Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-07-28
COTrAGERs AGAIN PROTEST,

James O,COnnOr Wants d License to
Sell Liquor at the Entrance of Paw.
son Park, but the Residents object
Strongly-The Hearing Before the
County Commissioners.
Before the county commissioners yester-
day was partially heard the application CT
James O'Connor of Brsnford for lcensa
to sell liquor at Pawson Park. Mr.. O'Con-
nor applied for 1icenee at Pawson Park
several weeks ago, but his application was
rejected on account of Irregularities in not
complying with the law by designating
just where his proposed ealoon was to be
located.
Now, latter the ffteen-day limit for bring
ing new application has passed, Mr. O'Con-
nor comes before the board, this time IL
forming them that he proposes to locate a
saloon at the entrance of Pawson Park, be-
tween that place and Indian Neck.
All the commissioners were present at
1890 o'clock, when the hearing opened.
Attorney W. L, Bennett appeared for the
remonstrants and Attorney W. A. Wright
for the applicant.
about twenty remonstrants were present
to oppose the granting of the license. Paul
D. Beach, son of the late Samuel Beach,
was the first to take the stand. He told
the commissioners about the land on which
Pawson Park, Indian Neck and Sunset
Beach are situated and how it is held un-
a ninety nine year lease from the Congre-
gational church of Branford. ALL the land
is held under deeds prohibiting the sale
of liquor on the premises. Attorney
Wright objected to this testimony coming
in on the ground that the land on which
Mr.. O'Connor proposed to locate saloon
was not held under any such restriction,
and therefore such testimony was irrsle-
want. But Attorney Bennett claimed that
1t went to show that the place was insult
able, and the commissioners ruled it in.
But when Attorney Bennett attempted to
show that some one had tried to secure
license there four years ago and had been
refused the commissioners ruled it out
Mr.. Beach further testified about the
unsuitsbility of the place on account of
the family residences and the presence of
large numbers of Sunday school picnics
every week at the park.
On CROSS examination of the witness
Attorney Wright seked him If beer wasn't
sold openly in the park. He said there
had not been with his knowledge or con-
sent. Mr.. Wright asked him If the Sons
of st. George didn't hold picnic and sell
beer on the island. Witness said he
didn't know of 1t.
Edgar q. Martin, lessee of the park,
and manager of the Margaret, was the next
witness who protested against the granting
of the license. A license would injure the
property and also the picnic business, as
church parties wouldn't 60 down there so
often If there was saloon near the place.
On Cross examination, Mr.. Martin said that
liquor had been sold on the Margaret eon
occasions In nice way" This admission
gave Attorney Wright an opportunity to
put several sarcastic questions to Mr.. Mar
tin. The attorney also dwelt upon the fact
that the bar-room already located at Bran
ford Point was not much further off than
Mr. OConnor's proposed saloon.
Judge Hobart L. Hotchkiss, who has a
summer cottage next to the Montowese
house, testified that he thought saloon
would be detriment to the picnic parties
and also to the cottagsrs. he thought that
1nasmuch as there were plenty of places
where some classes of people could go to
nave what they termed good time, as for
instance Ssvin Rock, there ought to be at
least one place where another class of
people could go to have their own kind of
good time. Pawson park was peculiarly
adapted for Sunday school and church
picnic and ought to be allowed to remain
so.
Judge York, another cottager at Indian
Neck, testified that he was Influenced in
buying property there because of the
liquor restrictive clause. He thought
liquor should be kept away from Pawson
dark in the interests of those who enjoy
picnics there.