davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01
narcHELDER, OF LINCOLN.


under cloud.
At the annual meeting of the stockhoia-
ers of the Brandon National Bank, recently
held, the number of directors was inereaseu
frcm five to eight, and majority opposeu
to the old management were elected. An
examination of the books disclosed the iact
that over 500 600 had been loaned to ) D.
Batchelder, Of Lincoln. The CASHIER
D. C. Baseom, resigned last Saturday,
and Frank E. Briggs was elected IN his
place, but the resignation is understood 20
be compulsory, and was demanded because
of his connection with the affairs OF MI
R,tcbelder. The bank has capital OF
5000 900, surplus of $50, 900. and deposits
of sometbing like q quarter of a million.
John A. Conant is the president. Mr.
Bascom was formerly cashier OF the
Orwell bank; is son-iu-law OF the late
Judge Bottum. of Orwell, and brother-in-
law of George r. Bottum, OF Rutland, anu
of Henry l.. Dodge. formerly OF tbs city
and has always borne q high rep utstion'
personaIly and as a man of business.
Batchelder lies in Middlebury Jail await
ing examination. 1t is charged that he raised
a note of five hundred dollars to thirteen
thousand five hundred, and three notes ior
the same amount to four thousand hVe nun
cred dollars each. Last week ne start
ed for the West, bat on Saturday
the Brandon bank attached his proper
ty, and intercepted him by telegraph
at Schenectady with request to return
with which he promptly complied. He ar
rived in Rutland Monday noon and was at
once arrested. lie protests his Innocence
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01

lies ill at Rutland, through grief and anx-
iety. The property he has turned over to
the bank is said to be worth twenty thou
sand dollars. the latest statement is that
the bank is short Sl25, 900.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01

On New Years day, one Mccain, OF Brid-
port, started to go to Ticorderoga by way
of Crown Point. Arriving at the latter
place. he met an acquaintance, Peter Besette.
a butcher. who invited him to ride with
him, as he was going to Tlconderosa
They drank glass or two Of liquor and
went out together to get up the team.
Soon after boy saw Besotte driving away
rapidly, and Mccain lying insensible on the
ground near the bar-roOm steps. lie was
taken into the house and cared for, and his
skull was found to be fractured and collar
bone broken. lie has been unconscious
ever since, except at short intervals, and
his physician has no hope of his recovery
During one of those lucid intervals he told
his wife that the butcher struck him with
the butt Of his horsewhip, but no relapses
into Inconsistencies too soon to give par
ticulars of the assault. Bcsette (who has
since disappeared) has a bad temper and
it appears had an old grudge against Nc
Cain. Mccain had pocket-bOok contain
ing some money and some. notes when he
started out, and neither pOcket-boOk, money
nor notes were found.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01
TATRo's CONFESSION.

Since the passing of sentence upon Ed
ward Tatro. the murderer of Mrs. Alice
Butler, at uighgate. June ?, 1876, it tran
spires that, in conversation with his fellow :
prisoners in the cocnty jail, he has talked
freely about the details of the crime, and
stated the exact manner OF its commission
This story is substantially as follows: Be
ing lett alone with Mrs. Butler, he deter
mined to outrage her. With that view, ne
went into her room up stairs, where she
was sitting on the bed. sat down by her and
attempted to accomplish his purpose. one
resisted and started to go down stairs, when
no seized the chair or stool, when STOOD
near the bed, and struck her on the head
with it, knocking her down. She got up,
and then told him if he would let her go
down stairs, she would accede to his WISHES.
When she started down the stairs he sus-
pected, from her manner, that she was IN
tending to escape him, so he again seized
her, and they went struggling down the
stairs together. which would account for the
blood stains and marks on the staircase walls.
Down stairs she again escaped him, and
ran towards the outside door, near which
her mutilated body was found. lie pursued
aud overlook her, and, seizing a stick OF
wood from the box close by, knocked her
down again, and finished her with the axe.
Then, while she was writing in the
struggle of death. he says land has re-
peatedly asserted). he accomplished his
fendish purpose 81 started out to do 1t, -,
says this Young scoundrel. land by.
did" This is the account of the murder
which several of Tatro's fellow-prIsoners say
and are ready to swear he has given them re-
peatedly in the Jail. relating it without the
slightest indication Of emotion or regret.
Those who haYe been where they have seen
most of him since his arrest, say they do
not believe be has experienced single
feeling of remorse for the awful deed, but
only the dread of punishment.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01
B.rcHELpER's MoDrs oPERAsDI.

