Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-25
wALDRON As A WITNESS.


he Held Tuesday and Friday Even. |
ings.
The large audience which completely |
tiled the council chamber in the city hall
ast evening upon the occasion of the Sec
ond night'e proceedings in the trial of the
'sBig Four was composed of the repre-
sentative men Of the city. Prominent
business men, merchants, lawyers, politi-
clans, physicians, members of the city
etc., all We'd in a good
way with one another, all bent
upon one point-the securing of an advan-
tageous point from which to hear and wit
ness the proceedings in the now famous
trial. The crowd was even larger than a
week ago and the most intense interest in
the proceedings was manifested not only
by the members of the board of aldermen
who were sitting in judgment upon the
charges, but by each and every one OF the
spectators as we'll, and not one word OF
the evidence introduced was lost.
The chamber presented the same court
like appearance as upon the occasion of
the first part of the trial last Tuesday
evening, and the investigation was conttn-
ued upon much the same plan as charac-
terized the proceedings at that time. OBJ
jections were taken with great regularity
by the counsel for the Big Four, but as
rule they were not quite go frequent or
based upon such trifiing technicalities as
case by ex-Judge Stoddard in behalf of the
citizens committee and in the interests of
good government was crisp and clear and
in every instance was characterized by
firmness and a thorough knowledge of the
technicslities Of the law bearing upon the
subject, while his replies to Mr.. Doollttle
went straight to the point.
Among those present were: Senator j.
S. Seymour of Norwalk, Henry Asher,
Engineer Frey, General Bradley, Q. A.
Groark, Theodore q. Mcdonald, DR.. G. A.
Lindsey, Eugene Mccain, W. J: Mont
gomery, Charles L. We'll, w. b. Hall, I.
". T. Mather, M. Heller, Frank Seward,
Ward Coe, P. Delaney, b Ro'
gowski, W. a. Cooper, Eugene McKenna
Max Adler, John Ruff. B: L; Lambert
Walter Leigh, Harry Leigh, Councilman
e. W. Crawford, Fred q. Waldron, DE-
Lambert, S. A. Howe, S. 8. Thompson
Anthony Carroll, Peter Colwell, Frank E.
Turner. w. J. Alderman, Major Strong
Charles I. French, Benjamin R. English
Captain Clarity, James McGann, Colonel
Bohan.
When the meeting had been called t.
order by the mayor Attorney Hamilton
| asked for few minutes delay, as Attor
ney Doolittle was not present, but woult
be in the room in few minutes. The re
quest YVES granted, and on motion of AL
| derman Newton it was voted that no new
| witnesses should be called after 1890 p. m
l irtro1r1oo1 q mr.
ton to the effect that when the board ad
iourned it adjourn to Monday evening ant
then sit continuously every evening unit
the investigation was completed. The mo
ton was amended to the effect that here
after the sessions shall be conduc ted OF
| Tuesday and Friday evenings, aud TIL
amendment was carried.
1t was also voted not to publish the pro
ceedings in the journal of the board. Mr.
Doolittle had arrived by this time and tn
hearing was at once proceeded with.
SHERWOOD S. THOMPSON.
The first witness called was S. S.ThomI
son, who said in response to inquiries:
was born in New Haven and have resides
here ever since I was connected with tn
city government two years as councilman
| and two years as alderman, my term in tn
1 1d6L Ou&CC CARlAlAR LA 4SOes Vsso . %AAoA-
Der of the park commission and had deal
ings with Hill, Waldron and Kent an
think all three capable, efficient and homes
and that the public veal will be injured b.
The witness was Cross examined by At
| torney Daley.
Q.-Do you consider it against the bes
interests of the city to remove these thre
officers? Al do.
| Q.-Do you think any detriment wi
come to the city for these men to be re
moveda Al do.
OWL the city receive any injur
from the removal of Mr.. HiI2 Al Gel
tainly do think SO, for several years t
come at least. The fact is that the reno,
al of the chief will not tend to better tn
service, in my opinion, as it will requir
several years for Mr.. Hills successor t
attend to the details of the business a
well as Mr. Hill would have done, his al
sistants being familiar with the work G
| their executive officer.
Q.-Do you consider it detrimental t
the city's interest to have the mayor of til
city changed every few years: Al d
not consider it parallel case, as the mayo
of the city is fgurehead and has pract
cally no power [Great laughter, dul
ing which the witness turned backwar
and apologiKed to the mayor l have n
actual knowledge of any loss to the city b
the removal of Mr.. Hill as having occurre
yet.
H. W. CRAWFORD,
the next witness, testified, I have been
resident of the city for forty-three yea,
and was member of the board Of publ
works two terms-six years-during whic
time I was acquainted with Mr.. Hill an
Mr.. Waldron and they did their work in
satisfactory manner, or if at times any
thing was done which did not seem sati
factory it was always explained in maj
ner satisfactory to the board. thin
that the removal of these three men wi
be very detrimental to the city's intere'
for some time, but it would perhaps
ultimately recovered from.
Then followed little spat between A
torneys Stoddard and .Doolittle as to tt
admission of question, to wit: Did 20
ever know a case where three men wei
put out and three others put in in such
short space of timea After several mil
utes' argument the witness spoke rigl
| out in meeting and said: ~ did not" afts
which, amid much laughter and great al
plause, Attorney Doolittle said: II will
draw my objection"
During the cross-examination by A
torney Hamilton the witness said: Mr.. v
j. Atwater succeeded me as member {
the board. WAS very glad to go out an
never made struggle to remain. I WI
/ | not acquainted with Mr.. Hills engineerir
ability, as am not an engineer. nevt
had any dock filled up at the expenf
| of the city. I did allow at the request c
the city several cart loads of dirt to
placed III that dock, which, by the wa,
does not and never did belong to M
There were perhaps 100 or $50 loads put
: there which never paid the city for, g
the city was saving money by my ALLOW
ing 1t to place the dirt there.
Attorney Hamilton-Did you not have
lot on East Pearl street filed in by dil
from the city streets without paying ii
, city therefors Mr.. Crawford-No lot wa
ever filed ip on East Pearl street by cit
dirt, as the house which I own the,
stands on hill and we never fill in hill
in our part of the country. Laughter.
The cross-examination being resumed
the witness said: was not connected wit
any deal having in contemplation the e
moval of Mr.. Doyle. During the last yes
, was in the board 1850 there was son
movement looking toward Mr. Doyle's r
moval, but was not in the combine NJ
asked to 60 into it, as my views on tt
matter were too we'll known. I nevt
signed any paper in connection with tt
matter, notwithstanding all reports to tt
contrary. Mr.. Whitney never came to 81
me in connection with the removal of M
. Doyle, as do not believe he knew where
y lived. I did vote at one of the last NEE
{ ings of the board to appoint Patrick Ken
Attorney Hamilton asked the witness
i Kant vuaa a yaaidant If hia word