The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-07-17

10 "h lIlShHdn, whose people now l1Ye in
New Haven, Conn. Ekstrom is Swede,
who spent five years-from 1874 to 1S79-as
sailors apprentice off the coast of Whitby,
England, where, apparently, he acquired
the brogue of the Northumberland dialect.
which marks his accent. According to
their story they met at Bellows Falls by
chance and came on together in search of a
job, either in numbering or at the Ely mines
but after reaching Chelsea, becoming dis
couraged in this pursuit, they turned toward
Strafford and were there arrested the next
day. The states evidence tended to show
that they stayed in the Tracy barn, a half
mile below Chelsea village Saturday night
where two chisels and a bit belonging to
Godfrey were found Sunday forenoon; also
that a bit-stock Of Godfreys was found
under spruce bush beside the road, a
quarter of mile beyond, along which these
prisoners passed. The testimony as to
identity, however, was uncertain and con-
Trajectory and the jury disagreed, standing
six and six. j. X. Darling assisted the
states attorney; George L. Stow and r. NJ.
Harvey appeared for the respondents.
Among the indictments found was one
against Frank Mace, Wilbur d. Gilbau. Ed
ward Davis, Royal f. West, James Foley
and Z, q. Ekstrom, who were all in
mates OF the Jail at the time Sheriff Collins,
on May last, discovered that an attempt
had been made to break Jail. The four
trst-named respondents turned states evil
dence, giving in detail the manner of
Ekstrom's whiting from a chair-leg what
with the aid of a nail heated in the stove
he made into key, and by that gained ac-
cess to the outer unoccupied cell on the
second tier, where, with a poker, he dug
out the cement from around granite block
in the ceiling and succeeded in removing
several bricks from the side of the celi
Gilbau told of seeing Ekstrom at work in
the cell and they all testified to Foey's
watching at the outer door of the Jail while
Ekstrom was at work in the cell or carry
ing the poker in both hands before him, so
as not to be seen from outside; also that
they changed with each other in watching
and working. Both Foley and Ekstrom
denied the story of the others, said that the
cell was not unlocked while they were in
Jail, and offered testimony, which was ex
cluded, to show that an attempt to break
Jail was made by Davis and Gibau before
Foley and Ekstrom were committed It
appeared that Mace had served three
years terms in state prison for robbery
haNlng been sentenced at Burlington in
1880 under the name of James Blake, and
another year at Rutland Gilbau had
graced the state farm" as he called it, a
reformatory at Bridgewater, Mass The
jury, after eight hours consideration,
rendered verdict of guilty. A motion in
arrest OF Judgment was filed, which was
pro Jorad overruled. The case goes to the
supreme court on exceptions. j. X. Dar-
ling assisted the state attorney; George i.
Stow and r. NJ. Harvey for the respondents.
Mace, Gilbau and Davis were released on
their own recognizances for 800 each, the
Indictment against them for being tramps
having been quashed and the grand iury
having failed to find bill against them for
burglary, the crime ON which they were
bound up and taken to Jail from Bradford
in November last. They wended their way
toward Barre.
State rs. Frank Bruce was an Indictment
for the larceny of a team which respondent
testihed he bought of Fred Sargent last fall
at Jonesville, VT, and soon after exchanged
for other property at Randolph. The states
evidence tended to show that the team was
not bought, but taken on trial, to Re re-
turned the following Tuesday, when the re-
spondent was to pay for it if he concluded
to buy it. The jury took the former view
and acquitted respondent. j. X. Darling
and the states attorney for the state; w.
A. Lord, G. III. Heath and n l.. Boyden for
the respondent.
State u.s. George Dunham, an indictment
for arson in burning an unoccupied dwell
ing-house, May 21 last, on the Corinth
edge OF Washington, resulted in verdict
OF not guilty because ofinsanity he being
simple fellow whose insanity mainly con-
sists in setting fires. He was sentenced to
five years at Windsor, some years ago, for
burning barn. He has been taken to the
asylum at Brattleboro. j. X. Darling ap-
peared Tor respondent, assisted by Il. NJ.
Harvey.
This ended the criminal trials, although
several other Judgments were entered on
pleas of guilty. Nathan II. Carpenter
pleaded guilty to one offense of manufac-
turing liquor and was fined 800 and costs.
taxed at Sl5 also three first offenses of sell
ing liquor, and was fined $50; also to
assault and battery on Ezra Wiley at Straf-
ford, June II last, and was fined $50 Dan
iel Annis pleaded guilty and was fined $50
for three first offenses of selling liquor Dan
iel ID. Royce was fined $40 on pleading
guilty to four first offenses. William A.
Giles pleaded guilty to information filed
for stealing horse, nearly three years
since, and was sentenced to two years in
the house of correction. Kate Taisev.
found guilty under the blanket act was
given the same sentence. The Jury was
discharged July 3, having been present
month.
Fewer divorces were granted at this term
of court than at any other for many years
Cora b. Robbins US Charles NJ Robbins was
a contested petition from Hancock, he hav-
ing libel now pending in Addison county.
She now resides in Randolph. Intolerable
severity was the cause alleged, but the
court, after full hearing, dismissed the
petition. G. III, Heath for the petitioner;
Hunton & Stickney for the petitionee.
NINA II. Hopkins rs. CndrleS w. HOP
kins was petition alleging neglect and re-
fusal TO support, being of sufficient pc
cuniary ability, the evidence showing him
to be a well, able-bodied man, capable of
earning enough to support his family, but,
through shiftlessness and laziness, neglect
ing to do So The court held that this did
not make case under No. So acts of 1886,
where Sufficient pecuniary ability" is
g construed to mean sufficient ability to
provide suitable maintenance for a wife,
whether derived from the income of prop
erty, personal labor, or any other source"
Judge Taft said that statute in no way
altered the former law as it had been
usually construed 1t seems, however, to
have been enacted purposely TO modify the
adopted by the supreme court |
Df Washington county, at the previous May |
term, in the case of Farnsworth Us. Farms
worth, reported in the ffty-eighth volume |
)f Vermont Reports. In the cases of Bertha |
A. Davis rs. Charles II. Davis and Lauraette |
Emerson as. Artbar ID. Emerson, the first |
'or intolerable severity, the second for will |
Iul desertion, the petitions were denied, but |
ihe cases were continued in order to cite in |
he petitiopees. In the case of Dora ID. |
Webster us. James b. Webster divorce was
granted for intolerable severity and custody |
IF children given to libellant. Martha l.. |
Fiield was granted a divorce from Overd |
b. Fiteld for wilful desertion and the