The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-13
ClTYS NIGGARDLIN
MAY INDUCE CRIME
Asserted Counsel for Mrs. Minnie Willis,
Who Had Just Pleaded Guilty to
Charge Of Keeping Liquor-She
Is Put on Probation.

Police headquarters housed much COM
pany over Sunday. and it was only after
the several respondents appeared before
Judge H. w. Scott in city court this
morning that the officers in charge of the
station were able to put their house in
order In consequence of raid and
arrest at 100 River street Saturday
night, Mrs. Minnie Willis and her little
child, only few months old, passed the
Sabbath in confinement. Another mem
Der of the Willis household. Jack Stew
art, who is said to be star boarder at
LOG River street, also stayed the week
end in cell Armed with warrant
issued BY States Attorney J. Ward Car
yer, officers went to the Willis house
Saturday night and conducted raid.
There was a dearth of contraband goods
in the place at the time, but officer
George Carle took Mrs Willis and Stew
art in custody on charges OF keeping.
When arraigned before Judge Scott
this morning Stewart entered plea Of
not guilty His case was continued for
week for hearing. Stewart was re-
Gently released from the county Jail in
Montpelier, where he had gained consid-
erable fame in different Vermont towns
as singing accompanist to Sheriff Frank
Tracy's lectures on prison work and
methods OF reformation. The respondent
was placed under bail OF $500, which he
was unable to furnish, and he will prob
ably return 10 Jail to await his hearing
May 20,
Attorney S. Hollister Jackson APP
peared as counsel for Mrs. Willis, who
entered a plea OF guilty. In addressing
the court, counsel for the respondent
said that the present system of supply
ing the poor and dependent with the
necessities of life was responsible for
some OF the illicit liquor traffic. While
not gainsaying the right of the state
to prosecute all such offenders, he be.
lieved that there was certain moral
justification when persons, ill-eared for
by the city, resorted to this means of
keeping body and soul united. The at
torney made no effort to criticise any of
the city officials in the poor department.
but said that niggardliness toward the
needy was an offense common to more
than one Vermont community. He be-
lived also that landlords were sometimes
at fault.
After reviewing the case, Judge Scott
decided that sentence should be suspend
ed for three months, while the respon-
dent would be allowed TO go on her own
He instructed her, how
ever, to discharge her boarder in the
person of Stewart, saving that the
courts leniency rested with her obedi-
ence Mrs Willis decided that she pre-
ferred to send Stewart away to going to
jail and leaving her baby, which she
fondly handled as she replied to the
judges questions.
Thomas Sexton appeared before the
court and pleaded guilty to charge of
second ofFense. He was fined
sl5 and costs of $3.50, which he paid.
Sexton was arrested Saturday night by
Deputy Sheriff George Morris.
Edward Smith, who told the court that
he came from Swanton, entered plea
,f guilty to first offense of intoxica-
tion. and he was fined S5 and costs OF
$3.50. The sum total of Smiths ready
assets would not cover the fine and costs,
and an officer took him to the county Jail
IN Montpelier to serve the alternate SEN
tence Of 20 days. Smith was arrested
1t the Central Vermont station Saturday
night by officer Harry Gamble.