
This Week in NMH History 2017-2018 #13
120 Years Ago
from The Hermonite,
vol. XI, no. 6, p. 87; December 4, 1897.
HEAR YE! HEAR YE!
The case of Commonwealth vs. Alice
M. Brereton, for the larceny of a piece of cake from the store room of East
Hall, came up before Judge C.I. Scofield in the winter session of the
Northfield Seminary Superior Court, at Marquand Court House, Tuesday afternoon,
November 30. The Commonwealth was represented by District Attorney Eliza S.
Halsey, and the defendant by Lawyer Eldridge. The witnesses were sworn in by
Clerk Elizabeth Aitken and the prisoner was brought in by Sheriff Julia Rieser.
The district attorney called the
following witnesses: Misses Mamie Milk, Catherine Utley, Elizabeth Hendrickson,
and Grace Prouty. Evidence was issued to prove that a handkerchief scented with
a certain perfume that could readily be distinguished from all others on
account of its peculiarity to itself, said perfume alleged to have been the
property of the defendant, was found near the cake box from which the cake had
been abstracted. Lawyer Eldridge, for the defendant, called Misses Flora Dobbin
and Sadie Whalen as witnesses, who swore that on the night in question the
store room was locked and the defendant was away from the building all night.
In rebuttal the Commonwealth brought forward evidence to prove that the
defendant was in East Hall on that night and that she made brown bread, which
was served with beans for breakfast Sunday morning.
After eloquent pleas by both
lawyers, and His Honor’s solemn charge, the jury retired, and after a short
session brought in a verdict, “Not guilty.”
___________
COURT ROOM NOTES
Arthur J. Philips was fined $50 for
contempt of court, and ordered to remain in the custody of the sheriff until
the fine was paid.
The entrance of the executive
committee of the Mount Hermon Good Government Club caused His Honor so much
annoyance that he instructed the sheriff to arrest anyone making further
disturbance.
After the adjournment of the court
the executive committee of the Mount Hermon Good Government Club was sentenced
by the Current Events Club to one hour’s solitary confinement in Wayside Inn.
Editor’s
note: The Sheriff went on to found the Whitney Museum of American Art.