V
THE CAMERON COUNTY PK I-iss.
ESTABLISHED BY C. B. GOULD, MARCH, 1866.
VOL. 42.
NAM BRAVE
U t!JW11o B !»
Orrin W. Odell, Convicted
of the Murder of His
Wife, July 1907, pays the
penalty, Tuesday Morn
ing.
1 ' -r vmrnmi
The long talked about and dis- .
tressing Odell case lias at last gone :
into history. The last chapter— j
the death penalty—took place in j
the Emporium jail yard on Tues-'
day morning, after "a. vain effort to 1
secure a reprieve by Governor!
Stuart. Promptly at 9:30 Sheriff j
John i>. Kwupe and District At-1
torney J. I*. McNarney met the \
Sheriff's jury and administered the I
oaths, according to law, after
which the march to the jail was
ordered, the jurors lining up in i
front of the scaffold, awaiting the '
. !
arrival of the condemned and his i
guards. After short religious ser- i
vices at the jail conducted by Revs. !
Shriner, Dixon and Johnson, the I
Sheriff and his deputies quietly
inarched to the fatal spot, the prison
er standing erect and fearless,in line j
condition and perfectly composed I
At this juncture he said: "Hello |
Doctor," looking at Dr. Falk, "this J
is rather a tough way to be taken j
away, but I suppose it is accord-!
ing to law.'* Nothing more was
said, when Sheriff King adjusted
the rope and pulled the back cap
over his head. At 10:11 a nod
from Mr. King to Sheriff Swope
Avas notice that all was ready when
he, Sheriff Swope, cut the rope
severing the heavy 213 pound
weight. The prisoner bounded up
iii the air. His neck was broken,
death being almost instantaneous
—not a muscle moved except a
slight movement of the feet. At
10:18 Drs. Faik, Bush and Smith
pronounced him dead. The ex
ecution was pronounced, by those
familiar with such scenes, to be
the most successful they ever wit
nessed.
Undertaker Laßar's assistant,
( 'has. \\ . Rishell, took charge of
the remains and removed them to
their undertakieg establishment
awaiting further orders. The
crowd thefi gathered around and
many were anxious to secure a
piece of the rope.
Thus closed the first execution
ever held in this county and would
that it be the last. It has been an
expensive matter for the tax pay
ers to meet, amounting to about
82,000.
Otleli Makes a Statement.
Prisoner Odell some days ago ox
pressed his willingness to give the
PRESS a statement for publication.
Accordingly we called on him at
the jail Monday evening and in
the presence of his Night Watch,
Mr. Albert Murray,passed an hour
or more. We give his remarks as
dictated to us: "I am a poor hand
to relate what comes to my mind
but guess you can fix it so that it
will be readable. My correct name
is Orrin Warren Udell; was born
at Omro, Wis.; am in my 30th
TO THE LAST
j year: came to Emporium in I.SK9
, and first worked for F. D. Leet
I and resided here continually up to
the time of my trouble that placed
me where I now am. For years,
1 six or seven, I was a hard drinker
'
before the awful crime was com
mitted, July IS, 1907. There
i never was any serious trouble be
tween myself and wife other than
what might be expected lr aggra
vating her during my drinking.
We always got along pleasantly.
At the time I committed this
crime, 1 had promised my wife to
take an oath to stop drinking,
which pleased her. She remarked
that she knew if I took an oath I
would keep it. I went up town
with the oath in my pocket, dated
duly 20th, and intended to secure
a pint of liquor to sober up on and
sent a man to purchase it. lie did
; not come as soon as I expected
when 1 found another fellow and
{ sent him for a bottle. Both final
j ly came and 1 then had one quart.
1 remember purchasing the revolv-
I er that we had often talked about,
j yet at the time I was not respon
| sible for we needed other things,
! better than the gun. Ido not re
i member anything that happened at
j the time 1 committed the crime
i and when arrested 1 knew .1 was in
;t buggy or wagon but did not
know where I was going cy what 1
j said. My mind was completely a
: blank. ] meet iny last cali rcsign-
I ed to my fate and no fear as to the
| future, having made my peace with
! < lod. I freely forgive all persons
i whom I once felt had injured ine
j and bear no ill feeling against any
one. 1 call upon all men to take
! warning from my fate and keep
I away from drink, the cause of my
doing, and injuring dear ones by
! my weakness.
1 desire to thank the good ladies
of the Free Methodist Church for
j their kindness to me during mv
• long confinement; also Revs,
i Shriner, Dixon and Johnson for
I their consoling words.
