davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
BENJAMIN WILLIAMS, JR.


Half Pint of Whisltey and Banquet.
Benjamin Williams, jr., of Granville, N. Y,
in a deposition taken at Rutland, said that he
was slate manufacturer and had got liquor
at the Van Ness house. The examination
proceeded
@. About how many times? A. Once.
q. And when was that? 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 a pint
Q. And how did you order it? A. Bell
boy.
0. And where? A. In our room.
Q. Who was with you? A. DIR. Roberts
of Scranton, Pa.
Q. 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.
Q. You may state whether or not you were
present at the commercial mems banquet In
| 1894? A. / was.
@. 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
non am .iI nv ~ ~ ottioiais ryitad rne
tne oioe any QUE vi .ns iS , tu
lnto tne 9liig room NE SSlu tn I'LL , a.
oahqueI Vheie anu VoVh = se"v iirtV W .!
from Lne entrance Nv 'ne VapLes, ,J " H.
lnl!e cloWu III theiI' nv sio i'' % tbo
gng room vas tne gI S; h was ~ mnS
ulsV tlie nau esel sen LIN &c var1,o,t
3us 70 e as Sne Sorvip nooU nj we've there
MI m5 I hmo" NV anS irpGipr and epovjn%
, hneS T ,,,ne 0"'ins anu I'll anu I'M
'ne G WE ,,o +,o,, dr,nhino9 A Tbev
az nao VIZ vn9y - The waitar came
sal9 ~ was Iiptfo T., oss and tested
a9G pouleu ou' ii''i' i" glass; an" '''''o'
Vi Nv yu,,o4 would ,,o, COW ~ ,yos9 A 7
!" naU a; HO , ,,,a3,ro What uttie I
t suUu,I sd y IL was 'h"h' "A"' 'i'''
'Ss o Ara ~ :" were tbese bott,os all ovor tho
dining tables? A. Yes. Sir there We're a
GOOD many bottles around; the walters were
| pouring the stuff out of them into the glasses.
n Eron, rho ,,looo ,rho,o tl,e covernor cot
oo,Sd ho overfooL tba tahIes In the Sipino
roomg 4 7 sbomId think that he could
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
A. G. STONE.


Whiskey, Beer and Wine I'm One Day.
A. G. Stone of Wallingford, in deposi-
ton taken at Rutland, said that he was a
lawyer and ihad procured liquor at the Van
Ness house. The examination proceeded -
@. How many times? A. Well, three
times in one day.
Q. And any other time besides that day?
A. Yes, but it is so many years back, why
back in 1879.
Q, In the last ten years? a. Only on this
one occasion.
Q. When was that? A. Along the first of
August, 3D., 4th or 5th, think.
q: And what kind of liquor was It?
A. Whiskey and beer, last August, 1895.
@ And how many times did you purchase
whiskey? Once.
Q. Beer? Once.
Q. Any other liquor? A. A pint of wine.
q. Anything else? A. Nothing else.
e. Did you purchase it all together? A.
No, sir.
Q. Tell about il? A. | registered at the
Van Ness house, | think the Sd of
August, am not positive-the fore part of
August; occupied room 1G. Mr.. Dbl
was there; we met and l invited him to din
ner. Went to my room and rang up the bell
boy and asked him II we could have some
thing to drink. lie said we could. lie went
out and procured a pint of whiskey, and
when he came back we told him we wanted
something besides water for pusher; he
went out and got some beer. We then went
to dinner
Q. What did you have for dInnerg A. A
bottle of wine.
o. OF whom did you purchase thatY AL
suppose the head waiter; Seeley, think his
name Is.
! Q. You say the boy went out and got some
whlskey and beer, do you know wherey
A. / could not say.
@. Did you tell him to go out Of the house
and get ity A, told him to go and get It,
@. Did the bell boy say anything to you
about that being temperance hOuset A. He
said they did not have any liquor in the
house.
Q. Did he say anything morei A. He said
he would go out and getit.
Q. You paid the bell boy for the liquor?
A. Yes, sir. ..
Q: And paid the head waiter for the wlneY
A. Yes, sir.
O. Aud It was served right there in the
dining roomy A, Yes, sir.
Q. Did the head waiter say anything to |
you about going out, and did he not goy
A. He did not go out OF the dining room to
get It. He got 1t from some sldeboard, | |
could not tell you just what He brought |
what l ordered, pint of red wine.
Cross-examinallou Mr.. Foster -
Q. You gave the bell boy money in advanced
A. Yes, sir, J gave him dollar and he |
brought the pint of whiskey; | told him | |
wanted pint of beer, bottle of beer or |
something else; he said that II would cost |
enough TO come to a dollar, and gave him |
% cents more.
Q. DO you recall The conversation you had,
Mr., Stone, you had In the dining ro0mS |
A. lie said here was some wine there that |
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
HENRI BRANCBAUD.

