Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-07
THE LIBEL SUIT ENDED.
PUTTING IN OF EVIDENCE FINISH.
ED FRIDAY MORNING.
Editor johnson, Head Waiter sceley
Night Clerk spicer, Manager Clark,
Gov. woodbury. and Miss Percy on
the Stand.

The great trial of Gov. Woodbury. vs.
The Rutland Herald for libel was finish
ed Friday morning, that is as far as
the putting in of evidence Is concerned.
The first witness Friday morning
was Edward johnson Of the Daily News,
and formerly editor Of the St. Johnsbury
Republican. He testified in rebuttal of
some testimony of the defense, to the ef-
feet that at the time of the hearing on
the application for the pardon of Land
lord Howe of St. JohnsburyGov. Woodbury.
had stated that the bell boys had taken
liquor into the Van Ness House. The
witness memory was that Gov. Wood
bury had said no such thing. Mr.. john
son went on to say that Gov. Woodbury.
said then as many times before. that he.
the governor, said that 1t was diflcult to
run temperance hotel that he had tried
to run one and that he thought he had
succeeded, though liquor might have been
brought into the house.
HEAD WAITER sEDLEY.
e. e. Seeley was called to the stand
next. He Is head waiter at the Van Ness
and has been since July 81 1898. No liquor
had ever been kept or sold in the house
to his knowledge during his term OF SER
vice. He had served liquor to guests If
q guest asked for 1t. Mr.. Seeley told them
the house didn't sell anything but II 1t
would be an accommodation he would get
1t for them by sending boy out for II.
Claret was usually asked for and some
times beer. During his first eight weeks
of service he frequently sent out for beer
and ale. He often served wine to guests
which the guests owned themselves. He
always explained to guests that the liquor
would have to be procured outside the
hotel and he always asked for the cash
in advance. The only times he saw whis-
key served in the dining room were to Col.
lie Grand b. Cannon and to Henry Holt
of New York He never got any money
at the office to procure liquor with. Since
the first eight weeks of his connection
with the house he thought he had sent
out for liquor between 20 and 30 times.
He also said he never saw liquor brought
into the dining room in glasses. Further
moro he knew of no liquor glasses being
kept in the house. After he had been
at the hotel about eight weeks he heard
that Mrs. II. f. Woodbury. had told Mr..
Clark the manager, that he. Seeley, had
some bottles Of beer in the store room.
Mr.. Clark came to him and asked him
about it. Seeley told him 1t belonged to
boarder, Mr.. Foote, who had brought
Il into the hotel himself. Seeley had never
kept any liquor for sale. He had never
told a guest that II he were to send out
for any that there would be a proAt in
It for him. He also said that he had never
served any wine in the presence of Gov.
Woodbury.. Mr.. Seeley was then ques-
toned regarding the banquet about which
Messrs. Blake and Allen had testified, Be
fore the banquet he had told the college
boys that he could serve them nothing.
He was, however importuned by Rollin
Woodward, and Seeley told him to write
about what he wanted on a slip of paper
and give him the money in advance.
Woodward borrowed 80 OF one Of the boys
and Seeley sent boy out for the liquor
gpt. 49,. tta he arts
and the stun ordered was claret and beer
Mr.. Seeley went on to speak of Mr.. stone
and Mr. Dodge who took dinner there
last summer They wanted wine, but Mr..
Seeley refused Mr.. Stone asked him
again to get the wine and referred to a
Free Mason's charm which Mr. Seeley
wore. This seemed to be sufficient to
Seeley and he said he would give them a
bottle of claret belonging to Or. Wood
ward and replace it later, which he did,
purchasing 1t, he thought, at LaFoun-
tains. When summer tourists were in
the dining room he sometimes sent out for
liquor for them but often refused them,
in which cases they got it themselves and
brought it in. Mr.. Clark had told him
not to get liquor for any body, If they could
get it themselves. II a guest insisted on
having 1t and 1t was convenient he would
send out for it. He had never had any
liquor charged to a guest on the books.
NIGHT CLERK SPICER.
The next witness called was A. G. Spi-
Ger, the present night clerk at the hotel.
He refuted Chapman's statement that not
long ago Chapman had asked him for a
gin cocktail in the early morning. He
said that Chapman on his arrival at the
hotel had asked for room, was assigned
to one and asked for Ice water Spicer
went with Chapman to the latters room
when Chapman gave him drink of whis-
key out of a bottle he had in his grip
Later Chapman asked him for liquor and
was told that the house kept none Spi-
Ger said he had n bottle in his room and
gave Chapman a drink. Spicer finished
by saying that he had never given any
bell boy money to get anything without
knowing what 1t was for and never did SO
to get liquor. Guests had frequently Dor
rowed cash, but the bell boys had rarely
got money for them and had 1t charged
lie never knew a bell boy bringing liquor
into the hotel. but surmised 1t.
MANAGER II. N. CLARK
Herbert N. Clark, manager OF the Var
Ness, first testified that the patronage Of
the house amounted in IA years in round
numbers to more than 100000 guests. The
present yearly average OF guests Is be
tween IS, 900 and 1000. When Gov Wood
bury took possession of the house h,
Clark was instructed that no intoxicat
ing liquor was to be sold and the hous,
had been run under those principles evel
since. The liquor at banquets had beer
furnished by a committee OF the people
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