Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-14
SANDER SUIT BEGUN
Good Progress Made in Case of
Girard W.. Prior.
Considerable Testimony Given for tho
plniniiH-TrRnscrip Of Evidence
Presented ut Another Trial
introduced.

hearing was held Saturday before
Judge Hasclton in the divorce case OF
Frank NJ. Page VS.. Mary Page. a bill
was granted for infidclity.
The 5000 Islander suit brought by the
Rev. Philippe Girard of Montreal against
Mrs. Settle Prior. the Church street mil
liner was begun Tuesday in county
court and good progress WAS made in
tho presentation of the plaintiffs case
Nothing of Importance was developed in
addition to what was brought out at the
trial, when Father Girard sued Mrs. Prior
and ]. II. Mcmahon for alleged false ar
rest a year or two ago. The testimony
Of three witnesses given ut the frst trial
was read from the transcript and was
allowed to stand in this case. The other
witnesses were Father Girard and Mrs.
Prior
The most important feature of the day
was the statement of Attorney Bullard
that Father Girard was an imposter and
that nc had on church or parish. The at
tntncys in the case are II. w. Taft and
Henry Ballard for Father Girard and v.
y Bulard. X. f. Brown and NJ. G..
Lcary for Mrs. Prior.
MIR. BALLARD's STATEMENT.
The opening statement for the plaintiff
was made by Attorney Ballard. He re-
viewed the circumstances incident to the
arrest of Father Girard and said that
at that time the defendant publicly ac-
cused the plaintiff of stealing the sacred
vessels at ST. Mary's Cathedral
MIR. BULLARD'S STATEMENT.
Attorney Billiard made the opening
statement for the defense. lie said the
defense would show that Mrs. Prior did
not call Father Girard thief and that
in fact she had nothing to say to him
whatever. In relation to the statement
that the plaintiff was priest Mr.. f;ul-
lard said the defense would show that
he was not now priest ard had never
been unless it was in far off syria. of
which nothing is known here. Ike said
he had no church or parish az the pres
ont time and was believed to be an i'm
poster. Mr.. Billiard said the only thing
the plaintiff did was to get people into
n back room and charge them % or %
cents for saving mass.
PLAINTIFFS CASE OPENED.
After the opening statements were con
Guided the plaintiffs side of the cas-,
was begun Owing to the fact that al
agreement had been reached whereby the
transcript of testimony taken in the
case brought by Father Girard against
Mrs. Prior and J. II. Mcmahon, for al
,;frl 4,
no witnesses were examined at the morn
ing session but the time was passed in
reading the evidence given at that trial
The testimony bore practically the same
relation to the present case as II did to
tho former one.
ARTHUR NJ STEWART.
Tho first transcript read was that of the
testimony given by Arthur NJ. Stewart
Of Noyan junction. =. O.. formerly OF
this city His testimony was TO the ef-
feet that he was walking up Church
street with W. II. Brayton on the day
Father Girard was arrested and that hc
saw rather Gira,d in the street near tbs
car track. Mrs. Prior came out of tn,
store and accused him of stealing tn;
sacred vessels from st. Mary's Cathedral
] II" WITNESS testimony was 10 'ft VI
feet that she made her braegs that sh,
had caught the thief She wanted some
ono to telephone for the police and was
SO excited that she ran from the wall
to the street and back making her hands
fly through the air. A ear came aloni
and Father Grard attempted to board i
but Mrs. Prior told the motorman tn e
along 9s Father Grard was the maj
they wanted. The witness said Fathcl
| Girard was taken into the store OF III,
Grand Union Tea Co. and that whll'
| in there he WAS frightened and had hi
hands in an attitude of prayer.
a. J. CIILTY.
The transcript OF the testimony givcl
by a. !. Cillcy was read. He testific'
| to seeing Father Girard on Church stree
the day of his arrest. He said Mrs. Frio
accused Father Girard Of stealing III
vessels and spoke in tone OF voic
more than ordinarily loud.
". II. BRAYTON.
The transcript of the testimony give,
by w. II. Bray:or was similar to tina
Of Mr.. Stewart. lie said Mrs Prior toll
the crowd that Father 'iirard was tn
man who had stolen tho things and toll
them not 10 let him get away. In speak
ing to Father Girnrd tho witness testi
| fed that she said:
"You ought to I've ashamed To represcn
| yourself to be n priest"
The witness said she made that remur
| several times.
MRS. PRIOR CALLED.
l
was Mrs. Prior. the defendant. She wa
questioned by Attorney Ballard and toll
her story in substance as follows. Sh
first saw in the street and sent her en-
ploye. Blanch" Thomas. now Mrs. Car
L Inr ~ aSk him hn ariost a