Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-12-25
WINDSOR COUNTY
COURT


OFFICERS OF THE COURT
Jay Read Pember. Clerk.
Karl A. Pember. Deputy Clerk.
Edward Il. Buck. States Attorney.
Eugene A. Thomas, Sheriff. |
James II. Kiniry. High Bailiff.
John II. Mlnms. Reporter.
f. @. Southgate, Probation Officer.
The trial of Joseph Goodrich va
Caldwell was begun on Thursday,
10th, and occupied the remainder of
last week. The plaintiffs claim is
that the defendant set fire to and
burned his barns and contents, in
Guiding live stock in the night time.
Plaintiffs evidence tends to show
that q man wearing No, ii boot or
shoe was tracked the next morning
from the burned building to the
premises of defendant, that defen-
dant had ill will against plaintiff
and had threatened to do him injury.
This is the case in which detec-
tive was employed to come to Ches-
ter and act the part of a hunter, take
board at the Caldwell's with gun
and dogs, and worm himself into the
condolences of defendant. The de-
tective had claimed to belong to
gang of burglars and represented to
Caldwell that large money" could
be made by cracking banks and
robbing people. Caldwell fell into
the trap and went with the detective
to Hotel Windham and met the
chief of the gang. He was induced
to rehearse some of the deeds he had
done, to show that he had the nerve
to become member Of the gang.
Accordingly, Caldwell boosted Of a
variety of daring, criminal acts, and
among others, that he had burned
the Goodrich buildings. At this
interesting point in his story, De-
putty Sheriff j. H. Kiniry and States
Attorney Buck, who we're concealed
in an adjoining bath room, with the
transom open, 80 that they had
heard his boastful confession, opened
the door, spr ang into the room,
placed Caldwell under arrest, and
he was at once committed to Jail in
Woodstock. Messrs, Buck and Kin
Try have testified on this trial to the
con fession.
The detectives were not present
as witnesses at this trial. They
were, however, at the criminal trial
of Mr. Caldwell at last June term,
but at that trial Mr.. Caldwell was
acquitted of the charge of arson. s.
E Emery and Homer L. Skeels for
plaintiff, B. E. Cole and Charles
Batchelder for defendant.
A rescript has been handed down
from the supreme court affirming
the judgment Of the county court in
favor the defendant in the case of
Alonzo F. Hubbard of Plymouth
against Augusta B. Taylor, Henry
r Taylor and Stella R, Taylor of
Plymouth. This was proceeding
to enforce the collection of a tax
against the Taylor estate in Ply
mouth.
In the case of Goodrich vs.. Cald-
we'll, the evidence and arguments
were closed on Tuesday afternoon.
The defence met the plaintiffs case
by full denial, and the evidence
tended to show that Mr.. Caldwell
was sick at his home on the night
of the fire and could not have set the
fire.
The defendant admitted that he
made the statements at Hotel Wind
ham as testified toby States Attorney
Buck and by Deputy Sheriff Kiniry,
but testified that Detective Spaulding
had furnished him liquor and that
all he said was by way of boasting,
but that none of the criminal deeds
of which he boosted had actually
heen done
Verdict for defendant on Wednes-
day forenoon, after an absence of
about an hour.
The next case was that of Justin
E Smith appt va. Henry s. Goddard
of Norwich sn action Of trover for |