Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-01-23
STATE NEWS.

The tenth annual reunion of the West !
ern Vermont Masonic Union was held at
Rutland or Wednesday. The following
officer. wcr" elected for he year ensuing
IT, A. Smith West Rutland, president
C.. II. Iiuihrook of Brandon. w. b. Wright
of Orwell. -. &. Barber OF Burlington and
+. c. lioughton of North Bennington,
vice presidents. y. y. Fletcher of Middle
bury. treasurer; ". IS. Bennett uf Rrid-
pult, corresponding secretary q. y. Bah
bit; Of Rut,ahd, recording secretary :.
). Gaines of Eergrnnes, T. MChnpman of
Midd'cbury. j. q. Pitkin of Fairhavrn, T..
w. Fletcher of Bridport, J. II, Whipple of
Factory Point, executive committee;
Hiram Roberts of Brandon, ID. II. Billings
of HydeNillr and G. II. Campbell of {ut-
land, finance committee. At . O'Clock
nearly POO guests sat down to Il banquet,
at the conclusion of which the party ad-
journcd to the town hall for the purpose
of enjoying the annual ball. Nearly 100
couples were present.
Suicide at Montpelier.
William SwCatman committed suicide
in his rooms, here Friday morning, by
taking laudanum. He had been doing Il
small tailoring business here for IL few
months. but became involved in debt
which led to dependency and the fatal
deed. He left letter to G. III. Heath,
Esq. where it would he readily found,
telling what he had done and appointing
Mr. Heath his attorney, and bequeathinE
his body to the Montpelier school of
science. Sweatman was about 60 years old
and leaves II son now in Montreal 80.
Those who attended the presentation OF
"Pnafore' at Montpelier Thursday night
speak in hlGh terms of the way 1t was
given and are enthusiastic in their praise
of Mrs. Pitkin us Josephine, Miss Bar
IL l'rI,T, l
(Andrew and Frank in the parts of
"Ralph" ana "Dick Deadeye," and of Mr..
Hopkins and the other sOlOistS, who ac-
quilted themselves admirably. The chorus
was fine. showing thorough drill under
the efficient direction of Mr.. EngclS.
There was "A crowded house and last night
Mr. !. !. Pratt, manager, received hene-
fit, which he richly deserved for the able
manner in which he originated and carried
ont the affair.
Franklin County supreme Court
The January term of the supreme court
for this county began at st. Adams on
Thursday, says the Messenger, Hon. II.
II. Powers presiding, and Hons. w. c.
Veazey. Il. :. Taft and j. w. Rowell, ,asso-
ciate Justices. ApropoS of the hearing on
the demurrer to the Brainerd Indictment,
Hon. f.. Il. Hard, on behalf of the State,
raised Il point rs to whether the respond
ent should be required to be present dur
ing the trial. and the court at once decid-
ed to hear ut once the argument on that
point The claim on the part of the state
is to the effect that respondents presence
should be required even during the hear.
ing on demurrer Respondents counsel
argued in rrfutiOn of this. Ihe court
withheld its decision.
On Friday morning the court made its
decision on the question whether Law
renee Brainerd should ne present during
the hearing on the demurrer to the lndlct-
mcnt against him-,Iudgc Powers deliver
ed the opinion. From what examination
the court had been able to give this ques
ton he said, they had found uniform
rule of decision, and We're all agreed that
the personal presence of the respondent III
this case is essential to Il hearing. Judge
Powers then proceeded to refer To Il large
number of authorities which supported
this position rs to the personal presence of
the respondent, and said that to hold that
respondent might leave the country
after the commission Ola crime and ap-
pear in court simply by attorney would
establish IA bad precedent, and that the
court must not encOurange such practice.
The court inquired if it was the purpose
of respondents counsel to have him pres
ent this term, and said that the court was
ready to try the case now if Mr.. Brainerd
was to be present. The latter's counsel
rather desired to have the case continued,
aS il was impossible to get the respondent
here in season for this term Counsel for
the State wanted the matter disposed of,
and Judge Powers finally told respond
ent's counsel that they must take the re
Sponsbility rs To Mr.. Brainerd's being
present or not this term. lie then directed
the clerk to enterthat the bonds We're for
fcited that the respondent had waived
his exceptions by non-appearanCe. and
that the cause is remanded to the county
court. This entry is subject to moditca
ton in case respondent shall appear fol
trial this term.
Robert Tassie of Sorth Hero Frozen tC
Death.
Robert TaS-ie of North Hero was frozen
to death Tuesday night while returning
home on the ice from Swanton. lie Wa
always the first and the last in the season
to venture on the ice. His father was
drowned few years ago and Il brother
accidentally shot
Fire at Woodstock.
About 10 o'clock saturday morning u
fire broke ont iu the hall occupied by the
Sons of Temperance, connected with the
Eagle hotel, Woodstock, destroying that
part Of the house and the roof of the main
part, also Il dwelling house adjoining oc
cuped by DR., Logan.
Some Postofice Statistics.
The following figures show the amount
postotllces of Vermont during the yea
1884
Gross Total Net Of If TX
Receipts; EIpen's Rey'nue. TO g |
Irattcburo Sli,63G.Ii S4,GSiS2 39,G62.G 81
Burlington 23,7Vl3 lO3l3,N i3,3s7Oi a
Monipeiler iii,i@55 tM.i; a,aiS.@ (: