Union and Advertiser
September 28, 1897 page 7
Rochester, NY Monroe County
Charges Preferred Against Policeman J.A. Rendsland.
A Woman and Her Son Accuse the Patrolman of Using His Club
Patrolman Kron by Fearlessly Doing His Duty, Incurs the Enmity of Dive Keepers.
Charges against Officer John A. RENDSLAND were preferred at
the meeting of the police commissioners yesterday afternoon. The charges
were:
First--Conduct unbecoming an officer.
Second--Cruel and inhuman treatment
Third-- attempting an arrest without a warrant, or without the commission of a
felony and no misdemeanor in his presence.
Officer RENDSLAND pleaded not guilty and asked time to
consult counsel and secure witnesses. The case was accordingly put over
two weeks. The officer was not suspended.
The complaint against the officer is made by Mr. Johanna
NEITZEL and her 18-year-old son, Richard NEITZEL, who is a young man, was
walking in Widman street on the night of September 23d when Officer RENDSLAND
walked up behind him and tapping him on the shoulder, said "Now I've got
you". The young man asked the officer what he was wanted for, and
according to the complaint, the officer hit him on the head with his club.
Mrs. NEITZEL then interfered and the officer kicked and beat her until she was
cut and marked nearly all over her body. The complainants in the case were
both present.
Rose BLANCHARD, the woman who recently preferred charges against Officer KRON
sent a letter to the board stating that owing to the fact that undue influence
having been brought to bear on her, she desired to withdraw charges she had made
against the officer. The young woman was also before the board in person
and stated that she wished to withdraw the charges. Charges were therefore
dismissed.
Lionel Hayes on a Concert Tour With Gustin Wright.
Lionel HAYES, the young Rochester baritone who has been
studying for the past year with some of the world famous Parisian teachers, has
accepted a flattering offer to accompany Mr. WRIGHT, the brilliant Parisian,
concert organist, on a tour through America.
The young Rochesterian, who is thus flatteringly commended,
is 18 years of age and the son of Rev. Dr. A.W. HAYES, pastor of Asbury
Methodist Church. He entered the University of Rochester in the fall of
1894. At the close of his freshman year he left college to go to Paris to
study French and Italian opera. While in the university he was the solo
singer on the Glee Club and played several leading roles in the productions of
the University minstrels given at the Lyceum Theater in the spring of 1895.
Mr. HAYES is a member of the Theta Delta Chi college fraternity. He
returns to Paris in November to fill engagements in the city and Milan.
PSM
Rochester, Monroe, N. Y.
Democrat & Chronicle
Sept. 29, 1897
MONROE
Aged Woman at Scottsville Nearly Suffocated in a Burning House
The house owned and occupied by Mrs. Margaret GLEASON, an aged woman, at the north end of the village of Scottsville,
was burned to the ground at 4 a.m. yesterday. Mrs. GLEASON was awakened by what she supposed was rats, but as the
noise continued she arose and struck a match and found the house in flames. In her haste to get out to release
some fowls that were in a coop near by she fell, and being quite feeble came near being burned. A neighbor hearing
her cry for help came to the rescue. She lost everything with the exception of the clothes that she had had on
the day before and which were lying on the bed. There was no insurance. The fire is supposed to have started either
from a defective stove pipe or a spark from the wood stove in the kitchen.
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CAYUGA
King's Ferry, Cayuga county, will hereafter be known as King Ferry. The United States postal authorities have abolished
the "s" from the title of this post office.
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Job HARVEY, a well known Cato farmer, who operates a threshing machine, while engaged in repairing the engine,
Monday morning, caught his right hand between some of the wheels, tearing off the ends of three fingers and badly
bruising his hand.
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PENN YAN
George H. ROMAYNE has been appointed truant officer by the town board of Milo.
The board of education of Rushville has assessed the money presented to that village by Charles LOOMIS, and such
action is causing considerable stir in that village.
The marriage has been announced of Gottlieb MEEKER to Mrs. Inez STEWART, both of Penn Yan, at the home of the bride's
mother, in Dundee. Rev. Stanley B. ROBERTS, of Utica, a brother of the bride, performed the ceremony.
Elmer VAUGHN, of Dundee, had the misfortune to fall from a chestnut tree, a distance of forty-two feet, while chestnutting
last Sunday in Charles BELL's woods, breaking both bones of the right arm and one of the left just above the wrist
joint. Other injuries were received, but, it is thought, not of a serious nature.
