The Newtown bee., 1892-08-12
HATTERTOWN.
THE THoRp LIQUOR CASE.

l Thorp of this place for keeping place where intoxicating liquors are reputed to be sold was held, Saturday, before Jus tice Shaw of Bedding. Lawyer Beeeher appeared for Thorp and, as Seeley had l no lawyer, had his own way, asking any questions he chose and objecting to any thing unfavorable to the defendant.
 The first witness, Orlando Platt, testi- fled to buying liquor there in June, 1891 that Thorp had the reputation of selling liquor. William Fischer knows where Thorp | lives. Can't say much about the reputa- tion of the place. Heard that something was sold there don't know whether it is ozone or something else.
 Mrs Almira Porter has been in and seen people drink there. Don't know whether they paid for it.
 Mrs William Johnson: Think Thorp's place has the reputation of being place where intoxicating drink is sold. Do my trading there. In there often. Did mt know anything about liquor being sold there.
 Charles Roberts: It is the opinion of people that Thorp sells intoxicating drinks. Never bought any there. Did mt know that Mrs Thorp had horror of liquors and wouldn't allow any in the house. Hadn't been in the place in sev- eral months.
 Ralph Benedict: Some think he sells and some don't. I know nothing about it. Don't think the majority of people in the place think he sells.
 George w. Turney: Never go there. Consider his reputation as good as any ones in the place. Never heard of his selling anything intoxicating.
 George R. Parmelee gave the same testimony as George w. Turney.
 John B. Parmelee: Am away from home a good deal and don't know much about his reputation.
 David B. Parmelee: Think the gener- al opinion is he does not sell any intoxi- eating drinks. .-
 c. D. Stillson thinks the general opin- ion is that he sells intoxicating liquors. Heard people say so. Gave the names of number who had talked with him or told him they thought he sold liquor. Had seen drunken people around there. Had seen them around other places in the neighborhood. Couldn't say that they got their liquor at Thorp's. Among the list of names given of those who had talked with him and said that Thorp had the name of selling liquors was Dadid Parmelee, who, being recalled, testified that he never said so. F= ayH ........ j. f-
 Stillson, being recalled, said Parmelee did say so. '
 Parmelee afterward acknowledged saying so, but said he was joking.
 Fred Porter: Live near Thorp. Work for him good deal. Never saw a thing intoxicating sold there. Thorp has a good reputation. -5.s -.t
 This ended the testimony. Justice Shaw, not finding evidence enough to convict Thorp, the trial came to an end.
 The agent. Seeley, made great mis- take in not employing counsel and in not having the court conducted in a different manner. Had he done so, the decision would undoubtedly have been different. It will also be seen that only few men of the place were brave and manly enough to state what should have been their honest convictions. Men who have time and again complained of and regret ted that so much drunkenness occurred and was seen in the place and expressed the wish that it could be stopped, when given the opportunity to assist in stop ping it, deliberately and (apparently) honestly claim to know nothing. Itap- pears to us that such testimony only helps make the already unenviable repu- tation of Hattertown worse. A man twice arrested for illegal selling made the remark that he was going to start up again. se s.f.4.z. Ii. -s,., ft,a;e.
 Arthur Favrean is painting Ralph Ben- edict's barn. .z.. .ga.- Mrs c. A. Pratt is visiting her son, H. A. Pratt. Mrs Frank Finkle of Nauga- tuck has been guest of Mrs Pratt. Miss Annie Benedict, who has been visiting in Danbury, has returned home.