davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
EXPLOSION DAMAGES HOUSE.
Partition Filled from Unplugged Fix
ture, and Lighted Match Produces
Disastrous Results.

A gas explosion caused by an inves-
tigation for leak with lighted
match resulted in much damage about
8 Wednesday night at the home of Mr..
and Mrs. Z. A. Johnson of 65 Chestnut
street, and following the explosion fire
broke out, but it was extinguished with
one pail of water. No one was injured,
although several persons, including four
of Linde Kall's children, were in the
house.
The johnson house formerly was
lighted with gas, but three or four years
ago it was wired for electricity by
Schorling & Spaulding, and the family
had used no gas since the supply was
shut off previous to the electrical wir-
ing. Recently. however, Mrs. Johnson 3
brother gave her gas stove and the
connections were made Wednesday by
another brother, Linde Kali. When the
connections were completed Mr.. Kali
lighted the stove. Soon his niece, Miss
Edith Johnson, called from an upstairs
room that she smclled gas. Mr.. Kali at
once investigated the stove connections
and went into several rooms, lighting
a match in each and holding it short
distance from the electric fixture to
determine Wnetner lnefe WAS any leak.
The next room he entered was the front
room. or parlor, and as soon as the
match was lighted the explosion result
ed, and the lath caught fire. Mr.. Kali
ran to the cellar and shut off the flow
of gas and then returned and extin.
guished the fire with pail of water
before the automobile fire truck, which
had been called by telephone arrived.
When the fire was out it was discovered
that the gas pipe in that room had not
been plugged by the man who did tho
wiring, and that the flow from the pipe
had accumulated in the PARTITION
All the paster was blown FROM the
ceiling of that room, fropi the bed loom
above and from the fro1t hall, ma tho
balustrade in the front hall was
wrecked. In order to PITT the rooms in
n livabe condition it Will be NECESSARY
to replaster and repaper them. 'lli,i
The explosion was heard some dis
lance from the house and in a few
minutes hundred or more persons had
gathered.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
ESTATE OF ELLEN p. HoUGHToN.
STATE OF VERMONT. l1F

- .-rssAf tt{ District Of Westminster SIS
The Honoteble Probate Court for the Districl
Aforesaid: 4ENfe
To the heirs and all persons interested u
the estate of Ellen p IIoughton, late of = Put
new in said district. deceased. GREETING:
Whereas, application hath been made to thi,
court in writing, by the Executor, praying for
license and authority to sell all of the real
estate 'of said deeeas ed, for the payment OF
debts and charges OF administration. setting
forth therein the amount of debts due from
said deceased, the charges of administration
and the amount of personal estate and the sit
alton of the real estate.
Whereupon. the said court appointed and as
signed the 9th day of September, 1919, at the
Probate Office in Bellows Falls in said dis
trict to hear and decide upon said applca-
ton and petition and ordered public notice
thereof to be Given TO all persons interested
therein, by publishing said order, together with
the time and place of hearing, three weeks
excessively in the Vermont Phoenix, news
paper which circulates In the neghborhood
of those persons interested in said estate, all
which publications shall be previous to the
dav assigned for hearing.
Therefore. you are hereby notified to appear
before said court at the time and place as.
signed. then and there in said court 10 make
your objections to the granting of such license,
if YOU see cause.
Given under my hand at Bellows Falls, in
said district, this 4th dav of August 1919.
1924 Judge.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
ESTATE OF OSCAR B. BLODGETT.
CtTATE OF VERMONT


