Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-16
GAN TELL BRAND
BY THE TASTE
Representative from Brunswick
Causes Laughter by Testifying
in Whiskey Smuggling Case

Montpelier, Jan. 1.-THE following Is
the testimony Of Michael ]. O'Dowd. rep
resentative from Brunswick. before Judge
II. Il. Howe in United States District
Court which caused so much laughter
and Friday afternoon and Sat
urday. He was testifying in the case
of the government against John Mullins.
the trial resulting in a verdict in favor of
Mullins.
Mr.. O'Dowd testified according to the
court records thus:
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR..
BULLARD
O.. What is your name? A. Michael.
@. II where do you i've? A.. Bruns-
wick, VT.
Q. DO you represent that town in the
Legislature this year? A.. Yes.
@. DO you know this Alfred Smith
that was on the witness stand? A.. l do.
Q. Know what he was doing last sum-
mer? A. He was a newsboy on the
Grand Trunk railroad.
Q. Along in July or August did you
buy some liquor Of Smith? A. l did.
@. How much did you buy? A. Why.
in the latter part of July, to be exact
on the date, I do not remember did
not pay any attention to tit was after
i''y Aio tii' = u sON '''F ''S
and l got on the train and went to Island
Pond and ! bought a quart. I would not
say just what place between Island Pond
and North Stratford.
Q. What was the label on the whiskey
you bought? A. The label was Imperial
Whiskey.
Q. Are you acquainted with that brand
Mike? Why. l think I am.
@. Did it tell on the label where II
was made? A. 1t did.
Q. Where? A. l did not examine the
label very close. understood it was
made in canada.
Q. What do you remember about 1t
what did the label say, where did 1t com
from? A. You mean the kind of liquor
q. Yes, where it was made, what thu
label said about 1t? A. The label SALE
Imperial Whiskey.
Q. What docs the label say as to wher'
it came from. whether made In Canadf
or somewhere else. Imperial Whiskey
that was the brand. Can you tell wha
it said with reference to where it wal
made? A.. If the court please. / will tel
you. II you will allow me to take 4 small
taste Of the liquor. naughter.)
O.. Could you tell by tho taste of tn,
whiskcy whether it was Imperial Wits
key or not? o, I nave lone so before.
Q. AS the taste of the liquor linger
In your memory-that taste as 1t come
along down, now what do you say as t
where 1t came from7
(Court)-wouid that be evidence to tel
where 1t came from?
Mr. Bullard)-He says he would be abb
to tell from tho taste.
A. ! purchased my liquor in Vermont
daughter In Court.)
Q. And you drank 1t there? A.. Yei
Q. Can you tell by the taste whethe
or not it was Imperial Whiskey? A..
think the court will uphold me in m
testimony. I do not want to testify unit
l taste it. daughter in court.)
(Court)-I will have to deny that re
, quest.)
> Q. You probably drank pretty near a
Of it? A. Yes.
= Q. Can you remember the taste we
enough to tell whether or not 1t wa
Imperial Whiskey? A.. ] could not tie.
tfy under oath whether it was Imperis
!, Whiskey. The bottle was labeled, this
l will testify to as far as the whiskey
concerned. as near as my memory allow
me. ] was in a hurry to open that bottl
that Is all | can testify to.
Q. But you do remember the label?
. Imperial Whiskey.
Q. Were you acquainted with Imperi
W~hiskey-do you know that brandt !
l certainly do. daughter in court.)