The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-01-22
INTERESTING
EVENTS In LIFE
OF MIR. DUNNETT
Final Installment of His
Life Story as Told BY
Mr.. Shields

The Caledonian-R Record today pub
fishes the final installment of the
life story of the late Alexander Dun
nett as it was given before the Yer
hont Bar Association by his fellow
attorney and partner, Charles A.
Shields. This very interesting docu-
ment brings out the characteristics
of the man whose life was dedicated
to Vermont and who reached high
pinnacle in the love and adm ration
of his fellow citizens.
Deliberation was a characteristic
which he displayed at all times. He
never hurried, but very seldom failed
to arrive In making trains, he never
allowed himself half as much time as
much younger men thought neccs-
saly Those who have seen him in
the trial of a cause will recall how
deliberately his long, ANGULAR body
arose to make an objection, often
seemingly about to be late, yet event
ually coming in time and with
thought back of it.
Notwithstanding this dcliberation,
he was quick at repartee, as many an
opposing at<ncy has discovered. In
the last case in County Court in
which he participated, one Of the OPP
posing attorneys, after a somewhat
lengthy discussion on his part, in OBJ
jecting to some evidence which Mr..
Dunnett had offered, said with re-
spect for the ruling for which Mr..
Dunnett was contending, "Why we
couldn't live under any such ruling,
to which, quick as a flash, the re-
sponsc came, "Why; you couldn't live
in this case anyway, if you would
only let us put the evidence in"
If Mr.. Dunnctt'S automobile could
talk, there is no doubt that it could
give both interesting and instructive
information. A mere ful Providence
watched over him for many years
IN connection with its operation.
There is story concerning his
manipulation Of this machine, which
serves to show his calmncss in the
face of danger. Going on one occa-
sion with friend from st. Johns
bury toward Lyndonville, it being
somewhat rainy and having 4 fourth
speed in his car, he applied the gaso-
line rather literally and achieved a
considerable momentum. The wltcr
on the wind shield had rendered it,
to say the least, opaque. In this sit
uation, he approached the bridge,
which was at a slight angle from the
road. 1t happened that, at this time,
in the center of the bridge Il fruit
pcddlar had taken refuge from the
inclcmency of the weather, having his
wagon literally loaded with fruit
products This thrifty son of Italy,
wishing to lose no time, had taken
the bride off his horses head and put
on its nose bag, containing the mid
day rations When Squire Dunnett's
car came into the bridge, going about
thirty miles an hour, for the first
time he saw the vehicle, some twenty
or thirty feet ahead of him, but not
in time to avoid it. He put on the
brakes, and turned his car, so that
it ran up the side of the bridge and
turned onc-half overandpartially PIN
ned him down but before getting over
to his side of the road the car hit
the wagon, which with its juicy con-
tents, an the peddlar went up into
the air As the Squire lay there, in
his overturned automobile, in what to
most people would have been consid-
cred pcrlous position, hearing the
vocifcrous cries of the frightened
fruit pcddlar, he dlyly said to his
Continued on page fvc)