Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-06-18

his prisoner. Still, the advice Was prudent
and he acted upon 1t. In half an hour the
answer came back "rhe passenger without
a ticket must pay the fare from London, or
be charged before the magistrates"
Just let me see the message you've got,
said Boldon, when the result was announced
to him. 1T ii is as you say I'll go quietly
or else pay"
They showed him the message.
mo. l really can't pay all that money,
you know, said Bodon sadly, as he read the
telegram and accordingly he was marched
of to the police office, guarded by a police
man on the right and constable in the i'm
posing g1hniform of the Great Railway Com
psny on the left.
As it was Saturday night nothing could be
done that day, and Mr.. Boldon did not choose
to disturb the Sabbath rest of Mr.. Lionel
Winn, his only available friend, by asking
him to bail him out on Sunday.
On the Monday morning, however, an early
message was sent to Mr.. VIM and he prompt
| ly appeared aud bailed out the young lawyer,
who was heartily tired of his incarceration.
| Later IN the day the case came on before the
magistrates and Mr. Boldon attended with the
landlady of the inn at Lamborne and one OF
the shopkeepers, who we're able and willing
| to prove that he could not possibly have trav-
| elled fiom greater distance than Lamborne
on the proceeding Saturday night. The
charge was of course dismissed, one Of the
magistrates, jolly old fellow named Brace
bridge, remarking that Mr.. Boldon, who
seemed to be resp ;ctable solicitor, had been
treated shamefully, aud that il he stood III
Sir. BOldon's place he would be inclined TO
let the Great Railway Company hear Of the
matter again.
Next day the Marlborough Independent
contained long account Of the incredible
and really scanualous outrage to which one
OF the most resp c.ed members Of the legal
profession in our town has been bjected :"
and it need hardly be said that in a day or
two, the course at which the worthy magis-
trate had limited WAS adopted. Mr. BoldOn
brought his action against the railroad com
pany for false imprisonment and malicious
prosecution.
As every body knows, Westborough is an
asszs town, and the case Of Boldon rs the
Great Railway Company excited good deal
Of public interest. Everybody wished 10
know how the law stood on the question, for
every body bad had occasion to travel some
time or other without a ticket.
Mr.. Bustsrd, q @, was counsel for the
plaintiff, and nobly he performed his task.
He pictured his client, a member Of an hon
orsble profession, q gentleman OF delicate
aud sensitive feelings dragged by the ruth
less hands of the police through the crowded
street t. on Saturday night, exposed to the
rude gaze Of the ,ering mob, and shut up in
cold lonely cell for the greater part of two
whole days. And all for whatl Because
this gentleman had the courage, the public
spirit, to resist an unreasonable and illegal
impOst. 1t was the interest of every railway
traveller-he might, therefore, say of every
man, woman and child in the three Kingdoms
that the rights of the traveller and the lib
art of ha uub at aho ka ,sfn - fr
the person of his client. my client does
not care for damages, gentlemen said Mr..
Bastard in conclusion. That is not his OBJ.
ject IN coming here. His object is to expose
ALI abuse, an illegal abuse, gentlemen, which
has been too long continued-to clear his
own character of the gnomy which has been
cast upon it to vindicate the sacred princ-
pie of the liberty Of free born EngishmAn."
As for the question Of law, Mr.. Lynx, who
was for the railway company, hardly ventur-
ed to reply upon il. 1T has been held over
and over again, said Mr.. Justice Portman,
that this bylaw is bad and illegal 1t Affects
to inhict a 6ne of arbitrary and vary ing
amount, where there is no breach Of the Grim
nal law for here, as in most such cases.
there is no pretence that there was any at
tempt to defraud. You will find a verdict for
the plaintiff, gentlemen" he added to the
jury, with such damages as you, looking at
all the circumstances Of the case, may think
will fairly compensate the plaintiff for the
wrong he has suffered"
The jury promptly found their verdict
damages fifty pounds. The result WAS re-
ceived with some cheering, which became
general when Mr.. BustaTd announced that
his client had never intended to put the dam
ages into his own pocket, and that he would
send a check for the amount to the treasurer
of the County Hospital.
This well-timed generosity settled the ques-
ton OF MIR. Boldon's popularity. The ladies'
committee Of the hospital nominated him at
once as one of their male advisers and his
name was put on the list OF life governors
The amateur dramatic and choral societies
sent him tickets to their entertainments, given
for the benefit of charity The Wesborough
Independent printed in prominent position
the letter of the hospital treasurer gratefully
acknowledging Mr.. Boldon's muni6cent gift
and added few laudatory words Of its own
Finally, after a pleasant little supper in
Mr.. Bodon's lodgings, there appeared the
following paragraph in that excellent organ
Of public opinion:
"We have heard it rumored lately that a
few OF our more prominent townsmen have
been talking Of according to Mr.. James Boil
don, solicitor, substantial mark of their Ap.
probation Of his public spirited behaviour in
late trial, and of his disnterested conduct
in handing over the fruits OF his victory to
one of the most deserving of our local chari-
ties. We have heard it whispered that w. II.
Bracebridge, Esq, j. p, who has already
publicly expressed his sympathy with Mr..
Boldon, and Algernon Tracey, Esq, the treas
urer to the Daleshire County Hospital, have
expressed some intention of heading the sub
scription list. We give this to our readers
with all possible reserve, but we have no hes-
itation whatever in saying that such conduct
on the part Of the gentlemen we have named
would reflect honor upon themselves, and
would not be wanting in appropriateness, as
the names of both of these gentlemen have
been associated with the public vindication
of Mr.. Boldon's honor. Our readers may de-
pend upon our keeping them acquainted with
the progress of events"
This promise was so faithfully carried out
and the proposed testimonial was so thorough
ly taken for granted that Mr.. Bracebridge and
MIR. Tracey found themselves compelled to
take the honorable place which had been as
signed 10 them. The mark OF esteem took
the form OF purse of sovereigns, which
reached the respectable figure OF one hundred
pounds.
dinner was held, as matter of course,
TO celebrate the event, and the presentation
was made in proper form, Mr.. James Boil
don returned thanks with 3 becoming mod
esty, declaring with some humor that more
by faU than even their generous gift did he
value the happy consciousness that his hum.
ble efforts in the public service had been ap-
preciated, that be had gained the good will of
his neighbors and that he was now no longer
stranger in their midst but one of them
selves, Westborovisn to the backbone, &C.
counting the esteem and respect of his fellow
citizens his richest possession.
In this Mr., Boldon was perfectly right.
Clients came in apace. He had got his name
up for good. - WhiteltaH ReoieB.
Left and Taken.