The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-15
BENJAMIN WILLIAMS, JR.
l Half Pint of WhislSey and Banquet.

Benjamin Williams, jr., of Granville, n. Y,
in deposition taken at Rutland, said that he
was a slate manufacturer and had got liquor
at the Van Ness house. The examination
proceeded
@. About how many times: A. Once.
Q. And when was thatI A. Some time in
August last.
Q. And what was it? A. Whiskey
Q. How much whiskey did you purchase:
A. | bought me bottle of it, | should say
half q pint,
O. And how did you order it? A. Bell
boy.
Q. And where: A. In our room.
Q. Who was with you: A. DR.. Roberts
of Scranton, Pa.
@. How much did you pay for it? A.
think he said 1t would be G5 cents. l handed
him dollar and told him to keep the change
himself.
@. You may state whether or not you were
present at the commercial mems banquet in
1894? A. was.
Q. And you may state just about your
going there and staying there and every
thing that took place that you remember:
A. got there on Thursday afternoon and
stayed until Sunday afternoon. Friday even
ing, should judge it was about 10 o'clock
When | came into the house and went into
the office and one of the officials invited me
into the dining room; he said there was
banquet there and I took a seat little way
from the entrance at the tables. There was
largeicrowd in there. At the far end of the
dining room was the governor. 1t was the
first time | had ever seen him; he was pointed
out to me as the governor of Vermont. |
don't know how many people were there.
They We're eating and drinking and enjoying
themselves.
@. What were they drinking? A. They
said it was champagne. The waiter came
and poured out a little in glass and tasted
of it.
@. What would you say it was? \. |
should say it was champagne, what little l
tasted of it.
@. And were these bottles all over the
dining tables: A. Yes, sir, there were a
good many bottles around; the walters were
pouring the stuff out of them into the glasses.
@. From the place where the governor sat
could he overlook the tables in the dining
room? A. | should think that he could.
@. He could also see what was going on
there and see these bottles? A. should
judge he could.
Q, Could he see the glasses? A. should
say he could.
Q. From where you sat, If you stood up,
could you see the bottles and glasses near the
governor! y. L should say could II
should look for them.
@. How far where you from the governor?
A. | was at the first table near the door as
you come in the room and be was at the far
end.
Q. The governor made speech: A. Yes,
sir.
@. You may state how you came to go to the
Van Ness house when you procured this
whiskey? A. l was sent there by Mr.. Jones.
was up there and we procured room; ii
was on saturday. On Sunday morning
touched button and the bell boy came;
told him we wanted some whiskey. | took a
dollar bill out and handed 1t to him and he
went away. In a short time he came back
with bottle. should say it was about half
pint rolled up in a paper with printing on
it. As | said he said it was 65 cents and
gave him a dollar and told him to keep the
change.
@. Did he tell you where he got it? A.
No, sir.
@. Did he ask you any questions when
you asked him TO get the liquor! No, sir.