Within the past year Batchelder has
bought large quantities of pine clapboards
in Michigan He has done his banking
business exclusively with the National Bank
of Brandon, and has been one of their
largest, Oldest and best customers. Since
coming to Mddlebury it has been his prac-
tice to draw drafts on customers who had
purchased OF him, at 30 or 90 days,
or six months time. These drafts were not
always bona fde Some of them were drawn
upon parties with whom be had never had
dealings. The drafts were placed to his credit
and eventually a large amount of the banks
money was placed in his credit. Aug. 18th
1877, four months note of thirteen thou
sand five hundred dollars, bearing the sigma
lures of Daniel and Pittiah Cove, supposed
now to have been forged, vas discounted
and placed to Batehelder's credit. Four
more notes bearing the same signatures,
two dated Jan. lst. and two JAN 18th,
1878, were raised 30 four thousand five
hundred each, but were not discounted By
the bank. These were given with the in
tent of taking up the Sl3 500 note.
Batchelder had drawn about 100000 worth
Of these drafts which had been placed to his
credit, a good share of which are worthless,
and had also overirawn his account Sl0,-
600.
SEVERAL LINCOLN PEOPLE EMBARRASSED.
A great many of the people of Lincoln,
from where Batchelder formerly came, are
involved with him, either By signing or
holding his papers. His father-in-law,
Daniel Cove, has signed to the amount Of
s., 500 with him Pittiah Cove, $4,000; ".
N Cove, $500; Hon. Danl II. Sargent.
$500, and numerous others in other
amounts. Several other failures in Lincoln
are inevitable. and almost the WHO'S town
will be financially embarrassed.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE PRELIMINARY HEARING.
The hearing Of James Il. Batchelder,
which was set for Wednesday, before JUS
tice Lyman E. Knapp, al Midilebury, has
been postponed until Monday, February
4th, at 10 O'Clock a. m. at the Court House
on account of the absence. through sick
ness. of Cashier Bascom. B4tchelder's
counsel, E. r. Hard and james NJ, Slade,
endeavored to have him admitted to bail.
but did not succeed. F. E. Woodbridge sp-
peared for the State, and. Ormsbee and
Briggs, of Brandon, and Stewart and FL
dredge, of Middlebury. for the Brandon
bank.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01

Presiient-IIon. Horace Fairbanks.
Vice Presidenr-Hon. Hilapd Hall.
Corresponding Secretary-C. NJ. Bliss.
Recording Secretary-Olin Scott.
Treasurer-Milo c. HuliDg.
DirectOrs-IIon. Horace Fairbanks, Gov
ernor of Vermont; Hon. Benz. F. Prescott,
Governor OF New Hampshire Hon. Alex.
n. Rice, Governor of Massachusetts, f. j.
Phelps, A. B. Gardner, Ii. G. Root, Rev.
Isaac Jennings.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01

