Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-05-20
ALIENATION SUIT ON TRIAL.
Mrs. Edna Llttlefield Townshend Of Brat
teboro Seeks to Recover $4,000 from
Her Husband,s Parents.

Mrs. Edna Llttlefeld Townshend Of Brat
tleboro Seeks to Recover $4,000 from
Her Husbands Parents.
The suit of Mrs. Edna Lttlefeld Towns
bend of Brattleboro against her husbands
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. George Townshend,
in which she alleges that they alienated
the affections Of her husband, has occu-
pied the attention of the Windham county
court most of the time since Monday
Edna Townshend and Charles G. Towns
bend, her husband, separated a year or
more ago. Later Mrs. Townshend brought
petition for divorce, but she was un-
able to have papers served on her hus-
bend because he was out of the state. A
short time ago she sued his parents for
$4,000. A large number of witnesses have
been examined. The evidence of the plain
tiff was to the effect that the parents,
with whom she and her husband lived,
criticised her, found fault because she had
children, on account Of the expense, and
that George Townshend called her names,
and there was some testimony as to harsh
treatment on the part Of the husband; also
that she wished to live separate from her
husbands parents, but that he would not
consent The defense put on witnesses
to show that the Townshends had treated
the young woman and children kindly
Charles Townshend testified that he
thought as much of his wife now as ever,
that he had tried to induce her to return
to live with him, but that she would not
do so unless he furnished a bond OF $4,000
signed by his parents that they would not
interfere with her. There was no testi-
mony to show why the young couple sep
arated. The case is being argued, and it
will go to the jury this afternoon. H. G..
& +. Il. Barber appeared for the plain
tiff. A. F. SChwenk and r. G. Bacon for
the defendants.
The divorce suit of Alice Risby of
Brattleboro against Charles A. Risby
was heard Tuesday, but no deision has
been given. The state cases will be
tried next week.
A motion has been made to set aside
the verdict of $685. awarded Mrs Ange-
lima Larrow in her suit against Warren
G.. Doolittle of Brattleboro, charging him
with alternating the affections of her hus-
band. The grounds of the motion are that
the verdict was against the evidence, that
it was excessive, that there was no evil
dence in the case showing that Mr. Doc
little had knowledge of the relations be-
tween his daughter and Mr.. Larrow, that
there was no evidence that he aided or
abetted such relations or conspired to
ALLEVIATE Larrow's affections and that there
was no evidence that the defendants acts
complained OF were done by him know
| ingly
A Verdict for the plaintiff to recover
5000 was rendered by the jury in Wind
ham county court at Newfane Saturday
in the suit of Francis II. Morse. who lives
in West Brattleboro on the road to sun
set lake. against Barney Magee. This
was a suit to recover $1,000 for personal
| injuries Magee was surrendered by his
| bondsmen and was ordered into the sher-
| IFS custody and placed in Jail. not being
able to pay the damages. Haskins &
| Schwenk appeared for the plaintiff and
| II. G.. & F. f. Barber for the defendant.
| The evidence of Mr. Morse tended to
show that while he was in his barn floor
| May 4, 1909 toward evening, Magee en-
tered the barn and Immediately assaulted
him, knocking him down, pounding him
with his fists and kicking him Mrs.
| Morse arrived from the house, but she
} was unable to make Magee desist, and
| she went to the home of Mr.. Rose. a
| neighbor 100 rods away, who returned To
| the barn with her. Magee continued 10
! pound Mr.. Morse after the return of Mrs
| Morse with Mr. Rose, according to the
| testimony, and struck him several times
! before Mr.. Rose was able to induce him
| to stop Mr. Morse's evidence was that
Magee went to the Morse place earlier in
| the day, but did not find Mr.. Morse al
home. The plaintiff, who was 20 years
| old, was unable to see after the assault
| MS race DtlnB SWOllen so Dduly. MdBct
was about 50 years old and very muscu-
| lar
The evidence of Magee tended to show
that a report had come to him to the
effect that Mr.. Morse had circulated a
report that Magee had threatened to saw
off the fence posts on Mr. Morse's prem
ises, also that Mr.. Morse was quick tenn
pered and quarrelsome. Magee claimed
that Mr.. Morse held a stick when he
went into the barn and that the plaintih
| struck the first blow
On cross examination Magee admitted
that he went to Boston the morning after
the assault. going across lots through
| Guilford to Vernon and boarding the
train at South Vernon He admitted thai
| later he returned to Marlboro, and spent
a week in the woods and lived on crack
| ers and cheese which he bought at NJ. +
Bakers store. Later he went to work
in Guilford. where he was arrested on g
criminal complaint, paying a fine of 81
! imposed by the municipal court in Brat
tleboro. Magee admitted that he wa!
intoxicated and said he bought pint OF
| whiskey of Watson French.