davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
MERRITT STOW.
Early Morning Drink and Several
Other Drinks.

Merritt Stow of Middlebury. in deposit
ton taken at Middlebury April 4, in answer
to question as to having liquor in the Van
Ness house, said -
A. have had stuff to drink there; whiskey
and some other liquors.
@. You may state the occasion and the
circumstances: A. Well i can remember the
first time, because i came very near losing
my job on account of running away. i lost
the boat coming back. l went up on the
sleeper to 90 to Pittsburgh. When / got up
there to Burlington | was tired and asked
for drink.
@. Who was it served you: A. went
in and asked when breakfast would be
ready. / asked the clerk if / could get
drink. He put me into a room and brought
it to me. That was the 4th of July, 1889.
Q. Any other occasion? A. Yes, at the
time of the meeting of the grand lodge of
Masons.
@. About when was that? A. Three or
four years ago. We had rooms and were out
around town during the evening, and about
1l.50 We were up in our rooms and PLAYED
whist. and we had drinks brought up into
the room.
@. Do YOU remember how they were or
dered and bow paid for on that occasiony
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
RUSSELL Il. FARNHAM.
Experience of Man Who Was Clerk
for a Month.

Russell B. Farnham, clerk in store at
West Cornwall, in deposition taken at Mid
debury 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: =
@. 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:
Q. Was there a bar connected with it? A.
Yes, SIR
no; Did you yourself go to the bar there:
4. Yes, sir.
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
something to drink | took him over there
and it was shut up. so he went without.
@. Did the bar at the American house
communicate directly with the interior of
the house and the office in the interior? A..
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 | sent
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.
Q. Was that repeated? A. Yes, it was re-
peated three times that evening, and then
there was another time.
@. What was the other occasion? A, 1t
was the same thing, only l sent after it
once.
@. Do you remember who the patrons
were at that time? A. No, l was there only
short time, and didn't know many people.
Q. 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 L think it was
charged on the register; but | wouldn't say
positively.
Q. 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.
Q. What kind of beer was this that was
ordered for these guests? A. Lager.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
FRANK NORWAY.
Bell Boy Says That He Remembers
Some Things and FOrgets Some.

some Ih1hSs ana FOrSets SOhes
Frank Norway of Hartford, In depo,i-
ton taken at Hartford January 8, said that
he worked In a livery stable and for about
four years and a half, off and on, beginning
about eight years ago, was bell boy in the
Van Ness house. His testimony proceeded
thus
@. 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. l 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
house? A. ! don't know; don't remem-
Der any particular case.
@. Without trying to remember any par
ticuar 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. | don't know; pre-
sumo have. l 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.
@. If you did, where did you procure it
A. Wherever left my money, presume, if
got it.
W. piu you eNeT ger any liquor IOF any
guests of the Van Ness house? A. L don't
remember any particular case.
@. Do you remember having had CONVEX
sation 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 in answer TO a question from Mr..
| Perkins about this case, sWhile there at the
| Van Ness house often got liquor for guests
| ordered at the rooms, and went out after ~
| A. | had some talk with Mr.. PERKINS.
| Question objected to as inmaterial and as
| tending to impeaeb the party's own witness.)
| A. (Continued.) Well, | think there is a
| little mistake there somewhere. Mr.. Perkins
came to me and my wife was very sick.
| might have told him something about liquor.
| 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 it at McCarty's saloon? Objected TO for
I'sume reasons as above.1 A. | don't think
Mr.. Drew ever mentioned it in that way
| think Mr.. Perkins is mistaken about that.
While he was talking with me he didn't take
any notes In front of me on paper.
q. 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 that! A. | don't know Il Mr. Drew
ever said anything to me about it or not.
don't remember. | didn't take any stock in
it If he did.
Q. Why didn't you take any stock in ii il
he said IL? A. Well, the boys always had a
way of doing what we wanted to and get the
most out of it.
Q. Most out of whatg A. Money; VIZ
were working for money,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
p. j. FARNswoRTH.
Liquor at a Democratic Convention and
at Other Times.