To Sheriff Swope and family, as
j well as my Watchman, Albert
Murray, 1 wish to thank for their
j many kind acts. Also all friends
i for their consoling words and
prayers.
And now realizing that my time
is short here, that there is only one
kind of a life to live —and it took
me a long time to find it out—and
that is the life of a Christian.
ORA W. ONELL.
WITNESS:—ALHERT MIRRY.
Emporium, Pa., June Ist, 1!)9K.
VISITORS.
Many officials and others from
adjoining counties attended the ex
| ecution, among the many being:
Ex-Sheriff Henry fSigel, Olean, N.
I Y.; Sheriff Hackrael, Ridgway;
Deputy Sheriff Chas. Wefling,
! Coudersport; Dr. W. J. McGianor,
Editor C. O. Laymon, Jos. M.
Butler, Port Allegany, Pa.
History ol the Crime.
I From PRESS of July 25th, 1907.
The most horrible crime eommit
| ted in Emporium for many years
J startled our people last Thursday
! afternoon when we stopped the
: press to announce thatOra O'Dell,
of East Emporium, had shot his
j wife, then turned the gun 011 him-
I self. While our town has become,
ina measure, hardened to the sud
den taking away of our citizens,
this case being only the second
murder ever committed here, it
caused great excitement, regret
and indignation. The only rea
son the brute was not lynched was
the hope of all that his wound
would prove fatal.
THK MURDERER.
Ora O'Dell, who seldom of late
"Liberty and Union, One and Inseparable.''— WEßSTEß.
EMPORIUM, PA., THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1908.
years worked at his trade or call
ing as stone mason or plasterer,but
devoted most of big time to drink
and abusing his wife—it being
nothing for him to knock her down,
drag her around the bouse and
kick the poor woman unmercifully.
Last March the PRESS called atten
tion to the inhuman treatment
this poor woman was subjected to
and we then hoped he would be
locked up and thus prevent just
w hat happen ed—murder.
Last Wednesday the fiend in
human shape went to Stephens &
Saunders hardware store and pur
chased some window screens, a
pair of shears and a 22 calibre iver
Johnson revolver, presenting a
check ( probably given him by his
wife). Nothing being noticed out
of place by Mr. Saunders he gave
the man his change, when he went
down town, stopping at Xorris &
Tompkins, where he purchased a
shirt. This was about 110011. He
secured a bottle of whiskey at the
hands of one of those men who arc
always ready to procure rum if
they are sure to get a drink. The
following day he hung around the
house in his usual sullen mood, un
til about two o'clock when a gun
report and screams startled the
neighborhood. What took place
in the store can only be guessed at,
that his wife refused him more
money for drink, when he whipped
out his gun. knocked the poor
woman to the floor and hold her
while he fired three shots into her
head, the first shot severing the
jugular vein—any one of the three'
would prove fatal. lie then turn
ed the gun on himself and lired the
shot proving only ;i scalp wound,
but dazed him. The poor woman
struggled to her feet and walked to
the front door when neighbors met
her. This fearlul sight was wit
nessed by little Jennie O'Dell, aged
nine years, and a young lad named
Browker. aged about ten. The
boy says he saw him standing over
the prostrate form of his wife and
fire two shots into her head. No
attention was paid to the husband,
all assistance being rendered t'ie
wife, who was rapidly passing
away. The dying mother, with
great effort, managed to make her
mother understand that she want
ed them to care for her children.
She passed away within one hour
from the time the brute who prom
ised to "love, honor and protect
her'' had cruelly fired the fatal
shots that made two orphan child
ren. and many aching and bleeding
hearts.
Murderer O'Dell attempted sui
cide Tuesday morning, about 2:30
o'clock, by slashing his throat with
a piece of tin, torn from a pepper
box. Niglitwatch, Henry Piehen
ton, himself a prisoner, gave the
alarm, which aroused the Sheriff.
Dr. JI. S. Falk was called and up
on examination found the prison
er's throat torn 011 both sides, be
sides several cuts on left wrist and
forearm. Unfortunately the
wounds were not fatal. It is said
the prisoner made an attempt to
hang himself by using a towel.
THE DEAD WIFE.
