Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-22
GUARDIAN NAMED
FOR MISS DUNTON
Court Appoints J. Frank Wood
bury, Her Brother.in.Law
Objection Made by Her Father-Girl
Now Earning Living and Work Is
Satisfactory, Counsel Declares.

Two petitions for the appointment of
a guardian for Miss Carrie NJ. Dunton
of Brattleboro came before the probate
court Saturday, one of which was
filed by Miss Dunton herself and the
other by her father John b. Dunton.
Attorneys w. r. Daley and Neil D.
Clawson appeared in behalf of the
young woman, who asked that her
brother-n-law, j. Frank Woodbury.. be
made guardian and Attorney II. G.
Barber appeared for Mr.. Dunton. Aft
or several arguments on both sides
Judge A. +. Schwenk appointed Mr..
Woodbury. and attorneys for the girl
filed for him a bond of $500 signed by
Arthur B. Clapp and Charles r. Crosby.
"A short time ago Miss Dunton sued
her father for 10000 alleging abusive
treatment and imprisonment and this
case is pending in the Windham coun-
ty court Mr.. Dunton was then brought
into the municipal court on complaint of
State S Attorney L. w. Gibson charg-
ing him with breach of the peace by
mistreating his daughter and that case
is pending. Mr.. Dunton then brought
n petition for the appointment of a
guardian, followed by petition by
Miss Dunton, and as there was obiec-
ton to the appointment of Mr.. Wood
bury it was arranged that both petit
tions came up Saturday.
After the appointment of Mr.. Wood
bury Attorney Barber asked that the
petition filed by Mr.. Dunton be held
open, as he did not wish to withdraw
it at this time, and this was done.
Attorney Barber s objection to Mr.
Woodbury. was that he and his wife
started the trouble between Mr.. Dun
ton and Miss Carrie Dunton and that
he was not a suitable person for tho
position. Mr.. Barber stated that Miss
Dunton was Retreat patient out on
parole, that she lived with her father
until the latter declined longer to as
sist the Woodbury. family and that
then the Woodburys made trouble be-
tween Miss Dunton and her father. He
said that Mr.. Dunton had only the best
interests of his daughter at heart and
used only such corrective measures in
chastising her as were necessary under
the circumstances.
Attorney Daley denied that the
trouble was started by the Woodburys
and stated that the complaint came
from other Brattleboro people. These
| facts, however, he said were not ma
terial in the guardianship question:
the point at issue being merely the com
potency of Mr.. Woodbury. to act. He
stated that until this trouble arose it
had not been considered that the girl was
| dangerous to walk the streets, as charged
by Mr.. Barber, and he further stated, in
reply to an assertion by Mr.. Barber that
the girl was unable to support herself
and was dependent upon her father that
Miss Dunton was now being employed
in the family of George II. Hubbard in
| Vernon, not staying at the Woodbury.
home as Mr. Barber had stated, and that
she was earning her own living and was
giving satisfaction.
The court stated that in appointing
Mr.. Woodbury. he was following the pre-
cedent of probate courts in general in
appointing such person as the ward de-
sired unless proof of the incompetency
of such person was furnished.
Because of the desire of the respond
ent to have his son present to testify,
the ease of the state against Mr.. Dun
ton in the municipal court, was con
tinued yesterday from next Tuesday,
Aug. &c, to Wednesday, Sept. 3. The
drawing of a jury, which was set for
yesterday afternoon, was continued to
Sept. >, by Judge A. T.. Cudworth.
Attorney Barber asked for a continu-
ance on the ground that the son, John
b. Dunton. ir., who is a wireless oper-
ator in the navy, was a material wit
ness and would not reach New York
until Monday Sept. /.