Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-09-26

ful wife. The defendants claimed that
in what they did they acted as the
servants and agents OF the Town of
Bloomfield. 1t was conceded that
they were the Selectmen of that town.
They offered in evidence a deed of the
land from Amanda TO the town. PHI.
claimed that she being his wife could
not convey any right to the possession
of the land as against him. lie offered
evidence tending to prove a marriage
between him and Amanda in March
1861. The magistrate, whom he claim
ed solemnized the marriage, was dead,
and no record of it could be found.
Considerable parol evidence was offer
ed on this point by both sides. The
defendants offered evidence tending to
show that in July after this marriage
was claimed to have been solemnized
in March, the plaintiff became engaged
to marry one Miss Larrabee in 1864,
Amanda to have married another per-
son, and later, Miss Larrabee still
another person. The records of the
court were introduced showing that
the plaintiff in 1871 procured divorce
from Miss Larrabee. Plaintiff also
claimed and offered evidence tending
to show that he was subsequently mar
ried, about 1877, to Amanda. Defend
ants offered evidence tending to show
that at the last March term this case
was partially tried, and that the plff.
testified, and no mention was made by
anyone to this last marriage. Defend.
ants also claimed that no motive of
purpose was shown for the last mar.
riage, and that the secret manner in
which it was kept until put into this
trial nearly at the close of the plain
tiff's evidence, together with other
circumstances, show that it was all a
fraud, and gotten up for this case. The
Court submitted the question of these
marriages to the jury as being points
upon which the plaintiff would be en-
titled to recover if either marriage was
established. The case was given to
the jury on Friday, and on Saturday,
just before the train left, the jury re-
turned a verdict for the plaintiff. and
assessed the damages at $50. This case
developed condition of moral turpi-
tude that shocked every decent man,
and a more disgraceful, lax and de
grading disregard of oil marital obi
cations never existed in any civilized
community. The case goes to the SUI
preme court on exceptions.
The following divorces were grant
ed: Russell A. Melcher VS.. Flora Mel
cher, Arthur Aldrich vs., Vloletta AL
drich, John Colhurn VS.. Amanda NJ.
Colburn. The two former on the
ground of adultery, and the latter, on
the ground of intolerable severity,
$45G being decreed to the libellant as
alimony. Three persons were nat
uralized and five filed their intentions.
Arthur Abbott was arraigned and
plead guilty to the larceny of $3C in
cash, and was sentence to the work
house for IS months. This light SEN
tenc2 resulted from a consideration OF
his youth, and the circumstances OF
his life. Gideon Matthew, charged
With having murdered Vim. Tobin, at
Norton Mills, was discharged, the
grand jury finding no bill against
him. The grand jury returned seven
true bills of Indictment. and reported
that the Jail was insecure, and recon-
mended additional safeguards. In all
twenty eight cases were disposed of on
the old docket, leaving 36 to be con-
tinued or left with the Court. We
have not the new docket, but are in.
formed that the docket for the next
term will be greatly reduced in the
number of cases upon it. After week
spent in very pleasant and harmoni
Gus work, the Court adjourned on
Saturday evening, and everyone went
away gratified with the quiet and pa.
tient manner with which host of de-
tails were disposed of by Judge Ross
and hisassociates.