The Vermont Journal, Windsor, Saturday, June 14, 1884 Chester News 6/14/1884 Prof. PIERCE the illusionist gave a novel entertainment at Central hall, Monday evening. Monday and the night following several of the heavisest showers we have had for a long time passed over in succession. During one of the showers Monday evening, lightning struck and shattered a tree in the lot owned by J. S. CHAPMAN, opposite Mrs. MORSE's house. Several residents of Chester Depot are sojourning this week at Woodstock during the trial of Warren HEALD for the assault of Post Master ROBBINS last winter. Thursday evening Miss Sarah ROUNDS of the Detroit school of oratory will give select reading. Mr. A. A. DEMING of Rutland was in town this week. Tuesday morning Chester was treated to quite a scare. The heavy showers of Monday night had raised the river to a rushing torrent and likewise the same stream which runs right bach of Mr. William P. DODGE's house. Mr. DODGE arose about 5 o'clock and went out to try and repair the road above his house to keep it from gulling, telling his wife he shouldn't be back for some time, which as it now appears she failed to have any recollection of. When she rose an hour or two later and beheld the brook had been turned from its course down through their front yard with its larege volume of water, she supposed that her husband must be up repairing the same at the barn, but after sending the hired men up there and then all about the place, and finding no trace fo him, she ws immediately fearful lest he had fallen into the stream and carried into the river which at their place, in the condition it was in, it would have been almost impossibe to have saved one's self. Within a short time the report was over the village--soon the bank of the river was lined with searching parties, some of whom were treated to involuntary baths in its waters. After abut an hour's hunt news came that he had been found alive and well about half a mile above his house repairing the road, being highway surveyor, all unconscious of being the cause of such a tumult. W. HEALD, who has been in Woodstock jail since last winter, for the murderous assault upon P. M. ROBBINS, was found by the court at Woodstock this eek to be insane, and orders were given for his removal to Brattleboro. Ed. H. JENKINS, who has been clerk for E. B. LEE the past two years, has given up his position on account of ill health, and gone to Lowell Lake. Mrs. Thomas WILLIAMS has been very low for the past few weeks, with heart trouble, that coupled with her extreme age, makes her recovery doubtful. Her husband, who had a severe sickness a year ago, is in a helpless condition. Mrs. NICHOLSON has moved into Ira ADAMS' house made vacant by Charles E. WEBB. Elmer SPAFFORD has finished work on the railroad,and now runs Herbert BUSWELL's meat cart. It is reported that the Francestown, (N. H.) Co., who have bought the HOLDEN soap stone quarry, are to build a mill at Springfield, Mass., and will car the stone to that place in its rough state. WYMAN, the murderer from Weston, convicted in teh second degree at this term of court, used to occupy a house on Henry MORRIS' farm in this town, which has since been destroyed. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT