Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
CHARGES FATHER
WITH ABUSING HER
Miss Carrie Dunton Sues John
D. Dunton for $4,000
State Charges Dunton with Breach Of
Peace - Respondent Calls for Jury
Trial-Wants Guardian for Daughter.

Because of alleged assaults and inn
| prisonment II suit in trespass to recov-
er $4,000 was brought Saturday in the
Windham county court by Miss Carrie
Dunton of Highland street against her
father, John b. Dunton, and the YER
mont National bank and Vermont Saw
ings bank trustees. The legal process
was served by Sheriff Frank L. Well
man, who attached Mr.. Dunton S sec
ond-hand furniture store on Flat street
and took possession of and closed the
store He attached also whatever de-
posits Mr.. Dunton had in the two banks
named. The suit is brought through
the law office of Neil d. Clawson and
is made returnabe at the September
term of county court.
Miss Dunton, the plaintiff, is a grad
uatc of the Brattleboro high school and
was one of the Austine prize winners.
Later she attended Middlebury college
three years, working her way. After
wards she taught school and for sever
al months she has been living with her
father and step-mother, Mrs. Minnie
Dunton. At present she ia at the home
of her sister, Mrs j. Frank Woodbury..
The writ alleges that on Feb 10 of
this year Mr. Dunton beat and i'll treat
ed the plaintiff with a weapon consist
ing of two straps with a heavy metal
tip and ring, causing injuries and pain
about her head, back, limbs and other
parts of her body. A similar assault is
alleged to have taken place on Feb. %.
1t is alleged that on March 2S, Mrs.
Minnie Dunton by direction and per-
mission of the defendant assaulted her
step daughter with long and heavy
stick with metal band about five inches
, wide and with her hands and fists threw
{ the plaintiff on the floor and beat and
illtreated her so that for time her life
4 was despaired of. 1t is alleged that on
a April Mrs. Minnie Dunton assaulted
= the girl again with her hands, fists and
feet, while wearing heavy leather shoes.
1t is alleged that on May 90 Mrs. Min
= ME Dunton again assaulted the girl
!. with stick and threw her to the floor
Is and beat and ill treated her.
!" On July Is it is alleged that Mrs
Minnie Dunton assaulted the pIaintiff
e. with her hands, fists and feet. On this
Id day, it is said, Miss Dunton ran to the
l. home of her sister and that later in
J. the day Mr. Dunton went there and
8 took her back home. The writ charges
d that on that day Mr.. Dunton struck,
choked, wounded and i'll treated his
n daughter, using upon her the two straps
4 with metal tip and ring, which is said
to be razor strap.
c On the following day it is alleged
0 that Mr.. Dunton lay hold of his daugh-
. ter pulled and dragged her, struck her
many blows and imprisoned her in a
q room where she remained three days
c 1t is charged that on July 23 Mrs. Min
ME DuntOn again assaulted the girl
and kept her in prison 16 hours.
Mr. Duston was brought into the mu-
nicipal court by Sheriff Frank L. Well
man Monday on warrant issued
by States Attorney Z. w. Gibson
charging him with a breach of the
peace. The complaint sets up mistreat-
ment of his daughter, Miss Carrie Dun
ton, on July IS.
State S Attorney Gibson appeared for
the state and Attorney H. G. Barber
for the respondent. Attorney Barber
stated to Judge A. E. Cudworth that
the respondent would waive examina-
. ton and plead not guilty. This meant
a jury trial and Mr.. Barber said that
he would like little time in which to
prepare the case and summon witnesses,
: some of whom lived at some distance.
: Mr.. Gibson said he had no objection to
reasonable continuance, but he
thought jury might be drawn aLl
some progress made in that way
e Attorney Barber expressed prefer
II ence to postponing the drawing of
= jury as the minds of the iurymen might
become preiudiced by conversation and
IL newspaper accounts. Judge Cudworth
Z announced that the jury would be
drawn Thursday, Aug. I, at > p. M,
Z and that the trial would be held the
! following day. Bail was fixed at $500
y and the respondent was released on his
u own recognizance
e An interesting development in the
: civil suit brought by the daughter took
e place Monday, notice being served
y on the defendants counsel that the
u suit brought Saturday, when Mr.. Dun
IT tons property was attached and his
store closed, had been discontinued.
y 1t is understood that this was done
- because of intmation by the defend
IS ant S attorney that he would bring a
IS suit for illegal process. Another action
- was brought, however. which is the
- same as the other with the exception
!" that the defendant 5 real estate and
ri personal property are attached by copy
81 and his deposits are not attached, and
n that he has been given kew to his
Iv store and allowed to carry on business.
10 Yesterday afternoon Judge Cudworth.
~ Sheriff Wcllman and Attorneys Gibson
and Barber met in the municipal court
room to draw a jury in the state case
against Mr. Dunton, but it appeared that
Of the state would take one day and the
r defense two, and as the court did not
e. wish to hold jury over Sunday it was
d. decided to postpone drawing jury UNI
X til next Monday. When the case will
O. be tried is not known, as some other
eo cases already set may prevent trying it
irl next week.
ind; A.
Ter defense would be by stating that h,
ly, should call some expert witnesses to show
ill that the girl was insane, also that NJ
,re more restraint was placed upon her thar
Twas necessary under the circumstances.