Here a Tom, there a Tom
While searching for articles about O'Hara family members who had a Central New York connection I came upon the following series of bizarre and interesting stories that mentioned Thomas O'Hara. However, it seems clear at least two men named Thomas O'Hara – possibly three or four – are involved in these articles, all of which refer to incidents in communities near Syracuse. |
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| The adventures of Bridget Duffy Foley O'Hara |
Bridget Duffy was born in 1838 in Ireland where she married Michael Foley. They emigrated to the United States. After Foley died, his widow married Thomas O'Hara. |
Syracuse Weekly Express, August 20, 1891
MANLIUS, Aug. 13 – The Manlius firemen had a picnic at Cazenovia Lake yesterday and during their absence the large dwelling house and a barn owned by Thomas O’Hara burned.
However, if the firemen had been in town they doubtless could not have done anything more than was done. Mrs. O’Hara was preparing to fry some cakes and had a kettle of melted lard on a wood stove. She went out of the room to get some flour and when she returned found the whole kitchen on fire.
Her aged mother lives with her and after assisting her out of the house she gave the alarm, at about 4:50 p.m.
The engine was drawn to the fire by horses, but the grade was too steep to go much faster than a walk. When it arrived the house and barn were both too far gone to be saved. Part of the furniture was saved.
Some new hose proved defective near the coupling and after being used about ten minutes came apart, so that but one stream was thrown for some time.
The loss is estimated at $2,000 and is covered by insurance. |
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The next line on the newspaper page seemed to appear out of nowhere, almost like a misplaced classified ad or something you'd find in a listing of entertainment events:
| Sockless Jerry at Maple Bay next Monday. |
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Syracuse Daily Journal, October 26, 1893
In the opening of Justice Williams' court this morning, a jury was drawn in the insurance case of Bridget O'Hara and Edward H. Foley, as executors of the will of Michael Foley, against the Dutchess Mutual Insurance Company of Poughkeepsie. Riegel & Walker are attorneys for the plaintiff and Goodelle and Nottingham for the defendant.
Mr. Foley owned household furniture in Fayetteville which was insured by an agent of the defendant company on June 17, 1880, for $1,500. Prior to the fire which was on August 12, 1891, Mr. Foley died and Mrs. Foley married Thomas O'Hara.
The fire it is claimed destroyed property in value exceeding the amount of the insurance policy. Payment of the loss was demanded and, as it was not forthcoming, suit was brought.
The defendant denies that the value of the articles destroyed was $1,500; says the plaintiff violated certain conditions of the policy; did not render a complete itemized statement of the articles burned or damaged and that the statement that was made contained claims that were fraudulent An answer of incendiarism is also put in. |
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Syracuse Daily Standard, April 2, 1894
Mrs. O’Hara’s Doughnuts
The Suit that Arose Therefrom in Justice McLennan’s Court
Before Justice McLennan in the circuit yesterday that case of Mrs. Bridget O’Hara and her son, Edward H. Foley, as executors of Michael Foley, plaintiff’s first husband, against the Dutchess county mutual insurance company of Poughkeepsie, a suit which has been awaiting disposition for several terms, went to trial and will be continued today.
When the cause of action arose Mrs. O’Hara was living in Pleasant street, Manlius. One afternoon in July, 1891, she started a fire and “set a kettle of grease on the stove to make some doughnuts,” as she swears.
Then she went down cellar to get some cream and lard. When she came back the kitchen was full of smoke.
The Manlius firemen were on a picnic at Cazenovia on that day, and the house was burned to the ground. The personal property was insured for about $1,500.
The insurance company refused to pay, however, claiming that the fire was of incendiary origin. It is also charged that the claim made by the plaintiff is excessive and that a false valuation has been placed on the household goods destroyed. Riegel & Walker, with J. N. Ames, appear for the plaintiffs, and Goodelle & Nottingham for the defendants.
The trial involves the giving of evidence in respect to a large number of household articles included in the inventory and upon which the defendant charges a false valuation was place by the insured.
