The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-20
Decision of Supreme Court
in Case Against Last
Block Company
MEAD AUTOCASE
is ARGUED TODAY
Two Windsor County Cases Involving
Statutory Offenses Disposed of,
Judge Miles Reading Opinion in One,
Other Being Withdrawn.

A large part of the forenoon today |
in the session of the Vermont supreme
court in the Brooks House parlor was
devoted to arguments in the case of F.
L. Wellman, administrator of the estate
of Mrs. Bert NJ. Stone of Brattleboro,
against Barney E. Mead, well-known
automobile dealer in this town. The
arguments were on an appeal from the
Judgment of the Windham county court,
where the jury awarded the plaintiff
damages of 1000 as a result of an ac-
cident in which Mrs. Stone was fatally
injured while riding from Springfield,
Mass, to Brattleboro in an automobile
driven by Mr.. Mead. Several points
are in issue, chief of which is the claim
of the defendant that the Vermont
courts have no jurisdiction in the case
and that the case comes under penal
statute in Massachusetts, Arguments
were made by Attorney w. r. Daley for
| Mr.. Mead and Attorney +. +. Barber
! for the estate, after which court took
La recess until clock, when Attorney
Harrie 3. Chase closed the arguments
in behalf of Mr.. Mead
An important decision of the court
was that of Judgment affirmed in the
ease of Affra Ryder of Brattleboro
against the Vermont Last Block com
tpany. In the county court Mr.. Ryder
was awarded damages Of $l0,50l.55 for
Injuries received while at work in the
defendant s factory on Vernon street.
The company is now in bankruptcy and
is in the process of liquidation. Gleason
s Wilcox of Montpelier counsel for the
company, did not press their exceptions
and on motion of Attorney Frank +
Barber the court affirmed the Judgment
This was the second largest verdict fol-
damages for personal injuries ever ren
ldcred in the Windham county court
ATTORNEY Harrie B. Chase was assoclat
cd with Mr.. Barber.
In the case of the state against Ed
ward R. Eaton, formerly of Hartland
, convicted of a statutory offense witt
Mrs. Rena NJ. Brittell, the petition 70
a re-hearing for Eaton was withdraw
and Eaton will serve his sentence.
At the special term of the Wind1o
count court last year Edward Il. Eat
on was convicted with Mrs. Rena NJ
! Brittell and sentenced to four to tiv
wears in the state prison at Windsor
His attorneys were Z. l.. Moore of Lud
low, assisted by Loren r. Pierce o
Woodstock Mrs. Brittell was convict
, ed also and sentenced to three to fou
years and was defended by NJ. c. Taf'
| assisted by Nh Moore. State 5 Al
torney Pingree of White River juno
" tion was the prosecuting attorney
4 Counsel for Mrs. Brittell pctitioned fC
:. a rc-hearing on the ground that he
:, daughter, Hazel Brittell. who testified
q had told other persons that she was IL
!. flucnccd in testifying as she did b
y her father Later she gave an affidav
to the state 3 attorney stating that
previous affidavit given to help Ii,
mother was procured by influence.
Mr. Eaton also petitioned for r
! hearing, and this morning argumen
~ in his behalf were begun by Attornt
Moore. They had not proceeded ia
r however. when Chief Judge Watts
r called the attorneys TO the bench al
st suggested that perhaps they would n
IL wish TO argue the case after hearil
the opinion in the Brittell case, VIII,
was then read by Judge Miles tt
opinion affirmed the judgment of Il
lower court holding that suficie
IN ground for re-hearing had not be,
shown. Attorney Moore then withdre
his petition for a re-hearing for Eato
ng and the court ruled that the responde
ms take nothing by his exceptions Eato
III, who was in court, was ordered deli
mt cred into the hands of Sheriff We
or man, by whom he will be taken to t
state priSon 10 Sprya his spntanpr