Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-19
ST. AL II BANS.
A Change OF Venue In State VS.. Law
renee Braincrd Asked FO r.


States Attorney A. A. Hall has filed pc
tition with Chief Justice Royce, setting forth
that certain cases are pending of State VS..
Lawrence Braincrd that public feeling is so
strong against the respondent that an impair
tial trial may be difficult; that the petit
TONER believes that similar application will
be made at the next April term of franklin
county court by the respondent, which will
operate ms means for postponing the trial
Of said causes. The States attorney there
fore asks that the venue be changed to Addi-
son county court, December term next.
1t will be remembered that the main
reason why Mr.. Brainerd's cases were con-
tinued this term WAS on account of the
fact that public feeling in Franklin county
was so strong against tue respondent it would
be difficult to secure an unbiased jury. The
present move therefore of the States attor-
ney, is in the right direction. While the
respondent should have trial by impartial
jurors aud time to prepare his cases, ii il due
To the people of the State that unnecessary
delay should not shield men from the cOnsc.
queuces of their unlawful acts from this
time until the middle of December would
| seem 10 he fair to both sides.
The jury were discharged for the term
Thursday, and the court is now engaged in
tile trial III court cases.
In the case of State VS.. Edward Pierce,
which was an indictment found in 1878, d
nolc prosequ, was entered. Tue only us. of
its existence SO long, has been to furnish one
Is. +. Robinson means Of extorting money
| from the respondent, threatening TO brinl
| the matter to trial if Pierce did not comply
with the demands. Robinson, who employed
Pierce some six or seven years ago, claimed
that Pierce was taking money from the
store, lhereupon he invited Pierce to take
tea with HIM, got him into a private ro Jm
| brought in n man he claimed to be a detec
tive, and forced from Pierce written con
fession of guilt. Then Mr. Robinson failet
aud compromised with bis creditors upor
the ground that his clerk had robbed him
to give the alleged cause of failure an nj
OF truth, Mr.. Robinson took the written con
tession before the grand jury and upon Thu
strength OF 1t they found a true bill. since
that time Mr. Robinson has been trying t
turn the indictment to profitable account il
extorling money from Pierce. The DISPOSE
ton of tine case, as above, will doubtless EN-,
the matter.
| What has Become Ofthe Money,
| lF,om the St. Alblus Messenger
| One Of the indictments against Lawrence
Brainerd is founded on loan OF $50 90
made to himself about seven days prior t,
the closing OF the Trust company. TIL
facts alleged are that at this time tn
Trust company had deposit OF S35, 900 il
the Vermont National bank that Lawrenc
Brainerd checked out $50, 900 Of this deposi
and gave his note to the Trust compan'
therefor. Gov. Cotton testfes that the Nor
| wood Lumber company did not receive an,
money from Brainerd after July /. Tn
query naturally arises what became of thi
$50, 900 in cash If it is accepted as true tha
Lawrence Brainerd had only $2,4o in hi
pocket when the Trust company failed
There is discrepancy somewhere.
Hearing ON Demurrer
A hearing on demurrer filed in the lgs
case of the State vs.. Lawrence Braincrd wa
set for Tuesday afternoon. Ga the comm
in OF court tho States attorney and COINS,
for the respondent agreed to waive all arr,
ments and accept pro forma ruling. Til
court therefore rendered judgment sustain
ing the demurrer and ordering the respond
ent to answer over Tho first case, there
fore, goes up to the Supreme CouIt on cues
tons OF law and the other cases remain o
the docket OF the county court.
Petition for a hangc Venue
A hearing on States Attorney Halls pet
lion for change Of Venue IN the most in
, portant Of the Lawrencc Branerd case, wa
held Tresd y. before Jude Royce, whe
: arguments were made in behalf OF III
motion by States Attorney Hall aud w. i
) Wilson, and against 1t by IL. q. Edison an
| II n AHop,a n.oiuioa