The Newtown bee., 1895-11-22
IN COURT AGAIN.

THE GRAY's PLAIN SCHOOL CoNTRovER
sY AGAIN REHEARsED. -sELECTMAN
GLOVER AND TREASURER NoRTHRoI
WANT THE INJUNCTION HANGING ovEr
THEM DIssoLvEp.-ATToRN BEEcHET
ASKS THAT THE INJUNCTION BE MADI
PERMANENT.
The hearing In the Injunction case OF
George Winton, restraining First Select
man W. III. Glover and Town Treasurer
Charles III. Northrop from paying any Of
the attorneys fees and other expenses
Incurred In the now famous Gray's Plain
fight occurred at Bridgeport on Wednes'
day before Judge Howard j. Curtis in
the Court of Common Pleas. This hear.
ing was for the purpose of ascertaining
whether the Injunction now hanging over
the heads of these town officials should
be dissolved or whether it should be made
permanent. Attorneys Beecher q Cam
held appeared for Mr. Winton and Attor-
neys Garfield and Northrop for Messrs
Glover and Northrop. The allegation on
which the Injunction was based was the
threatening of paying the aforesaid ex-
penses by the officials, which allegation
was denied by them. The first witness
called was Charles III. Northrop, who
stated that he was treasurer of the town
and acknowledged the paying of three
orders, drawn by the first selectman, that
were introduced as evidence, one dated
January 81, 1895, made In favor Oft. j.
Corbett, one dated January %, 1895, in
favor of w. j. Brew and one dated April
30, 1895, In favor of John j. Northrop.
THE INTRODUCTION OF THESE ORDERS
was objected to, but were admitted as
evidence by the court for the purpose of
showing intent.
Michael j. Houlihan testified to being
town clerk and custodian of the town
records, among Others being the day
book of the selectmen Of the town for the
fiscal year ending September go, 1885,
which book he produced in court.
William III. Glover testified to being
first selectman of the town and had
charge of the town day book and drew
the orders, but that John j. Northrop
acted as his clerk in making up the book.
John j. Northrep testified to acting as
Mr. Glover's clerk and pointed out how
the entries Ia the day book were copies
of the bills and the numbers correspond
ed to the numbers on the town orders.
The three orders exhibited in court were
identified with the corresponding mum.
bers in the day book, and on each bill
was an item for one day at Bridgeport at
court. He testified 20 having been in
Bridgeport at the time of the injunction
and il was for this work that the charge
was made, he and Mr. Brew having been
appointed committee to look after the
Gray's Plain question. That he had re-
ceived the SO included in the order.
Thomas j. Corbett testified tos having
been member of the school board and
got the money on the order made out to
him, which included an item of one day
at Bridgeport at court. William j. Brew
testified to practically the same regard
ing the order made out TO him.
George Winton testified to being the
plaintiff In this action and a defendent in
the previous injunction suit. Was dis
trict committeeman for GraY's Plain
school district. Knew Messrs Glover and
Northrop. Saw Me- Glover at his house
previous TO swearing out this Injunction,
when he went to find out how much mon
ey was due the district, at which time the
Gray's Plain question was all talked over
between them and Mr. Glover had said
that when the bills for attorneys fees and
expenses were presented
HE SHOULD PAY THEM
as they were bills incurred by town Off
GERS. Had conversation with Mr. North
rop at the bank the same day, where he
went to see who had drawn the money
on the school orders, when Mr. Northrop
had stated that he should pay any orders
that the the selecsmen drew. That on
December Is Mr. Northrop had said on
the street to him that the school visitors
were town officers and entitled to attor-
ney's fees the same as other town officers.
Being ross.examined he further stated
that the conversations with Messrs GLOW
err and Northrop at the first interview
was chiefly as to what had become of the
$l56 paid out for teacher at Gray's Plain.
That TO his knowledge no bills had been
presented TO the selectmen for attorneys
fees, but it was rumor and he had dis
cussed it as he had already stated with
Mr. Glover. That the swearing out OF
the Injunction was not of his own voli.
ton alone but he had been pressed to dc
1t by other taxpayers who had talked te
him about 1t. That his friendliness with
Mr. Glover ceased when he promised moi
to draw orders for the doorstep schoo
marin and then went and did it. That
he had not threatened personally to put
MessIs Glover and Northrop behind the
bars but had intimated that If they haC
done wrong they would have to suffer fol
1t. That he had let more than month
elapse after his talk with Mr. Glover be
fore swearing out the Injunction, anC
then at the urgent request of other tax
payers.
Charles I'll. Northrop stated that ht
was not attorney for the board of schoo
visitor during '94-'95. That the reason
he assisted in the case was because Stod
dard, Bishop q Shelton wanted him tt
come down and sit with them as he un
derstood school law pretty well. That h
HAD NO BILL AGAINST THE TOWN
for attorneys fees In that case and tina
Mr. Glover had not consulted him as at
torney for the town about the attorney
fees and other expenses incident to tina
case.
w. Fl. Glover testified that he was nov
serving his eighth term as selectrnan
That he had never threatened to pay tn
attorneys fees and other expenses an
no bills had ever been presented for sue
fees or had he heard Of them. That tn
matter was discussed by the board of sc
lectmen and they decided to pay no bill
incurred by the injunction case. Ths
he never threatened to pay them as frs
selectman. That his conversation wit
Mr. Winton when he called at his hous
was In regard to the orders drawn 70
teachers salary for Gray's Plain and b
never had any conversation with Mr. VIII
ton regarding the paying of the fees 9
expenses Of the Injunction case. Ths
when he paid the three orders produce
In court he didn't scrutinize them car
fully and never intended to pay any e,
penses incurred by the Gray's Plain figh
Cross examined he said his sympathit
were with neither faction. That
wasn't particular to have the injunctic
dissolved only that be didn't want b
name to appear on the court docket
connection with Gray's Plain. That
didn't intend to pay the expenses REFER.
TO q long 80 he was selectman. That