Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-05-07

Will Not Be Given Until July.
The trial Of the famous libel suit q
Gov. Woodbury. against the Rutlan
Herald was held in the county court
house commencing last week Tuesda,
before Judges Ross, Rowell and Tyle
OF the supreme court. Gov. Wood
bury was represented by d. j. Foste
and Seneca Haselton OF Burlington
and ex-Gov. w. P. Dillingham; O
Waterbury. The IIerald's counse
| present were C. A. Prouty of New
port and Charles NJ. Wilds Of Middle
bury.
Gov. Woodbury's case was opened
by ID. j. Foster, who put in a copy Of
the Rutland Herald containing the al
legged libel and the legal documents il
the case. He then rested his case and
the defence promptly began their tes
| timOny.
GOV. wooDBURY's CASE.
Gov. Woodbury's case, as stated by
Mr.. Foster, is substantially as follows
We expect that it will appear in evi-
dence that fifteen years ago when
Gov. Woodbury., then a private citi-
zen, bought the Van Ness House, he
adopted the resolution that he would
not sell or traffic in intoxicating liq-
uor; that he was prompted to this by
motives affecting him as a man, as a
citizen and as the father of a family;
that that resolution and those motives
have remained with him unimpaired
through all the intervening years and
that he has to the best of his ability
conducted the Van Ness House in ac-
cordance Herewith.
We expect to show you that during
these years he has not kept for sale,
and that he has not sold, in the Van
Ness House or elsewhere, any intoxi-
eating liquor; and that aside from
liquor usual and necessary for cult
nary purposes and used for such pur-
poses only, he has neither bought nor
owned any intoxicating liquor what
ever.
1t will appear that during these
years Mr.. Woodbury., owing to his
inexperience in hotel matters and to
his being engaged in other large and
business enterprises, has
entrusted the active management of
the Van Ness House almost entirely
to old and experienced hotel men; that
his instructions to his managers at all
times were fully in accordance with
The resolution he adopted at the out
yet; and that his managers in good
faith have endeavored to carry out
hose instructions.
1t has been inevitable that during
he fourteen years under review, the
guests, numbering hundreds of thous-
lnds and having tastes and habits Of
every variety, should, in some in
stances, have brought liquor with
hem to the House and in other in
tances should have procured it to be
brought to them by Others, but we ex-
,ect to satisfy you that the facts and
circumstances regarding these trans
lctions have not been such as to at
ach legal or moral responsibility to
Iov. Woodbury..
THE DEFENDANTS TESTIMONY.
The first witness for the defence was
Arthur M. Coffin. He stated that he
esided in Boston, was travelling
alesman and had been in the habit of
oming to Burlington for two and
alf ears, always stopping at the Van
Tess house. He had frequently been
ne of crowd who had sent out by a
ell boy for either beer or whiskey.
lie could only remember one or two
ccasions. He did not know where
he boy got the liquor. He was always
aid and told to get it. Coffin had
cen drink that looked to be beer
erved in the dining room. Coffin on
lose examination said he understood
hat the hoy got the liquor outside the
ouse.
Several other witnesses certified to
he above during the several days OF
he trial, most of whom were travelling
alesmen.
Ex-Aldermen Harrington and d. }.
,ooth testified to the serving OF wines
t the commercial mems banquets.
hey said the travelling mems associa-
on furnished the wine at the ban
uets. They said they had been on
lie committee of arrangements for the
anquet and had understood that Gov.
Woodbury. did not favor having wine
rived. The wine was obtained from
-ew York and was served by the as
,ciation as the guests desired it. +.
The Rev. DR.. Edward Halves testl-
ed that he had been present twice at !
le commercial mems banquets when
inc or what he supposed was wine
as served. He knew the governor
id to him at the last banquet that ne
isapproved of wine being served.
Dispositions of several of the former
nployees of the Van Ness were read
substance. They were either peii
,ys or clerks who had procured
1uor for guests or known OF the traf-
Many times if the boys went TO