Social Games aud Fluids 10 the Hotel.
ton taken at Rutland, said that he was
railway postal clerk and, ending about three
years ago, had for six years stopped great
deal at the Van Ness house. The examina-
ton proceeded -
@. Did you ever purchase any intoxicat-
ing liquor, ale, cider or beer at the Van
Ness house? A. In what way?
@. In any way? A. | never bought any
from the bell boy myself.
Q. How did you purchase 1t? A. The
only time / ever remember was when we
were having game of whist or cards, and
we Clipped together and got it.
Q. How did you order itY A. didn't
order it myself, some one else rang the bell :;
somebody came to the door and we gave
them the money.
@. Who was there on that occasion? A..
Well, two or three different occasions. MIR.
Ashley and Mr. Clark Herbert Clark, pro-
prietOr, he was back of the desk, we called
him Herb.
@. Do you remember of any other occa-
sion when Mr.. Clark was in the room that
you were playing cards when liquor was
brought A. think | played twice with
Mr.. Clark.
@. Was liquor brought on these occasions:
A. | would think it was on both; l could
swear positively 10 once at least.
Q. And was it paid for then? A. We
Clipped in and paid for it.
Q. Do you remember any other occasion
when you had any in the roomsg a. What
way?
Q. In any way? A. | believe drank once
with =. NJ. Meldon.
q. Do you remember any other occasion?
A. Only when ! or my friends mad it In my
grip and took it before meals.
O. Have you seen 1t In the dining room?
A. | could not say on how many occasions
Q. How many occasions? A. l could not
state; it was not anything that l would re-
member. .... .
@. What did you see and in what manner?
A. have seen guests have bottle of Bass
ale set at their plate aud drink from it.
@. How was 1t served and by whom? A.
Mr.. De We're. We sat at the entrance and he
generally opened 1t at cupboard near u.s.
II was the only thing ever saw him open,
this Bass ale.
Q. Quite frequently or otherwise? A.
During the time | remember was while there
was some school of languages there, he
opened the bottle for two men, and won
dered If they were there at the school. Once
| saw him open bottle of claret, It said said
on 1t "St. Julien"
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
FRED JOY.

A Boston Lawyer Gives His Experience.
Fred Joy of Winchester, Mass, in depO-
sition taken at Boston April "a, said that he
practeed law in Boston and was at the Van
Ness house June 80, 1892. His examination,
conducted by Mr.. Prouty, continued
Q. Did you take supper at the Van Ness
houseg A. did.
o. Did you have, with your supper, any
intoxicating liquor, and II so, state what,
and how YOU procured itg A. | invited Mr..
Prouty aud Mr.. Needham to dine with me on
the evening of June 30. 1892, at the Van Ness
house, in Burlington, VT, and they accepted
my invitation. We went to the hotel, but
cannot now say whether we registered or
not, but | believe we did. We took our seats
at the table IN the dining room of the hotel,
and | ordered as good dinner as the house
| had for the three of us, and asked the person
| who waited upon us If we could have bot
| tie of wine with our dinner, and he said we
| could, and he procured one for us, and 1t
was served with the dinner, and drank by
| us at that time.
O. When did you pay for the wine? A.
desk for the whole dinner, including the
wine.
@. What kind of wine was it? A. Cham
pagne-but do not remember the brand.
O. What objection, il any, did the waiter
of whom you ordered the wine make TO pro-
curing 1t, or what did he say about procur'
ing It, if anythingy A. He made no objec
ton, and when l asked him if | could have {
bottle of wine with our dinner, he sait
"yes," and then procured it and brought 1t Il
| the table.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
LOUIS G. BASS.
A Boston Business Man Visited the Van
Ness House Several Times.