Mrs. O’Hara was subjected to a severe cross-examination yesterday afternoon by Attorney Goodelle regarding wearing apparel, house furniture and utensils, the aim being to show that the articles in question were old and that their fair market value was considerably less than the various amounts claimed. |
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Fayetteville Recorder, April 12, 1894
Verdict for Mrs. O’Hara
In the insurance case of Mrs. Bridget O’Hara and her son, Edward H. Foley, against the Dutchess County Mutual Insurance Company, the jury last Friday award the plaintiffs $1,500 damages. |
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Syracuse Journal, January 9, 1913
The funeral of Mrs. Bridget O’Hara, wife of Thomas O’Hara, will be held from the home of her daughter, Mrs. P. J. Dorsey, 312 Hamilton Street, privately at 8:30 Thursday morning and from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Fayetteville, at 10 o’clock. She is survived by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Dorsey and Mrs. Augusta Renehan, and two sons, Edward H. and J. William Foley. |
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In this next story, note the terms of Mrs. O'Hara's will as it pertains to her second husband, Thomas O'Hara.
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Syracuse Journal, September 30, 1914
Nurse Says She Was Told
Reward Would Be Later
Surrogate Hears of Promises Made
to Mrs. Tierney for Her Goodness
Mrs. Anna Tierney related in Surrogates Court this morning how surprised she was to discover that Mrs. Bridget O’Hara’s will failed to mention her name. A claim has been filed against the $4,500 estate left by Mrs. O’Hara by Mrs. Tierney, who says that for several months she acted as a nurse for the 75-year-old woman, who was as helpless as a child during the last year of her life.
“Mary, you will surely be rewarded for your goodness to me I will leave you some money to pay for all your trouble,” Mrs. O’Hara is said to have remarked. Relying upon these promises, Mrs.Tierney did not formally demand the $204 she now says is due until after Mrs. O’Hara’s death.
Demand for payment was then served on Mrs. Augusta Renehan and J. William Foley, executrix and executor of their mother’s will. The executors denied the validity of the claim and this morning Surrogate Glass heard Mrs. Tierney’s version for her own lips and her witnesses.
She related her coming to the home of Mrs. Catherine Dorsey, another of Mrs. O’Hara’s daughters. This was on April 1, 1912. From that day until Oct. 15, Mrs. Tierney alleges, she was faithful in her attendance and performed a great variety of duties caused by the helpless condition of Mrs. O’Hara, who was suffering from an attack of rheumatism and was totally unable to walk.
Mrs. Tierney testified she slept in the room with Mrs. O’Hara and often stayed awake the greater part of the night, administering to her wants. Many times she said she was promised payment for her services, but she was given only $4.
When Mrs. O’Hara died she left her property to her children. A house in Manlius was given to her two daughters, Mrs. Renehan and Mrs. Dorsey. They were given authority to sell it after five years, if they desired to do so. The will contained a clause reserving for Thomas O’Hara, second husband of the deceased, two rooms in this house on condition he was to forfeit them if he selected another wife.
After Mrs. Tierney had finished her testimony the principal parts of her story were corroborated by her brothers, James Rowan. He swore he heard Mrs. O’Hara promise to reiumburse his sister for her services.
Attorney Lewis F. Howlett represented Mrs. Renehan and Mr. Foley. Mr. Tierney’s attorneys were J. R. & F. H. Collins.
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[Mrs. Augusta Renehan died during 1918 flu epidemic: Syracuse Journal, October 14, 1918]
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Fayetteville (NY) Recorder, January 10, 1895
Enforcing the Law
O’Hara Pleads Guilty and is Fined
On the 19th of December, Thomas O’Hara of Manlius was again arrested on a warrant issued by Parker S. Carr, charging him with selling beer, ale and liquors without a license. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and the case was adjourned to Saturday, Jan. 5, at which time O’Hara withdrew his former plea and pleaded guilty to the charge named. He was fined fifty dollars which he paid and was discharged.
In the meantime an effort had been made by O’Hara’s attorney to have the case certified to the Grand Jury, but Justice McLennan denied the motion.
A former case of like character was tried before Justice Carr and a jury October 6, at which time O’Hara was found guilty and fined fifty dollars with a suspended sentence of three months in the O. P. (Onondaga Penitentiary). The defendant appealed the case,, but the appeal being dismissed O’Hara paid the former fine also.
