The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-01-20
WALLINGFORD'S BOROUGH
HAs ONE or THE MOST EXCITING
MEETIN,as IN YEARS.

1T Lasted Well Into Sunday Morning-At
tho eliminating Point the Warden Adj
journed the Meeting Despite Indignant
2rotests-Citzsns Held an Indignation
Maeting Afterwards And Then There wns
Another Midnight Meeting.
The citizens OF this borough had a
borough meeting of the widest kind on
Saturday event ug and it was well into
Sunday morning before the lights in
the town hall Were turned out and the
hall emptied of its contents. The ac-
ton Of the warden as presiding officer
came like "a thund erbolt upon nearly all
present and has never before been
equalled in the history of this borough,
The debate through the long session
had been earnest ans las o general thing
free from personalit les, and as the sub
ject matter was OF importance there
was great interest 81 Town.
The action of WaTden Dennis E. Nor
ris in adjourning the meeting was APP
parently in order to stop the resembling
OF the vote of the former meeting, 1t
being plainly evident that the other side
was in the majority. The warden's ac-
tion caused almost riot and for time
the excitement was dntense. The de-
tailed report of the meeting will tell the
story.
The special borough meeting in the
town hall Saturday evening to take ac-
ton on the proposed Withdrawal of the
Patten case from thas supreme court OF
errors was largely attended and was
called to order by Warden Morris short
ly after o'clock, at Wilhelm time fully 800
people were present
The first business was; the presenta-
fion of "a resolution to THE effect that
the meeting ratify the action taken at
the annual meeting which was to with
draw the case of D. w. ,Patten VS.. the
borough of WallingforG from the SUI
preme court of errors.
Attorney Fowler, as ONE of the COM
mittee appointed to take the cause out
of court, STATED his views on the sub
ject and his reasons for THE belief that
the case should be withdrawn, and quo
ted decisions of the supreme court jim
this and other states to sllbstantiate his
claims. The speaker also read law from
The statutes for over hiatt hour, which
might have had great weight before a
judge and circle of lawyers but did not
Seem to impress the citizens present as
very interesting or convincing. At the
close Of his, address Mr.. Fowler stated
that he had settled the costs of the case
and that the case was withdrawn as had
been ordered by the vote at the annual
meeting.
Mr.. Julius Maltby asked when this
action was taken and was told that the
money had been paid over that same
day. Mr. Maltby animated that it was
a peculiar proceeding in the face of the
public meeting called for that evening
to discuss the matter and If thought adj
yisa1ble to take action on the matter,
and it seemed unfair to take the action
in question in the endeavor, as it would
appear, to shut off any action by the
meeting.
MIR. Fowler stated that the committee
had only dome what it was instructed
to do by the vote of the borough meet
ing.
Judge Hubbard arose and stated that
he did not intend to speak on the case,
but some statements had been made in
the references to the quotations made
of decisions by the supreme courts,
which were misleading. He also stated
the action taken at the recent borough
meeting was not according to law, as
the matter in question was not incor-
rorated in the cali for the meeting, as
the law requires. The speaker also stat
ed that should the case be decided
against the borough there would be no
expense to the borough for counsel fees
in. the case. The speaker stated that
this water commissioners, who We're by
custom and provisions of the chatter to
look out for the management of the
water plant, had been entirely ignored
In the whole matter and had been snub-
bed by the action of the borough meet
ing.
The question at stake was Shall the
borough, at the very eve of the final
disposition of the case in the courts,
give up it's rights and acknowledge it.
self beaten? Many of the largest tax
payers and also the smaller ones were
opposed to the withdrawal of the case
from the court
H. F. Hall arose and argued in favor
of the adoption of the resolution and re-
minded the citizens present that he
was a taxpayer. r. H. Cowles, B. A.
Treat, w. H. Newton. j. ). Redmond,
Judge Bartholomew c. A. Smith and
C. A. Harrison expressed their views
on the question. The latter made a
plea for Patten. A motion was made by
e. M Judd and seconded by 3. A.
Treat that the resolution in question be
laid on the table. The vote was taken
by acclammation and the decision
doubted and by vote of the meeting
1T was decided to vote by ballot. c.
D. Morse, DR.. G.. H. Craig, John Reilly
M. O'Connell and S. E. Hotchkiss were
appointed as tellers. The whole num-
Der of votes cast was 1879, of which
number los were yes and 81 no. The
vote was declared in favor Of the mo-
zion and the resolution was laid on the
table. A motion was made to rescind
.~oT M