The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-01-16
LIVELY TINES AT A BANK ELECTION

LIVELY TINES AT BANK ELECTION.
AT the annual meeting of the stock
holders of the First National Bank .
st. Albans, u family uupleasantness be-
tween the president, Hon. Edward A.
5owlrs, and his brother, tire cashier.
Hon. Albert SowIes, eliminated III al
extremely undignified row, the details
of which the Messenger gives as fol-
lows:
Air. e. A. Sowles, it seems, conce'v-
ed The intention of elccting new boaro
If directors this year aud running
things In his own way, since in his own
name and AS executor of the will OF the
late Hon. Hiram Bellows, he held a
majority of the stock. When the stock
holders meeting opened, the presence
of Messrs. o. A. Burton aud Geo. W..
Foster was noticed, and as 1t was not
supposed they were stockholders, they
were invited to leave, but they chose
to stay, esser ing their rights. The
election proceeded and the old board
was reelected, except that Albert
Sowies is substituted for Edward A.
Sowles. The stock is divided into
900 shares. They received 1872 votes.
A board consisting of o. A. Burton, E.
A. Sowles, Orange Adams, Geo. w.
Foster and Romeo II. Hoyt received
400 votes, cast by E. A. Sowles, exccu-
tor of Hiram Bellows. The votes of
f. A. Sowles, Geo. w. Foster and d.
A. Burton we're refused by the judges !;
those of Burton and Foster 90 shares
each) ON the ground that they were not
properly stockholders, having become
such by transfer by L. A. Sowles, ex-
ecutor, without License from the pro-
bate court, and because of other infor-
mali,ics; the vote of e. A. Sowles
(144 shares) was disallowed, on account
af his being Indebted to the b nix on
overdue liabilities. There was intense
excitement, and hard words were ex-
changed without discount. In an effort
to recover the tarnsfer book from the
possession of Mr.. +. j. Houghton, Ed.
ward A. Sowles encountered resistance
and he promptly met it with more
force-with blows, it is said. Albert
Sowles rushed TO Mr.. Houghton's as
sistance and in the melee Edward wa.
struck OH the head and shoulders bv a
blank book (the Advertiser saws a pok-
er) that was conveniently near. By
| that time the contestants were separat-
ed, neither having been hurt. aud Il
still being uncertain which j. The "hest
man." Mr.. Houghton or the ex-presi.
dent. Albert Sowles Immediately sent
for Sheriff Halbert, who soon arrived
Ex- Governor Hendee, the Naiionn
bank examiner for Vermont, was n
town and was sent for. He patient,
heard the parties, acquainted himsel
with all the particulars and will repor
to the controller OF the currency. II 4
claimed by Edward A. Sowles and hi
supporters that they have been deprived
of their votes without right. It 4
claimed on the other hand that Edward
A. Sowlps. and both Messrs. Burto,
and Foster are much engaged IN stool
speculation OF Wall street and do M
enjoy the confidence fine conservative
men who have been connected with m
hank ever since its existence, and tina
lin their endeavor they have, or Ed
ward A. has, disregarded the prerequi:
t g Of law.
Tuesday night the "outs" held
meeting and elected Edward A. Sowlo
president. and Mr.. Lawrence (late tel
or Of the bank) cashier. In the NEAR
time the other party IL holding the for
Application was made recently to tn
: United States Court to enjoin Presider
f. A. Sowles from interfering in tn
) affairs Of tie bank. on the ground th'
u he was largely indebted TO It; therein
on he paid up all his Indebtedness. br
the inspectors of election refused
E permit him to vote on the ground tn,
' Fast due note for fifty dollars endor
ed nv him had been found in the oanl
which excluded his vote according I
. section fifty.one hundred forty-four (
0 the National banking act.