Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-09
Jury in Rutland County Holds 1t
Responsible for Damages of
Boycott, Etc.
LABOR MEN VERY INDIGNANT
Al the Jurymen "a Lot OF Formers
PROBABLE the Case Will Be Appealed
Verdict Reached after 20 Hours
interviews with
the Parties.

Rutland. April 5.--"Thc defendants arc
guilty in the form as plaintiffs in their
declaration have alleged. we therefore
find for the plaintiff to recover of the de
PENDANTS the sum of 5000 The scaled
verdict in the $4,000 damaEuc suit of the
Patch Manufacturing company VS. Pro-
lection Lodge. L. y. NJ, the local machin-
lists union, read by the clerk in county
court yesterday morning, came as Il dis
tiuct surprise. The court room, fairly well
filled when the verdict was rendered. was
Immediately thrown into a hubbub by the
excited conversation among the spectators
IN discussing the outcome of this import
ant case. Thc verdict was reached after
- hours elaboration by the jury. 1t is
said to be the only one of the kind in this
country and is considered as a hard blow
10 uniunism.
The expectation that 4 disagreement
would bc reported by the jury prevailed
until an carly hour in the morning. The
Jurors locked in the county court house,
spent Friday night alternately discussing
the case and playing pitch or checkers.
Finally, when day was breaking, the
members got together on which way the
decision should go, but could not agree
ON the amount of damages to be assessed
ON the union. Finally, well along after
day broke, the decision was made, the
verdict scaled and the jurors released for
a couple of hours. Had it not been for "a
few stubborn members on the jury the
DAMAGES awarded, it is understood, would
have been far greater, as some of the
jurors had the mind to give plaintiffs
nearly, if not the entire amount mention
ed i'm the declaration
The rendering of the verdict was an in
teresting scene In tho court room were
many workingmcu, defendants i'm the case,
and not a few wives or children OF the
union men. all of whom were to be affect
4 l,,- r., Ji,f
ed the questioning of the jury as to
whether or not a verdict had been reached.
The suspense. after the foreman answered
in the affirmative, was intensified as the
sealed verdict was handed the clerk ana
with almost irritating elaboration passed
to Judge Haselton who, after examining
IT with the other judges in turn. handed
it back to the clerk to read.
The defendants, who Notwithstanding
the plain charge of Judge Haselton Fri
day, after which it hardly seemed YER
dict unfavorahle to plaintiff could posi-
lly be reached, had evidently not expect
cd such a result and they were thrown
into CONSERVATION. All are men of little
IF any means and every particle OF their
property was attached by plaintiff when
the suit was brought. 1t Will bring al
most restitution to more than one when
the damages are collected. Undoubtedly
much other litigation will he the outcome
If the attempt to obtain the amount adj
Judged.
The officials of the defendant lodge re-
fuse 10 authorize any statement, but
some of the leading members say that
they consider the jury was a bunch of
farmers and did not award the union
lair treatment
1T was the worst robbery l ever heard
Of" said one Of tho leading strikers who
had been Il prominent witness in the
case "Nc'Vc never had case Of that
.,sf4'g-