Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-04-30

Rogers IN Rutland, when her three-yea-I
old son was pushed by playmate into a
pail of scalding water which the mother
was using in hopping the floor. All OF
the skin and much of the flesh from
about one-third CT the child's body came
4 off. The boy is in a critical condition
and has about an even chance of recov-
cry. Some time elapsed before he could
be extricated and his clothing stripped
off. All of the right side of the body.
| the right leg and part of the back were
terribly burned. This family has been
unfortunate for several years, the father
having passed the greater part OF the last
| five years in the county jail for drunken
ness. He was again sentenced the day
/ before the accident to serve IS days in
| that institution on similar charge.
| Even when he has been at liberty he has
been of little or no help to his family as
nearly all of his earnings were spent for
liquor. Mrs. Rogers has earned what
money she could by taking 10 washings
but the Salvation Army and the city have
been called upon many times for food
and fuel.
Hardwick's Treasurer $4,000 Short.
| Saturday, the auditors struck balance
4 in the town, village and school accounts
of Treasurer Mark E. Foster OF Hardwick
and found a shortage of $4,000. Foster
disappeared week before and his where
abouts is unknown. 1t is understood
that warrant for Fosters arrest on the
charge of embezziement will at once be
/ issued.
Foster, who is about 40 years old, has
been treasurer of the departments mem
toned for three years and it is said his
books have been kept with accuracy and
neatness. He is under $4,000 bonds,
I furnished by the American Fidelity COM
pany of Montpelier. Apr. Is, he drove
/ to Montpelier, where he left his team and
took train for the South.
! He had borne an excellent reputation
and the fact that checks and currency
were found in his safe amounting to
81, 200 to 1880, appeared to be ample
evidence that nothing was wrong with
his accounts. The selectmen, village
trustees and school directors, however,
/ devoted last week to checking up all the
/ figures in his books and it was with great
surprise that the discovery of $4,000
shortage was made.
Foster had been engaged in real estate
agency, wood business and in mileage
agency, and it is alleged that these inter-
ests have probably suffered to the extent
of $1,000 to $1,000. He had recently
been made assignee of the c. s. Fitch
hardware business but it is understood
that his accounts in that capacity are cor
rect.
I Fosters family consists Of his wife
and three sons and a mother. His BUSH
ness integrity had never been questioned
and what use il any was made by him of
the 1000 which he is charged with en-
/ bezzling remains mystery.
! Mildred Brewster Adiudsed Sane.
At a special sitting of Washington
county court held in Montpelier April %,
Judge Alfred A. Hall ordered that Mil
bred Brewster, who ten years ago was ac-
quilted of the murder of Anna Wheeler
on the ground of insanity, and had
since been confined in the state hospital
/ for the insane at Waterbury, be released
from that institution and placed i'll the
custody of Mrs. w. j. Ross of Hardwick
until further orders were issued by the
court. Miss Brewster was visibly affect
ed and tears came 10 her eyes.
/ A formal order was issued by Judge
Hall and Assistant Judges l.. r. Wells
and c. NJ. Winch, revoking the previous
order because of the belief that the
woman is now sane.
/ Judge Hall addressed Miss Brewster at
some length, referring to her trial in
March, 1898, saying that although she
was eccentric and at times cratic, he be-
4 lieved she was now, and for some time
4 had been, sane. He continued, "The
rights of liberty are so sacred that one
4 ought not to be confined within the lin
its of hospital unless society would be
in danger from release. A majority of
this court does not believe such danger
now exists. Ii such time should ever
come, this court would be the first to see
that measures were taken for your re-
1 straint.''
During the morning session, DR.. c. M.
Ferrin of Essex, former state supervisor
for the insane, testified. Mr.. and Mrs.
W. j. Ross of Hardwick also were on
the stand and announced that they we're
ready to take Miss Brewster into their
/ home. Mrs. Ross is 32 years old and has
known her since childhood.
The ten years confinement has told on
Miss Brewster and she has aged percepti-
bly, The scars and Disagreement conse-
quent on her attempt to take her own life
after she shot Miss Anna Wheeler still re-
main. She is now 81 years old.
Did Not Steal Letters.
Miss Katherine G. Dunlevy of Brattle-
boro, who was enjoined recently, on bill
of discovery, from proceeding further
with her suit against Edward J. Fenton
for damages in the sum of s15, 600 for al
legged breach of promise until she had dis