Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-04-06

The fiasco of Lieut.. Barrett and Mar
shall Harrington of the Salem Mass.
police force in their attempted arrest of a
resident of Canada in the town of Norton
and the subsequent escape of their "pris-
oner'' at Island Pond is resulting in lib
eral advertising campaign for both Salem
and Island Pond, The article published
in the Herald of the affair came to the
notice of Arthur Howard, editor of the
Salem (Mass) Mercury, and led him to
investigate the matter. The people of
Vermont, and the editorial fraternity
especially, will remember Howard, for he
guided the destiny of THE Advance" dur
ing that period OF the paper when it was
biting into the surmised evil doing of YER
monters officially, and tackled the big
task of righting alleged evils in state gov
eminent. Howard said many bright and
cutting things about men and affairs, and
has keen scent in ferretting out crooked
work.
Editor Howard wrote to leading resi-
dent of Island Pond for an accurate state
ment of facts. In the meantime copy
of The Herald had fallen into the hands
of the editor of The News and the article
was published by that paper.
Mr.. Howard's charges against the Sa-
lem officers was based on this letter in
reply to his inquiry, which follows:
Dear Sir:-I have read carefully the
clipping from the Salem News and can
assure you that no one is more familiar
with the whole transaction than | am
The truth of the matter is that on the
first trip to Vermont of Lieut. Barrett he
met the Deputy Sheriff of Island Pond
whose name is Elias A. Bemis, and who
has been an officer for more than l4years
An intelligent, educated man who might
be able to give Lieut.. Barrett few points
about the service of process as well a.
other matters of business.
Deputy Sheriff Bemis refused to arres
Payeur without some kind of warrant
Barrett wanted the man arrested withou
any warrant at all or on some warrant is
sued by the authorities of Massachusetts
AS | understand it Mr.. Bemis told Lieut.
Barrett that he thought he knew where
the man was located, refusing to arres
him because he had no right to do so
Barrett came to Island Pond, thence
went by automobile over a new trunk lin,
road now being constructed, to Morton
Mills, and on his arrival found that Payeu
had gone away on business not to escape
but to purchase supplies for mill which
was then being conducted by his uncle a
Lake Station, Vermont.
| saw Lieut.. Barrett at the Stewar
House on his first trip, but made no &C.
quaintance with him. AS to the seconc
| expedition | saw both Barrett and Har-
rlngton. 1t appears that a warrant had
been issued based upon an indictment
passed by the Grand Jury of Essex Coun-
ty, Massachusetts, for the arrest of DoriIla
Payeur for giving false check for auto
mobile or automobile supplies that this
warrant was sent to John P. McClintock,
a Deputy Sheriff residing in the town Of
Norton 1t appears also that Payeur was
a citizen of Canada and by false state
ments was induced to come into Vermont
that he was arrested at the request OF
Lieut.. Barrett and Marshal Harrington
by Mr.. McClintock on a warrant that
had no legal force. 1t appears also that
the arrest made by Mr. McClintock al
the request of these gentlemen was false