Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-04-13
nRiDi.1 BARLOw,s "ExPLANA-
IION.o
Some Things UnexpIaincd-A Few Ad.
ditionnl Facts-Another Commune
cation from q,

Some Things UncxpIafncd-A Few Ad
dltionnl fncts-Anothsr Commune
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times:
ST. ALDASs, Vt, April o, 1883.
1t IS matter Of considerable surprise L
| ". as well as 10 many other friends Of MIR
Barlow, tina, man of his rcputcd astutcness
and one cncompassed by SO many eminent
legal advisers, should pose in the public
prints as u defender of tax-dodging, and
offer denial of the truth of facts and figures
taken from his ewn sworn inventory, and
which were embedded in communication
headed "a Vermontel's Repatriation" ap-
rearing in the FREE Press AND TINES March
81 MIR. Barlow's letter (Which was publish
I'd in your paper April 5th), purports 10 be
an explanation Of his expatriation TO Mon
treal-to escape taxation, as alleged by "Z'
in his first communication. Justice TO my
self as well as public policy demands either
retraction of my former statement or else n
substautiation Of the facts stated therein. On
the hypothesis that Mr.. Barlow's sworn
list is correct, ard in view of the
uncontrovcrtcd allegations and conclusions
contained in my article, an honest retraction
is impossible. Facts stated under the iron
clad listing-oath are supposed to be stubborn
things. Figures may lie, while the assertion
by Mr.. Barlow that he did not remove to
Montreal to e0cape taxation, may be true. |
prefer, however, to believe Bradley Barlow
under oath and TO put every trust in the cor
rectness of the official record of the dolngs of
the st. Adams listers and other circumstan-
tial evidence, rather than to believe an umbg-
uously worded brief, denying a well found
o. nj hv pF 4 .itI,
out specifications as to Its falsity. No ma
tcria specification in my communication is
refuted. although evasive denials ARE made to
some allegations. Coincdtnt facts aud
events count agairst him and if some of
MIR. Barlow's dOings and movements are
mysterious aud suspicious then he may BE-
the victim Of unfortunate circumstances aud
be entitled to pubic COMMUNICATION. Now
what does MIR. Barlow admit or deny. He
denies having put out of his hands any prop
cry 10 escape taxation" Without impug-
Mug his motive, 1t is au unconroveried TACT
that he did transfer 1915 shares of hank
stock TO his son-in-law that he
did turn over his home residence
to daughter and that his taxa
BILE poll and personal estate was
transferred from st. Adams to Montreal
by his change Of residence. lie has so tram
ferled and removed the major portion OF his
estate that it docs escape taxation ami he was
very careful TO ,h ct this before the iir,t +
April. 1t is immaterlal whether Mr.. Barlow
sold or leased his hoint residence to his
laughter. lie would doubtless have TO paw
the lakes all the same. Motives sometimes |
control actions and it is the spirit which |
the lease which the public find |
auN with. The circumstance that Mr. b r.
ow's taxable property in 1889 was
assessed at over 100000, and that
lis list this year ION real estate
,nly) will not exceed S2j, 1000, is |
serious blow to this tax burdened town. |
With Mr.. Barlows out of town property, re-
urned in other lists, u" had nothing 10 do;
nut inasmuch as Mr.. Barlow has paradcd his |
outside wealth before the public, it will not
,c amiss to alludc to some matters not
ouchcd on before. Mr.. Barlow says his per-
onal estate returned in 1881 amounted to
s2GS. $50, Gas given by y. How did it hap
zen then, that in 1889, when he failed TO
make II list, that the listers found his person.
i estate to be only Sl77, 500, this being his
'auk stock. What became of the nearly
100000 of personal property taxed the year
'etorc. Should not this have been put in
nd doubled. Perhaps it had been invested
n some portion of this real estate (Which he
laims is worth more than S2j0,00O Ii
ifsets for debts owed were allowed on real
state Mr.. Barlow might have escaped taxa
ion on this property, as lie comedies by non
enla that he owed twice as much as he
Ialmed in offset on his ST. Adams list wiz:
'342, 500
MIR. Barlow is somewhat vague when he
AXIS about his South Eastern bonds which
C failed to return in his list in 1881. The
ubJect matter may necessitatc ambiguity of
That he owned the bonds
to 81, $50, O0O-at that time and
oes now, is confessed by Mr.. Barlow
hat the situs of these bonds and the place
'herc they are taxable is the legal residence
heir owner-which was St. Adams is UNI
enable. In 1881 Mr. Barlow regarded the
onds as practically valueless. On no other
round was he warranted in excluding them
rom his inventory. If this is true it is no. II
natter Of surprise that Mr. Barlow has never
old any of his bonds, as he states.
1t is little singular that worthless bonds
1851 should without apparent cause sud
enly appreciate and become valuable. II is
n open secret in Montreal financial circles
hat these identical bonds have since been
ypothecated to leading bank as security
Jr loan made by Mr.. Barlow-which is
ld TO be not less than half million dollars.
the bonds have no value they cannot be
very good collateral security. If
ley have value to-day they would be tax
bic in st, Albans had Mr. Barlow remained
ere. Does this state Of things explain his
1t Mr. Barlow was fairly treated in st.
ADAMS why does he seek to evade the pay
tent Of his Just taxes by litigation. Ii the
ourts decide he must pay his taxes, he mag
says he will pay them cheerful
J. ms Willingness to comply wilha decree
u Vermont court is refreshing, lnasmuch
MIR. Barlow is now aCluadian.
With the gravity of a constitutional law
or he bases his right Of removal upon the
ghl secured to me and others by Art. 10,
nap. ! OF the constitution of Vermont,
Inch reads AS follows That all people
ave natural and inherent right to emigrate
rom one State 10 another that will receive
lem.'"
Did he cmigratc to any other Estate p
lew Hampshire and other sister States
'ould have taxed him under substantially
ie same law as Vermont. Other States
iercfore, declining to receive HIM without
king his estate, Mr.. Barlow goes to for
On country that will receive him. u.
THE CONVENTIONAL AMEND