SHERIFF'S OFFICE 

Researched by Kimberly Winston, Intern (Spring 1995)

FACTS ABOUT THE SHERIFFS

Jeremiah Whipple was born in the year 1763 and died on September 22, 1840. Whipple was a veteran of the revolutionary war, and a tavern keeper in Cazenovia during 1814. He later owned a store with his son.

Elijah Pratt was the first physician of Peterboro and was the first male school teacher during 1801-1802. Pratt joined the Madison County Medical Society in 1806 in which he held the office of secretary. After he served his term as Sheriff he became a tavern keeper.

John Matteson settled in Madison County with his mother and brothers as a farmer. He became a constable in Smithfield in the year 1809 and died in Lenox on May 27, 1832.

William Hatch was the court crier in 1807, was a Lieutenant in the Militia in 1808 and became a Captain in 1809. During the year 1814 he became a tavern keeper.

Moses Maynard was one of three brothers. He distinguished himself in various official capacities, one being a chief projector of the Chenango canal. In 1816 he was an assemblyman and later in 1814 a tavern keeper. Maynard died on May 27, 1853.

Ezra Cloyes was born in the year 1776 and died in 1839. Cloyes was an ensign in the Militia in 1803 and the year later became Lieutenant.

Ezekial Carpenter during the year 1840 he was the commissioner of loans.

Pardon Barnard played the roles of judge, ensign of the Militia, and a member of Assembly, and a licensed preacher in 1834. Barnard died on May 28, 1841.

Joseph S. Palmer A.K.A. Sheriff Joe Palmer was born on February 24, 1793 and died on June 6, 1849. He was a farmer, commissioner of deeds during 1821, Smithfield Justice of Peace in 1831, and Postmaster of Peterboro in 1832.

Thomas Wylie was one of the advocates of the Chenango canal, 1807 he was an ensign in the Militia and was one of the founders of Hamilton Academy during 1816.

John Messenger was born October 9, 1798, died September 11, 1866. In 1830 he was Assemblyman and in 1832 he held the position of Postmaster.

Isaac Brown was the paymaster in the Militia during 1822.

Samuel French was the brother of Horatio, Thomas, and Jarius. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, was an ensign in the Militia in 1822, was a Marshall for Madison County during the year 1830 and was a Postmaster and merchant at the Town of Sullivan in 1840.

William Brand died on August 18, 1863.

Stephen Potter represented the county in Assembly in 1846 and was chosen Sheriff in 1852; he died at Manlius at the age of 91.

Sanford Chapman was born in the year 1812. He was the owner of Mt. Pleasant farm and was a noted breeder of Durham cattle.

William P. Bonney was a member of the Madison County Central Committee in 1834 and in 1832 was in the Anti-Mason committee.

A.C. Stone taught the E. school in Lincoln during 1832 - 1833. He was a Deputy Sheriff in 1839, state Senator in 1850, District Attorney during 1856 - 1859. Stone died in the year 1866.

Thomas French was a representative to the legislature and later became Undersheriff to Samuel French during 1844 - 1846.

Edwin Barker was a member of the Democratic committee of 1840.

Milton Barnett was the first trustee of the Oneida savings bank, an Assemblyman, and a doctor. Barnett died after laying unconscious for three days.

DUTIES OF THE SHERIFF

During the Colonial period, Sheriffs were appointed annually in the month of October unless otherwise noticed. Under the first constitution Sheriffs were appointed annually by the council of appointment and no person could hold the officer more than four successive years, neither could a Sheriff hold any other office and he must be a free holder in the county where appointed. Since the adoption of the constitution of 1812, Sheriffs have been elected for a term of three years and are ineligible for re-election for the next succeeding term.

The following is a report of the examination of the accounts of Madison County from 1910 to 1911:

"The security given by John Hill as Sheriff of Madison County was in the form of a bond to the people of the state of New York in the sum of $10,000.00 executed by himself and three sureties, each qualifying in the sum of $10,000.00 and filed in the office of the county clerk of Madison county in the first day of December 1908. Mr. Hill began his term on January 1, 1909 and ended December 31, 1911".

