From the Cortland Democrat of Cortland, NY
Friday, May 19, 1876

More About the Midland War

---

Cuyler, May 15th, 1876      

   Mr. Editor : - Will you allow the good people of Cuyler (and their name is legion) space in your paper to answer an article that appeared in the Binghamton Daily Times, of May 9th, in relation to the article on the Midland war in Cuyler, that has gone the rounds of the newspaper press, leaving the impression that the people of Cuyler are either knaves or fools.

   The statement by the Norwich correspondent is given without the least regard to the truth. The history of this disturbance is simply this. The town of Cuyler, through the influence of the Midland sharpers, bonded for $64,000 to aid in the construction of the road through our town, and by contract we were to have as good a Depot and appertenences as any other town on this branch. An amount ample sufficient to build the road through our town, where nature has almost made the way.

   The road was run without taxation until the year 1874, when the assessors pursuant to Statute assessed it at $5,000 per mile, which made the Midland officials (whose pockets would be affected) groan, yet they did not pay enough attention to our assessors to come in the usual way (after being notified) and state their grievances and have mistakes corrected, but in reply to our polite note the receiver, Mr. Abram S. Hewitt, stated that if we assessed the road, the rolling stock would be taken out of the State and we could collect the tax if we could. Please allow me to state here, that the amount of assessment is no higher than many of the towns on the road, and but a little more than one-third of the amount paid for the road by our town.

   The tax was legally levied, as the United States court, Judge Blatchford, decided, and also in the Supreme Court by Judge Murray, and now that the Courts have decided that the tax is legal, and the injunction is removed which the Midland officials have heretofore relied on. They see no other way to prevent the collection of the tax only by resort to mob law which they have so notably commenced by their cowardly, murderous, attack on our Collector, than whom no more gentlemanly, noble, fearless, or energetic officer ever held the process of law, and the Norwich correspondent of the Binghamton Times, when he states that Mr. Petrie's warrant had expired, either showed his ignorance or was guilty of deliberate falsehood, as can be shown by reference to section 23rd, Chapter 12 of the first part of the Revised Statutes. In making the levy Mr. Petrie had only three gentleman to assist him. The train was standing in front of the Depot, and the levy was made on the passenger car at the rear of the train. A slight resistance was made by the train hands, but the car was run on the side track not interfering with the procedure of the train in the least.

   It is claimed by the railroad officials that the train was a mail train. We claim and know that it was not. The company have a contract with the Government to convey the mails over the road twice a day, once each way; but for the purpose of defrauding this and our sister town (Truxton) of our just dues, they carry a mail bag on each train, showing how small a hole a large amount of rascality will try and crawl through.

   Now please allow me give a plain, unvarnished statement of the course persuaded by our collector, Mr. Wm. Petrie, also of Gen. Superintendent, Mr. Mackie. On the evening of the day of levy, Mr. Petrie, accompanied by four others, took position in the captured coach for the purpose of protecting it from harm, little dreaming that a force of from 80 to 100 persons were to make a descent on them. About two o¹clock in the morning, the train bearing Gen. Sup't Mackie and his minions, filled with - not whisky - O, no, probably valor - stole gently into town, like thieves in the night, unlocked and changed the switch, sending the marauding train against the captured coach with a force sufficient to break two chains and one cable.

   On the striking of the cars, Mr. Petrie stepped to the platform of the coach and forbade their taking the coach, when he was attacked by four persons, who, after some exertion, succeeded in getting him on the ground amid the cries, - from those on the bank, (Sup't Mackie and Sup't Minshull) being among the number - of 'shoot him! Kill the G-d d---n son of a b----h! G-d d--n him! Kill him!' ( sic ) and other expressions of like nature.

   That Mr. Petrie was beaten to insensibility is a gross falsehood as he succeeded in taking a billy loaded with lead from one of his assailants, after receiving three wounds on the head. The Norwich man that received the blow on the head, got it from one of his party through mistake, as the Cuyler party showed no weapons of defense, whereas, Gen. Sup't Mackie's party were armed with bolts, hatchets, pistols, and clubs.

   In carefully looking over the Norwich correspondent's statements, we see nothing but a claim of falsehoods. One truth I will give him credit for, that is, when he writes that 'the end is not yet'. The chivalrie-lad is correct there. Not content with their attack on our defenseless party, and taking the car, the railroad company set a gang of hands to take up the switch in front of the church, after our people had assembled for worship.

   A complaint was made to our worthy townsman, H.D. Waters, Esq., who put a quietus to the work instanter. Report reaches us today, that Gen'l Sup't Mackie has resigned, and gone into his hole; hope he won't pull the hole in after him, as there are many on the line of the road that would like to view a man that has stepped from a high official and social position, down to the level he sought on the night of the attack on our defenseless collector.

Yours very respectfully,      
R. Emmett McGowan