Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-12
Washington County Court.


The County Court came to an end last satur-
day. after n session Of thrty-seven days The
term was both long and important, especially In
its criminal trials, which resulted in the CONVECTION
Of the Painfeld and Warren incendiaries. In the
Warren case, motions in arrest OF judgment nave
been filed, which will he heard by the court some
time in the course Of q month. The motions say
that the verdict should be set aside and ne"
trial granted BECAUSE first, Jesse T. Perry, o'
Duxbury, one Of the jurors said after the trial,
that the respondents were guilty dogs every one
of them, and that he had made up his mind they
were all the time before the trial second because
the charge of the court was delivered by Judge
Redfeld, sitting alone upon the bench neither OF
the side judges being present; third, because
the reading Of the testimony to the jury by the
reporter on Thanksgiving morning, after they
had been out all night, took place with Judge
Redfield alone presiding; fourth because the YER
diets were received by Judge Redfied alone
neither Of the assistant judges sitting with him.
The question Of whether the presiding Judge alone
can legally charge a jury or take verdict In
criminal cases has often been discussed among
the members Of the bar, but has never been passed
upon by the Supreme Court. In civil cases it. Is
ulttn uuHt Nlluoul tlN'Ntl'hi buN h"''J Wv
contend that for the County Court to act legally
a majority Of its members must be present as in
the case of board of selectmen.
hearing will also take place in the famous Fos-
ter divorce case, sometime in the vacation Since
the decision of the Supreme Court on the mdndd-
mus Mr.. Foster has complied with the order of
temporary almony so far as to send his wife
two hundred dollars as little something in
hand the whilst"
DIVORCES.
The following divorces were granted during the
last week of the term: Helen W. Page, Of Plain
field. from Alonzo H. Page forintoerable severity
and refusal to support and the petitioner allowed
to resume her maiden name Of Helen NJ. Mellen
Betsey H. Arbuck,e, of East Montpelier, from
Philander Arbuckle, for intolerable severity
and refusal to support, and the custody of the
children, Hattie c. and Freddie ~, given to the
mother; Mary L. Langley, of Montpelier, from
Rufus W. Langley, for intoerabe severity, and
custody OF the minor child, Eva, given to the
mother; Edna +. Stowe, Of Plainfeld, from Cal.
win T. Stowe, for intolerable severity and numer.
Gus adulteries with many women, and the peti.
TONER allowed to resume her name during hei
first overture Edna L. Wales, and the custody
Of the minor child Eddie n, given to her; Mary
c. Ransow, Of Mortified, from Sidney w. Ran
slow, of Charlotte, for intolerable severity, and
the custody of the minor child, Hattie c.. given t.
the petitioner
The cases of George NJ Smith, of Montpelier
rs Clara Smith, for intolerable severity; Eliza
bath Kew, of Warren, rs. Robert Kew, for into
cradle severity; and Angelina Kenaston, of Cabot
Us Fernando c. Kenaston, for intoerabe severity
and refusal to support were heard and still nm
decided 1t il not believed that they will be at pres
ent William Blair, of Waitsfeld rs. Sarah Blair
for intoleable severity was dismissed. The cases
of John H. Peck, of East Montpelier, rs. Florence
c. Peck of Elkhart city, Illinois, for intolerabl,
severity; Dora A. Downing, Of Woodbury., rs
Richard Downing, for intoerabe severity, were
discontinued.
! This has been the most remarkable term of the
court for filthy divorce cases since the law wal
passed allowing oral testimony in the Count,
Court The trial of Stowe rs Stowe in particular
was disgusting in its indecent details. The proc
/ tended to show that the husband had beer
/ guilty of the most unnatural cruelty and repeated
infidelity, and ought to be an inmate of the stat
prison Outrageous as the testimony was, three
married women, residents Of the town, remained
in the gallery spectators during the entire trial
and in fact during the trial of every divorce case
displaying Il hardness of forehead and brassnes
of cheek which even the most hardened of thu
male sex might have envied.