Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16

II was III . portion Of the time when /
was there-but when l was there, prob
ably during that five or six months we had
our house. closed, l was there say three
months, and during that whole time saw
nothing on the table Of any kind.
@. With regard to the bsnquets. | wish
you would state rs nearly as you can what
banquets have been held there at which the
banqueters had wine and all the facts with
regard to the provision for 1t that you know
anything abouty A. When they first came
there they didn't have wine at their ban.
quets, when held at the Van Ness house, but
oneyear q should say six or seven years ago
arrangements decided that they wanted
they "'' talked Of ' wine 'G i%%edia aei'
took steps to prevent 1t, for two reasons.
One was didn't want the wine served In
the Van Ness house and the other l thought
1t was a bad practice to commence in Yer
mont. thought possibly that the influence
upon some Of the young men would be per.
niciOus and didn't want 10 have 1t served,
although will say in this connection that
never saw at any banquet where there was
wine any intoxication of any person
whatever, and the utmost decorum
has prevailed at all those BAN
quets. I talked with Mr.. Booth, who, I
think, was the president of the association,
stating my views to him, and asked him to
labor with the members of the executive
committee not to have 1t furnished. He told
me afterwards that he had, but his efforts
were unayailing. objected all the time,
although did tell him that l supposed
could not prevent their using the wine
there, but we should have moth
ing to do with 1t. I told
Mr. Drew what the decision of these men
was and told him not to have anything to do
th tho xxin nd vntt 10 ov of tboo
ployees, as employees. open the wine or
take charge Of 1t. I told Mr.. Clark not to
sell the tickets. have been to banquets,
several Of them, when they have bad wine.
l was at the banquet of 1894, when they had
wine, SUPPOSE never drank any of it.
at any Of those banquets or at any time In a
public place In Vermont, or never drank
kind.
with reference to such collatlOns as the
medical faculty had at commencement time
the same as 1t was with reference to the
commercial mems banquets? A. just the
same.
Q. Did you know of society OF college
students having one of their suppers there,
cOnclaves, at which they had wine? A. l
did not.
Q. 1t Is perhaps of no special conse.
quence, but did you have talk with Aubrey
(you remember probably who he was, at one
time bell boy there) in which he made any
reference, In connection with his going away
10 intoxicating liquors or any other cOnnec-
ton! A. No, sir.
@. In no way whatever? A. No, sir.
q. DO you remember the occasion when
party, perhaps committee, waited upon
you at the Van Ness house and presented q
petition in behalf of Mr.. Howe of st. Johns.
bury? A. Yes, l do. 1t was not at the
Van Ness house, it was In my office.
@, What were the circumstances of that
occasion as you recall them! A. Henry
G. Bates, Harry Blodgett, King, son.
in-law of Mr.. Howe, Judge Hastings
Gen. Ide and Editor johnson Of the
News, think, were present. Mr.. Bates
presented the petition and made an argu.
ment for the release OF Mr.. Howe: DO you
wan. should relate everything that
occurred there?
Q. Perhaps you have said enough in 8
general way. What, II anything, was said
by you in regard to the trafficking In intoxi
eating liquors In connection with hotels
generally? A. OF course they were friends o.
Mr.. Howe seeking for his release, among then
his son-in-law. and while was going to re.
fuse them, as did ultimately, I wanted t
do 1t 80 as not to wound their feelings any
more than possible, so remarked among
other things that ! was aware 1t required /
man of pretty stiff backbone to run hote
in Vermont and not sell liquor, but hat
anything else. have no remembrance. A
1sa' didn't a ase the "s words "Se s bo !"S
or say anything about any bel
boys service at all In that connection.
might have said, what have only said be
fore, that of course drinking In the Val
Ness house was not absolutely stopped. tina
Aronc fhpro and
also brought in there, but a very small pc
cent compared with what was drunk II
hotels where 1t was sold.
@. Did you have anything to do per
sonally about that purchase or the storing o
| such liquors az were used at tue Van Mes
house for cooking purposes! A. did not.
Q. That was left entirely to your man
ayers? A. never saw any, not since hav
| owned the house. never saw any of 1t.
saw bill of some last summer. 1t came t
me by mistake instead Of going to the house
| but we are using liquors there for that pull
pose, have no doubt.
@. Was Mr.. Bates present at this inter
view? A. He was.
@. And Mr.. Hastings? A. He was.
@. Did you receive notice from the de
PENDANTS for the taking of their dispositions
A. Yes, they were to be taken at the sam
time as these other parties whose deposition
you have read.
@. Were they present? A. Yes.
O. Have you found out II don't know
how much from time to time you are &C
customed to look over the Van Ness house
whether any whiskey glasses were in th
Van Ness house unless they were carried II
there, into some part Of the house that wa
set apart for the exclusive use Of guests o
the house, that you knew? A. have beel
all over the house, In cupboards and a
around, and l never saw whiskey glas
at all.
@. With regard to wine glasses, what d
you say? A. producing wine glass) Their
is the only one that ever saw, and saw tina
for the first last week. My brother brough
1t to me out Of the cupboard. He said
ago. and that is the only one he ever saw Il
| the house.
@. One other thing that l would Xix
| to call your attention to. Was any information
or suggestion made to you at one time whicl
indicated that there might be something 60
Ing on or preparation being made for some
thing, in the dining room that II was fel
s.ructlonsp A. Yes, the winter that live,
at the hotel In 1894, the housekeeper, Mrs
Herbert Woodbury., came to me and said tina
Mr.. Seeley had some lager beer In his room
O. Meaning by bis room A. The store
room, which che was satisfied was intended
for the guests OF the house.
@. Locate the stOreroom. The room
opening out of the dining room? A Yes
the room opening out of the dining room
1 told her 1 couldn't believe it. MIR
Seeley had been there only few month";
then. She said 1t was so. l imme
diately went to the Office and told Mr.
Clark what had heard. And he expressed
as much establishment as did, and said l
could not be SO. l told him to 60 and see y
once. He went, came back and said Their
was some there.
@. What course did you takep A.
said, "You 90 ana tell Mr.. Seeley II
should find that out that bis place wouldn'
be worth the snap Of my finger" He cam,
back and said he was very much frightened
and said, 81 don't think you will have any
trouble In that place again."
@. Did Mr.. seeley, some time after
wards, speak to you about a matter con
nected with what you are now talking
aboutp A. Yes, he did.
Q. You may state the circumstance,
with regard to that. A. In the sprins
of '94 l was talking with Mr.. Seeley
In the hall to the dining room witt