The Matthews resolution which passed the
Senate on Friday, declares that, whereas
the United States bonds were declared by
law 10 be redeemable in coin of the standard
value, and whereas the silver dollar OF 4l2i
grains had been declared to be legi tender,
with the other coins of standard value,
therefore be it enacted that the bonds issued l.,
or to be issued, under the acts of Congress
recited. "are payable, principal and interest,
at the option of the Government oil the
United States, in silver dollars, of the coin
age of the United States, containing 4l2t
grains each of standard SILVER, and that to
restore to its coinage such silver coins rs a
legal tender in payment of said bonds, rrin-
cipal and interest, is not in violation Of tie
public faith, nor in dcrogation of the rights
of the public creditor"
When this came up for final action, the
question was first taken on Mr.. Eimunds' 5
amendment, providing that Government bonds
must be paid " in gold coin or its equlva-
lent, and that any other payment, without
the consent of the creditor, would be in yio-
lation of the public faith and in derogation
of his rights.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-26
Texan Productions.

We clip the following from Texas ex-
changes:
Brownvood Banner June Is; Mr.. J. Md
kif, who lived on the bayou in this county,
and about % miles northwest from Brown
wood, has threashed l oil busbeisof splendid
wheat from 40 acres of land the present sea-
son, and this after his entire field was over
flowed last winter ano part of his wheat con-
siderably injured.
San Marcos, Hays county, Free Press,
June 10: John @. Hill. living Is miles from
the mill, had two acres of ground in wheat.
The two produced lib bushelsl One acre OF
said ground was in Nicaragua wheat. Mr..
Little informed us that 80 bushels TO the
acre was considered only common yield
UP that way. Five years ago, when we first
came to this place, there were only few
small fields of wheat to be seen, and the
people generally laughed at the idea OF It's
being a wheat country. Now the opinion IS
becoming general that western Texas will
surpass northern and fairly rival California
as a grain-growiDg region
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-26

THE Journal declares that resumption is at
hand, and that any effort to repeal the re-
sumption act is an effort to obstruct the
prosperity of the country. Now we would
like to know what the Journal means by re-
sumption. If resumption comes when the
greenback is par with gold why did repub-
hcan senate decline to make greenbacks on
pa with gold when they refused to make
them receivable for customs, and also refused
to repeal the resumption law, which
law provides for the retirement of
all greenbscks? Evidently they mean
by resumption the redemption OF the green
backs and their retirement, in accordance
with the text of the resumption law. Now,
there has been passed law by congress for
bidding the retirement of greenbacks, and
when the house sent its bill 10 the senate
making greenbacks a full legal tender, which
put them on par with gold in every re-
spect, the senate rejected it. Now, what Is
meant by resumption in the republican creed?
Does 1T mean par money with gold? If it
does, why reject a measure that makes that
certain? By the refusal of the republican
senate to pass bill to repeal the resumption
law, doesn't it look as If they mean that
resumption must come from contraction2
Won't this further contraction be another
turn in the screw that has pressed
the life out of the business interests Of the
country? The business community demands
and has right to know whether contraction
has ceased or whether 1t must go on How
does John Sherman construe and how does
the Journal construe the law prohibiting the
retirement of the greenback currency? We
pause for reply.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-26

all these things? And why IL there a clan1or
rising from the mouths of the millions, deep
toned; admonishing the country that there Is
the administration of the monetary affairs OF
this country?
These figures and the conclusions arrived
at by Mr.. Bright are absolutely correct and
invulnerable. They tell the history OF con-
traction and Its fearful consequences. They
demolish false bookkeeping and the equally
false theories of the shylocks, who have
sought by torturing figures and compelling
them to lie, to hush the Indignation of the
people as they were driven from employ
ment into this clutches of poverty, and COM
PEELED to starve in sight of an
abundance of food. The people are
aware that this contraction policy
of the radical party is the chief cause of all
their woes. They have a vivid recollection
of the fact that after the war had closed,
from 1865 to 1873, there were work and wages
and food. The country was prosperous, the
people were happy and contented. But the
curse of contraction had been silently under
mining the superstructure of the country's
prosperity, and IN 1878 the crash came The
OlttcI lIuASS vi cOntractlOn mao rlpeneO.
II Jehovahs vengeance had struck
down the industries of the country
they could not have been more suddenly
silenced Failures followed each other in
such rapid succession that the panic of 1873
continued and is even yet upon the country.
Enterprise vanished, capital stood still, con-
fidence fled and has never returned, and
labor has suffered such agonies that could
they find expression in one concentrated
vail, it would shake the country like the
tramp of an earthquake. For these curses
the radical party is responsible, and the people
will hold it accountable at the polls Such
has been their verdict for several years past
and to-day had the will of the people pre-
vailed instead OF fraud, the government
would have been in the hands of the demo-
cratic party instead of the men whose aim
has been contraction without any regard for
the welfare of the country.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-26
THE EUROPEAN CONGRESS-.

