Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1921-04-15

Missing from Retreat WeeIt---Carried
Hay from Barn and Burned 1t TO Des-
troy Logs.
Although failing in his attempt to de-
Stroy logs by covering them with hay and
setting hrc to the hay, James Clifford, who
took possession of the NJ. l.. Smith farm
in Green River last week, had plenty of
reserve schemes in mind for improving
the place. one of which was to make the
farm perfectly level by filling up the val
leys with dirt from the hills and consum-
ing the rocks with fire.
When person moves into a farming
community the neighbors like to size him
up and see what kind of neighbor he
is. and for this reason l.. +. Aldrich of
Green River went to call on Clifford Sun
day, and while there Clifford disclosed
some of his advanced ideas on farming.
| The ideas were so very much in advance,
however. of current farming notions in
Green River that Mr.. Aldrich became
suspicious and telcphoned to Sheriff +
j.. Wellman that the newcomer ought to
be investigated. The sheriff referred him
to Deputy Sheriff Bert WhittemOre of
Guilford and that official thought it was a
case for the states attorney.
While Mr.. Aldrich was attempting tC
locate States Attorney Harold f. Whit
ncy he called up John Il. Gale of Guilford
Gale had a bunch that the man belonged
at the Bratteboro Retreat and on making
inquiry by telephone he learned that {
man answering Clifford's description, wht
was a patient in the Retreat but who die
more or less farm work, walked away from
the farm week earlier and had not beer
located.
The strangers identity was soon estab
lished and attendants at the Retreat lef
by automobile for the Smith farm, wher
they found Clifford in bed and took hin
back to the institution.
The Smith farm. formerly known as tn
Wilcox place, is about mile and a hal
south of Green River village on the rive
road, about quarter of mile from MI
Adrich, who is a storekeeper. Mr.. Smith
who owns the place, lives in Turner
Falls but comes up to the farm occasion
ally to stay n few days. Consequently tn
house is left furnished. Clifford Shove
up at the farm the middle Of last week an
got into the house although the front doc
was nailed up.
He told Mr.. Aldrich that he had bough
the place. but inasmuch as Mr.. Aldric
had charge during Mr.. Smiths absenc
. and had not been notified of any chang
in ownership he hardly knew what {
think A day or two later he saw smok
on the Smith place and concluded tha
, Clifford was burning some brush. Late
however,, lie ledTHcU THAT Aliuoru udu cO'
cred some logs in the edge of the mowin
| with about ton and half of hay, whc
he carried from the barn and had set fiji
to the hay. The fire spread oyer abol
a quarter of an acre Of the moving.
r Mr. Aldrich telephoned Sunday to NJ
: Smith, who said he had neither sold n
leased the place and would come up ne
e morning to make an investigation. Mea
b while Mr.. Aldrich had the conversatit
> with Clifford about leveling off the hill
and burning the rocks, so he decided n,
to wait for Mr.. Smith. but to take Il
matter into his own hands.
, What Clifford lived on aside fro
tea. which was the only article of foe
in the house, is not known. He kept
t good fire in the kitchen range. He Wa
rarely seen about the place except in ii
evening, apparently purposely keeping OF
of sight in the day time. The Smith pla'
is 10 miles or more from Brattleboro.