davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
tnat he was druggist and knew the Van
Ness house and Gov. Woodbury.. The ex.
animation proceedaa

tnat be was druggist and knew the Van
NESS mousse aud Gov. Woodbury.. The ex'
animation proceeded
Y. u you have had intoxicating bever.
ages furnished to you at that hotel, you may
s.a'e the occasion and the circumstances:
n. can't tell you just when. should say
II was the time the Volunteer Hose COM
pany here, the Volunteers of 1888, went
UP 10 march In the procession and draw a
log CABIN on our hose cart wheels.
z. Was that in the Harrison campaign of
1873! A. suppose 1t was.
Y, The cabin was taken from Middle
bury: A. think it was; yes.
" 20 ahead and state the circumstances:
A; we had a room and sent out and ordered
whisky and got it. That's one occasion.
Wallace Foot.
9, A merchant in Bristol now. A. Yes.
z. Any one else? A. Why, yes, there
were others there-boys that went from here.
were. They were members Of that company
at the time.
z, How was the liquor ordered and paid
Tor! n. The bell was rung. a young man
appeared, and he went for the liquor and
brought 1t in bottle.
Q. Any other occasion? A. With John Mil.
Ter, and l should say man who has recently
=
He has scar along here. We were there.
suggested that we order whiskey, and it was
brought to us.
= Q. In whose room? A. 1 think in my
own room.
O. Who else was present! A. Those
two.
Q. Can you locate when it was. Al
can't tell you.
Q. Within what years. A. 1t was when.
Moore worked for the G. A. Hubbard com.
pany.
Q. How many years ago? A. Ski can't
tell you.
@. Quite number Of years? A. Yes, it
was when Mr. Drew, that big, fleshy man,
was manager OF the hotel.
@. How was the liquor ordered and paid
for on that occasion? A. Paid the man
that brought it. 1t was whiskey and Bass ale.
@. Was that liquor ordered all ON one call
of the bell boy, or was he called several
times? A. should say we called twice for
the whiskey, when there were a number of
us In the room.
@. am speaking of this last time, when
Miller was with you! A. should say twice
or three times.
Q. A bell boy was called and served you on
each occasion? A. Yes.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
FRANK ID. LAPELLE.
Another Member OF the Swant0n Pa

Another Member OF the SwantOn Party.
Frank D. Lapelle of Swanton, in deposit
ton taken at st. Adams April 1, said that
he was miller and had seen liquor drank in
the Van Ness house. The examination pro-
ceeded:-
@. State the occasion? A. Well, 1t was in
May, 1894, In the dining room.
Q. State what you were at Burlington for
that day and who were with you? A. A
party of us left Swanton to take the first trip
on the Maquam; composed of DIR. Allen,
II. w. Owen, Myron DOrman, j. A. Barney,
Homer Brown, e. L. Hall, Il. l.. Lapelle and
myself.
@. Was the liquor drank ut the table where
you were sitting in the dining room? A. Yes,
sir.
@: By whom was the liquor ordered?
A. By II. W. Owen.
@. Were all the persons whom you have
named as being in your party at the table?
A. Yes, sir.
@. OF whom did MIR. Owen order the
liquor and what did he say A. Well, l
can't tell what he said, but 1t was evidently
ordered of the head waiter or the person said
to be the head waiter.
Q. BY whom was it brought? A. think
it was brought by the regular waiter, or
waitress, it was waitress.
@. What Kind Of liquor and how much
was brought! a. 1t was claret. l have
forgotten how much was brought.
Q. Were glasses brought in which to serve
the claret? A. l don't recollect whether
they were on the table or brought in.
q. Who of the party drank? A. All
except Dorman and myself.
A. No, sir. ~
@. Were there other persons In the dining
room at this time, and If so, how many?
A. can't tell how many; the dining room
was quite full.
@. Do you know Gov. Woodbury. and can
you state whether he was in the dining room?
a. l have never seen the governor until
today to know him.
@. Do you know by whom this liquor was
paid for? A. l do not, didn't see anybody
pay for it. Ipresume owen paid for it as he
ordered it.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
p. j. EARNswORTII.
Liquor at n Democratic Convention and
at Other Times.

