The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-03-07
NEWPORT LOCALS
Smggg1ers Placed Under Heavy Bail


The four men who taken off the
local train from Montreal to Newport
on Wednesday by Deputy Collectors
and immigration officers at North
Troy and Newport, were brought be-
fore U. S. Commissioner Walter H.
Cleary Thursday afternoon for a
hearing. Deputy Collector A. H.
Butterield officer in charge at North
Troy swore out the complaints and
warrants were issued by the U. S.
Commissioner, charging the men for
smuggling.
The prisoners gave their names as
Edward Richard, Joseph Guertin,
Henry Ponton and Edwin M. Warren.
Deputy Collector Eutterfeld was
the first witness 20 take the stand,
and testified that on Wednesday night
just before niAe O'Clock he received d
phone call from Lichford, VT, from
officer Liam. A. Gilbert, who was on
the :~vAi, --..lng that there was
SIN ssg.- foods on the train, but thai
h. ami the immigration officer were
unable to locate them.
Mr.. Butterield went to the station
and upon arrival of the train gave
orders to have the train held, and
getting lanterns ard with the help Of
the trainmen searched the outside as
well as the inside of the train, this
search resulted in locating CONNER
cial travelling bag in the tender box
on the engine, which was at once
seized. The officers removed the man
under suspicion from the train and
he disclosed his pal and they also
took this man into custody, and al
lowed the train to proceed. Upon
examination of the two men they in
formed the officers that the big man
in the deal was left on the train.
Word was at once sent to officer c..
NJ. Bailey at Newport to apprehend
this man and also the fireman upon
the arrival of the train at Newport.
Depty Bailey assisted by Deputies
Carroll Davis, Lee Wellman, Ray
mond Benedict and Inspectors Har-
ney and Dowd of the Boston special
agency, who were in Newport con-
Quoting an investigation on the pre-
vious smuggling cases, met the local
and took from this train fireman Pom
ton and Edwin Warren, also they de-
tanned the baggageman who had
some connection in the previous case,
and after questioning him released
him.
Ponton and Warren were taken to
the immigration station to await the
arrival of the Montreal air line or
which the two prisoners from North
Troy were brought to Newport, and
the four were lodged in the county
Jail to await a hearing
The plot was mapped out at the
III. o. Club in Montreal where one
Chinaman seemed to be a member
and which Richard and Guertin got
acquainted. The Chinaman in play
ing the poker game was flush with
money, and on going home from the
club one morning they asked hin
how he came by so much money, and
the Chinaman at once began to ex-
plain how they might get rich by
helping him to get some goods into
the states giving them $50 for sc
doing.
The bag was brought to Farnham
where Richard asked the fireman to
assist in getting it over the border
and he placed it in the tender box.
Joseph Guertin claimed he was q
single man and 81 years of age, and
had brother at Abicorn who owned
large farm, and he arrived in New
port to arrange for bail.
Gertin claimed to be a travelling
salesman and lived in Montreal.
Edward Richard claimed to be a
railroad trainman and had been in
the employ of the C. P. r. for eight
years running from Montreal to New
port, and was single man rooming
at 128A st. Dennis street, Montreal.
His bail was fixed at So 900.
Henry Ponton, the fireman, was sc
years of age and had been employed
by the c. P. r. for Is years, and hv-
ed at Farnham, was married and had
four children. His bail was made
$4,000.
Edwin NJ Warren who claimed that
he purchased the drug in Montreal
for his own use as he had been using
the drug for 80 years, claimed he was
so years of age and lived in Wash
ington.
The 40 cans of smoking opium that
was found in the case he purchased
and paid the sum of $1,000, that he
used about can week. His bail
was fed at $4,000.
The prisoners were lodged in the
county Jail to await the decision of
the Grand Juror at the session of the
u. S. District Court which will be
held at Windsor the Sd day of May,
in case they fail to get bailed out.
Mrs. c. J. Oben went to st. Johns
bury Tuesday where she will enter
Brightlook hospital for an operation,
G. il Oben and Mrs. O. w Creaser
accompanied her.
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