The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-08-24
SEEKS $1,000 IN
SANDER ACTION
Mrs. Oakley's Guardian De-
clares Miss Frost
Said "Thief"
ALSO QUOTES FROM
LETTER TO HIM
Suit OutgrOwth of Search of Mrs. Oak
ley's House and Seizure of Articles
Claimed by Observation-Disclosures by
Defendants Counsel.


Alleging SANDER and libel, Attorney
John f. Gale of Guilford, guardian and
next friend of Mrs. Josephine Johnson
Oakley of Vernon. has brought a suit
for damages of $1,000 against Miss Julia
Frost of Vernon through the law offices
of Charles s. Chase and Barber. Barber
K Miller. The suit, returnable at the
September term of Windham county
court, was filed today in the office of
County Clerk w. r. Daley. Attorney
f.. w. Gibson is counsel for Miss Frost.
The papers We're served by Deputy Sher-
| iff Fred -Gressy.
The case is an outgrowth of trouble
that started two or three years ago and
which resulted in proceedings being
started in both the municipal and county
courts, one. case going to the Vermont SUI
preme court, where it is now pending.
Commenting on the slander suit, At
torney Gibson said today: Miss Frost.
the defendant, is woman in her SOth
year. Her long life has been filed with
good deeds actuated by the kindlieSt of
feeling for her neighb0rs and the com
munlty in which she has resided. Par
| tlcularly has she been generous and kind
TO the ward of Mr.. Gale and has helped
| her IN many ways lit is to be regretted
that anyone has found it necessary to
trouble Mrs. Frost at her time of life
with this matter. She has and will con
tinue to have the hearty support of the
community, which quite naturally frowns
upon this litigation. She will contest
this case to the limit of her strength and
| resources.
MIR. Gale alleges that on July /. 1919.
I nd NJ or a
Josephine Johnson. who has since mar
/ ried Robert q. Oakley. was a thief. He
| alleges that the statements were false,
/ malicious and SlanderouS and made with
| the intent to iniure the plaintiffs ward
1 These statements. MIR. Gale says. were
of great damage TO his ward and caused
4 her to suffer n severe nervous shock and
that her health and mental condition
We're seriously impaired. He SAYS she
was put under great suspicion and an
! nOyance and her dwelling house was
searched without good grounds or prob.
! able cause and that she suffered mental
/ anguish and annoyance by reason of the
| treatment she received from her neigh
j bors. He asserts that by reason of an
| gulSh and worry she was adiudged in.
/ sane and was committed to the Brattle
boro Retreat and has since paid ont large
| sums for medical attendance. Mr.. Gale
was appointed guardian March 3. 1920
! She recently was discharged from the
Retreat.
! 1t is further alleged by the guardian
| that on April /. 1920. at Vernon Miss
/ Frost wrote him a letter in which sh,
said Now | am told that the crazy
woman. Josephine Johnson. is back homt
/ since Saturday and | am wondering whar
effect this has on your being her guard
! ian since | discovered her thief ant
the goods were found on her premises
She knew she had to stand trial and ;,
took the course she did to get rid of i
and fooled many people,; and further
i You will be surprised to know the
things that woman stole from me-"
The plaintiff declares that the state
mentS i'm the letter were false. malicious
and libellous and intended to injure tn,
plaintiffs ward
i On July 30, 1910. according to Mr.
Gale. Miss Frost said to States AttOr
ney r. w. Gibson that Josephine John
son had committed the crime of thief
and had stolen from her various article
which are enumerated i'm the legal docu
ment. by reason of which Mr.. Gibson hat
her arrested. charged with the larceny o
4 the goods. She was bound over to COUNTY
court and the case there was mol pressed
Later she was charged with petty lar
cenv and a jury was drawn in the mu
nicipal court. but the case there was no
pressed. In these cases Mr.. Gale charge,
that the states attorney was actuated By
motives of malice.
The articles taken from Mrs Oakley.
home were turned over to Miss Frost
), and some time ago Mrs. Oakley sueC
her to recover the value of the articles
A jury i'm the municipal court returned /
verdict in favor of Mrs Oakley, but Mis-.
Frost appealed to the supreme court
: where the case is now pending.