at Other Times.
L. j. Farnsworth of Fairfax, In n deposi
ton taken ut st. Adams April |, said that
he was farmer and had drank liquor in the
Van Ness house. The examination con
tinued: -
q. State as near as you can the number of
times and the occasiong A. don't call to
mind but one occasions that was two years
ago during the democratic state convention,
at the time it was held.
q. Who was with you upon that occasion
and drank. IL anybody. A. wouldn't be
positive Of any one; l think A. l.. Hall of
Bakersfield, w. ii. Rood of Fairfax. Frank
Eldred and four or five others that l don't
remember.
e. Where in the Van Ness house did you
get this liquor and drink It? A. 1t was car
ried to one of the rooms above.
Q. Who ordered it, State fully In regard
to 1t. A. cannot say who ordered It.; do
not remember.
q. State If you remember who paid for 1t!
y. There were one or two who volunteered
TO pay, but who did pay don't know.
q. When was 1t paid for with reference to
the time II was procured, whether before or
after? a. At the time.
q. State fully how you got 1t, In whose
room and all about it? A. 1t was suggested
by some one of the party that was together to
go up town and get a drink; some one else
made the remark, mo need of that, we can
get 1t here" Whoever it was went to the
Office and we went to the room above with
him-l don't remember who.
y. State. whether the man who showed
you room was the man who procured the
liquor for you, man or boy? A. AS for that,
couldn't say.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
RUSSELL b. FARNHAM.
Experience of q Man Who Was Clerk
for a Month.

Russell b. Farnham, clerk In a store at
West Cornwall, in deposition taken at Mid
dlebury April 4, testified that he was clerk
In the Van Ness house for about month
four years ago or so. Mr.. Drew hired him
and the Van Ness and American houses
were together. The witness continued -
Q. What instructions, if any, did Mr..
Drew give to you with reference to the mat
ter of Intoxicating beverages? A. He told
me that no liquor was sold in the house. If
any one wanted liquor, to send them over to
the American house.
@. What did you find connected with the
American house with respect to the matter
of Intoxicating liquor? A. Connected with
it?
@. Was there a bar connected with it? A.
Yes, sir.
%; DID you yourself go to the bar there'
Q. Did you take the guests of the Van
Ness house over to that American house bar?
A. No, only once, and that was after 1t was
shut up. We couldn't get in.
@. What were the circumstances connected
with that? A. The fellow came In on the
night train, about II or IL. He wanted
something to drink. l took him over there
and 1t was shut up. so he went without
Q. Did the bar at the American house
communicate directly with the interior of
the house and the office in the interior? A.
l couldn't say.
@. Could you go to the bar from the office
without going out of doors! A. Yes, you
could
@. Do you remember particular occasion
when the guests of the Van Ness house, or
certain guests of the Van Ness house. were
furnished with intoxicating liquor one even
ing, and you had to interfere? A. ! have
sent out after liquor-after beer-but had
no orders to. They rang the bell and I sent
a bell boy, and he came back and said that
they wanted beer. l asked if it was the GUS
tom to furnish it, and he said yes; so sent
him after some.
@. Was that repeated? A. Yes, it was re-
peated three times that evening, and then
there was another time.
y
Q. What was the other occasion! A. 1t
was the same thing, only 1 sent after 1t
once.
@. Do you remember who the patrons.
were at that timer A. No, 1 was there only
short time, and didn't know many people.
@. Where was this beer procured for the
party Of three gentlemen! A. AT the drug
store across the park there-Sterns'.
Q. DO you recall how it was paid for? A.
No, couldn't say, except that think it was
charged on the register; but l wouldn't say
positively.
@. You mean minuted on the margin of
the register to The guest? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you ever have any instructions,
aside from what you have testified Mr..
Drew gave you, from Mr.. Clark, from Mr..
Woodbury., or any one else In the general
management Of the hotel, with respect to the
matter of Intoxicating beverages? A. No,
not at all.
@. What kind Of beer was this that was
ordered for these guests! A. Lager.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16

