Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-05-27
A COOKING MAIN IN eU1LFoRD.
Massachusetts, sports Had Arranged for
mig Fight, hut BrattIeboro Officers
Appeared and Arrested the Proprietor

Massachusetts sports Had Arranged for
Mig right, hut BrattIebOrO Officers
Appeared and Arrested the Proprietor
Of the House.
Chief of Police Mcclure was notified on
Monday that a cooking main was to take
place in the southern part of Guilford on
the farm of Chester Andrews, and that
large crowd had assembled there. The
fight was to be between birds from Boston
and Springfield on the one side and Green
field and Shelburne Falls on the other but
the spectators also included sports from
North Adams, Pittsfeld, LenOX, Turner's
Falls, Millers Falls, Orange and Bellows
Falls. Upon receiving the notification
Mr.. Mcclure and Sheriff Starkey left at
once for the scene of the fray in Guilford,
on the road to Bernardston, about mile
north of the state line. The officers ar
rived at Andrews's place about 80, and
found a crowd of 60 toughs there. They
fled in all directions upon the approach of
the officers, leaving the house through
doors and windows. Mr.. Starkey went in
by one entrance and Mr.. Mcclure by the
other The men who remained in the
building claimed that they had had no
fights, and the officers saw only four or
five birds, which were in bags, but there
were others in crates. Andrews was ar
rested and the liquor on the premises
seized. 1t consisted of two-thirds of keg
of beer, gallon of whiskey and pint of
brandy. A bar was fitted up on the sec
ond floor, with all the paraphernalia nee
essary for carrying on a drinking business.
A pit for cock fighting had been built in
the hall. The 30 men who were in the
house with the officers were a rough look
ing lot, many of them armed with clubs
Fifteen or 20 were under the influence of
liquor, several being in an advanced stage
of intoXication. No attempt was made to
arrest the sports, as it would have been
impossible for two officers to control so
large a crowd, and as there is no law in
/ this state against cock fighting, their only
offence was drunkenness. As soon as the
| officers left with Andrews the sports hur-
| ried back into Massachusetts.
| Andrews was brought to Brattleboro
and on Tuesday was arraigned before JUS
tice Sherman. He was fined $50 and costs,
amounting to S44.G0. lie appealed
\ despatch from Greenfield says that
seven fights took place. resulting in four
victories for the Boston and Springfield
/ birds. The contest was to consist of Is
battles. Fourteen birds were shipped to
] iDOi Hal uolou CdluIudN4 anu IL IL lldu llOl
! been for the pouring rain the fight would
have taken place Sunday. About year
| ago a main was held at Andrewss house,
/ probably by the same crowd, but the Of
ticers knew nothing of it until the follow
ing day.
The boys had "some fun with Sheriff
/ Starkey after he returned to Brattleboro
with the contraband beverage While he
was sitting in his buggy in front of Starkey
d Welmans store the keg of beer was
taken out from under the seat. Mr..
Starkey started to drive along, when he
was notified that the key had disappeared.
While he was searching in the rear of
Starkey & Wellman's store the key was re-
/ placed When Mr.. Starkey returned and
found the keg as if it had not been mo-
Tested shout went up from the boys on
the street, and Mr.. Starkey was bantered
good naturally, as he drove away.