The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-03-16
IIfllO HELD FOR
COUNTY COURT
Judge Stowe Fixes Bail at
$500 in StrattOn
Case
INVOLVES GIRL
II YEARS OF AGE
Brother Surrendered by BOndsman in
Case Involving Same Girl - Both
Brothers Now i'm BTattlebOrO Lookup
viii BE Tried at NeWfane.

OaSe mNONIng Same tEIfI - BOth
Brothers Now in BTattlebOro Lookup
VIII BE Tried at Newfane.
! The Leno brothers Gardner and Ern-
est, of Stratton were in the municipal
court yesterday afternoon. Gardner be-
ing under arrest charged with placing
Laura 4Toulton of Wardsboro in the
custody of Jack Howard of Stratton for
immoral purposes. and Ernest having
been surrendered by Attorney G, 5.
Chase. who became his bondSnan in the
sum of $1,000 year ago in connection
with an alleged offenSe with the same
AIouton girl, who will be Is years old
April -. Both brothers were brought
here from Newfane jail by Sheriff Frank
l.. Wellman. Gardner Leno having been
held there 10 await Yesterdays hearing
and Ernest Leno yhaving been placed in
jail Feb Is in default Of bail of 81 900
for trial in county court on the charge
iof criminal assault on Della Cobb. i,
of Wardsboro Feb s.
States Attorney Harold +. Whitney,
who preferred the charges. appeared for
the state yesterday afternoon at the
hearing. which was to determine wheth-
er Gardner Leno should be held for trial
at the April term of county court Judge
T. d. +. Stowe assigned Attorney Chase
10 defend LenO and he asked Attorney
4. W. Gibson, who was counsel for Eru-
est Leno in the Cobb case, to assist him.
The question arose as to whether AttOr-
ney Gibson was counsel for Gardner
Leno the court stating that if he was
the assignment of Attorney Chase at
the expense of the state would be re-
sclnded. Attorney Gibson said he was
q member of committee of American
Legion men to see that the rights of
former service men charged with crimes
were protected. but was not retained by
anybody as counsel for Gardner Ieno
further than that Attorney Chase had
asked him to assist.
| The state charged that on Nov II,
4 1871. Gardner LeMo placed Miss Moul-
ton in Jack Howards : keeping for inn
moral purposes. The defense put I'M no
evidence and claimed that the evidence Of
the prosecution did not indicate immor-
ality under the statute. there being no
ermont statute against the conduct
winch the states evidence showed.
States Attorney Whitney contended
that the evidence plainly showed
a violation of the law and be asked
/ that the respondent be held for county
court under bonds of 81 600 Judge
Stove stated that the case involved an
interpretation of the statute and he
continued the case until Friday morn
ing. Both brothers were taken to the
! BrattleborO lookup. This morning Judge
Stowe notified the counsel that he had
1 reached a decision, the respondent
said he had decided to hold Leno for
trial in county court He fixed bail at
5000, which Leno could not furnish and
] So was taken back to the lookup.
Freeman +. Lazelle of Warlsboro,
guardian OF Miss Meulton, was the first
/ witness, bur was asked only few ques-
/ tions. tie said the girl worked for DIR.
| q. y. Hetiion Of Wardsboro at the time
/ of the alleged offenSp. She knew Ieuo
1 but had rejected him. the witness said.
The girl testified that She had known
1 Leno several years. She said one night
/ in November he put q ladder up against
/ Dr. Heffion's house. climbed through her
] bedroom window and threatened to
! shoot her If she did not 20 with him.
She said she was afraid as he had a re-
volyer in his pocket. He remained until
she dressed and then took her to Jack
/ Howards. where there was woman
/ whom Howard said was his wife. She
stayed there two weeks. Leno coming
! there every night Then he took her
/ tn Wilmington TO the home of his sis
/ ter. Mrs. Boyd. where she stayed
| week Mr. Iazelle came after her after
Mrs. Boyd had written him that she
was there
/ CroSS-cxamined by Attorney Gibson,
1.-THE girl said She saw nothing out Of the
way at Howard's and thought it a better
! place 10 stay than at BOyd'S. She said
She wrote Leno six or seven letters while
/ living at Dr. Heffons. also received let
ters from him.
Attorney Gibson showed the girl sew
eral letters which She admitted writing
i to Leno. They were Of an endearing
naturc. and in one Of them. written
Oct. 24. was the sentence. Il hope you
will bc my loving husband" In another
letter written az HoWard'S She asked
Leno to take her to dance in South
Londonderry. In response to question
by the court the girl said she did not
/ know Howard until She went there.
Don't you like him little now in
quired Attorney Gibson. to which the
girl replied emphatically. No. | don't
But you said 50 in your letters" the
LAWYER added. and Miss MouIton flashed
back. Il don't care what the letters
said"
States Attorney Whitney declared
that the letters were immaterial AZ they
constituted defense.
Sheriff Wellman testified that he once
had Il warrant to serve on Howard for
New Hampshire parties charging him
with statutory offense. This was brought
out as tending to show the character of
Howard.