Louis c. Bass of Boston, In a deposition
taken at Boston April "a, said that he had
been at the Van Ness house several times,
and in response to question as to procuring
liquor there said -
A. / have obtained Intoxicating liquor in
the Van Ness house two or three times. The
first time, in my memory, was in the winter
of 1891. L came up one morning on the early
train, and was very cold, and applied for a
glass of whiskey. The night clerk directed
the porter to get me some, and | was taken
down stairs into the basement or cellar, and
down to a room formerly the barber shop, If
/ remember. and given a glass Of whiskey,
for which paid the night clerk. This was
about o'clock in the morning, or immedl-
ately after the arrival of the night train which
comes from Boston over the Fitchburg road.
Another time was some time in August,
1898, on Sunday. ] was to go out Of town
with three gentlemen on that day
to point where 1t would be in
convenient to obtain luncheon, and
breakfast at the Van Ness house, of the
waitress In charge Of the room, and the
luncheon consisted mainly of sandwiches,
and ordered a bottle of claret, all to be put
in basket, and 1t was furnished IS ordered.
The gentlemen with me were Il. +. Brownell
of Burlington, j. w. Woodman, then of
Boston, and Ralph Weller. They did not
obtain breakfast, but went with me.
Another time when i drank wine at the
Van Ness house was between the Goth and
2Sth of October, 1893, when ! took dinner
with c. w. Lassell, the president of the
Whiting Machine works of Whitingsville,
Mass. lie also invited Mr.. Brownell, and
obtained at that time with the dinner a bottle
of champagne, which we drank.
O. Referring now o the luncheon with
which you say you tbought the bottle of
claret, Is there anything connected with that
luncheon which serves to fix IL particularly
in your mind? A. There Is. The waitress
knew well that the luncheon was for four,
and there were four sandwiches. which con-
sisted of the entire solid portion of the
lu luncheon, and quart bottle of claret; It
to be somewhat out OF proper
tlon.
@. BY whom was that claret paid for, and
where was II paid forg A. IL was paid for
by me when paid my bill at the hotel.
Q. Referring now to the last occasion upon
which you say you drank champagne with
Mr.. Lassell and Mr.. Brownel-of whom did
Mr.. Lassell order the winef A. OF the head
waiter.
Q. What was said by the head waiter when
the order was given in reference TO the fur
nlshing of the wine, II anythingS A. SO far
ls reCOllect, nothing.
Q. Was there any intimation, or suggestion,
Il would be necessary TO go out of the house
10 procure that wineY A. My memory does
not serve me that there was.
o. DO you remember what kind Of glasses |
hat was served iny A. My recollec-
lion ~ that II was small, upright cham |
payne gass-a straight champagne glass or
lumber.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
A. ii. ABRAHAM.
Beer and Cocktails Seen at tn. Table.

Beer and Cocktails Seen at the Table.
A. II. Abraham of Rutland, in deposit
ton taken at Rutland, said that he was a
cigar manufacturer and tobacco dealer, and
thought he had never drank any liquor in the
Van Ness house. His examination pro.
ceeded -
@. Have you ever seen wine or beer
served in the dining ro0mY A. Beer on one
occasion that remember.
O. BY whom was the beer served? A.
Well, II was brought In by man. would
not be positive whether II was the one that
seated US at the table or somebody else.
q. Did you know how much of II was
brought In? A, Two bottles at that time.
q. DO you know what kind II was? A.
Bass ale.
Q. Was it served to some one that sat at
your tablet A. Yes.
Q. TO whom? A. cannot remember just
now 1t was commercial man | happened
TO meet there.
Q. Did you know the menu A, knew
them, yes.
Q. Did you drink any OF that beer2 A. |
did not drink any beer myself.
Q. Was you at the table when the beer was
orderedY A. / was.
Q. And of whom did they order lt? A..
They asked the girl II they could have some
beer and she said she thought SO, and finally
she left, came back and took the order and
another-and this man came and took the
order and finally brought the beer.
q. Aud what was II brought In? A. On q
common tray, two bottles and two glasses, II
| am not mistaken.
q. Where, II YOU know, was the beer paid
forY A. Well don't remember Of seeing
hem pay for the beer.
q. Now, have you stated all that was said
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14

would have a bottle and told them did
not want IT, They each ordered bottle.
q. Have you ever seen wine served In the
dining room! A. | have seen once bottle
that looked like wine carried through the
dining room.
q. When were you there and saw liquor
served In glasses? A. / was in Burlington
think In the early part of September, 1894,
think 1t was '94 There was a fair there,
think there was the state fair at that time !;
| stayed there that night and the next morn
ing there were some gentlemen and couple
of ladies sat at the table opposite me for
breakfast, and two of them ordered some
cocktails, but what kind | could hot say. II
was brought to them and they drank it.
q. And these cocktails were brought in in
glasses: A. In glasses and all fixed up for
| them; yes, sir.
q. And by whom A. By man that
| worked at the hOnse.
q. Same head waiterY A. could not say
| / think II was the man that seated the guests
at the table.
q. Do you know when these were paiC
fory A. | did not see any money exchanged
at the table.
@. You say they ordered the cocktails ant
they were brought in? A. They spoke to
girl first and they were brought in by thi
man; | remember that more distinctly be
cause it was more recently that it happened
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
WILLIAM It. KING.
What Gov. Woodbury. Said About
Matters.

