Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-01-07

VI.
officers, made his way, it IS though''
to the New York state line. Smith
nd his wife had been held in the
local institution on a charge OF for
gerry. The man claimed to represent
the commission house of A. NJ. Smith
& Co., Of Boston, and upon receipt or
goods would hand dealer a cheek
drawn for an amount in excess OF the
bill. receiving the balance in cash.
SUSPICION was aroused that the checks
were not genuine, and after an inves-
tigation the man was held for the
next session of the Bennington county
grand Jury with a woman who is said
to O5 his wife.
Convention Call.
The fourth annual convention Of
the Vermont and New Hampshire
Independent Telephone association
will be held during the afternoon and
evening Of January s, at Hotel Low
parlors, Bradford. After the business
meeting in the afternoon number OF
gentlemen from other states will be
present and give Us interesting and
instructive talks on the Independent
telephone situation in other parts OF
the United States. At Z O'Clock
banquet will DE served to the mem
ber5 and friends Of the association.
Every member is expected to bring
at least one lady, and also TO invite
all his telephone friends and the com
panies with which he connects to be
present a1d join with Us and help to
make this convention grand success
and show our western Independent
telephone friends that We in the East
are also alive TO this great indepen-
dent movement.
Plans for Another Campaign Of Public
Meetings.
The Hon. Mason S. Some, state
superintendent of education, is ar
ranging another campaign of public
meetings in the interest Of greater
educational work in his state, similar
to that conducted by him last spring.
Meetings of school teachers in the
surrounding parts will be held at
various points in the afternoon, and
the general purpose Of the new school
law explained with an incidental dis
cusaion Of school matters generally.
In the evening q public meeting will
be held at which speeches will be
made by Vermont man interested in
the encouragement Of a general ad-
vanco Tor better things all along the
line of Vermont affairs. Dates for
meetings have thus far been arranged
as follows: Stanford, January Is;
Bradford. January is; West Burke,
January II; Lyndonville, January IS;
Chester, January p; Londonderry,
January %; Newfane, January "a;
Wilmington, January %.
Death of John II Merrifield.
John Il. Mortified Of WilliamsviIle
(in N9Wfane) died suddenly at the
Brooks house, Brat5loboro, Saturday
afternoon at 5:25 o'clock of angina
pectoris. 1t was not generally known
that Mr.. Werrifeld was afflicted with
such trouble. His wife, who was
called when he was first stricken, was
with him at the time of his death.
The body was taken to his home Sun
day and the funeral held Tuesday
afternoon. John Fl. Merrifeld was
born in Newfane June y, 1847. His
early education was received in the
common schools and the Springfield
Wesleyan Seminary. He worked on
his fathers farm when boy and later
conducted it. He began his business
career By the purchase Of a merchan-
disc store which he carried on until
1881. In the next year he went to
Dakota where for four years he was
connected with tho Vermont Loan &
Trust Go. He then severed his con-
nection with that company and came
back to his native state to reside in
Williamsvill0 where for soma time he
was acting station agent. Ia 1874 and
1876 Mr.. Mortified was eugrossing
clerk Of the legislature. At the next
election, falling in 1878, be was elected
representative from Newfane. He
proved himself an able representative
of his people, who reelected him in
1880 and again ia 1902 During the
latter year he was chosen speaker of
the house, over which body he pre-
sided with great honor to himself and
it was in this year that he received
from bis associates the 8obriquet of
'Honest Johu' Mortified. In 1895 he
was elected to the senate from Wind
ham county. In 1892. and 1888 he
served as second assistant CLERK of
the house and in 1890 90 first assistant.
At the next session he received the
appointment of clerk and served for
two terms. In 1897 he was appointed