Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-01-31
PETERSON IN COURT.
He IS ARRAlGNtD ON THE CHARGE
OF GRAND LARCENY.
The Gay Lothario Pleads Not Guilty and
tho Hearing Goes on-Interesting
Tcstimony-Tho Trunk Sent by
Agnes to Augustus.

a hearing in the case of the colored
Lothario, Augustus Patterson or Peterson, as
he now prefers to call himself, was begun in
the City Court Wednesday morning before
Judge Peck, the State being represented by
States Attorney ID. j. Foster and Grand
Juror j. L. Cushman and the respondent by
Mr. j. Enright. The interest developed
in the case was shown by the fact that there
was scarcely standing room so large was the
number of spectators present.
The prisoner was brought into court by
Chief of Police Dumas at $3.50 and was ar
raigned on the charge of grand larceny for
stealing goods from the Bay View Hotel at
Queen City Park in October last.
The first witness was E. L. Bamforth,
who testified that he conducted the hotel
last summer and he employed Peterson as
meat cook and the latter remained in his
employ until August 26 The hotel was
closed September 10 and witness then came
to this city to live. The furniture, bedding,
crocllery, glassware, % casters and all
cooking utensils were kept at The hotel
The knives, forks and spoons were taken
away and are now at Miles q McMahon's
store. The silverware was taken there after
the fire because it was known to be at his
house and he did not consider it safe. The
goods were placed in rooms Nos and 9 on
the second floor for the winter. There
were in these rooms 1872 Sheets 900 pillow
cases, "a table cloths, 30 dozen napkins, 10
dozen towels for chamber 60 bed spreads,
dozen or 10 comfortables, GO blankets, part
of which were fancy toboggan blankets.
Peterson knew where the goods were as did
the other help.
Peterson began to work for G. S. Blod
gett ~ Co., about October 10, The day be-
fore the fire witness asked Peterson to go to
the park with him to examine the water
pipes and put them in shape for the winter.
At this point a white bed spread, two
confortables, pillow cases and a sheet were
identified by the witness. He first saw the
sheet and pillow cases at Knapton's second
hand store on ST. Paul street. The spread
was found at Mr.. Salisbury's place on North
avenue. and the two comfortabes at the
house of a colored man named Watkins on
Interval avenue.
Witness went to the park Sunday morn
ing after the fire and found the remains of
the castors, glassware and the mating that
was ON the floor, but no trace of other
goods. Peterson to the best of WITNESSES
knowledge left town about seven days after
the fire on Saturday evening, November ,,
Peterson notified witness of the fire about
II O'Clock at night. Peterson knocked
twice on the window and witness asked who
was there. Peterson said, cts me-, and
added, THE hotel is on fire" Witness ask
ed what hotel and Peterson said at Queen
City Park. Witness went to the door to
look at the fire and saw that
it was about out. Peterson said the
hotel was burned down. Witness said
he asked Peterson how he knew it was the
hotel and Peterson said he was writing a
letter when the alarm sounded. He went
as far as the watering trough and
| learned there from some one that it was the
hotel.
The fair cash value of the goods in the
two rooms was about $500. The blankets
We're worth $40. The goods exhibited he
thought were worth 81. so or 81. co.
| The testimony of Mrs. Bamforth Will
liam Watkins, William Knapton, Chief of
Police Dumas and p. c. Dodge corroborated
| that Of Mr.. Bamforth.
The hearing was at noon continued to
Saturday, February S, at a. IN.