The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-29
CORRESPONDENCE.


ANTEGI, Wis, Dec. 20, 1890.
Editor Of Bennington Bdnner:-DEAR
SIR:-As loyal son of Vermont
raised" in SALISBURY and "schoOled"
for some years in Bennington, my
thoughts sometimes get to wandering
back from this bustling young Western
town to the dear old Vermont hills. At
Christmas time especially, fond recUl
lections come thrOnging, and memory
pOrtrays anew the two tasty faded
scenes of the happy olden times. The
dear familiar faces are lost too easily in
the crowd of strangers that press on be-
fore us in the busy stream OF life. So
would fain for brief space find little
place among you, if no more than the
point of pen will make, which l pro-
pose to lengthen out if possible to reach
and make my mark in your paper, the
aforementioned BANNER-"lOng may
it wave"
Am not sure but that | wrote you a
letter two years ago when first came to
this city of the woods. Antegi is about
ten years old now, and has population
of about 1900 by the last census. 1t is
already getting an old story to call it a
new town in Northern Wisconsin. 1t
was for several years of its early best
days strictly temperance town, but
continued growth and prosperity brought
more turbulent and undesirable class
of citizens including large numbers of
foreigners, and the saloons forced them
selves in. Since then Antegi has been
retrograding in nearly all of her best in
terests, and from having borne an excep-
tionally good reputation is reduced to
the position for which her most sanguine
defenders can only say, "Antegi is no
worse than other towns in Northern Wis
consin."
About year and half ago drunken,
quarrelsome salOon-keeper, in gam.
blers row shot another gambler, not the
one he aimed at, and killed him. The
trial took place this last October and re-
suited in the acquittal of the murderer
he having had the privilege of free access
to the jury who were quartered in his
own hotel, and drank and played card,
with him at least once, If not many
times more. Through the special kind
ness of the deputy sheriff, this same
murderer had also been allowed to &C
out with him and help select the ''specia
uenire" from which his corruptible jury
were drawn. The next day after acquit
tai he was himself appointed deputy t.
Arrest anothe murderer.
Passing over several "minor" affair
which have since TRANSFERRED, the lates
UIimin0l ooso has intOrost for Ranning
t)nians from the fact that the Mosher re
terred to is the son of the late Almol
MJsher, who lived in Bennington up
wards of thirty years ago.
This AlmOn MOsher found out in thi
way. An old acquaintance of his lief
word at the parsonage that man wa
lying in the hospital near by, sick with
cancer, neglected by friends, lonely an,
respondent. | visited him, learned b.
inquiry his former residence, and talke,
of such names of old Benningtonians a
were familiar to both. Visited him agai
and tried to prepare him for the en-
which was evidently near. His Who'll
face between eyebrow and lower lip wa
destroyed by the deadly disease, He ha
; lived for many years q wretChed life an
! bore no enviable reputation, He scenes
much affected at this visit About tw
: weeks later had hat and coat ON read
to visit him again, when was told tina
. he died and was buried the previou
! Sunday, without word of ceremony O
the least attention from his wife an
children who lived near by.
The murder of which | send you az
count in enclosed clipping is fittin
sequel to this story Of a mis-spent life,
miserable neglected death and heather
ish burial. The son and son-in-law wer
great deal more interested in divisio
, of the old mans little property, than i
his comfort or welfare.
send you with this a copy of tn
, ! (brigfin0 HeIDoF nf whinh I am aIit Oi
: that will give you some further idea {
Antegi and my own work here. You
respectfully, NJ. L. BROWN.