davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
An Incident of the Convention.

Straws show which way the wind
blows. On the refusal of the county
mass -delegate convention to substitute
the name of Henry C. Ide, our present
efficient prosecuting attorney, for that
of I'll. E. Carter, the man who cheered
the longest and the loudest is now rest
ing under several criminal indictments.
We do not blame him for his hearty
applause. With Mr.. Ide defeated his
chances of conviction are lessened a
hundred fold, and he knows it. ssNo
rogue ere felt the halter draw, with
good opinion of the law" or of vigilant
and efficient officers either; and if
Sheriff Preston had brought into the
convention his sixteen prisoners, they
would doubtless all have voted for a
change of states attorney and sheriff.
Every rum-seller and rum drinker.
every keeper of house of ill fame.
every burglar, abortionist, thief, or
criminal of any sort, would vote the
same way. They all believe in rotation
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28

THE FIGHT WITH A TRAMP.-A
tramp entered the house of William w.
FORSYTH at Providence unbidden on Sat
urday evening, and was warned to
knock, if he came again, but soon after
Mr.. Forsyth found him in the kitchen.
The tramp advanced with dirk-knife
uplifted, and Forsyth, who is in feeble
health, fed to the bedroom, secured
revolver, and, presenting it, ordered the
tramp to leave the house. The tramp
rushed forward with the knife, when
FORSYTH fired, and the ball hit the top
of the tramp's head. The tramp then
grasped Forsyth by the throat and at
tempted to throw him over the bannis-
tiers, but was prevented by FOrsyth's
wife. Forsyth freed his arm and fired
again, lodging the ball in the head of
his antagonist, who fled short distance,
but was captured. A surgeon was IN
able to find the second ball, and pro-
nOunces the wound fatal. The wound
ed man says he is Michael Highland of
Newark, n. j., and that he has been
year in the Buffalo IN. " wOrkhOuse.
He is evidently insane on religion he
repeated the Lords prayer on his knees
while the surgeon was probing for the
ball. He would doubtless have over
powered and killed Forsyth, had it not
been for the assistance bravely rendered
by Mrs. Forsyth.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28

Tn New York rapid transit continues
to be success. The new olA1h 800 1,e
line is said to be carrying an avol I5r
of twenty thousand passengers u1 10y ,
and the East Side road Is .rapiuiy ap
preaching completion. Inc on III
inal' elevated road tins week oalo.J
escaped terrible catastrophe Oh Ore &c
wich street. A lot OF young raganluL,nS5
filed an old sack with stones. anu
climbing up to the track by one Oh In9
supporting pillars, fastened tne sacA
across one of the rails, presumably Iol
the fun of seeing a train full OF people
sent crashing down into the stree'
twenty feet below. Fortunately ine
abstraction was seen and removed III
time to prevent this catastrophe. ne
ripeleader of this band OF miniature
train-wreckers has reached the mature
ace of ten wears. He will make an IN
Valuable member of society if he lives
long enough.
Are pews-stands a nuisance and an
obstruction to the streets That is one
of the leading questions of the day here,
and one which has raised tempest III
the municipal teapot. Some weeks
ago the Common Council passed an or
dinance authorizing the erection of one
of the obnoxious structures on a certain
street corner. Property owners objected
and s'mussn was the result. Judge
Hackett's attention was called to the
subject and he in turn instructed the
Grand Jury in the matter in such a
manner that they promptly found a
true bill against the sixteen offending
aldermen. The latter became alarmed
and retained half dozen lawyers,
among whom was David Dudley Field,
to protect them against the Nemesis of
public opinion. Their counsel made
the usual motion to quash the indict-
ment on technical grounds, and, after
hard fight, have succeeded. The alder
men breathe freely again but they
have had their lesson, and have learned
a little wholesome respect for the laws,
which they very much needed.
RADIX.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
Great Fire at Springfield, VT.
,D,.natcb 10 tbe Boston Jourual |


