The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-03-28
.HIRSH CASE
BEING HEARD
Methods of Furniture Firm
Told in Court by Main
Proprietor
LOTTERY PROMOTION
ALLEGED BY STATE

| Members-Defense Claims Contracts |
Comply with Law-State Rests and
| Defense Begins.
| The case of the state of Vermont
against NJ Hirsh of Boston, represent
ative of the United Furniture company
of that city, in which the defendant is
charged with aiding in conducting a
lottery by selling contracts to subserib-
ers to a furniture club, was begun in
the municipal court yesterday afternoon
and dragged its weary length along to-
day.
Most of the time yesterday was spent
in arguments between counsel. State s
Attorney o. B. Hughes was assisted by
Attorney Robert C. Bacon. Hirsh was
represented by Attorney j. B. Richard
son of Boston and Attorneys Gibson &
Daley of Brattleboro. There was sell
dom a question asked that did not give
ground for five separate arguments and
sometimes the answer brought forth as
many. As an entertainment it was q
dry affair.
The state opened by calling to the
stand Max Goldman, who proved to be
the principal proprietor of the United
Furniture co. and the general manager
Of the concern. He appeared so relue-
tant TO answer questions that Attorney
0 Bacon claimed TO the court that he was
a hostile witness He finally admitted
e that he bought stock in the concern in
: 1915. He could not name the canvass
ers who were in the employ of the
d company at that time. As general
q manager he employed five or six can
q vassers and solicitors.
d His method of doing business he ex-
/ planned was to have a eanvasser get a
/ contract with q customer and make the
a first collection of 25 cents. The next
trip to the customer was made by a
ssverifier' and then came the collector
!, who collected the remainder of the
n weekly payments of 25 cents each. AT
e this point Mr.. Richardson made several
a concessions that We're calculated, he
= said, to save time. They had to do
: with the general history of the business
u that had been obtained from the wit
ness. There was no cross-examination
- Mrs. Philip Conwell of Canal street
was the first of the local witnesses
Harry Lisker was the canvasser who
had approached her. This was on Jan
20. He told her that she might be the
lucky one and get q prize for quarter
I1 He told her that each week some per
u son in Brattleboro who was a member
of the club got a piece of furniture
Lisker gave her credit for % cents OIL
- the contract card. The following Mon
day another man came and she paid 2
cents. Hirsh made the last four collee
tions. She had stopped making pay
or ments after the arrest of Hirsh in Bel
in lows Falls.
he he Mrs Anna Smith of Canal stree
a. told a story similar in many detail:
no She told of her mother having been
,Jy member of the club and that she got
Of piece of furniture.
'ot Mrs. c. W. Kelsey of Spring stree
m; was the next witness. She had just ri
os ceived notice that she had been award
ed piece of furniture and that it wa
m. then at the freight house.
,iu W. o. Fullam of Bellows Falls tol
TO of there having been a club there
ur- weeks and of having received buffe
lge w. II. Taylor of Bellows Falls test
his fed to statements made to him by re
md resentatives of the company that flu
the niture was awarded as the result
zen weekly drawings.
ich At this point the case was continue
i'd to this morning at o'clock.
)dd When the hearing was resumed til
morning, Mrs. David O'Keefe w
ple called as the first witness. She tesi
hat fled that she was induced to join Il
om club by Canvasser Linder, who to
ipe her there was a drawing once a we,
= in Boston. Hirsh had collected fro
,llv her.
Mrs. F. R. Cutting had received
Epieee of furniture after having pa
MOL only 25 cents, one week s dues. s
-ay was the first member of the club to
-, ceive anything. She did no work f
the concern until after she had
ceived the furniture.
Mrs. Charles Spaulding and NJ
Bowker testified to being members
the club.
Andrew Griffin received piece
ace furniture after making but one pa
ment. He had done no work for
club.
eau The defense was basing much of
geu claim to immunity from prosecution
drs. a clause in tho contract which is
ex- the effect that the furniture. compa
'urt selects members of the club to reeei
to presents who have done the most VIC
Jury for the company.
Mrs. Carl Harrington testified
receiving an art square worth $l7
after having paid II installments. S
gave one or two names of neighbors
the canvassers.
Mrs. George Holden testified
ieS statements made to her by the Fl
canvasser about drawings in Bost
rha She said that she asked him about
: - clause in the contract about work.
-: for the company and he told her