Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-02
Essex County Court.

Court finally adjourned Wednesday
September %, having been in session
eight days and occupied nearly all the
time with the trial of the case of Conway
VS.. Fitzgerald, involving various transac.
tions, and which resulted in verdict OF
1898 for the plaintiff, also in a special
finding of the jury, which goes to the
supreme court with other questions
raised by both parties. At the conclu-
sion of this trial the case of State VS..
Mary Bean was heard by a jury. This
was an indictment under the blanket"
act, and resulted in the respondent being
acquitted.
These were the only cases tried by jury.
In the case State of Vermont vs.. Alfred
Close, respondent plead guilty to FIVE
first offences OF selling Intoxicating liquor
and was fined $50 and costs. In State
VS.. Benjamin F. Bonette, who also
pleaded guilty, the respondent was SEN
fenced to the house of correction for nine
months. His offence was larceny at West
Concord, and has been reported in these
columns. In the case of Jackson NJ. Perry
VS.. Sarah Perry bill of divorce was
granted for wiful desertion; and in the
case of Alice c. Pritchard VS.. Benjamin
F. Pritchard bill was granted for in
tolerable severity and the custody of the
minor child was decreed to the petitioner
Several were naturalzed at this term.
The docket shows that 81 cases were
disposed of, leaving only 20. Thus it
will be seen that the docket continues to
decrease and has already reached point
at which the litigation in the county is
scarcely noticed. With the exception of
three or four cases there is nothing on
the docket involving any serious conten-
ton whatever.
The term was pleasant one, and those
who were acquainted and comfortably
located were much pleased with their
fare and accommodations, but strangers
and people not accustomed to attending
court complained of having to go into
private houses or out of the state for ac-
commodations.
The bar and people generally seem to
be much pleased with the manner in
which Judge Munson presided. His di-
rect, clear and frank and always emphatic
treatment of and expression concerning
men and things with which the court
dealt was quite generally remarked. He
seems to be man who presides with
out austerity but always with half-con-
cealed suggestions OF very rigid discipline
the very instant it's occasion should oc-
cur. 1t is natural for any county stu
ated as ours is for people attending court
to feel more at home with some judges
than with others, but 10 greater OPP
portunity has been presented tor pa
tient, thorough and unembarrassed pre-
sentation and hearing of everybody's
matters who had anything to do i'll
court, than at this term.
The State business seems to have been
thoroughly attended to. The grand
jury reported seven true bills and three
bills not found. They expressed them
selves in a vote OF recognition of the
promptness and efficiency of the States
attorney, also to the foreman, o. B.
Cutting, Esq, OF West Concord. They
also INDUCED in some severe and just
criticism of the accommodations afforded
them while in the performance of their
duties. This arises out of no fault of
any individual, but because OF the condi.
ton of the court house, which can only
be remedied by it's being entirely recon-
structed or rebuilt. 1t is sadly behind the
times and suffers much by comparison
with any other court house in the state.
Of course we don't expect as pretentious
a court house as some ofour more opulent
sister counties possess, but 1t is hardly
respectable and speaks very illconcernlng
our enterprise not to have atleast neat,
economical, healthy and convenient place
in which to do our county business. The
shire town of county is to very con-
siderable extent an index Of the charac-
ter of the people of the county. and wher-
ever the county seat may be it ought to
be such and in such condition as to be
favorable index of the character, taste,
intelligence and enterprise of the people
it represents.
Wood Parlors at Vallee Brothers.