Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-15
JUDGE IMPOSES SENTENCES
Then United States Court Ad.
jOurns for a Month.
Morphine Peddlefs, smusGlers Of
Aliens and Embesnling Postmaster
Receive Their Medicine-E3en.
ninEton Cashier BalIed.

Thursday. and Judge Harland B. Howe.
completing the work which can be done
at this time, adjourned court In the
afternoon to a date from four to six
weeks distant. when the session will be
resumed. Court will re-convene about the
middle Of April when the case against
Catherine Ravens, charged with viola
ton of the pension law, will be taken up.
District Attorney Vernon A. Billiard had
this case ready for trial and the Jurors
had been summoned but on account Of
the illness Of the respondent It was con-
tinued until she RECEIVERS
Michael Green and John Green pleaded
guilty to an indictment found by the
grand jury at the present term of court
charging them with the illegal sale Of
large amount Of morphine. Each was
fined $500 and paid. The two brothers.
while partners in their business in Fair
Haven, sold to one Patrick Leonard OF
Saratoga, n. r., 27e grains Of morphine
sulphate. thereby violating the provisions
of section 9 of the act of December II,
1914. Judge Howe before imposing SEN
tence, stated that felonious intention on
the part Of the two men indicted vas
absent. The law is practically new one
and consideration must be given the
medical profession and dealers In becom-
ing familiar with 1t. AS a penalty a fine
Of 5000 or a sentence Of five years i'm
prisonment or both may be imposed.
Charles F.. Manahan, who has been at
the county Jail in this city for the past
four months, following his arrest at St.
Adams. where he was caught with two
Cinnamon whom he was smuggling into
this country. pleaded guilty to an indict-
ment found at the present term of court
charging him with smuggling aliens into
the United States. In speaking Of Mana
hams case. Judge Howe stated that no
had been convinced that there was what
might almost be termed a syndicate. the
members of which were engaged in the
business of bringing Cinnamon into this
country. Members Of this syndicate when
caught have been able to furnish bail in
large amounts. The prisoner was not. In
the mind Of the court, a member OF this
syndicate. District Attorney v. A. Billiard
had been willing to lower the amount
of BAIL which had been brought down to
$500. but Manahan was unable to furnish
even this small amount. The court thought
that Manahan was practically new at the
game and. having already been in prison
four months waiting to plead. the court
imposed a sentence Of six months at the
Washington county jail in Montpelier
Sam Feldman. who has been in Jail at
Newport since his arrest on the charge OF
bringing an alien woman into this coun-
try from Canada, pleaded guilty 10 the
indictment found against him by the
grand jury at this term Of court. Judge
Howe stated that he had from the facts
given him arrived at the conclusion that
Feldman was not professional and was
new at the business He sentenced him
to serve six months in the Chtttenden
county Jail in this city. Feldman having
been confined in the jail at Newport for
about four months.
Austin w. Phelon Of Dorset pleaded
guilty to indictments charging him with
embezzlement. Phelon, while postmaster
at Dorset. failed to make three quarterly
postal reports to the government officials
The money which he should have remit
ted to the government he placed in his
lock box at the bank. Another indict-
ment charged him with not renting as
postmaster on three packages sent to him
by the -Hanley company OF North
Adams Mass. Phelon's embezzlement
consisted Of his not paying over the quar-
terly balances. as provided by law. it not
being charged that he misused the money
belonging to the government but had kept
1t in his lock box after 1t should have
been sent to the department. 1t devel-
oped that at the time Phelon was going
through bankruptcy. On this indictment
Phelon was sentenced to pay $27S.79. the
amount which he had wrongfully withheld
from the government. On the second in
dictment Judge Howe found that Phelon
had not RENTED at the time he should
have. Technically he was guilty. but,
there was no felonious intent. On this in
dictment Phelon was fined $2066. the
amount to which the three e. o. D..
packages came.
Ernest f. Keefe Of Bellows Falls
pleaded guilty to an indictment which
charged him with keeping money which
had been given to him while he was a
rural mail carrier by persons on his route
who intended that he should obtain money
orders for them. 1t developed that Keefe
is young man. recently, married. with
one child. Since the trouble with the
government he has been Industrious and
had succeeded in saving some money The
court was Of the opinion that Keefe. who
pleaded guilty to a serious offense. fell
upon the day he took the money given
to him for money orders but that a light
sentence would be Of much more good
to him than term in prison. Keefe was
ordered to pay a fine Of $3o.17. and costs
Of 32l.
Louis Girard Of Berkshire pleaded
guilty to an Indictment charging him
with resisting an officer. Girard, while
intoxicated. struck at an officer. He was
fined SO and paid.
Nicholas Melissones, against whom an
indictment was found at the present term
Of court. charged with illegally bringing
drugs into this country from Canada.
was in court He was admitted TO bail
in the sum Of 5000. the National Surety
company Of New York becoming surety.
Nicholas Is one Of tho Greeks upon
whom a large quantity of drugs was
recently found at Alburg. The court in
structcd Nicholas to report at the gov.
eminent ONCE in New York every few
days, stating that 1t was not the inten-
ton OF the government that he should
get away without trial.
The case of the United States against
William F.. French and others, was con-
tinued to the May term Of court
Harry Fl. Sharpe. for about six wears
cashier OF the Bennington National bank.
indicted at the present session Of United
States court for taking about 5000 from
the bank by which he was employed, was
taken before United States Commissioners
Thomas H. Browne OF Rutland late Wed.
nesday night and admitted to 5000 bail.
The indictment charges Sharpe with en-
bezzlement Of the banks funds. misap-
plication OF the banks money, false
entries in the banks books and upon the
reports sent to the comptroller Of the
currency.
n