davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01

the bench, for the honor of the state,
to silence his traducers by exposing the
false and INSCRIPTIONS character of
their charges The judge seems to
have taken this view of the matter.
He made the only answer an innocent
and outraged man who is a law-abiding
citizen could make. He brought his
defamer into court to answer to suit
for libel. and to answer before the rep
resentatives of the people should choose
a chief Judge for the next term. When
the craft of counsel had cunningly con-
trived answers to his suit to defer the
trial of the main questionable truth or
falsity of the charges-and to throw the
odium of the delay upon him, the state
took the matter up, indicted the visible
agent of what bore the semblance of a
conspiracy and promptly brought him
to trial. 1t was bold movement, but
it was animated by the calm courage of
conscious innocence, not by the au-
dacity of clustering guilt. A report of
this remarkable trial is given in another
column of this paper. In its freedom
from any faint of partisan prejudice the
Jury was an ideal one. Only a few
copies-about dozen, report says, of
the Gazette are taken regularly in Or
leans county. The jurymen were in
telligent, fair-minded farmers. They
knew neither the respondent nor the
Judge, for defaming whom he was in
dicted, and they were unknowing to
the character of the defamatory allega-
tons. They heard the evidence with
out any personal bias. The judge
charged with strict impartiality and the
result was a prompt and unequivocal
vindication of the chief Judge. The
personal friends of Judge Royce, who
needed no verdict of jury to acquit
him of wrong-doing, will rejoice over the
outcome of the trial, but those whose
care for the good name of the state was
above any personal considerations will
exult over a verdict that clears up a
nauseous and dishonoring scandal which
was an incubus upon the entire COM
monwealth.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01

For the speakership II. F. Brigham,
the democratic member from Bakers
field, has been mentioned, if his party
decides to present a candidate. Josiah
Circuit of Derby has also been brought
out for this position by his friends in
Orleans county. These are worthy
men and would worthily fill the speak
er's chair. The preference of men,
bers, however, seems to be so generally
in favor of James X. Batchelder of Ar
lington that it would be graceful and
becoming act to suffer his election to be
made by reclamation. 1t would be a
happy augury for a session void of par
tisan contests and signalzed by a
prompt dispatch of business. w. w.
Stickney's acceptable performance of
the responsible duties of clerk leaves
him without competitor for that posi-
ton, and he will be reelected without
opposition. DIN Merrill was Mr..
Stickney's capable first assistant at the
last session, and he will receive a reap
pointment. Edward Dana of Rutland,
late assistant reporter of house proceed
ings, will make an efficient second as
sistant. In the senate, Chauncey W.
Brownell, Jr., who has been the efficient
and popular secretary during two legis-
latures, has the prospect of a third
election without opposition. Alfred X.
Brown, the assistant secretary of the
retiring senate, faithfully performed
the duties of that office, and there is no
reason why he should not be reelected.
1t appears, in short, that both houses
may organize on a good working basis
without the semblance of contest
and, all things considered, it is quite
desirable that they should. 1t is wise
thing to avoid non-essential strife.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01
Tax Commissioners Report.

Commissioner Dillingham's first BIZ
ennial report of the operation of the
corporation tax law, as it is popularity
called, will be among the most interest
ing of the public documents submitted
to the legislature. The report will
show how anticipated opposition to
the law disappeared and how willing
ness to comply with its provisions took
the place of threatened belligerency.
The favorable results which the COM
missioner in an unassuming way COM
municates to the general assembly, it is
well understood by those familiar with
the details of the working of the law
during its crucial period, are in no small
degree due to the tact, patience and
wisdom of his administration. The fol-
lowing table shows the taxes assessed
during the first year:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01

