The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-04-03
Was Fined SIS and Costs
For Breach of Peace.
SWEDISH ALTERATION
Which Took Place Near Retreat Sunday
Night Began in Blows and Ended In
a Cutting Anray-Axel johnson the
Aggressor.

Axcl johnson pleaded guilty yesier'
day morning in the municipal court 70
the charge Of committing an assault
with knife ON Victor Gustafson sun
day night, aud was fined sl5 aud costs
amounting to s2i.30 which he paid, IL
is said that bad blood has existed be
tween johnson aud Gusiafson since six
months ago when fight occurred IN
which johnson got the better OF the
argument. Since then the two have
maintained AN ugly attitude toward
each other and Sunday night Gusiafson,
so the story goes, invited johnson to
90 for a walk. Some of the friends OF
both claim that Gustafson was under
the influence of liquor. When the men
had arrived near the Retreat grounds,
Gustafson struck the respondent and
from then on both men engaged IN a
sparring contest until Gnstafson kicked
the respondent in the stomach, nearly
knocking johnson out. II was at this
stage Of the fight that johnson pulled
out pocket knife and went at his as
sailant with a vengeance. How long the
fight really lasted no one seems to
| know but when the fracas was over
Gustafson was wounded in several
places.
johnson was arrested Monday night
al his home on West street by Chief of
Police j. II. Evans on complaint of
State s Attorney X. c. Bacon. The spe'
cfic charge against johnson was DIS
turbance of the peace and at the hear.
ing Tuesday morning II. c. Bacon stated
! that he should have charged the re.
| spondent with an assault with intent
| to kill, but for the elasticity of the
statute relating to the breach of the
peace. Neither the complainant nor
the respondent could speak English and
John Strand and William Kali acted
as interpreters. At the preliminary
hearing Tuesday morning johnson,
through his attorney, ii. G. Barber,
pleaded not guilty. Because of lac k
of time II. G.. Barber asked that the
trial of the respondent be postponed
until after the county court and that
bail be fixed at nominal figure, as he
could assure the court that the respond.
ent was not guilty and that he could
prove this to be true before jury.
Bail was fixed at $3.50 on the repre-
sentation of the state IS attorney that
the offense committed was serious one
and punishable by term of five years
in state S prison. The trial was set
for yesterday. Bail was not furnished
and Johnson was kept in the local bas
tile. A. c. Spencer was retained to
look after the interests of johnson
Wednesday and following his advice q
plea of guilty was agreed upon, k. G
Bacon sanctioning light fine in view
of this plea. At the trial +. +. Bar
ber appeared for the respondent anc
asked that fine of s. be imposed be
cause he was convinced that the com
plainant, Gustafson, was to blame FOL
the affair. 1t could be shown, he said
that Gustafson struck johnson first anc
that the respondent drew knife to de
fend himself as his knee was in sucf
condition that he was unable to run
The affair occurred near the Retreat
, and both, he said, went there will
nothing but friendly intentions.
. State S Attorney r. C. Bacon sale
that he had examined the witness anC
learned that the condition of affairs
were not as first represented and be
cause of this he asked to have fine
imposed of $15 costs. Gustafsol
appeared in court with several Sits IL
his clothes, said to have been made b,
the knife used by the respondent.