Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-08-09
WILL POLISH MARBLE
Liquor Sellers Will Serve Time
in House of Correction.
Judge Taft, as Chancellor, Caused
CONSERVATION by His Decisions in
Contempt Cases in Rutland.


CONSERVATION by His Decisions in
Contempt Cases in Rutland.
Judge Russell S. Taft of the state
supreme court created CONSERVATION
among the liquor dealers at Rutland
Monday by imposing heavy fines on
several persons whom he had found
guilty of contempt of court in disre-
garding injunctions restraining them
from selling liquor.
Four received sentences of six
months each in the house of correc-
ton. The several cases were heard
on June 81 and July % and "a judg-
ment being reserved. Judge Taft act
ing as chancellor, announced his de-
cisions.
The case of the state against Will
liam Dugan, proprietor of a drug store
on Center street, was the first dis
posed of. The chancellor adjudged
Dugan guilty of contempt and imposed
a fine of $3.50, and ordered that his
body be held until that amount was
paid.
Dugan runs Cor used to rum drug
store on the Rutland plan-medicines
in the front room and a bar in the
back one. His defense was that he
had obeyed the injunction, leased his
place to another man, and quit. The
chancellor said he did not believe him,
and gave his reasons. One was the
unusual wording of the lease; it was
silent as to the payment of any spe-
cific sum to Dugan. Another was the
fact that no books were kept. that all
money taken in was put into a safe,
and that Dugan or his agent visited
this safe every month and took the
money out. He adjudged Dugan guilty
of contempt and fined him $3.50. Then
Dugan's man. Martin Mcmahon. for
his active and open share in the con-
tempt, heard himself sentenced to pay
fine of $500 and to be imprisoned
for the next six months in the house
of correction.
In the case of John and Henry Bar
rett the chancellor considered the for
mer, the owner of the Brunswick
House and the bar below, and he ad-
judged him guilty of contempt. He
was fined 800 and ordered imprisoned
in the house of correction for six
months. Henry Barrett was dis
charged.
The next case was that of the state
against Stephen Cragin, James Bat
ties, Walter Jasmine and John Welsh.
The chancellor said that the testimony
showed that each man had conducted
an unlawful traffic in liquor at a drug
store on Centre street. Cragin was
fined $3.50, WEIGH $500, Battles $3.50
Jasmine was fined $500 and sentenced
to six months Imprisonment at the
house of correction.
The cases of Patrick Gilrain and
James Gilrain of the Commercial ho-
tel were called. Patrick was in the
court room; his son James was not.
The chancellor adjudged James guilty
of contempt; 5000 and six months.
If James doesn't show up promptly,
his bailbond will be forfeited. Patrick
was told that If he would promise to
make a clean sweep of his bar depart
ment and obey the law in future, he
could go free. Patrick hastily whis-
pered to his counsel. Hell have the
whole place torn down If necessary,
your honor" said that learned gentle
man.
The chancellor said he would not is
sue mittimus papers in the case of
Patrick Barrett if the latter would
promise to clear away all parapherna-
liza for selling liquor and put the build
ing in shape for legitimate traffic. De
cision was suspended in three other
cases. Chancellor Taft went back to
Burlington on the afternoon train. Be
fore leaving he made an ominous re-
mark. an all probability" he said
"Tll have to visit Rutland again before
the hot weather is over"
The two notes.-the Brunswick and
the Commercial-shut their doors to
the public Monday evening. So did
the only, hotel in West Rutland. It's
owner is under injunction, and scared
Other people are scared. For the
time being Rutland is a dry town.