Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-04-23
RIOT IN POWNAL |!
Attempted Case of kidnapping

ing particulars: Officer Dineer of North
Adams was in critical condition to-
night as the result of a riot in North
Pownal, and council of doctors has
been held and Dineen's life practically
dispaired of. The trouble arose over an
attempt to bring boy from Vermont to
Massachusetts, to testify in a liquor case.
The prominence of the persons in
volved gives the incident more than Or
binary interest, as the Rev. FIR. Dennis
G. Moran Of Adams, Lawyer John E. Ma
GEMS and Policeman William Dineen of
this town, are alleged to have attempted
to force lad to leave Vermont. Dineen
was badly hurt by the Infatuated vii
layers.
The fracas grew out of the crusade
against liquor selling IN Adams. Some
time ago Frank Clark, 16 years old, was
found intoxicated His parents took
him to the priest, and the boy alleged the
liquor was sold to him by Theodore
Koehler.
FIR Moran was instrumental in having
Koehler arrested. The case was con-
tinued, KOehler giving bonds.
The boy was not asked to give bonds
as witness to appear, and on the adj
journment day he could not be found.
The case of course was continued, and
should be tried next week.
Meanwhile the boy was found to be
living at Pratts Hotel in North Pownal.
Various attempts were made to induce
him to return to this State, and Wednes-
day night as the lad was walking along
the lonely villagestreet forcible attempt
was made to kidnap him.
He escaped because his assailants
horse started suddenly, but his clothes
were badly torn.
Yesterday morning FIR. Moran, lawyer
Magenis and policeman Dineen started
in a carriage for North Pownal, 10 lies
from here.
They took with them capias and re-
quest from the clerk of the district court
of Northern Berkshire, asking that Clark
be summoned as witness.
The Vermont law provides that upon
such a request to Justice of the peace in
Vermont he shall issue a summons and
if the witness does not respond he may
be fined 5000.
Although possessing the request, the
party drove through the village of Pow
nal, where there is a justice, and went
to North Pownal, where is the hotel at
which the boy was stopping.
Without having the request Endorsed
by a justice, they went for the boy. He
was upstairs in his room in the hotel.
1t was said tonight in North Pownal
that FIR. Moran walked upstairs, despite
the remonstrance of the hotel proprietor
FIR. Moran is large man with an impet-
uous disposition. He parleyed awhile
with the lad, who refused to como out,
and then it is alleged FIR. Moran kicked
in the door.
Then the boy jumped out the second
story window. He lodged Dineen and
Magenis and ran for the woods.
Dineen threw off his coat and chased
him, capturing him near the lime klns,
about a quarter of mile from the hotel
They brought him back, and by this
time a crowd had assembled They de-
handed who Dineen was and why he
seized the boy? He replied that he was
an officer from Readsboro.
They asked for his badge, and he
could not show it. By this time the viii
lawyer, Mr.. Brownell, came and demand.
ed to know who Dineen was? He replied
81 am Massachusetts, officer"
He was told that he had no authority
there, and must release his prisoner, UNI
less he had proper papers. Then Magenis
asked where justice lived. The crowd
laughed at him, and Mr.. Brownell told
Dineen to let the boy go,
The blacksmith, Abrams, demanded
the boys release, and when Dineen re-
turned defiant answer he struck Dineen
on the head with a wagon spoke.
Dineen knocked the blacksmith down,
and as he fell man, said to be Ed Par
ker, struck Dineen a terrible blow on
the head with wagon stake.
He fell like log, but sprang to his
feet and blindly tried to pull up his coat
sleeves and defy the crowd.
Lawyer Magennis picked up two rocks
and threatened to strike any one who
hit Dineen again. Dineen was put in the
wagon and the party started back, fol-
lowed by volley of stones. The boy
Clark stayed in Pownal.
On the return trip Dineen suffered
great pain, and in Williamstown DR..
Lloyd was consulted, and gave hin an
Opiate.
Meanwhile Pownal officers had driven
to the Vermont line to capture the party
but it had not got across the State line
When the three reached North Adams
Dineen was taken home and DR.. Curran
was summoned. Dineen was bleeding
from the ears and vomiting blood. He
staggered and suffered much. The ply
stefan fears that he received fracture of
the base of the skull.
There is much sympathy for Dineen, as
he is one of the best officers the town has
ever had. He was detailed to go because
he knew the road and 1t is thought that
he did not realize the position in which
he was placed.
The North POwnal people are greatly
enraged, and are talking of having all
concerned indicted for attempting to
Kidnap. Efforts are being made to hush
up the affair, and Mr.. Magennis said to-