Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-12-28
WINDSOR COUNTY COURT.

Thv trial of the cases of Allen
Brown of Ludlow against the Mer
chants Insurance COMPANY and tho
PheniX Insurance company. the two
being tried together, was begun las
Saturday morning and concluded
Monday. y block in Ludlow owned
by Brown was burned Dec. 20. 1900,
he claiming that it was a total loss.
The companies claimed that the
loss was onl partial, y verdict
was returned at 9 p. m. the jur>
finding fol the plaintiff to recover
, $94o in each case
The court took up the first crimi-
nal case Monday afternoon-that OF
State VS.. Nora Murphy. burglary.
She was accused Of stealing some
clothing from her aunt'S house at
White River Junction. The re-
spondent. who IS girl of 10, was
acquitted. To an information charg-
ing disorderly conduct she pleaded
guilty and was sentenced to from
two to three years in the house Of
correction. The execution OF the
sentence was suspended and she was
placed in charge of the probation
officer.
Harley Kill was tried Friday
morning for breach of the peace,
found guilty and sentenced to from
four to five years imprisonment.
The case of W. G. Young, who
was charged with stealing chickens,
was tried Thursday. Respondent
was found guilty and sentenced to
the state prison for from three to five
years.
DOWNER ESTATE CASES
There were two cases growing out of
the settlement of the estate of the laie
Roswell DO"ncr, keeper FIR half CEN
TEL" Wcathcrstlcld. His wife hal died
more than 80 years AGO, leaving two rhll-
drcn, Il son and Il daughter. The dlugh-
ter died some 10 years ago without lssac.
The son is Fred II. DoNner, station
agent of the Grand Central station in New
York city.
figure to the travelling public for many
wears and ut his hotel had vntcrtlin"d
many of the famous men Ct The ines, in
Guiding "X-Sccrrtary Evarts and host OF
others, who rad been frequent quests and
had bccn Welcomed by the rvc"-genial
countcnapcr of this celebrated landlord.
Mir. and Mrs. Edmund Mahoncy had
lived at his hotel AS employees o. Mr..
Dowucr for qrnrter Of century and
more, and Mrs. NJ ihoncy had been dur
iny all this time his hou, ckccpcr and cal.
trusted with the entire control of the in
terror part OF the intel keeping, going
ahead with the WORK aud hiring in such
help rs she saw lit
In 1895 Mr.. Downer had Il partial shock,
but recovered to certain tXScnt n Il at
tended H. his ho,ci businc y rs usual. hut
this shock had lett him in such condi-
tion that he vas ut times unable TO c)n-
troll his daily offices, and had al such
times required prompt attention watch
Mr.. AM rs. Mahol"y.hih rendered wi h
gleat kindness. aud all this was daily aD-
prccatcd by Mr., D0"Mcr.
Mr. Mahou1y had been paid his wa e,
rs II Lahore +, hul Mrs MHhOnry, up 10 tn
sum ncr Of 1896, had only been p"id S3 Il
week, md Grrning that TOO small hld l. II
| Mr.. Dow1rl'> hO'ci nud gone to livI aud
work i, til, "Acna Blown iotvl' ut
| Springllc ID, tea KEEP by her >on-i!-law,
john II. llnrtt
MIR. Downcr solyht to have her re.
| turn, and tlnaiy arran red witt! her TO do
so AMI nav her Il cont set IN his own
handwriting to pay her - a week 80 long
| us S ne was able to labOr and $3.50 at his
death if Mrs. Manoncy ou-Iivrd him and
stuid with him and took cure OF hin in
sickness. But ii Mrs Mahoney left or di> d
prior to the death of Mr. DOwncr she
was to have 10 part OF the $50.
Mr.. Dovncr owed Mrs. Mahoncy $1SS,
| for which he gave her note, dated Feb.
| 10, 1897
This first suit was to T.. cover the
amount of 1888. II balance Of Si33.l5 f'r
wages at 81 week and the 500 above
mentioned.
TIL testimony on tn part Of p.iintih
| tended to sustain her right to the $3.50,
The defence introduced no tcs'im NY, but
| claimed that the $3.50 was void rs 'g;ihS.
public policy rs Il wagering conLHict -
aud that the consideration was Immoral
and there fore void.
THE court ruled us matter of law tn It
| plaintiff could recover and directed YER
| dict for plaintiff for Sl95+ and costs.
The second suit was nomina|ly against
| the Springfield Savings Bank to recover
! a deposit of 5000 in the name of Roswell
| Downer, but the Bank had had the court
cite in +. IL. Dow tr Is en- ma 1t aud The
| court ruled that the contest was under
the provisions o. U. S. See. 1889, between
| Mrs. Mahoucy and f. IL. Downcr, Admir-,
as to WIN of right owned and ought to
have 'h,t deposit.
The nncontradicted testimony Oh the
part Of plaintiff was thnt Is lays before
Mr.. DJwner died and while in the full
posses ion of his farull", he gave aud
assigned in writing dnly VITA s.el, ani
delivered said deposit oOJS To Mrs NJ =
honey in consideration OF the extra care
aud attention that he had required anc
received from Mrs. MaI0nry.
There were numerous legni questions
raised by The detenc,, bnG tie colit d.
rectcd verdict for tn. plailtf for TN
5000 aad all lrgll div ID AIS sthca JAY
!, 1900.
Gilbert \. Davis AMI VIA. +. john o.
represented Mrs. Mahoncy in both case
and j. q, Sargent and w. b. c. Sick
ney the defence in ho;h cases.