The condition of the bond was that "the said Sheriff elect, shall as much, well and faithfully perform and discharge all the duties of his office, and all trusts, reposed in him by law, or by virtue of his office, and shall safely keep and pay over to the county treasurer of Madison county all moneys which shall come into his hands as Sheriff as required by law1.

A special act, chapter 29, laws of 1891 makes the office of Sheriff a salaried and regulates the management thereof. Section seven of that act provided that the Sheriff elect shall:

Execute to the people of the state file and be recorded in the office of the county clerk of said county a bond XXX conditioned that said Sheriff shall well and faithfully discharge all the duties of his office and all trusts reposed in him by law or by virtue of his office, and shall safely keep and pay over to the said county treasurer as herein provided all moneys which shall come into his hands. The said bond shall be approved as to its form and sufficiency of sureties by the board of supervisors. The bond was approved by the board in sessions on November 30, 1908.

Chapter 29, the act making the office of Sheriff of Madison County a salaried office and regulating the management of such office consists of sections which explains the duties of the stated office. The following is an account of the sections which describe the Sheriffs duties.

SECTION 1 - The Sheriff shall receive as compensation for his services an annual salary to be fixed by the board of supervisors which shall not exceed $20,000.00 per annum and not to be increased or diminished during his term of office.

SECTION 2 - It shall be the duty of the Sheriff to perform all services which he is or shall be required or authorized by law to perform by virtue of his office, and no compensation or allowance shall be made to him for his use for any such services except the salary aforesaid.

SECTION 3 - All the fees emoluments and perquisites which such Sheriff shall change or receive on which he shall legally be authorized required or entitled by law or receive shall belong to the county of Madison.

SECTION 4 - In a proper book or books, to be provided at the expense of the county, such Sheriff shall keep an exact and true account of all official services performed by him or his Undersheriff or Deputies. Also all moneys, fees, perquisites, and emoluments received or changed by him pursuant to law.

SECTION 5 - Such Sheriff shall make a full and true statement for each calendar month of all moneys received each day by him or his Undersheriff or Deputies for fees, perquisites, or emoluments for all services rendered by him or them in his or their official capacity and shall deliver such statement to the county treasurer of the county within ten days of the expiration thereof XXX and have attached thereto an affidavit of said Sheriff in effect that the same is a full and true statement of all moneys by him received as herein required.

SECTION 6 - At the time of rendering every such statement such Sheriff shall pay over to the county treasurer of Madison county for the benefit of the county the whole amount of the moneys received by him since making the last proceeding monthly statement.

SECTION 7 - Every Sheriff elected or appointed in the county shall before entering upon the duties of said office, execute to the people of the state, a bond in such penal sum and with such sureties shall be fixed and prescribed by the board of supervisors of said county, and shall be approved by them for the effect that, such Sheriff shall well and faithfully discharge all the duties of his office and all trusts reposed in him by law and pay over to the county treasurer as herein provided all moneys that shall come into his hands.

SECTION 8 - Relates to the number and appointment of an Undersheriff and such Deputy Sheriffs as may be designated by the board of supervisors, XXX and the board of supervisors shall fix the salary and compensation of said Undersheriff and Deputy Sheriffs.

SECTION 9 - Any officer referred to in this act who shall receive to his own use or neglect to account for any moneys, fee, perquisites, or emoluments, by this act declared to belong to the county of Madison, or who neglects to render to said county treasurer an account of all fees received or to pay over to the same as herein required, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

SECTION 10 - The board of supervisors may in their discretion allow necessary traveling expenses, in criminal cases, to the Sheriff, Undersheriff, and Deputies.

Alpheus Hitchcock was the first to be hung within Madison County. Alpheus was a singing school teacher who lived in Madison center, which is now known as the village of Madison. It was noticed in the neighborhood that he was more attentive to one of his young pupils than his married condition would seem to justify. Alpheus stopped at a drug store one night and purchased a quantity of arsenic. Later that night at dinner he laced his wife's food with the poison and she died. Alpheus was tried and hung in the village of Cazenovia.

