hart's Chum
Hastens Jackson's Trial
District Attorney's Case Further Weakened by Death of Webster Witness -
People May Find It Advisable to Try Accused Negro First

News received by District-Attorney WARREN last evening of the death of another important witness in the Cora B. HART homicide case makes it very likely that the trial of Berry G. JACKSON, accused of killing Charles H. AMES, will be taken up before that of Ervin M. SMITH, the alleged Webster murderer. The latest gap in the SMITH case comes so inopportunely for the prosecution that the people's lawyers are almost willing to give in to the theory advanced by the superstitious observers, that the case is marked by fate for especial ill fortune.

Last evening's death was that of Mrs. Myrtle MYERS, who was but 29 years old age. It occurred at her home in Webster. Mrs. MYERS is survived by her husband, F. A. MYERS, and four children, Floyd, Elwayne, May and Ronald, Mrs. Addie LEATY, and sisters, Ada LEATY and Mrs. Lucette GAFFNER, all of Webster.

Mrs. MYERS was considered a very strong witness for the prosecution, as she was expected to tell of conversations of the defendant and "Birdie" HART, in the course of which, it was said, there were serious quarrels between the sweethearts. Threats would be told of, it was intimated, that put a bad appearance on SMITH'S treatment of the girl. This was expected to be of especial importance as bearing on the relations of the two just prior to the killing, and their respective frames of mind the night the girl was last seen alive. Mrs. MYERS was Birdie's confidante and acquaintance with practically all her affairs, even the most private, after the manner of close friendships between women. The District-Attorney attached great significance to what she would swear to on the trial of SMITH.

Mr. WARREN awaits anxiously the recovery of Mrs. William ALEXANDER, from whose house Miss HART and SMITH went shortly before the defendant claims he parted from the girl. There she is last known to have been seen alive, by others than SMITH except for the statement of two young fellows that they shouted after SMITH and the girl, who were coming from the Alexander residence. The witness is still too feeble to take the stand. She has been ill for weeks, and stress was laid on that fact by Mr. WARREN in opposing the defense's attempt to have an early trial date set, in an argument before Justice FOOTE on March 7th.

WITNESS SICK IN THE WEST

Another important witness for the prosecution who could not testify were the trial to be commenced within a couple of months, is Otto KLOUSS, brother-in-law of the owners of the packing house where the body was found. KLOUSS claims SMITH passed into the cellar the day after the disappearance of Miss HART. SMITH has testified that he merely went a few steps down a ladder and looked at the boiler in the packing house cellar. The theory of the prosecution is that the slayer of the girl returned to unfasten the windows, or other entrances to the packing house, preparatory to removal of her body from the cistern to the cellar, when opportunity should offer. KLOUSS has pneumonia and is in Southern California.

Justice FOOTE put the matter of SMITH'S trial date over to the opening of the May trial term of Supreme Court. It is likely now that the district-attorney will seek further postponement. This would give the prosecutors time for early trial of Berry G. JACKSON, against whom they claimed to have practically completed their case very early in the investigation following the discovery of AMES'S body in the Gates farmhouse owned by the accused negro. Trial of JACKSON before May, however, is not likely.

JACKSON'S arraignment upon the indictment of murder has been tentatively mentioned between counsel, and District-Attorney WARREN will seek a definite date agreement with George RAINES to-day. The prosecutor will probably ask for Monday, as Mr. RAINES is not likely to consent to JACKSON'S facing the court to-day.
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COULD NOT FIND HIS UNCLE

Olean Boy So Famished He Fainted Away at Police Headquarters.

Martin DOBLEO was arrested at St. Paul and Scrantom streets yesterday afternoon on the charge of vagrancy. Patrolman POST took the boy to police headquarters, where he became sick and soon fainted away. DOBLEO told Captain ZIMMERMAN he had come to the city from Olean, and that he had not eaten a mouthful in more than a day. He was weak from lack of nourishment.