~ District of Westminster, IS.
The Honorable Probate Court for the District
Aforesaid:
To the heirs and all persons interested in
the estate OF Oscar b. Blodgett late of Put
ney, in said district, deceased, GREETING:
Whereas, application hath been made to
this court in writing, by the administrators
praying for license and authority to sell all
of the real estate of said deceased to wit
Homestead of about 40 and the Reed
Lot, called, of about l47 acres situated in
court that it would be beneficial to the heirs
and all persons interested in the estate of
said deceased, to sell said real estate and
convert the same into money.
And bringing into court the consent and ap-
probation in writing. of all the heirs to said
estate residing in this state, and setting forth
the situation of the real estate.
Whereupon the said court appointed and as
signed the 9th day of September, 1919, at the
Probate Office in Bellows Falls. in said dis.
trict, to hear and decide upon said applica,
ton and petition and ordered public notice
thereof to be given to all persons interested
therein. by publishing said order. together
with the time and place Of hearing. three
weeks successfully in the Vermont Phoenix,
newspaper which circulates in the neghbor.
hood of those persons interested in said estate,
all of which publications. shall be previous to
the day assigned for hearing.
Therefore, you are hereby notified to appear
before said court at the time and place as.
your objections to the granting of such license,
If see cause
Given under my hand at Bellows Falls, in
said district, this lst day of August. 1919
WARNER A. GRAHAM,
1924 Judge
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
AMID0N SUES TO
RECOVER $4,000
Brattleboro Man Lost Leg in Auto
Accident
Service Made on Mrs. Doris Gordon
Motorcycle and Automobile Collide
Near Harris Cottage

Damages in the sum of $4,000 are
sought by Harlan Amidon of Brat
tleboro, public automobile driver, in an
action for damages and personal in
iuries brought against David William
Gordon and Doris p. Gordon, who live
in Hazzardvillc, Conn, but who have
a summer cottage at Pine Grove
Springs, CHESTERFIELD n. II. The pa
pers have been served on Mrs. Gordon
by Sheriff Frank l.. Wcllman and it is
expected that service will be completed
within Il few days. The suit is brought
through the law Office of Barber, Bar
Der & Miller and is made returnable at
the September term Of the Windham
county court at Newfane.
1t is alleged that on Sept. ,, 1918,
at CHESTERFIELD the defendants were
running an automobile over the public
highway in a reckless and imprudcnt
manner and at an unsafe rate of
speed without giving any signal or
warning of approach and without
keeping watch for the approach of
persons lawfully using the highway.
While Mr.. Amidon, the plaintiff. was
riding his motorcycle on the highway
IN the vicinity of the cottage owned
by Charles a. Harris of this town, it
is charged that the defendant S neg
ligcntly and without caution ran their
automobile along the driveway leading
from the Harris cottage to the high
way at an unreasonable rate of speed
and without sounding any warning, by
reason of which Mr.. Amidon was
thrown to the ground violently,
dragged for some distance and greatly
injured in numerous places.
His right leg was crushed below the
knee and had to be amputated, his
nose was broken, his right wrist frac-
tured, his left thigh between the knee
and hip was cut for a space of four
inches on the inside, causing him great
suffering and expense and loss of time.
The money spent in care, medicine,
nursing, etc, is stated to be $1,000.
At the time of the accident Mr.. Ami
don and Emroy Carey of West Chester
field were riding the motorcycle, and
Mr.. Carey sustained fracture of one
leg. Amidon was 81 years old and Car
cy IS. Mrs. Gordon at that time was
Miss Doris p. Clark of Bridgeport
Conn. Mr.. Gordon was lieutenant in
the aviation corps, and he and Miss
Clark were married that afternoon IL
the summer home of the brides pa
rents. They were riding in Hudson
coupe owned by w. w. Gordon, father
of David w. Gordon.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
INSTRUCTION CAR HERE.
In Charge of Fred A. Tuthill of This
Place, Who Was Boston & Maine En-
gineer Nearly 80 Years.

