The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-03-15
ORLEANS BAR
HONORS MEMORY
OF ASSOCIATES
Glowing Tribute Paid
Judge Alfred, for Pub
lie BenefactiOns

Orleans county bar association at
tho court house last evening res
olUtions we're offered on the dea"l
OF the late John Wesley Erwin,
Colby Stoddard, Judge F. e. Al
fred and Hon. Charles A. Prouty
George B. Young Of Montpelier
who was 10 have given the mem
orial on the life work of Charles
A. Prouty was unavoidably abb
sent, and remarks were offered by
F. c. Williams and E. A. Cook Of
Orleans.
W. r. Reirdon spoke informally
on the life of the late Colby Stod-
dard, and A. II. Grout gave a
brief sketch of the life and char
acter of John Wesley Erwin.
There were present at this
meeting besides the members of
the har, of this city, Hon. Sher-
man l.. Moulton, Judge w. d.
Miller, Judge F. W. Tcnney.
Judge W. NJ. Wright, J. Rolf
Scarles and James B. Campbell Of
st, Johnsbury, Frank Rogers, VI.
+ .Reirdon. John Gibson and i.
W Thompson of Barton Fl. A.
Cool, of Orleans and Claire Po-
well of Island Pond
It was especially fitting that
City Clerk, Rufus w. Spear, wh9
succeeded Judge Alfred as Judge
Of Probate, should be chosen to
give this tribute to his memory,
having, boon closely associated as
clcrk in<h;s Office for many years.
JuGgc Spear said he felt it an
lonor and privilege, to speak Of
tSia life and work Of Judge Alfred.
He referred briefly to the an
cestry of Judge Alfred. whose
Grandparents moved from Hart
ford. Conn, to West Springfield,
and in 1903 to Westfcld, Vt. His
father. Samuel Dwight Alfred. To-
Gated inFair'fax, and it was there
in 1853 that Frank Edward klfr2d
WIS born.
He was graduate of the Har-
vard Law school and a member of
the Suffolk County Bar, and COM
ing back TO Vermont he located in
Newport in 1876 and was for %
years d member of the firm of
Crane and Alfred. He was APP
pointed by Gov. C. S. Page and
rc-appoin,ed by Gov. Levi X. Fu;-
lc" as Judge Advocate General.
While not'a strong plcader before
a jury Judge Alfred cXccllcd in
the preparation of his cases, and
in searching out evidence and the
able advocates who were aSsociat-
e1 with him, found every detail
had been thoroughly prepared,
a0l while they at times might be
more in the limelight because Of
their forensic powers, large
share of the credit for such VIC
tories as they attained, was due
to the less spectacular part play
cd by their associate in the pre-
paration.
Al bearings and trials he was
courteous in his treatment Of OPP
posing counsel, and the warm
fr cndShip which he bore to many
Of his brother members Of the Bar
evidenced the fact that he had
Wcll in mind the adagc of Shakes
pc;rc: GAS adversarcs in law,
strive nightly; but cat and drink
uS friends. "
As Il public official, Judge AL
fred displayed the same cn....ct.
isticf which marked his private
practice as lawyer. He was
earnest and Conscientious and
gave himself Wholehcartedly to
tn, discharge of his duties.
A. Judge of Probate, the long
:ctm which he held this office
without opposition evidences the
fact that he filled it to the salts
faction Of the people of Orleans
cot MY. When he was called to
this position he spent much time
IN ro0rran;zing the Office and SyS-
tcmatizing its records. In the set
element of estates and other mat
tcrS in his court, he was inSiStcnt
that administrators, guardians and
other officers of the court Sho>,l
promptly and faithfully discharge
tao;r duties. Judge Alfred insist
ci that cs' atcS be settled and dc
cr"cs OF distribution made and
recorded, believing it to be tho
business like procedure and the
method which would work out TO
tic advantage of all concerned. !
Ia contested hearings he was
c2lcrui 10 study the facts and sat
isfv himsclf that h" was c""~"'>
in his conclusions before rendering
his decision. !
A very small percentage of /
cases appealed from his court |
were reversed in the higher /
courts. Hjs, term of office as judge ,
Of Probate was from 1898 to 1912.
a period of % years, the longest |