Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-31
VERDICT FOR DEFENDANTS
Father Girard Fails to Make Out
a Case for False Imprisonment.
Suit Brought by Alderman stiles
against Omccrs watson and Grafton
on a Tcchnicalitys
the case OF Philippe Cir

The evidence in the case of Philippe Cir
ard VS.. Mrs Settle Prior and j. H. Nc
Mahon was completed Thursday in county
court and the arguments wcrc made.
j. *. McMahon, one of the defendants,
and j. l.. l'rodic were the only witnesses
Thursday. Mr.. McMahon said that he
was in the crowd only a short time the
day that Father Girard was surrounded
on Church street; that he did not know
Father Girard WAS accuse of robbing ST.
Mary's Cathedral that he heard nothing
said about the subject. lie said he did
not interfere with Father Girard but
simply asked him where he was going and
that whatever action he took was to pro-
tect Father Girard. Mr.. Brodie's tosti-
monY WAS of no interest.
At the conclusion of tho testimony ar
garments were MADE by NJ. g. I.eary and
Y. y. Bullard for the defendants and by
c. j. Ferguson and Henry Ballard for
the plaintiff.
The next case to be tallcn up is that of
Goorgc .. stiles vs.. q. T.. Watson and VI.
6. Grafton. an action for the recovery OF
damages growing out of the arrest of
| Alderman Stiles by the defendants. The
case VIII be begun to-day.
! Tho Rev Philippe Grard failed to get
damages from Mrs. Settle Prior ard j.
II. Mcmahon, whom he had sued for
alleged false imprisonment the jury hav-
| ing returned Il verdict Friday night for
case of George q. stiles vs.. Policeman g.
Il. Walton and VI. G. Grafton was also
| taken up in county court Friday but
after ono witness had been examined
was continued until next term on a
teChniCality
| The case brought by Father Girard had
been in progress of trial during the en-
| tire week. IT was an action for tn" re-
| Covery of DANA 9es OF $J.N'p, it |, ing claim
! ed by the plaintiff that u year ago last
July he was surrounded by crowd on
| Church street and detained on a charge
| of having robbed st. Mary's Cathedral,
| He accused Mrs. Prior of being the prn-
ciral one to bring about his detention
! claiming that she accused him of being
| u burglar. He said Mr.. McMahon kept
/ him from boarding an electric car and
/ going to tho depot. \ general denial was
made. Judge Mnson delivered his charge
! to the Jury Friday morning and they
( received the case at $50 O'Clock They
| were out until 2:3o when they returned
| ana asked If it was proper for them to
! 1groe in regard to one defendant and
! disagree in regard to the other. Tho court
sent them back with the advice to en-
dcaVor to agree as to both Defendants
| This they did returning to the court
room al FIVE o'clock with a verdict for the
defendants. IT is understood that the jury
stood seven to five for the defendants
previous to their appearance for lnstruc-
tons.
As soon ms Father Girad's case had
gore to the jury Alderman Stiles's case
was taken up and n jury was empanoled.
This case is an action brought for the re
covery Of damages of $3Vo for the ar
rest of Alderman stiles ON october 10,
| last. when he was taken from his store
and forced to attend a meeting Of the
board of aldermen.
\lderman stiles was the first witness.
He said that he was in mis- store on the