by some one, but cannot tell whether II was
the governor, Mr.. H.. Clark or Mr.. Drew
but II was by s0me one In authority. ,-
q. And ia point Of fact you were EN-
ployed by the commercial men to assist MI
Murray's boy and were paid by the CONNER
cial men for serving the wines A.. Yes.
q. Did ! understand you to say that during
Van Ness house there was no Intoxicating
liquor. Of any kind kept in the Van Ness
house? a. Yes.
q. During that time was any intoxicating
liquor sold, In the Van Ness house! ~.
never knew of any.
g. When you went into the employment
of Mr.. Woodbury. at the Van Ness were you
not informed that no liquors were sold or
YES. ~ '' - 'D' 'A -
Q. Were you not frequently asked by
guests to get them some kind of Intoxicating
liquors in the dining room? \. Yes.
q. And did you not explain to them, to
such guests, in all instances, that no liquors
were kept for sale or sold in th" Van Ness
house or by the house, and tn { the only
liquor for them was to send out for them to
some place about the city! A. Yes.
Q. And did not that generally end the thing?
A. Yes, as a general thing. They did not
want to wait SO long for me to send out for it.
Q. You (sent) had the bell boys go out as
you have described for guests in the dining
room as frequently during the last year that
you were there as during any of the preced-
Ing years! A. oh, l think about the same
no rush at any time.
@. Is 1t not a fact that during the last year
that you were there you did not send out
more than five or SIX times a month. A.
Yes; not more than that, sometimes less.
Q. Did you not do this sending out on your
own responsibility for the sake of pleasing
guest? Yes.
Redirect examination by Joseph c.
JOnes:-
@. Did Gov. Woodbury. or Mr.. Clark, the
or any one else connected with the
of the Van Ness house tell you
not to serve liquor to guests! A. No.
q. You continued this practice. as under.
stand it, day In and day out, week days and
Sundays, during the period of four or five
years as above stated, and without Interrupt.
ton by or any interference on the part Of
Mr.. Woodbury. or Mr.. Clark or any one else.
Collected to rs leading.)
Q. Well, some weeks we wouldn't sell
anything. And sometimes we would 20 for
a month without serving any and then we
would commence to serve again, and would
continue off and on without interruption.
q. Did you not serve to guests when asked
to by them? A. Yes, when asked by them If
could get 1t.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
G. b. ALLEN.
More About the College Boys' BAN
Quet.


More About the College Boys' BAN
quet.
G. B. Allen said that he was senior at the
university and attended the banquet re-
ferred to by Mr.. Blake. His examination
proceeded
@. Did you have beer there. A. No, sir.
banqueters. A. Yes.
@. How generally did those who went to
the banquet partake. A. 7 think the ma
jority OF them had something, not all of them
had beer.
Had wine.
q. Where did they get their wine. A. 1t
was served on the table; 1 don't know
where they got 1t.
Q. Were you one of the committee Of ar
rangement. A. had nothing to do about 1t
q. Who was this committee Of arrange
mcnt. A. couldn't say. only l know Mr..
Blake was one Of the committee.
q. Perhaps MIR. Woodland was one of
them, Mr. Roland Woodland; do you remem-
Der. A. think possibly be might have
been; can't state positively.
q. MIR. Forbes, he didn't belong to your
society. A. No, sir.
@. This was college secret society BAN
quet. A. Yes.
Y. was that the only one you ever at
tended there where they had any intoxicat-
ing liquor. A. Yes, the only one of this
sort. think this was three years ago last
October, instead Of two; believe Mr.. Blake
said two.
@. You attended one since. A. Yes, two
of them since.
Q. And did you have something intoxicat-
ing there. A. No, sir. ''''
@. On any other Of these occasions. A.
Not to my knowledge.
q. On any other Of these occasions, did you
see anything serTed there that was intoxicat-
ing. A. No, sir.
q. Do you know who opened this wine
and beer. A. The head waiter did.
Q. MIR. Seeley. A. have been told that
was his name.
Next came the reading of sundry deposi.
lions on the part Of the HERALD, thus:-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
us when that was? a. That was, think. In


Q. Can you be any more definite than that:
A. Yes: II was in the summer time.
@. And during the term of the medica
school. A. Yes; should think in. perhaps
Nav or June.
the hotel on that occasion? A. was regis,
tertd on that occasion.
q. And you think your brother graduated
at the medical school here in IS: A,
think that was the year,
q. And il was at the close of the summer
term when he graduated, suppose: A.
Yes.
@. What was it you had on that occasionq
A. Had bottle of champagne.
Q. And the last occasion 10 which YOU re.
ferred was when you had some cocktails
served in the parlOr. Can you be more def.
mite as to the time! A. l can give you that
date.
%. Do so, please. A. That was June 15,
1883. $
Q. And yor We're doubtless registered on
that occasion? A. Undoubtedly.
Q. Which brother graduated in 'SS? A.
DR.. Goodwin, his deposition will tell you
when the time was. g
Q. Your brother-in-law that was? A. Yes,
sir. my brother-in-law.
Q. And you say that is the young man
whose deposition WIS taken in New York?
A. les. sir.
Q. When these cocktails We're served you
in the parlor in June, 1883, | suppose they
were served in the same way, brought up 10
you in glasses. brought up on a waiter A.
They were served in small bar glasses,
whisky glasses, they were not in cocktail
glasses but in whiskey glasses.
q. The same kind of glasses that the cock
tails ON the former occasion were served in.
A. think so.
q. Any RECOLLECTION as to who It was that
served any of this liquor to you. A. Well, |
remember that have had liquor served to
me In the dining room by that large head
waiter, didn't know his name then, but l
underestimate Is De We're.
Q. And is he the head waiter you refer to
when you say that the waitress called the
head waiter. A. He Is the head waiter re-
ferred to.
Q. DO you recall who 1t was that brought
you the cocktails on that first occasion. A. |
couldn't say anything about those bell boys;
l didn't know any of them.
q. And you have no recollection as to how
they looked. A. No recollection about that.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
ERNEST CHAUssEE.
A Former Head Waiter Tells OF Serving
LIQUOR.

