Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-12-11
Windsor County Court.
December Term, 1902.

December Term, 1902.
The December Term convened At Wood
! .tr-L ~ The "a inst. Chief Judge ROwell
,residins. In the absence Of Sheriff ID. =.
/ Lone. Deputy l.. G. Howe OF Ludlow eA-
/ ercised the functions Of sherlh. lhere
WAS no officer present qualified 20 serve, as
/ none III the deputies had their commits
/ sions. Deputy James McDermot took the
commissions 10 ROyalton, where the sher-
I IN was at home sick and had him sign
them, The forenoon of the first Gay was
devoted 10 calling the docket. twenty
/ eight cnses stood assigned for trial ~
/ iurv bnt five members Of the bar had 10 be
/ AZ Nontpelier at the General assembly and
\ this operated to delay some OF the trials
Z for a lew DAYS. When the matter OF aeta-
| al trials came il was found that the num-
Der of cases was reduced to two.
In the afternoon the grand and petit
Jurors were called. empanelled and sworn,
and charged by His Honor Judge Howell
The following grand jurors were sum
moned -
Andover, Charles NJ. Gutterson.
Bethel, G. 5. Davis.
Cavendish. William J. Sperry.
Chester, Dewitt Davis.
Hartford, Edward w. Morris.
Hsrtland. T.. s. AinswOrth.
Ludlow, Prescott Adams.
Norwich, Bartlett Sargent.
Plymouth, G. w. Johnson.
Pomfret, Melvin II. Miller.
Rochester, George II. Clark.
Sharon, Edwin L. Day
Springfield, Rollin w. Whitney.
Weathersfield, Ransom Hall.
Woodstock, Charles O. Thompson.
Messrs. Ackley, Wilcox and weston
were excused on account OF sickness ana
three talesmen were called, namely VIII
liam c. Ball Of Ludlow, Thomas Smith of
Woodstock and John G. Coolidge Of Plym-
outh. The court appointed Col. William
j. Sperry foreman. The petit jurors sum
moned were:-
Andoyer. James o. Sawyer.
Barnard. villa II. Abbott.
Bethel, b. G. Bundy,
W. G.. Whitaker.
Bridgewater, John Atwood.
Cavondish, +. G., White.
Chester George G.. Lawton.
Hartford, Henry =. Gibson,
s. b. Wright.
Hartland j.. O. Wright.
Ludlow. r. w. Wilder.
Norwich, Edward r. Waterman.
Plymouth, Warren Blanchard,
Pomfret. Willie b. Hutchinson,
Reading, Daniel NJ. Hufnan.
Rochester, Luther j. Perkins,
G.. O.. Hubbard
RoyRlton. Dwight r. Leisure,
Edward A. Roundy
Springfield. Edward ID. Hatch,
Curtis NJ. Ball.
Weathersield, Abel SlaytOn.
Weston, Rofhaine X. Taylor.
Windsor, Joseph NJ. Driver.
West Windsor, Fred o. Ranney,
The first jury case was that Of Samuel r.
Pingree, executor OF the will OF Louisa
Gibbs vs.. Melinda Benjamin The de-
ceased lady lived az Hartford and died ia
MAY, 1901. She was nursed in her last
sickness by the defendant, Mrs. Benjamin.
After the funeral, MIR. Gibbs, son Of de-
ceased, missed a sum Of money .25, gold
watch worth Is and sundry small articles,
including a fountain syringe valued at
$50. Mr.. Gibbs had an idea that Mrs.
Benjamin had appropriated the missing
articles and went to enquire OF her in re-
gard 10 them. She denied taking the
money or anything else She said the
watch was given her by Mrs. Gibbs, and
as TO the syringe, Mrs. Benjamin said she
burned il up after Mrs. Gibbs death, be-
cause il was used up and no good. The
plaintiffs testimony disclosed the fact
that other persons were about and had the
same opportunity as defendant had to take
the articles. The defendant put in no evil
dence and the case went to the jury on the
plaintiffs showing. A verdict was re-
turned for defendant to recover her costs
Pingree a Pingree for plaintiff, Charles
Batchelder and William Batchelder for de-
PENDANT.
There was no other case ready and the
court took upa case Of assessment OF dam
ages on claim by Laton NJ Robinson VS..
estate OF ID. O. Gill. Sickness OF plaintiffs
counsel, b. b. Finn, postponed further
hearing until the jury cases were through,
when ii is 10 lie resumed
On Saturday the grand jury reported and
was discharged. Eleven true bills were
presented and ten not found; a record OF
twenty-one cases investigated in three
days and half. This showing was in
keeping with that OF previous terms and
Windsor county holds the record for the
quick despatch Of grand jury business. A
recess was taken on Saturday morning
until Monday afternoon.