Turner's Public Spirit, October 3, 1925

A look back in time to a century ago

By Bob Oliphant

Center. Frederick Hanscom has gone to Ogden, Utah, where he will be the guest of his daughters for a month.

Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Boychenks, who have been spending their vacation in town, have returned to Malden.

The next meeting of the W.C.T.U. will be held at the home of Mrs. George Walker next Wednesday afternoon, at which time the election of officers for the ensuing year will take place.

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Meyer, who have been in Maine for two weeks, are in town again for a short stay before returning to Florida.

Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin Mansell, of Georgetown, have been recent guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Sutherland.

Austin D. Fletcher has resumed his duties at Wright & Fletcher’s store after enjoying a short vacation.

The first and second degrees were conferred on a class at the Grange meeting on Thursday evening.

The grade schools of the town were closed on Friday of last week and the teachers visited schools.

At the church fair on Wednesday Charles W. Robinson exhibited a plate of apples and spray of blossoms picked from the same tree.

Mrs. Gertrude Hamlin Lord was in town last Sunday.

The first meeting of the season of the Tadmuck club will be held in the Unitarian vestry on Tuesday afternoon, October 13. An especially fine program will be presented, consisting of readings by Elizabeth West Parker, with Celia Whithed Eames as soloist, followed by a reception of officers and new members. The hostesses of the afternoon will be the reception committee. It is planned to hold classes in basketry during October and November.

The election of Auxiliary officers will be held at the October meeting this year, and the new officers will be installed at the November meeting.

Miss Edith A. Wright visited the Salem school on last week Friday, and spent the week-end in Essex, the guest of Miss Winifred Burnham, a former teacher in town.

Mrs. Charles A. Wright, Mrs. C. A. Blaney, Mrs. Mattie Lawrence, Mrs. Amelia Lambert and Mrs. George Walker attended the county convention of the W.C.T.U. held in Cambridge recently.

Congregational Fair. The annual fair of the Congregational church was held in the town hall on Wednesday afternoon and evening. There was the usual sale of [paper torn, line missing] grabs and donation tables; there were also fine displays of fruits and vegetables.

Those in charge of the various tables were Mrs. Clarence Hildreth, Miss Mabel Prescott, Miss Ethel Ingalls, Mrs. Otis Day and Miss Marion Fletcher, candy; Mrs. Helena Bartlett, Mrs. John Felch, donations; Miss Mary Green, Mrs. Harry Ingalls, Miss Florence Wilson, aprons; Mrs. George F. White, Miss Winifred Green, Mrs. William C. Roudenbush, fancy; Mrs. Perry Shupe, Mrs. Bertram Sutherland, grabs.

An excellent supper was served in charge of Mrs. Harry Ingalls and an able corps of assistants. Some of the gentlemen of the parish had charge of the exhibit.

Two pleasing plays were presented for the evening’s entertainment; one, “Joint owners in Spain,” the parts being taken by Mrs. Perley Wright, Miss Edith A. Wright, Mrs. Warren Hanscom and Mrs. William Roudenbush, and the other, “Blood will tell,” with Mrs. Perry Shupe, Mrs. C. A. Blaney, Mrs. A. H. Sutherland and Mrs. W. R. Taylor taking the parts. Mrs. C. A. Blaney was the pianist of the evening. The usual auction of fruits and vegetables was held at the close of the entertainment.

About Town. Miss Mary Sullivan, a sister of Mrs. Oliver Desjardens, Bankers’ hill, Stony Brook road, slipped on the first ice of the season on last week Wednesday morning and broke a knee cap. Dr. Blaney was called and removed her to St. John’s hospital, Lowell.

Rev. J. Sidney Moulton will complete a forty-year pastorate of the First Parish Unitarian church in Stow on November first, and plans to retire on that date. Mr. Moulton was the founder of the Civic club in Stow and its first president; superintendent of schools for twenty years, and chaplain of Stow Grange. He was ordained in Westford in 1878 and served as minister of the Unitarian church here ten years [1876-1885], and still continues in friendly relations with the parish and townspeople.

The second heavy frost of the season hit a knock-out blow on last week Thursday morning to all that was left of the first knock-out. It left ice in its trail and 25º above zero, which is some tumble in temperature from early September’s torrid heat in the shady side of the pumpkin vine, which brings home that familiar poem of James Whitcomb Riley’s, “When the frost is on the pumpkin.”

The recent outing of the Lowell Fish and Game Association at the Martin Luther grounds [in Tyngsboro] was liberally attended by 300 members. It was a great day and evening of sports, games and friendliness, new and renewed. The president, Joe Wall, was at the height of joy and usefulness in introducing everybody to the continuous merry-go-round of sports.

The buildings on the Old Oaken Bucket farm are being painted. If taxes do soar we are not so sore over the soaring but what we can show our colors.

