Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-08-14

TIE CASE OF TUE PorrERs.-Some Of the re-
cen, developments in the case of Charles Potter
AID h- wife. have aroused unusual and strong
feeling in this county. The facts concerning the
recent burglary in Williston. the finding Of the
goods hidden under the floor Of Potter's house
aud the arrest of Mrs. Potter. have been fully
reported IN our columns Mrs Potter was held
Hy the Justice before whom the examination
took place. in $4,000. and in default thereof,
WIS committed to Jail An application was then
made 10y her counsel to the County Judges to
have her bail reduced. which they declined to do.
Bail was then offered for her by Jackson and
John Potter in $1,000, but the Judges declined
Eco accept, considering it '' straw bail.
Charles Potter, on his return home, was also
arrested, and held likewise in $1,000. and in
default thereof. was committed to Jail
The next step was the appearance of Judge
Pieipoint 9th Su, RENE Court. who came up
here upon the application Of the Pot ers' coun-
sci. to fix the bail in both cases. Judge Pier
point reduced the bail one half putting it at
$500, accepted jackson Potter as sufficient for
both the accused, and they would have walked
free out Of the court room had they not been
again arrested BY the States Attorney on
charge Of having burglarious tools in their posses
-iau--an offence which. strange as it may seem,
has ,eyerer penalty attached to it by the laws Of
Vermont than simple burglary. The examine
uon on this charge took place Friday before
Justice loIlenbeck The finding of two punches
OF skeleton key, seven in number, in Potter's
house, was proved; as was also that some of them
were ordered by Potter, and delivered to him by
the maker and both parties were again held in
5000 a piece, and in default thereof, were
committed. The question now is. whether Judge
Pierpoint VIII again exercise his authority for
the benefit of the accused. If he should. we
think it would cause a good deal Of very IN
pleasant excitement il this whole region.
The Potters are felt TO be dangerous characters
to be At large in a peaceful community, and the
former kindness Of the Judge to them wa felt
To- be anything out kindness 10 the public.
Judge Pierpoint's character for integrity is
entirely above suspicion. Nobody attributes to
him any blame but that of oyertenderness Of
heart; still it Is generally regarded as an
unusual thing for higher judge to interfere
with the bail as fixed by the County Judges, and
as a particularly unfortunate action on his part
in this case.
We believe the people desire simply to see jus
tee done, and the parties held for fair trial
that they do want very decidedly The state
Of feeling in the county may be inferred from the
remark of one Of the most staid. respectable and
worthy citizens of the county, who said in our
hearing, in view Of the possibility of repetition
Of the reduction Of the bail, that he began now
TO understand clearly the application Of lynch
law, which heretofore had seemed airGys unjus-
tifable, but which, the expression Of the
determination Of a community to protect them
selves, when the law fails to give protection, he
nov began to understand and to sympathize with.
Judge Pierpoint, if again applied to, will, We
take 1t, do exactly what he believes to be right
il the case, but if he is aware Of the condition Of
publ, feeling in this vicinity on the subject, he
vii think twice tefore repeating his former
action IN the case.