Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-09-14
WINDHAM COUNTY COURT.

The court met at Newfane Tuesday,
18th inst. Present: Hon. Russell S. Taft,
presiding Judge; Hon. Lewis S. Walker,
Hon. Edward Titus, assistant judges.
Thirty of the petit jurors responded to
the call of their names, and u of the Is
grand jurors. Andrew A. Wyman of
Athens, Herbert 4. Taylor of Brattleboro
and John d. Pierce of Newfane were call
ed and sworn in TO complete the panel.
Judge Taft then gave the grand jury an
able charge pertaining to their duties, and
they retired to their room for business.
The docket was then called over and of the
so jury cases that had been assigned for
trial, % had either been settled discontin-
ued, referred, or continued to the next
term.
In the afternoon jury was empanelled
in the first case for trial, it being that of
Samuel Mack rs. Emma =. RhOddeS and
Grin S. RhOddeS. The jury then took
recess until the next morning, the plaintiff
not being prepared to proceed then. We'd
nesday morning the case was taken up and
has been on trial ever since. 1t will prob
ably be submitted late this afternoon.
The case is ejectment for certain farm in
Windham where the parties all reside. 1t
appeared that on the first of May, 1891,
the defendants entered into contract with
the plaintiff, an old man of some 81 years
of age at that time, to support him through
life, and also to pay and discharge a mort
gage upon the farm then amounting to
some $50 and accrued interest, in the
whole a little over 500. In considera-
ton of which Ora NJ. Rhoades, who was
under a similar contract with plaintiff, was
released from his obligation for future sup
NJ s., al.
plaintiff conveyed said farm to the defend
ants by deed conditioned for plaintiffs
support and the payment of the mortgage
aforesaid.
The testimony upon both sides placed
the value of said farm in May, 1891, from
$500 to 500, and its rental value per year
at from S25 to $50 and the taxes. The ev-
idence on the part of the plaintiff tended
to show that the defendants had neglected
to perform their agreement, in that they
did not furnish proper clothing and food to
the plaintiff, did not furnish him with suit
able bed and bedding, and left him to live
in the house alone a large share of the
time.
The evidence on the part of the defend
ants tended to show the contrary to be
true, and that they had always treated the
old man kindly, and that he was perfectly
satisfied until trouble was made between
them by some of their neighbors, when he
brought this suit Aug 26, 1898, but con-
tinued to live with defendants until March
10, 1894.
Waterman, Martin e Hit for the plant
iff; Walker, Cudworth, Haskins d Stod-
dard for defendants.
The grand jury closed their labors and
were discharged Thursday noon. They re-
ported some 10 or II indictments, but four
of which have yet been made public, viz.
State VS.. Frank Booth, for larceny; State
VS.. Charles Ellis, alias Charles Harris, for
forgery; State VS.. Chas. Shelley, for lar
ceny; and State VS.. Ida Spring, for adul-
terry. A large number of witnesses from
Bratteboro were before the grand jury on
Wednesday, it being reported that it was a
case of tonic beer that was under investga-
ton. What the result was is still secret
at this writing, although it is talked that
nothing was found.