Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-06-19
County Court.

OOuUAy OOuTh
MANCHESTER, June 10Th, 1S94.-In the
case of Kelley VS.. Blair. the jury brought
in verdict of $40 and costs, for the
plaintiff. This is for fast driving in the
streets of Arlington, whereby the de-
PENDANT ran against the plaintiffs son,
knocking him over and breaking his leg
The grand jury were discharged Wednes-
day morning, having completed their Ia
bors for the term. Eleven bills were
found and four cases not found. Among
the latter is that of A. E. Hamilton, who
was bound over to the Court by Justice
r. W. Dean last March, accused of set
ting the great fire that occurred at Man
chester Centre the 21st day of last De-
cember. There being no criminal cases
ready for trial and the civil cases all
completed, the jury were excused till
Friday morning, and the remainder Of
Wednesday and all of Thursday was
spent with divorce cases and matters be-
fore the Court.
The case of State VS.. Woodcock is now
being tried. Harland Woodcock of Sand
gate is the respondent charged with
stealing pork from the house of Mrs,
\Hurd, his mother-in-law. f. G. Archi-
Nald, States Attorney, assisted by j. G..
Martin appear for the State and j. K.
Batchelder and o. M. Barber for the de-
fenNe. Many witnesses appear, those of
the plaintiff show the amount of pork
taken to be about fifteen pounds. The
case of State against Woodcock, was
given to the jury about half past five to-
night and after retiring a short time
brought in verdict of not guilty.
In the meantime Charles Rufus Young
was brought into court and arraigned.
The grand jury made two indictme nts
against him, one for stealing Moses Bar
rett's horse and rig in Manchester, and
the other of stealing a span of horses
and rig from the barn of Julius Hill of
Sunderland. He pleaded not guilty to
both indictments. His council, Hon. J. K.
Batchelder, thinks they will be ready for
trial the forepart of the coming week.
June 10th, 1894.
The trial of Charles Rufus Young for
horse stealing was begun before the
County Court at Manchester, Monday
afternoon. At the time the court open
ed the room was full. The sun poured
into the south windows, making the
room almost uninhabitable, and fans
were supplied the court, jury, attorneys
and the prisoner. There are two indict-
ments against Young, the first one
night of the Both of last August. one
horse, wagon and lap robe from Julius
Hill, one horse the property of Laura
Hill, and other property from Ambrose
E. Madison, all of Sunderland. The
other is for stealing horse belonging to
Morse Barrett of Manchester. Young is
being tried on the first charge, and in
case of an acquittal would Immediately
be arrested on the others, and probably
confined in Jail until the December term.
When arraigned for trial he pleaded not
guilty. He appears to be the most I'M
concerned of any man in attendance be-
fore the court. He is well-built, good
looking man, apparently about 55 years
of age. He has long grey beard and
grey hair, both nicely trimmed and
combed. He was dressed in a neat fit
ting suit of black. a white shirt and
cuffs, and resembles more man of the
town than he does horse thief. He is
well educated, pleasant spoken, uses the
best of language and by many would be
taken as one of the clergy, and as he sat
in the prisoners box, it was hard to be-
lieve that he was charged with one of
the worst crimes on the statute books.
The prosecution is conducted by States
Attorney Archibald, who is assisted by
Martin of Manchester Centre.
After the Indictment had been read,
and the oath administered to the jury,
the States Attorney opened by stating
in few words the circumstances of the
case; the discovery of the team being
gone, the alarm, pursuit and capture Of
Young near South Londonderry, as vel
as the route taken. The prisoner has
retained Batchelder and Bates as coun
sci, or as he expresses it, to give him
some legal advice, as he has arranged
his own place of defense, and to prove
which he has summoned twenty-one
witnesses, the State seven. He sits by
the side of his counsel, takes copious
notes and suggests question for the
cross examination.
That Young is we'll posted in regard
to affairs that have of late existed in thii
section and Eastern New York, there