Chief HAYDEN wired the chief of police at Olean concerning the boy, and last evening he received the information that the boy's parents could not control him, and that they wished he could be placed in some institution. DOBLEO told Captain ZIMMERMAN that he came to Rochester to find an uncle, but as he could not recall his name he was unable to locate him. His uncle is a tailor. The boy will be arraigned in police court this morning, and a further investigation may be ordered.
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NO CHANGE IN POWER'S CONDITION

There has been no perceptible change in the condition of the man supposed to be John POWERS, of Syracuse, who was struck by a locomotive in Clyde on Thursday afternoon. The man is at the Homeopathic Hospital. The surgeons have not found out whether his skull is fractured. He is unconscious and it is believed he cannot survive. POWERS is one of thirteen men who were put off a New York Central freight train near Clyde on that afternoon.
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RECORD OF DEATHS

Edward W. HUNT died yesterday morning at his home, No. 192 North Union street, aged 30 years. He leaves his wife, one son, Edward W., his mother, two sisters, Mrs. W. H. DRISCOLL and Elizabeth HUNT, and three brothers, Richard H., Ransom M. and John K. Decedent was for many years connected with the J. K. HUNT paper box concern and was a member of Valley Lodge, No. (unreadable). He was also a member of the Foresters and of the Woodmen.

John SCHROETTLEN died Wednesday at the Soldiers Home, Dayton, Ohio, aged 73 years. He was a member of the old Thirteenth Infantry, New York State Volunteers, having enlisted at Rochester March 25, 1862. He was captured June 27, 1862, at Gaines Mills, Va., and exchanged August 6th of the same year. He was mustered out at Rochester May 12, 1863.

Charlotte, widow of Joseph BLACKWELL, died Thursday at her home in Charlotte, aged 74 years. She leaves six daughters, Mrs. Alice SKINNER, of Oswego, Mrs. E. T. BROWN, Mrs. Robert DENNISE, Mrs. H. R. CULP, Helen and Cora BLACKWELL, one son William BLACKWELL, and three grandchildren.

Anna, widow of George ENGLEMORE, died Thursday morning at her home, No. 8 Whalen street, aged 73 years. She leaves three daughters, Mrs. Henry BELLINGER, Mrs. W. J. WEINEUR and Lena ENGLEMORE, all of this city.

Aaron R. McLEAN died Thursday morning at the Masonic Home in Utica, aged 84 years. He leaves his wife, one son, Charles A., of Los Angeles, Cal., and one daughter, Mrs. W. H. SADDEN, of Brockport.

Mary, widow of John LEE, died yesterday morning at her home, No. 105 Hague street. She leaves one son, James, of Liverpool, Eng., and one daughter, Elizabeth, of this city.

John KASTNER, son of Louis and Anna KASTNER, died yesterday afternoon at the family home, No. 310 Alphonse street, aged 1 year and 2 months.

Rosine(?), wife of August SCHMIDT, died yesterday morning at her home, No. 90 Campbell street, aged 67 years.

Charles SANFORD, of No. 149 Chestnut street, died Thursday morning at the City Hospital, aged 75 years.
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DIED

BLACKWELL - At her residence on River street, Charlotte, Thursday evening, March 23, 1905, Charlotte, widow of Joseph BLACKWELL, aged 74 years. The deceased leaves six daughters, Mrs. Alice E. SKINNER, of Oswego, Mrs. E. T. BROWN, Mrs. Robert DENICE, Mrs. H. R. CULP, Miss Helen and Cora BLACKWELL, one son, William BLACKWELL, also three grandchildren, Miss Carrie WEEKS, Irene DENICE, Everett BROWN.
-The funeral will take place Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the Presbyterian Church. Oswego papers please copy.

LEE - On Friday morning, March 24, 1905, at the family residence, No. 46(?) Hague street, Mary, widow of John LEE.
-Funeral on Monday morning at 8:30 o'clock from the house, and at 9 o'clock from Lady Chapel Cathedral.