A Boston & Maine air brake instruc-
ton car in charge of Fred A. Tuthill of
Chaplin street as instructor, has been
in the local railroad yard since Satur-
day night and will remain here a few
days longer to give all men at this ter
minal an opportunity to secure informa-
ton which would be a valuable asset in
case of emergency, as well as in their
every day work.
Mr.. Tuthill, who was Boston &
Name engineer nearly 30 years, has been
in charge of the air brake instruction
car since August, 1910. He has one as
Sistant, and holds two schools each day,
the time of the schools varying to con-
form to the convenience of the men
who are to attend. While Mr.. Tuthill
asks no questions of the men he ex-
plains the various operations of the
brake and some things which can be
done to save much 'time in case some
part of the equipment should go wrong
in certain particulars, and the men are
given an opportunity to ask questions
of Mr.. Tuthill.
The car is for the instruction of engi-
neers, conductors, brakemen or firemen
or any other men who have anything tc
do with air brakes, and firemen can take
their examination to become engineers.
One end of the car is devoted to q
work room or office for Mr.. Tuthill
with berths. etc, the center is given
over to the air brake equipment and q
miniature skeleton engine. while q
boiler for steam making to be used in
demonstrating the brakes occupies the
other end of the car,
While the ear is the property of the
Boston & Maine Railroad company it is
now under lease to the Central Yer.
mont Railway Co. until it covers that
system, Mr. Tuthill was in ST. Albans
two weeks, going then to three termin,
ais in Canada, returning to st. Adams
and stopping at points between there
and Brattleboro. Leaving Brattlebort
he will go to Palmer and New London
and other points on the Central Yer
mont line. The ear has been in opera
- or l6 years, and the headquarters are
in Boston.
No charge is made to the railroad Nor
who avail themselves of the opportun
ity to learn more of the air brakes. Al
some of the terminals the instructor has
reported an attendance of 100 per cent
of the available men, but he does moi
expect so large a percentage here with
about 60 men available. AS matter
of record accounts were kept one yeal
since Mr., Tuthill became instructor or
the car and that year more than 3,4OC
men received instruction.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
MUNDELL AND MRS.
STRATT0N LEAVE
MundeIls Wife Brings Petition
for Separate Maintenance
States Attorney Notifies Springfield,
Mass, Police that Couple Have Vio-
lated Terms of Parole.

Bert C. Mundell and Mrs Tcna NJ.
Stratton are again before the public eye.
having left town according to the Off
GERS, and on Saturday afternoon the
chief of police of Springfield, Mass, was
notified by States Attorney i. w. Glib
son of Brattleboro that NIundell and Mrs.
Stratton. wife of John NJ. Stratton, had
violated the terms of their parole i'll that
city. The couple left here several weeks
ago and were traced to Springfield,
where they were arrested in Il rooming
house, and they were released on parole
and returned here. Since then their con-
duet has been such as to attract public
attention.
Chief of Police George Wilson has
made some inquiries as to the couple and
has been informed by railroad conduc-
tor that they went by train at least rs
far north as Claremont, y. H., and it is
States Attorney Gibson's opinion that
they were headed for Canada.
Mrs. Mundell says she has no reason
to think they have not gone away to-
gethcr. and she has brought suit against
Mundel for separate maintenance, nam
inc Tena NJ. Stratton as correspondent,
She sets up that her maiden name
o
were married in Newfane by Rev. Mr..
Davies Aug. 20, 1908.
Mrs. Aundell asks for temporary ali
mony and money with which to prose
cute her suit, and pending hearing
Superior Judge Harric b. Chase is
sued an order cnioning Mundell from
transferring or cncumbcring his real
estate or personal property or interior
ing with the liberty of Mrs. Mundell or
her custody of their three minor children
whose permanent custody She seeks.
Mundell S property is set up as con-
sisting of one Ford automobile, one pair
of horses and 100 acres of land in
Chesterfield, y. II.
After Mundell and Mrs. Stratton re-
turned from their Springfield episode
Nllmdell who lost his job with the Valley
Grain Co.. took job as night man in the
Flat street livery stable where Stratton
is employed Mrs. Mundell says he gave
Stratton sum of money, which the po-
lice understand was $500, and it is said
that Stratton turned the money over to
his wife.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
APPEALS FROM VALUATION.
Timberland in Windham Owned by
70 mont Marble Co. Increased from
5,lG5 to 100000.

