The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-12-20
AUTOMOBILE CASE
GOES TO JURY
THIS AFTERNOON
Prominent Local Business
Men Are Called to
Testify

seems to be a largely determining
factor in the Shores-Simanton
Stanley automobile case in Gale
donia county court. Truth is al
ways stronger than fiction, but
sometimes what appears to be and
is presented as truth is most at
tractivc fiction.
The first day of the trial the
plaintiff, George Shores of Gran
by testified TO the transaction
over the Stanley car which is the
central figure in the case. Then
the defendant, c. f. Simanton of
st. Johnsbury testified in general
denial to all the essential facts as
testified to in the presentation of
the case,
He said that no talk was made
with Shores about car fitted up TO
hold liquor and that he never had
such a car; that he used no pro-
family, as testified to by Mr..
Shores, on the occasion when the
car trade was under consideration
and that it was not his custom to
use such language; nor did he
ever offer to take the Stanley car
for $500 in cash but only as agent
to be repaired and sold for what
he could get for it. He said that
the car that Shores says he offer
ed him for $1,000, was the known
as the Caldbcck car and that he in
fact offered this car TO him for
$500.
The note Simanton held against
Shores was given in part payment
for a truck. "Whcrr did you get
that truck" asked Attorney
Searles, "From the man who had
it before | did" replied Mr.. 81
manton, "WaS he at home when
you got it," asked the attorney.
Mr.. Simanton's testimony tend
ed to show that he took the car,
repaired it and later sold 1t 10
Wallace Thomas Of East Hard
wick for $400. Albert Merchant,
who assisted in repairing the car
and Mr.. Thomas testified in sup
port of Mr. Simanton's testimony
The question of Mr.. Simanton S
|,
in the community was the line OF
evidence introduced by the plain
tiff Tuesday forenoon. Six wit
nesscs were improved for this pur-
pose, l.. n. Smythe, A. H. Glea-
son, John Finley, M. c. Garfield,
II. NJ. Day and Fred S. Hartman.
They all testified that his reputa-
ton was below par.
Mr. Smythe said he had known
him for 25 years; introduced hln
to this community; began to real,
izc his reputation at once; SAID
he didn't remember saying that
of the three meanest men in st.
Johnsbury, Simanton was two OF
them; but he was willing to own
up to it. for it is true; had had
thousand of dollars worth of busl-
ness; his reputation is below par,
way below.
Postmaster Gleason has lived
here 10 years; considered Slman-
tons reputation well below par;
had had difficulty with him over
postofiice matters on two occa-
5ions.
Overseer Garfield has lived here
II years; considered Simanton's
reputation below par, quite a
little.
Chief Finley has been residcn.
of the town 18 years; considered
Simantons reputation Il little be,
low par. Trustee Day and Fred
Hartman were of the same
opinion.
These last said Simanton never
was accused of being foolish, but
was regarded as successful and
shrewd at a trade,-in fact, as
Fred Hartman put it, he had the
of making trades in his
own favor.
Under Attorney Conant'5 skill
ful crosS-examination these wit
nesses' testimony was tried to be
shown to start from trouble be-
tween the defendant and George
Caldbeck, DR.. Allen and others.
The case will be concluded carly
Tuesday afternoon and 1t IS eX--
pected that the arguments and
Judge Wilcox's charge will be com
pleted in season to get the case to
the jury Tuesday afternoon.
A. S. Haskins, DR.. 7. r. Stiles,
A. E. Barquin and c. E. Cum
mings ere introduced as witnesses
to counteract testimony given
Tuesday morning derogatory to
reputation of Mr.. Simanton for
veracity.
They all said that they had
known the defendant for several
years, but had never heard his
reputation for truth or veracity
discussed This latter bit of tes-
timonv was admitted subject to
thc objection OF the plaintiffs at
t2rneys.