St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-04-14
VERMONT NEWS
Murder in First Degree

VERMONT asylum at Waterbury, he was
captured at Pittsfeld, Mass, several
months after the murder was committed.
Kent, who is a young man, had served
several Jail and prison sentences for
various ofenses. Two years ago, after
being arrested on some minor charge he
was adJudged insane and committed to
the Waterbury asylum. In July last he
escaped from the asylum, and two weeks
later Miss Congdon was murdered. Kent
had been seen in the vicinity of the
Congdon house, and piece OF wood in
which were cut the initials 'E. X" was
found in the Congdon barn after the
crime.
Miss Congdon was an elderly woman
and was deaf mute. She was killed by
being struck over the head with heavy
club. The autopsy indicated that she
had been atrociously assaulted before
being killed.
Kent has not yet been sentenced.
Under the law session of the Legisla-
ture must intervene between the date of
the sentencing of a person to be hanged,
which is the penalty for first degree
murder, and the carrying out of the SEN
tence, i'll order that the Legislature may
have an opportunity, if it so desires, Of
intervening in the case. The Legislature
has the power to commute a death
sentence.
Library District Meeting.
A district meeting will be held by the
Vermont Board of Library Commission
ers at the Library in Swanton, April 49,
Several speakers have been secured and
each will give short talk on some live
subject connected with library work,
after which will follow discussions. The
meeting will be public and very informal.
Some OF the topics to be discussed are:
Work with schools. Travelling libraries,
Library clubs and buildings, Raising
money tor libraries, and the Needs of
small library. Announcement will be
made of the meeting of the American Lii
brary Association, in the White Mts. and
of the Vermont Summer school held by
the State Library Commission. A large
attendance is hoped for and all librari-
ans, trustees of libraries, superintendent
and teachers of schools, and every one
else interested are invited to be present
and take part in the discussion. A short
session will be held in the forenoon and
another in the afternoon. Swanton can
easily be reached by three lines of rail-
road and by the electric cars from St.
Adams. Good hotel accommodations can
be had. Since its successful Library
Week, Swanton has become noted
among librarians and all will be glad to
visit it.
Suicide at Middlebury.
Clay N. Dickinson. aged IS years,
veteran OF the Civil War and for 80
years policeman in Middlebury COM
mitted suicide by hanging April s, the
principal reason for the act being attri-
buted to grief over the death of his wife
six weeks ago with perhaps his own i'll
health as contributory cause. For %
years of his service on the local police
force and until four years ago he was
chief of police.
Mr.. Dickinson left his home to take his
customary morning walk. When he did
not return his grandniece, began search
for him. At eight O'Clock, on going to the
in the rear of the Dickinson
residence the young woman found the
body of Mr.. Dickinson suspended and
lifeless. An examination
showed that life had left the body prob
ably an hour.
Mr. Dickinson had lived in Middle
bury nearly all his life. He leaves one
son, George Dickinson, grandson, Clay
Dickinson of Rutland, and the grand
niece, Miss Cecil of Middlebury. Mr.
Dickinson enlisted in Company K, 2nd
Vermont Volunteers in the Civil War,
and on being wounded was discharged.
He subsequently re-enlisted in Company
E, 14th Volunteers. He was member
of William P. Russell post, 6. A. R.
All Franklin County Judges.
Through the Efforts of Assistant Judges
Danforth and Mcleod, there will soon
be hung in the judges chamber of the
Franklin county court house, large pic
lures of all the judges that Franklin
county has furnished the bench. The
list, which contains the names of some
of Vermont's ablest and best known
lawyers and jurists, includes: Chief
Judge Asa Adds, 1856; Chief Judge
Stephen Royce, 1825-1852; Judge Asa
Owen Adds, 1957-1S65; Judge William
c. Wilson, 1S65-187O; Chief Judge
Homer E. Royce, 1870-1S90; Judge
Henry R. Start, 1S9O-19O5 and Judge
Alfred Allen Hall, 1906. fine oil paint.
ing of Judge Royce now hangs in the
court room and an excellent portrait,
nearly life size of Judge Hall was placed
in the court house last week. The pic
lures of the other judges are either being
made or are on the way and will be
placed in their respective positions with
in a short time.
$4,000 Damage from Wind.
A terrific northwest wind caused a |
great deal of damage at Randolph, We'd
nesdav night. The greatest loss was
sustained at Demeritt & Palmer's can
ming factory where damages of between
81 500 and $4,000 was done. The roof
of the three-story section was blown off |
carrying whit portion OF theconcrete
wall at the rear. The high concrete
was tipped over and fell diagor-
ally through two floors. The roof fell in
the rear Of the building taking with it
the electric light wires extending to the J
White Cross milk factory. At the latter
plant a portion of the massive iron
;mokestack was torn down and tell
through the roof.
Suicide at Montpelier.
Alden A. Brown, a former patrolman
N Montpelier, and for several years
blacksmith at the stone sheds, committed
suicide Thursday by hanging. Brown