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

Early Morning Cocktail and Whislsy
Served by the Clerk.

Early Morning Cocktail and WhislSsy
Served by the Clerk.
P. F. Chapman of Middlebury, in deposit
ton taken at Middlebury April 4, said that
he was merchant and that he had been fur
nished with Intoxicating liquor at the Van
Ness house. The examination proceeded
thus
@. When, and what were the circum-
stances? A. l think about three years ago
the first time. l left here on the sleeper in
the morning and got to the Van Ness house
at about half-past 5 in the morning.
called for cocktail. The clerk said if
would 90 to a room he would see that had
it. l went to the room and very soon got it,
Q. Were you alone? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who was the clerkY A. don't know.
/ would know him II / saw him.
Q. Was the cocktail compounded of in
toXicating liquor? A. 1t was gin cocktail
@. Would you know the clerk by name II
you heard his name called? A. don't
think | would.
Q. What was the occason-if It was
public occaslon-that called you there? A..
The occasion was at st. Adams. don't re-
member the date. | was on my way to St.
Adams.
Q. Was that the only occasion on which
there? A. No, sir.
@. State the other occasions and their cir
cumstances? A. think the other tine was
a year ago last June. ] couldn't give you the
date. 1t was the time Of the Odd Fellows
convention. Some time last year.
@. You mean the year before last? A..
Well, at any rate it was the time the Odd
Fellows had a banquet at the Van Ness
house.
@. State the circumstances? A. A friend
of mine and myself went down there to get
something to drink before supper. The
clerk there told us to 60 to certain room and
he would see we had what we wanted. We
went TO a certain room and we had what we
called for.
@. Do you know what that was? A. 1t
was whiskey.
@. How was 1t brought to the room? A.
1t was brought in glasses on a tray.
@. By a bell boy? A. BY the clerk him
self.
O. Did you know him? A. Yes, sir.
Q. BY name? A. No, sir.
@. Were you stopping at the Van Ness
house on this occasion? A. was there to
be at the banquet.
Q. Did you have a room at the Van Ness
hoase? A. No, sir.
The witness said that the friend with him
was Charles Spear of Burlington. On cross.
examination, by Mr.. Foster, he said that the
room in which he had the early cocktail was
on the office floor of the VanINess house, and
testified at length as to the glasses used and
| sundry details,
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
p. J. FARNswoHrH.
Liquor at a Democratic ConvsntIon and
at other Times.

at Other Times.
P. j. Farnsworth of Fairfax. in a deposit
ton taken at ST. Adams April l, said that
he was farmer and had drank liquor in the
Van Ness house. The examination con-
tinued -
q. State as near as you can the number Of
times and the Occasionl A. / don't call TO
mind but one occasion; that was two years
ago during the democratic state convention,
at the time II was held.
q. Who was with you upon that occasion
ana drank, II anybody A. / wouldn't be
positive of any one; think A. l.. Hail of
Bakersfield, w. ii. Rood of Fairfax, Frank
Eldred and four or five others that don't
remember. .r....
@. Where in the Van Ness house did you
get this liquor and drink it? A. 1t was car
ried to one of the rooms above. .. KY
Q. Who ordered it? State fully In regard
TO IT, A. | cannot say who ordered IT; do
not remember,
@. State If you remember who paid for It (?
A. There were one or two who volunteered
to pay, but who did pay don't know.
q. When was 1t paid for with reference TO
the time 1t was procured, whether before or
after? A. At the time. ,.. ma y
Q. State fully how you got 1t, In whose
room and all about it? A, 1t was suggested
by some one of the party that was together to
20 up town and get q drink; some one else
made the remark, "No need of that, we can
get 1t here" Whoever 1t was went. to 1.-THE
office and we went to the room above with
him don't remember who. ....
q. State whether the man who showed
you room was the man who procured the
liquor for you, man or boy? A. AS for that,
| couldn't say.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
SUPPLEMENT.

