St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-12-21
Out of Jail Again.

OuI OF JAN Again.
Geo. Metcalf was released from iail
Saturday, on a pardon signed by the
Governor. Metcalf was convicted early
IN July of ID offenses for selling liquor,
$50 and cOsts-and for assault upon
Geo. GOOdall of East st. Johnsbury-
$40 and cOsts-amounting in all to
about 5000. Being unable to pay his
fine he has been in Jail the last five
months. We understand he was re-
leased on condition that he pay 500
and leave the state. We learn also that
this course was advised by both the
States Attorney and the Judge of the
court. We do not know on what
grounds, but presume it was thought
better to reduce his fine to sum he
could pay, rather than board him all
winter and then pardon him without
any remuneration. But on whatever
grounds the petition for pardon was
based, large share of the community
will believe it a mistake, for they con-
slider that there is no place where such
men as Metcalf and Wilkinson can be
kept so cheaply, or with such safety to
the public, as behind the prison bars.
Some of our readers may have for
gotten the circumstances which led to
the arrest of Metcalf. Early one Sab
bath morning last summer, three out of
four young men who were out on a
carousal upon the mill pond in this
village, were drowned. The fourth and
only survivor, disclosed that Metcalf
furnished the liquor with which they
became intoxicated. He was arrested
slipped the officer and fled to Canada /;
returned to the Barton horse race,
where he was arrested and brought to
Jail in this place. Some two or three
weeks ago, there was another Sunday
morning row in our village, disturbing
the citizens and disgracing our town.
This time the participants disclosed
that Mrs. Metcalf 1.-THE mother of George)
furnished the liquor. She too was ar
rested and placed in Jail, together with
her partner in business, but their pat
rons were soon induced to pay their
fines and they were released on cOndi-
ton that they leave town at once. And
we learn that when young Metcalf's fine
was fixed at 500 OH Friday last, Dick
Wilkinson was summoned from Barton
by telegram, and the money was
forthcoming without delay. How would
a different plan work-when such char
acters pay their fines, make the con-
dition that they shall remain in town,
where they are known, and where they
have wholesome fear of the officers of
the law, rather than send them away to
places where they are unknown, and
where they can repeat their crimes upon
an unsuspecting community 2
Caledonia Court.--Dec. Term, 1877.
Hon. IONA. Ross, Presiding Judge.
HON. C. Il. A. HUMPHREY ! Assn Jrdoes
Hon. M. r. GRAY,
A. E. Rankin, Clerk.
C. A. Willard, Deputy Clerk.
w. III. Preston, Sheriff.
Henry C. Ide, States Attorney.
Elisha May, Court Auditor.
State u.s.. Theodore Hutchinson. Yer
dict guilty.
State vS. Marcellus Colby. Indictment
for adultery with Ada Smith, wife OF
Noble c.. Smith. The case showed a
state of affairs that indicated that ha-
rems were not confined to the country
of the Sultan but that Burke had men
and women who were too much mar
ried. The witnesses for the state were
pretty well impeached but the circum-
stances were such that the jury very
properly found the respondent guilty
The respondent took exceptions and
the case will probably go TO the SUI
preme Court. States Attorney fol
State. Belden for deft.
No. 80. Harley A. ButterJfeld Us. Geo
C. Laurence. Replevin for one piano
forte which plff. claimed belonged to
him that the instrument was purchased
in part with the funds that came to his
wife from a former husband Winslow
and the balance from his own funds
Deft. claimed that the piano was the
sole and separate property OF the wife
Verdict for deft for return of the prop
erty and one dollar damage. G. w
|
Cahoon for plff. Belden and lde fol
deft.
No. 90. JehiaI POaCers Us. Abel A
Pierce and Son. Assumpsit for ii M
feet of hemlock logs. Plff. claimed thai
the deft. purchased the logs and to b'
delivered upon the bank of the Pas
sumpsic river above deft's mill. Th'
logs were drawn to the river bank ant
were measured by one Fisher, but TIM
defts. never agreed to the measure IL
express terms. The logs were carried
off by fresbet the next spring ant
were lost. The questions in litigation
were those of delivery and acceptance
Verdict for defts. Belden and lde TO
DIFF. Cahoon and Dickey for defts.