Rochester, Monroe, NY Union & Advertiser Sept 1, 1879 FIRE AT THE ONONDAGA PENITENTIARY The Bolt Works Destroyed - The Fire Supposed to be the Work of an Incendiary Saturday morning, shortly after four o'clock, a fire broke out in the bolt shop connected with the Penitentiary. The night watchman first noticed the flames and alarmed the superintendent. The fire by some hard work was prevented from reaching the main building. The Standard says: "The bolt shop was completed in June, 1876, at a cost of $3,700, of which the county paid $3,200, and the Bolt Company, to whom it was leased for five years, the remainder. The Bolt Company employed about 50 convicts and 15 other persons. The entire stock and machinery was valued at $39,000, but the boiler and engine, together with the machinery in the lower portion of the east shop, are uninjured. At present it is impossible to ascertain the exact amount of loss, but it will probably reach $16,000 on machinery and $5,000 on stock. The Bolt Company hold policies of insurance amounting to between $17,000 and $18,000. The county will lose on the building about $2,000, which is not insured. The fire is supposed to be of incendiary origin, and if the story of a convict, a German named John KNOPP, can be believed, the attempt was a deliberate one. He says that between three and four o'clock he got up for a chew of tobacco, and looking from his cell, which is on the middle east octogon, saw three men coming toward the building from the direction of Pond street. One of the men carried a can and another a pole, about five feet in length. On reaching the corner of the shop he heard one of them say, "That stick is not long enough," while another replied, "I guess it is." The two men with the pole and can then passed around the northeast corner of the bolt shop, while the third man remained, apparently watching, as he was continually looking in different directions, and in a short time left. KNOPP says that it was but a short time afterward when he noticed the bolt shop to be in flames. If the old man's story is true, it is probable that oil was thrown through the window and ignited by means of a torch on the pole. **** A HEAVY BURGLARY Stone's Dry Goods Store in Batavia Entered - A Large Haul Made An item appeared in Saturday's Union mentioning the fact that a burglary had been committed in Batavia on the dry goods store of E. N. STONE, by which a large haul was made by the thieves. The Batavia News of Saturday contained full particulars of the affair, in which it states that the manner the burglars got into the store was easy enough. They passed up the stairway leading to Dr. PUTNAM's office and down the back stairs. At the foot of these last stairs there is a door leading into the store and another opening to the alley. The door leading into the store is an ordinary panel one, maybe a little stronger than common. It was locked with a key, but not barred or bolted. By applying a jimmy to various places along the crevice they soon found where the lock was and then it required but a few seconds to break it and enter. The door leading to the alley was bolted from the inside all they had to do was to unbolt and open it. The silk counter in Mr. STONE'S store is at the back end. This the burglars sought and took from the shelves five pieces of brocade silk, black and colored; one piece of watered silk; ten pieces of summer silk; five pieces of brown trimming silk; six pieces of steel colored silk; a number of pieces of drab silk; eight pieces of black silk; many silk remnants and a number of pieces of colored satins; then going to the front of the store they took five or six boxes of kid gloves. These goods were valued at about $1,000. It was probable that the goods were carried out the back door and deposited in a wagon awaiting their receipt in Worthington's lane, for fresh wagon-tracks were to be seen there in the morning, and one piece of silk was found which had probably been dropped in the hurry. The burglary was first discovered by Mr. CLARK (who lives over the store) when going for a pail of water in the morning. He informed the clerks, and upon investigation they discovered the loss. Mr. STONE has been out of town for some days, but the matter was put into the hands of Sheriff GRITTIS, and postal cards were immediately issued offering a reward for the capture of the thieves and recovery of the property. Telegrams were sent to the Chiefs of Police of this city and Buffalo and the Sheriffs of neighboring counties, but as yet nothing has been heard from the missing property. The officers, however, are doing all in their power and it is hoped, will be successful. **** SUDDEN DEATH Yesterday news was received in this city of the sudden death of Barton CONKLING, a well known resident of Macedon. It seems that Mr. CONKLING was taken suddenly sick Saturday night. Dr. INGHAM of Palmyra, and Dr. CHASE of Macedon, were called to attend him. The physicians found him suffering from a well-defined case of cholera. Their skill was of no use in the case and yesterday morning at nine o'clock he breathed his last. The funeral will take place Wednesday at 10:30 from Mr. CONKLING'S late residence in Macedon. **** DEATH VISITS THE FAMILY OF CAPT. DOWLING Death this morning visited the family of Capt. P. J. DOWLING, Superintendent of Streets, and took away an infant son, aged between one and two years. The little one had been a sufferer for some time from bowel complaint. Capt DOWLING, who is one of the delegates from this district to the Republican state convention, but is thus prevented from attending, will, with his family, receive the condolence of a numerous circle of friends. **** COURT NOTES A Son Sues his Mother and Gets a Judgment for $200 - Stockholders in an Odd Fellows' Association Sued In the Municipal Court to-day Gertrude HAX was defendant in a suit commenced against her by her son. Mrs. HAX was until a short time ago a widow, Mr. HAX having died thirteen years ago. She lived with her sons, and the family lived by the hack business, having two hacks, one of which was driven by her son and the other by a hired man named MILLS. Recently Mrs. HAX married MILLS, and thereafter the family did not live in harmony and Mrs. HAX'S eldest son brought suit to recover wages due for labor done since he became of age. Judge DE?EL gave plaintiff judgment for $200. The Municipal Court is to-day the scene of another legal contest of some interest. Surrogate SHUART, as receiver of the Union Association, is plaintiff, and W. H. DEWITT defendant. Defendant is sued for $25, the par value of a share in the Association which he agreed to take but did not pay for. There are six other cases pending in the Court. The case was submitted, but a decision was rendered. The County Court sat and transacted some business this forenoon and adjourned until next Monday at 10 o'clock a.m. A settlement was to-day effected of the estate of Clarissa COLVIN, late of Mendon. The estate is valued at between $6,000 and $7,000. J. J. CORNELL was executor. **** Find ALL of the News Abstracts for Monroe Co., NY at http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/NY/Monroe/index.html -- GjS