that he was druggist and knew the Van
Ness house and Gov. Woodbury.. The ex.
animation proceeded: L.
Q, II you have had intoxicating beyer-
ages furnished TO you at that hotel, you may
state the occasion and the circumstances
A. / can't tell you just when. | should say
Il was the time the Volunteer Hose com
pany here, the Volunteers of 1888, went
up TO march in the procession and draw a
log cabin on our hose cart wheels.
q, Was that in the Harrison campaign of
1SSS? A. / suppose It was.
q. The cabin was taken from Middle
bury? A. think it was; yes.
q. Go ahead and state the circumstances
A. We had a room and sent out and ordered
whiskey and got it. That's one occasion.
q. Who was with you in the room? A.
Wallace Foot
q. A merchant in Bristol now? A. Yes.
q. Any one else? A. Why, yes, there
were others there-boys that went from here.
don't know as | could say just who they
were. They were members Of that company
at the time.
Q. How was the liquor ordered and paid
fOrI a. The bell was rung, n young man
appeared, and he went for the liquor and
brought It in a bottle. .....-...
@. Any other occasiony A. With John Mil
leF, anu snOulu say man VINO mas recently
purchased brakes shoe store-Ed Moore.
He has scar along here. We were there. l
suggested that we order whiskey, and it was
brought to us.
3 Q. In whose room? A. think In my
own room.
@. Who else was present? A. Those
two.
Q. Can you locate when it was? A. I
can't tell you.
Q. Within what years? A. II was when
Moore worked for the G. A. Hibbard COM
pany.
Q: How many years ago? A. Ski can't
tell you.
Q. Quite number of years? A. Yes, it
was when Mr.. Drew, that big, fleshy man,
was manager OF the hotel.
@. How was the liquor ordered and paid
for on that occasion? A. Paid the man
that brought it. 1t was whiskey and Bass ale
@. Was that liquor ordered all on one call
of the bell boy, or was he called several
times? A. l should say we called twice for
the whiskey, when there were number of
us In the room.
Q. l am speaking of this last time, when
Miller was with you? A. l should say twice
or three times.
Q. A bell boy was called and served you on
each occasion? A, Yes.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
MYRON C. DORMAN.
Liquor Served at the Table With the
Governor Present.

Liquor Served at the Table with the
Governor Present.
Myron Dorman Of Swanton, in deposition
taken at st. Adams April /, said that he was
a farmer and had seen liquor drank in the
Van Ness house. The examination pro-
ceeded:-
Q. State fully the circumstances? A. l
went down to Burlington with party from
Swanton and took dinner at the Van Ness
house; there was some liquor called for and
drank.
@. State who was in your party that trip?
A. There were Frank Lapelle, Ed Lapelle,
Mr.. Owen from Ogd&&burg, Charles Hall,
Homer Brown, A. l.. Barney, DR.. Allen,
think was all.
O. Please state who ordered the liquor, of
whom 1t was ordered and what was said in
ordering it! A. think Mr.. Owen ordered
the liquor of the servant girl; she said that
she would call the head waiter, that was a
young man that stood at the door he came
and asked all around what would have;
there was two glasses Of whiskey called for
and some claret wine.
Q. Was the liquor brought as ordered? A.
Yes, sir.
@. Did you hear anything said about send
ing out of the house for it? A. No, sir.
@. Did the head waiter make any obec-
LlOn! "A. NO, SIT.
@. In what form was the liquor brought
in? A. They brought the whiskey and some
glasses to drink the claret in on server and
some Ice In the glasses.
@. Was the liquor drank at the table? A.
Yes, sir.
Q. Who paid for it? A. don't know as
it was paid for at the table; don't think it
was.
Q. How long was it from the time the
order was given before the liquor was
brought in? A. Somewhere from two to five
minutes, but not over five minutes if it was
that.
@. Was it brought in before or after the
rest of your dinner was brought? A. Some
of us had commenced to eat; had and some
of the rest.
Q. Were there other people in the dining
room at this time, and If so how many? A.!
| couldn't say how many; there were quite a
number at the different tables.
Q. Did you know Gov. Woodbury. at that
time? A. Yes, SIR,
@. Do you know whether he was In the
dining room? A.. He was.
Q. How do you happen to remember that
he was there? A. noticed him when l
vert in to take my seat the table.
Q. When did you say this was? A. 1t was
May or the first of June, 1894.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
NORRIS BLAKE.
Liquor at Banquet of Young College
Rows.