Excise commissioner George W. Putnam made a statement exonerating Frank Balsley and Jasper Goodfellow:
“Some evily disposed persons with an apparent intent to aid a lawbreaking saloon-keeper, and do injury to those who preferred to tell the truth rather than a lie, have circulated a report that Frank Balsley and Jasper Goodfellow were hired by the Excise Commissioners to procure evidence against Thomas O’Hara, who was recently convicted for the second time of violating the excise law. To set the above parties right before the community who may have heard this gossip, I wish to say that this report is untrue, misleading and apparently malicious.” |
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| This one really was an insurance scam |
Chittenango (NY) Madison County Times, August 10, 1916
Harold Evans Arrested
As a thunderbolt from a clear sky came the news of the arrest of Harold R. Evans, local agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. He was arrested on a charge of fraud by Patrolman Helm and Officer Austerman as he alighted from a car last week Tuesday night about 11:40 o’clock.
Later he was released on $1,000 bail lwhich was furnished by his father and Edward Lewis. It is alleged that Evans was implicated in obtaining a segttlement on the death of Thomas O’Hara who is still alive.
The policy amounted to $234.75, but Mrs. O’Hara, who was the beneficiary, only received $45 and it is stated that Evans appropriated the balance for himself.
There have been many rumors and reports of the doings of Mr. Evans, but he asserts that it is all more of a misunderstanding than anything else and says that investigation will clear up the matter in his favor.
Evans, charged with grand larceny, waived examination in Police Court Monday when his examination was scheduled to take place before Justice R. D. Woolsey, and gave bail in the sum of $1,500 for his appearance before the Grand Jury, which will convene at the October term of Supreme Court at Wampsville. The bondsmen are the same as on the bond for his appearance. E. A. Kiley is the attorney for Evans. [The grand jury would indict Evans for making fraudlent proofs to a claim for insurance upon the life to Thomas O'Hara.] |
| I found no explanation of how Harold Evans accomplished his scam. Obviously, he would have needed to produce a body. It may be that another story in the Madison County Times has the answer. In 1914 (or 1915, the date on this page is missing) a man was killed by a train near a railroad bridge about a mile west of Canastota. In his clothing investigators found a card identifying the man as Thomas O'Hara of Ohio. |
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| For this Thomas O'Hara, life was a circus |
Syracuse Post-Standard, January 11, 1906
Law Suit End of Romance
Mrs. Nettie Whipple Sues Thomas O’Hara
to Recover Team of Horses
A dispatch from Canastota last night said that Mrs. Nettie Tanner Whipple yesterday commenced an action in replevin against Thomas O’Hara to recover possession of a handsome black team of horses which O’Hara has been driving much during the past few days.
She begins the action under the name of Nettie Whipple, although it had been claimed that she and O’Hara had been made man and wife in a suburb of Syracuse at the time of a recent visit to Syracuse.
Mrs. Whipple claims that O’Hara purchased the team in question with money furnished by her and that she has a receipt for the money. O’Hara, on the other hand, claims that Mrs. James O’Hara, his sister-in-law, furnished the money for the team, which is said to have cost $300 and that Mrs. O’Hara holds a mortgage for $250 on the animals.
He admits that Mrs. Whipple gave him $500, but claims that he has “blown” this amoung. Mrs. James O’Hara bears out her brother-in-laws statement that she has a mortgage on the team.
The action in replevin is made returnable before Justice of the Peace Bell on January 18.
Mr. Whipple and O’Hara, the latter known in and around Sylvan Beach as “Tom” Delevanti, secured a large amount of property some weeks ago, when it was reported that they were a couple who called on Judge P J. Ryan of the Municipal Court in this city and other officials in an attempt to get somebody to marry them. |
Syracuse Journal, January 11, 1906
Mrs. Whipple Sues O’Hara
CANASTOTA, Jan. 11 – Another phase of the Whipple-O’Hara sensation has cropped out. Yesterday aftrnoon Mrs. Nettie Tanner Whipple began an action in replevin against Thomas O’Hara to recover possession of the notorious black team which it had been reported that O’Hara purchased with a part of the $500 that Mrs. Whipple gave him as a present.
O’Hara claims, however, that he spent the money given him by Mrs. Whipple for pleasure and that Mrs. James O’Hara, his sister-in-law, furnished the money for the team and now holds a mortgage for $250 on the outfit.
