The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-10-20
ROOSTER is RESTORED
Mock Trial in High School Hall Fur
nished Enjoyable Entertainment.

THAT the defendent, George B.
yelling, is guilty of the crime of
chicken stealing, but that he be Civ
en- another rooster was the verdict
brought in by the jury at the High
school hall, Y. NJ c. A. Auxiliary
Mock Trial Tuesday evening.
The unique entertainment, under
the direction of Col A. V. Newton of
Worcester who also acted as counsel
for the defense, was enacted smooth
ly and crowd, which filled the hall
to the doors, assured the financial
success of the enterprise.
The entertainment began at S.l5
with the advent of Judge Edward c.
Bennett Clerk of Court Il. II. Holden
called several minor cases, among
them the Commonwealth VS.. II. Mac
Gregor Ritchie, charged with Over
eXertion; the commonwealth VS..
Charles II. Potter charged with ex
ceeding the speed limit with his
horse and carriage and the common
wealth vs. Collins NJ. Graves, charged
with having run down Bennington's
traffic squad with a Ford. All being
represented by counsel Mr.. Ritchie
was discharged on the proviso he
never over-exerted again; Mr.. Potter
was pardoned because his counsel eX-
planned that from his youth up he
had always exceeded the speed limit;
and Collins Graves olfense was over
looked ON the condition that he sell
his Ford and buy an automobile.
William A. Root as plaintiff began
the amusement with his advent on
the witness stand He maintained
that George yelling entered his chic
ken coop last Christmas eve, lifted a
Plymouth Rock rooster of a fiery red
and escaped with the bird to North
Bennington. He maintained that he
learned the thief's identity because
MIR Wellng had subsequently had
his bird at a cock-fight in Miss Rog-
er's barn although it was difficult for
Mr. Root to explain his presence at
these sporting affairs unchaperoned.
Four witnesses we're called, Law
renee Griswold, Arthur Holden, DR..
Henry s. Goodall, +. d. Mabrey and
Il. 3. Patterson. Mr. Patterson was
searched before his examination and
a huge pistol, vintage of AS, was re-
moved from his belt to check auy de-
signs he may have had on witnesses
or court. The argument made by the
plaintiff held that MIR. yelling had
been apprehended by the plaintiff
and the witnesses leaving the Root
chicken-coop The defense main
tanned that the Witnesses were not in
condition on the night before Christ
mas to know Mr.. yelling if they met
him, that Mr. yelling was victim
OF circumstances and that the thief
escaped the promises while Mr. Well |
ing was in the neighborhood while
the latter was charged with the
crime.
Much amusement was furnished
both by the jurymen and witnesses
when, stating their various occupa-
tions. Counsel for the plaintiff relied
largely on Mr.. Welling's well-known
propensity for investigating his
neighbor's hen-coops to secure yer
diet while Col Newton unburdened
his system of spectacular five
minute speech during which it was |
necessary for him to reprimand one
of the Jury who he claimed had fall |
len asleep.
Dean Martin as court officer in the |
part of an Irish policeman, did es-
pecially amusing work and court was
opened and closed by the crier, Fred
n. Austin Mr. yelling on the wit |
ness stand did not appear nervous in |
the least and replied to the cross-ex-
animation in a redoubtable bro9ue.
DR.. Goodal gave damaging testimony
as an insanity expert and the replies
of MIR. Griswold Mr.. Holden and Mr..
Patterson were equally amusing.
Judge Bennett in charging the jury
said that he did not know how much |
he should charge them, but Mt least
they should divide with the court
what they were paid by the counsel
Tor both sides for bringing in YER
dic;
The jury composed of Frank e.
Howe, foreman), Wills 7. White,
Ralph A. Jones, Fred c. Martin, c.
yelling Thatcher, Arthur +. Hollis
ter, James Il. Burke, Or. f. S. Braley,
William II. Cushman, DR.. Fred S.
Pratt. H. MacGregor Ritchie and Roy
N. Paddock brought in a verdict of
guilty and the court sentenced the
defendent to spend the rest of his life
in North Bennington, to which his
counsel Immediately objected, stating
that the Constitution expressly pro-
hibits the infliction of any cruel and
unusual punishment.
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