St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-05-03

iniouity that have been developed by
this road and the men who have con-
trolled it. Its sale to new company,
with prospective change in its entire
management, awakens the hope that a
new leaf is to be turned in its history,
and that this great road will hereafter
be conducted in an honorable manner
and for the public benefit. If its new
purchasers redeem the promise they
have made to the public, the people OF
New York will have reasons to rejoice
that the road has changed hands.
In the death of VIM. Orion, Presl-
dent of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, this city has lost one OF her
greatest business geniuses. So strictly
did Mr.. Orion confine himself to his own
affairs and so little ado did he make I'D
the discharge of his immense duties,
that public attention was seldom hxed
upon him, and it was not until the
whole press began to ring with MS
posthumOus praises that we realized
how important man he was. His
management of the Western Union was
an almost unparalleled success. On his
election to the presidency, the company
was virtually bankrupt, and 1T was not
until several years of his skillful and
laboriOus administration that it came
out into comparatively clear sailing,
and gave signs of becoming what it has
since become, one of the most powerful
and wide reaching corporations in the
world.
Mr.. Orton's death, which was from
apoplexy, the result of long continued
overwork, was very sudden, he having
been in perfect health up to within a
few hours of his death. His funeral,
which took place on Thursday, from
the Episcopal church of which he was a
devoted member, was attended by
grand cOncOurse of eminent mOurners.
Roscoe COnkling was one of the pail
bearers, and among the thrOng that
assembled to do honor to his memory
was included almost every man of local,
political, commercial, or social prom
inence.
The town is just now chuckling over
rather neat thing in police court JUS
tice. One day this week a man was
canght in the act of carrying off val
liable lot of lead pipe from house be-
longing to a wealthy and well-known
carpet manufacturer of the city. He
was arrested and taken, plumber and
all, before the nearest police justice,
who, on hearing the facts, sent a mes
senger to the carpet manufacturer afOre-
said, to come over to court, identify the
property and make charge against the
thief, all in due form. But the owner
refused to comply; he said the man had
been stopped and the property recover
ed, which was all he cared about, and
that he wouldn't take the time to make
a complaint. This reply having been
communicated to the court, word was
sent back to the obdurate carpet man
that it was necessary for him to prefer
the charge or nothing could be done
about the larceny this second message
received the same answer as before,
namely, that the property had been re-
covered. which was all he was inter-
ested in and that he wouldn't be both
cred with prosecuting the fellow. On
receiving this second rebuff, the Justice
turned to the prisoner and told him
that as there was no charge against him
he could go. The lucky thief who could
hardly realize his good fortune in a case
where the facts were so clearly against
him, stared speechless at the judge for
il minute, and then made break for
the door, "Hold on" said his Honor,
''cOme back and take this lead pipe
with you, there is no evidence before
the Court that it does not belong to
yOu.n With broad grin the eX-pris-
Oner complied and at once made him
self scarce, while the Court, amid the
laughter and applause of the bystand-
ers, calmly proceeded with its business.
1t is not safe yet to inquire of that
carpet maker whether he has lost any
lead pipe lately. RADIX.