The Rural New Yorker is advocating uniform dress for school teachers. Well, now see here, Mr. Rural New Yorker, there is infringement enough on personal liberty that is absolutely essential to civilization without dictating the color and type of wearing apparel.

The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks and the E. A. Snows made a friendly call on Miss Ella T. Wright last Sunday evening at her home, “The Elms,” on the Lowell road, at Brookside [120 Lowell Road]. Under cross-examination in regard to early planting and early maturing for the home table she testified that she had sweet corn from her garden July 26. This took the backbone out of our cross-examination as we had puffed ourselves all up in telling all inhabitants that we had had sweet corn August first, and that we were in the it class.

Mrs. Henry A. Miles, formerly Miss Elizabeth T. Wright of Lowell, widow of Rev. Henry A. Miles, of Hingham, will celebrate her 100th birthday on December 5. Mrs. Miles is the daughter of Nathan Wright and nephew of Hon. John Wright, a former teacher in Westford academy, and a cousin of Miss Ella T. Wright of Brookside and Cleveland, Ohio. Rev. Henry A. Miles will be remembered as a minister of the First Unitarian church of Lowell for many years, and later of the First Unitarian church of Hingham, where he died several years ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Everett Lord and children, of Ogunquit, Me., were recent visitors in town. Mrs. Lord will be remembered in Westford and Littleton as Miss Gertrude Hamlin. In meeting her it seemed like the former pleasant, happy, youthful days.

West Chelmsford Grange had a splendid attendance at their meeting on last week Thursday evening. The meeting was in charge of the Pomona Grange officers, with Mrs. Ida F. Whiteley, lecturer of Middlesex North Pomona Grange, in charge of the program. There was community singing, solos by Vera Bell, of Tyngsboro, piano duet by Vera Fletcher and Ruth Brown, of Dracut, and a stump speech by Mrs. Ida F. Whiteley. Refreshments were served under the direction of Mrs. Clara Vennard.

We have suffered more loss of sweet corn from woodchucks this year than we have suffered from the crows in a period of forty years. The ground is strewn with the wreckage, but the crow is the only sinner that the Dupont Powder Company and other anti-crowites fasten the blame on and mark for extermination. Of course the woodchuck is such an æsthetic looking creature and adds so much to the joy of life that it would be more in harmony with the universal law of beauty to sacrifice the low flowers than to obliterate even one footprint of our permanent, the year-round friend, the woodchuck. Please bear this in mind when you load up with Dupont powder to shoot.

In our recent visit to Miss Ella T. Wright she informed us that she had in keeping corn raised by L. T. [Levi Thomas] Fletcher [1796-1890]. As he has been dead for thirty-four years and did not raise corn the last few years of his life this corn must be closing in on forty years old, but of course it is in its mere infancy compared to the corn and wheat deposited in the pyramids of Egypt that we read about, but it is headed in that direction. Miss Wright is a most cultured and well informed conversationalist.

Mr. and Mrs. Carlos D. Cushing, who have been spending the summer at their summer home in Framingham and in Westford at the home of their daughter, Mrs. W. R. Taylor, will leave October 9 for Miami, Fla.

Awarded Premiums. We attended the Groton fair on last Saturday afternoon and we much ruffled up with pleasure with finding everything so worth the while. We met some new and entertaining individualities and made a swap-off in reminiscent conversation and feel that I got the best of the swap-off in receiving better than I gave. Besides the new reminiscent friends there were the old ones, who always have the friendly handshake as well as the entertaining friendly shake-down of conversation. The exhibition in the hall of fruit, flowers and vegetables, both active and passive, was well worth the while of time and cash; also, the experience and the contrast. It’s also worth the while to see how easily we got beaten. We left home with nothing but the premiums dancing a jig with our gray matter or mental fodder, and came home playing fiddle to third premiums, or better [illegible word] and more of it, not playing fiddle to any premium.

Among the exhibitors from Westford I record Miss Alice Heywood with two first premiums on canned fruit, Miss Angie Parfitt canned fruit, Mrs. Alice Lambert first premium on cranberries, J. Willard Fletcher three entries of corn, W. R. Taylor, apples, many varieties, colors, shapes and sizes, for which he received a most small truckload of premiums, mostly of the second fiddling tune. The old Oaken Bucket farm, true to advocating raising more corn, made five entries and won three, and right here it is encouraging to say that the corn exhibit was the largest that some of us have seen in the history of the Groton fair, which is evidence that the farmers are coming to their own again in an attempt to stop this avoidable drain on their financial reserves. Besides the corn entries by the Old Oaken Bucket farm there were several entries of different grades of apples to all of which was justly awarded the second and third fiddle rights, and we joyfully take off our hats at that. The boys’ and girls’ club exhibit was encouragingly splendid and they need your encouragement by your presence and your discouragement by your stay at home isolation.

