Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-11-26
Micseltamu,
From the Rutland Herald.
Anecdotes of Judge Fletcher.

Anecdotes OF distinguished men, espe-
cially "reminiscences of their youth, are
always more or less interesting,
We happened a short time since to fall
into company with the genial, good-na-
tured Judge Pingry Of Weathersfeld,
(now Of the State Senate, and at Mont
pelier) and listened with much enjoy
ment to his rehearsal of incidents inter-
esting of "ye olden time"
Judge P. is, we believe, native of
Salisbury, N. H., and is thus familiar
with the many sayings and doings in that
neighhorhood. Of and concerning Daniel
Webster, and the late Richard Fletcher
whose generous donation to his native
town Of Cavendish and to Dartmouth
College we lately noticed in the Herald.
Here is one of them:
1t seems that Fletcher was not, in his
youth, very flush Of fund, but at an
early age commenced his fitting for col
lege under the tutorship of Scotch
school-master, who taught private or
district school in that part of Springfield
which the Scotchman named Eureka
and which still bears that cognomen.-
Out-growing the Seotchman's clan,-and
finally graduating from Dartmouth in
1906, Fletcher was in debt over one
thousand dollars, and took charge Of an
academy in Salisbury for a time, and
then studied his profession With Web
ster. At the end of his pupilage he
found himself in debt for tuition, Gin
those days the use of an attorney Office,
library and legal aid in that way cost
something) and gave his note to Webster
for 5000, that statesman promising not
to dispose of it, but to keep it, and al
low the signer time to earn the money
from his legal practice to pay it. Fletch-
er opened his Office and hung out his
shingle' in Salisbury, and went to work,
but soon received notice from bank or
note buyer in Portsmouth, that he held
the $4,000 Webster note, and wanted
payment. The statesman, proverbial for
financial embarrassment, had been oblig-
ed to part with his students note for
valuable consideration. Fletcher i'm
mediately started for Cavendish, VT, on
horseback, and by tho aid of his father
and friends, raised the money--m mostly in
specie and With Sddle-bags astride,
rode back to Salisbury, and thence to
Portsmouth, and paid his note, not par
ticularly relishing the business abilities,
in money matters, of his great perceptor.
Renewing his business at Salisbury,
he remained there till 1919, when he was
able to show clear record as to his own
debts, and left that place for Boston, the
owner of clean sum of twelve thousand
(Sl2,000) dollars from his earnings.
Thence forward his retainer fees and
receipts were the equal of Webster, and
his investments Of them very much more
profitable. As his wealth increased, his
liberality for benevolen. objects and pri-
vate charities increased, also, in quiet
and unostentations way. He never vast
ed dollar. The tobacco dealer and liq.
uor seller soon found him not their man
and having no family to support. though
living in all the luxury of the table and
dress that the laws of health permitted
or required, he was able to bestow freely
for the promotion of worthy objects, and
literally give what Others di sipate in
unless and worse than useless expendi.
lures.
In life, he gave freely to his family
friends. In death he did not forget
them ; reserving, however, the residuary
portion of his Alma Mater. To a son
of one brother, he gave beautiful pra-
rie farm in Michigan. To another ne
phew in New York city, be furnished
funds to start in business. To the daugh-
ter of deceased brother, he gave lib
eral education, and for a son of the late
Judge Dutton of Cavendish, who was,
also, his nephew, he furnished the best
musical instructors, both vocal and in
strumental, that the city of Boston af-
forded. Unnumbered, and to the world
unknown, were his other benefciar-
les.
Judge Pingry relates another anecdote
of him while in the practice of his pro.
fession in n. II.
There lived in the town of Salisbury
well.to-do business man, who employed
many laborers-and made frequent bills
in his business which, though abundant
ly able, he always put off and delayed
paying as long as it suited his conven-
fence, regardless of the loss and distress
to the men Of small means to whom they
were due When Mr.. Fletcher commen-
ced practice, not having any particular
respect for rich man over poor one,
he found ready clients among these poor
creditors, and they found ready attor-