The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-03
state. Miscellany.
THE BURLINGTON MAss MEETING.

THE BURLINGTON MASS MEETING.
Over thousand men and women of
Burlington gathered in the City Hall on
Wednesday evening. The assemblage says
the Free Press, consisted of men and wo-
men, In about equal proportions, and in
cluded a very large number who would be
ranked by all as amongthe best citizens of
Burlington. Mayor Dodge presided
Hon. Daniel Roberts, with preliminary
remarks, presented the following pre-
'arhble and -. '-c 80
RESOLUTIONS.
WHEREAS, Six hundred of the women of
Burlington have put forth their appeal to
the men, citizens of Burlington, who arc
interested In the reputation of our city,
wherein they earnestly ask us to meet In
mass TO devise and execute measures for
the Immediate and permanent suppression
of the illegal traffic in Intoxicating drinks. F"
adding, "we believe you can. do this. and
we ask that you will do it, and
Whereas, We are now met to respond to
this appeal. 1.':
l. ReSolyed, That we can do this.
9. ReSolced, That we we will do it,
Addresses were made by Daniel Roberts
Rev. G.. b. Stafford, Gustavus Austin. Sam.
uel Huntington, Captain John r. Drew,
Rev. l.. .. Brastow, Col. A. G. Brown and
Hon. Charles ii. Heath, of Montpelier.
the last two gentlemen teing present as a
Nart OF delegation OF the gentlemen and
ladies of Montpelier The resolutions
were adopted without dissenting vote. A
committee of two were appointed to carry
the resolutions into effect
THE MILTON LIQUOR CASE.
The case Of the state VS. A. n. Austin,
hotel keeper at Milton, has terminated with
a yer lict, from the jury, that the estate
failed to make out case" W. l.. Burnap.
states attorney, john f. Wheelock, ap
petr.d in behalf of the state Hon. Gee.
A. Ballard. of Fairfax, Captain Romeo II
Start and G. w. Writers, OF Burlington.
for the defence.
The complaint alleged that the respop-
dent had, on the l4th day of March, 1874.
and at divers times. sold, etc. The state
proved thirty-slX offences within two years
previous TO said day and ,e>ted. The de-
fence called Rev. j. d. Becman, and ques-
toned him in regard Ia his profession. his
connection with the temperance society
the employment of Wheelock as attorney.
and his share Of fines, ETC.. evidently 10
make capital with the large and excited
crowd constantly present during the two
days trial.
The following were the points of the de-
fence made by Messrs. Ballard and Start in
their arguments
tlrst-To take advantage of the excited
and prejudiccd minds of the people by
very bitter attacks upon Mr. Beeman and
Others connected with the prosecution.
Second-That if Austin did not deal ont
the liquor personally, he was not guilty.
Third--lf he did, he was not, because G..
iIotchkiss owned the house.
Forth--That the prosecution was CON
fined by the law to the 14th day as alleged.
and that if il had failed to prove liquor
sold on that day 1.-THE state failed to- make
a case"
Fifth That even if the supreme court
had decided that such was not the law, the
jury were not bound by it, being Judges of
the law and facts, and that they had the
power to annihilatc the statute itself MS far
rs this case WAS concerned
The jury acquitted Mr.. Austin in ac-
cordancc with the fourth proposition of the
defence. Thus has ended one of the most
remarkable ''lawsuits" ever tried in town.
.'pN'' "iiiNh thS h'tSittiitc mas Dttil
ly remarkable.
An editorial article in the Free Prs,
says Respectable citizens of Milton at
tribute the remarkable result of the Austin
liquor trial to the personal unpopularity OF
one or two persons instrumental in procur
ing the prosecution, and to the acceptance
(honcst, as they beieve) by the jury of the
extraordinary claim made by the counsel
for the defence, that the jury had the right
to nullify the decision of the supreme
court, and make that law which the highest
court in the state had decided to be not
law. They assert that while public opinion
in town largely approves the verdict. there
Is still no general desire to nullify the pro-
hibltory law and, on the other hand, a |
general opinion that liquor has been run
ming far too freely in that town, and that
some measures to check it we've desirable. |
How all these statements are to be recon. |
ciled, it is not in our province to decide. |
They are made to us rs statements of the |
facts, and as such we give them to onr
readers.