May Stoddard-O'Dell was in her
thirty-third year. Thirteen years
ago last March she was married to
O'Dell. two children—Emery,
aged 12, and Jennie, aged nine—
are left to mourn. During all
these thirteen years thepoor woman
slaved, prayed, begged and hoped
that she could yet prevent a sepa
ration. To enumerate the awful
ill-treatment and abuse heaped up
on this woman by the wretch is
sufficient to cause an indignant
public to have long ago banished
him from our midst. Even his
poor children were driven from
home and they stood across the
street, asking il they ''dared come
home." The little store, kept by
the industrious wife, afforded a
good living for the family, she
having bv hard work built up a
good trade. It is the saddest case
that ever came under our observa
tion and the degenerate who could
not appreciate the sacrifice will,
we hope, pay the full penalty of
the law.
DEATH S DOINGS
Esma
OLMSTED.
MRS. MARTHA M. CUSIIING-OLMSTED,
1 aged 65 years, wife of our esteemed
J citizen and friend, Mr. Herbert C. Olm
i sted, of Emporium, after an illness
| covering several years, during which
! time she suffered patiently, passing
I through two serious operations. All
that could be done by her faithful hus
band and kind children could do to
comfort her were ever rendered, but
death had claimed this excellent Christ
ian lady and she peacefully slept away
| last Thursday afternoon, surrounded
!by her family. Being fully conscious
j on Wednesday that her end was near,
j she requested that her children and
; husband, all well known singers,
| should sing some of her favorite hymns.
| Trying as the ordeal must have been
1 all responded and she felt satisfied and
then called each to her bedside and
gave her final message of love.
Always devout in her church duties,
| both as Sunday School teacher and
j mother, she took great interest in all
i good works, especially in the Baptist
j church, to which she early in life con
j nected herself. Her husband and all
| of the children—seven in number—are
members of the same religious body.
All of the children were present at the
j last hour, viz: Mrs. C. Jay Good
nuugh, Mrs. W. E. Jackson, Kingsdale,
N. 0., Mrs. Frank T. Beers, Wash
bourn, Wis., Herbert M., Ridgway, B.
| H., Myrtle and Vera at home.
| Deceased was born at Painted Post,
| X. Y., Sept. 28, 1843, and was married
j at Ulysses, Potter county, Pa., Sept.
10th, ISOS, tollerbertO. Olmsted. The
family moved to Emporium in 1874 and
have ever since been closely identified
with our town, respected and honored
; by all.
Tbe funeral took place from their
commodious home, West Fourth street,
Saturday p. m , at *2 o'clock, Re/.
Calvin, of Watsontown, (her former
pastor) officiating: Interment in New
| ton Cemetery in the family plot.
The following relatives attended the
! funeral: Hon. A. G. Olmsted and wife,
1 H. Clinton Olmsted, Frank Andrews
I and wife, Coudersport; Wilson Cush
j ing (brother), Mrs. Eugene Leet (sister)
of Ulysses, Pa., Mrs. Delia Sparrow
Coudersport, and other names we did
not learn.
, * #
DOUGHERTY.
The many friends of Mrs. Jas. J.
Dougherty at this place were shocked
to learn of her death, which occured
at the home of her mother at Bradford,
last Thursday. She is survived by her
husband and two small children. Mr.
and Mrs. Dougherty resided here until
about one year ago, when they moved
to Bradford.
Coal Sale.
The Emporium Machine Co., offers
hard coal for sale at $6.25 per ton de
livered from the car. This sale and
price will last for this week only. It
Moved to Sheffield.
Mr. Lemuel Evans and family have
moved to Sheffield, Pa, where "Lem"
is employed in the big saw mill. They
resided here many years and leave a
host of friends.
Remember the Banquet.
Our citizens should bear in mind the
Banquet to be given at the New
Warner Monday evening, by Empori
um Board of Trade. Prominent speak
ers will be present. If you received an
invitation you will confer a favor by
sending your acceptance at once to
Mr. Richard Kueline, that all may bo
provided for. Do it NOW.
Sorely Afflicted.
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Day are cer
tainly having more than their share of
trouble. Last Monday Mrs. Day re
ceived a telegram announcing the
sudden death of her married brother
at Brooklyn, N. Y. This makes four
deaths in the family since last Nov.
Our heart feels for this family in their
affliction.
Mrs. Day and brother Arthur left
for Brooklyn Monday night,
funeral.
Looks Like Business.
Plenty of coke and other stock ar-
I riving at the furnace looks like busi
i ness.
I LATER—The furnace goes in blast
I Sunday or Monday. This is good
news.
Will be Sold for Kepairs.
The undersigned will sell at auction,
1 on June 6th, 1908, a couch recently re
i paired and made as good as new. Call
and see it. Total charges §13.00.