Liquor at a Banquet of Young College
Boys.
Norris Blake was next called as a witness
for the HERALD. He said that he was senior
in the college at Burlington and attended
students banquet at the Van Ness house
when he was chairman of the committee of
arrangements and lager beer was served.
His examination proceeded -
@. What arrangements were made with
Seeley about that? A. | can't tell you.
O. You don't know? A. l made no
arrangements whatever.
@. They had 1t? A. 1t was there.
Q. Did Seeley open the bottles? A. He
did.
Q. And poured It? A. No, sir, he did
not.
Q. 1t was set by the plates? A. Yes.
q. By the table girls? A, No, sir.
Q. Mr.. Seeley did that himself? A. Yes.
q. How large a banquet was this?
A. About 80.
@. When do you say that was? A. 1t was,
| think, a year ago In October.
Q. Last October? A. think so.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
FRANK NORWAY.
A Bell Boy Says That He Remembers
Some Things and Forgets Some.

some IhlhRs anu rorEets sOmes
Frank Norway of Hartford, in depo,i-
ton taken at Hartford January 8, said that
he worked In livery stable and for about
four years and a half, off and on, beginning
about eight years ago, was bell boy in the
Van Ness house. His testimony proceeded
thus
@. State whether or not at any time while
you were there at the Van Ness house, In
response to the bell call, you provided guests
with liquor? A. don't know, sir. might
have; don't remember anything about that
in particular. -...H.
O. Haven't you stated that you have gone
out for liquor for guests In the Van Ness
house? A. | don't know; don't remem-
Der any particular case.
@. Without trying to remember any par
tieular case, what do you say, under oath,
what do you say as to whether you have or
have not provided liquor for guests at the
Van Ness hOuseg A. / don't know; pre-
sumo have. l can't remember any particu-
lar case.
@. viii you swear that you never did take
liquor to guests in the Van Ness house? A.
No, sir.
@. If YOU did, where did you procure 1t 2
A. Wherever left my money, presume, If
| got it.
Q. Did you ever get any liquor for any
guests of the Van Ness houseI A. don't
remember any particular case.
O. DO you remember having had CONVEX
satiOn with Mr.. Perkins of THE RUTLAND
HERALD some time agoS A. Yes, srj met
him here.
@. State whether or not you used these
words in answer to a question from Mr..
Perkins about this case, "While there at the
Van Ness house often got liquor for guests
| ordered at the rooms, and went out after ity'
A. had some talk with Mr.. Perkins.
| Question objected to as immaterial and as
| tending to impeaeh the party's own witness. }
A. (Cohtinued) Well, | think there is a
little mistake there somewhere. Mr.. Perkins
came to me and my wife was very sick.
might have told him something about liquor.
would not say that didn't and | wouldn't
say that did.
o. Did you or did you not tell Mr.. Perkins
IN substance that Manager Drew told you to
| get 1t at MeCarty's salOoni Objected to fol-
| same reasons as above.) A. don't think
Mr.. Drew ever mentioned II in that way.
think MIR. Perkins IL mistaken about that
While lie was talking with me he didn't take
any notes IN front OF me on paper. -.
q. Would that make any difference will
you as to whether he took notes Of what yot
said2 "A. No, sir.
O. State what Mr., Drew ever said to yot
about that? A. don't know II Mr.. Drew
ever said anything 10 me about II or not.
don't remember. | didn't take any stock II
II II be did.
o. why didn't you take any stock in 1t |
he said ~ A. Well, the boys always had
way Of doing what we wanted to and get tn
-iS g. Most Mo- I, out Of what' A. Moneys W
were working for money
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
HARRY DE WE'RE.
A Head Walters Long Service.