Several witnesses were examined
July 81 at n hearing in Windham before
board of appraisers appointed by the
state tax commissioner to hear an APP
neal of the Vermont Marble Co., of
Proctor from the action of the listers
of the town of Wndham to the board
of civil authority of the town and from
the board of civil authority which at
lirmed the action of the listers to the
state tax commissioner.
The Vermont Marble Co objects to
increased appraisal of 5000 acres of
land owned by the company in Wind
ham. 1t was appraised at 1913, l25 in
1914 and was raised to 100000 in the
ouadrennal appraisal of 1918. About
90 different lots and farms are involved,
amounting to 3,112 acres.
O. A. johnson of Rutland and NJ. II.
Downing of Keene, Witnesses for the
Vermont Marble Co., estimated the
standing spruce timber on the tract at
from 4. 900, 900 feet to 10000 feet and
placed the stumpage value from So to
50 q thousand. The Marble company
also put in evidence as to the cost of
the large tract consisting of 300 acres,
which it bought in 1905 and the other
tracts which it has bought since and
the amount of lumber it has taken off,
cndcavoring in that way to justify the
old appraisal.
The town showed, through L. +. Jen-
nson and A. G. Burbee, that the spruce
was worth from s. to so a thousand
ON the stump, and showed by Frank G.
Nosley of Jamaica the amount of stand
ing pulp, according to his estimation, to
be found on six of the larger lots all
of which he had examined during the
three days previous. The listers, f. L.
Stowell, L. II. Hamilton and Bernie l.
Gleason, also testified to their eXamin-
alton of the lots and the basis on which
they arrived at the appraisal of each
lot.
The hearing was continued to Aug. &C
in order TO give experts on the amount
of standing timber, representing boil
sides, an opportunity to examine large
portion of the lots involved and agree
upon this if possible, thus eliminating
the need of the board of appraisers tC
personally examine every tract.
O. b. Hughes of the firm of Chas,
& Hughes appeared for the town o
Windham, and G. II. Boyce, superin
tenQent of the land department of th,
Vermont Marble Co., and Benjamin
Williams, secretary of the Marble Co.
represented that corporation. Warnc
A. Graham of Bellows Falls, C. G. Mil
Ter of Westminster and Ernest Dunkle
of Vernon constitute the board of APP
praisers.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
BAILEY ACTING PRESIDENT.
Succeeds Dean Perkins at the Univer-
sity of Vermont-Will Continue as
Controller.

At special meeting of the trustees
of the University of Vermont, Satur-
day Controller Guy w. Bailey was
unanimously elected acting president
of the institution and the resignation
fof Dean George II. Perkins from that
Office was accepted.
Acting President Bailey will continue
to perform his duties as controller and
Dean Perkins will continue to head the
college of arts and sciences and will
teach sciences of which he has made a
life work
The trustees adopted a set of resolutions
highly commencing the work of Dean
Perkins, who has been head of the insti-
tuition during the absence of President
Guy Potter Benton overseas and since
the latter's resignation.
Guy Winfred Bailey was born in Hard
wick May I, 1876 and he has been a resi-
dent of Essex Junction since he was six
years old He was educated in the com
mon schools and is graduate of Burling-
ton high school and University of Yer
mont
He was admitted to the bar in 1904 and
the same year represented the town of
Essex in the legislature During the next
two years he was clerk of the commission
to revise the public statutes and was re-
elected to the legislature in 1906. Dur
ing the next two years he was one of the
commissioners to edit the public statutes
| In 1908 Mr.. Bailey was elected secre-
| tary of state and was continuously re-
elected until he resigned the Office after
being elected controller of the university
July %, 1917. He has been trustee OF
the university since 1914.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
GARAGE CONTRACT AWARDED.
d. f. Shea Will Build on Flat Street
Lot Adjoins Elliot Street Lot-Ma
terials Brick and Concrete.

D. Frank Shea, proprietor of the FL
hot street fish market and grocery
store. has awarded contract to Pellet
& skinner to build garage on Flat
tsreet on land now occupied by what
used to be the Joseph Simonds dwelling
house, now used as a harness shop by
w. II. Kinson and by the Willard serv-
ice station, together with the land in
the rear on which is located the Dewitt
barn and another barn and shed owned
by Mr.. Shea. The work of tearing out
these buildings was begun Monday
and it is expected that the garage will
be completed before the end of the
year.
The lot is 1O7 feet deep and ~ feet
wide on Flat street. About half way
back the lot increases in width to 81
feet, making about 5000 feet of ground
space 1t adioins the lot on which Mr..
Shea s market on Elliot street is locat-
ed. 1t is Mr. Sheas intention some
time to use story on the rear part of
his garage for a moving picture theatre
and to tear out his store and build a
modern entrance through from Elliot
street to the theatre.
The foundations for the garage will
be built to sustain four-storv build
ing, but for the present the building
will be one story high in front and two
in the rear, giving a total of about
$1,000 feet of floor space. 1t will be
constructed of brick and concrete and
will be freproof.
The first floor will be on the street
level back for distance of 40 feet
and will he IS feet high for the full
width of the building, with a show win
dow ON either side of the main entrance
and an Office on one side Forty feet
back a ramp will go down to a level
four feet below the street level and an
other ramp will go up eight feet. This
will give two stories in the rear, each
of 1l-foot studding and extending east
erly in the rear of the Angler black
smith shop. The flooring overhead will
be of concrete, so laid that additional
stories can be put on at any time.
Mr. Shea has right of way between
the Angler shop and the Valley Grain
Co. s building on Flat street to the
rear. part of his lot. He has no agency
at present and is undecided as to
whether he will run the garage himself
or lease it,
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
WANTED TO USE A CORPSE.
Former Brattleboro Undertaken Re-
ceives Call from Polish Family on
Unusual Mission.

