The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-03-29
COMMITTEE TO
INVESTIGATE
Local Society Takes Action
on Thompson Fund.
WILL ENGAGE COUNSEL
Unanimous Sentiment That Trustees of
Fund Are Not Making Fair Distri-
button of Funds-Mrs. Augusta Z.
Wells Severely Criticized.

II will not remain for group OF
shop girls acting independently to en-
gage counsel to determine who are
| benefciaries under the will of Thomas
! Thompson and what their rights are
/ The Brattleboro society of seam
stresses, needle women and shop girls
/ has taken the matter into its own
hands and at a largely attended meet
/ ing in Festival hall Tuesday night the
society delegated to committee the
authority to investigate the causes of
dissatisfaction which has arisen over
the administration of the Thompson
trust in Brattleboro. The committee
will meet tonight to map out def.
Mate plan of action. The members
of the committee are Mrs. Nellie
Strcetcr, Miss Mary Donnell, Mrs.
Abbie Nichols, Miss Phoebe Clark,
Miss Ruth Allen. Miss Marguerite No
ran, Miss Kate Dwyer and Miss Lizzie
sullivan.
As stated in The Reformer last
week committee of the shop girls
acting independently was appointed to
take such preliminary action as might
be deemed advisable. They had the
support OF practically all of the mem.
bers of the society. \ petition for a
special meeting of the society was pre-
sented to Mrs. a. j. Currier. its presi
dent, and one of the Brattleboro
agents of the trustees of the Thomp.
son fund, and in response TO the peti.
ton a meeting was called for Tuesday
night More than 2j0 girls were pres
ent and ON each question brought up
they voted with absolute unaniminity.
Mrs. Augusta +. Wells was invited to
attend but was not present.
The meeting was called to order by
Mrs. A. J. Currier, president, and the
call was read by the secretary, Miss
Helen Leahy. Mrs Currier said she !
had not been informed as to the object /
of the meeting and she called upon the |
chairman of the girls committee to |
state the object. Mrs. Charles H. |
Welcome responded by stating that the |
meeting was not called for the purpose |
If making any charges or accusations
against anyone, but for the purpose of /
aking steps to determine who were
egally entitled to benefits under the
Thompson will, and also to determine
whether the rights of the benefciaries
we're being properly observed. "There
las been good deal of dissatisfac
ion over the way in which the Thomp-
ON fund has been managed in Brat
leboro, - she said, "and many who
ave deserved help have received none.
am asked to nominate a committee to
ct for the members of the society, the
to have authority TO investi-
.ate the plans which are being made
nd to engage counsel if the commit
ee so desires. l move that a commit
ee of eight be appointed to determine
fhat are our rights under the Thomp-
on will and engage COUNSEL -
Mrs Currier said that before put
ing the question to vote she would
,elcome discussion by any who wish
d to be heard. Several questions were
sked. One girl wanted to know what
revision had been made for meeting
he expense of the proposed step. Mrs.
urrier considered this very peril
ent question and one which should
e fully considered. Mrs. Welcome
licited a round of applause by say {
lg, "People all through the town J
ave expressed a willingness to help
S financially, so no one need fear as
, how a lawyer will be paid. Money
lready has been pledged. " At this S
oint one of the girls publicly objected c
the manner in which aid was Civ t
A by Mrs. Augusta E. Wells, the 9th. g
agent of the trustees. In tone of t
isgust she said, off Mrs. Wells gives f
5 anything, she gives it to us 'as char t
"" placing marked emphasis on the Y
st two words This brought out L