News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-05-21
The Verdict at Rutland.

The case of the Rutland railroad
against ex-Gov. John B. Page, which
has occupied the county court at Rut-
land for two months past, ended last
week in a verdict for Page of 81 and
cost. This is a substantial victory
for Page, and the end of long and
bitter fight. About two years ago a
party organized by Clement & Sons,
Rutland bankers, bought up the CON-
troll of the Rutland railroad and GUST
ed Mr.. Page from the Presidency.
An investigation of the books re-
vealed defalcation of $40, 900 and
considerable over issue of stock.
These matters were brought up in the
annual election and the fight made
was very bitter. 1t resulted in Pages
defeat and his financial downfall. The
Howe scale works and the Ru sland
national bank, of both of which Page
was the head, were involved. The
scale works were placed in the hands
of trustees and run for the benefit of
the creditors, and the bank is in liqui-
dalton.
Page claimed that j. NJ. Haven,
who had long been associated with
him as treasurer of the road, had TAX
en- the missing $4,000 and had over
issued the stock. The matter was
brought before the grand jury and
Haven was indicted for over-issuing
stock, the case now standing for trial
at the next term of court. The
Clement management of the road
then sued Page for some half mill
ion dollars, charging him with misap-
propriating the roads money and with
mismanaging the funds during his long
period of power. Page put in a bill
in Offset for money of his own which
he claimed to have used in the roads
business. This is the suit which has
just been decided. The trial has been
a remarkable one. 1t is the first case
tried under the new Vermont law
which provides for a picked jury. The
jury was composed of prominent farm
ers and business men of the towns
about Rutland, and the evidence dealt
with such complicated matters of ac-
counting that it would have been i'm
possible to get an intelligent compre-
hension of it from the average haphaz-
ard panel. More testimony was taken
than at any previous jury trial in New
England. A typewriter copy of the
testimony covered 1895 pages of legal
cap and included 725, 600 words. Gov.
Pages own testimony comprised over
267 900. A striking evidence of Gov.
Pages popularity in the town for
which he has done so much, was given
when, at the close of Gen. Burnett's
argument in Pages behalf, the entire
audience rose and cheered for several
minutes. The jury was out for some
days, and the verdict is reported as
the result OF compromise. But it is
doubtful if Page would ever have
made any claim against the road had
he remained in control, and the throw
ing out of his claim can hardly aston
lsh his friends or prevent them from
claiming the result as their victory.
1t settles the fact that Page has not
stolen the roads money, and that the
road has no claim against him, but it
does not restore him to the LEADING
position in the business of the town
and State which he held so short a
Time ago. A torch-light procession,
with drum corps and brass band. par
lded the town and serenaded Page in
honor OF the verdict. The result is
received with general satisfaction.