Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-05-16
EVIDENCE OF THE HERALD"
Witness Coffin Tells About Bell Boy"
Experience.

Witness Coffin Tells About Bell Boy"
Experience.
The first witness called by the HERALD
was Arthur NJ. Coffin of Boston. CONNER
cial traveller, who said that he had been In
the habit of stopping at the Van Ness house
about two years and half and of stays over
night one year and half. His testimony
continued, under examination by Mr.. Wilds,
thus:-
q, How frequently did you visit this city
during that period of time? A. At least
once month and usually more than that.
Q. That was your regular business habit
to come here about once month! "A. Yes
sir.
@. What has been your experience in the
Van Ness house in the matter OF obtaining
Intoxicating beverages! A. Well. II great
many times there have been II crowd OF Eel.
lows there in the room, and II they wanted
anything in that way. they, would ring the
bell and the bell boy would come up and
send him out for what they wanted.
@. "Send him OUT for it? A. Whatever
they wanted. either whiskey or beer, usually
one OF those two.
@. And how frequently on your visits here
have you had that experience ut the Van
Ness house! A. couldn't say.
@. You can give us some idea whether 1t
was upon every trip that you was here, or
only occasionally, or half the time! A. |
should say occasionally.
q. Would that be one-third OF the time:
A. l couldn't say.
you have been about III A. No, sir; don't
think could.
@. You say you would be with crowd of
fellows in room. A. Those would be the
times that we would be apt to have anything
of that kind.
O.. crowd of who? A. Travelling men,
around town, suppose; anybody that hap
pened to be with US; our friends.
Q. Your companions for the evening! A.
At the time.
@. You can be little more definite
than what you have been about how fire.
here once a month. A. AT least that.
| Q. How many times, during that year and
! a half, did you obtain liquor at the Van Ness
/ house In that way! A. l don't think can
| say. 80,
member once or twice: ! don't doubt 1t oc-
Cured more than that possibly, but wouldn't
say so under oath.
Q. DO you remember your companions OF
those occasions? A. No, sir, don't recall.
@. Why do you remember those once or
twice times; what event was there about 1t!
A. Nothing special.
o. You simply recall IL. A. Yes.
q. You say the process was to ring the
bell! A. Yes.
o. And a bell boy appeared. A. Yes.
q. What directions were given him! A.
1 We paid him a sum, according to what we
wanted, and he went out and got for us and
brought back the change.
q. DO you know where he got it! A. No,
SIR
O. Did you always prepay him! A. think
we did; 1t was the custom to prepay him; /!
don't remember specially; he was either paid
beforehand or when he brought the liquors,
but it is my impression that he was always
prepaid.
@. Has there ever been year in your ex-
perience In stopping at the Van Ness house
that you haven't had entertainment OF that
kind there? A. don't believe so, in years
time.
Q. In the dining room, have you seen
wines, beer, ale being served and drank by
the guests in the dining room! A. ! have
seen what looked TO be some of those things.
q. You mean by that by the looks of the
bottle or the contents! A. should judge so
from the looks of the bottles.
q. How about the contents? "A. l didn't
taste the contents.
o. But you would see the contents,
wouldn't you? A. don't think would
notice specially.
@. What Kind of Intoxicating beverages
would you say you had observed there In the
dining room? A. think have seen beer
served In the dining room.
What the Governor Said to Him.
Q. After you we're served with sub
p9na In this case, as you were about week
ago? A. Something over week.
q. Did you have an interview with Gov.
Woodbury!, A: did. ..
q. What did he tell you about testifying In
this case! A. AS understood the governor
l wasn't bound to appear, 1t being something
different than q regular court session, and
naturally didn't care to appear.
q. Did he say anything to you about COM
municating that fact to me! A. No, sir, not
specially.
@. Did he unspecially: A. He told me
that could return my subpoena; he didn't
think | was bound to come under that sum-
mons. unless cared to.
Characterization by Mr.. FOster:-
Q. When you say that the boy would take
the money and go out and get what you
wanted. you mean to say that he went out OF
the house 10 get it, do you not! A. That
don't know; he went out of the room. away
from the room, but Of course don't know
anything about It.; we supposed he was
going out Of the house, and suppose so,
} don't know so.
q. Didn't you learn through-either from
the boy when you first went there, or from
with you that that was the only way you
, could get ito have the boy 60 outside and
bring It In to you--you had that understand
, ingI A. Why, that was always an under
stood fact.
} @. And when you got this subpoena, yol
J went to Gov Woodbury., did you not
A. Yes, sir.