St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-05-16
VERMONT NEWS.


Il .Suit From the Hartford Disaster
The first trial of a case brought
against the Central Vermont railroad
for damages arising out of the fatal
railroad disaster at Hartford, little
over two years ago, began at Bur-
lington Monday. The suit is brought
by the administrator of the estate of
]. A. Stone of Burlington, who was
killed in the disaster, and the amount
claimed is $4,000. The matter of
the roads liability is thus brought
to test for the first time, but there
have been a great many claims beside
this one presented. Some of the
ablest lawyers in the state have been
at work on the case, and the plain tiff
has the dispositions of rs witnesses
to offer Col. A A. Hall of st. AL
bans opened the case for the plaintiff,
and was followed by Attorney Hard
of Burlington. The latter made a
statement concerning the movements
of Mr. Stone, and claimed that the
railroad company were responsible
for the accident on account of the in
sufficiency of the roadbed, poorly
constructed cars, and improperly
equipped train, and the negligence on
the part of the employees. c. w. Wit
tiers OF st. Adams opened the case for
the defense, and said they would be
able to show that the roadbed at the
bridge was especially perfect, that
the cars in the Inflated train were
substantially built and equipped
and that the trainnen were trust
worthy and experienced men. The
president and vice-president of the
Central Vermont road were present
at the opening of the case, and the
trial will last at least two weeks and
probably longer.
Railway Postal Changes.
Up to the present time II republi-
cans have been appointed to posi-
tions on the railway mail service on
routes running into or through this
state. The appointments for the
routes in this section are: c. H. Cur
tbs of Bradford, reinstated to the
Newport and Springfield day route;
]. w. Chapman of Springfield, VT, re-
instated to the Newport and Spring
field day route; Milton Blake, rein
stated to the Newport and Spring
field route; L. Davis reinstated to
the Newport and Springfield route;
S. E. Brownell of Essex Junction, APP
pointed to the Burlington and La
noble railroad postoffice, a reap
pointment; c. E. Greene of Essex
Junction, SwantOn and Portland
day route; c. S. Bradbury, Swanton
and Portland route.
Bennineton's Hotels Open.
The hotel problem in Bennington
is in q fair way to solve itself, with
what assistance the temperance peO-
pie can give. The hotels, after a bar
ricade of four weeks, opened last
week Wednesday morning, theliquor
prosecutions against the Putnam
and Stark houses having been set
tied. Mr.. Pratt of the Stark house
settled his case by paying a fine of
5000, and both houses opened up at
noon. In the mean time a paper is
being circulated in Bennington with
the object of obtaining 100 signers
who will pledge themselves to pay
$1Oa year, So on the first day of
June and So on the first day of Janu-
airy, as a contribution and induce
ment to any good hotel proprietor
to come to the place and run a hotel
on temperance basis.
Citizens of Springfield regardless of
party met in caucus Saturday and
nominated Loren B. Hurd as a cam
didate for postmaster. Mr.. Hurd
was removed in September, 1885, af
ter having served as postmaster for
II years.
An old man named John Ryan,
resident of North Walpole, n. H.,
jumped into the Connecticut river
from the bridge at Bellows Falls Fri
day. The act was probably caused
by insanity. The body has not yet
been recovered, it having gone
through the large falls of the Con-
necticut
Postmaster Redington of Rutland
is about to open a lawyers office in
New York, and has sent his resigna-
ton to President Harrison Albert
futile, L. G. Bagley and F. A. Field
are the principal candidates. Tuttle
was postmaster under Garfield and
Arthur, and is the present proprietor
of the Bates House. Bagley is
prominent politician and Field is the