The assembling of the European congress
at Berlin marks distinctly an epoch and a
new departure in European affairs, and is
well calculated to profoundly impress other
nations besides those which are represented
around Bismarck's council board Those
who study the situation will notice that
royalty alone is represented, except in the
case of France which happens to rate as a
republic where the people are supposed to
have voice in shaping public affairs, but
which, after all, is so mixed up with
the traditions of the empire and the infiu-
ences of the old titled nobility, that its
progress is slow and its present form of gov
eminent by no means secure. The congress
is composed of men. with the exception
named, who represent kings, and the mil
lions of people whose present condition and
future destiny should be the supreme ques-
tons are no more regarded than il they
were so many beasts of burden. The New
York Herald prints diagram of the council
table and the position of each of the repre-
sentat.ves who are to discuss the affairs of
Europe Here it is:
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-26
s2N.0B,22

s25O,0lS PIP
.section sI76. June s, 1851 Treasury notes
bearing interest may be paid TO any creditor
of the United states at their face value. eXclud-
ing interest, or TO any creditor willing to re-
ceive them at par, including interest"
Mr.. McCulloch said "A verylarge portion OF
1854, l3S 9ig were "A legal tender, to wit, United
States notes, $685. $50 500: per cent notes, s33-
954 2S0; compound interest notes, s2l7 ,0A, lbO."
II thus appears that the amount In actual
circulation Is only S230O00.0O0. And for what
purpose? will repeat summary which had
OCCASION TO produce IN speech addres- ed TO
spread over illlimitable territory; 10 distr1o-
ute among forty-five millions OF people; 10
furnish money for the saleable part OF S4O,OOO,-
OOoO00; of property; TO pay NATIONAL state,
county, city, corporation, and individual IN
debtedness amounting to $1,000 O0O OOO; 10 pay
for the marketable part of SlO,OOOOOO,OJO OF an
nual productions; TO pay annual taxation,
United States, state, county and town SOL ,0OO-
900; to pay annual interest on the public and
private debt 500, 900 600; TO pay for the annual
Construction and operation of railroads, III OJO,-
000Ooo; TO pay for annual imports into the
port OF Schools colleges, churches, pook con-
Germs, newspapers; for building houses ana
towns founding new states, ana 70 pay Tor the
every day upon the railroads and pubic
thorougbfares, s5O0OOO,OOO more"
And sfill we hear the cry of contraction,
Contraction! Contraction is the relief OF all
our woes: while, upon the other hand, your
country, your population Is in expansion. your
expansion, and moving with raee-horse speed
in the opposite direction, while you would
compress and bind and cripple every expand
ing Industry In the country. An absurd PROP
osition, TO say the most and the best for IL,
with due respect TO those who advocate the
doctrine.
As evidence that we have not enough money
let any individual cast his eye across the
country. Why do you see your commerce IAN
gushing? Why do you see your commerce
now blushing before the commerce OF other
countries? Why do You look upon your mute
mills and manufacturing establishments
Why does the nation bow its ear i'm vain 20
hear the dull thunder OF its looms and the
rumbling Of Its machinefyl Why does the
nation look upon so many laoorers anu opera
tives who have been expelled from the nelds
and shops and mills, and wandering as vag-
rants through the country and through your
streets, and with their children clamoring for
bread aud clothed In rags and tattersY why
is n that you see your lands deprecated IN
their value. and your productions reduced in
a corresponding ratio? Why so many houses
sold to meet the taxes Of the slater Why are
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-26

