Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
LEWIS PETERSON.
A Bell Boy Gives Some Evidence.

Lewis Peterson of Burlington was the
first witness called for the HERALD Wednes-
day morning. He said that he was nearly
IS years old and worked as Van Ness
house bell boy good deal, off and on, since
1891. His examination continued
@. With reference to the entertainment of
guests there In the hotel with Intoxicating
beverages; what did you have to do about
that, what was the process, liquor, wine,
beer and such things! How did you do II
got to the guests! A. Well, there was diff
ferent ways of course of getting it; don't
know what way you mean.
@. Tell us the whole story, anyway, just
as you did 1t. A. In the line of . guest be-
ing up in the room and wanted liquor of any
kind, they usually asked us down to the
office or rung the bell and we go up and
answer the bell call, and some of them would
ask us il liquor was sold in the house, If
there was n bar; and told them "no,' not
to my knowledge there wasn't; then they
would ask us If we could 60 out out and get
it, and we said Eyes" we would, and we did.
@. What about the pay for 1t? A. They
would give US the money, the guest would
hand us over the money and we would go
over and get it and return the change.
@. That was always the case3 A. Not al.
q. Where then did you get the money! A.
We would sometimes pay 1t out of our own
pocket, and they pay US back after we come
hack.
@. At other times, how? A. Well, we
would 60 to the office occasionally; if they
told us to go to the office and get the cash,
we would 60 and have 1t charged.
@. Charged on the bookY A. Yes, sup.
pose 80.
@. Did you nave anything to do with the
pay for 1t, then! A. No, sir; not unless
they paid us back, and we should give it
back to the desk.
o. And when you went to the Office, what
did you tell the clerk? A. Calling for the
money?
Q. Yes. A. We would tell him that such
gentleman in such room, such number,
would like so much liquor, and he wanted
the money for 1t and have 1t charged to him,
to his account.
How frequently during the whole course
of your experience there was 1t that you
rendered service Of this kind, would there
be days when you wouldn't render service
of this kindp A. l can't remember surely,
but think there was good many days we
didn't.
Q. And other days when 1t was rendered
more than once? A. | couldn't remember
whether more than once or not. l couldn't
very fully remember now, so long ago.
Q. What is your best judgment about the
frequency with which you rendered that
service, and how would it average during the
period Of time that you were thereP A. l
couldn't remember for a fact.
@. Can you tell little better than you
member it how frequent you had to do this
sort of thing-would there be days when you
had to do It often or several times day!
A. Not that I can remember, no, sir.
Q. And how would II be In the summer
season when travel was numerousy A. Well,
some days can recolect, once in while
oftener than others, and other days never
one, at all, few days we wouldn't 90 at all
in summer good many days wouldn't have
to go out at all.
8. And how other days in summer A.
Have to 60 out once or twice.
@. Once or twice day9 A. Yes, about.
Q. Did the other bell boys render the same |
kind of serviceP see them go out; don't |
know whether they came in with anything |
@. How many other bell boys were there |
while you were there in the summer season? |
A. Three, besides myself, and In the winter |
there was two with the colored man.
Q. At some stage Of your service you had |
some Instructions from Mr.. Clark about this |
business, did you? A. Yes, sir.
O. When was that; what were the cir |
cumstances; what did he say! A. About
the liquor?
/
ernor had given him orders not to have any |
liquor charged on the books mo cash given out |
and charged on the books to the guests. Ifthey |
wanted any liquor, to pay us the money and |
we should 60 out and get 1t ourselves; didn't
want any more of 1t charged on the books, |
ut all.
Q. Were you alone when Mr.. Clark gave
you these instructions? A. No, sir, be-
lieve there was others.
Q. How many other bell boys were called
up and told that same thing, together? A. II
can't very well remember how many there
or four.
Q. Do you remember who was with you
when you had that instruction given you?
A. can remember only one that is there
now-Max Tgombley.
Q. He Is ID the employ of the Van Ness
house today? A. / don't know whether he
% or not. heard he was.
Y. DO you remember any one else who
vas there? A. Yes, one that Is dead.
Z. Who was hep A. John Kelley.
z. And was there any one else except you
hree? A. Another one; he Is out of town.
His name was Walter Cartier.
u. am asking now about these boys that
VT. Clark called up there and gave those In.
tfuctionsto. hot other boys that had nothing
9 do with It. Who were the bows besides
Max Trombley, yourself and this one who is
lead. Was there another oneP A. / believe
mere was, but wouldn't say for certain.