Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-08-03
WINDSOR COUNTY COURT.
JUNE TERM 1907.

state VS.. WilDef l.. BLOSSOM was
taken up on Wednesday afternoon,
.sJ--iy---r'i-, 49, .>atad last week. This
was an Information charging the re-
Spondent, who lives near South
Woodstock on a farm, with the sale
of cider. The star witness for the
prosecution was one Frank Osgood,
a "bum" weaver from the Bridge
water wooden mills. He Swore that
he and John Flynn, "bum" spin
ner, started out from Bridgewater
village late in the afternoon on June
18th, with team hired from Frank
L. LeDouX and drove to Mr.. Bios
SONS place near South Woodstock
and there purchased a gallon of cider,
paying IS cents for it. The cider
got into big jug in some way, but
was not tasted until Osgood and
Flynn had travelled in the night time
about three miles on the road towards
Bird yewater village. AT this inter-
esting place the cork was pulled, the
cider sampled and both got glorious
ly drunk; both Osgood and Flynn
became intoxicated, the horse got
frightened and plunged down steep
bank into the Ottaquechee river.
Osgood was fished out of the river
by Mr.. Blossom and Mr.. Francis
Swift and taken to his home in
Bridgewater. The horse and wagon
were found in or near the river the
next morning, in badly dilapidated
condition, and near the river was
found a Jug with about a quart OF
cider in it.
Constable Pinney testified to the
arrest Of respondent and to certain
admissions made by him to the effect
that Osgood and Flynn had come to
his place on Saturday afternoon and
was visiting and sitting in the ham,
mock, when the hammock broke and
let the occupants drop upon three
jugs of cider that stood there, and
thereupon Osgood and Flynn helped
themselves and got drunk.
The respondents version was an
entirely different tale. He and his
two witnesses testified that Osgood
and Flynn came to the Blossom place
badly intoxicated, having jug of
cider with them-thdt Blossom did
not see, or furnish any cider, but on
the contrary, Osgood treated Bios
som and two others out Of the jug of
cider that Osgood had brought there
that Blossom and his friend, Mr..
Swift, seeing the condition that Os.
good and Flynn were in, took team
and lantern and went ahead to light
them homeward through the woods
that Osgood wanted to light his
pipe 'by the lantern dimly burning
and extinguished the light-the horse
became frightened and plunged off
the road into the river, giving both
Osgood and Flynn good ducking
that 'Osgood was too drunk and
wet to go home alone, and they took
him home,-that Flynn and the team
had gone across the river and were
left to shirk for themselves.
This case was argued by States
Attorney Buck for the prosecution
and by J. G. Sargent and Gilbert A,
Davis for respondent, The jury dis.
agreed and were discharged.
Daniel Kelly pleaded guilty to the
charge of breaking out of the lock-
up at White River Junction and was
sentenced to the house of correction
at Rutland for not less than one nor
more than one and one-half years.
The case OF Chas Green VS.. John
Priest was put on trial Thursday
afternoon and resulted in verdict
on Saturday forenoon for plaintiff
for the full amount IF his claim. This
case came from Cavendish, S. E.
Emery for plaintiff, Harry W. Hoye
or defendant.
This closed the trial of civil cases
by jury. All the jurors were dis
charged for the term except one,
kept as "seed juryman" in the case
of an emergency.
The court resumed its session on
Monday afternoon, July s9.
The following cases have been
heard:
Atwood Sargent, admir-, VS.. F. w.
Pierce; action to recover unpaid
farm rental. The case is with the
court.
James Farrell VS.. Town Of Bar
nard an action to recover $4le.7S
for nursing sick pauper named
Nelson Howard, senile INDECENT.