The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-01-14
MORGAN
BEATEN
The Jury's Verdict Was for
Bradford.
TO RECOVER THE COSTS
Mr.. MOrgan's Reputation for Truth
and Veracity Attacked on
the Stand.
TO RECOVER THE COSTS

At the opening of the morning ses
sion, Judge Watson charged the jury
In few words aud gave them the case
Mr. Morgan's counsel took excep.
tions during the trial and there is
probability of an appeal on their part
TO the supreme court.
Mr. Bradford testified that in April,
l903y while in w. A. Wallis store,
Merritt Morgan, who was opposing
the license law, came in and wanted TO
copy the names signed to u petition,
ad dressed TO the license commission.
ers, which was being circulated in be.
half of Ramon OWES.
Mr. Bradford told him not to copy
the petition and, Mr. Morgan claims,
called him abusive names. MIR Nor
gan started toward him and Mr. Brad
ford, who was suffering from rheuma-
tism, put out his hand to keep him
away.
Mr. Morgan took the stand and said
that Mr. Bradford called him a cur,
liar and sneak, and put his hands
around his throat and choked him.
In cross.examination, Mr. Batchel-
der asked Mr. Morgan if he and Mr.
Bradford had known each other for
many years. Mr. Morgan said they
had
"'Well them" said Mr. Batchelder,
'he knew you pretty we'll, didn't he?"
1t appeared that Mr. Morgan had
made complaint to a prosecuting Of
ficer soon after the alleged assault,
and later had the suit Withdrawn.
He also appeared before the grand
jury in June, but no indictment result
ed.
The plaintiff rested after the close of
Mr. Morgan's testimony.
Wilton A. Wall, in whose store the
difficulty occurred, testified that there
was trouble, but. that there was no
choking and no sound of suffering.
As the case had narrowed down to
where the jury would have to choose
which to believe, Mr. Morgan or Mr.
Bradford, the defense introduced
witnesses to try to impeach Mr. Nor
gan's testimony and his reputation for
telling the truth.
Charles N. Powers testified that Nor
gan's reputation for truth and verac-
ity was below par and that he had
heard Morgan accused of falsifying
the village records a number of years
ago.
Emory S. Harris testified that the
plaintiffs reputation for truthfulness
was very poor"
John Nash said he would not con-
slider Mr. Morgan's reputation in this
respect up to par and that he had |
heard many people question his truth
fulness.
L. f, Gibson gave in evidence that !
the plaintiffs reputation for truthful
ness was very bad and that a Metho-
dist minister, formerly resident here,
said he wouldn't believe Mr. Morgan
under oath. Mr. Gibson was also ac.
luainte- with the alleged affair of the
village records.
Fred Godfrey said Mr. Morgan's rep
ltation for telling the truth was very
BAD. When asked in cross.examina-
ion who said so, he answered that two
)r three hundred people at certain
'illage meeting some years ago said
30.
Harrison 1. Norton testified that the
mans renutation for veracity was
Door, that he had heard that Mr. Nor
ran got down on his knees and begged
or mercy at the time he was accused
If falsifying the village records, and
hat one Methodist minister said you
ould not believe him.
w. b. Sheldon opened the argument
n favor of MIR Morgan He said it
'ould have been greater kindness to
ir Morgan to have choked him, rath-
r than to do what had been done, re-
erring to the impeachment. There
'as nothing, he argued, to warrant {
be dragging up of the old accusation