Matters.
William T.. King of st. Johnsbury, in
deposition taken at St. Johnsbury April 8,
1896, said that he was clother and SON.
in-law of b. G. Howe of st. Johnsbury. He
was present at the hearing before Gov.
Woodbury. of petition for the pardon Of
Mr.. Howe, then In the house Of correction
for selling liquor, and his examination pro-
ceeded with -
8. State what was said by Gov. Woodbury.
at that hearing with reference to how liquor
was procured by guests at the Van Ness
house? A. l have no clear recollection
what was said by Gov. Woodbury.. The inn
preston that was left with me was that the
bell boys obtained liquor for the guests OF
the house.
A. Do you mean by your answer that that
was the substance Of what Gov. Woodbury.
said? Question objected to as leading) A.
| do not remember that he stated that the
bell boys furnished it through any knowl-
edge of his. If had wanted to obtain any
| liquor at the Van Ness house | should have
known how to have got 1t through what he
| said.
5. When you speak of the impression that
was left upon your mind you refer TO an I'M I'M
| preston that was made by what! A. by
what was said by Gov. Woodbury. with ref
erence to the selling of liquor in the hotels
in the state of Vermont.
g. State what you personally know with
reference to the furnishing of liquor at the
Van Ness house? A. On the evening of July,
1896, preceding the hearing in question
Harry Bodgett and | stopped at the Van
Ness house. Between the hours of 10 and il
on that evening, while in Harry Blodgett's
room, called bell boy and ordered two
bottles of lager beer. These were brought to
Mr.. Blodgett's room and | paid him 40 cents.
That is all l know with regard to the liquor
selling at the Van Ness house.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
ROBERT l.. M'CAMHION.
A Travelling Man Tells About Van Ness
House Liquor.

hOusc biIuOrs
Robert l.. McCammOn, in a deposition
taken at Rutland, said that he was travel.
ing salesman, and ever since Mr.. Drew left
the American house had stopped 10 or II
times year at the Van Ness house. The
examination proceeded thus
O. You may state whether or not you ever
purchased intoxicating liquor, ale, cider or
lager beer In the Van Ness houseY A. Any
time | wanted it; | purchased it with my
meals.
@. And what kind OF liquori A. Bass ale.
O. About how many times have you pur-
chased Bass ale in the Van Ntss houseg A.
Oh, don't know the exact number of times,
possibly % or more.
O. How many times would you be willing
to swear to, Mr.. McCammony A. Well, in
the ten years going there think | should
be willing to swear to 20 easy enough.
q. And how was that Bass ale ordered
A. From the head walter in the dining room.
Q. And what conversation would you
have with the head waiter? A. Tell him |
wanted a bottle of Bass ale.
Q. That Is allY A. Yes.
q. What would he sayy A. He would go
and get It.
Q, How long would he be gone? A.. Not
any longer than at some hotels | have
stopped the ordinary time.
Q. And what was the manner of paying
for it; how did you pay for III A. paid
for il In the bill at the office.
Q. And who was at the Officer A. The
clerk, Mr.. Clark, or some Of the others there.
q. Aud was that the manner of paying for
II nc all times? A. That Is all the way have
paid for H..
@ DO YOU remember the occasion of being
present with Mr.. Il. d. WhiteY A. Yes, SIR.
q. You may state whether or not you had
anything to drink theret A. Yes, sir; two
bottles of Bass ale.
q. Who was present Ia the dining room
besides Mr. White and yourselfY A. There
were a number there; there was some Judge
there at the table with US, don't remember
his name--kind of an odlsh man.
O. On that occasion when you and Mr..
White were there. who ordered the ale and
who puid for ny A., did
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14

