Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-12-22

ing lie Dccune StOckHViueT anu VI
rector in the Hooker, Corser Mitchell
Co.. makers of overalls and garments,
when that concern was taken over by
w. II. Proctor and new associates from
three former directors, being instrument
tai in forming the new company and
doing the legal work. He represented
the Crowell interests in the controversy
over the purchase by the village from
the late George +. Crowell of the Brat
tleboro water system, and rcorganized |
that business under the name of the |
Brattleboro Water Works Co. under pri. I
vate ownership. The list of enterprises
in which he was interested as counsel, |
stakeholder, director or other capacity !
might be continued almost indefinitely.
From the time he passed his boyhood
Mr.. Fits took an active part i'll Re
publican politics and became familiar
figure in local caueuses and county dis
trict and state conventions. His work
was an important factor in placing
William p. Dillingham; of Montpelier
in the United States senate and the late
Col. Kittredge Haskins of Brattleboro
in the house Of representatives. He was
offered the position of judge Of the
United States court at Cape Nome,
Alaska, at a salary of $500, but de-
clined on account of his personal af
fairs, although approaching the offer.
He gave freely of his time and en-
ergy in campaigning for Republican
candidates and filled numerous appoint.
ments for the Republican national com
mittec. He was forceful and incisive
speaker, always making deep impress
sion upon his audience by his convinc-
ing logic.
In 1900 Mr.. Fits was considered the
most representative Young Republican
for Brattleboyp to send to the legisla
turc, but on account of contest before
the caucus he withdrew in favor of
Judge +. l.. Waterman. Two years later
he was the nominee of his party, but was
beaten at the election by the late DR..
James Conland, the license question be-
ing pushed to the front as the main and
almost the only issue in the contest. In
1904 he won the election over NJ. J.
Moran, the Democratic nominee. He
was then but "a years old. He served
as chairman of the Judiciary committee
and as n member of the ways and means
committee, two of the most important
committees.
1t was at this session of the legisla-
turc that the Office Of attorney general
was created the bill originating in the
senate, and Mr.. Fits was the choice of
the legislature to fill that important
position. He served in that capacity
for two biennial terms with conspicu-
Gus success. Notable among the eases in
his first term was that of Mary NJ.
Rogers of Bennington, who murdered
!, her husband and who was executed in
the state prison Dee. S, 1905, after a
prolonged legal battle which took the
case to the United States supreme court
and in which counsel for the woman
/; took advantage of every legal techni-
cality. Numerous other important
cases were prosecuted by the attorney
general, usually ending in victory for
the state
For some years previous to his clec
ton to the Office Of attorney general
!, Mr.. Fits was on que side or the Other
OF nearly all the Tases' which came be
fore the Windhain county court at New
fame, but from that time on, as his rcpu
tation spread, his attention was more
and more given to larger cases outside
the jurisdiction of that court
The growth of his business demand
ed additional office facilities, and il
May, 1907, he rented the second anC
third floors of the Vermont Nationa
bank building, moving a few weeks
later from Offices in Crosby block. His
business since then has occupied the
whole of both floors except the room
used by the probate court, and for sew
cral years he has had the able assist
ance of Attorney Hermon +. Eddy ant
Attorney Harold f.. Whitney, formc
students in his office, besides tive
stcnographers and occasional assistanc,
from Attorney Hale X. Darling, nov
. lieutenant governor, and others. TIL,
Office is equipped with an unusual,
large and fine library.
e Four years ago Mr.. Fits was elected
0 president Of the Vermont Bar associa
: ton. He had served as member o.
t the board to examine candidates for adj
0 mission to the Vermont bar Last sum
= mcr he and Mrs. Fits attended meet
e ing of the American Bar association il
t Chicago, as vacation trip.
r Mr.. Fits was a strong believer il
n state prohibition as a temperance meas
}. ure, and he had formidable array o
n facts at his command in support of hi
G contention. "Our first duty is to pro
o tect our boys,' he used to say, "anC
n there should be no let-up in this re
+ gard. "
S Since 1901 Mr. Fits had been a mem
Der of the Centre Congregations
{ church. He was one of its most gener
b Gus supporters and was a member of tn
e board of religious education and of tn
I prudential committee. For a long tim
G he had taught a class of young men il
l. the Sunday school. He was deeply in
tercsted in the work of the church an,
h allied organizations, and his participa
d ton in it was a pleasure to him and Il
r all others concerned. He was identiie,
: also with the state Congregational bod,
II and with the state Y. NJ. C. A.
Z He was very loyal to his native tow
J. of Wardsboro and became one of com
d pany to purchase the Green Mountai,
: House in West Wardsboro and make
d an attractive country hotel more 70
/ that reason than for any other.
i The home life of Mr.. Fits and hi
u family was delightful. His house at L
l Oak street. which was the former Rich
! ardson place adjoining the home of hi
u mother and sisters, was the abode o
r. LAVA nj hn ,,,I IL f.l