Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-01-05
+ Continued from SM page. |

Brown then took the stand in his own
behalf and there was good deal of
curiosity as to what the defense would
be. as not an inkliug of it had leaked
out and the States case looked dead
straight against the prisoner. The
court room was packed with people,
among them being many ladies, who
apparently took as much interest in the
case as though they understood all
about it. Brown is a rather good look
ing young fellow of Is and perhaps that
accounts for their interest. He stated
that he was born in Salem. n.
y; removed to Burlington with his
parents hen five years I'll lived there
until he was II or Ii, when the family
removed to Chicago, where they have
since resided In 1889 he became ac-
quanted in st. Paul with an actress
named Lillian Glover. known in private
life as Mrs. w. A. Burton. The acquain-
tance continued and soon after ceasing
work for Mr.. Hicks the respondent and
Mrs. Burton came east together to
Albany, N. Y, and in that city the
woman gave him three checks, two for
S400 each and one for 5000. all purport-
ing to have been signed by MIR. Hicks
and made payable to the order of w. a.
Brown. Mrs. Burton told him that
Hicks had given her the checks, but had
left blank space for the name of the
uayee, as he didn't wish to have her
name appear on his checks, and she had
written in Browns name herself. Brown
got one of the S400 checks cashed in
Albany through K. f. Howe, relative
and IA lawyer in that city. He and the
actress went from Albany to New York
city and from there to Boston. Leaving
Mrs. Burton in the latter city, he went
to North Adams, Mass, where he had
still another relative. and in North
Adams he got the $500 check cashed.
He returned to Boston and the woman
next accompanied him back to New
York city. From that city the actress
set out for her home in Chicago and
Brown came to Vermont and arrived at
Mr.. Samson's in Cornwall the day be-
fore the remaining 500 check was pre-
scented for payment at the Middle0nry
bank. The witness had no suspicion
that anything was wrong about the
checks until his arrest in Vergennes,
and then expressed his surprise that the
one cashed here had got around so quick
". If he had acknowledged to the of
ficer that he had done wrong, he meant
that he had been an idiot to have allowed
himself to be fooled and made tool OF
by the woman. Mrs. Burton, he said
was a very beautiful woman. n mum
Der of letters from her to him, received
since his arrest, were put in evidence
as were some written to Lawyer Howe
in Albany and others written to Messrs
Stewart q Wids, but they were not reaC
in open court. Ia rebuttal, Mr.. llick'
swore that he had never given Mrs
Burton any cheeks, and Officer Chap
man swOre that Brown told him in Yer
gennes, in reply to a question, that n
had got the bank checks out of hi
fathers desk at home.
The evidence was concluded by 81
o'clock, and Lawyer Wilds thereupo'
moved that the Jury be directed t.
render verdict of acquittal for tn
reasons that no intent to defraud eithe
Mr.. Hicks or Mr.. Samson. the Middle
bury National bank or the Oak Par
State bank, neither of which had bee
proven to be corporations as set up Il
the indictment, had been shown, an
:, that there was variance between tn
e allegations of the indictment and tn
Ie proof. The motion to direct such
n verdict was Overruled and an exception
n taken. Judge Munson thought it was to
r. .te in the day to begin the argument t
y the jury, and accordingly at 4 :45
/ recess was taken until Wednesda
l. morning.
TO Mr. Rider made the opening argumer
ID for the prosecution Wednesday morning
~ taking up only half an hours time, al
&c was followed by w. ii. Button for til
liz defense, who made somewhat long'
ne talk to the jury. Mr.. Wilds came G
ne next and made an uniquely ingeniol
x argument for the respondent, and II
forenoon's session having been nearl
4. -I
OF closing plea until after dinner. The
us he talked in AN emphatic and i
e. teresting fashion for about an hour al
~ quarter. Judge Munson used only
OF quarter of an hour in charging the jur
who retired at five minutes after thr
no o'clock. They came IN again in exact
Pu one hour, and the foreman announce
IT. that the respondent was guilty. Th
We was a great surprise to some of the ia
sex present, end a strongly emitt'
IS, 'oh - was audible in the court rooI
OF The respondent made not sign that
We didn't like the verdict, and soon w
ne missing from the court room. The 9th
OF Jurors of the whole panel having be-
Is excused for the term, the Brown jul
hu were.then likewise excused, except tn
ny Mr.. Phillips of Middlebury was retain,
ch as sort of nest egg or nucleus shou
"a anything arise requiring the attendan
ne of aGother twelve good men and tru
RI which of course was not eXpecte
Dr. Shortly after receiving the verdict
oi recess was taken to Thursday mOrnin
ne 1t should be here stated that when Brow
Ter was arrested in Nergennes he hasti
las turned over to Officer Cobb the 81
Dr. gotten out of the Middlebury bank.
~ also at the time had in his possessi
about $500 more, and that money W
ar subsequently divided between the
AN bany, n. Y, and No. Adams, Mas
PIE people who had been swindled out
ge' their money on the first and second of
series of three forged checks.
Before the noon recess Wednesd
the liquor case (on infOrmatiOn) agaiI
Richard Maldoon of Vergennes W
do continued to the June term at the
TO quest of the respondent, whose maj
rs, counsel, w. II. Bliss, Esq, was too
ms. to attend to it, and States Attorn
nd Fish making no objection of serio
tn. sort to the granting of the cOntinutn'
yer A number of witnesses from Nergenr
nm I 1, l,aI Gil