The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-11-29
CURTIN IS TAKEN
TO STATE PRISON
No Appeal Entered in Be-
half of Striking Union
Leader
BELLOWS FALLS
POLICE CHIEF OUT
Resigns at Request of Village Trustees
Result of Disagreement Over Public
Matters as Result of Paper Mill Strike.

EAtSlSbS al httiutSa VI AIucttto--
Result of Disagreement Over Public
Matters as Result of Paper Mill Strike.
Michael Curtin, president of the Bel
lows Falls pulp and sulphite union, was
lodged in the state prison at Windsor by
Sheriff Frank L. Wellman of Brattleboro
about midnight last night to begin his
sentence of not less than six months nor
more than one year at hard labor, i'm
posed by Judge Frank L. Fish in the
Windham county court Nov for at
tempting to intimidate a workman for
the International Paper Co. Curtin was
found guilty by a jury after considering
the evidence is minutes. He is one of
the strikers who have been out since last
/ May
At the trial States Attorney Harold E.
Whitney of Brattleboro appeared for the
state and Attorney Joseph Jones of Rut-
land for the respondent. After Curtin
was sentenced his counsel gave notice of
an appeal to the supreme court, and bail
was fixed at $1,000 and the respondent
was released, J. J. Fenton and two other
Bellows Falls business men becoming
surety for him.
The law requires that in a criminal
case an appeal to be effective must be
filed with the court before final adjourn
ment of the term. Court adjourned at
Newfane on Tuesday of last week, and as
no appeal had been entered States Attor-
hey Whitney filed motion with Judge
Fish this week that a mittimus be issued
for Curtin's confinement in the state
prison. Judge Fish directed County
Clerk W. L. Daley 10 issue the mittimus,
which was done Yesterday, and on this
document Sheriff Nellman committed the
respondent to the state prison.
When Sheriff WeIlman reached Bel
lows Falls Curtin was attending a meet
ing in the union hall. He was notified
Of what was wanted, and although he and
other persons interested were much sur
prised at the turn of the events he pre-
sented himself to the sheriff at the railroad
station before train time.
From 20 to 100 strikers accompanied
him to the railroad station and cheered
themselves hOarse and assured Curtin
that they would stand back of him to the
/ last. Curtin had little to say to the
officer, but the few remarks which he
made indicated that he felt that the case
ultimately would go against him and
that he might as well begin the sentence
now.
NliOlIitt important utNbtODmSHI IN the
Bellows Falls strike situation was the
resignation last night Of Chief-of- Police
William 5. Severance, by request of ma
jority of the board of village trustees.
The trustees had a meeting and asked
him to come in. Capt Maurice Henry of
Springfield. (Vt.) has been appointed
chief of police temporarily. He is one of
the special constables engaged in the
strike service.
When asked today by The Reformer
why Chief Severance was asked to re-
sign one of the trustees said it was for
the good of the public He said the mem
berS of the board of trustees of the vii
lage had only respect for Chief Sever
ance. whom he said always had been
faithful and never was known to do dis
honest or underhanded act. and while the
board was not unanimous it was voted
to ask the chief to resign.
Chief Severance has been at the head
of the police department u years and is
generally regarded as an eficiet officer.
Fractional feeling growing out Of the pa
per mill strike has caused disagreement
IN about every public question in Bellows
| Falls. and for some time Chief Severance
has been considering the ACCESSIBILITY Of
quitting the service.
From 20 to 125 or more strikers gather
| in the public square every day, where they
may be seen when the workmen in the pa
per mill come up into the streets, but
they keep moving and make no disturb
ance. Eight outside officers. besides the
two regular and four special police Off
GERS, are on duty, which is causing the
| village expenses to mount skyward.
Some of the Bellows Falls people would
dispense with all but the usual police
| force, but others feel that such a course
would precipitate serious trouble. Some
would have the officers use force in keep
/ ing the strikers off the streets. but others
| say that so long as the strikers behave
| themselves they have right to be on the
streets. And so it goes-disagreements
everywhere.
Within a few DAYS a subscription paper
! has been circulated among merchants to
raise money for the aid of strikers and
their families. but the amount subscribed
was very small. Some of the men do not
intend to return to work for the Interna-
tional Paper Co. it is said. but viii Sc
cure work elsewhere if they can, while
/ il is further understood that the Paper
CO. would not take back some Of the
strike leaders if they should apply The
force of men at the mills is increasing
gradually, some of the strikers deserting
/ the strike ranks and some men coming
1 from outside the state.