Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-21
Washington County Court.

The term bids fair to be OF much longer dura-
ton than was at first expected, and about four
weeks will be spent In dlsposng OF the business
The new docket was called on Saturday. lhere
are eighty entTies-more than at either oil the
last two terms--an indication that business Is re-
vying somewhat. Seven are petitions FOR divorce
and three petitions to annul marriage. Inc pc.
titions for divorce ares Nellie NJ. Russell OF
Plainheld against JOSEPH a. RUSSELL for refusal
to support; D. A. Marble Of Montpelier against
Louise NJ. Marble, for wful desertion; Emily II
Bean Of Roxbury against Merrill Y. Bean, Tor
wiiul desertion Del NJ. Town OF Barre against
Diana b. Town for wilful desertion; Addle Aims
worth Of Marshfield against Clarence j. Aims.
worth for wful deserton; Mary A. Irving Of
Waitsfeld against John r Irving, for refusal to
support; James Kelley Of Montpelier against
nnnu are: Elvena s. llartwel Of Barre against
George Hartwell, and Abigail Dodge OF Marsh.
Held against George Parker, each on the ground
that the petitionee had a wife living at the time
the petitioner was married TO him; Joseph Morse
Of Montpelier against Maria M Morse, on the
ground that the petitionee had husband living
at the time Of the petitioners marriage to her,
Mr. Hiram A. Huse, the states attorney, has
set Tuesday, the 9th instant, as the day when
the criminal cases must be ready for trial The
most important criminal case set for trial IL the
state against Matthew McCaffrey, indicted for the
murder on the 18th Of March, 1882, OF his wife,
Bridget Ann. The circumstances Will be called
TO mind by all the readers OF this paper, which
contained at the time full accounts Of the terrible
tragedy In which McCaifrey's wife and mother
were killed by him. McCaffrey Is now In the
Brattleboro insane asylum. The Hon. William L.
Dillingham; has been assigned by the court to be
his counsel and the fees OF McCaffrey's witnesses
will also be paid by the state.
The trial Of Charles Y. Stevens rs d. w. Dud'
ley was finished on Friday afternoon. The jury
retired after very able charge by Judge Red
field, at six O'clock and on Saturday morning
came In and returned verdict In favor OF the de-
PENDANT. The plaintiff will take the case to the
tnna uhfH oh tan
very slight chance Of being sustained. This was
the third trial Of this case and the fifth trial
which Mr.. Dudley has gone through with on ac-
count of the event, whose history is as folows'
The defendant is, and has been for many years
n deputy sheriff and keeper OF the county Jail
In 1874, during the annual fair Of the Washing
ton County Agricultural Society Mt East Monipe-
lier, he WAS deputy marshal The oath Of Sep
TENDER was the last day OF the fair and there
were some five thousand people present In the
afternoon TO witness the trOttng, The managers
OF the fair had given the marshals and the police
men strict orders to keep the track clear when
the rnces were going on for fear OF accidents
The heats were "sandwiched," that Is to say,
one heat OF green race " was trotted and then
a heat OF free for ALL" At about half-past
four, the last heat of the "green race" having
been trotted and the horses called out for the
next heat Of the " free for all, Mr. Dudley saw
q man named William Stevens driving single
seated buggy loaded with two women and three
children besides Stevens, and drawn by two
horses, on the track lie ordered him off and
Stevens obeyed till Dudleys head was turned
He then drove on again. Dudley discovered his
return and riding towards him, got little ahead
OF him, a1urished his riding whip aud ordered
him off again So urgent was Mr.. Dudley that
the horses turned off at once where there was
slight bank, and all the occupants except II
woman and child were spilled out. The team
ran away and came into collision with the team
In which the plaintiff and his wife were seated.
He was so badly injured that he will never re-
cover, and his right arm especially Is useless for
life. It is hard fate for him; but it Is difficult
to see how Mr.. Dudley Is TO blame. Mr. Dudley
did no more than his duty, even il he struck the
horses with his riding whip AS some OF the plain
tif's witnesses claimed. William Stevens was
somewhat under the Influence of liquor. and will
fully dsobeyed Mr.. Dudley in returning to the
track after having been ordered off. The horses
had been called for the " free for ALL" aud one
OF them, Dagger" was already exercising un
and down the track II any OF the trotters bad
run into William Stevens team a shocking dis
aster would have occurred, and 1t was Mr.. Dld-
ley's business to keep the track cleared. The
plaintiff has been singularly unfortunate all his
life. He has suffered all kinds OF accidents;
among other things, has been twice struck by
lightning lie has the sympathy OF every one
Messrs. Joseph A. Wing and William 7. Dillirg
ham are counsel for plant n and Messrs. Heath
Carleton, S c. ShuItleff and George W. Wing
for the defendant.
The trial OF Simeon T. Gibbs and wife OF North
field against the Rev. II. w. Worthen, formerly
pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church In
Northfield but now OF Craitsbury Is now going
on. The plaintiffs charge the defendant with
attempting to seduce Mrs. Gibbs. The court
house is crowded with spectators, who, appar-
emily, mean to catch every word. There are
many witnesses and most of the week will be oc-
cupied with the trial Messrs James n. John
son, S. G. Shurtleff ard Charles II. Heath are
counsel for the plaintiffs and Messrs. Frank Plum
ley, William p. Dillingham; ard Clarence ii. Pit
kin for the defendant