The Press., 1891-05-07

The Connecticut Home last week makes an attack upon Prosecutor Eaton of Staf- ford, and on the basis of letter sent from Rockville, in which the following is as- stunned to be from The Stafford Press: !
 "We always supposed the last person to go to for evidence against man would be that mans attorney, and it seems our prosecuting agent is of the same mind, as we find he went to the rumseller's attor- ney to complete his evidence, and he could add little to it, if need be, while taking dinner at Landlord Ryan's table. Never theless there was plenty of good evidence to be found to prove that Dunn (the minor in question: did get liquor at the Rock vile House on the day in question, and was not refused or elected"
 Now the writer of the article, and we presume the editor of the Home, knew the above quotation to be from cemmunica- tion admitted to the columns of The Press, and that The Press had editorially declared belief that there was no case against MT. Ryan of the Rockville House. The object of bringing charges against Mir. Ryan was, no doubt, to establish grounds for a civil action for damages caused by the drunken minor, who, it was claimed, had obtained liquor there. If there is reliable evidence obtainable to that end, the civil courts are open to the case, and there are also other means to bring criminal action than through the prosecuting agent. If MT. Ryan is guilty The Press would rejoice to see him pun ished, and so we doubt not would Mr. Eaton, but we do not believe from what light we have had on the case that Dunn got liquor at the Rockville House. As for the dinner, it was perfectly proper that MT. Eaton get his dinner at the most reputable hotel in the place, and pay for it, as he says he did, and as we be- lieve that he did. As for going to see the 'rumseller's attorney" MT. Eaton says that he did not, but supposing he had? The writer further says:
 Ut has long been conundrum how a man with large family to support and formerly working steadily at a trade, and with no other visible source of revenue, can now all at once live without work, support his family well, sport good team and ride about much of the time for pleasure, there being meanwhile almost no prosecutions as a legitimate source of revenue. And yet perhaps the conun- drum is not so difficult to answer after all."
 In answer to this it may be we'll to say that Mir. Eaton's predecessor in office was 8 man who was the head and front of the prohibition party in Holland county. He was one, of three prosecuting agents, and made it his sole business to fulfil the du- ties of the office. The Press believed in him as an officer, and opposed and re- gretted his removal. It also believes in Mir. Eaton, whose appointment it advo- cated, and believes that the best temper ance people in Holland county have confl- dence in him as prosecutor. MT. Eaton is sole prosecutor. for the county, which enlarges his field. of labors beyond that of his predecessor. He has also been most of the time town constable, earning fees outside of his office of prosecutor, also has been much of the time, employed in various ways. During his term of office, two years, he has made Al searches, brought A cases for reputation, and sent 8 persons to jail for. violation of liquor laws, also caused 9 suspected persons to flee from the state. He is laboring this year under peculiar difficulties, already alluded to, new to this locality. fany man can better meet these difficulties than MT. Eaton we should be glad to see him substituted. And when. any of The Homes insinuations are put in the form of charges and backed by evidence this paper will have no part in screening MT. Eaton from deserved blame and punishment. But it is not proper to abuse him solely to make party capital. There evidently IS, as the Home says, partisan spirit in the matter, but not just where the Home locates it.
 Hartford is discussing the question of establishing chain of suburban parks around the city for the use of the public generally. Such a thing would add to the charms of the already beautiful city.