Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-11-01
The Moot Court.

Cox, publishers of the Historical Souvenir
of Randolph, Box 272, West Randolph, Vt
The Moot Court.
rhe "Moot Court was largely attended
saturday evening By the members OF th.
West Randolph grange and their invited
friends, who greatly enjoyed the cunning
travesty on the way in which justice is adj
ministered in our courts. The dignlhed
Judge, before whom the case Of the State
OF Vermont VS. Edward L. Bass was heard
was Mr.. Joel B. Putnam, who was assisted
in his arduous duties by such "weighty'
men as Messrs. j. b. Wells and Henry
Fits. The high sheriff, who sometimes
found il difficult to preserve order IN the
court, was Mr.. Clarence Bass, and the
deputy sheriff was Mr. Densmore Battles.
The attorneys for the State were Messrs.
| Alonzo Emery and A. b. Manchester, and
for the plaintiff, Messrs. ID. II. Morse and
George Flint. The court came to order,
and the clerk, Mr. Frank Cleveland, called
the following jury; II. p. Abbott, Mrs.
Harris Holman, Horace Lamb, Mrs. judi
son Fits, Joseph Harlow, Mrs. Sidney
Smith, Mrs. II. p. Abbott, Sidney Smith,
Mrs. Charles Lamson, Mrs. Joseph Har-
low, Mrs. j. b. Wells and Mason Battles.
Objection was taken to Mrs. Charles Lam
sons being member OF the jury on the
ground that her husband was to be one Of
the witnesses, and Judson Fits was cho-
sen in her place. No other objections be-
| ing made, those composing the jury were
sworn and took their seats. The prisoner
was then escorted into the court room, and
the indictment was read by Prosecuting
| Attorney A. 3. Manchester. From this
| indictment, ii appeared that complaint
had been made by Irving Lamson on the
18th OF August against T.. l.. Bass for pur-
/ Joining fine Plymouth Rock rooster, OF
rare and beautiful marking and of the age
OF 275 years and o months; a bird which
I mad been brought over in the Mayfiower
/ by the ancestors OF said Irving Lamson,
and which, on account of his military
achievements, had been given the name OF
Napoleon. Mr.. Lamson, having just cause
to suspect r. =. Bass, witnesses were ex-
amined, and a true bill--not the ROSTERS
| bill, howeyer-was found against he pris
oner for taking said rooster against the
laws OF the State. Mr.. Morse objected to
the wording of the indictment but thought
il might be allowed to stand by necessity,
to which Mr.. Manchester responded that
Necessity knows no law Irving LAM
son, Frank Mann, Mrs. Frank Mann, Mrs.
Nickerson, ID. Hale Flint, Fred Smith, Roll
lin Smith, Leonard Hutchinson, W. w.
Jones and Clarence Bass were called as
witnesses for the prosecution, aud with
right hands appraised took the following
OATH 1--WE solemnly swear that the evil
dence we shall give relative to the case now
under consideration, shall not be the truth,
the whole truth nor anything like the
truth; so help our judgment to guide us
in the NATTER From the evidence given
for the State, 1t appeared that Plymouth
Rock rooster, renowned as tighter, an
heirloom in the Lamson family and con-
sidered worth about $780, had been stolen
from Irving Lamson, for 80 years the own
er OF this wonderful cock, on the night of
August 18th. This fowl, it seems, crowed
in peculiar tone OF voice, and that night
as Rollin Smith, who lives at Mr.. Lamson's
and has charge of the hennsry, was driv-
ing home from the village, he met a team
and thinking that he recognized Mr. Bass
hat, stopped and asked him IL he had any
good cows to sell. He received no reply
and repeated mis- question in a louder tone;
then the rooster at once knew his voice
and crowed his peculiar crow, which Mr..
Smith in turn recognized as very familiar
Before any embarrassing questions could
be asked, the team was quickly driven
away. Frank Mann was called to the wit.
ness stand and testified that Mr.. Bass
called at his house Aug. 18th and offered
TO bet him so that he had a rooster which
could beat his. The bet was taken and the
money put in the hands OF w. w. Jones,
who happened to be present. The fight
took place at O'Clock in the morning in
shed near the Christian church, but be-
ing interrupted by the arrest OF Mr.. Bass,
1t was decided to postpone the finish until
after the bearing of this case. Mr.. Mann
also testified that he been acquainted with
the prisoner 30 or 20 years and knew him
to be very fond OF betting, especially on
ROSTERS ID. Hale Flint, who posed as Mr.
Bass hired man, said that his employer Of
Tered him hall the stake money il he would
render assistance in the stealing OF this
particular fowl and he agreed to do it.
They procured a bag from Fred Smiths
thn k-rr f.rf~. =.
court was found to be decorated with a
picture of Grover Cleveland and the mot |
to, Free Wool" The rooster was also |
produced in court and was recognized by |
ms owner, while those present gazed on |
his venerable form with feelings OF deep
interest. The witnesses for the defense |
Il. Il. Goodwin, who personated the pro- |
prletor of the Crawford House, Boston, |
Miss Jessie Tarbell, DR.. Gouldsbury MRS. /
A. Is. Manchesterl, l.. Dickerman. p Com
molly, Russell Burridge and Charles Lam
son-were summoned and took the oath. I
From their testimony il was successfully /
proven that the prisoner left town the 9Th /
OF August and stopping at one or two |
places on the way, arrived in Boston the
llth. he was taken sick at the Crawford |
House, DR.. Gouldsbury testifying to his |
being afflicted with disease which, il it
were ANYTHING as terrible as its name. must
nave had some very alarming symptoms
- ANAdAn rum DOtlOn until the
18th, and letters and kilograms received by
Two or three of the witnesses from Mr..
Bass during his absence, were brought
forward, also the register OF the Crawford
House with the plaintiffs name in its list
81 guests Aug. I1-13th. The court ruled
mat the prisoner should be allowed to
testify IN his own behalf, which he did.
telling very straight story. It transplred
y the cross-examination OF witnesses that
nj: Alien Priest was in some way mixed
up IN this cock fight, and il NAV be neces-
sary later to have a second trial. The
lawyers summed up the case in fine style,
reading law out Of dictionaries and ency-
;lopedias with great fiuency and the Judge
1ellvered an impressive charge to the jury,
warning them that they should duly sift
ana weigh the evidence in order to arrive
y Just and proper verdict in this impor-
ant matter. After few moments spent
70 retirement. the jury returned a verdict |
ot not guilty, and Mr.. Bass was doubtless
from q horrible feeling Of sus-