Click image to open full size in new tab
Article Text
VERMONT NEWS.
# Ex-Cashier Mussey Pardoned.
President McKinley on June 25, par-
doned Charles M. Mussey, ex-cashier of
the National bank of Rutland, who was
convicted last year of the misapplication
of $100,000 of the funds of the bank and
sentenced to seven years in the house of
correction. Application for Mussey's
pardon, on the ground of critical ill-
health, was made on the 21st and also a
fled statement by T. W. Moloney, a
special assistant United States attorney
engaged for the purpose of assisting in
the prosecution of Marvin A. McClure,
who it was alleged was the sole bene-
ficiary of the funds of the bank which
were misapplied, and also affidavits of
several physicians testifying to the im-
paired health of the petitioner; also a
letter from Rev. George W. Phillips, pas-
tor of the Congregational church of Rut-
land saying that Mussey, up to the time
of his detection, had borne a good
name.
District Attorney James L. Martin, in
reporting on the case to the department
of justice, said that Mussey had been
cashier for nearly 15 years and had al-
ways maintained an excellent reputa-
tion, but was decidedly weak in resisting
personal appeals, especially from those
be regarded as friends. Martin added:
"Some time in 1893, Marvin A. McClure,
a personal friend and then a man of
good standing, applied to the bank for a
loan of $3000 whereupon McClure, by per-
sonal appeal, prevailed upon Mussey to let
him have the money, with a solemn
promise that it would be promptly paid
when due and with the understanding
that the loan should be kept from the
knowledge of the directors. Subsequent
events proved that McClure got Mussey
in his power by the first loan, and held
him there until the bank was practically
ruined by loans made to McClure. When
the crookedness was discovered, Mus-
sey's manhood asserted itself, and he
told the whole truth. He never profited
a dollar by the transactions, and what
little he had saved from his annual
salary of $1500 was promptly turned
over to the receiver. He is today a man
of absolute poverty. Ever since his
arrest he has done everything in his
power to assist the receiver of the bank
and the government. McClure was sub-
sequently arrested for aiding and abet-
ting in the misapplication of the funds,
and after a sharp trial was promptly
convicted and sentenced to seven years'
imprisonment. In this trial Mussey ren-
dered invaluable services. The district
attorney says he has no doubt whatever
that Mussey has suffered sufficient pun-
ishment.
The attorney-general, in passing on
the application for pardon, made the
following endorsement: "The petition-
er has served more than a year of a
seven-year sentence for a violation of the
national banking laws. The district at-
torneys recommend his immediate pardon
for the reason that they believe, from the
facts developed since his sentence, that
he is sufficiently punished and further
imprisonment will endanger his life.
# A Vermonter in Chicago.
Hon. Alson S. Sherman of Chicago has
just celebrated his 80th birthday anni-
versary at bis palatial home near that
city, where surrounded by their children,
grandchildren, great-grandchildren he
received a large number of leading citi-
zens and members of the Methodist
church of which he is one of the pillars.
Mr. Sherman way born in Barre, and
was the grandson of the man who gave
Barre its name, after deciding the ques-
tion by a fisticuff bout with one of the
early settlers. He was born on West hill
on the farm now occupied by Frank
Nichols and was the man who built the
granite work on the second state house
at Montpelier. He went to Chicago in
1836, and was elected mayor of that
city in 1844. He was the seventh may-
or of the great metropolis, and is the
oldest man living who filled the executive
seat in the windy city. He was once
chief of the fire department, and it was
he who brought out the noted fire chief,
Dennis Swenie.
# A Long Lumber Slide.
The new slide extending up the moun-
tains a distance of some four miles erect-
ed by the Battenkill Lumber company of
Manchester Depot, is completed and
ready for use. In it pulp wood is to be
run down the mountain to cars which
will stand on a side track leading to it,
just put in by the Rutland railroad com-
pany. The slide is 24 inches deep, 26
inches wide, and is made out of four-
inch spruce plank. There is much inter-
est taken in the enterprise, as the slide
will lead directly to a car, and it is ex-
pected that 25 cars will be loaded every
working day. The company now has
about 75 men on the mountain cutting
pulp wood.
John K. Smith of Brattleboro, a man
over 80 years old, was overcome by the
heat Thursday and died in about three
hours.
# State Sons of Veterans.
The nineteenth annual encampment of
the Sons of Veterans of Vermont was
held at Essex Junction Thursday and
these officers were elected: Commander,
C. J. Smith of Huntington; senior vice-
commander, Jessie Walker of Walcott;
junior vice-commander, G. A. Uttery of
Manchester: division committee, E. E.
Perry, of Barre, Homer Wood, Cam-
bridge, J. C. Shedd, of Stowe; delegate-
at-large, to the encampment at Provi-
dence, R. I. in September, J. B. Ripley, of
Lyndonville; delegate, F. E. Terrill, of
Jericho, delegates to choose their own al-
ternates. During the year the member-
ship has fallen from 680 to 511. The an-
nual meeting of the state Ladies' Aid
society was held at the same time and
place. This order has eight societies and
the membership has increased from 129
to 134 during the year.
# To Welcome Boston's Visitors.
A meeting was held at Montpelier
Thursday to arrange for the reception of
the Vermont Association of Boston, and
