Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
ALsERT sPIC Err.
The Van Ness Night Clerk Tells His.
Story.

The Van Ness Night Clerk Tells His
Story.
Albert Spicer said that be was night clerk
at the Van Ness house and had been since
December IL, 1898. His examination pro-
ceeded:-
@. Do you know Mr.. Chapman of Middle
bury. A, Yes, sir.
Q. And do you recall his coming to the
claimed to be on his way to st. Adams or
Montpelier. A. Yes, sir.
Q. On that occasion did he ask you for any
gin cocktail. A. NJ, hir; he did not.
@. What conversation did you have with
Mr.. Chapman on that occasion. A. Mr..
Chapman came In on the early train, which
arrives here at about half-past 4 in the
morning.. He came up to the hotel and
registered and asked for room.
0. Did you show him to room. A. Yes.
O. Where. A. Room 1888; 1t is on the first
floor down through the old dining room.
what used to be part Of the old dining room.
@. After you got to the room, did you
have any conversation with him. A. Yes,
Q. What was that. A. He asked me to
bring him pitcher of Ice water and q tum-
bier.
@. Did you do so. A. Yes, sir.
Q. What occurred, II anything, after you
got that for him. A. After l came back
with the Ice water and the tumbler, he opened
bis grip and took out half a pint bottle,-
we'll, I should say nearly half full. of whts-
key and asked me If I would drink with
Q. Did you take drink with him. A.
Yes, sir, did.
Q. Did he stay there for breakfast. A.
think no did; quite sure he did.
@. And did you see him again before he
went In to breakfast. A. Yes, saw him sew
eral times out in the Office and we talked to-
gether there for an hour or more.
@. Did he refer to the question OF having
drink again that morning before going to
breakfast. A. Yes.
@. What did he say. A. He asked me II 1t
was possible for him 10 get something.
@. And what did you say to him. A. I told
him the house didn't sell thing, and there
was nothing in the house I could furnish
him.
Q. Did you say anything further to him. A.
Q. Tell what you finally told him. A. 1
told him that up In my room thought had,
perhaps, two drinks of my own whiskey,
and II had would bring 1t down. I went
up to my trunk and found just about two
drinks;I brought it down and we drank 1t
before breakfast.
Q. Where. A. In that same room where
first showed him.
@. On that occasion, did you furnish him
with anything else but that. A. No, sir.
Q. And did he pay you for that. A. No,
sir.
Q. At any other time, did you sell or
furnish him any Intoxicating liquor Of any
kind. A. No, sir, no other time whatever.
q Do you recall his being there some
little time ago, when the Odd Fellows had
their banquet there. A. l remember OF see.
ing him there.
@. Remember seeing him there the even
ing of the banquet A. Yes.
@. And on that occasion In particular, did
you sell him or furnish him or give him
any Intoxicating liquor Of any kind. A.
9. During the time that you have been In
the Office there a. night clerk, have you ever
furnished any money to the bell boys with
out knowing what they wanted 1t for. A.
No. sir; have not.
@. Have you ever furnished them any
money to be used in getting intoxicating
liquor. A. No, sir.
@. Has 1t been a common thing for
the guests to reteive-ask for small
amounts of cash ut the ollie. Yes, very
frequently happens.
Characterization by Mr.. Prouty:-
@. Do you believe since you have been
have or have not brought In any whiskey. A.
presume they have.
@. Upon what do you base your belief,
either one way or the other. A. On the fact
that have known at times they have been
out for whiskey for the guests.
@. You made no effort to prevent that. A.
No, sir.
@. You we're not instructed to prevent It..
A. was instructed not to charge anything
on the books or to furnish them money 10
any shape or manner for the purpose of buy
Ing intoxicating liquor.
@. And, you received those instructions
when you went there in 1893, did you. A.
Yes, sir.
@. l will ask you how large q sum these
BOYS would ask for. A. That would depend
upon what they were going for. Sometimes.
q suit of clothes has been pressed, be about
dollar, but very rarely did ever furnish q
boy with any money unless the guest stood
right there and told me to let the boy have
10 cents or q 81 or $3.50, for the boy to 70
out for him to yet whatever he wanted.
@. Who gave you the instructions not to
charge any intoxicating liquor on the book,
and not to furnish money with which to
purchase intoxicating liquor. A. Mr.. Clark.