The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-11-11
ED TRIAL
PRIMARY COURT AND TWO JUDGES
ON THE BENCH.

ia East Haven Farmer Sues His Son-in-
ilaw-DomestIo Life in North Guilford
1Portrayed-A New Haven Physician on
tithe Witness stand-o'Connor for the
Plaintiff, Fowler for the Defendant.
3 The unique spectacle-one however
HAT is sanctioned by law--of two JUS
9k ces of the peace trying a law suit,
las been witnessed in East Haven the
asst week,
N a well-to-do East Haven agricultur-
st sued his son-in-law, a young thrifty
Worth Guilford farmer, charcoal burner,
nd dealer in general merchandise, for
us daughters board, the wife of this
K 'ackwoodsman being the daughter of
his East Haven farmer,
4H The suit was brought before G. w.
3eardsley, an superintendent of the
New Haven almshouse. Mr.. Bradley de-
iring to divide the responsibility, called
7 is as an associate Justice, S. w. f. An
lrews, who is well known for judicial
Experience and fairness. 1t has been
frequently remarked by city lawyers,
hat no matter what the merits of a
fase may be, country justices always
5lecide for the plaintiff. If this is a
&ule, 1t has exceptions and it is now
eversed. A written decision by JUS
ice Bradley was handed down" last
Saturday The defendant wins. The
STORY, which unfortunately is an adj
ntyiIa np h1 frAry re
.ather-in-law, son-in-law and mother
-n-law difficulties, is best given in Mr.
" Bradley's decision. 1t is ably written
ASand although lengthy, will interest our
3many readers in East Haven.
Doolttle VS.. Scranton.-Charles W.
Bradley, esq, Justice of the Peace,
~ November 9th, 1895.
% To the Counsel-In the civil case of
Doolittle VS.. Scranton, tried in East
< Haven, Conn, on Saturday, November
2 1895, the court-kindly and ably as
SISTED by S. W. F. Andrews, Esq, a
sjustice of the peace in and for New
Haven county, state Of Connecticut
fhas endeavored to treat both sides i'm
partially, in an equitable and just man
lner, and if possible arrive at a corr
erect conclusion and render an unbiased
decision and one in accordance with
1.-THE law, and the evidence. The tes-
Htimony was listened to with careful
e#attention, and is now matter of rec
lord. The arguments by the learned
land distinguished counsel, James e.
4 O'Connor, and Charles H. Fowler, Es-
Equires, were able and exhaustive. The
" suit and controversy is based on bill
v of particulars for eight weeks board of
Minnie ]. Scranton, granddaughter of
" the plaintiff, and a nursing infant one
NJ year old December Z, 1895, and a daugh-
ter Of the defendant, and the defend
\ ants wife. The sum total of said bill
N is $24. The defendant denies all the al
NJ legations set forth, and claims not to
4 be indebted to the plaintiff for said
Z amount. In this way the issue is join
s ed
1T appears by the said bill of particu-
4 lars, and the voluminous evidence as
Il given to the court, that on orabout Sep
n TENDER of the present year, Mrs. Will
N liam r. Scranton, the lawful wife of
< the defendant, and daughter of the
Il plaintiff, left her home and husband in
North Guilford, a part of the town Of
Guilford in this state, and with her
nursing infant the said Minnie j. Scran-
ton commenced to be domieiled board
and lodge at the said plaintiffs house
in the said town Of East Haven, all fur
nished at the expense of the said plain
tiff. 1t is claimed that this was made
necessary on account of alleged cruel
ty and abuse by the husband, and de-
PENDANT in this suit.
Jessie T. Doolittle, the plaintiff and
father of Mrs. Scranton, in his sworn
testimony says that he told Mr.. Scran-
! ton the defendant that he, Scranton,
must support the child. Mr.. Scranton
talked with his wife and tried to have
her go back. Did not know that she
was coming until she got there. That
lis, he, Doolittle, did not know.
Mrs. w. r. Scranton, wife Of the de-
PENDANT, testified that the abuse was
continuous from the first day of married
life Throwing cups of hot tea at her
in one or two instances AT one time
she was scalded on the shoulder. Said
he would brand her with a horse shoe.
Shook her roughly at one time. If you
go the entertainment you will not live
to go any more. Husband came down
several times and asked her, his wife,
to come home. Kept cigars, tobacco
and temperance drinks for sale. Money
that came from them she had herself
Husband kissed her good bye when
she left. There was a quarrel in the
morning because she called him too ear
ly to breakfast.
Mrs. Abbie Doolittle in her testimony
to the court said she was the mother
of Mrs. Scranton. Daughter married
about five years. Never saw him, Mr.
Scranton, lay hands on her Said that
he would throw my daughter-his wife
lin the pond. Said he would skin her
as he would an eel. Had plenty to eat
children had not always sufficient
clothing. Came with a carriage load OF
things-plenty to keep her comfortable
for little while. Cannot tell how
many oats there were in the bag which
was in the carriage.
DR.. James Moore, a practicing ply
sician in New Haven and a town doc
tor, says in evidence to the court that
the child-the said Minnie J. Scranton
could not be separated from the mother
Should nurse the infant on account OF
its health three or five months longer
The fall and winter is the best time
to wean childrens