Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-10-06
STONE GUILTY OF LARCENY
But Now His Name Is Robert
Blum.
Not Yet Sentenced by
Court-Anothcr Information charge
ing Petty Larceny Filed by
states Attorney shaw.

The trial of Otto Stone whose right
name Is Robert Blum. was taken up
again ut tho opening Of county court
Thursday morning. The cnse was sent to
the jary at eleven O'Clock and after n
short dcliberation II verdict OF guilty of
petit larceny was brought In. Later the
states attorney filed an information
charging Blum with stealing two mileage
books from Elmer II. coon of this city
Plum took the stand the first thing
thursday morning. He gave his age
Thutsdny "a IS and said that he took tho
name Of Stone. his mothers. because he
ana not want to bring the disgrace of
appearing in court on his real name
Blum. He only used Stone when he was
arrested, he said
Asain Thursday there was much
difficulty IL understandings Blum. colonel
Minms, the stenosrapher, seemed to have
better success IN understanding the re-
pondcnt than either OF the attorneys
He was Obliged to explain Rlm's state-
monts several times
states Attorney Shaw started torrent
Of protest on tho part Of blum by ask
nH him II he registered at Pitchers
hotel about August % under tho name
Of S'oncburg. Blum started to tell a lot
Of things. Mr.. Shaw tried to stem the
tide STOP Stop Stop he cried at
last. and the prisoner Gained down. Mr.
shaw exhibited the three watches found
or Blum. whoreupon the latter told the
whole story all over again. It tailed
with the one told Wednesday.
The state called ] II. Miller, an en-
rloyc at Pitchers. Miller testified that
ne worked at the hotel during August
last and was stil employed there. He
said that Blum stayed ~ the hotel three
nights and that h." Miller, saw him
register under the name of Alder Stone
berg on the first night The register was
offered as evidence
f. r. Campbell. attorney for the re-
spOndent, on the cross-examnation asked
Miller il he remembered every person
who registered at the hotel and IL he
could tell anyone who was there the day
before or the day after Stoneberg
registered, which was August 10 Miller
could not remember.
Harry Niles. an employe in the bowling
alleys of F. J. Flanagan. was called by
the defense and testified that he saw
Blum in the alleys on the day when the
latter said he bought the watches
l3lum's story was that he bought the
watches for eight dollars of some old
acquaintances in Flanagans saloon the
day before he was arrested and that he
Went from the saloon into the bowling
alleys.
Mr.. Campbell had Plum write ALBERT
Stoneberg" on n piece OF paper and then
ii was compared with the name on the
register of Pitchers hotel The two
signatures We're dssimilar.
J. G. Mcintyre. who lives at No. 1923
King street and Is employed as a janitor
at the United States customs house, was
called by the state. He testified that
some days previous to August q he heard
someone humming ii tune In his par!or
lie went into the room and there stood
Blum, who asked If he had any rooms
to rent Upon being answered in the
negative Blum went away. The next day
Mr.. Mcintyre again found Blum looking
into the house through glass door
This time Blum said that he roomed
nearby and had made mistake In the
houses
MIS-. Mamie Lavoie, who lives in a
dwelling opposite the court house on
''Hi II SNittt anu rents IuTIllSnc1 rooms,
was next called. She said that some time
before August - Blum came to her house
and asked to rent a room. II was Ave
O'Clock in the afternoon. He was given a
room, for which he paid. He insisted In
staying I'm the sitting room however. and
at eight o'clock that night Mrs Lavoie
gave him back his money and put him
out.
States Attorney Shaw then made his
argument. in which he rehearsed tho
circumstances Of the arrest and the
Identification Of the watch He said that
the possession Of stolen property carried
with II the presumption Of guilt and that
the respondents explanation was not
He also called attention
to the respondents conflicting statements
bout renting rooms.
Mr. Campbell. In his argument held
that the respondent had sufficiently ex-
planned his possession OF the watches. He
called attention to Blums difficulty with
the English language and his fright At
the time he was arrested. Mr.. Campbell
spoke Of the difference between the two
signatures. albert Stoneberg," and the
fact that Nles's testimony partly
corrohoratod that of the prisoner. Mr..
Shaw closed the case for the State. after
which Judge Waterman delivered his
charge to the jury. He differentiated be-
tween State and civil cases. saying that
in the former there was always a
presumption OF innocence until the re-
spondent is proven guilty and that the
burden OF proof rests with the prosecu-
ton. The case must be established
beyond reasonable doubt before the re-
spondent may be held to be guilty.
The jury was out but little more than
a half hour and brought In verdict Of
guilty of petit larceny. Sentence was
not pronounced by the court yesterday.
The writ originally placed the value Of
the watch mentioned therein, that be-
longing to Mrs. r. p Clay, at $50 BY
mutual agreement the valuation was re-
duced to SO and the respondent became
charged, therefore. with petit larceny.