Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-12-13
ADDISON COUNTY COURT.
Hunt Douglas Suit Occupies the
Attention of the Court.

The case of John M. Alden VS. James
A. Merrill ct al. was in progress when
our court report closed last week. In
this case, it will be remembered, the
plaintiff sued to recover a balance of
$50S on a contract for building barn in
West Addison S400 of which was on
the written contract and $108 for extras
ordered and agreed to by verbal con-
tract
The testimony in chief for the defence
was got in by the middle Of the fore
noon Thursday and the rest of the day
was occupied with the introduction of
rebuttal evidence for both sides. The
arguments to the jury were made on
Friday, forenoon and afternoon. George
w. Stone of Vergennes lead off with
the opening plea for the plaintiff. This
was Mr.. Stones first forensic effort in
the County court and it was highly
spoken of by the members of the bar
present He was followed by " A.
Bullard of Burlington for the defence,
who used up the rest of the forenoon
session. In the afternoon James B.
Donoway of Mddlebury closed the
argument for the plaintiff, and both Mr..
Bullard and Mr.. Donoway made very
strong pleas. Judge Miles took up
three-quarters of an hour in his charge
to the jury and at O'Clock they re-
tired to consider their verdict, Lucius
Webb of Granville having been appoint
ed their foreman. No other matters
were taken up during the day.
This jury stayed out all night strug-
Cling to reach verdict, but were un-
able to succeed in that effort, and when
they came in at 9 O'Clock Saturday
morning it was only to announce that
they had not agreed. Their foreman
said there was no point on which they
wished further instructions, and Judge
ing their attention to the great expense
each side had been to in the trial and of
the consequent desirability of their
reaching a verdict at this time; and
sent them back to try it over again.
This time they were out just an hour,
when they reappeared and once more
reported their inability to agree.
Again the court sent them back to their
room, where they worked for another
hour and quarter, coming in finally at
IL. Is o'clock with a verdict. 1t was in
favor of the plaintiff and to the effect
that he recover the sum of $500 damages,
with interest thereon from October /,
1911. and his costs. 1t is not probable
that any appeal will be taken in this
our exceptions. Assistant Judge Day
presided at the final appearance of the
jury, as Judge Miles had gone to take g
train for his home in Barton, where
Mrs. Miles was reported as being very
sick.
AS soon as the verdict in the case haC
been entered recess was declared
until Tuesday morning at o'clock.
When the court convened again al
that time the case of Pola Hunt v:
William H. Lee was standing next fol
trial. Both parties belong in Eas
Middlebury, where Mr.. Hunt is masor
and Mr.. Lee is a partner of j. A
Douglas in the grocery and meat busi
ness. Mr.. Donoway and Charles
Button of Middlebury were the counse
for the plaintiff and Ira H. LaFleur O.
Middlebury and Thomas W. Moloney O.
/, Rutland appeared for the defendant
/ On account of the funeral of a relative
Mr.. Mooney was not able to be il
court in the forenoon and after a session
, of few minutes a recess was takel
, until p. m At that hour Mr.. Molone,
= was still missing and after half al