Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-05-03
Excursion into Vermont.

"Wandering WILLIE of the Pittsfeld,
Mass, Sunday Morning Call, who writes
from Adams, sees the ludicrous aspects
of what he calls the Excursion of the
Representatives of the Ministerial Board
into Vermont" meaning the late riot at
North Pownal. In our Tuesday edition
we gave what this writer said of the
causes that led up to the visit, and we
now give his latest deductions. He says
KGhler was wrong in getting young
Clark out of the State, and whoever ad-
vised him to do so gave him very foolish
advice. In the end the witness will
again fall into the hands of the law. and
KGhler will fare worse than he would
have otherwise. If the ministerial
league had just waited, their opportuni-
ty would have come; but the "church
militant" could not wait and the dcega-
ton was formed to enter the wilds of
Vermont and persuade the young man
to return. 1t was formidable delega-
ton, and no wonder the young man was
frightened.
think if the truth were known, that
all three of the men who went there
knew they were exceeding their author
ity. am not much of lawyer, for
which am glad; but common sense tells
me they had no right, under the circum-
stances, to break open doors or to lay
hands on the young man in question.
think Officer Dineen must have known
better, bu5 he allowed his impetuousity
to get the better of his discretion.
1t must have been rather exciting
scene, when, according to some of the
accounts, the young North Adams law
yer was holding the crowd at bay with
big boulder in either hand and probably
shouting, as the maddened throng
pressed towards him, ''Sic semper ma
ginnis." | read in my school days about
the men who stood on the bridge and de-
Tended it against great odds. | think
the name of one of the men was HOra-
thus, or some such name; but then he
had sword, and was probably encased
in armOr, but it is rare that we read of
such desperate courage as was shown by
this young man. If he keeps on he will
get to be as brave and celebrated as Law
yer Couch.
The incident has caused great deal of
talk; and whatever may be said to the
contrary, it certainly has injured the
temperance cause in this town. The
GnlhS wac pOOlly
planned and worse than failure. | won
der if FIR. Moran was commissioned by
the league to go on this expedition. l
wonder also what the Bishop will think
when he reads of the little incident
Meantime the liquor sellers are quite
facetious oyer the discontinue of their
adversaries. They say that the next
time the ministers all ought to go. They
think if the ministers went in a body,
the North Pownal cohorts would be in
Inundated, and no trouble would ensue.
hope that Officer Dineen will recover
from the effects of his injuries.
Or if the North Pownalites are obdT
rate, why not send up Company NJ? The
militia should by all means accompany
the next delegation. 1t would astOnish
the natives to see Major Whipple on
horseback, accompanied by Company NJ
in heavy marching uniform. with the
banner that FIR. Moran gave them flying
in the breezes of the HOOsac Range. If
that would not intimidate them, nothing
would.
The Boston Journal of Wednesday
says: The Governor gave a hearing at
the State House, Tuesday, on the papers
received from Vermont for the eXtradI-
ton of the Rev. d. c. Moran, John E.
Maguinnis and William Dineen of
Adams, who are charged with kidnap-