Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-03-03
COMMISSIONERS REPLY
No Evidence to Show That Young
Men Were Put to Bed
Or That They Were Intoxicated When
They Stayed at the Hotels-Would Like
Actual Conditions Known.

They Stayed at the HoteIs-WouIu GINe
Actual Conditions Known.
Brattleboro, VT, March l. 1905.
Since both the Statement from Mr.
Fits" as published I'm last weeks He-
former and the article sent The Phoenix
by him for publication i'm that paper,
were evidently written for the purpose of
misrepresenting the actual conditions and
creating a false impression, we feel call
ed upon to give this statement of what
actually occurred in connection with the
charges made by Mr.. Fits.
At the regular quarterly meeting Of
this board held at the office of the select
men February II, at o'clock p. m, Mr..
Clarke c. Fits appeared and informally
reported that he mad reason to believe
that the proprietors of both the American
and Brattleboro Houses were selling LID
uor to young men of this village until
they became so intoxicated they had to
be put to bed, and that the practice ought
to be stopped. He further stated that II
the licensees denied his charges he stood
ready to meet them and prove them true.
He declared that there were not less than
half dozen he could name. but because
of his interest In one Of the young men he
preferred to call no names. as he wished
to have no publicity in the AFFAIR.
Immediately upon adjournment of the
meeting the board proceeded to both the
hotels named and informed the propri-
etors of the charges made by Mr.. Fits,
which they both denied They were de-
sirous to meet Mr.. Fits and II was ar
ranged that night that such a meeting
should be had as soon as possible. Sun
day evening one of this board called upon
Mr.. Fits to arrange a date for the meet
ing, and having learned who two Of the
young men were who were referred to by
Mr.. Fits, told him frankly that If he
was moving in this matter for political
ran har ba M ~ 40
crecy, and that further the board would
expect him to furnish the names of the
rest of the young men whom he had in
cluded in his original charge of mot less
than half a dozen" As he wished for
time to get his evidence ready the meet
ing was arranged for Friday, the nth at
the Office of the selectmen at o'clock
p m.
At this meeting were present the three
members of this board. Mr. Fits, Mr..
Duquette Of the American House, and
Mr. Sullivan of the Brattleboro House
Mr. Fits made his statement that he
did not desire to cause trouble to the
proprietors Of the hotels and that his
complaint was informal and made be-
cause Of a personal interest in the well
fare of one OF these young men; tthat
while If what he charged was true and
complaint was made to him by any per-
son he would, under his duties as attor-
ney general for this state. have to pros
ecute, yet under the circumstances and
because ii was a personal matter, and
also to avoid publicity he would waive
such consideration. He then made his
complaint, but only on account of one
young man. Mr.. Duquette denied that
the young man In question had ever been
put to bed in his hotel. and stated that so
far as he knew he had never even spent
the night in his house, although he had
frequently registered there for his meals
IL. 1tAN col
was shown by them that this young man
had been appointed a room at three diff
ferent times and one of the times the
entry was not made in the handwriting
of the young man himself. There was no
evidence whatever that the young man
was intoxicated the nights he STAYED
there but on the contrary the proprietor
stated emphatically that he was not. and
further that ne had never seen the young
man in the condition that Mr.. Fits al
legged he was in. The hotel registers of
the Brattleboro House were then pro-
duced by Mr.. Sullivan. and they showed
that this young man had spent nights in
that hotel. also. and had frequently had
meals there. but there was no evidence
that he was intoxicated when he was there
and the proprietor said he was not in that
condition
Mr.. Fits thanked both proprietors for
their Willingness to produce their regis
ters and for their frank answers to dues-
ton, and they were then dismissed
The matter was then discussed by the
board and Mr. Fits. and Mr. Fits was
asked squarely If he had found evidence
suhclent to warrant proceedings against
the licensees by the commissioners and
he replied that he had not; in evidence of
which We quote this entry made in the
Records of the License Board" which
reads as follows:
February II: The board met at the Of
flo. T.f .
conduct private hearing on the infor-
nation given by c. c. Fits relating to
the conduct of the proprietors of both
the American and Brattleboro Houses
Hotel registers of both houses were pro
duced and gone over carefully in an effort
10 slostantiate the information given by
hr. tlttS. After two hours session MI.
Fits stated that he had no formal com
plant to make, but suggested that the
proprietors of the two hotels in question
be instructed by the board to use caution
as TO the matter of furnishing liquor and
lodgings 10 young men of this town Az
ter the retirement of Mr. Fits Mr. Du-
quette and Mr.. Sullivan, the board dis
cussed the matter and voted to meet AZ
p. m, the 18th inst. for action in the
matter, meeting to be held at the office of
the secretary"
In this investigation instead of mot
less than half a dozen" only two Young
men were mentioned one of whom Is 90
years old and whose parents do not live
In THIS town, and the other is 26 and does
not room in the same house with his ma
rents consequently Mr.. Fitts's statement
as 10 their parents not knowing where
they were and what condition thew were
IN, While true, does not actually mean
what he evidently intends the public to
believe Neither was there evidence that
proved what Mr. Fitts's statement would
nave the public believe that because they
occupied rooms occasionally at the hotels
they dis so because they were nm
able or unit to go elsewhere His state
ment that his complaint was fully sus-
tanned is not true If by that Complaint he
refers to his statement that ut simply
alhouhts' as Is clearly developed, to a
young man going TO the hotel and drinlt-
ing until he had to be put to bed" His
statement that the hotel registers showed
mat "A young man had been kept at the
american House in that way eight times
NJ 49,.