The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-20

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sing and unsophisticated, perhaps boyish
appearance, but sharp witbal keen,
searching eye light moustache but other.
wise smoothly shavcn light hair, cut
short, parted on the left side and worn
behind the cars. lie was dressed in black
broadcloth, his linen was faultless and he
is evidently of a nervous temperament, OF
retiring and reserved disposition, but q
rapid talker.
Hayes greeted our reporter alfably, re-
marked that he was glad TO see him, and
said that he probably understood the object
of the call. In reply to questions, he stated
that he could not tell what rumors were
floating about the street, but that he had
doubtless heard of some of them. On being
told that it was reported that he shipped
goods from his store previous to the fire,
he said 81 have shipped goods from my
store, but they were goods which | had
sold in legitimate trade | shipped one lot
of goods to G. Bronson, South Deerfield,
Mass, which should have been sent to
Florence. They were marked by a boy in
my employ, and not by myself.
also shipped goods to my brother,
NJ. G.. Hayes, at Northampton, Mass.
My brother had ordered the goods of me !;
he does a retail business, and buy at job
bling prices, and he only in small quantities
| could purchase and ship goods from Rut-
land to him at less rates than he could
procure the same goods from other parties.
These goods were reshipped from the depot
here without being unpacked. | also
shipped barrel of oil to Il. Rice & Son of
Southampton, in exchange for leather
goods and goods to other parties who had
ordered them.
had stock worth from $4,000 to
10000 in my store at the time of the fire,
and can show duplicate invoices to prove
it, l have heard it said that my show win
dows were empty at the time of the fire.
This is false my windows contained their
usual stock at that time. Two packages
of goods to my brother and the package of
chamois skins sent to G.. Bronson, South
Deerfeld were shipped the evening before
the fire.
/ hear that it is charged against me that
l shipped more goods just before the fire
than at any time previous. did, and re-
ceived more. received goods the day of
the fire, and have nearly every day since.
There are goods Of mine in the freight de-
pot now, which the officer tells me have
been attached. bought many of my
goods on time and paid the bills when
they came due. have been as successful
as expected when came here. The ri
val firms have treated me with perfect fair
ness, and if anything have been oreIlberal
to me than fairness demanded.
Before came here | was III business
with my brother in Northampton. We
had fire there the origin of which was
never fully accounted for, but we settled
satisfactorily with the insurance companies
although we did not receive the full value
of our goods. / sold out to my brother
before came here. have bought goods
while here both of parties who had formerly
known ne and of strangers. l rented my
store on the 18th of February 1915. Mr..
Ripley was very ready to rent to me. My
rent was payable quarterly On the first
of April l paid my rent up to that date so
as to make the months come even. No
more rent WAS due until the first of July
next
The evening before the fire left the
store at my usual hour between ten and half
| past, and went to the Bates house. The
first knew of the fire the people of the
house called me and told me the opera
house was on fire. met Mr.. Cady in the
hall and we went over to the block to-
gether. The fire was burning in my room
when got there. Some one, think the
chief engineer, told me not to open my
door. Gen. Ripley also asked me not to open
my door. gave my keys to the chief en-.
gineer and told him to do what he thought
best. He afterwards tried to open the
door but could not, and asked me to do it.
| took the key and was just about to open
the door when the windows broke and the
flames burst through. ] know nothing
about the origin of the fire.
have telegraphed TO George S,earns, q
lawyer Of Chicopee, Mass, to come ant
defend me. have also telegraphed to s.
F. Fisher of South Deerfeld, of whom
learned my trade, and who is a warm frient
of mine. have asked him to bring law
yer from Greenfield, if Stearns canno
come. have plenty of friends where
came from, but am stranger here. My
brother was here yesterday, but on accoun
of sickness in his family was compelled t
90 home.
Having obtained all the statement thai
he seemed willing to make, our reporte
babe Hayes farewell and wished him SAT-
deliverance. After thanking our reporte
for the courtesy extended him by Tn
GLOBE in giving him an opportunity to ex
plain, he warmly shook him by the hant
and, the interview ending, our reporte
took his leave and our readers have the re
suit.
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