St. Johnsbury Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-1920, 1920-09-17
ALEX. DUNNETT
DIES AT HOME
in CROTOk
Leading ST. J. Attorney
and Citizen Passes On
After Long Illness

esquire" Alexander Dunnett Of ST.
Johnsbuly, one OF the best known and
most rlonA;ncnt attorneys Of Vernon.
passed away at his sumner home
in Groton at II O'Clock Groom
today ate: II lingering i'll
ness. Since his trip 10 the Re
publican National convention at Chic
ago TO which he was Il delegate, he
had failed steadily. For the past few
weeks he had been confined to his bed
anG his end was not unexpected.
Alc:,andtr Dunnett came Of Scotch
ancestry, being the son OF andrew
and Christiana (Ga!braith) burnett.
and was born in Pcacham, Nov. 20,
1852. &c was educated in the Dub-
lie schools of his native town and
Rye%ate ard alEo III the old New
bury Seminary. He was graduated
from the Randolph Normal school in
1874 and while at school employed
hi:; winters in teaching at Monroe.
N. H., Tcpsham. Randolph and
Rochester,. Having decided to study
law he entered the Office Of Nelson
l.. Boydcn of Randolph, completing
his study of the law in the Boston
University law school which he en-
tered in 1875. At the June term OF
the Orange county court in 1877 he
was admitted to the Vermont bar.
He began the practice of his profess
sion at South Rycgate and came to
st. Johnsbury in 1882 whore he en-
tered in partnership with Albro T.
Nichols, now the clerk of Caledonia
county. This partnership continued
three years and for the next ten
years he practiced law alone. In 1895
Hon. l.. p. Slack entered the firm and
the partnership of Dunnctt and Slack
continued until 1913 when Judge
Slack was appointed to the Vermont
bench. For the next two wears
Charles Leslie, who came back to
Vermont from Hillsboro, N. d., was
associated with Mr.. Dunnctt in the
firm of Dunnett G. Leslie. The latter
left the firm in 1915 and was succeed
ed by Charles A. Shields. who with
David S. Conant compose the --"esent
firm Of Dmnott. Shields & Conant.
Mr.. Dunnett has always been a
loyal republican and his political re-
cord has been q noteworthy one be-
ginning with the election as states
attorney of Caledonia county in 1886
and closing with the honored position
of chairman Of. the Vermort dcioga-
ton at the republican national con-
vention in June. He was member
of the State Senate of 1900, which
was one Of the strongest ever known,
containing such eminent Vermonters
as the late ]. A. DeBoer of Mont
pclier and the late Rufus E. Brown
of Burlington, Judge Zed S. Stanton,
+. w. Baldwin of Barton, cX-Gov.
Charles w. Gates and Gov. P. W.
Clement. EIr. Dunnett was one of
the leaders in that bodv and his
council was much sought by other
members From 1906 until 1915 he
was the United States attorney for
the district OF Vermont. During that
period many important cases came
before the Federal courts and he was
frequently summoned to Washington
to confer with the heads Of depart
monts in the Judiciary, Treasury and
Post Office departments. He secured
the conviction CT some Of the most
noted post Office thieves in the coun-
try, success sfully prosecuting those
attempting TO deflaud in all kinds Of
schemes, and resigned position he
had filed with eminent satisfaction
to become q candidate for Congress
in the Second district. At the NOM
mating convention at White River
Junction he was defeated in Il three
cornered contest after over IL hours
of balloting.
MI. Dunnett had been president of
the Vermont Bar association and was
chairman of the commission from
Vermont to settlc the boundary line
between Vermont and New Hamp-
shire. He had also served as moder;l
ator of many of St. Johnsbury's town
meetings and was once chairman Of
the republican state convention. As
a campaign speaker he was forcefui
and convncin"; as Il lawyer he was
universally regarded as ore Of the
ablcst and most learned in the state
His clicrtagc came from a large area
and he served all classes with fidelity
and untiring zeal. lie was always
an advocate OF the establishment Of
military schools for our boys anG
was avalucd trustee OF Vclmont's ia
nous military institution, Norwich
University at Mortified. He was also
a trustee of Brightlook Hospital. He
was also member of the commits
sion for the revision of the Vermont
constitution.
His Masonic record was an active
and influential one. He was Past
Master of Pulaski Lodge, No. So. F.
& A. M. of Wells River; Past High
Priest of Haswell Royal Arch Chap
ter, No. II of St. Johnsburv. He was
also a member of Caledonia Council,
r. & S. NJ, No. 13. Palestine Com
manderv, No. 5, X. T.. Mizpah Lodpc
Of Perfection, A A. S. r.. and the
Shrine He was also a member of the
Sphinx Club
Mr.. Dunnett was thrice r,nrried.
Hn YVES first married Anril 2. 1870, 10
Ella J. White, who died March 2.