The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-05-21
BOUND OVER FOR THE
SALE OF WHISKEY
Mrs. Ella Bean Held in the Sum
of $500 for County Court.
HEARING BEFORE HAsKINs, J. P.

of Two Proved Sufficient to Bint
Respondent Over on the Charge OF
Illegal Liquor Selling.
As a result of raid made at her home
on Bridge street a week ago Sunday by
Deputy Sheriff Myron p. Davis, Mrs
Jane Bean was before Justice Kittredge
Haskins in the municipal court Monday
afternoon charged with the illegal sale OF
intoxicating liquor. She entered a plea of
not guilty, but the court found probable
cause for holding her, and she was bound
over to the September term of Windham
county court in the sum of $500. She
furnished bail.
the deputy sheriff a large number of
empty bottles were secured, but the wet
goods could not be found. Enough evil
dence was obtained by the officers, how
ever, to convince them that Mrs Bean
was conducting thirst parlor, and on
Monday 10 witnesses were rounded up by
Deputy Davis. Only two of these were
heard, and in each case the state proved
an illegal sale. Facetious remarks on the
part of the presiding justice, shots from
the witnesses, and the comments of the
dIIolHcyS gave Vic SpCCIdIOIS VI
portunity for enjoyment, and the court
session was one of the liveliest which has
occurred in Brattleboro for some time.
Chief interest centered in a large basket
of empty bottles marked Exhibit A.
The first witness was William Cushman
of 70 Frost street, who is employed by
the Estey Organ company in the packing
room. Cushman stated that he had
known Mrs. Bean for about 40 years, and
that he had lived in Brattleboro % years,
boarding at the Bean establishment for
five years in that period and visiting the
home several times since to see his brother
who also lived there for a time. He
stated that one Saturday evening in the
latter part of January he went to the
Bean home near the end of the arch
bridge and at that time purchased pint
of whiskey of Mrs. Bean, paying her 60
cents for the JOY water. Mr.. Cushman
was Intercepted by the court as to the
contents of the flask and was asked if
it was whiskey. Cushman said, THAT
was what | called for" The answer
proved satisfactory. On cross examina
ton an attempt was made to show that
Cushman was actuated by revengeful mo-
tives in giving his testimony. He allowed
that he had had some trouble with Mrs.
Bean over piece of property on the New |
Hampshire side now occupied by her
daughter, Mrs. Ella Bean Bergeron. Ac-
cording to his statements he hired the plot |
from Mrs. Bean from Jan. l, 1909, to Jan.
l, 1910, paying her in advance for the
land On Feb. II, Mrs. Bergeron moved
onto the premises and all efforts to dis
lodge her have been fruitless. Mrs. Bean
would not give up the money, and so suit
has been brought against her. Cushman
stated that he told Deputy Davis and
Earl Schorling May 10 about purchasing
the liquor. At the time of the purchase
he said that Mrs. Bean was in the house
alone and that when he asked for the
liquor she went into her pantry and pro-
peared for Mrs Bean, asked the witness
f he was sure that it was whiskey. Cush-
nan replied in the negative but said at
was whiskey as near as | could say"
BENJAMIN Piper was the next witness
picked out of the array of evidence and
his story was true it will be long time
before he is again made welcome at the
Bean homestead. Piper, who is % years /.
# age, said that he had lived in Brattle :
'oro for four years and that he was EN- !
loyed by the Brattleboro Cabinet com
any living at SO South Main street. On
sunday, May 9, he in company with an
ther young man, went to make an after :
oon call on Miss Aleda Bean, daughter J.
f Mrs. Bean. He arrived at the Bean \
ome late in the afternoon and was there
vhen Deputy Sheriff Davis searched the b
PREMISES. 1t was while the raid was in =
rogress that he purchased a quart of =
quor, mostly whisley, from Mrs. Bean
nd he paid her Sl.20 for the bottle and
is contents No one but Mrs. Bean was
n the room at the time, her two daugh
ers being upstairs with the officers. At {
er purchasing the liquor Piper said that :
lie crossed the bridge into New Hamp- |
hire and went up the side of Wantasti- :
uet mountain with a companion and to- u
ether the two of them drank the greater I
,art of the quart. They came back to ]
3rattleboro and had supper at local res =
and although their recollection ;
lie believed that he left the Bean house Y
It o'clock at night, after taking supper .
With the family. l
Miss Aleda Bean, the next Witness fig l
lred in witty testimony but most of it I
vas confederation of the testimony of '
he other two witnesses, although she '
toutly denied that any liquor had ever !
,een sold by her mother; that is, to her
knowledge. and stated that she had never I
old any herself.
Justice Haskins found probable cause $
or holding Mrs. Bean for the September e
ERIN of the county court in $500. She |
furnished bail. The two witnesses were
lso held in $500 each, but were allowed
o 90 on their own recognizance. The |
ase was the first liquor prosecution for
many years. In obtaining the evidence
he house had been under surveillance for |
everal months. BY the Vermont statute
he penalty for the illegal sale of intoxi-
atng liquor is fine of not less than :
300 nor more than $1,000 for each of {
ense. or not less than three months in
all nor more than II months, or both.
!. J. Waterman conducted the prosecu-
ion for the state in the absence of Town
,rand Juror r. G. Bacon. who made the :
omplaint and w. r. Daley appeared for
he respondent.