The Daily News Batavia, Genesee County, New York State December 17-1889 ARREST OF A STAFFORD FARMER. Hart DOUGLASS, a Stafford farmer,, who was under the influence of liquor in Batavia yesterday afternoon, was arrested last evening by Officer FOX and lodged in jail. At the East Main street crossing of the Erie railroad at 6 o'clock he seemed determined to get on the track in front of the train due at that hour and the flagman had lots of trouble with him. Then he came into the business part of the town again and, as a measure of safety to himself and others, he was taken into custody. ++ DEATH OF MISS MARION SMEAD The many friends of Miss Marion SMEAD, formerly of Batavia, will be shocked to learn of her death, which occurred at her home in Toledo, Ohio, on Sunday, after a three-weeks' illness of bronchial pneumonia, which was accompanied by intense suffering. The funeral services will be held in Toledo this afternoon, but the remains will be buried in Pavilion, her old home, some time to-morrow. Her age was forty-six years. ++ DIED FROM PNEUMONIA. James BOYCE, a well-known farmer of the town of Alabama, died on Sunday night at his home near the village of Wheatville, aged 46 years. His illness, from typhoid-pneumonia, was of short duration. He leaves a widow and seven children. ++ THE BEAUTIFUL AT MISS TOMPKINS'. The harmonious arrangement of beautiful colors, both sober and brilliant, attracts the eye as one passes the spacious show-window in the TOMPKINS establishment, and, on entering, the unaccustomed eye is dazzled by the profusion of rich and beautiful things, the nostrils are greeted with the pleasant aroma arising from perfumes and spices, and one is led to believe that he has wandered into the abode of some Eastern hourl(?). The show-window is devoted wholly to fancy work and here may be seen elegant toilet sets, chair and sofa cushions, table scarfs, photograph cases and shopping bags. The store itself is one whole museum of such articles. Here are also to be found materials for making fancy work, such as China silks, pongees, and stamped linens. Mrs. ONDERDONK's quilt of 18,000 pieces is also on exhibition here. ++ Collar and cuff boxes at DUDLEY & COOLEY's. ++ A nice pair of gold spectacles, or eyeglasses and chain, would suit mother or father for an Xmas present. See how cheap you can buy them of AUSTIN & PRESCOTT. ++ SENT TO THE ALMS HOUSE. John H. LEIGHTON, Arthur STUARD and Thomas MULLEN, the three Chicago lads arrested by Officer McCULLEY last week, are to be taken to the State Alms House in Rochester to-day. The proceedings which led to their commitment were held before Police Justice CROSBY yesterday afternoon. ++ AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY DEPOSITORY. Brant's Pharmacy, 99 Main street, has a large supply of Bibles at Society prices for the holiday trade. ++ THE Y.M.C.A. NEW YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENTS. The Y.M.C.A. has issued a bulletin from The News press containing the programme of the Wilder entertainment at the Opera House New Year's night, and also containing a retrospective and prospective sketch of the work of the Association in Batavia, which will be found of interest to all. The Association rooms in the 'Times' building will be open New Year's day from 2 to 7:30 p;.m., during which hours all young men of the community are invited to call. Refreshments will be served and there will be, as the bulletin announces, "good music, good fellowship, and good cheer." ++ CURRENT EVENTS IN ELBA. In a recent action between Charles SHERWOOD and William HASSETT and wife, before Referee H.F. TARBOX, Mr. SHERWOOD was awarded a judgment of $131, and to satisfy this judgment the Sheriff advertised to sell the HASSETT stock of millinery this morning. Miss Mary E. HOLLISTER's select school closed on Friday for the fall term with appropriate exercises. The winter term opened yesterday. The Elba Literary Society will meet on Thursday evening at Miss HOLLISTER's Hall. It is the time for election of officers. The donation for the benefit of the Rev. A. SMITH, pastor of the Methodist church, netted him about $60. A social party was held at the Maccabee Hall on Wednesday evening. About forty couples were present. The Acme orchestra furnished the music. Miss ELLIS of Buffalo, who is the guest of Miss Lulu DRIGGS, hopes to organize a music class here. Personal: Mrs. E.M. JONES does not improve very fast from her fall on the slippery pavement