Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-10-17
The Governors of Vermont
RICHARD SKINNER.

80 'N SNeN OA VIC own VI may, 1ltos-
Early In life ne was employed in a store
in New Haven, in his native State, and
this, in part, procured the means which
enabled him to obtain legal education,
at the celebrated law school in his ms.
tive town, then under the direction of
that able lawyer and profound jurist,
Tapping Reeve, Ii. d. Having com.
pleted his studies at that school, he was
admitted to practice in Litchfield county
IN 1900, and sometime during the same
year, removed TO Manchester, Vermont,
where he continued to reside till his
death.
In 1901, being then but twenty-five
years OF age, and having been in the
State but single year, he was elected
States Attorney for the county of Ben
nington. At this time, says one o: our
ablest Jurists, speaking of another, "the
office Of States Attorney was expected
to be given to one who would be able to
sustain himself and to carry his cases
securely without aid against the com.
oined talent and skill Of the bar, as, in
important criminal prosecutions, the
prosecuting officer was very likely to en-
counter an imposing array of legal force,
on the part Of the defense" That the
people did not misjudge their man is
evidenced by the fact that he continued
to fill this office by successive annual
elections till 1918, and was again called
upon to discharge the duties thereof in
1878, - and also from the fact, that
whilst still States Attorney, he was in
1906 elected Judge Of Probate for the
Northern or Manchester District of Ben
nington county, and was reelected to
the latter Office in 1907, 'O8, 'O9, 10, IL
and 10.
In 1873, he declined being a candidate
for reelection to either of the aforemen-
toned Offices, and was elected one Of the
six Members of Congress from Vermont.
He served only one term in Congress and
at the expiration thereof, in 1915, he
was chosen to represent the town of
Manchester in the Legislature of Yer
mont, and during that session, was
elected second Associate Judge of the
Supreme Court.
In 1916 he was elected Chief Justice
and was reelected in 1917, but declined
on account Of the state OF his health,
and resumed the practice Of his profess
sion at Manchester.
Among the numerous trials in which
he was engaged, it may not be uninter-
esting to mention the celebrated trial of
Stephen and Jesse Bourn for the murder
of their Uncle Russell Colvin. They
were ably defended by Judge Skinner,
but without avail. They were found
guilty and sentenced to be hung, but on
the morning of the day appointed for
the execution, the murdered man, Colvin
appeared in Manchester a2iys and
in per- feet health.
In 1918 Judge Skinner was called from
his retirement again to serve the public.
being that year elected to represent the
town Of Manchester, for the I'd time, in
the Legislature of Vermont, and on the
Of that body was chosen
Speaker.
In 1920 he was elected by the people.
Governor of the State, with great una
nimity there being less than one thous-
and votes polled against him, and with
similar unamity, was reelected in 1921
and %. In his message to the Legisla.
ture in 1922 he declined re. election.
In 1923 he was again elected CHEZ
Justice Of the Supreme Court and was
reelected in 1924, '25, '26, '27 and '28.
Upon being officially informed of his
election to this office in 1928, he imme-
lately declined, and upon the meeting
Of the joint assembly, to fill the vacancy
thus vacated, he was again elected. Such
r rare asd unexpected compliment he did
not feel at liberty to decline, and there
fore continued on the bench during that
year, and at the close thereof retired to
private life.
In addition to being an officer and
member Of various local societies. he
was President of the North Western
Branch Of the American Education So
'iety, and was also one OF the Trustees
If Misdlebury College from 1907 till his
ieath,-from which college he received
n 1917 the honorary degree of master of
/rt8.
While crossing the Mountain, in the
Spring OF 1888, he was thrown from the
carriage. aud died from the Injuries then
eceived, az his residence in Mancb ester
Day 23t, 1888, in the Ssh year Of his
.ge.
Thirty million dollars are stiu -.
luired for the completion of the suez
anal.