increase of nearly SO 100000 for the BIZ
ennial term covered by his report. For
the same periods the increase in the
number of the depositors was 4 ,204 for
the last year and 7,714 for the two
years. There were, June 30, 29,557
depositors of $3.50 and less, aggregat-
ing S2,342 ,461; $3.50 depositors of
more than $3.50, aggregating 81 ,37S,-
S5S. There were 927 depositors having
81 800, making total of 81 800, 800.
There are many other important statis-
tics and details relating to the condi-
ton and management of these institu-
tons, but the above are those in which
the general public has an interest.
Somewhat more than year ago The
WATCHMAN recounted the history of
the connection of savings banks with
banks of discount, the measures by
which the two were divorced and kept
separate, and a general law enacted by
which the diverse provisions of sepa-
rate charters were brought under one
uniform and well-matured code. The
necessity for a similar separation of trust
companies from banks of discount was
shown. Five of the eight trust COM
panes were kept in national banks, and
as a general thing, the officers of one
were the officers of the other, the
4ta no,
pooled and the trust company made a
sort of tender to the bank. Five new
companies with distinct charters were
authorized two years ago, but only two,
we believe, have organized and are do
ing business. The developments in the
case of the broken st. Adams Trust
Company made it plain to every one
| that these institutions should be brought
under one general law, as are the ma
tional banks, as the savings banks have
| been. Inspector Dubois recommended
this and Inspector Dewey enforces the
need for such measure, and one of the
important things for this Legislature to
do will be to put his suggestions into the
statutes. The recommendation of In
spector Dubois restricting loans and es-
tablishing other checks and safeguards
for the protection of depositors are re-
newell by Mr.. Dewey, and, after the dire
full experience at st. Adams, no exhor-
tation to heed this officers prudent sug-
gestions will be needed. In the light of
two years more of experience, it would
seem TO be clear that the action of the
legislature in reducing the amount OF
individual deposits exempt from taxa
ton on the grand list from $4,000 to
81, 800 should be followed up by still
further lowering the exempted sum-
The inspectors figures show that nearly
one thousand persons have found shell.
ter from taxation in these retreats
There is a not unfOunded suspicion
that after the lister has gone his rounds
the bulk of this sum of nearly million
and a half of exempted money has
been drawn out and invested where il
would bring larger returns than the
meager rate allowed by the savings in.
stitutons Five hundred dollars, we
believe, is all that in justice to the
great majority of taxpayers, should be
exempted.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01

THE advocates of the Massachusetts
law exempting mortgages from taxa
ton, are stirring the matter up and the
legislature will be asked to enact SINH
lar law The argument for this meas
re is not quite so one-sided as it is
made to appear in some newspaper arti-
cles. The question will bear study and
meditation. If it should appear in the
course of the discussion of the matter
that such a law might hurt as much as
it would help the class for whose benefit
it is ostensibly intended, there would
be no good reason for passing it.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01
Report OF Inspector Of Finance.

Inspector Dewey reports to the gen
eral assembly that there are now 49,
S37 depositors in the savings banks and
trust companies, a decrease of 4S1 dur
ing the past year, but an increase of
1884 since 1882 These depositors had
$13, 724, 291 to their credit June 30, a
decrease of $326,355 during the year,
but an increase of 81 ,049,02l in two
years. Inspector Dubois reported an
increase of over two million dollars for
the year ended June 80, 1882, and an
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01

BY reason of incomplete returns the
commissioner of taxes was not able to
report the full result of the working of
the revenue law for the first six months
of the second year. Partial returns
were published in our issue of Septem-
Der H. The Atlantic & st. Lawrence
railway has since made its returns and
paid its tax of S1,704.40, the Passump-
sic $5,S70.24, and the Western Union
Telegraph Company, 1892. AS. The fol-
lowing table shows the revenue from
various sources for the first six months
of the second year, and for the CORE
spending period in the first year:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01

Not paid.
The protests are on nearly as many
varying grounds as there are individual
protestants. The trust companies pro-
test against the payment of one-half
only of their tax. They allege that the
law discriminates unjustly between
them and the savings banks in that it
assesses them one per cent upon the
average amount of their deposits, while
the savings banks are assessed one-half
of one per cent upon a similar basis.
The details of the taxes assessed have
been very fully given by the press of
the state, and we omit the tables show
ing the taxes paid by each individual
and corporation.
Three suits under the law are pend
ing. The Central Vermont railway has
paid the taxes upon its system of roads,
excepting the Vermont Central for the
first semi-annual period. The directors
of the Central took the ground that the
latter road was not liable under the
law, by reason of the exemption clause
in its charter, before the foreclosure
of the mortgage upon it and the release
of the road from the hands of the re-
ceivers and managers under the direc-
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01

