The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-05-01
THE POLICE COURT.
Two More Added This Week to the
Towns Growing Record of Arrests
Under .sPrOhibitiOn."


Under .'PrOhibition."
Chief of Police Hall in the village
annual report states the number of
arrests he has made in the six months
or SO be has been on duty at II. of
which II were for intoxication. Last
week he had three more and this week
there have bees two. making the ave-
rage about six times what it WAS a
few years ago and starting the biggest
years record we have ever had. A
change for the better will have to be
brought about in some way or Brattle-
boro will lose her reputation as the
most sober, orderly and law abiding
place in America. Already the record
is mounting up to half or third of
that of other places of this size.
1t is fact worth thinking OF that
this state of affairs, which has been a
gradual growth for several years, ac
companies and has kept just about
even pace with prohibitory prosecutions
of which there have been more and
with more numerous fines than in any
previous years in our history, and the
net result today is that there are in
the village and vicinity more places
selling "booz" than there have been
before since war times. Our prohibit
tory friends will Of course deny that
there is any cause and relation effect in
this state of facts but 10 the candid view
it does seem as if it demonstrated the
need OF more rational law to deal
with this ever most difficult of NUM-
cipal problems,
Michael Hennesy. an old and chronic
offender has this week followed
Patsey Dundon to Jail and these two
men alone are enough to make big
reduction in the proportion Of drunis
Henuesy came from across the bridge
Sunday roaring and crazy drunk and
anxious to fight all Main street. 1t
took three or four men to control him
by the tune he reached the corner of
Main and Flat streets, and when
Officer Hall appeared Hennessy pounced
upon him. But Hall by energetic work
landed him in the lookup. and Mon
day morning before Justice Newton
Hennesy plead guilty to charge OF
intovication and was fined 50 and costs
amounting TO sl0.0 He disclosed that
he got the stuff from a stranger and
in the vicinity of the Connel! place
across the river On charge of dis
lux DlLs TUG pcdCc ilc pItdu hct Suits
and stood trial, but of course was
convicted and fined $40 and costs. He
admitted that he remembered nothing
about it. In default of payment of the
first fine he was taken TO Newfane Jail
for 20 days and at the expiration of
that time, unless the other lie paid,
will 20 to the House Of Correction for
81 days.
Neighbors sent Monday night for
Officer Hall to take care of ". II.
Webb who was in fracas with his
family, having knocked or dragged his
wife to the floor, cutting her head by
the fall. He was committed to the
lookup and the next morning plead
guilty before Justice Newton on a
charge OF intoxication and got the
usual fine He said he remembered
nothing of the occurrence, but dis
closed that he went to the ball game
in the afternoon and stopped with
some friends at the brewery and inn
bibed only four or five glasses Of beer.
Sentence was suspended in his case in
hopes that he can straighten out. for
It rs a case that merits sympathy.
Webb has been in town for the past Is
years and up to the last two or three,
had been as straight. reliable, honest
and we'll behaved citizen as there was
in town. esteemed by all who knew
him, and there is reason for believing
that the drinking is the result of dis
east He was examined by physicians
during the day who found the exist
ence of nervous or brain trouble which
may perhaps be called mild form
OF meningitis, but did not think il quite
sufficient 10 warrant his committal to
an asyIlm