Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-07
COY. WOODBURY. TESTIFIES.
SOME LIVELY SCENES AT THE COURT
HOUSE THURSDAY.
Testimony For the Defence Finished and
Much Put In For the Plaintiff Several
witnesses Contradicted by others
Story of the Day.

The third day of the great libel suit
opened with the reading of the following
dispositions by Attorney Meldon: X. L..
Maccammon. a travelling salesman of
Boston; f. NJ. Hunter, editor of the Fair
Haven Record; A. G.. Stone, an attorney
of Walingford; +. b. Finn, attorney of
Springfield; Il. O. Brady of Manchester;
u. f.. Carmody, a clothier of Fair Haven;
J. G.. Farnham of Poultney druggist
b. Williams, jr.. slate manufacturer
OF Granville, N. Y.
All these men testified in about the same
manner. They had obtained liquor at the
Van Moss House at different times and in
various ways. and had settled for 1t at
the time of receiving it or afterwards at
the office. In most of the cases nothing
was said about the difficulty Of obtaining
1t and the service was said to be similar
to that in other hotels. II was very sell
dom that any one was refused in the
dining room, although the bell boy rack
ct" was the most popular way of obtain
ing the liquor Many times whskey was
served in glasses on tray, and cham
payne was often served with all the nee
essary concomitalits, as glusses, cracked
ice, etc.
Attorney Prouty next read dispositions
from the following: l.. G. Bats of Boston
Fred George of Winchester, Mass, an at
torney; W. II. King, II clothcr of st.
of ST. Johnsbury; ID. NJ. Bacon of St
Johnsbury; Elisha May, National bank cX-
amincr and lawyer of st. Johnsbury; y.
X. Switser furniture dealer of St. Johns
bury; II. X. Ives OF st. Johnsbury. These
dispositions were of about the same tenor
at the preceding ones and had no senSa-
tiona features This concluded the tes-
timony for the defense and they rested
their case.
THE PLAINTIFF
The first witness for the plaintiff was
William J. Scott, who has run the bill
lard room of the Van Ness for the last
IL years In connection with running the
billiard ROOM he has kept all kinds of
soft drinks for sale. He never kept or
sold any intoxicating liquor. He had
charge of the private stocks of the vari-
Gus guests of the house, as the professors
of the Medical college, etc. Never gave
away, sold, or furnished any intoxicating
liquor to anybody. Had been asked often
by people for intoxicating liquor but had
invariably told such persons that none
was kept sold there. memorandum
was kept of all sales made and every
evening he settled with the office. Moth
ing was ever kept on draft. He never
told any one that no liquor was kept for
sale, but that "A little was kept ION the
side" for the guests of the house.
EX-GoV BARsTOW.
Ex-Gov. ]. L. Barstow was called to
the stand next. Judge Ross, who had not
looked in the direction of the witness
stand, caused a ripple of merriment
by inqulring the witness name. Ex-
Gov. Barstow has been frequent
guest at the Van Ness House
for long number of years, for periods
ranging from day to Il week. Had been
in the billiard room to get drink of
water, etc. Never saw any indications of
the sale of intoxicating liquors there. He
had on very rare occasions heard bottles
opened in the dining room but didn't
know what they contained. Had
seen wine served at banquets. but didn't
know how it was furnished. Only two or
three times had he seen what was thought
to be intoxicating liquors, served in the
dining room. Never heard any hlarity
In the rooms at night.
h. r. Brayton of Swanton was called to
the stand next He Is travelling man
and has stopped at the Van Ness House
frequently. Never saw any liquor in din
ing room or sleeping room, or any place
else in the hotel, and in reply to a ques-
ton of Mr.. Prouty's, said he never even
saw a pack of cards in the house.
Next witness was c. j. Bell of Walden,
who has stopped at the Van Ness fire.
quently. Never saw any intoxicants in
the house and never was disturbed nights
by card parties.
EN- CLERK CARLISLE.
II. d. Carlisle of st. Johnsbury, hotel
clerk at ST. Johnsbury House Employed
at Van Ness House for three years as
night clerk. Never told any guests to 20
10 an employe OF the hotel to get any
liquor. Never saw any bell boy bring In
any liquor. Never gave any bell boy mon
ey to get liquor for guest. Sometimes
money was lent to a guest and charge
H..
employed he was told that no liquor was
kept in the house for sale. When IA guest
inquired for liquor he told him that he
had none, but sometimes referred them
TO Mr.. McCartys saloon.
c. H. Heaton of Montpelier was the
next witness. Guest of the Van Ness very
often. Never saw any liquor in the dining
| room, but had seen 1t In rooms, but didn't
know how it got there. Didn't see bell
boys carrying any liquor. Never was dis
turbed nights by card parties, etc, and
never had disturbed anybody else to his
knowledge.
II. G. Dickey of Burlington took the
stand next. Before last March had lived
IN Worcester, Mass, and travelled on the
road. Stopped at Van Ness House fire.
quehtly, since 1879. Had heard bottles
opened in the dining room, hut didn't know
what they contained. Never saw drop of
louoG drank in the house.
d. =. Barber took the stand next. Has
been around the Van Ness for "a long num-
Der Of years. Never saw any liquor In the
hotel, in any place. This closed the morn
ing session and "a recess was taken until
o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr.. w. S. soule of Fairfield was the
first witness called after dinner. He was
here once with II. f. Brigham of Bakers
field and stopped at the Van Ness for
dinner. Mr.. Brigham had hottie OF
brandy in his grip and it was taken to u
room before dinner where they drank It,
ID. ]. Foster was also in the party. Mr.
Soule himself was in the liquor business
about six years ago.
e. b. Allen, a travelling salesman OF
Boston, was called up next He had fire.
Quently stopped at the Van Ness House
The only liquor he ever saw in the hotc
was what he had himself at different
times in his grip.
A. J, wiley, travelling man, with head
quarters at Van Ness House for the last
three years; Never saw any Intoxicating
liquor IN the house any where Never
saw bell boys carrying packages looking
like bottles, on walters, etc. Had heard
card playing parties, but not hilarious.
Col Il. j. Coffey Of Bennington has beer
q frequent guest of the Van Ness House
for the past nine years. Had seen bottle.
In dining room, but didn't know what they
contained. Had seen liquor IN rooms twic,
but didn't know whore ii came from On,
night he had sore throat and asked Mr.
Scott for some liquor, but was refused
His throat was too sore for ginger ale. >
THE GOVERNORS TESTIMONY.
Seneca Haselton conducted the direc
examination.
o. wish YOU would state I'm your owr