Harry DE We're of Brattleboro, in depo-
sition taken at Brattleboro January 8, said
that he was head walter in the Van Ness
house II years-from 1882 to 1898. He usu-
ally went to Mr.. Clark for instructions. His
evidence in regard to serving intoxicating
LIQUOR was as follows
@. Did you at any time ever see served In
toxicating liquor, ale, cider or lager beerS A.
Yes.
O. In what part OF the houseY A. In the
dining room.
o. In 1882 was any kind of liquor served
in the dining room while Mr.. Bowman was
managerY A. No.
o. Or anywhere else in the hoteY A. No.
q. In 1882 A. No
O. In 1882 A. don't think so; no.
q. VIII you swear that you did not see any
served In that timer A, Yes.
q. In 1882 A, No, did not see i served
in the house. know It was not served
q. In 1897 A. don't remember seeing
any served.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
G. Ii. ALLEN.
More About the College Boys Ram
quet.

"oTe ABDUL LHe COlIeBe bOys' NAM
quet.
G. B. Allen said that he was senior at the
university and attended the banquet re-
ferred to by Mr.. Blake His examination
proceeded
@. Did you have beer there. A. No, sir.
@. Did you see beer served to the other
banqueters. A. Yes.
@. How generally did those who went to
the banquet partake. A. ] think the ma
jority of them had something, not all of them
had beer.
Q. What other things did they have. A.
Had wine.
Q. Where did they get their wine. A. 1t
was served on the table; l don't know
where they got It.
Q. Were you one of the committee of ar
rangement. A. had nothing to do about It
@. Who was this committee of arrange
ment. A. | couldn't say, only | know Mr..
Blake was one of the committee.
Q. Perhaps Mr.. Woodland was one of
them, Mr.. Roland Woodland; do you remem-
Der. A. l think possibly he might have
been; l can't state positively.
@. Mr.. Forbes, he didn't belong to your
society. A. No, sir.
@. This. was college secret society BAN
quet. A. Yes.
@. Was that the only one you ever at
tended there where they had any intoxicat-
ing liquor. A. Yes, tine only one Of this
sort. think this was three years ago last
October, instead of two; believe Mr.. Blake
said two.
Q. You attended one since. A. Yes, two
of them since.
Q. And did you have something intoxicat-
ing there. A. No, sir.
@. On any other of these occasions. A.
Not to my knowledge.
@. On any other Of these occasions, did you
see anything serTed there that was intoXicat-
ing. A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know who opened this wine
and beer A. The head waiter did.
@. Mr.. Seeley. A. have been told that
was his name.
Next came the reading of sundry deposit
lions on the part of the HERALD, thuS,-
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
IL. e. TAYLOR.
A Little Party Dropped in Simply for
Drink.