in Batavia some two or three weeks ago. Mrs. Lina BUTTS and child of Michigan, who have been visiting the former's father, William McCalla, have returned home. Charles JONES is visiting his brother Henry and other relatives in Michigan for a short time. ++ THE CASE OF MR. VAN VALKENBURG. The Niagara Falls 'Courier' says further of the charges against a former teacher at the Institution for the Blind: "Mr. Van VALKENBURG, Superintendent of the Thomas Asylum for Orphans and Destitute Indian children, at Versailles, N.Y., writes us in explanation of complaints from the Tuscaroras regarding the ill treatment of children from this Reservation. Mr. Van VALKENBURG is also President of the Gowanda 'Herald' Publishing Company. Aside from the fact that serious complaints are made we have no information except these explanations which may or may not be accepted, as far as they go, as to minor complaints. It is no doubt true that some of these children are difficult to handle,, and that they will run away to regain the freedom which has always been so fascinating to the race." ++ WHOSE LITTLE BABY BOY? A story was told yesterday that an infant child had been left at the house of peter WEMPLE, a laborer, residing at No. 3 Wiard place, on Saturday evening last. It was said that while the family, who live in the south half of a small double house, were in the front part of the house,some one entered the back door, silently deposited a market basket containing the infant on the floor, and departed. Rumor had it that the WEMPLES knew whom the child belonged to and were to receive compensation for keeping it. This morning a reporter visited Mr. and Mrs. WEMPLE, and upon being ushered into the neat front room the first thing that attracted his attention was a large clothes-basket on the floor near the stove, containing a suspicious looking bundle. The story which had gained currency was repeated to Mr. WEMPLE and he was asked if it was true. "The truth of the matter is just this," he replied. "I was visited Saturday afternoon by a responsible person residing in Batavia who said that he wanted me to take a boy baby and care for it, and he promised me good pay for doing so. My wife had no objection to doing it, and I was willing. Well, Saturday night a person whom I am acquainted with, but my wife doesn't know, came to our back door with the child, and left it, and we are now taking care of it." "When was the child born?" "On Saturday." "Do you know who its parents are or from whose house it came?" "No, that I know nothing about, and don't want to. I am to be well paid for caring for it and it is going to get the best of care." "Is the report that it was brought here in a market basket true?" "I am not going to say anything about that, either. "We have made no secret about this matter," Mr. WEMPLE continued, "and don't intend to. Why, there were eight ladies here yesterday to see the child," and he named several well-known ladies, who, he said were among the number. "Of course," he added, "there are plenty of people who will tell all sorts of stories about this business." Mrs. WEMPLE was in the room while this conversation was being carried on and she expressed the opinion that it was "nobody's business, anyway," and objected to anything being published in regard to it. When the reporter expressed a desire to view the mysterious visitor she quickly acquiesced, however, and laid aside a portion of a quilt that covered the clothes-basket. A chubby-faced, bald-headed little bit of humanity was exposed to view. There he lay contentedly endeavoring to push his little eyes out of his head with his fist, and at the same time engaging himself with the business end of a rubber tube which protruded from a nursing bottle. The little fellow was wrapped in a pink cloth of some soft material. "Why, he's just as good as can be," remarked Mr. WEMPLE. "He hasn't made any trouble at all yet, and only makes a noise when he gets hungry." No certificate of birth in this case has yet been filed with the Clerk of the Board of Health. The regulations of the Board of Health state, however, and they are based on a State law, that "it shall be the duty of the groom in every marriage and of the parents or custodian of every child born, to make sure that the prescribed report of such marriage or birth is presented to the Board of Health or its registering officer within thirty days," under a penalty for failure to do so. ++ submitted by Linda C. Schmidt