Auction at 3.00 o'clock.
I 14-3t. HENRY JAEGER.
Council Proceedings.
Regular meeting Borough Council,
Emporium, June 1, 1908.
Present: Messrs. Freindel, White,
Cummings, Mumford, Hamilton, Good
nough, Rishel) and Norris.
Absent: Mr. Marshall.
Minutes of last regular meeting read
and approved.
The committee appointed to confer
with Emporium Water Company were
continued until next regular meeting.
The bills were read and Mr. Norris
moved, seconded by Mr. Goodnougli,
that all bills as read be paid with ex
ception of bill from W. W. Knicker
bocker lor $2.50. Motion carried.
Joha Welch, Work oil Streets if 9 83
James Murrry, do 7 51
John Fleming, do 88
John Robinson; do 88
Harry Troup, Work on E!ec. Lt. Line 2-10
Jake Troup, do 1 80
Struthers-Welis Co., Invoice 13 .18
F. V. Heilman & Co., do 25 53
Keystone Powder Co., do 5 75
Levi Smith, do 18 03
National Carbon Co., do 6!) 62
G. S, Allen. Bond of Treasurer 12 32
Emporium Independent, Adv, Ordinance
and Auditors Report 10 00
Cameron County Press, Adv. Ordinance
and Auditors Report 40 00
Novelty In. L. Co., Repairing Spark Plugs 75
C. B. Howard Co., Invoice 5 10
Western Electric Co., Invoice 40 80
E. D. White, Paid freight bills 1 75
St. Marys Gas Co., gas for March and Apsil 82 15
Treasurer's report read and ordered
filed.. Receipts for May, $3,988.03, bal
ance in hands of Treasurer §3,137.86.
Moved by Mr. Goodnougli, second
ed by Mr. Cummings, that Fire De
partment be exouerated from paying
license fees for their show. Unani
mously carried.
Moved by Mr. Norris, seconded by
Mr. Cummings, that the Theatorium
and Dreamland pay license fee of fifty
cents per night. Same to take effect
on the 2nd day of June, 1908. Unani
mously carried.
Moved by Mr. Goodnough, second
ed by Mr. Mumford, that loans of Mr.
Mundy and Dr. Smith be paid. Car
ried .
Moved by Mr. Goodnough, seconded
by Mr. White, that the Councilman of
the East Ward determine location cf
the gas regulator house and whistle
pole which are to be erected by the St.
Marys Gas Co ,in the East Ward. Un'
animously carried.
Moved by Mr. Hamilton, seconded
by Mr. Mumtord, that matter of elect
ric light at corner of East Allegheny
Avenue and Alley at A. F. Andrews'
house be referred to Electric Light
Committee. Carried.
Council then adjourned to meet Mon
day night, June Bth at 8 o'clock, p. m.
R. C. MOORE, Sec'y.
Birthday Party.
A very pleasant birthday party was
held at Winfield Summerson's Sinna
mahoning, on last Saturday afternoon,
Decoration Day, in honor of two of his
children, Minnie and Lester, who have
the same birthday and they are not
twins. The following were in attend
ance:
Mamie Gore, Lucy Saint Clair,
Arthur Saint Clair, Edward Saint Clair,
Chester Summerson, Merriel Summer
son, Lester Summerson, Charles Crane,
James Summerson, George Summer
son, Mrs. J. S. Summerson, Mrs. G. S.
Hill, Mrs. A. L. Saint Clair, Mrs. W. E.
Summerson, Mr. Henry Snyder, Mr.
Thomas Snyder, Misses Grace Saint
Clair, Burnas Saint Clair, Gussie
Logue, Belva Bennett, Ruby Losey,
Teoka Summerson, Minnie Summer
son, Lola Smith, Delva Bushaw, Hazen
Bennett, Mina Wheaton and Mable
Wheaton.
Eye Specialist.
Prof. W. H. Budine, the well known
Eye Specialist, of Bingliamton, N. Y.,
will be at R. H. Hirsch's jewelry
store, Emporium, Pa., June 13th
If you can't see well or have
headache don't fail to call and see Prof.
Budine, as he guarantees to cure all
such cases. Lenses ground and fitted
in old frames. Eyes tested and ex
amined free. All work guaranteed.
May Rainfall.
Rain fell on 22 days of the month and
totaled 7.62 inches, being over 3 inches
more than the normal rain fall for the
month of May.
Religious.