z. j. Farnsworth OF Fairfax, In IL deposit
ton taken at st. Adams April l, said that
he was a farmer and had drank liquor in the
Van Ness house. The examination con-
tinued:-
@. State as near as you can the number of
times and the occasion. A. | don't call TO
mind but one occasion; that was two years
ago during the democratic state convention,
at the time it was held
@. Who was with you upon that occasion
ana drank, If anybody A. | wouldn't be
positive of any one; think A. Il. Hall of
Bakersfield, w. ii. Rood of Fairfax, Frank
Eldred and four or i've others that don't
remember,
Q. Where In the Van Ness house did you
get this liquor and drink 1t? A. 1t was car
ried to one of the rooms above.
Q. Who ordered II: State fully In regard
to It. A. cannot say who ordered it; do
not remember.
Q. State II you remember who paid for It?
A. There were one or two who volunteered
to pay, but who did pay don't know.
q. When was It paid for with reference TO
the time 1t was procured, whether before or
after: A. At the time.
@. State fully how you got it, In whose
room and all about It? A. 1t was suggested
by some one of the party that was together to
90 up town and get drink; some one else
made the remark, ''No need of that we can
get it here" Whoever 1t was went to 1.-THE
office and we went to the room above with
him-l don't remember who.
Q. 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.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15

by some one, but cannot tell whether Il was
| the governor, Mr.. III. N. CLARK or Mr.. Drew
but Il was by some one in authority.
Q, And in point of fact You We're en-
| ployed by the commercial men to assist Mr.
| Murray's boy and were paid by the CONNER
| oial men for serving the winey A. Yes.
q, Did understand you to say that during
the II years that you were employed at the
Van Ness house there was no intoxicating
liquor OF any kind kept in the Van Ness
hOuseg A. Yes.
o. During that time was any Intoxicating
liquor sold. in the Van Ness house, A.
never knew OF any,
@. When you went into the employment
of Mr., Woodbury. at the Van Ness We're you
not informed that no liquors were sold or
kept for sale in the Van Ness housey A,
Yes.
Q. Were you not frequently asked by
guests to get them some kind of Intoxicating
liquors in the dining room? A. 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 the Van Ness
house or by the house, and that the only
method by which you could procure such
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?
want TO wait SO long for me to send out for it,.
q. You (senn had the bell boys go out MS
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, think about the same /;
no rush mt any time.
q. Is II not a fact that during the last year
that you We're there you did not send out
more than five or six times 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 n
guest? Yes.
Redirect examination by Joseph C.
Jones:-
@. Did Gov. Woodbury. or Mr.. Clark, the
manager, or any one else connected with the
management 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 as leading.) .t.-
@. Well, some weeks we wouldn't sell
anything And sometimes we would go for
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 10y them? A. Yes, when asked by them if
| could ret it,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15

A, don't REMINDER how they We're paid
for. We got something TO take, and the next
morning some OF US were little the worse
for wear, We had 1t brought up two or
three times,
Q. It was ordered and brought up? A.
Yes, sir.
@, Who was with your A. Frank sar-
gent--he lives In Boston-Wil Brewster-he
lives IN Middlebury- John Hyde, who
used TO live here. We had room together,
and we had some drinks brought up, don't
remember how II was paid for.
O. You don't know how the drinks were
paid forg A. don't know how they were
paid for. | don't reeollect that they were
paid for at the time. They were brought In
on server.
O. Which building was II you were
grand lodge we were In the American house.
G. Where did you registery A, At the
Van Ness house, but we were assigned
rooms ut the American house,
O. The former occasion-the 4th OF July
was that in the Van Ness housey A. Yes,
recolect that, because | thought was
smart-dolng something smart. DR.. Webb's
private secretary was boarding at the house
and he carried me down to DIR. Webb's
house and back, and being plain, ordinary
countryman, II pulled me up. And then
missed the boat at Pittsburgh and came
very near losing my job.
q. Are there any other occasions that you
recolect definitely aboutg A. always go
to the Van Ness house, because | get some
thing good to eat, and | have had something
to drink, but never unless ii was brought to
my room.
Q You have had it brought to your room
at other times? A. Yes, sir.
q. Do you remember any particular occa-
SiOnt 4 / went nm thprp with nv penOlp n
the "County Fair" 1t was play at the
opera house; and we had beer brought to
the room. | mean by ''my people" where
live-Judge SHADES sister. Pye lived with
them IA years.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Foster the witness
said that the clerk who gave him the whiskey
early in the morning was Fred Isham, and
that he did not think that he paid for it.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
II. 8. BABBITT.
Social Party I'm a Van Ness House
Room.

