Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1894-06-20
THE swAYNE CHARGES

To DO Investigated by the Board of l
Health-A Very Lively Meeting of |
the BOard-Attorney Hamilton Rep
resents MIR. Swayne, Attorney Ely,
Mr. Bailey and Attorney Asher, DIR.
Wright-A Long and Sherp Discus
s1On-No Formal Charges Yet Pre-
scented to the Board.
The board of health last evening decided
to take cognizance ofc harges OF malfeas-
ance In Office preferred against Health Off
Ger Wright and Clerk Bailey and to inves-
tigate the charges at special meeting of
tie board to be held probably in the city
court room Friday evening, June 20, at
O'Clock. At last nights meeting all the
members of the board of health were pres
emit, as were also Health Officer Wright,
Clerk Bailey, Contractor Walter s.swayne
and Attorneys Asher representing Wright,
Ely representing Bailey, and Hamilton
representing Swayne.
The meeting was at all times interesting,
and portion of the time unusually excit-
ing. 1t was $50 o'clock when the mayor
finally called the meeting to order and
asked for the special business to be con-
sidered at the session. At this Clerk Bal
ley arose and stated that the meeting had
been called at the request of himself and
the health officer for the purpose Of hay
| ing certain charges made against them by
Contractor Swayne, through the columns
| of the press, considered. He stated that
| although no sworn charges had been pre-
/ sented, still both officials desired that a
| thorough and complete investigation be
| made Immediately.
In reply to statement from Mayor Sar-
gent, to the effect that j.. the board would
like to hear any charges which Mr.. Swayne
might have to make, Attorney Hamilton
said that he did not consider the tribunal
there sitting had any right to hear or try
the present case. The only way to settle
the case was before a competent tribunal
/ in a court of justice. His client, he claim
l ed, had been threatened with arrest, and
suits for SANDER, and libel, and also for
! feiture of contract. Under these circum.
stances he had advised his client to make
no charges at present, and he positively
declined to try his case before boarc
which had no Jurisdiction, but was per
fectly willing to try the case in any court
aud would do SO when the case came W
there.
DR.. FIeischner- There are no charges
before the board and I don't see that Their,
Ia any likelihood of there being any.
don't see what we are here for, and there
fore move to adjourn.
Commissioner Manning-Hold on min
ute, have resolution which I want Il
introduce. With this statement he pulled
| from his pocket resolution to the affec
/ that the board should take coznizsnce O
l the charges which had appeared In tn
/ public press, aud have them investigates
at meeting of the board in the future
In support of his resolution he said thu
stories had appeared in the newspaper
purporting to come from Swayne, reAec'
ing to the honesty and integrity of th
officials of the board. In view Of these Gil
cumstancss, it was the duty of the boar
to investigate, even though no specif
charges had been made.
Mayor Sargent-We have no charges b.
, ! fore us, but If some one will come and max
/ charges, then we can 60 ahead in a props
/ manner.
Commissioner Graves-We certsinl
have a right to investigate the conduct
/ our officials, but have heard or seen notl
ing that is against them. Mr.. Swayne
here. and should like to hear what he b,
to cay upon the subject.
Attorney Hamilton-Mr. Swayne, acti1
. under my instructions, will make no stat
ment, at least at present and under IL
present circumstances, when threats
libel and SANDER cults have been mac
against him. We do not intend to partia
f / ly try our case here and give our evident
into the hands of others and eventual
have to go over the whole thing again in
9 court of justice. This body has no pow
d / to make witnesses answer any question
i A trial here w""'7 never amount to an
thing an, best 1t could only be
/ partial tr
|, Attornt I differ entirely fro
/, Mr.. Ham claim that the boal
r / should TAX ce of the actions
n it's employ westigation should
made. SW made his statemen
). l In the new I'd then sneaks b
}, hind the a. unset and remain
II | silent at t. :. In behalf of n
client, DR.. ' k you to thorough
investigate 8. This man shou