Rev. W. H. Hunt, of Westfield, Pa.,
will preach in the Baptist Church, next
Sunday, June 7th, morning and even
ing. All welcome,
The Epworth League of the M. E.
Church will give a sock social in the
parlors of the church, Thursday even
ing, June 4at 8 o'clock. A cordial in
vitation is extented to all to come and
bring as many pennies to correspond
with the size sock yon wear.
TERMS: $2.00 —$1.501N ADVANCE.
I
THE WEATHER.
| FJiiDAY, Showers.
SATURDAY Showers
SUNDAY, Fair.
ASSETS
$799,827.07
First National Bank,
EMPORIUM, PA.
At the close of business June 3,1908.
PATRIOTISM.
A man who sas-es a dollar is a benefactor. A
dollar putin this bank at compound interest
takes root instantly. If is not killed by frost or
sleet. It cannot be injured by heat or by cold, by
famine or pestilence, by tire or flood. It will not
be lost through a hole in the pocket, nor borrow
ed by some friend or boon companion.
It is beyond the rehch of earthquake or light
nitiß, accident, sneak thief or thug.
INTEREST PAID ON CERTIFICATES OF
DEPOSIT.
DR. LEON REX FELT,
DENTIST.
Rockwell Block, Emporium, Pa
DR. H. W. MITCIIKU.,
DENTIST,
(Successor to Dr. A. B. Mead.)
Office over A. P, Vogt's Shoe Store,
Emporium, Pa 12j
Home Wanted.
A good home wanted for a male dog.
Call on Mrs. Ed, Morse.
Emmanuel Church Notices.
Whitsunday, June 7th, 10:30, a. m.,
celebration of the Holy Communion.
Offering for General Missions.
Notice.
A strawderry and ice cream festival
will be held on the More Hill church
lawn for the benefit of the church Sat
urday evening, June 6th, 1908. Tlio
public is cordially invited to attend.
Board Organized.
The Shippen School Board organized
on Monday. The following officers
being elected: President, Harry J.
Newton; Sec'y, Fred K. Zimmer;
Treasurer, Delbert Towner.
Teachers will bo employed at next
regular meeting, July 11th.
Bonds tor Sale.
The undersigned has fifty thousand
dollars (§50,000.00) worth of a Water
Power Company, first mortgage 7 per
cent, gold bonds for sale.
These bonds are a high-class secur
ity, and are amply secured by real es
tate. Interest payable semi-annually.
Will be issued in the denomination of
Five Hundred Dollars (§500.00) each.
Said bond issue is under the control
and certification of the Scranton Trust
Company.
For further particulars apply to the
undersigned.
E. li. W. SEARLE,
Office of Clerk ofU. S. Court, Scran
ton, Pa. 13-4t.
Ritchie—Lion.
Miss Kathrine Ritchie and Mr. Chas.
Lion were married at St. Marys last
Monday morning. Miss May me Cum
mings, of Emporium, was bride's maid.
The newly married couple passed
through Emporium on Monday noon
flyer east on their bridal trip to eastern
points. Miss Ritchie formerly resided
here and was congratulated by many
friends. The PUESS especially extends
its best wishes.
Odell Buried.
The remains of Odell will be burried
this (Thursday) afternoon at 2:30 in
Wiley's Cemetery, the Wiley family
donating the lot. Rev. Shriner, who
was the constant and kind friend of
the prisoner during his confinement
and up to the last minute encouraged
him, will conduct the services at the
grave.
Seriously Injured.
Chas. H. Edwards, woods foreman
for C. B, Howard Co., met with a pain
ful accident last Saturday, while assist
ing in rolling a large hemlock log.
One of the men lost his hold on the log,,
letting the full weight on Mr. Ed
wards. lie rolled over with the log,
his back being seriously iujured on left
side. He is confined to his residence
on Sixth street and we are pleased to
say is getting along nicely.
Liberal Reward.
R. Iv. Mickey will pay a liberal re
turn for his English Bull Dog, that
estrayed or was stolen May 27th. Dog
is marked on right side of face brindle
color and answers to name of "Wag."
NEW TO-DAY.
Geo. J. Laßar—New adv.
J. H. Day—New adv.
First National Bank —New adv.
R. Kuehne—new adv.
T. W. Welsh -Change.
Pennsylvania Railroad—New adv.
Humphrey Med Co.
Emporium Machine Co.—Local.
R. K. Mickey—Local, dog lost.
Mrs. M. F. Conway—New adv.
NO. 16.