Litchfield enquirer., 1875-05-13
Newspaper Criticism.

publican ventured to characterize MT. Willis Phelps, the railway king of that vi- cinity, as the Boss Tweed of Springfield, accused him of lobbying bills through the legislature authorizing the city to sub- scribe funds for the completion of certain railroads mostly owned by him, and then packing meetings, bribing voters. and in other ways corruptly composing 8 popular vote in favor of his scheme. To these accusations MT. Phelps replied with libel suit claiming $200, 1000 damages. The Republican pleaded that the charges it had made were true, waived a jury trial, and the case came before Judge Endicott for decision without jury. The trial lasted week and ended on Wednesday of last week. The judge found that "Mr. Willis Phelps was guilty of illegal and improper practices and was 8 party to influences corrupting to the community" On one count of the plaintiffs declaration. how ever, the defendant could not justify all his charges, and the judge felt compelled to give the plaintiff judgment for S10O. nom- inal damages.
 The result, therefore, is a substantial victory for the Republican, and justifi- cation of it's charge that in Willis Phelps Springfield had its Boss Tweed. That journal deserves the thanks of the press and of the public for having so nobly vim dicate1 the rights of the one, and so fully exposed corruption in high places to the other. We hope the result will encourage other editors to speak out about railroads and railroad kings. A little plain talk about such people and such corporations will do a vast deal of good.
 Have People any rights which Dogs are bound to respect:
 MIR. ED1roR-I was glad to see an artl- cle in your last paper, on Liability for Dogs" The subject is an important and a very practical one. I, and no doubt ! many others, would like to know distinct ly whether people have any rights that dogs are bound to respect. and if so what those rights are. Not long ago, was driving quietly towards Litchfeld on the Bantam road When within 8 mile or mile and a half of your village, a dog jumped of from bank and began to bark and spring at us very annoYingiy- to say dangerously. I tried Charles Lambs plan, of ''letting him alone severely" but still he persisted for rods in annoying us. With some horses, it would have beer positively perilous.
 Again and again-I have passed ahouse in your town-(not village) on foot; and had three dogs gather round, barking and snapping at me. I can generally get along with one dog; but protest that one m l front, and two behind are . few LOO many. Now ask, is it the duty of such dogs to l have themselves tied up, or at least kept under the control of their lawful keepers |? or where is the dividing line between their rights and ours?
 The Winsted Herald gives the following interest information regarding the manu- facture of clocks at Thomaston:
 Matters at the Clock Works are in frst- rate working order. About 400 vorkmen are now employed and over 15.000 clocks are turned out each month. This makes more than one clock per nainsste for regu- ! lar working hours. Orders have been so numerous of late that should no more be received during the next six months the orders now on the books would keep the entire force at work during that period. The company are shipping their clocks to all parts of the world-including Japan. Cuba, New Jersey and other heathen lands. To give your readers an idea how business is 'spushed" here, now, I relate an instance. Not long since parties from New York made application for 6 new style of case-to be different from any thing in the clock market; they to have the ex- elusive sale of it. On Monday night the case designer. Mir. O. N. Fary, was in- structed to get up new and special de- sign for case with all possible dispatch. At P. M. the next day the new case, with work all in ready to tick, went down by express to New York. and proving sat- isfactory-a standing order was received for 1900 per month.
 A gigantic whiskey ring has been dis |