The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-19
MISS JOHNSON WINS
$3,625 FROM RECTOR
Rev. c. C. Wilson viii Ask for New Trial
of Breach of Promise Suit on Ground
That Verdict Was Against the
Weight of Evidence and

Boston, May ia verdict for $685.
damages was awarded to Miss Laura L
johnson last night by the jury which hac
been deliberating for eight hours on tht
evidence introduced in the federal court
lin the breach OF promise suit which she
brought against Rev. Charles G. Wilson
for $4,000.
An appeal will be entered by counsel
for the clergyman to have the verdict set
aside and new trial held in the same
court on the ground that the verdict is
against the evidence. the weight of eyi.
dence and the law. The trial lasted just
a week.
| Miss johnson was not in court when
the verdict was returned, remaining with
her father and mother in the offices of
Ralph II. Willard, her counsel. Mr.. vii.
lard and Guy IL. Horton, associate coun-
sci, received the verdict for her.
The rector was present, however, with
his counsel, Atty. Walter A. Dane. He
was apparently very nervous when the
jurors walked into the court room. The
court room scene was somewhat dramat
ic, for many of the reetor's flock, who
have been in attendance at the. trial every
day, had remained all through the after
noon and evening waiting for the finding
of the jury. The room was only dimly
lighted, and the defendant and the spec
tators were all sitting forward to hear
the verdict. The gentle tapping of Dep
uty Bancroft on the door of the clerks
office to call Frank Mason to the court
adHod IN ha etftta q .zd 1itra a
play, with the stage all set for the eli
max.
The rector stood while the jury was
going through the formaiity of handing
the verdict TO Deputy Marshal Edwards,
who. in turn, handed it to the clerk. Mr..
Wilson was visibly affected when the
verdict was read, although he made no
There was murmur of |
and disapproval among
his parishioners in the seats directly |
back OF him.
He had nothing to say following the
of court. referring his case
to his counsel. Mr.. Dane stated that he
would within three days file motion for
a new trial, which would include a re-
quest to have the verdict set aside. He
7hih AN Npulh bn1E Ms HlObAttt dH tnt
evidence and on the law as we'll
While Mr., Dane was talking to the
newspaper men the rector held an i'm
promptu reception, standing inside the
BAR enclosure while his parishioners
passed along outside and shook hands
With him. They all expressed surprise
md sorrow at the verdict, but assured
lin Of their loyalty to him.
Miss johnson was not so reticent as
he rector She was feeling in fine spir-
IS when she received the newspaper men
II her attorneys offices. and answered a
'oiiey of questions smilingly and appsr
ntly with pleasure. n
She declared that she had all the old !
owe for the rector until he took the !
witness stand Wednesday and denied the I
hings she said he knew and still knows ,
re true. She said she was truly sorry
or him during his cross examination by
Atty. Willard
In making his charge 10 the jury Judge !
forton rehearsed the formal status Of
he case, and joined with the jury in re-
retting that the affairs OF these young
eople had been brought into publicity. $
nevertheless he warned the jury iudg (
ient must be given without regard to \
r
He followed precisely Mr.. Stickney's I
tatement that the matter was that of T
contract broken. He summed up Miss L
ohnson's direct statement in three SEN II
ances. la
He said that where an implied engage.
tent is all there is, botb-not one
arties must understand and agree that
ley are to marry. Whether there was
ny express agreement was the crucial
lestion. a.