Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-11-18
S|M0N|AN FINED $500
FOR MANSLAUGHTER
Was Driving Automobile Which
Left Highway in Town of Es-
sex Last September, Resulting
In Death of Murick Winslow of
Springfield, Mass.

one OF the lightest sentences for man.
sIaugnter which has ever been given In
Cnittenden county court was that re-
ceived Monday by Sarkis Simonian, the
young Armenian who was driving the
Cadillac car which went of the road
noar Pepin's crossing on the road between
Essex Junction and Essex Center on
Sebier'ber B. when Murick Winsow of
Springfield. Mass, was killed and several
OF the other occupants of the car were
injured.
simonian appeared before Judge Fred
M. Butler in county court Monday
AFTERNOON and pleaded guilty to the
charge or manslaughter. After state
ments by States Attorney Allen Martin
Tor the state. and j. J. Enright, who ap-
peared for the respondent, Simonian was
hned $500 and costs Of sS.75. The fine was
paid and Slmonan Is again free man,
after being in the county Jail for more
than two months.
Before pronouncng the verdict in this
case. Judge Butler stated that ordinarily
the crime of manslaughter calls for
severe penalty and he feared that the
action Of the court might be misunder-
stood. But the court had taken into con-
sideration the facts in the case as they
had been presented. and 1t appeared that
there were certain extenuating circum-
stances In this case.
Judge Butter declared that there is
altogether too much speeding of auto
mobiles on the highways In this State
and that the men who do this speeding
should be punished. But it appeared from
the evidence at hand that the respondent
In this case could not have been going
at excessive speed, for the evidence was
chat a New York car had Just passed the
Cadillac and pulled into the road in front
OF 1t, thus tending to crowd the Cadillac
on the highway on the right side, since
II appeared that there was another car
approaching from the opposite direction.
This evidence would tend to show that
the man driving the New York car which
passed the Cadillac was the one who was
speeding, rather than the driver of the
Cadillac. said Judge Butler, and It would
look as though the driver of the Cadillac
might have had some excuse for losing
control of the machine under those cir
cumstances, even though he should have
had the car under good enough control
SO that he would have been prepared for
such contingency.
According to the evidence, the Judge
continued. the respondent had struck no.
body. The man who was fatally injured
was voluntary passenger in the car.
Considering all these circumstances.
and the facts brought out by Attorney
Enright that the respondent has had an
excellent record in the eight years that
he has been in this country, Judge Butler
imposed the fine Of $500, which was paid
Immediately In court.
CHAP-Es COTTON SENTENCED
Two other State cases were disposed
Of Monday afternoon. Charles Cotton
Of this city appeared before Judge Butler
and pleaded guilty to breach of the peace.
He was fined $50 and costs and sentenced
to the House of Correction at Windsor
for not less than one. nor more than two
years. On payment of fine and costs, the
sentence was suspended and the re-
spondent was placed in the hands of the
probation officer for the maximum term,
subject to his good behavior
1t will be remembered that Charles
Cotton was mixed up in family row
with his brother, Harry. which resulted
In a shooting scrape on Church street on
May last. when Mrs. Charles Cotton re-
ce!ved a bullet In the breast. The wound
did not prove fatal According to the
story told by eye-witnesses at the time.
Charles stepped his brother on Church
street and led him aside into the entrance
to the Islam Hardware company where
there was short ak, and Charles sud-
denly star ed hitting Harry. knocking HIM
through the plate glass window and cut
Ing him r. ther badly about the hands and
face. Har. pulled a gun and fred the
bullet striking his brothers wife, who
stood nearby.
Harry Cotton is out on bail and ii UNDER .
stood that he is at present in Florida
with his father. A similar charge against
him will be taken up at a later date.
SENTENCED FOR ASSAULT !
Hubert Northway, of Westford, was
arranged before Judge Butler Monday
afternoon and pleaded guilty to simple
assault. He was sentenced to the House
Of Correction at Windsor for not less than
one year. nor more than three years. The
sentence was suspended and the re-
spondent placed in the hands Of the proba-
tion officer for the maximum of the sem
tence.
EXPECTS OPEN WINTER