AFormer Head Waiter Tells OF Serving
Liquor.
Ernest Chaussee of Springfield, Mass, in a
deposition taken in that city, said that he was
head waiter at the Van Ness house four
months some time ago. The examination
proceeded: -
Q. 4. Whether or not, whenyou were head
waiter, wines, beer or ale were served to
guests of the house in the dining room, and
II so, which of them. A. l served beer
there, and l served wine; served Bass ale
in bottles. sealed.
O.. What II any instructions from the
proprietor and manager of the hotel, or either
of them, were given you In respect to such
services us you have described. A. None.
Q: s. How were these wines, ales or beer
paid for! A. The money was given me be-
fore sent out for it by the parties that
ordered the beer or whateverft was.
%. How frequent were such occurrences!
A. Well, they were not very frequent, more
at some seasons Of the year than others.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
CHARLES II. WILLIAMSON.


An Instance OF Bell Boy Service.
Charles H. Williamson of Middlebury, in
deposition taken at Middlebury April 4,
1896. testified that he was in the livery bust.
ness and that he had been furnished with In
toxicating liquor in. the Van Ness house.
He said -
A. l think it was two years ago. 1t was
when Mr.. Branch was elected commander of
the Grand Army. The house was pretty
well crowded, and they put me in with
Mason Colburn of Manchester--M. S. Col
burn. Along about ~ O'Clock we retired.
Mr.. Colburn thought he would like night
cap. of course Joined in with him, and he
rang the bell and there was boy came up
stairs to the room. He asked the boy II he
could get him little whiskey. The boy said
he guessed he could-he would try. He
went out and brought back a small bottle of
whiskey. don't know whether 1t was
pint or half-pint bottle. That was the only
time had the pleasure of taking anything
there.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
FRANK NORWAY.
Bell Boy Says That He Remembers
Some Things and Forgets Some.

Bell Boy Says That He Remen bers
Some Things and Forgets Some.
Frank Norway Of Hartford, in a depo l.
ton taken at Hartford January o, said that
he worked in a livery stable and for about
four years and half, off and on, beginning
about eight years ago, was bell boy In the
Van Ness house. His testimony proceeded
thus
Q. State whether or not at any time while
you were there at the Van Ness house, In
response to the bell call, you provided guests
with liquor? A. don't know, sir. might
have; don't remember anything about that
in particular.
q. Haven't you stated that you have gone
out for liquor. for guests In the Van Ness
Der any particular case.
q. Without trying to remember any par
ticular case, what do you say, under oath,
what do you say as to whether you have or
have not provided liquor for guests at the
Van Ness house? A. L don't know; l pre-
sumo have. i can't remember any particu-
lar case.
q. Will you swear that you never did take
liquor to guests in the Van Ness house. A.
No. sir.
Q. II YOU did, where did you procure il?
got it.
q. Did you ever get any liquor for any
guests Of the Van Ness house! A. don't
remember any particular case.
O. DO you remember having had CONVEX
satiou with Mr.. Perkins of THE RUTLAND
HERALD some time ago! A. Yes, SIR met
him here.
q. State whether or not you used these
words 10 answer to a question from Mr..
Perkins about this case, "Wh lille there at the
Van Ness house often got liquor for guests
ordered ut the rooms, and went out after it!'
A. had some talk with Mr.. Perkins.
Question objected to as immaterial and as
tending to impeach the party's own witness.)
A. (Continued.) Well, / think there is a
little mistake there somewhere. MIR. Perkins
came to me and my wife was very sick, |
might have told him something about liuuor.
/ would not say that didn't and wouldn't
say that did.
Q. Did you or did you not tell Mr.. Perkins
In substance that Manager Drew told YOU to
get 1t at McCarty's saloon? Collected to for
same reasons as above.) A. don't think
Mr.. Drew ever mentioned it in that way.
think MIR. Perkins Is mistaken about that.
While he was talking with me he didn't take
anv notes In front of me on paper.
y. Would that make any difference with
you as to whether he took notes of what YOU
said! A. No, SIR.
q. State what Mr.. Drew ever said to YOU
about thaty A. don't know II Mr.. Drew
don't remember. l didn't take any stock In
1t II he did.
q. Why didn't you take any stock in 1t il
he said il. A. Well, the boys always had a
most out of It.
9. Most out OF what? A. Money: We
were working for money.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
r. r. CHAPMAN.
Early Morning Cocktail and Whiskey
Served by the Clerk.