SILVER is getting to be an intolerable nui-
sance. Men are loaded down with il and do
not know how to get rid of il, and IL accumu-
lates upon them but they can not pay duties
with it, nor force it on the government, nor
settle private accounts with It. They are
gorged with It.; factories and banks are con-
gested with IL, and there are no means of get
ting rid of IL. As for the Bland silver, 1t w ii
stay in the United states vaults and silver
certificates will be issued for il. This is kind
of expansion. The certificates will circulate
at a rate above greenbacE1s, because duties can
be paid in them. And yet they can not be
bought with fractional silver and trade dollars.
Here is pretty outcome of democratic legisla-
ton. No one is thankful ct for the currency
dOings OF this congress If congress does not
get home in few days il will begin TO be over
whelmed with petitions to undo its silver
coinage bills.-Philadelphia Press
II is possible that some of the radical
organs have information that an abundance
OF silver dollars has INSTRUCTED trade, de-
pressed business, Frustrated industries, in
creased the army of idlerS, widened the
area Of pinching poverty and intensified the
pangs of hunger. If such be the case they
ought to say so or hush their twaddle about
accumulations OF silver dollars in certain To-
caliiies John Sherman has done what he
could to deprive the country of the benefit
Of the reconciliation of silver, and it is not
surprising that his pals denounce the meas
ure and do what lies in their power to aid
him in his deep seated hostility to the well
fare of the country.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-26
CONTRACTION.

"Shylocks demanded resumption. John
sherman and his predecessors said they should
have II. To accomplish resumption, c0ntrac.
ton was inevitable, and with contraction OF
the currency came evils for which there can
be no adequate OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
A sufficient reply to. thousands of columns
of such stuff is the simple statement that there
is more than three times much paper
money in the country now as there ever was
at any time previous to the war, and the
amount per capita to the population OF the
country Is considerably more than twice as
great as it was In 1850. Not only this but there
lattOn now than there was before the panic OF
1875 The treasury statement of June 30 1873,
preceding the panic, showed the amount of
United States currency of all kinds (including
fractional currency outstanding, was $4Ol ,527,-
267; the statementior April so, 1878, shows the
9l9,09S, but besides this there is an actual cir
cuati0n OF sis0O0e0O Of silver OF which So, s02,
QUO Is subsidiary coin. This makes The present
volume of government money in circulation
about s4O6 10000 against only s40l 527 ,257 in
1913, showing an expansion instead OF contrac-
ton Ii the Sentinel ever used anything but
IL to reply to these facts, but that would be
waste OF time.-Journal.
With regard to contraction and its blight
ing effets upon the business of the country
the Sentinel has always given the figures to
demonstrate the correctness OF its statements
aud conclusions. The Journal is never hon
est upon any subject. Its purpose is always
to mislead. The party of which it is an
organ never sought or obtained success by
straightforward, honest declarations. 1t has
been party of treason, stratagems and
spoils, of frauds and forgeries and perjuries
and every prop beneath the lettering radical
superstructure to-day is bending and break
ing beneath a.weight Of crimes such as no
other party in any country under heaven
ever supported, and which will inevitably
damn it, The radical party has been as un-
truthful in regard 70 currency matters as it
has been upon all other questions touching
the welfare OF the country. 1t has lied per-
sistently about the volume of currency at
certain dates, and it has lied about the
course of contraction. Let us see On June
IA, 1876, Hon. John NJ. Bright of Tennessee,
delivered a speech in congress upon finances.
He said: rU
. On the 3lst of August, 1885, the public debt
reached its highest point, as appears from
finance report, 1867, pages 3 and 4, the most OF
which used :