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Rev. L. D. CHASE, pastor of the Methodist Church at Mt. Morris, completes his pastorate next Sunday. He has served
the church five years, and during that period the membership of the church has greatly enlarged and over $1,500
paid upon old indebtedness. Mr. CHASE will preach his farewell sermon next Sunday evening.
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TRAIN STRUCK HIM
John Grady Was Looking, But in the Wrong Direction
John GRADY, of No. 46 Austin street, was struck by a Central-Hudson train at Lincoln park at 3 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, and was badly hurt. He was removed to St. Mary's Hospital, where he is now confined.
GRADY is 31 years old and unmarried. He is a transfer clerk for the Central-Hudson road at Otis station. He rode
out to Lincoln park yesterday afternoon, and was standing on one of the Central-Hudson tracks watching some railroad
men "make up" a train. Another train came up in an opposite direction, and before he could get out of
the way he was struck and knocked several feet.
GRADY sustained a compound fracture of the right leg. It was thought at first that the leg would have to be amputated
to save the man's life, but a consultation was held and it was decided that it would not be necessary to remove
the limb.
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FATAL UTICA FIRE
Two Firemen Buried in Ruins and Four Others Injured
Utica, N. Y., Sept. 28 - Two Firemen lost their lives in the burning of the store and warehouse of the commission
house of the N. E. WHITE Company to-day, The dead are:
Isaac MONROE, fireman, crushed under falling roof and suffocated.
John HANLON, fireman, crushed under the falling roof and suffocated.
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THE PRICHARD MURDER
A Posse of Men Searching the Mountains for Christian.
Wurtzboro, N. Y., Sept. 28 - Wallace F. CHRISTIAN, who yesterday shot and killed Horace F. PRICHARD, of New York
city, at the Sullivan County Club, five miles from here, is still at large. Thomas J. MANNY, the constable of this
place whom CHRISTIAN shot after killing PRICHARD, is still alive. He will die.
These are the actual developments to-day in a tragedy that for dramatic backwoods elements, has never been equaled
in Sullivan county. For miles around the country is being thoroughly searched for traces of the missing murderer,
and the sole topic of talk is this killing on the Shawangunk mountains.
E. M. PRICHARD, father of the murdered man, and head of the firm of E. M. PRICHARD & Sons, makers of window
frames and sashes at One Hundred and Thirty-eighth streets and Mott avenue, New York, arrived here early this morning.
The old man looked at his son's body in Bullard's, the undertaker. His grief was pitiable. He threw himself at
full length upon the corpse as if, like Elijah of old, he could breathe new life into the cold limbs. It seemed
as if he could hardly realize that the son who left him in full health yesterday was now dead. The roll of bills
amounting to $150, gold watch and other things which were found on young PRITCHARD's body were turned over to the
father.
Mrs. CHRISTIAN, the wife of the fugitive, declared to-day that her husband had shot in self-defense. That he was
a murderer she would not for a minute admit. "He has gone," she said, "to Monticello to give himself
up."
Mrs. CHRISTIAN admitted reluctantly that her husband was arrested last fall in New York city for knocking down
the elder PRICHARD with a club. She also admitted that CHRISTIAN's temper had brought him into trouble with, and
that on more than one occasion he had beaten her.
There are numerous rumors as to CHRISTIAN's whereabouts. Three residents of this place declare that they saw him
sneaking along on the outskirts of the village as if making for the mountains. Another man declares that an individual
answering CHRISTIAN's description boarded an Ontario & Western train at Summitsville. Despite these and other
reports Sheriff WATSON has no definite traces to work upon. The inquest will be held to-day.
The story of the shooting, as gathered from MANNY and the witnesses differs somewhat from the account circulated
yesterday. It is this:
Horace PRICHARD arrived here yesterday afternoon from New York to serve a subpoena on CHRISTIAN to appear as a
witness in a suit brought by E. M. PRICHARD & Sons against two New York men for the balance due on a contract
and for which PRICHARD had secured a lien on two houses built by PRICHARD for the defendants. PRICHARD secured
the services of Constable MANNY soon after arriving and the two drove out to the Sullivan County Club tract, where
CHRISTIAN's cottage stands. When they reached the cottage PRICHARD got out and walked to the door, where CHRISTIAN
was standing. Shoving the subpoena under CHRISTIAN's arm, PRICHARD said: "That's all I want." Then he
started to walk back to the wagon. CHRISTIAN came rushing out, with an oath he shouted; "I'll shoot you both."
In days gone by CHRISTIAN was a cowboy in Australia, and he has the reputation of being the best shot in Sullivan
county. Without stopping to take aim, without giving the two men a moment's chance to move or beg for mercy, CHRISTIAN
dropped his gun at PRICHARD, who fell head first from the wagon with a bullet hole clear through his body in the
region of the hips.
MANNY by this time had the whip in his hand and just as he lashed the horse CHRISTIAN's second bullet struck him
in the small of the back and came out through his abdomen. MANNY fell forward on the road beside PRICHARD and the
horse tore off into the brush.
Frank WATSON, who lives at the Sullivan County Club, and who had heard the shots, came running up. MANNY had struggled
to his feet and staggered over to PRICHARD. They found he was dead. Then MANNY told WATSON to look for CHRISTIAN,
but by this time the ex-cowboy was in the brush, safe. MANNY was brought to the Lake House, where his wound was
pronounced fatal.
Wurtzboro, N. Y. Sept. 28 - Coroner HELMS secured a jury which viewed PRITCHARD's body. The body of PRITCHARD will
be taken to New York to-night. CHRISTIAN is brother of Dorothy DARE, a newspaper writer, MANNY conducts a barber
and cigar shop here. He has a wife and a 14-year-old daughter.
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FIVE MINERS DEAD
Succumbed to Black Damp After a Fire
Scranton, Pa., Sept. 28 - Five men to-day met death from "black damp," the after accumulation of a fire,
in the Jermyn No. 1 mine near Rendham. The dead are:
Isaa? WATKINS, fire boss, 55 years old; wife and child.
William TOMPKINS, 22 years; single
Joseph SMITH, 35 years; wife and one child.
John GALLAGHER, 42 years, wife and seven children.
William FRANKLIN, 26; wife.
The bodies of all but WATKINS were discovered at 5:30 o'clock by a man who went down into the mine with supplies
for combating the fire. Since last Tuesday the fire had been raging in the mine. The men who lost their lives represented
one shift. They went on duty at 3 o'clock and nobody knew of their death until the discovery of the lifeless bodies.
Not a man in the party survived to tell the story.
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ACHILLES TENDON DOING WELL
Rev. J. C. HITCHCOCK, of Port Gibson, N. Y., whose peculiar accident in breaking the Achilles tendon in his left
foot, was mentioned in yesterday's Democrat and Chronicle, is at the Homeopathic Hospital, where he is well taken
care of. The Achilles tendon is doing well, and it is hoped that he will be able to walk as readily as before.
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A San Francisco woman has sued a dentist for damages because he would not pull her aching tooth when she wore bloomers.
He had refused on the plea that bloomers would injure his business.
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MARRIED
O'CONNOR - GILBERT - in this city, Monday, September, 27, 1897, at the priest's residence, by Rev. Father FARRON,
of St. Mary's church, Miss Nellie O'CONNOR, of this city, and Mr. John GILBERT of Geneva.
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DIED
ERNISSE - In this city, at the family residence, 20 Hollister street, Hattie E. ERNISSE, aged 20 years.
Funeral private, from the house at 2 p.m. Thursday, and 2:30 from Second Reformed Church. Friends are invited.
OAGLEY - In this city, Sunday, September 26, 1897, Isaac H. OAGLEY, aged 27 years. Funeral from the residence of
Geo. P. LEE, 95 Geneseo street, Wednesday, at 8 o'clock p.m.
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MRS. BENHAM'S ESTATE
Contest Over the Accounts of Martin C. Benham as Guardian
Batavia, Sept. 28 - In surrogate's court in Batavia to-day, the contest over the accounts of Martin C. BENHAM,
father of Howard C. BENHAM, the convicted wife murderer, as guardian of the late Mrs. Florence T. BENHAM, of Batavia,
was commenced. William E. WEBSTER was present and represented the defendant. Arthur E. CLARK of Batavia represented
the interest of the Lawyers' Surety Company of New York, the bondsmen for Mr. BENHAM, with James J. CONWAY of New
York as counsel. Frank S. WOOD, the temporary administrator of the late Mrs. BENHAM's estate, was represented by
himself and law partner, Fred H. DUNHAM, with M. H. PECK, Jr., of Batavia, counsel.
There was a great deal of interest in the proceedings, the contestants claiming that there was a shortage in Mr.
BENHAM's accounts of $2,449.12, and the fact that a further mortgage was looked for made the matter still more
interesting. During the forenoon several witnesses were called to the stand to testify, among them being W. Harris
DAY, John B. TEMPLEMAN, Elizabeth A. CARROLL of Batavia, Frank P. COWARD of Byron and F. B. LOVERIDGE of Alexander.
These witnesses sworn to having paid to the estate, a sum aggregating $1,087, which was either interest or principal
on mortgages held by the late Mrs. BENHAM;s estate.
