Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-27
General Vermont News.

"Old Phil" who for many years has been
a wel-known character in Brattleboro, IL
dead. His name was Philip Connolly and
he was born in Ireland In hamlet ut the
foot OF the Galtee mountains In 1924. He
came to this country about lSi5. He lived
In Troy, N. V, Bennington, VT. and later In
Newfane. He was adjudHed insane in ls49.
having committed several acts OF violence,
and was taken from Newfane jail and
committed to the Brattleboro retreat. where
he has been ever since. His periods OF
insanity gradually wore away and he
was given almost absolute freedom. For
years he had been constant and trustwor-
thy companion OF Porter Spencer, the retreat
steward. Mary Gordon OF Portland, Ct. "A
graduate OF Mount Holyoke college, has
been engaged to take charge OF the English
classes in the high school, to succeed Maud
Fits, u well-known Brattleboro attorney, II
dead. Mrs. Fits was 20 years old,
the daughter Of Stanley and Sarah
J. Lyon. She was horn in Winhall and with
her parents moved to South Londonderry.
where the latter became prominent In the
had lived in Brattleboro, where she wasa
favorite in her neighbOrhood and In her
church. She was married in 1893. Besides
her husband and mother, Mrs. Fits leaves
two sons, the youngest only few days Old
and brother, Rev. John \. Lyon OF Bristol,
church Of that place, Rev. E. F.. Tower, for
merly Of Brattleboro. The Martha Barker
will case, which has attracted much atten-
ton in Brattleboro recently has been set
tied. The estate, which was valued ut
about 100000. was willed In large part to
Belle Guild OF Brattleboro, who lived with
Mrs. Barker at Newfane several years, and
had taken care OF her more or less for ~
years. The will was made In 1880, Few
years before Mrs. Barker's death, and 1t was
the claim of the contestant that 1t was made
under undue influence, and that Mrs Barker
test was made by Mr.. Folger OF Massilon.O..
a cousin Of Mrs. Barker. 1t was finally set,
tied out OF court, by the payment OF Il small
sum by Miss Guild.
The annual statistics OF the Congregation
al churches OF Vermont have just been Is
sued. All churches have reported except
five, among them being Welsh church at
Fair Haven. In the cases OF these hve
churches the figures OF last year were used.
There are In the state 80 churches that have
regularly installed pastors, and lO7 that have
pastors that are not installed; IL have sup
plies; 2l are supplied by licentiates or
ministers OF other denominations and "a pull
pits are vacant. The church membership
Is q, ,sl7, a gain OF 274 on the last year
The additions have been 764 by confession
and ATT by letter, u total OF l241. Removals
by death have been 372, by letter 39o, by
discipline and revision OF the roll 1870. The
net gain during the year was 2s5. me
membership OF the Sunday-schOols Is II 74S.
loss OF 42l. The average attendance at
the sunday-schools was II, 767. loss OF ?0s
The Christian Endeavor societies number l7a.
with $3.50 members, loss OF 37l. BeneVo-
lent contributions were $55,67O, showing
decrease OF $30l7. Home expenditures were
S2l2,O74, an increase over lastyear OF Sl0,-
G5l.
There are II sons of Vermont in the Mas
sachusetts legislature George A Brown
born in Plymouth, in 1854 Albert clark In
Granville. 1910 Samuel Cole, In Rutland,
1856 :: Z. L. Crawford in Guildhall, 1875; A.
II. Crosby, in Glover, 1888; Almon e. Hall
in Stamford. 1886; Amos Z. Hall In Marsh
field, 1888; F. G. Manchester in Randolph,
1853 @. s. Shattuck in Sheldon, 1870 Henry
Thrasher in Westminster, 1s49. In the Sem
ate is W. II. Cook born in Bennington, 1874.
Mr.. Brown, says correspondent, Is ac-
knowledged by all to be the leading orator
of the House, magnetic, eloquent and logi-
cal. Mr.. Manchester IL very strong and
able man OF good judgment and much power
and stands In the front rank OF our legisla-
tors Mr.. Crawford. although a new men,
Der, has already shown himself u man OF su-
perior ability and Is making hosts of friends.
Almon Z. Hall is prominent in debate and u
valuable man.
The st. Albans Foundry company has COM
four Of their horse powers and threshers
to Siberia. These machines were ordered
through a firm in San Francisco and were
shipped via that port to the Saghalien Island.
This island lies Off the east coast Of Asia,
and was formerly the property. Of Japan.
The southern portion OF the island was
ceded to Russia In 1875 and some OF the
penal colonies Of the Russian government
are established there. The Foundry COM
pany made shipment OF few OF these ma
chimes to the Saghalien Island about year
ago on trial. AS the machines were ordered
from San Francisco, the Foundry company
has no direct knowledge OF the purchaser,
but it Is believed to be the Russian govern
ment.
Loren M. Howard OF Middlesbury is dead,
at the age OF rs years. He was native of
Wisconsin. but had passed most Of his life
In Middlebury, where he acquired a com
petence. Mr.. Howard leaves widow
and one son, Roy Howard, who is q student
in Middlebury college, and he has also two
sisters in the West e. Hon. Lyman E.Knapp
OF Seattle, Washington, formerly editor OF
the Middlesbury Register and Judge OF pro-
bate for the Addison district, has been visit
ing friends in Middlebury. Judge Knapp
was governor OF the territory OF Alaska dur
ing Harrison's administration and is now in
the real estate business In Seattle.
The annual encampment of the Grand
Army, department OF Vermont, will be held
at Bennington June 22. %. "a. and possibly
on the 25th. A reunion OF the Vermont vet
Grams will also be held at the same time and
indications point to one OF the largest gath
erings of the kind ever held in Vermont.
During the dedication OF the Catamount
monument, the stone erected to the patriots
and Hessians who fell In the battle OF Ben
nington, and the Stark camping ground
marker will be publicly presented by the
committee with appropriate exercises. The
woman's relief corps will hold its annual
gathering at the same time. Colonel E. w.
Jewett OF Swanton Is mentioned as the next
department commander.
Galen r. Hit, the prominent criminal
lawyer OF Albany, N. Y, Is dead. He was
born in Pawlet, this state, In 1S43, and after
graduating from the academy at Poultney,
studied law in the Office of Dewey Royce
at Rutland He began practicing law at
Albany in 1865. He became prominent In
politics, and served as alderman, and rs
member Of the New York legislature. He
was engaged as counsel in many important
criminal trials, his last case Of this kind be-
ing as leading counsel for Bat Shea, who
shot Robert Ross in an election fight at
Troy.
Robert Dannatt Of Windsor was accident
ally shot in the shoulder by his guide, while
hunting In northern New Hampshire last
September. A few days since he went to
the Massachusetts, General Hospital in Bos-
ton to have the ball extracted. 1t was found
beneath the first two ribs on the right side.
near the lung, by means OF the rays, and
within a very few minutes afterward the
ball was removed. Mr.. Dannett is rapidly
recovering from the operation.