Mary Antone had murdered another Indian girl who was her rival in a love affair. Mary was convicted and executed in Peterboro on September 30, 1814. Sheriff Pratt had decided the hanging should be a public one in his hometown. Abram Antone (Mary's father) and her brother attended the session, dressed in war paint but was prevented from rescuing Mary by a company of Militia that were present for that very reason. Abram blamed Sheriff Pratt personally for killing his daughter and vowed to openly kill him.

Sheriff Pratt was concerned about the seriousness of Abram Antoine's intentions and promptly left the county and was not heard from for many years, long after Abrams death. Antone was to avenge his daughter's death and was after a man named John Jacobs for furnishing evidence that led to Mary's conviction. Abram stabbed Jacobs three times, killing him instantly and making an escape.

A $500 dollar reward was posted for the capture of Abram. A close friend of Abram's turned him in and after his life was threatened by Abram.  He disappeared and was never heard from again. Abram was arrested during July 1823, his trial attracted more attention than any other and he was convicted and sentenced to death. Sheriff Cloyes had charge of the prisoner in the county jail, after being duly warned about Abram's vicious nature he proceeded to make friends with him.

The sentence was carried out in Morrisville on September 9, 1823. The hanging took place west of Cedar Street, North of the old cemetery boundary, probably somewhere near the Northern cemetery. The large open field was selected to accommodate the crowd of visitors. There were between 15 to 40 thousand viewers and the song "The Indian Chief" was played while the procession was marching from the jail to the gallows. Abram Antone was the last public execution in Madison County.

Lewis Wilber was traveling on a boat when he became friendly with another passenger named Barbers. Wilber knew Barber had a sum of money in his possession. Wilber had talked Barber into taking a shortcut back to the boat, he then drew a pistol and demanded Barbers money. Barber surrendered the money. Wilber then instructed Barber to lie on his face and remain there for a period of time. While the victim was in this position, Wilber shot him in the back. Wilber's trial commenced at Morrisville on March 27, 1839. He was hung at Morrisville jail because public hangings were abolished.

John Haddcock was the last person to be hung in Madison County. Haddcock was convicted and executed for the murder of Mary Gregg. Mary was a prepossessing young lady who had jokingly encouraged Haddcock's overtures of marriage though Haddcock took the matter seriously. Haddcock felt betrayed when she married another man. Mary Gregg was shot one evening by someone through an open window, which was traced to Haddcock. John Haddcock was executed on February 23, 1854.

It was the responsibility of the Sheriff to officiate at an execution. There have been no circumstances found in which professional hangmen were employed in upstate New York. In colonial times, as a rule, local hangmen wore hideous mask or appeared blackened faced in order to remain anonymous. Many Sheriffs however, dispatched their repugnant duty with a grim determination and professional fidelity, especially after public hangings were no longer permitted and such events were limited to the confines of the county jail. Public officials such as Sheriffs and jailers were more likely to be tolerant of those who awaited their trials and later executions.

HISTORIC CRIMES OF MADISON COUNTY

The Madison Observer displayed an article about a brutal murder in Nelson on March 22, 1856. The following is an account of that article:

Mr. John Buckland was found on a Friday afternoon, cold and stiff in death. His head was covered with deadly wounds, surrounded by pools of blood, and splashes of blood staining the floor overhead. He had lain there probably some five to six hours when his body was discovered.

The circumstances which first led to the finding of his body was the discovery of his horse at large in the road by a neighbor. The neighbor sent his son back with the horse to Mr. Buckland's barn, on approaching the boy saw the deceased lying on the floor, and gave the alarm. The nature of the wounds and other appearances left no doubt that a deed of murder had been committed. Various circumstances pointed to George Zeeher. Zeeher was arrested at a late hour of the night by Undersheriff Bonney and held to await the event of an inquest and examination.

William Stone and Melvin Woodford were on trial for setting fire to various dwellings (October 1873 and other various dates) in Canastota which almost destroyed the thriving village and ruined many business men besides entailing poverty and misery. Both men were convicted of arson in the first degree and were sentenced to the state prison in Auburn. Milton DeLano was the Sheriff in charge, who rescued them from mob violence at the risk of his own life.