T. S. Babbitt, in a deposition taken at ST..
Adams April l, testified as follows
A. In 1856 or 1887. | wouldn't say which,
| went there Ito the Van Ness housed either
to fair or horse race, wouldn't say which,
and we had room upstairs with Mr.. James
Kelley and A. l.. Hall and myself, and there
were others in the room that | can't remem-
Der now; some of the party ordered drinks
and they were brought up. l can't tell who
ordered them; | can't tell who ordered the
drinks, whether it was Kelley or whether 1t
was Hall or who it was.
@. Were the drinks ordered more than
once! A. Only once. 1t was just before
train time and we had to come home.
Q. OF whom were the drinks ordered?
A. They must have been ordered of the bell
boy, don't know of any other way.
@. Who paid for the liquor? A. Well, sir,
/ couldn't tell who paid too long ago.
Q. Was payment made to the boy who
brought up the liquor? A. We settled with
the boy.
@. What hour of the day or night was
this? A. couldn't tell along between
and O'Clock in the afternoon, somewhere
along there.
@. Have you ever seen liquor drank in the
Van Ness house upon any other occasion!
4. No, sir.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
o. And whot do Won refer toY A. Maxi

Q. And what do YOU refer tos A. Making
commission,
Q. A commission on what? to what do YOU
referg A. or course IL we got a commission
on getting the goods, and II we could get this
by going somewhere else, we went there.
e. Who furnished you with money and
what do you mean by the goods or stufy A.,
couldn't tell you who provided me with the
money.
@. Were they guests Of the houseg A.
Yes, most of them.
Q, And what do you mean by goods OF
stuily A, Liquors of any kind.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
HARRY DE WERE.
A Head Walters Long Service.

Harry Dc We're of Brattleboro, in depo-
siion taken at Brattleboro January 8, said
that he was head waiter in the Van Ness
house II years-from 1882 to 1898. He usu-
ally went to Mr.. Clark for instructions. His
evidence in regard to serving intoxicating
liquor was as folows:-
@. Did you at any time ever see served IN
toxicating liquor, ale, cider or lager beer! A..
Yes.
@. In what part of the house? A. In the
dining room.
@. In 1882 was any kind of liquor served
in the dining room while Mr.. Bowman was
manager? A. No.
Q. Or anywhere else in the hotel? A. No.
q. In 1883? A. No.
q. In 1881? A. don't think so; no.
q. Will you swear that you did not see any
served in that time: A. Yes.
Q. In 1885? A. No, / did MT see It served
in the house. / know it was not served
there.
Q. In 1886: \. don't remember seeing
any served.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
ERNEsT CHAUssEE.
A Former Head Walter 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
O. Whether or not, whenyou were head
waiter, wines, beer or ale were served to
guests of the house in the dining room, and
il so, which of them: A. l served beer
there, and served wine; served Bass ale
in bottles, sealed.
o.. What If any instructions from the
proprietor and manager of the hotel, or either
of them, We're given you in respect to such
services as you have describeds 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 whatever it was.
O. How frequent were such occurrences!
A. Well, they were not very frequent, more
at some seasons of the year than others.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
store, such as toilet articles, prescriptions,

store, such as toilet articles, prescriptions,
and the like2 A, Sure,
@. And suppose when YOU speak OF al
lowing commission, the commission re-
fers to those articles AS well as these other
things that you speak OFF A, Yes, sir.
O. The instances We're not so very numer-
Gus, comparatively speaking when they came
there after intoxicating liquors, were they /;
that is, the business that you did there--that
you and Mr., Stcarns did there, the chief
business, was not selling liquor, suppose
A, Surely not.
@, 1t was doing a legitimate drug business?
A, Yes, sir.
Q. And you had occasional call from the
bell boys for bottle of champagne or bot
tie of wine or bottle of whiskey| a
Yes.
Q. And you supposed the boys took it TO
the hotel? A. don't know anything about
that, whether they took it over there or.nc t.
l know they got II at the store.
Redirect examination by Mr.. Wilds:-
@. Let's see about this occasional business.
MY inquiry was how frequently these Trips
were when the boys came there for intoXi-
eating liquor; understood you to say that it
would average daily during the year, is that
what YOU mean? 1t would average daily,
but some days they didn't come for any in
toNicatipg liquor and other days there would
be several trips. A. Yes, mean that.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
JOHN e. COOK.
Another Drug Clerk Tells About Van
Ness House Trade - And Other
Things.


