Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-04-15
WEYBRIDGE MEN
DIE IN RUTLAND
6. E. Lawrence and B. 0. Wales
Well Known Here

GeOIge l.. Lawrence udIlVe Vi
Weybridge and former student at
torney in Middlebury, died at his home
in Rutland Saturday night after a
long illness with valvular heart di-
sease. For many months he had been
unable to leave his house, and for a
lengthy period previous to his ill
ness he had not engaged actively in
the work of the law firm of which he
was the head, Lawrence, Lawrence &
Stafford.
George E. Lawrence was born in
Weybridge, June 10, 1874, the son of
Edwin and Harriet yale Lawrence.
After properly preparing himself he
entered Middlebury college from
which h was graduated in the class of
1867 He then took a course in the
Albany Law school, graduating in
1868 and entering the law Office of
Gov Stewart in Middlebury. He was
admitted to the bar of Addison coun-
ty in 1868 and subsequently to the
bar of the Supreme court Of the state.
He began the practice OF his profession
at Rutland in 1870 and in 1874 formed
a partnership with Col. Joyce, which
continued four years. Subsequently
P M. Meldon was associated in busi-
ness with him for many years.
For some time thereafter he had no
partner, until later he was associated
with his sons, Robert and Edwin, and
Bert L. Stafford.
Judge Lawrence attained a high po-
- ,., e ,NYv
and was widely regarded as a wise and
safe counselor, a man of the highest
integrity, and industrious and pains
taking lawyer
He held the office OF states attorney
from December, 1873, to December,
1880, during which term he was prose-
cutting officer and chiefly instrumental
in securing a conviction Of the accus-
ed in the celebrated Phair trial in
which Phair was found guilty OF muir
der in the first degree.
He also served with marked success
as states attorney fEom December
1900, to December 1902, performing
the duties of the office with Jealous
fidelity. He served as municipal judge
from 1874 to 1873 and declined this
office for longer period.
In 1876 he married Catherine E.
Phalen who with one son, Edwin w.
Lawrence survive him. He 2lso leaves
one sister, Mrs. E. G.. Hunt a Middle
bury.
The funeral service was helu"At the
house Tuesday afternoon at 2:l5
o'clock Rev Morgan Ashley, rector
of the Trinity Episcopal church Off
ciated. The Rutland County Bar as
sociation of which Judge Lawrence was
a past president, attended the services
in body and acted as an escort from
the house to the cemetery.
The honorary bearers were Superior
Judge Fred NJ Butler and Judge A.
G. Coolidge of Rutland, Judge Henry
l. Clark of Castleton. Attorney Gen
eral Frank C. Archibald of Manches-
ter, and Attorney P. NJ. Meldon of
Rutland The active bearers were At
torneys Charles l. Button of Middle
bury, George n Harman, Lawrence
c. Jones, Marvelle c. Webber, Frank
D. White and Bert L. Stafford OF
Rutland. Burial was in Evergreen Gem
etery. The. afternoon session of Rut-
land County court was suspended by
Judge Moulton in memory of Mr.,
Lawrence and to give the court at
taches and attorneys an opportunity
to attend the funeral
Benjamin o. Wales
Benjamin o. Wales, formerly of
Weybridge, died in Rutland Wednes-
day morning after an illness of only
four days with pneumonia He had
continued his duties of Inspector at
the Howe Scale Works Thursday in
spite of the preliminary symptoms
of his illness. He was 20 years of age.
Mr.. Wales was born in Weybridge,
August Is, 1850, the son of Henry and
Electa Wright Wales. After COM
pleting the grades of his native town,
he attended high school in Vergennes.
He began in business in Middlebury
when a young man, conducting a
crockry store where Marshal's gro
cery is now located He added jewelry
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