Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-04-04

rier one evening stated that Aiken was a
liar. This was after the church trial
which resulted In Aiken's suspension.
Cross-examned by Attorney Elmer john
son Of Fairfax for the defense, Pollard
further stated that Cherrier said that they
had got Aiken out Of the church.
Attorney Matthew q. Leary for the
plaintiff gave Philip c. Jones. the next
witness. a INSTRUMENTATION. Jones tes-
titled that he had lived in Fairfax for
three years and that he knew both Cher
rier the defendant and Aiken. Jones
| said he was present at GoodseiI's store
| when Fred c. Cherrier made statements
| against the pastor, who was then sus-
pended. Jones said that defendant Cher
/ rier remarked that they had got Aiken
out Of the church and that he was glad
of It as he (Aiken) had been immoral
| with the boys. Witness further declared
that Cherrier said Aiken had caused him
| a lot of trouble in his family and that he
| (Aiken) was a perfect liar. On cross
examination by Vernon A. Billiard for the
defense, Jones testified that he (Jones)
still believed that Aiken was immoral.
He had reached that conclusion from the
! talk he had heard in Fairfax before and
| after the trial and from what defendant
Cherrier said in the Goodsell store.
Fred Cherrier. nephew Of the defendant,
, and one of the boys with whom II was
alleged that Aiken had immoral dealings.
was then put on the stand in behalf Of
the plaintiff. He was examined at great
length by Attorney Sherman r. Moulton.
Cherrier testified that he was IS years old
last June and that he attended the Meth
odist Episcopal Church in Fairfax. He
never went to church before Mr.. Aiken
came. He was present at the Goodsel
store when his uncle, Fred c. Cherrier,
| the defendant in the case. talked to
number Of young men about his (the wit
ness) own age. A map was then
introduced by the plaintiff, which
showed the road to Fairfax Falls,
the Lamoille river. the covered
bridge. Marvin's lane and Marvn's woods.
He heard his uncle say that Aiken had
been turned out of the church. that he
! tAiken) had been immoral with young
men at the Lamoil!e river and that Aiken
| was not n. for any young man to as
sociatc with. The witness went walking
| with Aiken on June II, 1917, on the road
to Fairfax Falls They started about
! three O'Clock In the afternoon and walked
about mile and a half Then they came
| back and walked down South street in
| Fairfax, over a covered bridge and
through a fence into Marvin's lane and
thence down the lane to the edge of
Marvin's woods. This walk to the lane
was at the request of young Cherrier. SO
| he testified. even after they had walked
| three miles just before. They sat down
on the bank overlooking the Lamoille
river and remained there for about 10
minutes half reclining on their elbows.
or at any time with him. SO young
Cherrier testified.
Attorney johnson for the defense cross
examined young Cherrier at length. The
witness said his mother was Catholic
| but she had never asked him or made him
go to the church Of her faith. The. first
time he knew Aiken to speak to was
when the minister got him to draw some
wood for him, distance Of about so rods.
The pastor helped him with that work.
After that time the witness and Aiken
were very friendly. and frequently went
walking and called upon each other at
! their respective homes. He also went on
auto trips with Aiken. The hauling Of the
wood was about May 80. 1917. and up to
June II the witness and Aiken were
together much. The pastor gave him sew
eral neckties. At the time of their walk
to the lane on June II Bernard Hicks. the
other young man in the case. was not
they saw several people on the road to
the Fairfax Falls and on knoll overlook
ing the river and the spot where they had
been During his frequent walks with
young Cherrier. among them being to get
the cows as night, Aiken put his arms
about his neck. so the witness admitted.
but never kisses him. On direct-examina-
ton young Cherrier admitted that 1t was
very warm day in June when they went
on the walk but they wore overcoats.
Under cross-examinaton Cherrier ad-
mitted that they both had their coats
buttoned tightly about them.
Bert Rich. a milk route carrier between
Fairfax and ST. Adams. was then called
to the stand. He was examined by At
torney Leary. He testified that he was
driving to Fairfax from his potato field
that Sunday in June and he could see
Aiken and young Cherrier sitting on the
grass across the Lamoille river on knoll.
There was nothing immoral in their
, actions, so far as he could see. Several
times Attorney Leary asked the witness
| questions about certain locations on the
map which was pinned up beside the wit
ness. where the court and jury could see
| 1t. and In asking his question the attorney
pointed to the location where he wanted
the witness to answer This was vigorous
ly objected to by Attorney Johnson of the
defense and the court had to call the at
| tenton of Mr. Leary to this fact. Rich
did not attend the Methodist Episcopal
Church, SO he testified. On cross examina-
tion by Attorney Billiard for the defense,
Rich admitted that he had noticed the
exact positions of the bushes, trees. etc,
with reference to Aiken and young Cher
rler. but could not tell where either Of the
two parties were seated or were lying
with reference to the covered bridge or a
tall lone tree that marked the enc OF the
woods