Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-03-09

Gideon Reed Of Rutland and Charles Cush'
/ man Of Barre. These men are frequent nv
mates Of the institution and are usually com
mitted ON an intoNication charge. They tes'
i6ed that old offenders liked to go to the
house OF correction and in some cases tried
| 10 get committed They were entirely salts
fed with the food and lodgings and had
never made any complaint Of harsh treat
ment. An these witnesses mentioned are
black listed at the saloons but claim to have
no trouble in getting liquor through a sec
ond party.
sheriff F. H. Tracy Of Montpelier testified
relative to mileage fees paid TO officers for
bringing prisoners 10 the house of correc
ton and remedies for the crowded condition
OF the institution He considered the al
! lowance made TO officers for committing pris-
cners reasonable for the services rendered.
For bringing a man there from Montpelier
mileage Of 5000 was allowed and il the
officer has only one prisoner he clears be-
tween 50 and $40 on the trip. In addition
the officer may get fees for making the ar.
rest, witness fees, board, etc. Sheriff Tracy
testified that from his section there were 40
oil so old offenders who kept coming to the
house Of correction. II this evil could be
done away with there would be no trouble
with overcrowding as far as Washington
county is concerned
Lottie Dion who, on previous occa sion
testified before the Vermont state investigat
ing committee to improper relations with NJ.
A. Mcclure, a federal prisoner in the insti
tuition, was placed on the stand again yes.
terday afternoon, and rigidly cross-examined
by Attorney T. W. Moloney, counsel for the
accused prisoner Gov. Charles J. Bell was
an Interested spectator Of the proceedings.
The Dion womans testimony was so conflict.
ing as to be almost valueless. She repeat.
eddy contradicted herself under cross.exami.
nation. Mr., Mcclure took the stand and
denied every accusation made against him.
Yesterday afternoon, Sheriff Z. H. Hor.
ton Of Burlington testified relative to the
fee system and its effect on the increase
OF commitments. He said that the prison.
ers were sent down for various causes He
thought that the blacklist is observed by the
saloons, and has tendency to restrict
DRINKS Many men, he said, are sent re.
peatedly for the same ofense. The women,
he testified, who are sent from Burlington,
are most always sent for the same offense.
He stated that they all live in Burlington
and are mostly farmers daughters They
come TO the city and the glitter Of the sol.
dlers uniforms attract them. That is the
beginning of the downward path. He
thought that II they were removed from the
city that other women Of that class would
flock in. He said that 1t would be feasible |
to put the men prisoners to work on the /
streets, and that it would have a tendency |
TO reform some.
John O. Farrar, federal prisoner, testi.
led as to medical treatment, that every
hing possible was done. He remembered
seeing the Polander hit with club, but said
hat the man was ugly and that he thought
10 more force than was necessary was used.
IT, l.. Bassett, Rutland meat dealer.
estified that he had sent meat to the insti
ution nearly every day for long time, and
hat it was pure and clean in every respect