The action in replevin is returnable before Justice of the Peace Bell on Jan. 18. O’Hara is at present located in a gold cure establishment conducted by C. M. Rosa in the Cronk block. |
The "gold cure" mentioned in the last paragraph was the brainchild of Dr. Leslie Keeley, who was a Union army surgeon during the Civil War, then, in 1880, opened a sanatorium in Dwight, Illinois, to treat alcoholics and people addicted to opium.
He was among the first to claim that alcoholism was a disease, but his treatment was controversial, which may be an understatement. That treatment involved injections of Keeley's secret preparation. He claimed it contained bicholoride of gold, thus the name "gold cure." Chemical analysis reportedly revealed his preparation contained no gold, and that his hypodermic injections contained sulphate of strychnine, atropine and boracic acid.
However, alcoholics and addicts were desperate for help. Keeley franchised his "cure" and by 1893 there were 92 Keeley Institutes in North America. The number would reach 200 worldwide. Results were inconclusive and the Keeley Institutes began to fail. The last one closed in 1966. |
Syracuse Journal, January 10, 1906
CANASTOTA, Jan. 10 – Mrs. James O’Hara reported to Chief of Police Stimson that her brother-in-law, Thomas O’Hara, or Tom Delevanti, as he generally writes his name, has left town, and that a sleigh belonging to her husband is missing. |
Chittenango Madison County Times, October 1921
Thomas O’Hara, 57, died suddenly Friday noon. He went to work in the Middle States Creamery in the morning as usual, but complained of not feeling well and stopped work to go to the doctor’s for medicine.
He went home and lay on the couch. Mrs. O’Hara administered the medicine and left him for a few minutes. When she returned she found him dead.
Mr. O’Hara has lived in Canastota about ten years. Several years ago he married Nettie Tanner Whipple, who survives him. He leaves no children. He is also survived by two brothers, James of Canastota and George of Syracuse.
Thomas O’Hara was for most of his life identified with carnival and circus enterprises, and during his career had traveled from coast to coast and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
O’Hara retired from the carnival and circus life about ten years ago and had since resided here. Mr. O’Hara and his brother, James O’Hara, also of this village, returned but a few days ago from a week’s visit to the home of their father, George O’Hara, at Napanee, Canada, their native town. The father has been in feeble health and the sons journeyed to the old hometown because of his illness.
Thomas O’Hara was born in Napanee and was trained as a carriage maker. That Thomas would not follow the calling of a maker of vehicles became apparent at the age of 16, however, when a circus visited Napanee, and when the trained horses, elephants and other animals, together with the clowns, wirewalkers and other entertainers had left town, Thomas was among the missing.
Later developments revealed he had left his hometown and commenced what later proved to be hid life’s ambition. Of a genial, jovial nature and fluent in speech, Thomas has shown an adeptness for success in carnival and circus life and after he left home on that first circus expedition, achieved success as a tightwire walker and juggler.
Later life saw him identified with such shows as the Washburn circus and Forepaugh’s as a trainer of dogs.
As manager of sideshows he spent most of the years of his show career traveling in the north during the summer and in the south during the winter. |
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| Thomas O'Hara to the rescue! |
| Here's another Thomas O'Hara story, set in Syracuse. I suppose it could be one of the two Thomas O'Haras previously mention, or yet another one. O'Hara was a common name in Central New York but 1902, but the family had a serious shortage of first names from which to choose. This incident reads like something from a British mystery, set in this period. |
Syracuse Post-Standard, August 6, 1902
Four Chase Fleeing Man
Race Through Hanover Square and Two Streets
Four men chasing one, who dashed like a deer through Hanover Square, East Genesee Street and East Water Street, was a spectacle witnessed by several hundred people at 5 o’clock yesterday afternnon.
The arrest of a man who gave the name of Irving Goettel and said he was not the man pursued, but another who happened to fall in the way of the pursuers, was a sequel to the chase.
The race started at Alexander Grant’s Sons’ hardware store in Genesee Street. A man who was believed to have stolen a painters’ lamp, worth about $3, was in the lead. Thomas O’Hara, James Van Brocklin, Bert Dutton and John Rector followed close behind.
The man ahead dashed out of the store, around groups of people in the walks, across Hanover Square and disappeared in the Water Street entrance to the Bastable Block.
The pursuers entered the block on the Genesee Street side. There the man appeared who gave the name of Goettel. The employes of the hardware store said he was the man they wanted and took him in charge on his promise to walk with them to the store. At the corner of Warren and Genesee Street Goettel broke away and another chase started.
