The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-01-11
SEVERE GR|L[|NG
GIVEN HAPGOOO
IN THE HOUSE
Attack ION Chairman Ryder
Arouses Resentment
WAISONleAJS ARRAlGNMe Mt
Committee VIII Investigate Charges
in Letter of Representative
From Peru.
WAL SONLeAJS ARRAIGNMe Mt

Montpelier, Jan. 1O.-The -leslsla'
ture of Vermont has seldom been so
thoroughly wrought up as over the
Hapgood incident.
After Mr.. Hapgood became angered
Thursday while discussing the Dill 10
commute the death sentence OF Ar
thur Bosworth, the condemned muir
derer, it was apparent that ne intend
ed to have more TO say on the matter
His opportunity came this morning
and he handed Chairman Ryder OF
the judiciary committee letter
bristling, not only with innuendoes,
but with direct charges as to the
integrity of the member from Rock
ingham.
MIR. Ryder arose to a matter of per
sonal privilege and for nearly an
hour the member from Peru was Grip
cised for charging the chairman OF
the judiciary committee with chlcan-
cry as regards hearings on the Bos
worth bill A committee will make
| an investigation of the judiciary
committees integrity and at the
same time investigate Mr.. Hapgoods
| sincerity in this matter.
1t is with the province of the
House to cause the member from
/ Peru to appear at the bar or the
/ House and make a public apology If
! the investigating committee finds suf-
! ficient reason for such action. Mr.
| Hapgood stated Thursday, after he
had INDUCED in a passage at arms
! with MIR. Ryder, that he should con-
slider it an honor" to have the House
vote to vacate his seat.
Today's incident was not wholly
: unlocked for as Mr. Hapgood was in
savage mood all of last evening al
ter his controversy with Chairman
Ryder during the session. Every
member of the judiciary committee
went on record this morning against
the condemnation which the member
from Peru heaped upon the com
mittee.
Hardly had the lower branch OF
the General Assembly struck its gait
this morning when Mr.. Ryder OF
Rockingham arose to his question oil
personal privilege. 1t was probably
the first time in the history of the
state that the integrity OF member
of the legislature was so openly
challenged. Mr. Hapgood of Peru
handed the following letter TO Mr.
: RYDER few minutes before the
House convened:
Montpelier, VT, Jan. 3, 1918.
Hon II. ID. Ryder,
Representative from Rockingham
Dear Sir
in regard to the matter of the
~ tor az
, of Arthur Bosworth, ! desire Il
, state that fully believe that you arr
, accountable for the fact that the tive
persons, the attorney and the clergy
man from Windsor. have been dis
, barred from appearing either be
, fore the committee of the House.
>. "As regards committee hearing,
! have now every reason to belleV'
that no formal hearing was ever sc
! or announced from either the desl
! or the bulletin boaId-evidence 4
that effect coming from your owl
p committee.
"As for myself, thought it woul
o be best to arrange for hearing be
?. fore the House, as in cases hereto
fore. | intended to take no par
I | UlNHtli. sDul cAAhHiy W -
q two gentlemen from Windsor TO al
pear. This plan YOU seemed to "a
vor. but am bold to say that II wa
. owing entirely to you that this OF
a portunity was not given, or even tn
" bill allowed TO go back to the con
n mittee of which you are the chai
h man; and | believe that your conduC
n. was guided. all the time, by selfis
a and unworthy motives.
"A up to noon today, chance is ope
n for you to see that this matter
corrected-lt lies with you, entirel,
MY own action in this matter hs
been one of pure desire to see tn;
this convict has his full chance, u
same as all others have had, and 9
y" pecially because he had no friend
money behind him. The Winds'
~ | gentlemen are of such charact'
s. that unless they had some reason
IN they deemed substantial, they you
OF not take the matter up.
I'd when the drop falls from und,
is the boys feet, think that you W
TO have something to think of, and u
as charge you made yesterday that
be had taken the matter up in the vi
ne had for the sake Of personal notC
iety, I resent to the utmost
Yours truly.
at M. ]. Hapgood.
DIS Mr.. Ryder Of Rockinham explai
or ed that he had notified the gentlem
Is. from Peru to bring before the CO
ed mittee such witnesses as might wi
or to be heard. He had held the bill
lie him and reminded him that II "
nd time to report the bill. but being
ito quested to hold it until after the
cess this vas done. He moved Il