Vital Records, Otsego County, NY (1879)

 Oneonta Herald & Democrat, Oneonta, NY, May 2, 1879

Marriages

At the residence of George Reynolds in Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] April 20, by Rev. A.B. Richardson, Almon M Brightman and Miss Lybia Houghtailing both of Oneonta.

In New Berlin [Chenango Co. NY] on the 22d inst. by Rev. W. Burnside, Alfred W. Yates and Miss Emma McFarlane both of Morris [Otsego Co. NY].

Deaths

In Roxbury [Delaware Co. NY] April 21, Sniffin Jenkins aged 92 years.

In Stamford [Delaware Co. NY] April 25, Elisha Horton Maynard Esq. aged 85 years.

At Washington, Conn. April 14, Mrs. Abigal G. Grant aged 75 years, wife of James A Grant, formerly of Franklin [Delaware Co. NY].

In Morris [Otsego Co. NY] April 22d, Lucy J. [Crawford] aged 7 years.

In Delhi [Delaware Co. NY] April 26th Smith B. Webster in the 66th year of his age.

In Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] April 25, Herman J. Couse aged 47 years.

In Milford [Otsego Co. NY] April 28, Mrs. Tabitha Ackley aged 90 years.

In Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] April 26, Edward Reed.

Edward A. Griffith from 1870 to 1878 Sheriff of Delaware Co. [NY] died at Pepacton [Delaware Co. NY] on the 27th ult.  He was a captain in the 144th regiment during the late war and has always borne a reputation for excellent Christian qualities.  Funeral and burial at Croton on the 29th.

The remains of Edward Reed of Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] were brought to this place for interment last Monday.  Mr. Reed was formerly a resident of this town.

Mount Vision, Otsego Co. NY:  Mrs. A. Wilcox [Betsey Keyes Wilcox] died Sunday April 20 at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. G.W. Marlette  She was a lady highly esteemed by all and will be very much missed.

News Item

A Bainbridge Mystery

From the Utica Herald [Oneida Co. NY]

Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], April 28:  About 8 o'clock this morning, District Attorney Church received a dispatch from Coroner M, D. Spencer, of Guilford [Chenango Co. NY], to come to that place immediately without giving particulars in the case which savored of a criminal character.  It appears that a young woman named Elizabeht Belden, twenty-four or five years of age, who was temporarily stopping in Bainbridge [Chenango Co. NY] but whose mother resides in Guilford, had died suddenly in a somewhat singular and mysterious manner.  In some way evidence or suspicions of malpractice were brought to notice of the coroner, Dr. Spencer, by declarations of the victim or otherwise, hence the telegram to the prosecuting officer of the county.  A well-known physician of Bainbridge is implicated in the case, and also a somewhat prominent married man residing in Guilford. A postmortem in the case is now being held, but the result has not been made known to the public.

Some years ago, Miss Belden lived in Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], and was the mother of an illegitimate child, who now must be some five or six years of age.  The father of the child is supposed to be very well known and would furnish a chapter in the same old story.

The deceased made an ante mortem statement implicating Dr. Meacham of Bainbridge.

Norwich, April 30:  The jury at Guilford in the case of Elizabeht Belden, who died Sunday from the effects of abortion, concluded its labors today  The greater portion of the evidence is kept secret by the officials, but it is understood that in her dying statement, the woman implicated Dr. I.D. Meacham of Bainbridge and Chas. F. Horton, a young farmer of Butternuts, Otsego Couty [NY].  The jury returned a verdict that Miss Belden's death was caused by Dr. Meacham and C.F. Horton.  These parties are held to appear before the grand jury.