The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-09
NORTHFIELD RESISTS
BEING IMPOSED UPON
Refuses to Harbor Blind Man Brought
from East Beekmantown, N. Y, and
officials There Finally Con-
clude to Take Man
AWau

| Mortified, Dec 0.--I4ast Saturday
when the evening train rolled into North
field, two persons alighted who have
been the center of interest in certain
circles in Mortified from that time up
to the departure Of the mail train yes
terday afternoon.
Sometime around the first of Feb
ruary, 1915, one Asa Sears, partially
blind man, who had come to Northfeld
a few weeks prior TO that date and had
been boarding with the family of Charles
Belknap, called on, the town Of North
field for assistance inasmuch as the
Belknaps were leaving town, and he had
no money and no place to go. He was
taken to the town home by Mr.. Fisher,
the overseer Of the poor, and there he
remained until sometime after the snow
went off in April, when he started out
one day in the absence of Mr. Fisher,
who was a juryman at Montpelier, with
the intention, as he said, of going to the
village. The next heard from him he
was in Moretown, from which place it
appears he went to Warren.
Mortified not being his residence and
he not being chargeable to the town of
Northteld, no further interest in him
was taken by the town, and he was
next heard from when Mr.. Fisher re-
ceived letter sometime in October
from Robert M. Hill, superintendent Of
the state and alien poor for the state
Of New York, who notified the town of
Northfield that one Almedore Cahen had
been committed as a yagrant to the
Clinton county almshouse, and that the
man would be returned to Mortified, |
Vt. 1t also appeared from the communi- |
cation addressed to Mr. Fisher, that this |
Almedore Cahen, alias Asa Sears, was
committed to the house of correction at |
Rutland on July Il, 1915, as d yagrant /
by the municipal court within and for
Orleans county" and that at the expira-
ton Of his term in the house of correc-
-ion he went over into New York state.
Mr.. Fisher naturally enough replied to
he letter stating that the man in ques-
ion was not resident of Mortified,
md must not be brought here.
The next scene shows Mr.. Almedore
1ahen, alias Asa Sears, leaving the even
ng train at Northfield last Saturday
light in the custody of one, William Nj.
Burke, son OF j. l.. Burke, the county
superintendent of the poor at East Beck
N. Y. The attention OF the
hief of police was attracted by the pres
nee of the blind man and the actions
4 Mr.. Burke who was endeavoring To
rocure an automobile to transport him
ut OF town Immediately, and the chief
ook into custody both Mr.. Burke and
is charge, and notified the overseer of
he poor. The oyerseer of the poor took
ounsel of Attorney Charles A. Plumley,
nd was advised to insist that Mr.. Burke !
etain the custody OF his charge, and !
eturn Immediately with him to New
'ould not in anyway become ehargeable !
r responsible, and that unless he COM
lied he would be proceeded against UNI
er the statute which makes it an Of
snse TO transport pauper into the
ate of Vermont.
Sunday interviewed, and on Monday,
,lephonic communication was had with
IT. Burke, sr., who insisted that Mr.. y
ahen, alias Sears, was ehargeable TO
he town Of Mortified, that he had
zen directed 20 deliver him 10 the over
,er of the poor in that town, and that
ny action taken by the town of North a
I'D would be taken at its risk, and IN .
iort, deiied local authorities to proceed .,
yainst his agent, his son, either crimi- !,
lily or ciyilly, and demanded his inn I
ediate release u is stated that the h
n appreciated the dilemma in which he /,
und himself, asked that no criminal !.
civil proceedings be taken and that "
be given an opportunity 10 convince
e New York authorities that they were a,
n wrong" and TO get the necessary \,
oney 10 enable him 10 comply with the
mands respecting the return Of the a
upper made by the local authorities. n
, finally succeeded in interesting his ~
Their in the case TO the extent that I'D
,orge L. Hunt Esq, Of Montpelier, APP
AIRED in Mortified in his behalf on !,
lpsday and LAWYER Hunt having been ! u