sPR1NGFIELD, VT, June %. The
buildings of the Vermont Novelty Works
Company. consisting of shops, dry
bonse. Office, barn, boarding house and
the large amount of lumber and stock
in process of manufacture, were totally
DESTROYED by fire this evening. The
fire caught evidently from spontaneous
combustion, as it was discovered in
some sawdust underneath planning
machine. So rapid was the spread of
the fire that the many streams OF water
had no effect to quell the flames, and
the firemen and others who we're en-
deavoring to save property were soon
driven back by the intense heat. Not
much of value was saved, except teams.
Loss about $75,0 600; insured in about
twenty companies for $4,000. The
danger was so great that parties, living
in the vicinity of the fire removed their
goods, and manufacturers removed their
machinery. The wooden mill was in
great danger, but was saved. The nov
city works employed about one hun
bred and twenty-five men making chill
dren's carriages, toys, ETC., probably
the largest mandatory in southern
Vermont and of its kind in New Eng
land. A few were injured or overcome
by heat, but none fatally.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
The Reason Why.

The voters of Caledonia county should
have re-nOminated the present States
Attorney and Sheriff last Thursday, not
because they want the positions or have
any claim upon them-but because they
have proved able and efficient officers {;
because under their administration
crime has been nipped in the bud and
criminals punished because they can
not be bought; because they cannot be
frightened; because they are thorough
going temperance men; and last though
not least, because they went straight
forward about their legitimate business,
and left few wire-pullers in the in
terest of the other parties to manipulate
the convention against them.
The only reason why any officer is
entitled to his office, is because he does
his work faithfully. Office is not created
as snug berth to be handed about
from one to another according as a few
designing men can agree upon, but
when the right man is found for the
office, he should be kept in it for the
public good.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28

Probably most of our readers have
been shocked by the crimes which pre-
vail all over our land to such an alarm
ing extent,-even in our own state,
formerly so free from outrage and muir
der. 1t is only by the fear of punish
ment that criminals are deferred from
running rough-shOd over our rural COM
munity. For the last few years Gale
donia county has had prosecuting
attorney and sheriff, both so vigilant
and efficient, as to be literally 'terror
to evil doers.n Crimes the most adroit
and the hardest to follow home, have
been ferreted out, sometimes months
after their commission, and the perpe
traitors brought to justice. Their motto
might have been, "Let no guilty man
escapem At any rate this has been
their record.
Now it is proposed to turn out these
men and elect some in their places who
can never make their places good, even
after the experience of their predeces-
sors; and for the very good reason that
they have not the qualifications, what
ever their intentions may be. This
must be admitted by all unbiased men
who know the parties. And this is say
ing nothing derogatory to Mr.. Carter
and Mr.. Sulloway. They are not
to blame because they have not the
qualifications for the offices to which
they aspire. Such things cannot be
acquired they are mainly a natural
pift
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28

growl of indignation, and in September
will vote the Irregular" ticket, with a
mental reservation, while a few will
''scratchln or stay away from the polls
altogether. The reasons for this action
are obvious. Both Mr.. Ide and Mr..
Preston have been used well by the
county, and they are gentlemen of too
keen sense of honor to mix into or
sanction any thing irregular y and
the voters generally are not enough in
terested in retaining faithful officers (as
would seem from the action of the con-
vention) to take hold and upset this
little arrangement of half dozen wire
pullers.
1t is good time, however, to recall
the fact that in 1864, when the better
sense of the county was ignored by the
convention, the regular nominee for
states attorney was defeated, and a
Democrat elected. Had the votes not
failed of reaching two towns in the
county, Mr.. Ross would have been cleo
ted, he being run as an independent
candidate without his wish or consent.
That was during the war, when it
was the hight of disloyalty not to vote
the regular ticket. Since then a good
many people have ascertained that both
conscience and their freeman's oath de-
mand that they vote for the best men.
There is no moral or legal obligation
upon any man to vote for any body but
the best man for the place.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
Vermont News.

