The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, November 23, 1888 State Notes 11/23/1888 The Bennington battle monument is now 120 feet high. Frank A. LELAND died recently from the effects of falling on a pitchfork in his barn at Johnson. Fremont MINARD was killed at Groton, last Tuesday evening, by the bursting of a cannon while firing a Harrison salute. Charles BRAGG of Post Mills lost two fingers of his right hand, last weed, by the accidental discharge of his shot-gun. Gov. DILLINGHAM has approved a bill changing the name of the Vermont conference seminary and female college to the Vermont Methodist seminary. A committee of the legislature appointed to consider the choice of a permanent camp-ground for the state militia have reported in favor of Essex Junction. Myron REED, of Underhill, while driving cattle off the Burlington and Lamoile track, Wednesday of last week, was struck by an engine, and had one arm broken. Two of the Democratic candidates for presidential electors in New York were Vermonters--Charles L. AUSTIN, born in Orwell, and Artemus B. WALDO, born in Tinmouth. Edson D. HALE, son of Rev. John G. HALE, formerly pastor at Poultney, Chester and Stowe, was ordained to the pastorate of the Congregational church in Clayton, Cal., Oct. 22d. The commissioners for Brattleboro and Chesterfield have contracted with the Berlin, Conn., bridge company for the proposed new iron bridge across the Connecticut opposite the Alfred WAITE place. S. M. ESTABROOKS' three barns, at St. Johnsbury, containing 60 tons of hay and farming tools, were burned, Tuesday morning. Loss, $3,000; insured for $1,300. The fire was undoubtedly incendiary. The only attempt at illegal voting at Fair Haven, it is stated, was made by a Prohibitionist. Two FISK ballots, folded together, were found in the box when it came to be turned. They were both thrown out. Vermont's official vote for President, as shown by the complete returns from all towns, is as follows: Harrison, 45,192; Cleveland, 16,788; Fisk, 1,459. The Republican plurality, therefore, is 28,404. While Winnie THAYER and Tracy PHILIPS, of Newport, were seated on a rustic bench in B. F. MOORE's grounds, recently, a bullet whizzed between them and buried itself in the back of the seat. Some men on the railroad bridge did the firing. John HARDIGAN, a Montpelier Cleveland supporter, paid his election bet, the 16th, by wheeling a bushel of corn from Middlesex to Montpelier, a distance of six miles, in a pouring rain and deep mud. At the finish the corn was sold at auction for five cents an ear. We hear that another millionaire from New York has got the refusal of some of the finest lands in Charlotte, along the lake shore. The land is unsurpassed in quality, the scenery good, and the distance from Burlington about such as gives a splendid ride there on the fastest yachts that ply the lake. We hope the whole shore of the lake will be occupied in this way. BURLINGTON INDEPENDENT. Michael O'ROURKE attempted to enter the store of H. H. BROWN & Co. at West Rutland, last Friday evening, by breaking a large pane of glass. Albert EATON, who sleeps in the store, was aroused, went to the window, and discovered O'ROURKE and two companions whom he failed to recognize. EATON gave chase but they escaped. On Saturday morning Deputy Sheriff FISH arrested O'ROURKE and took him to the House of Correction. Thomas WARD, who was convicted of arson last January in the Caledonia county court, and who took an appeal to the supreme court, was sentenced, last Friday, to eight years in the state-prison at Windsor, by the latter body. The crime for which WARD was convicted was the burning of the out-buildings of Henry FOSTER of Walden, with intent to burn the dwelling-house. the extreme penalty for a crime of this kind is imprisonment for life. WARD is nearly 65 years old, in feeble health, and it is doubtful if he lives out the sentence. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT