Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-12-18
WINDSOR COUNTY
COURT
December Term, 1909

Hon. MILO b. Buck.
OFFICERS OF THR COURT
jay Read Pember, Clerk.
Karl A. Pember. Deputy Clerk.
Edward II. Buck States Attorney.
Eugene A. Thomas, Sheriff,
James III. Kiniry. High Bailiff.
John II. Mimms, Reporter.
Il. o. 6outhgate, Probation Omcer.
In the case of Edith Hufnail Va.
vanessa Blake, a jury was enpaneled
on Wednesday morning, 9th. "a
men bad been called before the IL
we're scheduled-each party exercis-
ing her right of challenge almost to
the limit prescribed by law. Several
we're excused for cause, one for deaf
ness, three for having formed and
expressed an opinion.
This is an action popularity known
as Grim con case. The parties
reside in Reading. The plaintiff is
the divorced wife of Daniel M. HUFF
nail, well known constable, deputy
sheriff, business man and politician
of the town of Reading, is about 80
years old, and was married to Edith
Morgan the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Geo. w. Morgan of Claremont,
N. H., Jan. 20. 1899 1t was runa-
way match, and did not meet with
the approval of the parents Of the
bride, but later that feeling wore off.
Mrs. Hufnail now Edith Morgan }
claims, and her testimony tended to
prove that she and Daniel lived in
peace and domestic falicity from the
marriage up to the fall of 1907 when
the defendant, Mrs. Vanessa Blake.
{ a divorced woman on her own
petition arrived in Felchville and
became the housekeeper for her
brother, DR.. Charles E Buchanan,
an unmarried man, who occupied
as dwelling and Office the Amsden
house east of the E. B. Watkins
store in Felchville.
The evidence on the part of the
defendant tended to show that the
Hufnail household had not been q
happy one, owing to the jealousy of
Mrs Hufnail, and that she had en-
tirely lost her husbands affection.
The plaintiffs evidence tended to
show that her husband became en-
amored of Mrs. Blake and visited her
at her brothers house-walked with
her in the public streets in Felch-
vile, rode out with her and was
improperly if not criminally familiar
with her. The latter claim was only
sustained by circumstantial evidence.
On the contrary. Mrs. Blake's evil
dence, that of Daniel M. Hufnail and
the witnesses who testified in behalf
of defendant, tended to show that
their associations together was en-
tirely proper and amounted to moth
ing more than friendship.
The court took a recess on Satur
day forenoon, and the trial was
resumed on Monday, the 18th inst.
Herbert G.. Upper and Charles
Batchelder represented the plaintiff
and Gilbert A. Davis and Edward
R. Buck, the defendant.
The testimony in Hufnail VS.. Blake
was closed Tuesday forenoon. The
case was argued by Fl. G. Upper
and Chaa. Batchelder for plaintiff
and by Edward r. Buck and Gilbert
A. Davis for the defendant, and was
submitted to the jury after charge
by Judge Miles. The jury after an
absence of about two hours, returned
a verdict for plaintiff for 500
damages and costs. The plaintiff
sued for $4,000. Exceptions by
both parties.
This case was followed by that of
Frank H. Hyde vs.. Matte Atwood.
an action of assumpsit to recover
commission on sale of real estate
The defence is general denial
Chas. Batchelder for plaintiff, Mr.
Hovey of St. Johnsbury for defen-
dant.
This case is to be followed by
case from Chester. Joseph P. Good
rich vs. Charles Caldwell, civil
action in which the plaintiff seeks
to recover damages for the alleged
burning by defendant of plaintiffs
barn, hay and cattle at Chester
Caldwell was followed by detectives,
an d was arrested at the hotel Wind
ham in Bellows Falls, under very
exciting circumstances, on criminal
warrant oh arging him with the fell
onous setting fire to and burning