Another Drug Clerk Tells About Van
Ness House Trade - And Other
Things.
John E. Cook of Burlington said that he
was clerk in Fay Taft's drug store from
1887 to 1898. His examination proceeded -
@. During any portion of that time did
Mr.. Aubrey, who was a bell boy at the Van
Ness house, come to Mr.. Tafts to buy in
toxicating liquor? A. He did.
@. Did other bell boys other than Mr..
Aubrey during your term of service as clerk
of this store come there for that same pur-
pose? A. Yes.
Q. What if any consideration was made TO
these boys-pecuniary consideration? A.
Generally used to giye'them 10 or 20 cents.
@. How frequently did it occur that either
Aubrey or some other bell boy from the Van
Ness house came to the drug store where you
were clerk for liquor? A. | couldn't say, /
am sure.
@. You can tell something about what it
would average?, A. Probably half dozen
times week.
@. Would there be days when it was more
frequent than other days? A. think so.
Q. Days when there would be how many
trips of that kind: A. Two or three times.
q. What kind of liquors were sent to the
Van Ness houseby these boys? A. Whiskey
most of the time.
@. Was any account kept with these boys?
A. No.
@. They paid cash, did they? A. Yes.
Q. Were you acquainted with the en-
ployees of the hotel other than the bell boys!
A. | was, to a certain extent.
@. Knew that Gov. Woodbury. was the
reputed proprietor of the hotel? A.
supposed so.
@. Since you have been subpGnaed in this
how m hnl or MT xx,ith hin,
A. Met him on the street several times and
spoke to him.
Q. What did he tell you about coming here
to testify? A. He said / wasn't obliged to
come unless l wanted to, but he didn't care
Just as soon have me come as not.
@. Did he say anything to you about com
municating that to anybody else? A. He
didn't care to have me go and tell it, no, sir
tell it to anybody else.
q. Did he say so to you! A. Why, yes.
At this point deposition was read as fol
lows
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
e. G. FARSHAM.
A Social Drink or Two Taken With
Manager Drew.

Z. G. Farnham of Shoreham, in deposi.
ton taken at Middlebury April 4, said that
he was farmer, and in response to ques-
ton about having liquor in the Van Ness
house. said -
A. When Mr.. Drew was there-I can't
tell you how many years ago, it was quite
little while ago-I know on one occasion
was in there, and was well acquainted with
Mr.. Drew. and Mr.. 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 go up to such room and
wen have something. He came up there
and shortly there was a 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, Walter Weed
and gentleman from up north-a big tleshy
fellow-he had brother IN the house last
session-Ballard.
Q. Do you know how the liquor was paid
for on that occasion? A. don't, sir.
@. You didn't pay for it yourself: A. No,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15

q. Have you frequently settled for liquor
so furnished when you settled your bill at
the desky A. have.
O.. Have you ever drank liquor there with
d. n. Burton, A. l.. Hail or J.. 4. Kelleyy
A. think have.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
NORRIS BLAKE.
Liquor at a Banquet of Young College
Rows,

htvuOT At u banquet VI houuS SoiheSc
Boys.
Norris Blake was next called as witness
for the HERALD. He said that he was senior
in the college at Burlington and attended a
students banquet at the Van Ness house
when he was chairman of the committee of
arrangements and lager beer was served.
His examination proceeded
Q. What arrangements were made with
Seeley about that? A. can't tell you.
Q. You don't know. A. j made no
arrangements whatever.
Q. They had it? A. 1t was there.
q. Did Seeley open the bottles? A. He
did.
@. And poured it? A. No, sir, he did
not.
@. 1t was set by the plates? A. Yes.
Q. BY the table girls: A. No, sir.
Q. Mr.. Seeley did that himself? A. Yes.
q. How large a banquet was this?
A. About 80.
Q. When do you say that was? A. 1t was,
| think, n year ago in October.
g. Last October? A. | think so.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
]. C. SALISBURY.
Liquor In Rooms Paid For at the
Desk.

J. G. salisbury of Morrisville, in deposit
ton taken at st. Adams April /, said that he
liquor in the Van Ness house "a good many
times" The examination proceeded
@. State where in the house this liquor
was furnished to you, and how you OBJ
tanned it? A. In tile rooms and by order
ing &c, by ringing the bell.
Q. Whether any objection was made to
furnishing liquor whenever you called for
It: A. Never heard any.
Q. Who did you pay for this liquor
A. Sometimes one and sometimes another.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
CUSHING HILL.

Two Pint Bottles of Beer at Table.
Cushing Hill of Middlebury said that
in the winter of 1915 he and a
friend were served with two bottles, pint
bottles, of beer at the Van Ness house table
by the head waiter.
Dispositions were read for the HERALD
made by witnesses as folows:-
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
CHARLES N. MORSE.

A Bottle of Wine In a Room Paid For at
the Office.
Charles n. Morse of Bakersfield said that
he was commercial salesman, and about
eight years ago was a member of party
which ordered bottle of wine from the
bell boy and paid for it at the office.