Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-07-02
Windsor County Court.
June Term. 1903.

court uHlh dbout hhc oAh u SNA1 eAN NS~tN
causes Will come on that day or the next,
in all proba ability.
State vs.. George w. Orne. This was an
information charging that on the 18th of
April the respondent set fire TO certain
building at South Royalton, known as the
Martin block, in which building respond
ent and his wife had their living rooms.
VIM. H. Martin, the owner of the block,
was awakened early on Sunday morning,
April 18th, by smoke, and heard voices
outside his door. He got up and when be
got out in the hall saw good deal OF
smoke He went along the hall 10 the
rooms OF the Ornes, and he and Mr.. Orne
searched for the source OF the smoke which
was filling the rooms from some place.
Not finding the IRE, Mr.. Martin went
down on the street and looked in the store
underneath, occupied by L. +. Terry for a
iewelry shop. II was all quet In the store,
In which an electric light was turned on,
but no sign OF any fire m the store, or
anywhere else on the ground floor.
Martin returned to search upstairs again,
and located place the smoke was coming
from back OF the Orne's sitting room door.
This fire was located at the bottom OF the
mop board and was easily extinguished
by Mr.. Martin with little water. Then
Martin found there gas more fire further
along under the partition between the
beams in the front hall. He went out to
see about the location OF the fire and
pulled away trunk in the hall; smoke
was coming up thickly from the cracks IN
the floor. He called for an axe which Mr..
Orne brought. Martin put the axe be
tween two boards to pry up one, when u
came up without effort, having apparently
been taken up before and laid back in
place again. On removing this board
there was fire underneath which was put
some pieces OF burned clothing material
such as is used in making dresses. IL
appeared that Mrs. Orne was dress
maker. Mr.. Martin then sent respondent
for Fireman George II. Manchester, who
came over TO look at the situation. After
making an examination, Mr.. Manchester
pronounced the fire out, and after staying
about 20 minutes, he returned home. The
next morning an examination was made
in the Terry store underneath the location
OF the fire. On the ceiling was a round,
black place and in the center OF IL q light
colored spot. On investigation the black
place was found to be smudge made by
smoke; the light spot was a cork put into
a hole from above, the bottom OF the cork
having been covered with some kind Of
but II was OF different color
from that OF the ceiling in the Terry store.
On the floor underneath was found some
partially burned, and some
plaster, evidently from the ceiling. The
state claimed the fact could only point to
one conclusion-thai the fire was an in
one. IL was shown that the
had insurance OF $500 on
household effects.
The respondent, an old gentleman Of %,
denied the causing of or setting OF the fire.
L. - - l.ssNh h.
was awakened from sleep by his wife. IL
was about o'clock and he got up and
went and called Martin, with whom he
helped 10 locate the fire and also helped to
extinguish IL. He did not know how the
board in the hall floor became loose; Il
had been loose since he had occupied the
rooms. Ii appeared there WIS a piece OF
wire through the board. but no one could
tell what Il was there for. The state
rlaimed il was put there by respondent 10
make an apparent cause for the board be-
Ing loose The respondent was convicted
md is nov at Woodstock awaiting sem
ience. He was defended by j. ID. Denison;
states Attorney Blanchard prosecuting.
State vs. Ernest Baker. The respondent
vas charged with taking a gold watch
rom the person Of Ernest Cakes, hack
nan, at White River Junction depot on
sept. 5th last. Cakes was waiting for the
I.15 train and smoking a cigar, and re-
Ipondent. news boy working for Chts-
iolm Bros, came up TO him and took the
'igar out of his mouth. Offering one that
re- Baker-Sas smoking, in exchange,
which Cakes declined and told respond
mt to go away, he was too close. In few
minutes thereafter Cakes felt for his
watch and il was gone. The chain was
hen in place, but the watch had been
AIKEN of. Nothing about the chain was
,roken. He went and informed Officer
,pafford, and he accosted and questioned
Baker, who said the watch was in his box
n the passenger car. He was sent TO get
he watch and il was returned TO Cakes.
The respondent SAID at the time that he
ook the watch ''in fun, and so testified,
hat Il was all a joke. But the jury
bought il was carrying the joke too far, 1
o go the length OF the platform and into
he car and put the watch in his box in
which he kept his cigars, candies, books, I
tc., and verdict OF guilty was returned. I
Roland +. Stevens defended.
State VS.. Fred NJ. Morse, for fornication,
vas then taken up and proceeded until
noon. II was resumed Monday
fternoon. The respondent Is charged
With sustaining improper relations with a
'oung woman whose name was Maude 4
Walsh, a daughter of respondents deceas- I
d wife by former marriage. John q. 4
argent, G. A. Davis and Homer L. Skeels 4
re defending the respondent.