The fleeing man was making good time, but at an unlucky moment he collided with a little fat man in Water Street, flew over his head, cleared a water hydrant and landed on his back in the middle of the street. Policeman Andrew Baker was at hand by this time and took Goettel to police headquarters.
Goettel strenuously denied stealing any lamp. He stated that he had been in the Bastable Block on business and was just leaving when the men in the Bastable lobby caught hold of him. He also said that he had been at the Iron Pier until nearly 5 o’clock.
Thomas O’Hara and Roy Grant, one of the proprietors of the store, went to police headquarters and identified Goettel as the man wanted. O’Hara said he had been suspicious of Goettel’s actionsd about the store and had secretly watched him until he saw the lamp taken.
Goettel was bailed out last night. |
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Syracuse Post-Standard, April 30, 1906
Struck and Killed by Car
John O’Hara Victim of Accident on Auburn Road
John O’Hara, an employe of the Solvay Process Company at the Split Rock quarries, was struck and instantly killed by a trolley car on the Auburn & Syracuse Electric Railroad at 8 o’clock Saturday night at the Onondaga Road crossing near Split Rock.
Mr. O’Hara, who was 43 years old, and had charge of a stone crusher near the trolley line, was running east on the westbound tracks to get aboard a car at the Onondaga Road crossing when he was struck.
The body was taken to James Mullin & Son’s undertaking rooms. O’Hara leaves a brother, Thomas O’Hara, at Manlius, and a sister, Mrs. P. Morris, in this city. Funeral services will be held at the undertaking rooms this morning, with mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 10:30 o’clock. Burial will be made at Fayetteville. |
Syracuse Journal, July 12, 1906
O’Hara’s Death of Auburn Road
Suit for $15,000 Alleges That Motorman
Was Wanton in the Killing
Thomas O’Hara, as administrator of John O’Hara, has brought an action against the Auburn and Syracuse Electric Railway company. O’Hara was killed at the Onondaga Road crossing on April 28. It was said at the time that O’Hara was upon the track going the same way as the car.
McMahon & Murphy for the administrator allege in the complaint demanding $15,000 damages that the motorman was incompetent, that he had no regard for the man on the track and did not try to stop the car at the time when it could be stopped. |
| The Thomas O'Hara in these stories likely is the man who was married to Bridget Duffy Foley O'Hara of doughnut fame. |
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| Victim of a "wildcat" train |
Utica Morning Herald and Daily Gazette, March 17, 1883
Thomas O’Hara, a middle aged man, employed on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western road, was engaged with others in laying steel rails a short distance south of Poolville yesterday. Shortly after dinner the section foreman sent O’Hara back with a flag to look out for approaching trains. A "wildcat" train bound south came along a short time after.
Some distance north of where the men wer working the engineer of the train discovered O’Hara lying on the tracks, but not in time to stop the train. His head was severed from the body. The remains were taken to the village, and a coroner from Madison notified. An inquest will be held.
The Norwich Telegraph gives this account of the accident:
“A ‘wildcat’ train was coming south, and had a quantity of steel rails to distribute along the line. Conductor Shaw sent Thomas O’Hara, a trackman working near the station, up that tract with a flag to signal approaching trains.
“O’Hara went back some distance, and the trainmen procceded with their work. Soon after a coal train came on, and the engineer discovered a man lying across the track, apparently asleep, and made every endeavor to stop his train, besides ringing the bell and blowing the whistle, but without avail, and the engine and two or three cars passed over him, severing the head completely from the body.
“The body was mangled in a shocking manner and identified as that of Thomas O’Hara. It was placed upon one of the cars, and the train backed up to the station near which deceased lived. It is thought by some that O’Hara fell asleep upon the track, but the prevailing opinion is that he had a fit and fell in that position.
“Deceased was about 40 years of age, and leaves a wife and two sons. He had been in the employ of the company for some time, and was considered a trusty man.” |
| This may be the man identified in the 1880 census as Thomas O'Hora, living then in Hamtilon, NY, a few miles from Poolville. He had two children and in 1880 would have been 45 years old. Apparently, a "wildcat" train is a freight that makes an unscheduled run, in this case for the delivery of those steel rails. |
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