Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-15
IN THE LOCAL FIELD.
DUNN RRsTON.
That Problem OF the Masks.

At the Justice trial of Dec. @, at Dunn
merston Centre, evidence was given by
Mary Miles in regard to the kind of masks
worn by the burglars on the occasion OF
the assault and robbery at the home of
Geo. Miles, known as the Alanson Gates
place.
Near the close of the trial an experiment
was tried by council for the defence in
neighboring house under conditions sup
posed to be similar to those given in evil
dence by Miss Miles, viz: A darkened
room lighted by kerosene lamp, proxy
for the robber, wearing homemade mask
manufactured by said council, which was
a piece of white cotton cloth about Is
inches long and II inches wide. Two
holes we're cut in the cloth, little larger
than squash seeds, for the eyes to look
through. The cloth was placed on the
head of the proxy, reaching back half way
to the crown and hanging down in front OF
his face like veil The result of the ex-
pertinent showed that the color of proxy's
eyes could not be seen under the condi-
tions named. Therefore, it would be nat
ural for council to assume from the expert
ment that Miss Miles was mistaken in stat
ing in court that she saw the color of the
burglars eyes through the holes in the
mask, when they first came into the kitch-
en-, where she was at work by table on
which was lighted kerosene lamp that
shone into their faces as they approached
the witness and demanded her money.
The Justice made notes on all the i'm
portant points in the case, as the words
were spoken by witnesses. Miss Miles
testified in the crOss-examination the burg
lars came into the room with no caps or
hats on their heads, and that the masks
covered the whole head, so that no hair
could be seen. Consequently those masks
were made in such way that they were
drawn down over the head like a sack,
covering the whole head and face, and
with holes large enough to expose the
eyes of the burglars, so that Miss Miles
saw their eyes distinctly enough to observe
their color, as she stated on the witness
stand. Although she was greatly fright
ened at the time of the robbery, no reason
appears for discrediting, any part of her
testimony at the justice court.
The west village school closed last Fri
day after a session of one week. We are
sorry for Mr.. Ford, the teacher, and the
people of West Dummerston, that he
could not remain longer with the school.
He taught and managed the fall term very
successfully, and it was hoped that he
could remain as teacher for the winter
term. Application was made to II. D.
Ryder last Saturday for school master to
fill the vacancy, and he responded the same
day, naming George W. Chase of Towns
bend, who held frst-class certificate,
good for five years. A letter was sent to
his home on Monday, and a telephone
message sent to Putney notified him to re-
port Immediately to West Dummerston.
A. o. Norcross, school director, and the
schoolmaster put in appearance before the
chairman of the board on Tuesday morn
ing, and he was Immediately installed as
instructor of the West village school. Mr..
Chase is fine scholar and has had an ex-
perience of Is terms in teaching. With the
cooperation of parents and pupils we see
no reason why the school may not prosper
as we'll under the new management as il
did under the orderly government of Mr.
Ford. The school will reopen next Mon
day, the 18th inst, and continue nine
weeks.