The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-03-30
MANCHESTER CENTRE.

Mrs. Bell Graves is in town for a
months stay.
Miss jamie Colburn has gone to De-
troit and will be absent three or four
weeks.
The usual monthly covenant meeting
of the Baptist church Saturday afternoon
at 2 p. m.
Miss Lucy Parsons is spending this
week among friends in Arlington, Ben
nington and Hoosick Falls, N. Y.
The Baptist Society have removed the
slight embankment wall in front of their
church building and laid marble walk
on both sides of the street fronts of their
property When completed it will add
much to the appearance and convenience
of that part of the village.
At the annual meeting of Zion church
held on Easter Monday, the following
officers were chosen for the ensuing
year: S. Warden, E. l.. Wyman; j. War
den, j. Fl. Whipple; Clerk, G. U. Way;
Treasurer and Collector, G. B. Rowe;
Vestrymen, E. j. futile, l. Il. Dench, j.
c. Helmet, Chas. L. Bench and Chas. E.
Young.
The Easter concert at the Baptist
church Sunday evening was well at
tended and the programme was a very
interesting one and well rendered. The
performers, old and young, carried out
their several parts with great credit TO
themselves. Many thanks are due to
the choir for the most excellent music
furnished during the evening.
Zion church was again the recipient
of beautiful assortment of fresh flow
60 Climatic of NaxU
York. They were as heretofore, from j.
M. Hodgson's Fifth Avenue Floral Es-
tablishment and consisted of cut flowers
and three large pieces, cross, an anchor
and Tyre. At the close of the second
service the flowers were, as usual, dis
tributed as raj as possible, among the
sick of the town.
Ever since the disastrous fire of De-
cember 21st, 1893, when $50 900 worth OF
property was destroyed, there has been
much speculation as to who set, what
was generally believed to be fire of in
cendiary origin. The fire originated in
the clothing store of Asahel E. Hamilton,
man who stood high in the community,
but who, it had been rumored, was in
! financial trouble. There were those who
did not hesitate to say that he set the
| fire to get the insurance. AS soon as
that was adjusted he hired another build
ing and began business again. Friday
last the store was closed by the sheriff in
consequence of action taken by some of
the creditors, and it is understood that
some of those who are not secured will
take measures to have Mr.. Hamilton put
into insolvency. Since the fire the in
surance companies have lad detectives
working up the case, and an ncuest has
been privately conducted. The evidence
given was deemed sufficient, and Tues
day State Attorney F. G. Archibald filed
a complaint against Hamilton, charging
him with arson, and warrant was at
once issued for his arrest. Hamilton
was taken before Justice Dean and
pleaded not guilty. At the request of
his counsel, the hearing was adjourned
until Thursday, yesterday. Hamilton
was released on furnishing bail to the
amount of $4,000. The accused is COM
paratively young man and stands high in
the community, and his arrest on the
charge is great shock. He is secretary
of A6oniram Lodge, F. and A. NJ, and
superintendent of Zion Episcopal Sun.
day school. He has been prominent in
social and other matters. He protests
that he is innocent.