Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-02-02
Mr.. speIIman in RrattIeboro.

Mr.. Spellman came to Brattleboro Fri
day afternoon, and in the evening he
talked the matter over with Daniel Pres
colt and Fred c. Gale at the Brooks
House. Mr. Spellman spent a large part
of Saturday with Prescott and left for
his home on the 6.35 train in the evening
Just before leaving he was seen by a rep
resentative of The Phoenix, who told him
of a current rumor to the effect that the
signers of the petition were actuated
solely by desire to discredit Mr.. Fits
in order to get even" with him on per-
sonal grounds to pay off old grievances,
and that having accomplished their pur-
pose in getting the matter into the news
papers they would do nothing further.
At this Mr.. Spellman waxed eloquent
and said: THAT would be the work of a
blackguard. l would not be a party to
such thing. I would rather beg from
door to door for crust of bread. Mr..
Fits and 1 are good friends and person.
ally know of not single thing against
him. I simply am going where duty calls
me, and I would not take hold of the case
unless l thought there was some merit in
the charges"
Reference was made to the fact that the
supreme court returned the petition as
not having been accompanied by afiida-
Wits Of proof and Mr.. Spellman was asked
II the object of his visit to Brattleboro was
to secure those affidavits. His reply was,
20, I'm just browsing around" When
asked If the petition would be presented
again to the supreme court he answered:
sink or swim. live or die, the petition
will be pushed to completion. I have no
doubt but that the signers will return 1t
to the court in due time"
Mr.. Spellman was asked what the allie
cations against Mr. Fits were and who
stood behind them, but he would not give
the desired information. 81 don't think
it would be courteous TO the court or the
IT,, L.
things before the court has had an OPP
portunity to consider the matter"
Press Comments.
This is the way the st. Adams Mes
senger looks at the case: "If John d.
Spellman proves to the satisfaction of the
supreme court of Vermont that Attorney
General Clarke C. Fits is guilty of irreg-
ularities in his professional work, prob
ably no one will be more surprised than
John d. Spellman."
In another issue the Messenger says:
"Of course the press cannot afford to
PREJUDICE the charges of Irregularities in
professional conduct that have been pre-
ferred against Attorney General Clarke
c. Fits, but there does not appear to be
manifest anywhere throughout Vermont
any great amount of apprehension that a
state official is about to be disgraced."
The Barre Times says: "If Attorney
John d. Spellman of Rutland and those
Brattleboro men who brought the pc
tition. charging Irregularities, against At
torney General Clarke Z. Fits, have any
thing against that official they will lose
no time in having their petition properly
sworn to and again presented to the SUI
preme court. If they have nothing more
than petty spite to work out they will
probably try to return to private life and
allow the matter to drop. In case the
petition in its proper form is not again
presented to the court citizens of YER
mont will set the cast down as very triv-
ial"