Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-22
ORANGE CoUNlY,CoURr.
French, the Forger, Sentenced to Ser
Three Years and Six Months In Prison

french, the Forger, Sentenced to Serve
Three Years and Six Months In Prison.
Judge Powers presided over the Orange
County Court last week. The session
opened with the trial of f.. r. Hyde ct al
vs. Chelsea fire district No. I, which con-
sumed the time till p. m. Tuesday. This
was an action of general assumpsit in
which the plaintiffs sought to recover the
amount of a bank note which they had
signed January 81, 1855. claiming to be
prudential committee of the defendant.
which note they, as individuals, afterward
paid with their own note January II 1856
The defense was general issue with notice
that there was not in existence any such
corporation rs defendant was alleged to
be because of the prior Organization, and
still continuing existence of another fire
district over and within the same limits
OF territory. The court ruled that NOT
withstanding the existence of the older
fire district, If the plaintiffs in good faith
as prudential committee of the newer or
ganization (Which, whether locally form
ed or not, was a de tdctO corporation) had
paid u note whose proceeds went to the
benefit of such newer organization, then
the plaintiffs should recover, and the iury
rendered a verdict for 1926 with interest
from January %, 1885 The case goes to
Supreme Court on defendants exceptions.
5. b. Hebard and j. X. Darling were for
Nh
II. Heath for the defendant
The next case was Darius H. Rowell VS..
town of Nershire, an action of assumpslt
in which plaintiff claimed pay for the
support of idiot daughter after she be-
came of age, by virtue of a special con-
tract of June 3, 1856, with the oyerseer.
The defence was general denial. Judge
Powers charged the Jury Thursday morn
ing, and at noon they rendered sealed
verdict of S4O0 for the plaintiff
The next case was Luther Blake and
wife vs. Charles II. Bedell, an action of
trespass in which Mrs. Bake complains
that the defendant on April A. 1887, at
Monroe, n, H., made an assault upon her
for the purpose of obtaining sexual inter
course. The defense is general denial
There are but three more civil cases, and
few criminal cases to be tried. The new
entry docket contains IS law cases, and Is
in chancery.
Thursday afternoon Charles H. French
pleaded guilty to. forging and uttering two
promissory notes against l.. G. Hinckley
and also to forging another against Ira
Hood. He was sentenced to three years
in States prison, and to pay 800 and costs
| for the former offences, and osx months
| imprisonment and 81 fine for the last Of
fence. The revelation of these crimes has
caused quite sensation in Chelsea. The
criminal Is AZ years old, and has always
| lived upon his fathers farm, now occu-
| pied by brother, within three miles of
Chelsea village. He has always been
weak in body and commonly regarded as
| OF feeble intellect, but the details of these
crimes show a firm purpose, and consid-
cradle skill and cunning. He obtained
genuine signatures, and traced them
under notes for various sums he wrote
| himself. He had several such signatures,
| which apparently he intended to use. On
Monday, the 18th inst, trustee process
was served to secure what French had at
u rpl u nd IN mi thnr .
| Ger obtained from him a confession of the
, whole matter as before published. The
| Ira Hood note for Sal was afterward
| found in his trunk bearing date October
| 10, 1878, payable to Charles H. French, or
| order, and endorsed in 1884 so as to keen
| it alive. Mr.. Hood was very sick last
| winter and not expected to live, but did
recover, hence this note was not uttered.
| The culprit's punishment is well deserv.
| ed, but much sympathy is expressed for
his old father, much respected citizen
| of the village. 1t is even reported that the
son has forged note against his old
| father for considerable amount. In his
trunk was also found what purported to
be his fathers will forged 10y MIN in which
he gets large portion OF the estate
There were also found in the trunk KEYS
| that would admit him To every store in
! the village razors, razor straps and other
mall articles.
Verdict for the Defendant in the New
Hamp shire Assault Case-A Dog Case.
The case of Luther Blake d wife VS.
Charles II. Bedell an action for Grim
nal assault upon the wife, which
begun its trial Thursday forenoon
in the Orange County Court. was
given to the jury Friday noon. AT
2:30 p. IN, a verdict was rendered for the
defendant. Smith Il Sloane for the
plaintiff, 9. H. Hoeford and r. NJ. Harvey
for the defendant. Both parties lived in
Munroe, n. H., but defendant was ar
rested at Wells River on a writ returna-
BILE to Orange County Court. Friday noon
began the trial OF O. l.. Wright VS.. Card
ner Parker, an action in the case for the
bite of the defendants dog pleas general
issue with notice that the dog was eXas-
perated to do so. Plaintiff CLAIMED that
that while passing defendants farm house
in the road defendants dog bit his left leg
Defendant claimed that he did not know
that the dog was vicious. Verdict for the
plaintiff to recover S25 and costs Smith
a Sloane for plaintiff, j. X. Darling and
II. Nj. III iwes for defendant.
Saturday morning was begun the case
OF Roslna Hutchinson VS. Elisha II. Ford.
an action OF assumpsit, in which plaintiff
seeks to recover the avails of certain wood
cut from farm defendant held by a con
ditional deed securing the payment of
5000 note Cushnan and \. l.. Boyden
tor the plaintiff, j. ID. Denison and G.. H.
Heath for defendant.