OF this sum 81 $3.50 was assessed
to the ST. Adams Trust Company for
the second semi-annual period, but has
not been paid into the treasury, the re-
ceiver of the company claiming that
during this period the institution being
in process of liquidation was not " do
ing business" or subject to taxation
within the true intent and meaning of
the law. The net sum paid into the
treasury under this law during the first
year of its operation is therefore $780,
67S.51. The sum of $50, 506.7O was
paid under protest. The protestants are
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01

These are all the corporations which
are required to make semi-annual re-
turns. The increase of $4,000 for the
first half of the current year is chiefly
in the railway tax, and this is swelled
by the addition of the Vermont Central
tax-not included in the corresponding
period for last year.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01
National Republican Ticket.
FOR PRESIDENT,
JAMES G. BLAINE of Maine.
FOR vICE-PREsIDENT,
JOHN A. LOGAN Of Illinois.

FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS,
National Republican., 1884-11-05

Ben. PeTley Poore in Boston budget.
Among other adventures who figured
at Washington early in 1862 was the
Chovslier Wykofi, who was really collect
ing news for tho New York Herald, but
who professed to be the first gentleman Of
the land, and issued his odicts on all mat
tors concerning society. At last he was
summoned before q committee of the
house of representatives and asked from
whom no had obtained in advance por-
tion of the presidents message, which he
had telographed to his employers. Noto-
rioty with him was fame, and ho mys-
teriously refused to state from whom
no had received the document,
saying that IL came to him un-
der an obligation of strict secrecy
which he felt himself bound TO respect.
II WAS rumOred and generally believed
that Wykoif obtained a sight at the mes
sago from Mrs. Lincoln, who used to take
him to ride in her carriage, and listen
attentivoly to his accounts Of European
courts. The president was much annoyed
by this scandal, and visited the ommitteo
confidentially, while Gen. Sickles was
active in arranging the affair. WykOff
finally told tho committee that the in
formation was furnished to him by man
named Watt, gardener at the white
house, whose wife was Mrs. Lincoln's
waiting maid, and his explanation was
accepted. Congress did nothing with
Watt who was nominated as a second
lieutenant in the army.
National Republican., 1884-11-05
A Hero OF Many Sears.


In his homo in Hastings hero lies
dying His name is Gen. Charles Powell
Adams, familiar figure in st. Paul and
the state of Minnesota, and known to fame
through the military annals Of the coun.
try. The generals case Is hopeless from
thirteen wounds received in tho late civil
war and tho blood poison which super
vened after surgical operations.
Gen. Adams has had checkered ex-
perience. He is native of Pennsylva-
mia. Entering tho great war as private,
he rose from the ranks to brevet briga-
dier general Gen. w. S. Hancock mark
ing his shoulders for tho stars for mer-
itorious conduct on tho field at Gettys-
burg, whore he led n charge, received six
wounds in body and limb, and was left
for dead for seven days and nights In
loneliness and despair, with his maimed
flesh fostering and his cries for succor uu.
availing. Finally he was picked up with
sufficient vitality left to survive the
shock and to prevent the amputation OF
his limb, and, after treatment, to resume
the saddle and sword, and to survive
other wounds on other fields. In ad diition
to Gettysburg, no participated promi-
nently in the battles of Malvern Hills,
Antietam, and, In fact. about all the fierce
fights in which the Army of tho Potomac
was engaged during tho war.
After the war the martial spirit was in.
voked in successful campaign against
the Sioux, with q vast area of territory
to cover in the dead of winter. 1t is said
of the general that he with sixteen mon
bagged large band of Sioux by dashing
into their camp, leaving his command
with park of artillery planted within
range, with orders to fire upon the camp,
regardless of their presence, If no failed
in his designs.
National Republican., 1884-11-05
THE UNKNOWN SUICIDE.