Carrie Howard and John Kief murdered Albert Howard (Carrie's husband) by administering arsenic. Albert Howard had been led in some manner to convey all his property to his wife. Carrie and the hired hand John Kief were very friendly and their open demeanor towards one another caused adverse comment in the neighborhood. Mr. Howard became ill on December seventh, died on December 17 and was buried on the 19 of December. It was stated that Kief went to the funeral wearing Albert Howard's clothes. On account of suspicion the body was exhumed and an autopsy was performed in which arsenic was found.

The jury found Carrie Howard not guilty. The judge told Carrie, "The jury has found you not guilty. I therefor discharge you, but don't ever do it again". Kief spent seven years from his arrest in January 1885 to April 1892, when he was admitted to bail of $5,000 dollars. Kief was killed before his appeal trial by the train known as the Empire State Express.

Bill Boyd and his two traveling companions Bosworth and Lamb pestered the community for five years, keeping women and men watch and ward over their home and horses. After the collapse of the Loomis brothers, Bill Boyd added many crimes to his career. A man and wife named Thompson lived a short distance west of the village of Earlville. One night Boyd and his associates broke into the home, gagged the family and robbed them of a lifetime of savings. After some time passed Boyd went to Charles Loomis cheese factory which was operated by his brother, George Boyd, and slept in the cheese room. A man recognized him and sent word to the officers in Earlville.

A posse was organized and rushed to the cheese factory. George Boyd saw them coming and hurried to give the alarm but was too late, Bill Boyd woke up in handcuffs. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to Auburn prison.

Bill Boyd died friendless and alone, his remains being donated to Syracuse University. The author (John Mulligan) stated his name is written high among the immortals of the Loomis gang. The story goes that the lost souls of the Loomis gang return each anniversary when Wash went trustingly to his death and hold high revelry on the nine-mile swamp.

MADISON COUNTY

Madison County was formed on March 21, 1806. The land was a break off from Chenango County and was named "Madison County" in honor of the president, James Madison.

When Madison County was created, courts of records and supervisor meetings were held, alternating in each town until a county seat was decided upon. The first court of general sessions, the trial of Alpheus Hitchcock, was held in a Sullivan schoolhouse on June 3, 1806. This first murder case was adjourned to the barn of Sylvanus Smalley due to the overcrowding of spectators.

The first county seat was located in Cazenovia and moved to Morrisville in 1817. Buildings were erected on the new site, a jail, courthouse, and county clerk?s office. The jail was a wooden structure, built of timbers. The timbers were placed one on another and were bolted firmly by long iron rods. Small windows were constructed to provide light and ventilation which were secured by heavy irons, that crossed diagonally, set deep into the timbers. This building which included the Sheriffs department consisted of two stories. In the center of the jail there was a wide corridor that extended to the grated doors of the jail, which led into a corridor on either side which consisted of heavily ironed cells. These cells were those which the more hardened criminals or those awaiting trial for serious offenses were confined to. Here Antone, Wilber, and Haddcock, each of whom suffered the death penalty for murder were confined in the cells. Antoine's cell was deeply carved with Indian signs indicating the number of moons, days, and hours intervening between the hour of sentence and execution. Wilber's execution took place in the enclosure which was attached to the back. Haddcock was hung in the main hall.

There was a dungeon cell in the jail that was seldom used, located in the basement, besides the four cells on the second floor, two for the men, three for the women. The women's cells on the second floor were placed so the occupants could have a view of the street, while the men's cells looked upon the fields to the South. The jail was heated with stoves and burned wood for fuel, each cell had a small stove for heat in the winter time. The yard attached to the rear of the jail, 20 X 30 feet and boarded tight, the walls were some 15 to 20 feet in height. The old jail was torn down and a new brick jail was erected during the summer of 1872. The county seat was later moved to Wampsville in 1907.

