The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-12-13
BENNINGTON COUNTY COURT.
HoE. RUSSELL s. TAFT, Chief Judge. Hon. FAXoS
L. Bowen, Hos. W. Z. DEAN, Assistant Judges.
EDWARD j. HALL, Clerk. ANDREW j, PIKE,
Sheriff. o. N. BARBER. States Attorney. GAS
s. CHAsI, Stenographer.


s. CHAsH, stenographer,
DECEMBER 18th, 1888
In the case Of DR.. S. r. Wilcox VS.. l.
S. Moon, the jury returned a verdict for
the plaintiff for one cent actual damages
and $4,000 exemplary damages. ]. S
Martin and W. B, Sheldon fer plaintiff,
]. c. Baker and J. X. Batchelder for de-
PENDANT.
The next case was L. P. Norton Va. +.
A. Gleason. Apt. This was an action on
note given by defendant to plaintiff to
pay the first premium on two life insur-
ance policies in the North Western ms.
Co. The defence was that plaintiff used
'raud in procuring the Insurance. The
jury, TO the surprise Of many, returned
verdict for defendant. j. X. Batchel-
der for plaintiff. w. B. Sheldon and
j. l.. Martin, for defendant.
The next case was |. E. Gibson W..
Chas, Wilson Apt. This was brought
to recover book account. The defend
ant did not dispute the account, hut
claimed it was TO be paid in wood. Yer
dict foI plaintiff for S37 80 J.K Batch
elder for plaintiff. c. Il; Mason for de
After this the noted case of EljIh
Birber's, Admr. vs. DR.. W. R. Bennett
came on. This case has been twice tried
in this court by jury, and twice sent
back for new trial by the Supreme
Court, ard hence this is the starlink of
the third round. 1t involves this time
considerable less than heretofore, as GER
tain matters that were then disputed
are now conceded. but still it involves a
large amount of deal, which cover a
period IF time from 1866 to 1871 and
s)me later. DR.. Bennett the defendant
was at that time sOn-in-law of Elijah
Birber, and after the death of his wife
lived at Mr.. BARRIERS house some three
years and part Of the plaintiffs &C
count is for his boar d and horse. keeping
while there. This the Doctor claims
was paid by bringing things into the
house for the use of the family There
are other features Of the case of interest
to parties and counsel, but with which
the public has little concern. j. X
Batchelder and l. Munson for plaintiff.
w. Is Sheldon, j, C. Baker aud j. l.
Martin for defendant. The case will be
g. ven to the jury today.
The Grand Jury finsned their labors
Tu SHAY afternoon. came into cnu, and
were discharged. They reported twelve
cases chnsl Tered during their term of s
days and of these they found five indrct
mente. The cases which have been
made public are these
I John keenan, and James Gunshannon.
indicted for the murder of John Gun
shannon last summer James COng1un,
held by the lower court for the same OF.
tense, bill n It found,
George Houran, held for shooting
WIN. Mcclure on the morning Of Sept.
10Th, bill no found,
Chas ii Il ce was indicted for assault
with in'eut :" kill. He shot at James
Hurley 'mh just miss, d him as was
stated i-', week
Ju"i lP'ure the noon recess today Geo.
L. T~i'cheil of Shaftsbury, was arraign-
ed on an indictment OF the Grand Jury
for breach OF the peace He gave bait
800 and awaits trial. Mason and Batch
elder are his attorneys. This is the case
Of assault on Peter Matri4on at the rail
road crossing near the gravel-bed, north
OF this village, on the GIT Of the IA
Of August, last.
NOTES.
The Hon. R S. Taft, presiding Judge
at this term OF court. is one Of the ahlest
members of the Supreme Bench of Yer
mont. This is the first term in Ben
nington, and his expeditions manner Of
dispatchIng business cOmmends i'seif to
both the bar and contestants. Judge
Taft has been prominent IN our State for
many years and as Lieutenant Governor
made dignitied presiding officer of the
Senate.
Assistant Judges Bowen and Dean
commence with this court their second
term Of service, having been reelected
at the September election with an n
creased maj brlty over 1886.
The new Clerk, Mr.. Edward j. Hill,
sustains the fine reputation he acquired
at the June term, when he took charge
OF that department for his lampnted
father, the veteran County Clerk Of this
county. He fills the place with dignity
and acceptance. Mr.. Harrison l. Nor
ton is the efficient Deputy Clerk.
The new sheriff was sworn in and as
sumed his duties the day before and
took charge of affairs at the opening Of
the term, Dec. 4th Sheriff Pixies
assistants are /: Jas. l.. Mccall Patrick
Morrisssy, Henry Douglass. and Frank
H. Matteson. Ex Sheriff Mccall had
the honor to he detailed to take charge
of the Grand Jury, the special session Of
which closed Tuesday. The others are
gentlemen well and fayorahly known in
this connection.
The introduction of the new States
Attorney. o. M. Barber, into his office
has the added duties Of being a Grand
Jury term. He was therefore plunged
at nee into the most active business Of
that official. The retiring S'a'e's Attor-
ney, Ed. L. Bate, had surrendered his
docket completed, and under common
circumstances the duties would have
been light. But the long session (OfI
eight days., OF the Grand jury, |
the longest OF late years, must have
been quite an onerous beginning. and
Mr., Buber, we are told, filled the bill"
Five indi tments being found out of
twelve cases presented.
Chat s. Chase, the veteran rep rter,
is again at his post and, as in former |
years, he is the busiest man about the |
premises these days, the Barber vs.. Ben |
nett case requiring copious transcripts |
from former trials. He ia therefore
sort OF Udde mectm for all hands.
The Grand Jury was an exceptionally |
fine body of men. CD. NJ. S CO'burn |
was the foreman. The results of their |
labOrS are given in our regular report, |
40 far as has been made pu' lie. The |
time given 10 the important cases they |
held under Amusement. must bs CON |
vincing proof NJ II known and real z .d re- |
possibility. This will commend their
work to the public when known.
The Grand Jury was composed Of these
gentlemen H. NJ. FArnham. Arlington:
l.. F. Abbott, Bennington; J phn Hector,
j. NJ. Buffum, Dorset NJ. S. Colburn,
c. X. Bucklin. Manchester: Chas B tch-
elder Peru; |. F. Pad lock. POwnsl; j.
j jenkins, Rupert; Sills Mason, Reads
bOro; VIM. j. Hamilton. Sandgate; Alb
ram Tenney, Searsburgh; Horace r.
BUttum, SALISBURY; g. ID Hnughton.
Stamford; E G. Bacon, Sundprl nd
N l1on r. IIewcs, WInhal; George Aid.
rich. Woodford. {. j Holden of Land
grove. was also drawn. hut not ring
ahlA to be present, S las MtsOa sSrve' as
talisman In his stead.
ANOTHER MURDER.
Tue day night at late hru~ the
Sheriff was called up to go TO Woodford
1 I,II,n, In ei;aa ,rko III -. |