The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-29

COSb Ol COnSuTuCulOu.
w. j. AND LAWRENCE PRESTON were ar
rested in this village, Friday, by United
States Marshal w. w. Henry, on the charge
of selling liquor without United States
license, and were taken to Burlington for
hearing. Their father, Phillip Preston,
lives on Berlin side but the sons have
been residents of Harper's Ferry, Va, for
some time past, and it is claimed that the
offence was committed in that city. The
young men claimed that they " came home
for the sole purpose of seeing a brother
who is not expected to live, and that this
charge was brought against them by their
uncle, who was opposed to their coming
home" The hearing was had before United
States Commissioner George E. Johnson,
Saturday forenoon, and resulted in the dis
charge of w. j. Preston and the holding of
Lawrence to bail in the sum of $500 for his
appearance for trial before the United
States District Court for the district of West
Virginia at the September term, 1885.
THE rooms formerly occupied by w. w.
Park, grocer, have been thoroughly reno
waited and leased to Messrs. G. III. Ferrin
grocery meat and provision store The cell
ing has been sheathed over, the floor newly
laid in hardwood, the counters and desks
repaired, with some changes of position-all
with a view to securing the greatest con-
venience to the proprietors and their custom
ers. The refrigerator has been refitted,
and as soon as Berlin water can be put in a
Perry & Canning motor will be set up. The
store is in connection with the telephone
exchange, and customers are assured that
orders from that source will be promptly
filed The idea of a meat department is
that of many city groceries. The local col
umn names few of the speciaties in stock.
Mr.. Ferrin is a man of large experience in
the grocery trade and Mr.. Johonnott is
man of business ability, and as firm they
will undoubtedly win their share of the pat
ronage of the people of Montpelier and vi
cinity.
JOSEPH p. MERoN, the popular Pavilion
barber, died of consumption at four o'clock
on Thursday morning last, at the age of
thirty-seven years. He was native of
Westport, n. Y, but came to Montpelier
when young man. He was for some time in
the employ of Frank Leazer, whose business
was afterwards taken by Oughtney Jan
graw When the transfer occurred he re-
manned in the shop, and in a few months he
purchased half interest and partnership
was formed under the firm name of Jan
graw & Meron. After four years this was
dissolved and at the opening of the new Pa
vilion, in 1876, Mr.. Meron assumed charge of
the tonsorial establishment, which position
he retained until his death, though he had
been unable to work for several weeks.
January 3, 1871, he married Julia Jangraw
of Montpelier, who survives him, together
with two small children. Mr.. Meron was
an efficient and capable workman and was
an especial favorite with many of the bust
ness men. His funeral was held on Satur-
day, Rev. j. NJ. p. Dugue officiating.
THE great Barnum and London show drew
a large crowd to the capital on Friday and
the occasion was made holiday at several
of the largest manufacturing establishments.
The trains bearing the combination arrived
shortly before five o'clock in the morning,
and the work of unloading and pitching the
tents was completed at an early hour. Con-
trary to the usual custom, the procession
started little before nine o'clock, and had
passed over its entire route before one-half
of the visitors had arrived. This was the
only thing in connection with the show
which was unfavorably criticised. About
the usual number of people came to Mont
pelier in teams, and the morning trains
brought many hundreds more and in spite
of the rain, which began some time before
the hour for the afternoon entertainment,
the great tent was well filled. The show was
more than usually good, and was believed
by many to have been better than any before
given here by Barnum or any other show
man. The people of Montpelier and vicinity
will have cause for sincere regret if this
shall have been, as Mr.. Barnum announces
the last appearance " in this place of the
greatest show on earth"
AT the earnest solicitation of resident of
State street, Charles p. Hayden recently
set steel trap to catch some small animal
whose nocturnal visits had become an an
noyance. The animal was believed to be a
| large rat. The trap was set, and on sub
sequent morning, was found sprung at a
considerable distance from the spot where
it had been placed. A few black and white
hairs adorned the rusty edges. They were
not cat hairs. Well, the trap was again set
and at last it caught the animal. 1t was
the largest one of its kind Charlie had ever
seen, and he was in a "pickle " as to how
TO dispose of it. At last he hit upon a move
way of closing it out from distance. Oh
tanning a long pole, he fastened to one end
a sponge saturated with chloroform, and
started for the scene of conquest with q
sort of ha.-foiledl expression upon his face
Approaching from in front and keeping
himself at proper distance he placed the
sponge beneath the nose of the animal and
awaited results. Soon it began to move its
head about but Charlie carefully followed
every movement with the sponge, and in a
short time the desired result was believed
to have been accomplished. A hole was
made, and the mephdis was buried After
about half an hour it occurred to Charlie
that he might want to use again the trap
which had been buried with the victim, and
so he pulled it up, when, horrible to relate
it was found that the choroform was of
and life had returned to the buried body
Exasperated mt the deception, Charles had
recourse to force Of arms and death wa,
soon made sure