LEGAL PROTECTIVE SOCIETY

An account of an article from the Madison Observer on January 19, 1887 stated the town of Madison has a legal protection society which is a terror to horse thieves and other criminals. The society was organized by a special act of the legislature, during the famous Loomis gang robberies, and took a very active part in the enforcement of the law. The twelve raiders of the society have the right to make arrests in any part of the state without a warrant. The present membership of the society is 150 members.

The legal protective society developed from the original law and order society which was organized around 1845 during the days of the Loomis family. The society had headquarters at the Madison hotel. Tradition and legend contends that the society was organized to combat thefts and raids made by members of the Loomis family. The Captain of the riders (Riders was a popular name for the legal protective society) stated, " Wash and Plumb Loomis were likable fellows as you would want to meet. There have been lots of irregularities going on around Madison in those days but they didn't necessarily originate with the Loomis family. The members of the riders can vouch for this". The Captain also stated, "If Manchester (Justice in Solsville) were alive, he could tell you that half the stuff that disappeared around here was never touched by the Loomis family".

LOOMIS GANG

The Loomis gang was the most notorious gang of criminals within Madison County. The following information consists of some brief accounts of newspaper articles about the Loomis family.

The Loomis gang was active from the 1840's to the 1870's. The Loomis farm was located in the western edge of the nine-mile swamp. A big frame house served as headquarters for most of the law breakers of the region. The swamp frequently served as a hideout. By day the Loomis boys posed as respectable sheep farmers. By night they were called burglars, barn burners, and sheep, cattle, horse thieves.

October 12, 1864, the court house was sent on fire and the person who started the fire broke into the engine house and cut all the hoses but had missed a new one which was used to put the fire out.

1865 The county clerk?s office was broken into and destruction of various papers had taken place. The supposed motive for this raid upon the county records was the desire to get rid of some uncomfortable papers on file in the office, in the form of criminal indictments. Suspicion as to the perpetrators of this outrage points strongly to individuals who for past years, have had inevitable notoriety in the criminal annals of central New York.

A Sangerfield correspondent of the New York Post stated the Loomis family would steal horses from a stable or pasture that the most diligent search would fail to find even a clue to their whereabouts, so cunningly would their plans be arranged. They would enter bed chambers, having first introduced a narcotic, and steal money and jewelry from the clothes of those who were sleeping within a few feet of them. Sometimes one or two would be convicted and sent to prison but never enough to break up the gang. Whoever had a hand in putting the laws in force was almost sure to have his buildings burned in a short time afterwards. It had at last reached that point where no one dared arrest them even if he could. The Loomis brothers themselves were well off and very shrewd, having studied the law for the very purpose of learning how they might break it with impurity. The brothers sometimes have been arrested but have almost found enough of their gang who were ready to help them with an alibi. Almost the only man who has dared to oppose them and try to bring them to justice is a constable, later Deputy Sheriff, named Filkens. The gang often threatened his life and more than once tried to take it.

Sheriff Stone and a few of his Deputies went to Sangerfield on Saturday night for the purpose of arresting Plumb Loomis on a bench warrant issued on an indictment found by a Grand Jury for Larceny committed in the town of Lenox. They arrived and found the house surrounded by a large number of excited people, determined to destroy the house and inflict punishment upon its residents.

September 6, 1866 Plumb Loomis was convicted of stealing and sent to jail for 90 days with a fine of $100 dollars. The family afterwards sued the county for $22,000 dollars in damages and received $1,000 dollars in the settlement.

April 1866 Law men heard several men who they had warrants for were being held at the Loomis place. A large posse headed for the farm from Waterville, a second from Hamilton and a third from Morrisville. The house was surrounded, a group kicked the door down and handcuffed every member in the house. The house was looted from top to bottom, after satisfied there was nothing else to take or destroy and a fire was set to the building. Plumb Loomis was dragged to a tree and a noose was yanked around his neck. They asked for Plumbs confession, when he did not speak they let him dangle till he lost consciousness.

These are just a few accounts of the Loomis activities, there are many books published about the Loomis gang if you would like to acquire more knowledge.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

The following pages consist of newspaper articles collected from the Madison Democratic, Oneida Sachem, Oneida Weekly Post, and the Oneida Dispatch.

May 22, 1879 the Belfield Trial. The trial of Lasiah Belfield for the murder of Mrs. Phoebe Crandell, in Brookfield on the night of December 7, 1865, was commenced in the court house in Morrisville, on Tuesday the 13th.

Lasiah Belfield, the prisoner reports himself as 34 years of age, being a native of Stockbridge. The young man is an intelligent appearing individual and would not be singled out as one given to the commission of crimes, especially so heinous as murder. In 1866 he went west, after returning to the area he was arrested in Oneida County upon the charge of forgoing the order for a gun, being lodged in Rome jail.

About the same time he is said to have been identified by the wife or mistress of Grove Loomis, and in consequences of suspicion was finally brought to Morrisville in October and placed in confinement in jail where he has remained until present. Sheriff DeLano gives him the reputation of a quiet and well behaved prisoner. The Belfield trial after two weeks has come to a conclusion, the prisoner was discharged from the incident.

$500 REWARD!

A.C. Stone, Sheriff of Madison County

ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE ON MONDAY OF LAST WEEK says the Morrisville Observer. Sheriff French took out one of the prisoners by the name of Henry Doherty, to do some work about the premises. He worked well during the morning, but in the afternoon, about 3:00, he took it into his head that he would change his boarding place. Without giving formal notice to the Sheriff, he dropped his shovel and his hoe and broke for the woods. Deputy Sheriffs, A.P. Stone and Slocum, together with several citizens of the village, started in pursuit of the prisoners. He was overtaken by Deputy A.P. Stone in the town of Madison and brought back to his old quarters in jail.

October 5, 1867 Deputy Sheriff Randall last week arrested a fellow who gives his name as Robert Beach, of New Jersey, for defrauding several persons, among them Mr. Nellis, landlord of the Peterboro hotel, he was nabbed at Camden and is now in Morrisville jail. He claimed to be a cattle buyer and seems to be a pretty hard case.

ATTEMPT TO BREAK JAIL

BROOKFIELD MURDER

$500 REWARD!

A.J. French, Sheriff of Madison County

NEW JAIL

FOR SHERIFF

May 8, 1873 the new jail is now occupied for the purposes of its construction although the framework and all the cells are not complete. The Sheriff and his family have occupied their new residence for several weeks.

WARRANTS OUT

RE-ARREST

SHOOTING AFFRAY IN PETERBORO

MATTERS AT THE COUNTY JAIL

COMPACT WITH THE SHERIFF

EX-SHERIFF UNDERWOOD MARRIED September 11, 1895, Charles K. Underwood, of Syracuse, ex-Sheriff of this county, and Miss Margaret Roberts, a former resident of Morrisville, who has also been living in Syracuse was recently married in New Jersey.

ATTEMPTED BARN BURNING

KIEF CONVICTED

FIRST PRISONERS TO ALBANY

REDUCED TO FOUR PRISONERS

OFFICIAL VISIT

ANOTHER BATCH OF DOUBTFUL ITEMS TAKEN FROM SHERIFF BURROUGHS

THE CRISIS IS COMING

BILLS FOUND April 30, 1890, The Sheriff bills were found, the proceedings instituted at Morrisville last week to investigate Sheriff Burroughs county bills, and which came to a sudden termination on failing to find the bills on file, is still a deep mystery. The report that the Sheriffs accounts were missing is now denied by the chairman of the board of supervisors. He states he informed the foreman of the grand jury that they could be produced if desired. The bills were found after the grand jury had adjourned, in a new cabinet which had been recently made for filing the county bills. The investigation will continue. If the Sheriff is innocent of the charges preferred against him, he should be exonerated. If guilty, he should not only be removed from office but made to repay the public.