Early Morning Cocktail and Whisksy
Served by the Clerk.
P. F. Chapman of Middlebury, In deposl
tion taken at Middebury April 4, said thai
he was merchant and that he had been fur
nished with intoxicating liquor at the Var
Ness house. The examination proceeded
thus:-
@. When, and what were the circum
stances! A. l think about three years age
the first time. left here on the sleeper In
the morning and got to the Van Ness house
at about half-past in the morning. ]
called for cocktail. The clerk said If /
would 70 to room he would see that bad
1t. went to the room and very soon | got it
q. Were you alone! A. Yes, sir.
q. Who was the clerk! A. don't know.
would know him II saw him.
Q. Was the cocktail compounded Of in
toXicating liquory A. 1t was gin cocktail
you heard his name called! A. l don't
think would.
q. What was the occasion--if it was q
public occasiOn-tbat called you there! A.
The occasion was at st. Adams. don't re-
member the date. was on my way to St.
Adams. -
Q. Was that the only occasion on which
you have been furnished Intoxicating liquor
there? A. No, sir.
Q. State the other occasions and their cir
cumstances! A. think the other time was
year ago last June. couldn't give you the
date. 1t was the time of the Odd Fellows
convention. Some time last year.
Q. You mean the year before last! A.
Well, at any rate 1t was the time the Odd
Fellows had banquet at the Van Ness
house. -4 ,.,... ..-l
@. State the circumstances? A. A friend
of mine and myself went down there to get
something to drink before supper. The
clerk there told us to 60 to a certain room and
he would see we had what we wanted. We
went TO certain room and we had what we
called for.
@. Do you know what that was? A. 1t
was whiskey.
@. How was ID brought to the room? A.
1t was brought in glasses on tray.
@. BY bell boy! A. BY the clerk him
@. Did you know him? A. Yes, sir.
Q. BY name? A. No, sir.
q. Were you stopping at the Van Ness
house on this occasion! A. was there to
be at the banquet.
q. Did you have room at the Van Ness
house! A. No, sir.
The witness said that the friend with him
was Charles Spear of Burlington. On cross
examination, by Mr.. Foster, be said that the
room in which he had the early cocktail was
on the office floor of the yanlNess house, and
testified at length as to the glasses used and
sundry details,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
e. G.. FARNHAM.
A Social Drink or Two Taken With
Manager Drew.

"A social Drink or TWO Vaken with
Manager Drew.
+. G.. Farnham of Shoreham, in deposi.
ton taken at Middlebury April 4, said that
he was farmer. and in response to a qnes-
ton about having liquor in the Van Ness
house. said -
A. When Mr.. Drew was there can't
tell you how many years ago, it was quite
little while ago. know OIL one occasion
was in there, and was we'll acquainted with
Mr.. Drew, and MIR. North and three or four
other gentlemen were there, and we sat there
in the office talking together, and some Of us
proposed that we had better have something,
and Drew says you coup to such room and
we'll have something. He came up there
and shortly there was bottle of
whiskey came up. We left the bottle in the
room, and after dinner before we got ready
to go home we went up there again. think
Mr.. Julius North was there, and this man
that lives in Charlotte-a tall mani don't
mean Charlotte, Shelburne-Walter Weed
and gentleman from up nOrth--a big tleshy
fellow-he had a brother IN the house last
session-Ballard.
Q. Do you know how the liquor was paid
for on that occasion! A. don't, sir.
Q. You didn't pay for 1t yourself! A. No,
sir.