Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-08-14
ALL AR6UND THE STATE.

Trying to Elect q Music Teacher-Wiu
Make Another Trlal-A Watchman,s
sudden Death-Death of George
Thomas of the old sixth G. W.
Bridgeport's board of education is hav-
ing trouble in electing music teacher. It
made an attempt to accomplish that object
again this week. F. g. Howard of Ansonia
had six votes, Professor Baker of Hartford
three, and A. ]. wilkins Of Hartford one.
Several ballots were taken with the same
result, and as a majority is required to
elect there was no choice, and the matter
was finally postponed to the next meeting.
E. +, Strong favored Mr.. Howard and said
he did not think it proper for member to
continue voting the same way when he
knew such action was purely obstructive.
Joel Farist expressed his disapproval of
what he termed his attempt at dictation.
J. ]. Rose, another supporter Of the Anso-
mia candidate, said if the board were to
keep on frittering away time over the
question they might as well repeal the vote
providing for music teacher.
E. f. Hallen replied to Mr.. Strong, and
the claim of the latter that a music teacher
should be chosen because the schools had
been for years retrograding in a musical
way. Mr.. Hallen said that, as a repre-
sentative of the minority he fully agreed
with Mr.. Strong as to the desirability of
establishing music in the schools on a bet
ter basis, and, looking toward that end, of
securing competent general instructor.
He was very much surprised that Mr..
Strong should question the Judgment of
the minority, supported as they are by the
musical opinion Of the city, and denied
| that their action could be construed as
obstructive. There are twelve members
on the board, and if the unanimity exist
| ed that Mr. Strong intimated
| there would be no difficulty in making
a selection. Mr.. Hurd also stated that he
had no reason to regret his action as part
of the minority, and warmly extolled Mr..
Bakers fitness for the position. Mr.. Hurd
thought every member of the board had a
right to vote as he saw fit. He had pre-
| scented the name of Mr.. Baker with an en-
| dorsement of 105 citizens, irrespective of
| politics, and that was more than any of
| the other gentlemen had done for their
candidates. Another vote resulted the
same as before and the matter was post
poned until the next meeting
| Winfield S. Phelps, aged forty-five, en-
| ployed as watchman by the Higganum
l uAoAuA0SVuI1AS SOAlP1lly3 4hA0NhAOVOWn, WuS
found dead in the company's yard, OF
Higganum, at o'clock yesterday morn
ling, from congestion of the lungs, which
| had suffocated him. A lighted lantern
| was found in his hand. He leaves wife
and six children.
George w. Roberts, who is now under
$1,000 bonds in Waterbury for embezzline
| $4,000 from the manufacturing concern
of Smith & Griggs, commenced work as 6
cracker maker with the firm of Meigs &
Trott on Tuesday. Roberts has been iv.
ing quietly on the farm of his fether-in
law since his arrest. He says he expects 6
state prison sentence, but he will stand
and take his punishment like a man, al
though he will try as much as possible te
have light sentence imposed. Johr
| Trott, of the firm he is now employed
/ with, is his bondsman, and it was q bis
surprise when Roberts commenced work.
Mr.. George Thomas, who died at thu
Hartford hospital Sunday night, was
buried Tuesday afternoon at the old NORTH
cemetery in that city. He was membel
of Company E of the Third regiment
which was commanded by Captain JOIN
A. Nelson of Hartford, enlisting May II
1861. After returning from the field h
re-enlisted in Company B of the Sixth reg
iment, September IL, 1861, and was ap
pointed corporal by Captain B. F. Prout.
of Hartford. Corporal Thomas remained
in the service until january IA, 1858, whei
he was discharged for disability. Cor
poral Thomas came to the hospital il
Hartford from New Haven, though he or
iginally belonged in the former city. De
ceased had two sons in the Massachusetts
heavy artillery, John William and Georg
H.. John was killed before Petersburg
George now lives in New Haven. Mr.
Thomas was engineer at Colts for ffteel
years before and after the war, and was
man well known. He was seventy-si
| wears of age