1966 Photo of the members of the Madison County Sheriff's Office at the Hamilton Jamboree 

1 April 12, 1890, Sheriff Burroughs is to be given an opportunity to answer serious charges. This matter to be laid before the Governor-Supervisor, Remick, leading the reform movement. There have been considerable speculation among the taxpayers of the county as to just what action would be taken in regard to the itemized account of Sheriff Burroughs that was audited by the committee of the board of supervisors and paid by the county. It is supposed the matter would be brought before the grand jury. After a consultation, decided to make charges against the Sheriff and place them in the hands of Governor Hill. After the charges are preferred, the Governor will issue an order requiring Sheriff Burroughs to appear before him and show cause why he should not be removed from office. The Sheriff recorded he paid Deputy Rowley $2.00 a night to watch the courthouse. The Deputy states he never watched the courthouse nor was he paid by the Sheriff.April 20, 1890, it is a matter of concern to the people that the courthouse at Morrisville required a court security. From reading Sheriff Burroughs account, I believe that we are led to believe that every session of court, a night patrol was put to watch the courthouse so a tramp would not take off with the building. From a conversation with Deputy Sheriff Rowley, it appears to us that this bill for watching the courthouse is as big a fraud on the taxpayers as any we have yet alluded to.September 2, 1896 Prison commissioner Mantanye mad an official visit to the jail last week. It is said a thorough inspection of the structure and its appointments did not disclose a condition of things that meets the commissioner approval. He found the jail too small, poorly arranged, but found no reason for complaint as far as the care of it was concerned. The commissioner says the intent of seclusion is to make men better but hardly believes that the desire is realized by confining them in the Madison county jail where the facility fir their care is so faulty. Although it is not so bad as others he inspected, he recommends that the jail be made as large as it now is, with modern improvements to be introduced. August 1, 1891, yesterday another prisoner was released from Morrisville jail knowing only four boarders at the once populated resort for the wayward. Those who still remain are Kief, Perkins, a circus pickpocket, and one for contempt of court. It has been a great many years, if indeed ever, since the like was before known. If this ratio of decrease keeps on a few weeks longer, Sheriff Remick can advertise the jail "to Let". It will make some difference with the pockets of the taxpayers of this county whether they are paying the board and extras from 60 to 75 boarders or whether the number is reduced to four. January 20, 1890, Deputy Sheriff Palmiter took two prisoners to the Albany penitentiary Wednesday, being the first prisoners sent from Madison County under the contract with the capital city. It seems to us that sending prisoners to Albany is rather an expensive luxury for Madison County. The fees of this one trip for the Deputy Sheriff are $56.00 adding the board of prisoners who are sent there for three months each at $2.25 per week and it swells to the expense of $114.50. Prisoners can be confined cheaper at the jail in Morrisville. October 8, 1886, Thursday at 11:55 p.m. last night the jury returned and rendered a verdict of guilty of murder in the first. He was sentenced to be hung at Morrisville, November 26, 1866 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. An appeal will be made. June 8, 1896, several days ago C.E. Remick (ex-Sheriff) received a letter warning him that his buildings would soon be burned and that he was to be short lived. When workers made a few repairs on the barn they discovered a candle embedded in kerosene soaked shavings and pieces of paper that had been extinguished by the wind an 1/8 of an inch from the shavings. A reward of $100 dollars for the arrest and conviction of the persons who attempted to burn the barn was issued and two armed men were employed to watch the farm buildings at night. Mr. Remick suspects who the perpetrators are. December 15, 1894, The board of supervisors and Sheriff Perry have entered into an agreement by which prisoners who shall by confined in the county jail during the fiscal year are to be cared for at the rate of $2.50 per week for each person under detention. It is also covenated that the Sheriff shall be allowed the sum of $175 for keeping a horse during that period for the use of that official or his Deputies in the performance of their functions. September 12, 1884, on Wednesday night an altercation took place at a hop dance, between James Maynard and Ginger Ralph. Others joined in the dispute, which was about a woman, and for a time matters looked very lively. Nothing serious occurred at this time. After the party broke up, on the way home, the quarrel was renewed between Maynard and Fred Strong. Ginger Ralph stepped up to separate the two when Maynard drew a revolver and fired two shots at him, one of them striking him full in the