The Rutland Leader announces that
the State Fair will be held in st. AL
bans, in the second week of September.
Postmasters appointed A. H. Gam
mel at McLerans, Caledonia county +;
George Lance, South Woodbury..
Patrick German of Duxbury awoke
Saturday night to find his house in
flames, and had barely time to escape
with his wife and three little boys. 1t
was the work of an incendiary, who had
killed their Watchdog a few days be-
fore. Loss $500.
MiddlebuIy has been in an uproar
over the scandaIOus performances of
Orville C.. Barnes, the village pho
tographer, and Mrs. GoOdenOugh, who
assisted him in his saloon. For some
time their guilty intimacy has been the
talk of the town, and last week they
were expelled from the Congregational
church, which they Joined on the same
day several years ago. Mrs. GOode-
nOugh then left her husband and went
to live at Barnes's house, though his
wife still remains with him, and while
there the guilty couple received a cali
thumpian serenade. Barnes retaliated
by sprinkling the serenaders with nitrate
of silver, running the clothes of many
of them. He has now been arrested
for adultery, and his paramour has gone
to her parents, well-to-do farmers in
the vicinity.
A large owl was caught in a singular
manner at Manchester the other day.
He entered hen coop in which were
hen aud brood of chickens, the structure
being prOpped up with a stick to allow
the fowls free ingress and exit. As
soon as the owl came in the hen and
chickens ian out in such a hurry as to
knock out the prop and bring the coop
over the owl, holding him prisoner until
the next morning.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
Was It PackedP

In the convention last week, when
one of the objections to the cOnfirma-
ton of the nominations of Carter and
Sulloway was made on the ground that
the committee was packed, Judge Bell
of Walden, stepped out in front of the
audience, and with theatrical flourish,
''hurled back the imputation with
scorn," adding that he was a member
of that committee himself. Let us look
at the facts:
AT the convention two years ago, just
as the meeting was dissolving, Judge
Rogers of WheelOck, offered a resolu-
ton that the next county convention
be mass convention, instead of dele
gate as heretofore. The motion was
carried without debate. Judge Rogers
was then and has been this year, the
most earnest advocate Mr.. SullOway has
had, and was one of the champions in
this convention of the motion to give
each town an equal representation upon
the committee, regardless of the num-
Der of voters in the towns. Does any
intelligent man doubt but that this
packing began two years ago.
Again, previous to the convention,
Sideways friends in Wheelock, and
Carriers friends in Hardwick, struck
hands. All the smaller towns in the
north part of the county, and perhaps
the south too, were visited by their
runners, and enough voters secured for
the convention to make up the COM
mittee of tour from each tom. Even
Kirby, Stannard, Sheffield and Newark,
that scarcely ever send more than a
single man, if any, filed their quota,
and some had men to spare. This
doesn't look as though the convention
was "packed ~
Thirdly, prominent man from the
north part of the county went into Kir-
by and made the distinct proposition to
Mr.. Young, Judge Church's son-in-law,
that if they would fill Kirby's quota for
SullOway and Carter, they would go for
Church for side judge. We have no
doubt the same proposition was made
to Trull's friends in Burke, although
we have not the evidence at hand
Does this look like packing ~
Once more: If there had been no
evidence of packing previously, the
action on the day of the convention, by
which each town had an equal repre-
OH the committee, regardless
of its number of voters, was packing"
in its worst sense.
There is abundant evidence of pack
ing in other towns, but we name Just
enough instances to show how unwisely
a man can hurl his scoln around loose |
like, on the superstition that the 'true
of that convention is a !
secret.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
Chace of Fall River.
SENTENCED TO TWELVE YEARS IN STATE
PRISON.


Samuel Angler Chace, the defaplting
Union mills treasurer at Fall River
pleaded guilty yesterday in the sunerior
court at New Bedford to drawing and
embezzling the money on S25. 900 note
belonging to the Union mills comnanv
IN January, 1875, $4,000 note i'm ,JnIy.
1910, and a $l5,522 note in August.
lo||, and was sentenced to IL wears in
state-prlson and two days of SOLITARY
confinement. The other counts on
winch he was indicted were discontin-
ued by District Attorney Marston. A.
"A. hanney, counsel for Chace, said that
the latter pleaded guilty on the advice
OF MS lawyers, and argued that the de-
gree OF moral turpitude connected with
the case was not as great as might he
thought, for Chace had not used anv of
the money embezzled to enrich bimself
put TO relieve embarrassed circum,
stances into which he found himself
plunged, thinking that they would he
only temporary. He had offended in
issuing notes of the corporation. ON
winch he raised the funds he needed
but he did this to save the interests Of
MS creditors and of the estate of which
ne was executor, and the punishment
ne had already suffered was as great as
any the court could impose. District
Attorney Marston replied that Cbaca
was thorough business man, and nm
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28

