Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-11-18
Anecdotes Of Judge Fletcher.

always more or less interesting.
We happened short time since TO fal
into company with the genial, good ma
tured Judge Pingry of Weathersfield
nov of the State Senate and at Mont
pelier,l and listened With mEch enjoy
ment to his rehearsal Of incidents inter
esting of ''ye olden time
Judge P. is, we believe, native OF Sal
isbury, n H., and is thus familiar with
the many sayings and doings in that
neighborhood, of and concerning Daniel
Webster, and the late Richard Fletcher
whose generous donation to his native
town of 6avendisl and to Dartmouth
College We lately noticed ia the HERALD
1 Here ia one Of them
| 1t seems that Fletcher was not, in his
youth, very flush of friends, but at an
early age commenced his fitting for col
lege under the private tutorship or :.
Scoieh 4cLoql master, who taught pri-
vate or district scnooi il. ti,a1 part of
Springfield which the Dutchman named
[INIthtt-dIlu WHICH, SUN pttTs tHdI cog
nomen = out-growing the Scotohman' S
clan--and finally graduating from Dart
mo1.th n 1906. Fletcher was in debt
over one thousand doiia.s, and took charge
of an academy in Salisbury for Il time,
and then studied his profession with
Webster. At the end of his pupilage he
b,,,aglf AL
those days the use of an attorneys office,
library and legal aid in that way cost
something. and gave his note to Webster
for $500, that statesman promising not to
dispose of it, but to keep 1t, and allow the
signer time to earn the money from his
legal practice 10 pay IT, Fletcher opened
his Office and chung out his shingle" III
Salisbury, aud went ta work, but soon re-
ceived notice from bank or note buyer
in Portsmouth, that he held the $500
Webster note, and wanted payment The
statesman. proverbial far financial cmbar-
rassment, aag. been obliged % part win
his students note for yaIu2blc consider
alton Fletcher immediately started for
Caveudish. Vt, on horseback and by the
aid OF his father aud ffienls, raised the
money mostly n specie and with sad
dle-bay4 a,triie, rode back - Salisbury
ard thence to Portsmouth,, and paid his
note, not particularly relishing the busi-
ness abilities, in money matters. of his
great preceptor.
Renewing his business at Salisbury, he
remained there till 1910. when BE 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
$4,000 dollars from his r,rnings.
Thence forward his retainer ,ees md
receipts were the equal of Webster, and
his investments of them very much more
profitable. AS his wealth increased, his
lberaiity fer beleyl lent object, aud pri- |
vate charities increased, also, III a quiet
and unostentatious way. He never lraSt-
ID dollar. The tobacco dealer and liq- |
nor dealer soon found him not their man
and having no family to support though |
living in all the luxury of the table and
lress that the laws of health permitted or
he was able to bestow freely |
'or the promotion of worthy objects, and
literally, what others dissipate in useless
md worse than useless expenditures.
In life, he gave freely to his family
friends. Ia death he did not forget them
however, theresiduary portion
or his Alma Mutez. To son of one
ovother he gave beautiful prarie. farm in
Michigan. TO another nephew in New
York city, he furnished funds to start in
business. To the daughter of deceased
brother, he gave liberal education, and
or son of the late Judge Dutton of
who was, also, his nephew, he
furnished the best musical instructors,
both vocal and instrumental, that the city
# Boston afforded. Unnumbered, and to
he world unknown, were his other BEN
ficiaries.
Judge Pingry relates another anecdote
# him While il, the practice Of his pro-
ession in N. II.
There lived in the town of Salisbury a
Fell-to-do business man, who employed
many lsborers-and made frequent bills
n his business which, though abundantly
bile, he always put off and delayed pay
ng as long as it suited his convenience,
egardless Of the loss and distress to the
nen of small means to whom they were
lue. When Mr.. Fletcher commenced
'ractice, not having any particular respect
or rich man over poor one, he found
eady clients among these poor creditors,
nd they found ready attorney in the
oung practitioner. The result was that
be man of wealth was astonished to find |
imself sued two or three times q week;
indeed, on every occasion when he refused
+ put off the payment of his little bills,
ven though he might prefer to let his /
ands remain in large amounts at interest,
ather than divide it among his small and
umerous creditors, who needed it more,
. that costs accumulated against him to ,
uch an extent Is to severely affect his ,
usiness, and Led him to exclaim to q III
:iend; "That Dick Fletcher has made I
,e great deal of trouble and expense"
This man and snoh others as sym. !
athised with him wore GLAD. indeed that /
10 youthful pupil Of Webster found
!. 81. too small for his Sorensic abilities,
nd sought The great business center Of
Isw EnGland- L
Judgs Rlaey says that h oass Iistsnsd
, Legal argumsnt oe hours dnratioo-It {