Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-06-12


is question that ha, been re4ueny agtated in those
towns in this State where an organized fire depart
ment exists, and it is one that interests every nli-
vidua at least where there any OF organization
for the suppression of fires. In Burlington at the
burning of the Pioneer Shop last Spring, certain i'll
dividuals refused to obey the orders of the Chief En-
gineer for which refusal suits at law subsequent
| ly brought Hector Adams, Esq, of Milton, Sc
eccl rs the Justice account Of his ability and i'm
partially, and from the following report of the trial
which we find in the Driy Times, we infer that it wa,
the chief desire of the parties to arrive a correct de-
termination Of the powers Of the Chief Engirc,r ut
! fires;
"The actions were Debt for the recovery Of the
penalty fixed by the Statute. Hon. Asahc Peck and
W. W. Walker, Esq. were for the Plaintiff, and Dan
lei Roberts, Esq, was engaged for portion OF the De
PENDANTS, that all parties possessed good guaranty
that injustice should be done, in the character OF
both Court and Counsel.
The result Of the trial that four of the Defend
ants Moses Murphy, Dennis Casson, Ira Putnam and
John Balm, Jr., were each fined So and costs
In the course of the trials the question was raised
whether the authority Of the Chief Engineer extends
to persons who are not in'aJdafs Of tie Fire Dsfrit
such being the position Of one or more Of the De
! PENDANTS The Court. with manifest proprety, de-
cided that the authority in question must comprehend
| erery man present at any fire, without distinction.
Plausible excuses were offered, but not admitted by
thc court ana substantial ANA COgtut reasons.
We are glad to add that the trials we're conducted
without eciting any ill-ieeng, and appeared to be
considered, on all sides, fair submission to determine
the important point of the extent and degree OF the
jurisdiction and powers of the Chief Engineer nj Fires.
Mr. Adams, the magistrate affixed the forrest fine al
lowed by the Statute in each case, and for the judi
cious reason, that establishing he RUE Of lac ia the
case not punishment the main purpose the trial;
and we repeat our satisfaction that magistrate ilom
out of town, and of 50 sound judgment and capacity
was selected TO determine these issues"
| The body of Mrs. Howard who drowned herself Mt
Bellows Falls week ago last Saturday was recovered
from the water last Tuesday evening. 1t oated ashore
on the New Hampshire side a little above Crosbys
Ferry, about twelve miles below where the suicide
was committed. A young man who was rowing It
boat the shore discovered the body but in the
darkness supposed il TO be bundle of rags and push
ed it into the stream again. Some one suggesting to
him that it might be the remains of the woman, he
rowed after it and towed it to shore. The body was
so bloated and disfgred by long maceration in the
water that 1t could only bcrccognzed by the clothing
1t was buried the next day at Westminster in grave
yard near Maj. Joel Pages.
1t is remarkable that the bodies of so many drown
ed persons are recovered near Crosbys Ferry. This
is the third body that has been taken from the river
in that vicinity within four months.
CoNFIRMkD.-We learn that Asher Spencer receiv-
ed his commission Postmaster in this village, on
Thursday evening. lie will probably enter upon the
discharge of his duties at the commencement of the
next quarter, (July lst) Mr. Dutton has discharged
the duties Of the Office for five years to the full salts
faction of everybody and he will retro with the hest
wishes of a host Of personal friends
PUrSEY.-The WOODEN factory OF Mr.. James Kcyes,
which has been inactive since last August resumed
operations last week. and will employ its former
complement of operatives, and probably more. Mr..
Sanford, Clarcmont capitalist, has become interested
in the factory the machinery has been put in complete
order and some new machinery introduced, with II
view to pushing the business energetcally than
ever before The village already begins to feel the
| good effect of her revival of business.
One night last week, some mschievous young men
set fire to large wood-pe belonging TO citizen of
the village and before the fire was discovered and ex-
tngaished, about twenty-five dollars worth of wood
was consumed.
| WALroLE.-One day last week, a child of the Rev.
Mr. Stowe of Walpole, N. H., about two years old,
while with its parents at Cambridge Mass fell from
| third story window to the ground below. Strange