SCHROTTLEN - In Dayton, Ohio, Wednesday morning, March 22, 1905, John SCHROTTLEN, formerly of this city, aged 73 years 9 months. Deceased is survived by one son, Fred SCHROTTLEN, and three granddaughters.
-Funeral Sunday afternoon from the home of his son, Fred SCHROTTLEN, No. 37 Weeger street, at 1:30 o'clock, and from Concordia Lutheran Church, on Helena street, at 2 o'clock.

HUNT - In this city, at his residence, No. 192 North Union street, Friday morning, March 24, 1905, Edward W. HUNT, aged 30 years.
-Funeral will take place from the residence on Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.

SANFORD - In this city on Thursday, March 23, 1905, Charles SANFORD, aged 75 years.
-Funeral from the parlors of Ingmire & Thompson, No. 64 Clinton avenue south, on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Burial at Cleveland, O.
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HOTEL AT BURT WAS BOMBARDED

Small Riot Followed Row in Barroom
Windows Broken By Stones
Guests in the Hotel Took Refuge in Closets -
Landlord's Family Fled to the Cellar -
Arrests Made by Sheriff Reardon of Lockport.

   Lockport, March 24 - Willis D. CARRIER's hotel at Burt, on the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad, was almost completely wrecked by a mob that attacked it at an early hour this morning. Sheriff REARDON was notified by telephone that a riot was in progress at Burt and (unreadable) come quickly to save the lives of women and children in the hotel. The sheriff made a requisition for a trolley car and started for Burt at full speed shortly after midnight.
   According to what can be gathered to-day, the Carrier hotel barroom was filled with men of the neighborhood who were drinking freely. About 10 o'clock Joseph VOLSCHANE, a man 25 years of age, residing at Burt, came into the hotel barroom. He claimed this morning he went there to apologize to CARRIER for something of an offensive nature he had done against CARRIER. He alleges that CARRIER, instead of accepting his apology, struck him over the head with a club and drawing a revolver ordered him to leave the hotel.
   Whatever caused the trouble, most of the men in the barroom took sides with VOLSCHANE. They went out with him. After a time a large crowd returned and began to bombard the hotel with stones. A scene of remarkable violence followed. For two hours the rain of stones, some of them weighing three and four pounds, continued. CARRIER fired his revolver several times, but aimed over the heads of the crowd. Nearly every window pane in the hotel was broken. Stones flew into the rooms occupied by two transient guests and they quickly took refuge in the adjoining closet. CARRIER and his wife removed their children to the cellar after a stone crashed through a window and just missed striking a babe asleep in one of the beds. While CARRIER was carrying the baby out of range of the missiles a stone crashed through a window and struck him in the right eye. This morning CARRIER's eye was dressed and the doctor now says he believes the sight can be preserved, although it was thought at first the eye had been completely destroyed.
   Sheriff REARDON was accompanied in the special trolley to Burt by Deputies George KELLEY of Middleport, Charles AVERILL and William SPALDING of Lockport. The attacking mob had got wind of his coming and had dispersed. SPALDING and CARRIER drove to Newfane for warrants. On the way somebody threw a large stone at them from ambush, but it missed the officer and CARRIER, striking the wagon box. Not far from the hotel the other officers found four men whom they arrested. They gave their names as Alfred GILLIS, Alexander JOHNSON, Joseph VOLSCHANE and Ernest GODFREY.
   The four prisoners were brought to jail this morning and locked up. This morning they were taken before Justice MEYERS at Newfane, but the case was adjourned until to-morrow morning. This afternoon Deputy SPALDING endeavored to serve a warrant on William GILLIS. The man got a start on the officer and an exciting chase through the muddy fields ensued. After a long run SPALDING got his man and brought him to Lockport. VOLSCHANE was released on $1,000 bail this afternoon.
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SAD ACCIDENT AT WARSAW YESTERDAY