II. L. Taylor of Cornwall, in a deposition
taken at Middlebury April 4, said he was a
farmer, represented his town at Montpelier,
and was then road commissioner. In answer
to question as to having liquor in the Van
Ness house he said -
A. Well, in explanation of that I must
state the circumstances. | remember being
at Montpelier within the last four years to
hear Thos b. Reed, and also for James j.
b. listened to a speech of his. | think
1t was in the Daytime. | presume | shall
get confused in this matter. A mans mind
sometimes in this matter does get confused.
/ think we had convention at Mont
pelier and there were there parties running
for office. A frequent visitor at the
capital was Mason Colburn. We were
quite friends. He asked me to nominate at
this time friend of his from Arlngton-or,
rather, to second the nomination. Later we
found ourselves in Burlington, l think
Thos. B. Reed was to speak In Burlington
that evening in company with the machine
bosses. Mr.. Wilds, think. was chairman.
Mr.. Wing was not In It. But think Mr..
Colburn and William B. Wright of Orwell
found ourselves at the depot in Burlington,
along in the evening And their habits, l
think-I won't vouch for your humble SER
yant--were little bit convivial.. l don't
got M town later can't tell
you. How we did can't tell you,
but we did. We found ourselves up town
/ think this was in the early EVENING" can't
tell you, but think so. / know we listened
to the speech of Mr.. Reed afterwards. There
was something said about having something
to drink. MIR. Colburn was In the party
Something was said about going somewhere
TO get something to drink. | haven't got but
one boast to make-I never took drink in
a saloon. Mr.. Colburn made the remark he
SAYS, "Come with me-" | was glad to fol-
low him Of course. He went for the Van
Ness house. ! walked up a pair Of stairs.
He went along out. | don't remember
| whether he had said anything to
any bell boy or clerk, because | didn't know
| any one there-not even the acting proprietor
of The house. Whether he opened room,
whether he was given room, or whether he
| asked for a room, / can't tell you. | know
we went into a room. | think there was Mr..
| b. +. Haskell of Cornwall and Mason Col
| burn, and whether one or two more | can't
tell you. know there is always more than
you expect at such gatherings. / know
| three OF US were In there certain, and Mr..
| Colburn ordered the bottle of whiskey.
| Whether the person he ordered It from was
bell boy or clerk don't know. shouldn't
have thought II was n walter, because he
| didn't have ON dress suit. But he was an
attache of the house, should
say, from his general appearance. He
went out and brought In a bottle
of whIskey. Together we sampled 1t. We
didn't get intoxicated, so can't vouch fol
its Intoxicating qualities.
@. How was II paid forY A.. | dom
know, sir. / can't tell. Mr.. Colburn pait
his own bills. Whether he slipped some
thing quietly into the hand of some one,
can't tell you.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
f.. G. FARNHAM.
A Social Drink or Two Taken With
Manager Drew.

E. G. Farnham Of Shoreham, in deposi.
ton taken at Middlebury April 4, said that
he was a farmer, and in response to ques-
ton about having liquor in the Van Ness
house. said -
A. When Mr.. Drew was there-T can't
tell you how many years ago, It was quite
little while ago-I know on one occasion |
was in there, and was well acquainted with
Mr.. Drew, and Mr.. North and three or four
other gentlemen were there, and we sat there
in the office talking together, and some of us
proposed that we had better have something,
and Drew says you Cup to such a room and
Wen have something. He came up there
and shortly there was bottle of
whiskey came up. We left the bottle In the
room, and after dinner before we got ready
to go home we went up there again. l think
Mr.. Julius North was there, and this man
that lives in Charlotte-a tall mani don't
mean Charlotte, Shelburne-W alter Weed
and a gentleman from up north-a big fleshy
fellow-he had brother in the house last
sessiOn-Ballard.
@. Do you know how the liquor was paid
for ON that occasion? A. l don't, sir.
@. You didn't pay for it yourself? A. No,
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
JOHN K. COOK.


Another Drug Clerk Tells About Van
Ness House Trade e And Other
Things.
,,-.- -,
John H. COOK OF burlington saiu CnaC he
was clerk In Fay Taft's drug store from
1877 to 1891. His examination proceeded -
- I,,,.,,,,,, ,,o,,;o, 80 ,ha4 Hr,o d;d
W ,'ha,s; %nS no ,,,nS hoH nov, NJ The Van
Nj. AuDref' WY was Deii p1i a" ~ 'I Inv, IN in
NESS nGuse i colis ~ NJ W. Az W 0'' III
toGlcaSi1s lHuor' A. nc u'u a,hr .,o, Mr.
q. Dlu oinel Dv.i Ivy oa.,,oo ', ns oiart
AUBREY during your Term Oh SERVICE ns cre ,I
Oh tI,s storS CUNT 'heie Aoi 'n"' 9"nho pun
poser a. les Ill.,. H., a-. ,,,,,, 90
Y. hat II any a, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. vas drSHo
tnese nOfs.pe,cunia 10 ny on on. n
"eneTay useu W Sve iIe !. 10 VI ~ Ill.,
how i[eauens ulo ,i y h oCcS S ,a ~ ei Yan
AuDIey vi SUM- Vth 81 psli Doy .no a.,
Ness mouse came 70 uge druR soorg d mneIe YOU
am ans su re- -O- 'l ''' - . N'''1 '''
q. You can tell something about what Il
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
MERRITT sTow.
EARLY Morning Drink and Several
Other Drinks.


