The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-04-28
Washington County Court.

State " 1. II. p. Rowell of Montpelier
Perjury for false swearing to tax inven-
tory. The indictment is in three counts.
In the third respondent is charged with
perjury for falsely swearing in answer to
the question for debts owing on April l,
1895, for which exemption from taxation
should be made. To NJ. G. Murphy of Tenn
pleton, Mass, 81 $50; to A. j. Stone OF Bos-
ton, Mass, $500. These answers were the
ones which the state brings into this case
though the names of two Montpelier parties
were also brought out in the indictment.
No question was made as TO the election
and qualification OF the listers who for the
year 1895 were Fred A. Rowland Joseph
G.. Brown and Frederick P. Carleton. 1t
appeared that the swearing OF the list was
before Mr.. Carleton, but the exact date did
not appear from the inventory.
Colonel George P. Hawks of Templeton,
Mass, tax assessor in that place gave
evidence tending to show that on April /,
1895, there was no person living there by
the name OF Michael G. Murphy. There
was man by the name of Michael Murphy
in 1888
H. H. Hammond, who lives in precinct
No. 4, gave testimony in confederation of
that given by Col. Hawks.
Thomas G. Burton of Boston gave evil
dence tending to show that there was no
occupant there by the name of A. j. Stone.
A motion to direct verdict Of not guilty
was overruleu.
The respondent took the stand in his own
behalf Tuesday afternoon. He accounted
for the M. Q. Murphy matter by having
given a note to Mrs Henry who was work.
ing at his house. The consideration Of note
was for 81 900, and its date Jan. l, 1890,
and to be paid to the order of NJ Q. Muir
ply. This was made from previous $500
note given by him to Mrs. Henry and inter-
est and her wages. This Mrs. Henry came
To tho hnuaa Of xuit Vbi1a and
child was born to her called Harry who
died in 1891. He understood that NJ. G.
Murphy was his father. The note was pay
able when the boy would become of age.
Witness discovered that the name of
Mrs. Henry was Rose Megan. He heard OF
her death in summer OF 1891.
The case of the defendant developed that
there had been three notes given by Rowell,
the earlier one Of $500 for money advanced
by Mrs. Henry or Rose Megan TO him, note
OF 81 600 dated January l, $780, payable in
one year to the order of NJ. O. Murphy,
which was made up by the $500 note and
interest and services and the last note of
$1,000, payable to Michael G. Murphy in
1907 taking the place of the note of one year
earlier.
George s. Chapman OF Mortified, a wit
ness called by the State in rebuttal, testified
to having married Rose Megan in Boston.
Evidence was introduced by the State to
impeach respondents reputation for truth
and veracity. The case was submitted to
the jury Friday afternoon. The jury re-
ported at about 7 20 O'Clock in the evening
a verdict of guilty. They also found that
as regards the oath that it was not formally
sworn, but sworn in manner which Judge
Rowell indicated would be sufficient. States
Attorney Fred A. Rowland and w. A.
Lord for the State; L. r, Gordon and G. W.
Wing for respondent,
The court suspended until two O'Clock
Monday afternoon.