The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-07-18
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Considerable interest has centered il
the examination OF John Carlisle las
week. for arson in causing the fire anC
heavy loss of Monday morning, July 9Th
which was noted in last weeks BANNER
For this place the cOnflagration was
serious matter, but from which il viii
. soon recover. as 1t is probable the burn
district will be rebuilt soon, and in
Cre substantial manner. An investi
Ion OF the cause of the fire was COM
ced as soon as Mr.. Bullock escaped
1 the burning buildings, and as a re
one John Carlisle was arrested
dnesday night, by Officer Douglass
Sheriff and States Attorney were
Notified, aud Sheriff Pike put in an ap-
= pearance at once, Mr.. Barber, ARRIVING
on Friday morning, accompanies by ex'
States Attorney Bates. A court OF IN
curry was begun Friday morning and
lasted until O'Clock in the afternoon oil
Saturday, and then the examination OF
Carlisle commenced This continued
until Wednesday, and resulted in the
binding over of Carlisle to the December
term OF County Conrt, bail being fixed
at $4,000, and the prisoner was ken 10
Bennington Jail by the Sheriff in default
of bail. The evidence Is somewhat cir
cumstanLial, but very strong claim.
We quote from Z. j. Bullock's test =
mony 1t eeems that Carlisle week CT
80 ago wanted to purchase some alcohol
at Bullock's store. 1t being contrary to
Mr.. Bullock's orders to sell alcohol IN
less positive that it was to be used for
mechanical purposes the clerks refused
to supply Carlisle who they had reason
to believe wanted it 10 drink. Carlisle
became indignant at this, and his anger
was still further stirie by Mr.. Bullock
refused to lend him one dollar last Fri
day, Carlisle stated to Mr.. Bullock that
it would be sorry day for him that he
refused to lend that dollar; that he Gar
lisle) was a white man and a man that
treated him white, he (Carlisle) always
treated him white too. II anyone did
not treat him (Carlslp) white, he (Car.
lisle) always got even with him. This
Carlisle said TO Bullock. Carlisle then
talked with the clerks in about the same
manner that he had to Mr.. Bullock.
Then Carlisle went out of the store. On
Saturday evening before the fire Carlisle
went again into Bullock's store, and de-
manded his bill; said that he had money
enough to pay his bills, and he wanted
to pay that id concern what he
owed il, which was "a cents. Mr.. Bul.
lock told him to go into the office and
pay his account. Carlisle went into the
office and talked with Carl Parker, a
clerk, in a similar strain, Bullock being
in a back store, hearing the conversa-
ton, started to come out and was met
by respondent, saying; 81 want to pay
YOU" With an oath declaring that he
(Carlisle) wouldn't trade with an institu-
ton that wouldn't lend him 81. and ii
would be sorry day for him (Bullock)
that he didn't let him (Carlisle) have
that dollar. Bullock took the "a cents
and ordered Carlisle out of the store.
Carlisle refused, and not until an officer
had been called for did he 20, uttering
threats as he went. He afterwards re,
turned and got receipt, repeating to
Clerk Stowell the same language in re-
gard to white man." etc., that he had
to Bullock on Friday and again on this
Saturday evening. 1t is further stated
that on Monday Carlisle told a boon
companion, others being in hearing, that
Bullock had not got as many dollars to
lend now as he had before the fire, and
seemed to gloat over Bullock's misfor-
tune. All these things constitute a
strong chain of evidence. Carlisle's de-
fence seems to be denunciation of all
these witnesses as liars, etc. The lives
of all the occupants of the store build
ing were beyond doubt saved by the lit
tie dog ir the housekeeper's room. Til y
were the housekeeper, Sarah Davis and
the two clerks. Orrin Stowell and Har-
ry Pierce who slept in rooms almost d.
rectly over where the fire was set. A
half minute more and escape for the
three would have been impossible so
rapidly did the flames spread the instant
the oil was reached. Charles Bullock, a
lad of 10 years, who was aroused by the
housekeeper at the time Mr.. Bullock was
awakened, stepped onto the poic CHI from
the front window of his room and shout
ed fire. The flames became so hot that
he was compelled to slide down tele-
phone pole to the ground.