The Hon., John M. McKENZIE testified that he had paid to Martin C. BENHAM the sum of $3,875, a mortgage held by
the Mrs. BENHAM estate. The witness stated that he had been asked for the money by Mr. BENHAM, who claimed that
he wanted the money to use in paying off a mortgage on his own farm in Byron.
Stephen T. MINER, father-in-law of Martin C. BENHAM had induced him to give the First National Bank of Batavia
a mortgage of $5,000 on his farm at the time BENHAM stated that he wanted $3,500 of the amount to pay a mortgage
on his Byron farm. Mr. Miner stated that he had never received a dollar of the amount raised on the mortgage. Mr.
BENHAM to secure Mr. MINER gave him a mortgage of $5,000 on his Byron farm, and afterwards induced him to transfer
the mortgage to the First National Bank of Batavia, which was recently foreclosed. At 12:30 o'clock a recess was
taken until 2 p.m., when Mr. MINER again took the stand.
Following Mr. MINER six witnesses were sworn and testified to the value of the MINER farm. They were George W.
SCOTT, August RHODEY, S. W. FISK, George CONSTABLE, Junius PECK and Charles DIEFENDORF. Following, George W. ROOT
of Byron was called as a witness, and swore that he gave Martin C. BENHAM a mortgage for $4,000 on his Clarendon
farm of seventy-one acres. Out of the $4,000 BENHAM paid a $2,000 mortgage on the ROOT farm, and that BENHAM had
the balance. At almost 5 o'clock an adjournment was taken until this morning at 11 o'clock. When the proceedings
open this morning . It is expected that witnesses will be called to testify as to the value of the Clarendon farm.
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Union Advertiser
Sept. 29, 1897
DEATHS AND FUNERALS
Hattie E. ERNISSE, aged 20 years, died yesterday at the family residence, No. 20 Hollister street.
Frederick HEBERLE, aged 37 years and 8 months, died yesterday afternoon, at the family residence, in Irondequoit.
He leaves his wife and two sons; also his mother, one brother, Charles, and five sisters, Miss Mary HEBERLE, Mrs.
C. MILLER, Mrs. W. WEBSTER, Mrs. K. SCHUMAN and Mrs. C. LEY, all of this city.
John CHAMBERLAIN of 19 Rogers avenue, died this morning at St. Mary's Hospital, after an illness of one week. Mr.
CHAMBERLAIN was born in Lincoln, Eng., March 10, 1844, coming to this country in May, 1848. The funeral will be
held on Friday, at 2 p.m., from the house, and at 3 p.m. from the Wilder Street Baptist Church.
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TWIST JUDGMENT ROLL
A judgment roll in the case of Charles TWIST, as administrator, etc., against the city of Rochester, was filed
in the county clerk's office yesterday. The judgment secured against the city was for $5,000, to which is to be
added the interest, $1,560, and costs, $211.36, making in all $6,771.36 for the city to pay.
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RAILROAD NOTES
H. M. HEMMINGWAY, general trainmaster of the western division of the Central-Hudson, came into Rochester yesterday
on his pony engine.
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CHARLES KLICK SENT UP
Gets Three Months for Assaulting P. August Gervens
Charles KLICK, a young German who has been employed about the city for some time past as a laborer, was this morning
sentenced to three months in the penitentiary for assault in the third degree on P. August GERVENS, a North Clinton
street jeweler.
The trouble all arose over a pocketbook. KLICK on the 24th of August last, after drinking about town with a fellow
workman, whose name he says he does not know, went to GERVENS' jewelry store with his companion. He left his companion
with GERVENS a few moments while he went down stairs. When he came up he says a drink was suggested and he took
his pocketbook out of his pocket to get some change to send for beer. In the pocketbook was $8 or more, all he
had in the world.
His companion grabbed the pocket book and ran out the door. When he started after him, he says, GERVENS grabbed
and held him, saying it was only a joke. A struggle ensued, the two men falling over the floor and out of the store
into a back room. KLICK says GERVENS held him down on the floor and beat him. He therefore believed that, having
been prevented from following his companion that the missing man was in league with GERVENS to rob him of his money.
GERVEN'S testimony was to the effect that KLICK had come to his place and had sat down for a half hour to sleep
off the effect of his drinking. When he awoke he found his pocketbook missing and demanded its immediate return
from GERVENS. Not receiving it he assaulted the jeweler, throwing him down, grasping him by the throat and pounding
his head against the floor. He finally kicked him and left.
Judge ERNST evidently believed GERVENS' story and sentenced his assailant.
GjS