St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-03-12
A Card From Mr.. Wright.

Mr.. -EdatOr L did think that the eX-
element in this community on the
agency question should cease after the
town meeting. At any rate it did not
occur to me that l should again ask you
to grant me the use of your columns.
But seeing a batch of affidavits in the
Inder on the agency question, two of
which relate to me particularly, | do
not think l should do justice to myself
and my friends, were to let them go
before the public without comment.
These affidavits are of the same char
acter us those which frequently appear
in an exciting political campaign.
Sensible people pay but little attention
to them perhaps do not even read
them. They are COTTON up to catch the
votes of very credulous and simple
people. There are two to which | wish
to pay my respects.
First, that of H. C. Hill, better known
in this place as Bub Hill. l knew him.
at that time as apretty teagh boy. He
says that he is thirty years old, and |
should think he ought to be much more
respectable and reliable than when Il
boy. We shall see. He says that she
has been sent by his father, has pur-
chased by the pint and quart, and no
questions asked as to what use was to
be made of itn-that at one time he
purchased a half case of whiskey. This
was while l was agent.
This is as big falsehood as Bub ever
told, and that is putting it pretty
strong. l never delivered any to him
without a good deal of misgiving and
questioning. | never sold him or any
one else half case of liquor. | dis
tinctly remember of his coming to my
house on Sabbath day for some kind OF
spirit. l remember to have questioned
him quite particularly in regard to the
use to be made of it. | did not deliver
liquors frequently to him or any one
else for that house. / did not know but
that Bub might have improved since
knew him, but his false and loose state.
ments do not seem to warrant such d
conclusion. If he has become respect
able and truthful man, then am not
1 have never heard him accused of any
thing of the kind.
| Next in order is Mr.. David Silsby's
affidavit. But first | wish to state my
relation to that house, as to selling
liquors to go to that house. had a
distinct understanding with Mr.. Wat
sou, who kept the house when took
the agency, that | was not to sell to
him for himself or his guests except fol
necessary purposes, and that was to
rely on his honor as to that matter. ]
know that there was at least an implied
understanding with Mr.. Hiram Hill to
the same effect, though l never had the
same confidence in him and his en-
ployes that had in his predecessor. l
did not wish to sell to that house any
more than could help.
The regulations in regard to the
agency was not as strict as at present.
L have known the commissioner to re-
commend to sell in some cases for pur-
poses not strictly medicinal-for in
stance, to sell to old persons who have
been accustomed to use liquors, a small
amount when not too frequently called
for.
Mr.. Silsby has coupled my name with
another agent who succeeded me.
shall answer only for myself He says
Ito his certain knowledge liquor was
frequently furnished to Hiram Hill
while he was in the hotel, from the
agency for guests to drink"-evidently
meaning to say that understood was
furnishing liquors for drinking pur-
poses. This is total Misrepresentation
and no one knoUs this better than Mr.
DaUid SilSby! and 1 pronounce it false
He alludes to my having sold to that
house for iurymen. l will give my ver-
sion OF that transaction according to my
best recollection. He says that he
bought four times during four weeks.
can not remember the number of times
but | am quite certain the amount
was one pint each time. The circum-
stances as near as can recollect were
these: l think that did not fully IN
derstand the matter till he came the
last time, when some discussion took
place and | demurred. He said that
two highly respectable jurymen wanted
little liquor; they had always been
in the habit of using it; called my at
tentlon to the small quantity they had
used, and that no harm would come of
1t. David has an oily tongue, and l let
him have it against my wish and my
better Judgment. | have stated this
transaction according to best reeollec-