Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-02-11
OVER S465 CLEARED
Plumbers Convicted Of Conspir.
aCy with CroweII

patr.ck Fleming as Star Witness
Docket Contained Some Amusing Hits.
rt, plumbers were convicted. Every
..,a eNrrcted that they would be wnen
.r.y saw the high and mighty court which
.,.. 90 hear their case in the Auditorium
1,,,.3ay evening, but the process of con-
..tton was very entertaining. Taken
.r-ogether the celebrated case Of People
~. Plumbers was one Of the best amateur
..,u.g ever given in Brattleboro, and the
audience occupied practically every seat
IN tne nan while many stood throughout
IN, performance. The principal object Of
.. rnczk trial was to raise money for
.b.. support OF the tuberculosis camp and
ts. receipts were large enough to insure
.,. continuance OF the good work next
s..rtrr.r more than 1865 being cleared
rr, audience heartily appreciated the
clean FUN and laughed, applauded and
laughed again until they were tired. The
entertainment was given under the aus
r,,rs uf the Vermont Wheel club, the
GENERAL committee being DR.. f. r. Newell,
II g. Rice and Clarke c. Fits, and all
,ho-, who took part are entitled to much
credit for the time and effort expended
In making 1t success.
patrick Fleming was the star performer,
IA, common consent A part had been
,,,,nn.d out for nim. but he did not con-
,re himself wholly to ii and added enough
n his own spicy eloquence to bring down
,n. house. The climax of his appearance
,is when he shook his fist in the face
NJ the assistant prosecuting officer, Frank
u R.rher and shouted Hold on there,
nm 1 get my breath again and I'll tell
,cu All about it." The combined efforts
n the Judge. the attorneys and the court
officers were needed to keep him in
hounds. In the spirit OF fun and all for
the good Of the cause MIR. Fleming gave
an exhibition of what a contrary witness
could do that places him in the front
rank Of Brattleboro's amateur actors.
Resides giving his services and making
the hit Of the evening Mr.. Fleming, pre-
vious to the performance, set the other
business men Of the town a fine example
Of how to aid the worthy cause in
substantial way. If any one wants to
follow his example the committee in
charge can tell how much 1t will cost.
The big audience sat in an expectant
hush when Most Inferior Sheriff" A. w
wilkins. respondent in uniform and
brass buttons, came in and arranged the
court room Shortly afterwards the at
torneys on both sides came in and in
duged in a little fun at each others
expense until the officer announced the
entrance Of the court Then the audience
had chance to vent it's feelings
"Mayor" Ernest j. Waterman, clad in
wig and judicial robes, was the chief
Justice and the side" judges we're D.
Frank Shea and Deputy Sheriff Myron T.
Davis Al three have made so many
hits as amateur performers in Bratueboro
that the audience realized at once That
the full measure OF fun would come from
the bench. One Of the attorneys called
attention to the fact that there were not
three men in Windham county more dis
similar in build. Judge Waterman pre-
sided in a mirth-provoking way and mis-
colleagues we're not far behind him as
fun makers. Justice" Davis was very
deaf and relied chiefly upon the presiding
Judge for information as to what the
testimony was.
Howard c. Rice, acting as clerk of the
court was instructed to read the docket,
and every entry created an outburst OF
laughter The many jokes were sprung
in an unobjectionable way, and some OF
the sallies nave been laughed over ever
since by the victims Two candidates for
admission to the bar, c. MenZies Miller
and Harre b. Chase. were examined and
passed A third candidate, Walter A.
Gilbert, who was said to have registered
in 1884, was not ready and was given
until 1887 in which to show some pro-
gress. Judge A. F. Schwenk interrupted
proceedings TO ask for an injunction TO
restrain the dam company from moving
the Judge property. He was such bore
to the court by his continual efforts to
get the injunction that II was at last
granted. He retired and blew up the
dam, leaving the hall in darkness until
power from Frank o. Carpenters dam
on the Pleasant valley rivulet was turned
on, when the case was resumed.
After the call of the docket the indict-
ment against the four plumbers was read
by the clerk. II was follows: BE IT
remembered that at the extraordinary
term Of said court holden at Brattleboro
on the sth day of February in the second
year Of the glorious reign OF Sandy
Daniels, the first, mis- Royal Highness, by
the grace of himself, Emperor of Brattle-
boro King OF Esteyville and political ruler
Of all the surrounding country, Robert c.
Bacon and Frank f. Barber, by the grace
Of his Royal Highness. his trusty and
well beloved prosecutors throughout his
said realm, comes into open Court and
gives said Court to understand df such
thing be POSSIBLE:
That w. ]. Pentland. jr., A. v Cox,
Patrick Fleming and John Calvin all OF
HrattebOrO not having the fear OF just
retribution in their hearts but, on the
contrary, being inspired by general
cussedness and the desire to acquire a
large amount of i'll gotten gains did un-
IN a secret and secluded place, to wit, in
the back room of one John RoeSs's cigar
store, conspire together and with one
george e. Crowell, VINO was an intimate
Trend and confidant of the defendants
Fleming and Calvin: that he, said Crow
eIL should turn on and into his water
system which had been a short time be-
IpIe enlarged by the said Crowell with
me friendly aid and assistance OF said
pdlFm and Fleming a tremendous pres
sure Of water and thereby burst the pipes
ana plumbing of all we'll disposed subjects
IN Emperor Daniels realm so that the
attendants could be employed to repair
me same and thereby get great gains and
Duy automobiles, aerOplanes, beef from
lHe hratteboro butchers, and other ex-
pehslVe Injuries Of like nature which were
"alIy beyond the purses Of the defend
@WS and the subjects of Emperor
Daniels"
william J. Pentland, jr.. was tine first
respondent arraigned. He was brought IN
III irons by Sheriff wilkins. Mr.. Pentland
wanted the best lawyer obtainable and
,noSe James F. Hooker of Schenectady
Out upon being informed that a New
lork lawyer would not be recognized "by
llIS court" he looked over the "bunch"
VINO were waiting for a chance to defend
"'' ana concluded to plead guilty ana
,''' further costs. John Calvin was next
brought in, and his impression of the
',"FeTs was such that he wished to con-
u''L his own defense. This was found
" ne Irregular as the lawyers mad to
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