Little Boy Drowned While Playing by a Stream in the Yard.
   Warsaw, March 24 - Percy WINKE, 11 years of age and only child of Mr. and Mrs Herman WINKE, was drowned last night. The family removed here from Lockport last fall and lived on the M. G. ROWE farm, about one mile north of the village, but within the corporate limits. A small stream flows from the west hill through the yard and under a culvert in the highway nearly opposite the house. This stream was greatly swollen by the recent rains and melting snow and had a swift current last night.
   The little boy went home from school about half-past 4 yesterday afternoon, and taking a small snow shovel went out to play on the snow banks, shoveling or pushing the snow into the stream. He was called to support at half-past 5 o'clock, but did not respond. This occasioned no uneasiness at first, his parents thinking that he was merely prolonging his play a little. But when an hour passed and he did not appear they became seriously alarmed and began a thorough search, which, with the assistance of neighbors, was kept up all night. At half-past 6 o'clock this morning the body was found four or five rods west of the culvert. The supposition is that in pushing the snow he lost his balance and fell into the swift running stream.
   The boy was unusually bright and intelligent, had a pleasant manner and disposition, and was a favorite with his mates in the fourth grade of the High School.
   Coroner GOODWIN, of Perry, was summoned and granted a death certificate. The remains were taken this evening to Niagara Falls, Ont., where Mrs. WINKE's family reside. The funeral and burial will be at that place.
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GENESEE

Going to Los Angeles to Take Dr. Bolton's Testimony
   Batavia, March 24 - George H. THORNTON of Buffalo, stenographer of the Supreme Court, has been named by Judge WASHBURN as commissioner in the matter of the KENNY will contest to take the place of S. A. SIMONDS of Los Angeles, Cal.
   Mr. THORNTON, in company with Judge NORTH, the executor, his attorneys, William C. WATSON and George W. WATSON. District-Attorney B. J. STEDMAN and Eugene M. BARTLETT of Buffalo will leave on Sunday evening for Los Angeles, where they will take the testimony of Dr. W. T. BOLTON of this city. The party expects to be gone three weeks.
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ICE JAM IN TONAWANDA CREEK
   Batavia, March 24 - An ice jam formed in Tonawanda creek to-day and for a time Batavia was threatened with another flood. The ice dammed the creek at Wheeler's bridge, four miles west, and in a short time the water began to back up. A breaking of the jam about noon relieved the pressure and danger was over as the water fell rapidly, although it is still high and in some places out of its banks. Reports from Attica state that the water is falling there. During the present high water part of the Batavia dam was carried away, but the break is not serious. The village will be at no loss as the work was guaranteed for a year.
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SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. GIBBS
   Batavia, March 24 - Mrs. Amanda Jane GIBBS died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Myron B. CARTER, of River street, Thursday evening. She was taken suddenly ill but died before the arrival of a physician. Coroner SHAW issued a certificate of death from heart disease. She was 75 years old. Mrs. GIBBS was born March 21, 1840, in New Durham, N. H., and came to East Pembroke when four years old. She had resided in Batavia for forty-five years. She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. CARTER, of Batavia, and one sister, Mrs. Hura SIMPSON of Celeron.
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WAS NEARLY 97 YEARS OLD
   Alexander, March 24 - Pelig OATMAN died at the home of his son, Milo S. OATMAN, 1? Alexander, Thursday night, of old age. He was nearly 97 years old and had lived in Alexander about a year.
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CURIOUS BIRD CAUGHT AT LYONS
   Lyons, March 24 - A curious bird whose classification has thus far baffled all who have called to see it, it was caught by some boys on the railroad tracks east of Lyons a day or two ago and is now confined alive at the home of David BASTIAN on Church street. The creature is a third larger than a dove, but has the thickest rotundity of a guinea hen. It has a snow white bill and the coal black feathers with which its head is covered are so fine as to resemble the sleek looking hair of some water dwelling animals. The neck is slate color, and the feet partially webbed and a distinct greenish hue.
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