did not belong to him, but belonged to some |
guest at the house they had left il there and |
be would serve u. gave him a dollar for
the bottle Of wine and % cents for his
services.
Q. Who was that guest, do you remember
II il was a doctor! A. 1 would not say.
Q Was 1t Mr.. WoOdards A. should say
It was Woodland. Somebody he said bad left
some wine there.
Q. Did he not say DR.. Woodardg A. 1
don't remember any more than Mr.. some
body. ! don't think he attached any title
except Mr.. to his name.
Q. And, Mr.. Stone, you would not want to
swear that he did not say DR.. WOOdardE
A. Yes.
O. Was Mr.. Woodland still a guest of the
houseY A. Ny impression Is that he was
away, and the waiter had the privilege Of
serving his wine, and IL was served TO US.
q. DO you recall what he said to you when
| you first asked him with reference to this
| winel A. don't recall the words.
q. Did he tell you at first that he could
not give you any winey A. l think he did.
Q. That they did not have anyy A. Yes.
q. And did you not urge himl A. Yes,
| sir, we did.
Q. And Mr. took hold of your charm
and held it up? A. 1 don't remember.
@. You don't deny it, then? A. | don't
think it would be possible, as was sitting at
one end and be at the other.
Q. Well, did he not call attention to that In
some way or by looking at 1t and say, on
fellows ought 10 trust each otherP' A.
could not swear, because don't recall It.
Q. And didn't he say that the best he could
do was to take a bottle of DIR. WOOdard's
wine and then replace it? A. | simply saw
what said before; he said there was guest
who was not there on that occasion; he had
some wine that he could procure; he did Sc
and brought 1t; paid for it.
@. Did he not tell you in substance thai
the best he could do was to take bottle Of
this Woodlands wine and replace it? A.
don't recollect that he said anything abou
replacing 1t.
Q. Would you swear that he did not sa.
that? A. don't recOllect.
Q. You are an attOrney-at-law? A. Yes
sir.
Q. You were employed by the Herald AM
Globe association to go up there? A. No
sir.
; Q. You were employed by some one to g
up therey A. Mr.. j. G. Jones'
| @. And for what purpose were you en-
ployed? A. For the purpose have testfie
to.
@. To see if you could procure intox
; eating liquor when guest of the house!
Yes, sir.
@. And were your expenses paid on thi
. trip: A. Yes, sir.
Q. And were you further compensated fl
services rendered? A. No, sir.
Redirect examination by Mr. JONES'
V @. Did Seelev tell you that he Ike
il Woodlands wine In the dining room and th
It he might serve it? A. He said he had son
wine of some guest. He did not 60 out
the room to get it-and speaking of the nan
makes me think it was Woodland. | thin
u he went to one of the sideboards to get it.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
w. s. DOVVNEY.


The Democratic Convention of 1890.
VS. Downey of Bakersfield, in deposit
ton takon at st. Adams April /, said that he
went to the Van Ness house in 1890, when he
was delegate to the democratic state con-
Vention. The examination continued
Q. State with whom you went there to the
Van Ness house? A. G. G. Prouty, A. G.
Brigham, A. l.. Hall, H. j. Isham.
O, Did You register Mt the Van Ness
house? A. II. j. Isham registered them.
@. Were you assigned to rooms or to
loom there? A. Yes, sir.
@. Where was your room? A. In the
American.
Q. Who showed you TO your room? A. A
young man who was There at the Van Ness
house took US over and showed us our
room.
O. When you got to your room was there
anything said about liquor? A. Yes, sir,
@. State fully In regard to itY A. Mr..
Hall asked the young man if there was any
thing we could get as an appetizer, and he
said there was, and went out and goL 1t,
bottle of whiskey.
@. Who paid for it? A. Mr. Hall.
Q. How much Gid he pay for it? A. Two
dollars.
Q. Was there any other liquor bought by
anybody else of your party? A. Yes, sir.
Q. BY whom? A. II. j. Isham.
Q. What did ne buy? A. Whiskey.
Q. State fully what was said between Mr..
Isham and he employee? A. He asked If he
hadn't made Il mistake in the charges, Mr..
Isham asked the question, and he said no sir.
Mr.. Isham said that isn't all the money l
have, | have IL dollar more, you calculate to
get it all, guess; he said that was his orders
from the office two dollars.
Q. State whether that liquor was drank
there or not? A. Some of it was at least
O. State whether you bought any or not:
A. l did not.
Q. Do you ever have anything on draft
A. Never.
Q. Beer or ale or anything on draft
A. Never. The man that got that up got Il
up out of whole cloth
q. During the time that you have beer
there, did you ever tell any one in substance
that you didn't m axe business Of sellins
there, but that yO'1 had to keep little TO
the guests of the house? A. No, sir, never
@. Or anything of that kind? A. Never.
q. Do you know a Mr.. Jones who is nov
sat the head Of tile Kelley institute at Rui
q. Then you IRE not .abie TO say Svlethe
he was ever In your place or not? A.
could not say.
g. Do you recall any instance where maj
came to your lace and asked for som
water, and you held up bottle of Bass al
and said something rs | have already said
A. No, sir, never had bottle of Bass al
since have been in the Van Ness house.
Q. You mean bottle of Bass ale in you
place there? A. In my place there, never.
q. Never for any purpose? A. For II
purpose.