The Newtown bee., 1895-02-22
THE aRAY'S PLAIN HEARING,

AhI ahAAA V hhAAN 14GnpANul
 BEFORE JUDGE PRENTICE AT BRIpG7
 PORT ON wEDNEsDAY.--THE DECISION
 When Attorneys Beecher & Garfield acting as counsel for the Gray's Plail school district, appeared before Judg Prentice of the Superior court, fev days ago, praying for the granting of al injunction restraining Messrs William J Brew, Thomas J. Corbett and John Northrop, members of the NewtowI Board of School Visitors, from further in terfering in any way with the district af fairs, the judge decided to give the par ties hearing in relation to the matter il question, which was, as to whether thu district committee, George Winton, haC at any time refused or neglected to keeI open the school in Gray's Plain, as the law requires. Wednesday of this weel was the day appointed, when there ap peared Beecher & Garfield, counsel for Gray's Plain district, Stoddard, Bishop & Shelton, counsel for William J. Brew and others, the six members of the New town school board, the committee and clerk of the district, Miss Agnes Ryan and her father, Martin Ryan, and also a few lockers on drawn there either from curiosity or personal or local interest.
 The first witness called was John J. Northrop, secretary of the board. The greater part of his examination was con- fined to matters pertaining to the rec. ords, from which it was shown that on September 8, 1894, teacher who had been hired by MT Winton came before the board for examination, but failed to pass in two studies, and was given anoth- CT opportunity to come before the board, but decided not to appear. That in the latter part of September the committee hired Miss Julia Egan, who immediately went to Mir Northrop and asked if iL would be necessary to be examined and he referred her to William J. Brew, chair. man of the board. That early in Janua- ry, 1894, Miss Boutelle of Columbia, and member of the State normal school, who had been engaged to teach the school, presented herself before the board for examination, when by a vote an examination.
 MIR NORTaROP WAS ASKED
 if, at meeting of the school board held October l9, 1894, a resolution was intro- duced and voted upon which in substance would empower the school board to take the control of Gray's Plain school. He said the record did not show it, but there was some such resolution offered but did not pass, and he made no record of it. When asked if it was not his practice and duty to make record of all the do- ings of the board meetings he said he did not always record resolutions that were voted upon and did not pass. That he did go to the clerk of the district to get a certified copy of the doings of the dis trict meetings from the time of the annu- al meeting in June to the time of the meeting of July IS inclusive. That he. was SO directed by vote of school board at the meeting of October l9. That he was not instructed ro get an, thing out side of the records, but did take Michael J. Bradley over with him to administer the oath to the clerk, Charles Warner, and ascertain whether he had ever quail fled as clerk of the district. Mir Warner said he was not sure whether he had or no, but was inclined to think he had nov. That statement is incorporated as part of the records of the school board. He knew that in the latter part of October Messrs Wright, Beers and Johnson peti- tioned the chairman to call meeting of the board to consider the Gray's Plain matter. He knew the meeting was call ed, but did not attend because of a pre- vious engagement. He admitted being at democratic caucus that evening, but said that was not the only engagement he had that evening. He made no rec ord of that meeting called for by peti- tion because informed that DO meeting was held. He voted for the resolution passed by vote of three to two, one member being absent, November Is, 1894, empowering the school board to take full control of the Gray's Plain school and put in teacher, and as a member of a committee appointed for 5 that purpose, in concert with the other committee, William J. Brew, aided in carrying the vote into effsct. He believ- ed he was doing his duty because so ad- vised by counsel, Attorney Charles H Northrop, under whose advice they were acting. As to the size of the school, he said the district numbered IS, (l3 were attending private school in the district), and when he visited Miss Ryan's school he found two pupils, and those the teachers sisters. In reply to the gus tion, "Would he as a member of the board of school visitors examine a can didate who thoud present herself, as having been h red for that school?" he said "he could not tell. he might and he might not, he could not tell now" His txaminat on was an extensive one, occu- pyiDg over two hours. and the fertility of mind and ing nuity displayed in put tirg questions by the attorney seemed far ching i it's effects and CIV, rec well the g oun gone over.
 GEORGE wINToN,
 the district committeeman, was the nex witness called, who testified that he hat at all times been ready and willing t keep open the school, that he had trieC three different persons to teach tn school, that the first one failed to pass that the board refused to examine tn other two, and that he was still in cor respondence with Secretary Hine, an, with teachers who were applicants fo the school, and he had no doubt but tha