S. Angler Chace, the Fall River de-
faulter, was put on trial ut New Bed
ford Monday. He pleaded guilty and
was sentenced to State Prison for twelve
years.
The brig Confederate, coal laden,
while lying off Brien Island, coast OF
New Brunswick, was run into during a
thick fog, early Sunday morning, by
the barque Antwerp and sunk. Three
lives were lost.
General Sherman does not anticipate
general Indian war.
1t is announced that the Troy presbv-
tery's report in relation to the views of
Rev. DIR. Weber on future rewards and
punlshments, expresses ''surprise and
grief" at their enunciation, but does not
recommend discipline.
Postmasters have been instructed TO
receive the little three-cent piece for
postage stamps, and not to reissue
them. The government wishes to get
rid of the little nuisance.
William E. Dodge and wife eelebrat-
ed their golden wedding at Tarrytown
Monday, and there was a large and
distinguished attendance, including 2
sons and IA graDdSons.
Farmers in all parts of Ohio are re-
celving almost daily notices signed
'Workingmen's Bread or Blood Com
mlttee" and warning them against buy
ing saving machinery, and espec-
Tally self-binding reapers. Threats are
made that every such reaper will be
destroyed and stacks of grain burned if
an attempt is made to use them.
The four vessels purchased by agents
OF the Russian government and now nm
dergolng alterations at Cramps shin
yard, Philadelphia, are to be renamed
when completed and ready for service
Nellie Dalton, an employs of the
Mil River button company at Leeds.
Mass, was fatally hurt Monday by GET,
ring her hair caught in the shafting
pulling off her whole scalp.
When couple of New Haven GIRLS
We're followed and insulted by an i1se-
lent puppy the other evening. one of
Them threw red pepper in his ewes and
ne troubled them no more.
- Inc sins of omission of the Forty-fiftb
congress have been as bad as its sins Of
commission. One of the worst of tbaSe
is the neglect to devise some means of
making another electoral controverS,,
IKE that of 1876-77 impossible. Ca,
tainly this doesn't look as if the ~,
ocrais abhorred revolution.
Mrs. Captain jerks of Louisiana
bright, smart, cheeky woman of 35 wos
before the Potter committee. Friday
anu was examined for four hours She
s SAID mat Z, she herself wrote the ceIeo
.. 1rated sherman letter, in resnonse 70
one demand of Weber and Anderson for
guarantee that they should he take ",
care or and gave it to Weber in ne s,,s1"
anu mat s.I Anderson did not know hn1
onat Sherman wrote it. Her story ' i
p bn ,1s face, very improbable. and NAV
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
Letters from the People.

Mr.. Editor lis the southern half of
Caledonia County in a state of rebel
lion ? or what is the reason of the treat
ment this section received in the late
convention Draw line east and west
through this county, passing through
the Court House and the only nominee
OF that convention living south of that
line is the high bailiff from Groton. As
this portion of the county adding DAN
ville) furnish some of the voters that
elect county officers, and as the wishes
of the nominating committee from this
section were totally ignored with the
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
Gang aft a-gley. ~
The Second District.

Political matters have remained so
quiet in this district, that people had
almost forgotten that a member of Con
gress was to be elected this fall. Within
the last few days we understand that
Col. Roswell Farnham of Bradford, will
be candidate before the convention.
This will be good news to his many
warm friends in Caledonia county, and
as against any other man yet named for
the position, we are sure Col. Farnham
should receive the vote of the county.
We have not heard as any other candi-
dates except Messrs. Denison and Farm
ham are yet in the field, but we presume
Windham county will present man
when the convention is called.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
n The writer of these lines had rea

w The writer of these lines had rea-
son to believe last Thursday that a
majority of the Republicans of the
county desired to re-elect our present
States Attorney and Sheriff; and with
out consultation with any body, he en-
tered his protest against dropping them
for new and untried men. He still be-
lieves he is with the majority of the
voters but if he is alone, the duty was
the same to protest against abandoning
tried and faithful officers for untried
and doubtful men. 1t is due our pres
ent states attorney and sheriff that we
make this statement. If any error was
committed, it was the fault of one man,
and he willingly takes the entire re-
sponsibility. Time will tell whether he
was right or wrong.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
Congress Adjourned.

