The Newtown bee., 1895-03-08
Affairs About Town. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
HOLD A HEARING AT THE TOWN HALL, THE GRANTING OF A LICENSE TO H. COSTELLO OPPOSED.

The postponed hearing on the applic
 tion and remonstrance in the case of Jot
 Il. Costello, who has made application
 the county commissioners for license
 sell intoxicating liquors at his new bull,
 ing at Sandy Hook, came off before th
 county commissioners at the Town ha
 on Saturday last, at II o'clock. New
 town people seem to take keen intere:
 in the practice of law, for there was
 large number ofspectators present at tn
 hearing. Attorney ". J. Beecher ap
 peared for the remonstrants and Attor
 ney Allan W. Paige of Bridgeport for tn
 applicant. County Commissioners Houl
 than, Rowland and Mead were all pres ent and shortly after II o'clock called fo
 the witnesses in the case.
 John H. Costello, the applicant, frs testified substantially that he was the ap plicant in the case and made the applica tion which bore the date of October l5 1894. That at the time he lived in Poh, tatuck district but had since moved to Sandy Hook district. That at the time he made application he had no place in which to do business, but expected to have place of some kind ready before the license would be granted. He then described the rooms of the building, their use and connections. He testified that in addition to running the liquor business he intended keeping livery stable, hay | ing bowling alley, dances, balls, SUD- pers, variety shows. and a hotel where actors and q gesses could stop if they wished; should keep a register and would like hotel license. That he had three children aged eight, nine and 16 re- spectively. That there were already sev- en saloons within distance of one and one quarter miles on the main road from Newtown to Southbury. That there had never before been an application made for the place he intended opening.
 Frank Wright was called and testified that he was the assistant town clerk and identified the checking book of the sec ond voting district.
 Charles M. Beresford testified that he was one of the registrars of the second voting district at the last election and at that time there were 230 electors in the districts of Sandy Hook and Pohtatuck. That he was a farmer and had lived in Sandy Hook for 15 or 20 years and that It was the center of trade for radius of three or four miles around.
 Rev P. Fox next took the witness chair. He testified to being the pastor of St Roses church and the gentleman who filed the renlonstrance. That he knew Mr Costello and knew the place he in tended opening and that majority of the employee of the Rubber company were his parishioners and were married men with families to support. That he did not object to MT Costello personally but objected to the place and the having of another saloon in Sandy Hook as he thought there were enough there already and the people needed no more tempta- tions put before them. In his opinion such place as Mir Costello testified that he intended keeping would not be to the we'll being of his parishioners living in Sandy Hook. To questions put by Law yer Paige he further testified that he should object to any more licenses beir 2 granted in Sandy Hook, it mattered not who the applicant might e,as he thought there were enough there already. That he knew the saloon keepers in Sandy Hook. That there were eight saloons at the Hook when he first came there, but only seven now. He should object es- pecially to license for that place as he considered it would be very harmful.
 A recess was taken for the dinner hour and Father Daley took the witness chair in the afternoon and testified substantial ly to the same as testified by Father Fox For the well being of the people he thought there were already seven saloons too many at Sandy Hook. Father Daley was the last witness for the remonstrants.
 Charles W. Dayton was the first wit. ness for the applicant and testified that he saw no objection to the place MT Cos tello proposed keeping. Lawyer Beech CT questioned him and the additional facts were brought out that personally he was satisfied to have another saloon in Sandy Hook. If the people wanted another place he didn't care, and he thought the temptation would not be in- creased, as when the number of saloons got up to five or six the chance to in- crease the temptation was practically gone. That he didn't see how variety show would increase the temptation to drink, but bowling alley might. That he didn't think another saloon was ne- cessity for the 230 electors, but that Mir Costelio's place was as suitable as any. William J. Kirby testified that he was a workman in the Rubber shop and didn't see why the place Mir Costello intended keeping was not as suitable as any. He thought the accessories did not make any difference as to the temptation. He thought another saloon not necessity but he thought that on account of the large amount of money Mir Costello had expended he should have a license and thought the place as suitable as any in town.
 Mir Costello again took the stand and testified that the value of the place was $15, ,000 and he had three acres of land. Thomas J. Corbett testified that in his opinion it was suitable location. Law yer Beecher questioned him and further brought out that he was married, had a wife and four young children, was a school teacher and interested in the mor- als of the young, and a member of the hao rd If pduaatinn and Q Rad him if mn.