Cause of Lawlessness. As a bearing on the increase of crime Walter Lloyd Smith, supreme court justice, who has served on the New York bench thirty-seven years, says, “That nowhere in the world is the criminal law less respected or its enforcement so lax as in the United States. The increase in crime cannot justly be attributed to the Volstead law, but is due to the laxity of general law enforcement and the lack of severe punishment for crime. There is too much maudlin sentiment for criminals. In many cases men are clearly guilty of atrocious crimes, are not fit in fact to be at large, yet in such cases foolish women and unbalanced men will work in every way to have a just sentence revoked or a desperate criminal go unpunished. Very few of those charged with criminal acts are innocent. Yet many escape just punishment through laxity of enforcement or technical law points. The penalty for carrying concealed weapons without license should be largely increased, and the power to grant such licenses should be given only by a judge of a court of record. The maximum penalty would be inflicted upon those citizens who are undesirable, while a light penalty would be given those who carried such weapons for self protection. The present statute should be repealed, which provides in substance that no inference of guilt can be drawn by a jury from the failure of a defendant to take the stand and give testimony. The judge is required to so instruct the jury, and from my judicial experience I am convinced that many criminals escape punishment by this rule of law.

“I see no reason whatever for the existence of such a statute or such a rule. The statute is simply a favor to the criminal defendant, who is entitled to no favor, as against the innocent public which suffers by the acquittal of a guilty man; the presumption of guilt of one who remains silent when accused of crime is a natural one, and yet the legislation has greatly crippled the enforcement of the law by stripping the jury of the right to consider this natural presumption. If you were told that your child had disobeyed you, you would naturally ask him if he had done so. If he offered no explanation he would be punished. Why should we give to one charged with crime a favor which we deny to our children? This statute is, in my judgment, defenseless.”

From all the evidence from Judge Smith and other sources it would appear that the criminal is more petted and pitied and protected than the public, whom he preys upon, and whom misguided goodness prays for. Every criminal is entitled to a fair trial, but not so fair that it is unfair to the innocent public. Let him then be compelled to take the witness stand and be subjected to a rigid cross-examination, or else let the jury be free to interpret his unwillingness to take the witness stand as it harmonizes with the rest of the evidence.

Church Notes. First church (Unitarian) — Sunday service at 4 p.m. Preacher, Rev. Frank R. Crandall, the minister. Subject, “The house of memory and hope.”

The church school will reopen on Sunday. All teachers and pupils are asked to report at 3 p.m.

The Y.P.R.U. will hold the first meeting of the fall season on Sunday following the service.

On Sunday the preacher will deal with the question, “What bears the same relation to the spirit of man that food does to his body?”

Graniteville. A miscellaneous shower was tendered to Miss Alice E. Harrington, whose marriage to Philip Healy will take place here on October 14, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. McCarthy, River street, last Monday evening. Miss Laura McCarthy had general charge of arrangements, and the affair was largely attended. Aside from those in the immediate vicinity, guests were also present from Lowell and Cambridge. Miss Harrington was the recipient of many beautiful gifts. A very pleasing entertainment was given that consisted of songs by Miss Rebecca LeDuc; piano solos, Miss Mary Walsh and a group of excellent readings by Miss Regina McLennan. A mock wedding, in which the following took part proved to be a very enjoyable feature: “Bride,” Miss Margaret Tweed; “Groom,” Miss Mary J. Caron; ring bearer, Miss Lillian Daley; clergyman, Mrs. Harry Caron. Dainty refreshments were served during the evening, and the whole affair proved to be very enjoyable.

A son [Fred Joseph Gagnon] was born to Mr. and Mrs. [Fred J.] Gagnon on Monday, September 28.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shugrue and family recently returned from a delightful visit spent with friends in Center Harbor, N.H.

The members of the Epworth league of the M.E. church held an interesting meeting in the vestry of the church recently. During the session the following officers were elected: George Goucher, pres.; Walter Fletcher, Luba Gorbonoff, Vera Sleeper and Roy Blanchard, vice pres.; Rita Pendlebury, sec.; Ruth Bradley, treas. After the meeting a social hour was enjoyed.

