Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-10-15
RRANEoRn,s EAIR.

The SsLeather Mans' Heads the Fro |
eessiom of Decorated Carts The |
Trials of Oxen and Draught Horses
"A Rect Over One Hundred Years
Old-RObert Dougherfy's Celebration
on the Green.
The famous teLeather man" the hero of
the much patched suit and the silent voice
whose wanderings through the Naugatuck
Valley have attracted so much attention, went
through Branford yesterday. Hevisits that
town at stated intervals, stops at two houses,
and gets square meal at each. As the
houses are only about mile apart it may be
inferred that the nomadic individual is pos
sessed of capacious stomach. However
that may be, it is certain that the old fellow
was good deal put out by his reception in
the town yesterday. It was the day of the.
annual fair, when all Branford and the sur
rounding country turns out to do honor
to the oxen and the big vegetables. Bands
and drum corps were playing. The Leather
man" looked on with dismay. He, however,
passed on through the main street, never
deviating from his accustomed route. The
band came out of the Green and followed
the Leather man. So that hero found
himself at the head of a gay procession, with
marshals and oxen in the van and all Bran
ford looking on at the unexpected leader of
the procession. More surprise could not
have been created had Ben Butler appeared
unexpectedly upon the scene. But it was too
much for the Leather man" He hurried
along and finally got away from the crowd.
In a lonely field he sank down exhausted.
NJ Lol 80
his usual route and according to his belief
he will not, on that account, live to again
encompass his route.
Meantime the fair went on merrily. Ralph
IinsIey was the chief marshal of the lproces-
sion. He was assisted by Edward Field,
North Branford; George w. Beach, James
Barker, George Parker, Henry Gates, George
.Towner, T. /. Linsley, Edward How'd, vii
liam How'd, Eliza Baldwin, Levi Rose,
Michael Mason Charles Frisbie, George Y
Beach, Harry Lay and Charley Harrison
Following them came the Columbia band, 19
pieces and the Branford drum corps, a
string of thirty-six yoke of oxen from North
Branford with decorated cart, preceded by
two yoke of calves with cart, string of
eighteen from the Mill Plain district and IF
teen from Stony Creek.
After passing about the streets near the
Green the oxen were brought into the en-
closure and tested their strength. The mar
shals were assigned to their duties and the
Judges began their work. In the corral neal
the Town Hall were horses and cattle. c.
S. Stannard showed Devon calf; Hugh vii
son yearling; ]. and F. Beach a two-year
old bull; Michael Collan a mare with two
colts; Mrs Williams an enterprising goat; S.
B. Miller mare and colt, colt seventeen
months old, and an Ayrshire heifer; T. F
Hamm Jersey cow; j. P. Douglass Jer
sey COW; James Rodden a Jersey COW.
George Palmer showed some farming uten
sis, George Fields the same and L. Rowland
two wagons.
In the Town Hall was a fair display o.
fruit The ladies' department was well sus
| tanned. A beet that was raised on the tow
| farm in 1888 was on exhibition among the
vegetables. 1t was dried and shrunken al
most beyond recognition. 1t was not alive
| but was real dead beet. The reporter does
not ask anyone to believe this, but he ha.
| told the story just as it is. The beet was
| awarded a special premium.
A few dogs and a skif occupied the Lower
| floor.
The Green was covered with people all day
| long. Several New Haveners were present
1 The band played at intervals. The creates
| number of catchpenny stands ever collected
| attracted the nickles and dimes of the horny
| handed multitude. One of these was thu
common continuance for testing ones strength
l
| There might be found the stalwart youths
| of the town all day engaged
| in friendly rivalry. One young man in par
| ticular, who lives in North Branford, wa
| successful in his endeavors. He was yer,
stout and brought his girl around to see hin
raise the iron to great height. After he hac
| struck it three blows, each time sending thu
deal up little higher, and had concluded b
| could do no more, a lank and harsh looking
| individual pushed his way through the GROVE
saying, ''Hold on, boss, just give me
whack at it, He stood of, raised the beetl
high above him, whirled it through the al
in a way that made the bystanders trembl
and hit the iron, making a ring that resound
ed way across the Green, above the sound c
the whistle balloons, and the marker jumpe
up to the highest notch. Shifting his shou,
ders and glancing disdainfulIy about, tn
stout man walked off. It was Robert Dough
| erty the man who was first suspected of D1
links murder. He had learned of Beaudet
arrest and was celebrating at the fair. b
| attracted much attention
The trials of horses and cattle in the rim
were attended by large crowd. Close cor
tests were the rule. Each span of horses c
yoke of cattle had their ardent admirers VIII
cheered them heartily. The trials of spec
on the avenue between local horses also il
terested many.
, The officers of the fair were:
President-John Bishop.
, Vice Presidents David Beach, George c. Fiel
| Richard Dibble, Ecford Davis.
Secretary and Treasurer-H. H. Stedman.
| Assistant Secretary-Greene F. Kenyon.
Executive Committee-H. W. Averill, Richard
How'd James Barker, ]. Q. Baldwin, J. P, Dougla
| j. H. Beach, Michael Mason.
Committee on Invitations Bishop, samu
Chidsey, E. H.; George Parker, Richard How
1aniel BeardsIey, Dennis Page George Field. N
Baldwin, Fritz Jourdan, Charles Frisbe, DAM
Neal, Edward Stenti Henry Gates, n. B.; Hem
Doorkeepers- P. Nettleton, B. B. Bunne
| Police-H D. Linsley, Edmund Stent Charl
Foster Emerson Barker, Judson Stent, Phillip Clio
er.
Committee in Charge of Hall-Asa Rogers, Ric
ard Dibble George Andrews, Walter Fowler, Mi
Helen Parsons Mrs. James Russell, Clifford Barth
lomew, Valdenar Hammer, Mrs. E. H. Parshle
Clifford Bartholomew.
IL