The Portland daily press., 1877-06-06
HIr. stanton and Hi. Colony.

Yesterday morning Mr.. Alexander Stanton,
the President of the Texas colony, was ar.
raigned before Judge Knight, charged with an
assault upon Mr. Linberg last Saturday. Mr.
Stanton denied the charge and plead not guilty,
and called about dozen of the members of
the colony who swore that Mr.. Linberg was the
aggressor Mr.. Linberg told plain straight
forward story which was supported by Mr..
Charles Day who saw the affair. The Judge
said he considered the testimony of one disin-
terested witness worthy of more weight than a
great many interested ones, and closed ty say.
ing that he believed that Mr.. Stanton did make
the assault. He accordingly fined him $40 and
costs. Mr.. Stanton was very indignant at this
and appealed from the decision. 1t is one
thing to appeal and quite another to procure
bondsmen for your appearance, and this latter
thing MIR. S. could not do. Neither could he
pay his fine as he did not possess the wealth
requisite. Accordingly the members of the
colony took up contribution last evening and
paid his fine and he was released.
Judging from the remarks made at the trial
Mr.. Stanton considers that the despatch which
Mr.. Linberg sent to Texas calling him fraud
was what prevented him from making the
necessary arrangements for the colony in
Texas when he was there last He said that
after that dispatch was received no one would
listen to him.
Last evening another meeting of the colony
was held and another election of officers was
gone through with, with about the same result
as before. Mr. Stanton was very humble and
said that he did not wish to continue as presi-
dent longer, but was willing to step down and
out and become one of the high privates in the
grand army. He continued to say that he had
done all he could, but that the scheme was too
large for him and he was willing some one else
should take the wheel. This talk had the de-
sired effect and several of the crowd became
enthusiastic for his support. Accordingly
when an election of officers was called for Mr..
Stanton and his friends succeeded in electing
the following:
Presidential. Stanton.
Vice President-Martin Hyer.
Treasurer-E. L. Dyer.
Secretary-Charles Choate.
Mr.. Stanton and his friend Mr. Appleton,
wanted to start for Texas at once, but the colo
ny did not see how he could raise the wind.
Out of $500 paid into the treasury it is all gone
but 50 cents. The officers have all of them
voted themselves good fat salaries unbeknown
to the members of the colony.
Just as the meeting was drawing to close
Mr.. Severns one Of the members of the colony,
arose ard addressed the meeting in few plain
words. He denounced Mr.. Stanton and the
whole management, and said that if anyone
really wanted to 60 to Texas he had prepared
10 hsnI, 1n 4l,os- 81
Seeing the turn affairs were taking Mr.. Stanton
ordered the lights turned out and the crowd
was turned into the street. Mr. Severns, how.
ever, was determined and he called his men
about him and they repaired to a neighborug
room where forty three of the best men in the
colony signed the paper at once. Mr.. Stanton
followed Severns up and tried to coax him to
give up the revolt, but it was useless
1t is very evident that the backbone of Mr.
Stanton's scheme is broken now if there ever
was anything to break, and he is quite as like
~ to take co'ony to the moon as he is to
Texas. The very best men in the company
(not the ofice-holders) have gone back on him
and propose to do something for themselves.
Mr.. Severns and Mr.. Lawrence, two smart,
energetic young men, are at the head of the
new movement and they will no doubt do
something. They go to Boston this morning
to consult with Mr.. Hanson of Texas in regard
to land and will return and.report to the colo
ny at once. As all of: the paying members
have left the old crowd the headquarters will
probably not long be open.
Mr.. Manchester of the Missouri, Kansas &
Texas road was in the city yesterday and was
stopping at the Preble. He offered the colony
good land at low price, but just then they
were busy devising means to get their presi-
listen to him.