Congress finally got away Thursday
morning, thanks to the colored mem
bers who did not get drunk. The coun-
try can now breathe freer, as it may
not meet again until December. The
most sensible proposition now comes
from the COngregatiOnalist, which is that
"pairs" should be ''effectedn between
all the democrats on one side, and all
the republicans on the other, and the
next Congress unanimously stay at
home. The country could we'll afford
to pay their salaries to have them kept
thus out of mischief.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
Convention Notes.

If Peacham had given her full quota
to the county convention-four dele
gates instead of twO-Mr. Ide would
have been renOminated for States At
torney on the first ballot. All the
southern end of the county but GrOtOn
was solid for Mr.. Ide.
One good result of the late conven-
ton will he to open the eyes of the
people to the burlesque upon justice
which gives representation according to
the square miles, without any regard
to whether said miles are inhabited OF
not.
Mr.. Ide and Mr.. Preston are to be
congratulated on the prospect of early
relief from responsible and very I'M
pleasant duties. But the public are to
be pitied. There is not a man under
Indictment in the county but now thinks
he is sure of acquittal- not without
reason. At any rate the chances are
much more in his favor.
When the south end of the county
asked that it might be represented upon
the county ticket in the person of NJ. r.
Gray, as assistant judge-a most ex-
cellent man and officer-A. E. Judevine
objected said they got along very well
the last two years with two new men,
and thought they could again and in
sisted upon the nomination of Joel
Trull of Burke, the man selected by the
ring.
Two of sheriff PrestOn's deputies got
up in the nominating committee and
attacked his official record, calling him
inefficient, and accusing him of getting
credit for work he never did. If this is
true, would it not be in order for him
to appoint some more efficient depu-
ties?
A portion of the ring ticket for 1880
is already made up, and includes Henry
Bates of this place, for states attorney,
and David Trull of Burke, for sheriff.
Inc DeSt lllu schemes mice an men
Gang aft a-gley."
Once year certain temperance men
come out to the annual county temper
ance convention, and scold about the
inefficiency of our public officers, and
then when these officers are nominated,
they either stay at home or join hands
with the rummies in nominating their
ticket. The worst man ever nominated
can find some "church member to
whitewash him, or endorse him alto
pether
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
Congressman Acklen Assaults a Lady.

Congressman Acklen of Louisiana,
young, handsome and wealthy, who has
cut great figure in Washington society
since the House admitted him to the
seat previously held by the republican
Darrall, is accused of an attempt to
outrage beautiful northern lady whom
he took to private dining room in a
Washington restaurant one evening last
week. Gen. Rosser, an ex confederate.
who heard the victims screams. rescued
her and kicked Acklen down stairs. An
attempt was made to hush the matter
up, but now that the matter has leaked
out, Acklen's friends have addressed TO
the editor of the Washington Post a
sort OF contradiction of the story of the
affair that has been made public, which
tney characterize as of sensational
ana unwarranted character" They saw
That Ibis version OF the affair is entireIv
corrooorated by the lady, and that there
Is but one issue in the premises. and
that is OF personal and private charac-
ter between. Mr.. Acklen and Gen RoS-
ser, who have both left the city for their
respective homes to arrange their af-
lairs ioi such determination of the re-
suit between them as accords with their
views OF the responsibility of men to
one another" "The scandal of dis.
torted and exaggerated publicity, if Is
added, ''has had the effect of bastenin@
perhaps an event which would bave
taken place under any circumstances
an and which should not be permitted to
De clonded with dishonor.n The Post
says edltorially that Mr.. Acklep himseIf
ADMITS az that he seriously compromised
une Iady, and processes willingness to
make her the only reparation in his
power. The Post also says that Acklsn
hurried eGrrieu TO Louisiana to arrange his af-
e fails' ahd' as soon as he gets there. his
lrlend, a well-known duelist. will at
once notify Gen. Rosser to name sono "o
senCleman to represent him with q v;a,u
go ~ seetiement according to the strict