Other Drinks.
Merritt Stow of Mlddlebury, in deposit
tion taken at Middlebury April 4, in answer
to a question as to having liquor in the Van
Ness house, said =
A. l have had stuff to drink there; whiskey
and some other liquors.
@. You may state the occasion and the
circumstances A. Well, i can remember the
first time, because / came very near losing
my job on account of running away. | lost
the boat coming back. / went up on the
sleeper to go to Pittsburgh. When / got up
there to Burlington / was tired and asked
for a drink.
Q. Who was 1t served your A. / went
in and asked when breakfast would be
ready. ! asked the clerk II ! could get a
drink. lie put me into room and brought
| It to me. That was the 4th Of July, 1889.
Q. Any other occasonY A. Yes, at the
| time of the meeting Of the grand lodge Of
| Masons.
@. About when was that2 A. Three or
| four years ago. We had rooms and were out
| around town during the evening, and about
| 1l30 we were up In our rooms and played
whist, aud we bad drinks brought up into
| the room.
O. Do you remember how They were or
dered and how paid for on that uctasion
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14

Q. And what do you refer to? A. Making
q commission.
Q. A commission on whaty TO what do you
refer; A. OF course il we got commission
on getting the goods, and II we could get this
by going somewhere else, we went there.
q. Who furnished you with money and
what do you mean by the goods or STUFF A.
l couldn't tell you who provided me with the
money.
G. Were they guests Of the housey A.
Yes, most of them.
q. And what do you mean by goods or
stuff? A. Liquors Of any kind.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
CHARLES n. WILLIAMSON.
An Instance of Bell Boy Service.

Charles H. Williamson of Middlebury, in
deposition taken at Middlebury April 4,
1896, testified that he was in the livery bust
ness and that he had been furnished with in
toXicating liquor in. the Van Ness house.
He said =
A. | think it was two years ago. 1t was
when Mr.. Branch was elected commander of
the Grand Army. The house was pretty
we'll crowded, and they put me in with
Mason Colburn of Manchester-M. S. Col
burn. Along about 70 o'clock we retired.
Mr.. COlburn thought he would like a night
cap. / of course Joined in with him, and he
rang the bell and there was boy came up
stairs to the room. He asked the boy if he
could get him little whskey. The boy said
he guessed he could-he would try. He
went out and brought back small bottle of
whiskey. don't know whether 1t was
pint or half-pint bottle. That was the only
time had the pleasure Of taking anything
there,
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
ERNEST CHAUSsEE.
A Former Head Waiter Tells of Serving
LfauOr.

Ernest Chaussee of Springfield, Mass, in a
deposition taken in that city, said that he was
head waiter at the Van Ness house four
months some time ago. The examination
proceeded =
Q. 4. Whether or not, whenyou were head
waiter, wines, beer or ale were served to
guests Of the house in the dining room, and
II so, which of themg A. l served beer
there, and | served wine; served Bass ale
in bottles. sealed.
OF. What if any instructions from the
proprietor and manager of the hotel, or either
of them, were given you in respect to such
services as you have describedg A. None.
Is. How were these wines, ales or beer
paid for! A. The money was given me be-
fore | sent out for 1t by the parties that
ordered the beer or whatever il was.
Q.9. How frequent were such occurrences?
A. Well, they were not very frequent, more
at some seasons of the year than others.