Connecticut western news., 1896-04-02
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
The Suit of New Hartford vs. Canaan, an Interesting PaupeT Case. IUi....l Oi.I-a.. M.-.A ne raoc

The Suit of New Hartford vs. Canaan,
 an Interesting Paup-r Case.
 twinstea Citizen, March 2s. lsss.l
 This case has been in court about fonr years and during the last six months has been set down for trial three or fonr times and as often deferred for one req son or another It was to be tried thi week sure, but has again gone over, this time to April 2d. The case stands on the court files as New Hartford vs. Ca man, but it is really a sort of quadrupl- fight, in which New Hartford. Canaan, Goshen and Norfolk take a hand.
 The circumstances out of which in, suit originated date back about half century and are very peculiar. The, first started at Meekertown, a portion of Gods acreage that can hardly be said to belong anywhere, but it is territory of abandoned land and forest near the line of Norfolk, Canaan and Goshen. There are no inhabitants there now and very few fifty years ago besides the families of Abiram Bailey and Lewis Root. and they were never heard from except op election days, and then the irst part workers ~ ho got to them in the morning and gave them free transportation O. about five miles to the polls got theii vote, and that wide-awake and alert Northwsy of Norfolk generally bagged the game.
 It can be said the families of Bailey and Root got along bsrmoniuusly for while, until it began to appear to the two husbands, and for that matter to the wives, that a mistake had been made in matching their coniugal relations and so to get out of the tangle they concluded to swap wives and the trade resulted in Root giving Bailey pair of stags and jug of rum to boot in the exchange.
 The result of that trade was half dozen of illegitimAte children, who are now in middle life and paupers, and the court is now called upon to decide where they belong and which of the four towns shall support them. The Root family in question is now in New Hartford on ex- pense and that town is trying to get what it has paid out for that family on, of Canaan. The wife of Bailey. that Root gave the staRs aud jug of rum for, was a Goshen woman. so that is where hat town comes in. Norfolk ir inter .sted because Root with bis bought wife lived within the limits of that town 15 70 20 years, but the. selectmen were al- as 10 prevent 8 settlement. and they hink that will clear them. Canaan comes in, we presnme, because Root was orn within the limits of that town. and New Hartford because the Roots are till living there. It therefore looks tike fight of three town against one. The old man Root died in Canaan a good many years ago. The woman he traded Tor was rauper supported by the town of Canaan nearly 50 years. hut she died | New Hartford sbout two years ago and was buried by Canaan. Her chil- dren and grandchildren have been on he towns of Norfolk. New Hartford and Csossn moro or less for 40 years. That | is about as the matter stands and devel- "pments of the trial will be interesting. New Hartford is bound to get rid of the tribe and. with the help of Smith, Herman and Selectman Stanclift. they hope to succeed. Canaan won't have them and is on the warpath and have engaged Warner of Salisbury and Nick erson of West Cornwall to take command | of their forces. Lucas of Goshen is on 'be watch tower of Ivy mountain on the
 lookout for his town. and Crissey and Grant are on guard for Norfolk and with he pure water of Lake Wsngum they hope to keep their town clear.
 Bear in mind that the town of Canaan above mentioned means Falls Village South Canaan and Huntsville, and no the town of North Canaan.