n former Brattlehoro undertaken had
an unusual experience in Greenfield.
Mass. last week, as will be seen by the
following from the Greenfield Gazette
and Courier:
Hugh II. Hlacklcy, who is by pro.
fesSion an undertaken for the firm of
j. j. Woodlock & Co., was given the
shock of his life Monday afternoon
when Polish couple carving child
came into the store and asked if he
had n. dead person on hand. Mr. Hack.
ley replied that mono had died that he
knew of, Whereupon he was asked when
he. was likely to have an arrival in the
undertaking department. Mr.. Hack
ley said that that was a matter which
rested with Providence, and he did
not anticipate any advance informa.
ton on when the next person in
Greenfield was likely to pass away.
'Mattcrs began to be rather in
tcrcsting about this time, and the
woman Of the party next took the
front and explained to Mr.. Hacklcv
that the child which she was carving
had hump on the back of its neck
which she wished to have cured. An
aunt in New York had written her
that if the hump could be rubbed by
the hands of Il corpse it would 90
away. Mr.. Hackley recommended that
they see physician, but this they
claimed they had done, and that the
physician had declared the case incur.
able. They insisted on being advised
when the next death should take place
in Greenfield, but Mr.. Hackley made
them no promises, and they went away
considerably dissatisfied,
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
CHARGE Is MANsLAUeHTER.
Arthur j. Grant of Keenc, Pleads Not
Guilty-Automobile Struck and
Killed Charles Rockwell.

In the municipal court Monday be-
fore Judge Charles A. Madden a plea of
not guilty to the charge of manslaughter
was entered by Arthur J. Grant Of Keene
whose automobile struck and fatally in
iuied Charles Rockwell, IL, of Worcester,
Mass, near South Keene Sunday. The
case. was continued to the October term
of the superior court and Grant was held
without bail. County Solicitor H. NJ
Pickard appeared for the state and At
torney Joseph Madden for the respond
ent.
The Rockwell boy and companion
Marshall Newton of Worcester, rode to
South Keene Saturday on their bicycles
Sunday they were walking to the rail
road station after papers and as they were
going along Marlboro street the Rockwell
boy was struck by Mr. Grants automobile
as Mr. Grant turned out to pass another
car
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-08-08
CUDWoRTH BOY HURT.
Thrown from Wagon When Horses Run
from Horton Place to Homestead
Place-Taken to Hospital.

Merrill Cudworth. TO- youngest son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph w. Cudworth of
IA Horton place, was hurt in runa.
way Tuesday morning and was taken to
the Memorial hospital with serious
injuries to the right leg, the left foot
injured about the toes, one arm hurt
and his head badly bruised about the
side of his face. He was attended at
the hospital by DR.. Harry p. Greene
who took II stitches to close the wound
in his right leg
Oscar Warren, who moved here re-
Gently from New Hampshire and has
quarters in f. A. Larrow livery
stables on Flat street, where he does
trucking business, was delivering a
load of wood from the last block fac.
tory at the home of John f. Sadd on
Horton place with pair of horses
The lad climbed into the wagon, and as
is his custom when wood is being UNI
loaded he began to assist Mr. Warren
The board in the front of the wagon
came out, letting the wood down on to
the horses HEELS and they ran out
Horton place to Homestead place
across the corner of Mrs. G. f. Greene Is
lawn, where they hit hydrant and
bent it over. The horses freed them
selves there, and they were stopped in
front of Luther Miller s on Canal street
The boy was thrown from the wagon
near A. w. Rockwell s His brother
Cassius Cudworth, was at his home and
was on the scene Immediately.