The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-05-21
APPLAUSE NOT TOLERATED
Blue COATS IN TIRE INQUISIIION
CHAMBER.

Orders to Clear the Room of Objectionable
ger Dennis Declines to Answer Questions
Fred M. Ryder on the Stand-He Tells
What He Knows About the Contract.
The police department furnished an
effective adjunct to the street sprink-
ling advertisement investigation last
evening in the persons of three stall
wart patrolmen, who circulated among
the spectators ready to carry out the
vote of the committee passed early in
the session, on motion of Councilman
Fuller, that any person participating in
applause should be elected from the
room. There was but one outburst
during the whole evening, and this was
the occasion of Mr.. Fuller's motion.
The committee was called to order
shortly after s o'clock, and Alderman
Rourke proceeded to read the follow
ing communication from the Rev. DR..
Smyth:
New Haven, Conn, May 19, 1897.
Mr.. L. N. Darlington, Chairman Of the
Committee of Investigation of the
Board of Finance:
Dear sir: Waving any possible lille
galties of the subpoena by which was
summoned as a witness before your
committee, and wishing to aid you in
your present investigation In any ways
IL; T cd ha
of your committee last evening. l OBJ
served the method of defence for the
advertisements in question, which was
apparently pursued by the counsel en-
ployed by the committee, and l OBJ
served further the votes which were
passed by majority of the committee
concerning the methods Of investiga
tion.
AS 1 have no information concerning
the matter specifically before you,
which is not possessed by the public
generally; and as, in view of the meth
DDS of examination thus far pursued by
the counsel Of the committee, l cannot
see how my appearance before you
would contribute to any result except
possible further legal wrangling and
Wordiness at the public expense; and as
l would wish to be excused from vast
ing further time in listening to inter-
minable alterations of counsel with
witnesses and discussions of such legal
technicalities as the question whether
or not a witness may be permitted to
read a statute or to say in his own way
what he means, l would hereby re-
cline to wait in further attendance up
on the pleasure of the committee, un-
less I am compelled to do so by sub
poena issued according to the statute
law, and legally served upon me.
Respectfully submitted,
NEWMAN SMYTH.
The communication was accepted and
placed on file .
John D. Jackson, manager of the New
Haven Register, who was excused on
Tuesday evening, was recalled, and Mr.
Goodhart reiterated the question con-
cerning the source of information as to
the alleged conference held in the Eve
ming Leader office between the manag-
ing officers of the Morning News and
the Evening Leader in reference to the
street sprinkling advertisements. The
gentlemen referred to- the witness said,
We're George A. Bristol, foreman in the
Morning News Office and Arthur
Thompson, who serves the Evening
Leader In the same capacity. The wit
ness was next asked as to the sources
of information upon which his articles
We're based, but there were no new
facts brought out
The witness was about to be excused
! when Corporation Counsel Ely asked
| if he could not question the witness.
Mr.. Goodhart nodded assent, but AL
derman Rourke was ready with his OBJ
| lection, and the privilege was accorded
| by vote Of the committee, the two
democrats voting in the negative.
| The inquisition shed no light on the
subject, and an hour was consumed in
the attempt Of the corporation counsel
| to refresh the witness memory as to
what was said by the corporation coun-
sci on the morning that Mr.. Jackson
visited his office-the morning after the
publications We're first made.
When the dialogue ended--for that is
what the questioning developed into
there did not appear that harmony of
opinion as to what had been said would
ever be reached. What had begun in
| the line Of cross examining developed
| into controversy in which the attorney
often contradicted the witness. This
| had continued for some time when
Judge Stoddard interrupted the CONVEX
sation.
| Councilman Fuller asked by what
right the gentleman had to break In
upon the examination at this time. Il
would like to know whom Mr.. Stoddard
represents?" he asked.
| Mr.. Stoddard-'I would like to sug-
gest, Mr. Chairman, that Mr.. Ely has
violated the rules of examination, mas
much as he has several times contra
| dicted the witness"
! Mr. Ely accepted the suggestion of
| Mr.. Stoddard and replied that he real
lied the force of the attorneys objec-
| tion.
Turning to Councilman Fuller Mr..
Stoddard said: Mr.. Commissioner, 1
hope this is satisfactory to you?"
| The attorneys remarks were greeted
with applause, upon which Councilman
Fuller moved that the chair direct the
! officers to remove from the room those
who applauded.
Alderman Rourke-"Officers you will
do nothing of the kind Gentlemen, ,yOu