Groton

Groton Fair. The horse show was the big feature at the fair last week Friday, and in spite of the cold weather a good sized crowd was present, and 700 or more automobiles were parked about the grounds. There were 108 horses entered. In Class 4 appeared a horse driven by Miss Adelaide Mountain, ten years old, who took first prize in this event two years ago. Awards in the horse show were made as follows: …

The fireworks on Thursday evening was unusually fine. A wild west show developed some spectacular riding. The motordrome and midway attracted large crowds. …

The main exhibition hall was well filled with a fine display of fruits, vegetables, flowers and domestic manufactures, nearly all the surrounding towns being represented in the exhibits. In the list of awards where the committee decided that exhibits were not up to required standard, only second premiums were granted. Awards were made as follows: …

Apples—Plates of five, only two premiums offered in each class—McIntosh, G. S. Knapp, F. Williams; Roxbury Russets, A. R. Prescott, G. S. Knapp; R.I. Greenings, A. R. Prescott, W. R. Taylor, Westford; … Williams, S. L. Taylor, Westford, second; Wealthy, W. R. Taylor, A. R. Prescott; … Grimes Golden and Tolman Sweet, W. R. Taylor 2nd, …

On Saturday, the last day of the fair, the athletic meet for the schools of neighboring towns was the principal event of the morning. The results were as follows: …

Running high jump. Cousens, Littleton, 1st, 4 feet, 10 inches; Sinkewic, Westford and Martin, Ayer, tied for 2nd and 3rd; … Standing broad jump, Montague, Townsend, 1st 8 feet six inches, Cousens, Littleton, 2nd; Sinkewic, Westford, 3rd; Martin, Ayer, 4th. … Points won by Townsend 40, Ayer 31 ½, Littleton 26 ½, Groton 24, Lunenburg 21 ½, Harvard 7, Westford 4. …

Ayer

News Items. The high school won second place at the athletic meet at the Groton fair last Saturday out of a group of seven schools, Townsend leading Lunenburg, Harvard, Westford, Groton and Littleton, as well as Ayer. …

Gay Party Led to Slaying. The following is taken from the Boston Post:

The slaying of Federal Prohibition Agent John M. Mulcahy on September 2, at a cottage on the shores of Flushing pond, Westford, was the sequel to a riotous early morning “party” participated in by soldiers from Camp Devens and their women companions, at which liquor flowed freely, according to testimony Tuesday in superior criminal court, East Cambridge, where Joseph Mailhot, twenty-five-year-old Lowell youth, is being tried on a charge of murder of the prohibition official.

The government alleges that Mailhot shot Mulcahy through a boarded door as the latter was about to participate in a raid on the Mailhot camp by state police, military authorities and prohibition agents, when Mailhot refused to allow them to enter the cottage and an attempt was made to break the door down.

Four soldiers were called as government witnesses, Tuesday, when the taking of evidence started. Edward F. Montague, one of the soldiers, testified to accompanying other soldiers from Camp Devens to Mailhot’s camp on the night of September 1. Following a series of dances with three girls who were present, testified the soldier, Mailhot served liquor, which was paid for by one of the doughboys. The party continued, stated the witness, until early morning hours, when he was driven back to Camp Devens by one “Happy” Peters.

At the height of Montague’s testimony Judge Frederick Fosdick, before whom Mailhot is being tried by a jury, ordered the court-room cleared of spectators, following an outburst of laughter due to admissions made by the soldier witness.

John A. McNulty of the 13th United States Infantry, second soldier witness, testified to being present at the camp on the night in question with three girls, and that liquor was dispensed by the defendant. Similar testimony was given by Frank Moniz and John Minnell, also attached to Camp Devens.

Sergt. Lester Knapp of Company E, 1st Engineers, testifying on Wednesday, admitted before Judge Fosdick that he had lied to Attys. Feeney and Donahue when he talked with them at the East Cambridge jail before the trial.

Knapp testified in direct examination that he went to the camp at Westford the night of September 1, and that there were three women there. He said he bought a bottle of liquor from Mailhot, became intoxicated and fell asleep. He said he was awakened in the morning by the sound of shots being fired and that he saw flashes in the camp. He stated he heard someone shout, “The house is under arrest.”

Some form passed his doorway and went upstairs, he said. Knapp then made his way out of a window and went back to Camp Devens in his car, he testified. Under cross-examination he admitted he told Feeney and Donahue previous to the trial that the shots were outside the camp.

“Well, I am on the stand now and I am going to tell the truth,” said the witness when asked regarding change of version.

Knapp said he was “covering up” when he talked with the attorneys and admitted he lied to his superior officer at Camp Devens in “covering up.”

Alden Knott of the same company testified he visited Mailhot’s camp on the night of September 1. He saw Mailhot sell liquor, he said, and he (the witness) became intoxicated and fell asleep. He was awakened by a noise, but did not hear any shots fired, he testified. He got up, saw Mailhot standing at the head of the stairs leading from the first to second floors, he said, and when someone asked, “Who fired the shots?” the witness said Mailhot replied, “I did.”

Sergt. John Hollis also visited the camp that night, he said. He fell asleep and was awakened by the sound of shots. He couldn’t tell, he said, whether the shots were inside or outside the camp. He saw Mailhot at the head of the stairs, he said, and heard Mailhot say he fired the shots to “shoo away the crowd.”