chest. Ralph lies in critical condition. Maynard was arrested and lodged in Morrisville jail. April 4, 1894, Sheriff Perry was in town yesterday on business. He states he has 15 boarders with him now and all is peace and harmony at the county jail. He has only one lady boarder, Ida Moore, for larceny. Only one of his prisoners will appear before the grand jury, Adam Walters, who is incarcerated on charges of larceny of a gold watch from his benefactor, F.L. Vosburgh, and for rape, the last crime alleged to have been committed on the person of an old lady over 70 years of age. It is stated that the case against him on the last charge is rather slim, though, at the time the affair was said to have taken place, the Earlville Standard was very positive in its declarations that Walters was the guilty party. June 5, 1884, Ephraim Ellis was arrested in Chittenango, by constable Hannon for public intoxication. Subsequently it was learned that Ellis was the principal or leader of the gang of five who escaped from the Morrisville jail on the 29 of September by digging their way through the wall. Sheriff Brownell was telephoned and on Saturday went to Chittenango where he secured the prisoner and took him back to jail where it is presumably he will find it difficult to again make escape. Ellis is a desperate fellow and was arrested by officer Hannon after stubborn resistance. The officer is doubtless entitled to the reward offered for his capture, with the rest of the escaped criminals. April 17, 1884, Beside Flannagan, elsewhere mentioned as convicted and fined for disturbing the meeting of the Salvation Army, warrants were issued for two other parties, but up to present writing their whereabouts have not been made manifest, Flannagan has paid the $10 dollar fine imposed by Esq. Stafford. The example set will doubtless suffice to deter the unruly from further demonstration of this kind; if not they may depend upon prompt and more severe penalties that thus inflicted. They will be wise to take warning. November 7, 1872, Mr. DeLano is well known, and although in early manhood has established and excellent character not only as regards personal habits but as well in relation to a good business reputation. We have never heard a word spoken against him and believe him to bear the good will of all. He has even been an earnest and active Republican zealously working for the interests of the party. The board of supervisors adjourned to meet again on the third Tuesday in December to take into consideration the building of a new jail. The old structure is really unfit to confine prisoners in and a new one should be provided. If a new one is built, it should be made with the "modern improvements" so that our county need not be ashamed to read the reports of the visiting committee of the prison association.Whereas the hotel known as the Madison house in the village of Morrisville, was destroyed by fire on the morning of the 14th of August 1868 and from facts and circumstances in my possession leaves no reason to doubt but that said building was willfully and maliciously set on fire; now therefore, for the purpose of bringing the incendiary or incendiaries to justice. The above reward is offered to be paid on the arrest and conviction of such criminal or criminals. The name of the man arrested in Auburn for the murder of Moses Johnson is George E. Phelps. Phelps recently finished a three year sentence in Auburn prison for a robbery committed upon his uncle in the county of Chautauqua. One of his accomplices in murder, Jonathon Jacquay, is in jail at Madison County. This evidence against these men is very strong to the effect that they were at supper with Johnson when the murder was committed, and with the assistance of others, they split open his head with an axe, afterwards they took $700 dollars from the house. Phelps is the son of a well to do farmer in Chautauqua County, in very respectably connected, and has a wife and family. It is believed that his arrest will lead to the breaking up of the gang of outlaws that have long infested Madison County. April 23, 1868 an attempt was made last week by some of the prisoners in Morrisville jail to break out. There were five prisoners confined in the cell on the first floor and four in the cell on the second floor, directly over the lower cell. The Sheriff had observed strange movements in these cells, and upon examination discovered that the prisoners had smuggled in some tools, with which they had made considerable progress in loosening the bars on one of the windows, and had sawed through the floor of the lower cell and dug down two and a half feet to the solid masonry under the cell. They evidently were attempting to get to the outer wall under the prison. All the prisoners were transferred to other safer cells.The above reward is hereby offered for the arrest and delivery at the jail of Madison county, the murderer or murderers of the wife of Henry D. Crandell, of the town of Brookfield. The murder was perpetrated on the 7th, about 6:00 p.m. in the dwelling of the said Crandell. The above reward will be paid on the conviction of the offenders given under my hand at Morrisville, this 12th day of December 1865.