The Daily News Batavia, Genesee County, New York State August 9-1897 RAMBLERS' RUN TO LE ROY. Many Buffalo Wheelmen Went Over the Century Course Yesterday. Up to 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon the Hotel Richmond and the vicinity of the Court House park presented a lively aspect. Scores of dusty wheelmen and rows of wheels were in evidence, the occasion being the annual century run of the Ramblers' club of Buffalo. The run was made over the Buffalo-Le Roy course, and each rider making the trip is to receive a souvenir medal. Twelve young women finished. About 100 riders had dinner at the Hotel Richmond. The starters from Buffalo numbered 245, but 18 fell by the wayside. The other 227, including the dozen women, made the full distance and got back to town last night. Some of the successful riders were fagged out by the time they reached the smooth asphalt pavement of the city once more, and none of them, not even the old-stagers, felt like running a footrace when it was all over. The youngest of those who finished was Ward JEWELL. He was but 12 years old. On the out trip the riders were accompanied by Lyndon C. PALMER, Frank DECOT, and Harley TEMPLEMAN of Batavia, who went to Buffalo on Saturday to join in the ride. After dinner at the Richmond the party was photographed on the Court House steps by David WILLIAMS. A reunion of the Press Cycling club of Buffalo and the Lake View Wheelmen of Rochester is announced to be held in Batavia on Sunday, September 5th. + + PASSED EXAMINATIONS. Successful Candidates for Positions in Buffalo Public Schools. Among a long list of teachers announced by Charles C. MOREY, Secretary of the Board of School Examiners, as successful candidates for positions in the Buffalo public schools appears the name of Miss Ella F. WOOD of Batavia. She was examined for the Grammar grade and has a percentage of 80 1/4. Miss WOOD recently declined reappointment as teacher in the Eighth grade annex at the Ross street school in Batavia, but later reconsidered and retained the position. The name of Miss Libbie E. CLARK, formerly of Batavia, also appears in the Buffalo list with a percentage of 76 as teacher in the primary grades. Alexander.--Among the names of those who successfully passed the examination for teachers recently held in Buffalo in the Principal's grade, was that of Elwin A. LADD, Principal of the Alexander union school. His standing was 87.615. + + FROM THE RESULT OF INJURIES. Death in Bergen of Mrs. Susan HUNT, Who Recently Fractured Her Hip. Mrs. Susan HUNT who broke her hip two weeks ago, died yesterday afternoon at 5:30 o'clock, aged 88 years. The funeral services will be held at the house, next to Homer SEELEY's, on Wednesday at 2 p.m. The burial will be at Byron. + + Jerry LEAHY, Formerly of Le Roy. Le Roy.--Jerry LEAHY, formerly of this village and well-known in this section as a produce buyer, being for a long time in the employment at Sanders Brothers of Stafford, died in a Pittsburgh hospital on Saturday. Particulars of his death have not been received. His sisters, Misses Mary and Margaret LEAHY, started for Pittsburg on Saturday evening. Mr. LEAHY's second wife, who was a resident of Pittsburg, survives him. He was about 35 years old. + + Mrs. Miranda THOMPSON of Byron. South Byron.--Mrs. Miranda THOMPSON died at her home here during Saturday night after an illness of several months. Mrs. THOMPSON was the widow of Spencer THOMPSON, who died about 17 years ago. She had been a resident of Byron and vicinity most of her life of over 78 years. She leaves no children except an adopted daughter, Mrs. Sara T. PECK. The funeral will be held from the house on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. + + W.F. ODION of Michigan. Mrs. John McPHAIL received news this morning of the death of her brother, Warren F. ODION, at his home at Twin Lakes, Mich. Mr. ODION is survived by a wife and two sons, one brother, R.C. ODION of Batavia, and four sisters, Mrs. McPHAIL and Mrs. James HISCUTT of Batavia, Mrs. A.E. BUELL of Bethany and Mrs. Jonas BERRY of Rochester. + + Mr. PRESCOTT's Lawn Festival. J.O. PRESCOTT, the Erie's Excursion Manager, has extended an invitation to the M.E. church members, the Sunday school and to all those belonging to societies connected with the church, to attend a lawn sociable which he will tender them tomorrow evening at his home on the Ellicott street road. The invitation is not extended to the public, but only to those connected with the church. There will be selections by a phonograph and music by the Citizens' band. Ice cream and cake will be served. The only expense which those invited will have to assume will be that of conveyance. Charles A. WILLIAMS will have carryalls at the church from 7 to 7:30 o'clock and the round trips will be 10 cents. + + TALKS OF HIS CASE AGAIN. BENHAM Comments on the Peculiar Combination of Circumstances. Howard C. BENHAM was visited for an hour and a quarter last evening by a reporter for The News, through the courtesy of Sheriff HEAL. BENHAM talked about the verses he has written and said he experienced no difficulty in penning them. "I couldn't compose if I did," he said. "I just sit down and write them right off without stopping." He has written about forty, all told. A general talk on his autobiography ensued, and BENHAM referred to an article appearing in a Buffalo paper which stated that the MS was completed with the exception of the last chapter, which would be written when all hope was gone. This, he stated was incorrect. The story is finished and ready for the printer. He is now at work on another literary effort in the nature of a short story for newspaper publication. When it was suggested that he might derive a neat revenue from the sale of his poems and other articles to the papers he said that it was not with that end in view that he had first taken up literary work. "Did you ever notice a case in which figured so peculiar a combination of circumstances?" he inquired, referring to his case. "Why, just look at it. Before it came up for consideration in court it had been tried and tried and tried. Just stop and think of the rumors. If they had been based on substantial grounds, according to the programme if I was acquitted I was to be lynched and the judge and jury mobbed." BENHAM laughed about the scrap between the Sheriff and a Buffalo reporter, which he witnessed. "Do you know," he observed, with a quiet chuckle, "that I honestly believe that when Bill fired that fellow out I'd have laughed if the Judge had been about to pass sentence of death on me. "It seems to me," said BENHAM, entering upon a more serious train of thought, "that any fair-minded person ought at once to see the point in this case. As I have said before, I never by act, desire or any other means caused the death of my wife. Now, assuming this to be so, whatever your private opinion may be, do not all the circumstances surrounding the case seem extremely peculiar? Does it not seem strange that I could in one night become transformed into a fiend and a devil? "I don't know what has come over me since I have been here in jail. When I was free I was nervous and constantly on the move. Now, my nerves seem to be dead. I can stand most anything. People criticize my actions in court because I didn't go all to pieces, but my apparent unconcern was the result of steady nerves." "If the Court of Appeals should sustain the decision of the lower court, will any attempt be made to secure a pardon?" the reporter asked. BENHAM leaned back in his chair, and laughed, remarking: "I don't know. I suppose it will be all off in that event." BENHAM believes there has been a change in public sentiment, communications which come to him every day convincing him that this is the case. + + submitted by Linda C. Schmidt