Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-25
COURT CALENDAR.
Miss Mason Favored at Law
Library Association Meeting.
Jury Ordered TO Report Verdict for Plain
tiff in Suit Against the city-A Sealed
Verdict in the ouImby Case.

Judge Francis A. GaSkill and Hon.
Thomas G. Kent, directors Of the Wor-
cester County Law Library Association,
after the adjournment of court Thurs
day afternoon, upon the presentation of
the petition of eighty-three members Of
the Worcester bar for the reappoint-
ment of Miss Fannie Mason as assist
ant librarian.
The hearing was in the nature of an
executive session. The petition, with its
eighty-three signatures, was presented
by John R. Thayer, who made a strong
argument. He addressed the board, say
ing that Miss Mason during her long
term of service had demonstrated her
ability and competence. The library it
self had grown under the-eye of the late
Judge Thomas L. Nelson; and during its
successive stages of growth Miss Mason
had kept in touch with the development.
She knew what books the library con-
tanned, and where they might be found.
Her faithfulness to her trust had been
marked; and during her many years of
office no fault had been found by SIM
gle member of the Worcester county
bar. Her methods in the care and ar
rangements of the library itself We're
thoroughly progressive; and there would
be no advantage in a change and most
decided loss.
She was ever courteous in her atten-
tion to the lawyers. and never had there
been a single instance Of friction. The
spirit OF oft1ciousness which was notice.
able in many librarians. was entirely
wanting; and there was no elaborate
and cunning system of red tape for the
use and perusal Of the books in the IL
brary She was always firm, dignified
and courteous. and deserved by her
long devotion to the interests and use
fulness of the library, a reappointment
The signatures of eighty-three members
of the bar showed the esteem and re-
spect in which she was held; and no
person without a most successful and
honored record could receive such a
formidable support of a united bar.
Webster Thayer spoke in a feeling
manner Of the work of Miss Mason, and
paid a warm tribute to her management
Of the library. He had frequent occas-
ion to consult the books at the library.
ana ne had ever been shown great cour-
tesy, and many a time where some old
case had been desired for reference.
even when he did not know the identi-
cal volume wanted himself Miss Mason,
oy her constant experience and remem-
prance of former instances where a
similar case had been looked into, found
the book at a moments notice What
IS wanted at the library is a person IA
mlllar with the law-books as if they
We're personal effects, which could be
located at a seconds notice. The law
yers time is precious; and that Miss
Mason's S knowledge of the books of the
library has been of inestimable service
70 tne fraternity, is granted by all
FRANK L. Goulding earnestly supported
the petition for Miss Nason's reap-
polntment. He had signed it voluntar
lly, and he fully believed tnat the bar
was practically unanimous in ia
Voi OF MISS Mason's retention, as the
petition Showed.
Horar1an, who would be less familiar
with the workings of the library than
tne lawyers themselves. the bar would
pc mconYenienced. The experience and
knowledge which Miss Mason had az
quired during her long incumbency. were
invaluable, and the bar highly priced
them Frank B. Hall affirmed the re-
MARKS or the previous speakers, and be-
heVed that no change should be made.
Henry L. Parker made a logical sneech
heaftlly fayoring Miss Mason's reten-
tlon In the first place there was no
necessity for change, and there were
countless reasons why no change should
be made. He had frequently to look up
Old English cases and others, and he had
found the knowledge of Miss Mason in
directing him to the exact volumes that
he desired of great assistance.
Judge GaskilI, addressing the peti-
toners, said that neither before nor
since his election as a member Of the
board Of directors had he been an
preached in regard to the matter of as
sistant librarian at all No one had
mentioned the subject to him either in
advocacy OF Miss Mason's reappointment
or for the appointment of some one 10
succeed her. During his own term of
service as one of the trustees of the IL
brary, he had received unfailing cour-
tesy from Miss Mason. He had always
found her gracious, and there had never
been the least friction During his %
years connection with the library when
he had come in contact with the assistant
librarian he had received the most cour-
teous treatment and had no cause for
complaint. He had always worked for
the best interests of the library, and in
his consideration Of the question he
should exercise the same independence
and regard for its welfare that he had
always exercised.
There was no one to speak in opposi-
tion to the notion and those who We're
supposed to favor the appointment Of
MUTUAL
building to the position We're not pres
ent. The board have the case under ad-
visement. Miss Mason was reported as
being sick at home as the result of the
agitation of the matter of appointment,
and several feeling references were
made to her condition
MAYOR DODGE WINS CASE AT
TAUNTON.
-
VS.. James l. Elliott, which has been on
trial in the Bristol county civil court,
the jury has found for the plaintiff, as
sessirg dam ges in the sum of over 5000.
The case was an action of tort and
from the prominence of the parties oc-
eupied considerable attention. Mayor
Rufus B. Dodge, Jr., was counsel for the
plaintiff, and after the trial received
many compliments for his victory in
hard legal battle
SUPERIOR CIVIL COURT.
In the superior civil court, before
Judge Gaskill, Thursday, the case Of
Margaret O'Brlen VS. the city Of Wor-
cester, was resumed. Judge GaskiH
ruled that the. plaintiff had the right Of
recovering for the cost of connecting
her house at % Bradley street with the
city sewers, and ordered the jury to
report a verdict for the plaintiff in the
sum OF 800, to cover that expense. The
case was an action Of tort, with an ad
damnum of $4,000, to recover for the
death Of two Of the plaintiffs children.
The plaintiff alleged that by reason of
the reconstruction Of a city sewer, the
sewage was caused to flow back, and
with it came noxious odors and sludge
which filed in the cellar. The plaintiff
alleged further that by reason of this
state of things, she was sick for long
period and also her children, two of