Probabilities That the Stranger Who
Jumped from tho Ferry-Boat Was
w. w. Writ.
Tho man who committed suicide by
jumping from the ferry steamer City Of
Washington, as described in yesterdays
REPUBLICAN, is supposed to be Mr.. W.
w. Writ, q clerk in the Treasury depart
ment, who lived at No. 457 G street. Mr..
Clay Douglass. q brother-in-law of Writ,
visited police headquarters and identified
the hat picked up, marked "W. w. w."
rs belonging to Writ. At $3.50 o'clock
Monday evening Mr.. Writ went into Rob-
inson, Parker 4 Co.'s clothing store and
borrowed 25 cents from Mr.. Parker to go
to Alexandria. He looked as though he
had been on continual spree, and talked
incoherently. When he left he said he
was going to Alexandria. Mr.. Writ had
been drinking hard for the past three
weeks, and his suicide is attributed to
that cause. There is also suspicion that
his drowning was an accidental one, and
that he fell overheard. His body was not
recovered up to late hour last night.
National Republican., 1884-11-05


Considerable excitomept has been
caused lately at Katase by tho doings OF
a fox. A young. well-to.do farmer and
his wife, who have child two months
old, are occupying small wooden struc-
ture during the rebuilding of their
former premises. On September l3 tho
wife, ss usual, went to sleep with tho
little one, but, waking during the night
was surprised to find ii had left her side
She at once called her husband, when il
was discovered that one OF tho frail
wooden doors had been broken open.
Tho supposition naturally. followed that
some one had entered and stolen tho in.
fant, consequently the father started with
the intention of arousing the neighbors.
He had, however, only just stopped out
side when he perceived large fox run
from under the veranda of the house
opposite. Suspecting that Reynard was
the culprit. lights were procured aud a
search made, which, to the delight OF the
parents, resulted in tho discovery of tho
baby, who, strange to say, had received
no injury beyond few scratches.
National Republican., 1884-11-05
LOCAL BRIEFLETs.

The alarm of fire from box 123 at 6
o'clock last night was for fire in a wood
shed in the rear of No. GOA Il street, owned
by Robert Gulton. The damage was
about $50.
DIR. ]. W. Van Arnen living OH Corco-
ran street, fell on Fourteenth street,
near II street yesterday afternoon and
was severely injured. He was taken to
Cooks drug store and then removed to
his homo.
An old white man named William Fer
guson. aged 90 years, was caught In the
hallway Of the residence OF Mr.. Pink S.
George No. 10 First street northeast, last
night in the act of carrying off an over
coat and hat which We're hanging on the
rack. He was turned over 70 Officer
Wilson, who locked him up at the eighth
precinct station housa-
National Republican., 1884-11-05
THE DUELLO.
An Incident OF Early Days in Louis
isns-A Spirit Which is Dying

isn.-A Spirit which is Dying
Out.
Chattanooga Times Nep Orleans Letter.
In this country the duel, especially the
political duel. flourished for the first fifty
years Of our national existence, even in
staid Now England, whero bolligerents
adjourned to Rhode Island on the Same
principle that bank cashiers favor Canada.
In the south, up to tho breaking out Of
the war, the codo prevailed, and readiness
to spill or be spilled was the top laurel Of
q mans reputation. Among tho Crooles
the duel more than flourished: 1t blossomed
10 excess, and many u thrilling tale of IL
remains. Not far from the grounds where
the magnificent buildings Of the Worlds
Exposition glorify the landscape with
their assurance Of peace and progress
Is u beautiful grove of half dozen
live. oaks, whose green gray plumes OF
long fantastic moss possess strange
funeral suggestiveness. Their story holds
that in tho early years of this fair state
six gay young Creole gentlemen were
strolling together to the plantation of
mutual friend. II was u heavenly night
Tho oonbeams were waving their soft
oning spell ovcr scene by nature soft
and languid in voluptuousness. In
breeze, fragrant with kisses from the bios
SONS CT an orange grove not far, the ak
oaks gently shook their mossy pendants
and made fantastic shadows on the velvet
sward. what q place for sword play ~
exclaimed one Of the party. 81 echo your
sentiments" replied another lightly.
"Then let us try it," said tho first. "a
capital idea" answered the other, aud ho
drew his jowolod rapier. In moment
they were at IL, and the weapons were
weaving in and out with a Raily glitter
ing rapidity that made mockery Of tho
gentle moonboans.
"What q pity for us TO stand idly by p
observed another Of tho party. Lot us
pair Off then" said number four, and
| thoy all drew simultaneously. 1t must
have boen pretty sight-those three
pairs OF graceful and gallant follows at
parry and thrust hard by those grand old
oaks that live to-day. But tho play
waxod warm. presently the eyes Of COM
batants outhashod their swords, and when
tho sun came out over tho rim OF the
level, lovely Louisiana plain with the
same somblance Of suddenness that one
notes In his riso on the ocean. he looked
on the six oaks, not az usual, but on six
CHASTITY upturncd faces, for which those
oaks now stand monumental. One man
fingered few hours over day to tell the
story oftho night, and now as the stranger
stoams up the muddy and moody river
tho Creole points 10 tho oaks with an OK.
preston compounded Of pity and pride
II Ia easy enough TO infer that with the
descendants Of such men the duello
though dying, dies hard, especially Ia q
cline where tho blood burns little
faster than in the north OF in Europe.
National Republican., 1884-11-05
Was IL In.tino, or Rea.ons


There were throe cats in Williams
street family, and tho lady Of tho house
concluded that one was sufficient to do
all the business, and an edict OF death was
passed on the old cat aud her kitten.
The question Of the manner Of death was
settled and tho chloroform purchased.
Days passed after tho chloroform was in
the house before the executioner could
muster courage to execute tho sentence.
To facilitate matters the lady thought
that some laudanum added TO the cats
milk would produce n stupor that would
make the chloroforming more easy. The
drug was put in tho milk and rendered
the old cat. She tasted the food. cast
her ey es suspiciously about her and refused
to cat. The kitten rushed to the dish to
partake of tho milk and was violently
knocked away by the old cat, who took q
cornor OF mat and covered over the dish
to hide 1t from the kitten and prevent
her from taking tho medicine" Tho
lady could not believe IL possible that tho
act was intentional on the part of the
cat, and uncovered the dish and again
rendered the milk to her. She again
knocked tho kitten from the dish and
covered IL over more carefully than be-
fore. This repetition Of tho protective
act gained tho good will Of tho lady, and
she gave up killing the cats. She cannot
satisfy her mind, however, whether the
action of the cat was prompted by instinct
or reason.
National Republican., 1884-11-05
AN OUTRAGE CHARGED.
mary osbr.ii says That 'ohn Digs
crtr.snsiiy Assaulted Her In 'h'
xt.x.i xyh.r. Hoth Lived.

Hevsi yvhers Both Lived
Hslprieh GABRIEL, . German, entered
the nf,h preclnc, station iAs, night and
ssid that bis wife, MARY, had been ou'-
RACED by . eolorcd man NAMED John
Digs. Digs was arrested hy v"eet
Bailey and locked up. lie denied any
knowledge oil the affair, but said tnA o.
had been In the sane room with the
woman. GABRIEL and bis vile hNs IN
little ons-room shanty IN one o tas
crooked passages between Ihi,,esn . ~
Thirteen..nd.s.hslf and 9 and u streeA,
IN ths ha.rt Of what 10 tnovn AZ "Tbs
D,,lslon.n The shAuty contained three
bcds. two chairs, and . quantity oi Old
Snyniture. In this one room lived Cat
reii. his wife, John Digs and his white
mistress. and smother eolorcd man, aud .
eoiorsd woman. The place was very dirty
and the beds and clothing were hlthy.
Ooansiye odors arose from the bot room,
and the small yard surrounding the house
was one mass Of hlthy.
The woman, Mary oatreil, does not
SPEAK English, and described the outrage
% her husband. who translated " 70 the
Newspaper reporters aud ofhecrs. She said
that she was alone about o'clock, when
Digs and Prince. the other coloted men,
same in. Prince went out shortly, and
Diggs began searching for something 70
cot. After looking about for some time
he throw her on the bed and committed
the outrage. He then went out aud was
not seen again until he was arrested.
Ofioers Bailey aud Ellis aud Dr. Barker
went to tho house. DIR. Barker decided
that the womsn's charge was true. Digg'
was seen In his cell, aud when told OF tbs
voman's charge reiterated his doniAl'
He said that the woman had invited him
to sit down by her. which he did, but he
wont out In a llttle while and did not
return. Tho quarter whore the crime
occurred IL one Of tho worst In the city,
and men and women, indiscriminate ol
color, arc herded together in great con-
fusion.