The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-02
EAST HArENs rINlNCI1L AGExE
Judge Brnys Reply 20 the Charges Against
HIm-An Exciting Town Meeting.

NEW HAVEN, May IA largely-attended
and excited town meeting was held in the Town
Hall. East Haven. yesterday Two weeks ago
committee. after investigating tho accounts Of
the town and Of its former financial agent.
Charles \. Bray. made n long and exhaustive
report in which Mr. Bray was censurcd. The
report was adopted and the meeting adjourned
until to-day
The feature Of Yesterdays meeting was the
reading by Mr. Bray Of his reply 10 the charges
made 10y the Committee After speaking Of his
many months Of silence he took up the main
points OF the Committees report and replied to
each in detail Elected Sclectman in 1862, he
held that Office every year until 1872. when he
positively refused a reelection. Then the town
voted that he should he Financial Agent. which
position he has since held. During this long
period beginning with the dark and early days
of the rebellion. lie Practically had the solo
management Of the towns financial affairs in
the aggregate the sum OF ,t6l9.OSdO pass ing
ceiyed 81 1868 or a little moro than $15 n year.
Yet your Committee upon means NJ nforma-
ton which they complain Of as defective and
insufficient. say that there is an apparent bal
Hnce. arising from all the complicated trausac-
uons ol nil lhrsn y9ars. oi SOM t5uVo 4salnst
me; and am called n deaulter and charged
with criminal breach of the trust roposed in
me by my friends and by my town
Continuing. Mr.. Bray read; The Commit
toe find that have been burdnned with Official
responsibilities beyond my strength and ability.
This ~ too truel For a long series of years
trusting more to the wisdom and judgment of
my townsmen than my own | have accepted ut
their hands. one alter another. almost every
bcstow. They thought | could discharge the
accumulated and diverse duties thus heaped
upon me. and. nattercd by thoir confidence. |
have attempted IT, The attempt has under
mined my fortune. broken my heath and,
more than ALL imperilled that good name which
Is the immediate Jewel of my soul. My follow
townsmen. In this hour OF my explanation. par
don mo IL remind you that the mistake MS to
my ability is yours as well as mine. aud how
ever serious. Is hut mistake at most
Mr. Bray thought that the Committees COM
mcnt upon the manner Of keeping the towns
accounts needed no reply, and he quoted that IL
was not alleged that tho lack Of system IN the
bookkeeping had ever resulted in the loss OF n
penny 10 the town. As 10 the money Mr.. Bray
borrowed for the town without legal authority
according to tho Committee. MIR. Bray read "a
town vote which he claimed invested him with
full authority to borrow money for the towns
open and patent 10 all" He denied that no cor
rect account was kept Of money borrowed and
that the statement Of Indebtedness. rs annually
money was borrowed for the town aud used
trcly without foundation. He says. he
has lent the town money TO shelp
advance made in lsG2 from his own funds OF
50 SIS. 50 to pay bounties voted soldiers fami-
advanced money TO help out the town. so that
the greater part 81 the timc he has been in
Office the town has been his debtor
In closing. Mr. Bray said that no fraud had
been shown as far a. he was concerned by the
Committee: and. therefore. he WAS willing to
assume the legal liability which the report i'm
poses upon him unless his follow citizens soc
fiji 10 reduce the amount. That balance | Will
pay. II have friends enough 10 contribute tho
amount required. and am happy TO assure you
think / have, not because Of its business. but
because II will utterly and forever wine out the
claim Of bad faith and dishonesty on my part.
But the imputaton that there has been during
my whole Official career n shadow OF moral
delinquency. most earnestly protest against.
as unsupported By the facts and utterly unwar-
ranted by the record of my past life"
A lively discussion followed the reading OF
| Judge Bray's Statemet. the Rev. T.. L. Hall and
Lawyer l.. i. Deming, calling IL far from salts
factory. Mr. Hall wanted to know whore were
the large sums OF money borrowed in hs70
asked after the sums advanced TO MIR. Bray Of
~ 49i In 1876 i6O0O in 1877 and IS 900 in ISIS
Mr.. Fowler also said Il an officer lets his ann
bitlon run away with HIM. 10 is no excuse.
So far from judge Bray's annual reports
all belng salts factory. they We're all false. and
| Bray stated. We have To- take his word that tho
| money borrowed Was used for the town. Many
| VIII believe IL went into his own pocket.
The town officers Who were cnu-urrd 10y the
| Invest eating Committee were at the meeting
! Ia force and aborrd 90 vndirate themselves.
| Town Treasurer street pleading tlut Select
| man Thompson would get money and refuse
| vouchers ur receipts. saying ne was Seuctman
| and had u right To- call for money
IL was voted unanimously % ask Mr.. Bray %
| resign his Offices; but he ANNOUNCED no de-
| cision, hearing the vote in silence. The report
| of the Committee that there was balance
| against the eN-ilnancial agent was adopted.