Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-02
THE CASE OF LAWRENCE BRAINERD


The Boston Herdld printed on Monday
a long letter from st. Adams, on the
Branerd case. In this it was suggested
that the capture, escape and present search
for Brainerd are all parts of II plan, pre-
arranged by his bondsmen, to get the
bonds cut down from $50, 600 to $4,000 or
$40, 000-it being deemed reasonable that
the courts should not be hard on the bonds
men since they had done their best to pro
duce the respondent. Another theory was
suggested to the effect that Gov. John
Gregory Smith was at the bottom of the
attempt to capture his brotherin-law, and
that his motive was personal animosity,
the consequence of long family quarrel
Gov Smith was further represented as
affecting to think it "a little strange that
Senator Edmunds, who usually has no
legal opinions to give away, should rush
into print, or, what is the same thing, al
low himself to be interviewed by friend
ly local paper, and express an opinion that
Brainerd's capture was an outrage on per-
sonal liberty in Canada" and as saying that
it ''was strange that II lawyer to whom he
had had to pay $4,000 for an hours argu-
ment, should volunteer an opinion in a
matter which is SO liable rs this to come
up in court"
In regard to this it may be said that
Mr.. Edmuuds did not exhibit, and 1t is
fair to presume did not feel, any desire to
crush into print" \ case like this, invOlv-
ing possible international complications,
was one in regard to which the opinions
of as experienced Il statesman as Mr. Ed
munds might very well he sought, for the
public information, and be given by the
Senator without any thought or suspicion
that the matter affected Governor Smith
i'll any way. That the Senator did not
seek to be interviewed on the subject is
sufficiently plain from the fact, which
Gov. Smith apparently was not aware of,
that the first man to obtain Mr. Edmunds's
opinion on the matter was the Governors
agent and adherent, Mr.. c. ;. Forbes of
st. Adams The representative OF the
friendly local paper" who called on Mr..
Edmunds for some information regarding
the questions naturally arising in regard
to the forcible removal of Brainerd from
Canadian soil, was informed by the Sena-
tor that he had no desire to parade his
opinions but that having acceded to the
request of Mr. Forbes, who wished to OBJ
tain them for publication, he could not de
cline to give them to the FREE PRESS.
As regards Gov Smiths own part and
position in reference to the case of Brain
erd-which must have been SO trying and
painful to all the members of the large
family connection-he was himself inter
viewed on Monday by a correspondent of
the Boston Heruld, with the following re-
suit, as reported in that paper. Gov.
Smith said:
so far as the statements made by the
Hcrdld correspondent relate to my con
nection with the pursuit and capture of
Brainerd, with the animation that the de-
tectives are i'll my employ, and the i'm
preston given that am prosecuting the
man, the whole story is a sheer fabrica-
ton, and the motive which prompted it is
a very unworthy one"
at asserted that Mr.. Stranahan-'
Mr.. Stranahan is abundantly able to
speak for himself, and will not hesitate to
make any proper explanations of his own
conduct, if any be necessary If you will
pardon me, | will coniine what have to
say to what has been said of me PERSONAL
ly. | have no defence to make for | need
none, but ! will simply tell you few
plain, uncOntrOvertible facts
"Well, sir, it is said that you are really
the man who is behind the attempt to
bring Brainerd back that, though Mr..
agent. Won hate Brlinrrd with inter I0ath-
ing and unCCasing malignity,' and, there
fore. Won are usinr Mr. Strlnnhnn, ms if
were. ms "A catsDuW to Drrsrcutr BrniI-
erd.n
"Regarding that have only this to
say: I have mad no knoWIedpp yhntpver
rrgar,inr The matter of nrocnring The re-
turn of lawrence Braintrd further tbnu
the information volunteered by Mr. Strnm-
ahan as we have met from time to time
Nr, Stranahan. Won know, is one Of
Brainer,i's bondsmen the other heinz 4
q Brninerd brnthrr of Lawrence He
Is also nv hrothrr-im-law. ns veil ~ hoiI-
Ing the same relation tn Brninerd thrnnph
marriage with the Intter'n Youngest sister
some time in March last / cnn't teli ynu
inst the date Mr. Strnnahnn Informed me-
ihnt he Ind decided to nrnrnra ~. ratnrn
If Rruinn,i from his rntidnnre i'm t6a Waet
, in order that he mont S,i,randar hin, to
The rnnrt in discbnrt7r of lis haiI Sirce
thar lime Mr. Strnnnbnn has from time
. tn ti,na rivan mo ncrnsiouoi intnrnatinn
rerardin" the nrooress he was maxine in
Ir.Trvint, nIlt hia 1nsign Rnvn,J III /
Gava hnd no knowledGn wh,;tevar If tbba