The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-14
District Attorney Now Max
ing His Plea in Federal
Court
SEATS IN GREAT
DEMAND BY WOMEN
Some Went to Federal Building as IL
O'clock This Morning, Taking Their
Lunch-Serious Charge Against Re-
spondent Says Government Counsel.

As early as II o'clock today women
began to arrive at the federal buildings in
order TO be sure of seats in the court
room at the resumption Of the trial of
Rev. Clarence H. Waldron OF Windsor,
charged with sedition. Many of the first
corners brought their lunches When
court opened at ! o'clock every seat was
occupied
Several minutes were consumed in pre-
liminary discussion and at lilo o'clock
District Attorney V. A. Bullard OF Bur
llngton began his argument He asked
the jury to eliminate sympathy and be
as heroic as the boys in the trenches. He
said no more serious olTense could be
imagined than that with which the re-
spondent was charged, also that the re-
spondent had denied the truth of the tes-
timony OF every witness the government
had produced. The time came on June
>, 1917, he said, when all young men must
be yielded up if necessary and no one
must restrain them. He pointed out that
the allegations were that the respondent
undertook TO prevent young men from
performing their duty under the law
Mr.. Bullard said he would undertake
to show that the respondent knew every
word in the pamphlet, The Word Of the
Cross, when he gave out copies OF it. The
district attorney then took up in detail
| the testimony OF the government wit
nesses, saying he would show that in max
ing the alleged statements Waldron was
pursuing the course pointed out in the
pamphlet. The Word of the Cross.
The prosecution closed at 220 and Neil
Clawson OF Brattleboro began the opening
argument for the defense
In order that there might be time
TO complete the arguments this after
noon Judge Harland B. Howe in order
I ing recess Saturday said that court
would re-convene at l clock TODAY
which is an hour earlier than usual.
| District Attorney V. A. Bullard of
Burlington and Attorney Robert c.
/ Bacon each has two hours at his dis
posal. When they have finished their
/ arguments Judge Howe viii order an
other recess TO tomorrow morning.
when the charge to the jury will be de-
/ livered and the case will be rlaced in
their hands for decision.
| Much interest has been manifested in
/ this case, which is the first Jury trial
in the new federal building, and all
/ the seating capacity has been occupied
! at each session, while many have stood
III the corridor because they could not
gain admission to the court room.
But seven or eight witnesses were ex-
amlned by the government, while more
tlan twice that number testified in be-
half of the respondent, including the
respondent himself With two or three
exceptions all are present residents of
Windsor or lived there during the time
IN which it IS alleged the minister
committed acts of sedition, and prac-
tlcaily all attended the Baptist church.
of which he was pastor.
| The respondent made a good impress
tsion on the witness stand, and the tes-
tlmony, showing that many of the wit
nesses left the Baptist church when the
| pastor was asked to resign, which is
indicative of a good sized church row.
undoubtedly has aroused considerable
sympathy for him.
Attorney Bacon was allowed a LARGO
number of exceptions, the last one of
which was to the court S general refus-
al TO direct 4 verdict of not guilty. At
the close of the testimony on the
ground that the ofenses alleged in the
indictment were not proved In the
event of verdict of guilty the case
very likely would be taken TO hiph
er court
The penalty prescribed by the federal
statutes for a case of this kind is i'm.
prlsonment not to exceed 90 years or
a tne of not to exceed $4,000. or
both, in the discretion of the court.
Waldron has not been surrendered bv
his bondsmen, but is free to go and
come as he chooses. Yesterday he and
Samuel R. Waldron, attended services
IN the Centre Congregational church.