Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-13
do YOU WANT HELP SITUATION? THE SPY HELP YOU WITHOUT CHARGE PAGE 81

the members Of the committee asked if
there was not a suit pending in the SUI
perior court to recover for the damages
sustained by Mr.. BigeloW in this mat
ter. Mr.. Thayer replied that such
suit was pending, but it was brought
against the city without any authority
from Mr.. Bgelow who was anxious to
effect settlement without going to
court, II possible. When asked if he
was the lawyer he replied that he was
not, and when further pressed. said the
suit had been brought by Col William
A. Gle. This closed the hearing, and
later the committee voted to view the
premises next Saturday afternoon.
Another interesting case that was
heard by the committee was the petition
or Michael Leahy for compensation for
damage to his estate, caused by widen
ing Brown street, and the evidence in
PRODUCED went to show that somebody is
guilty of forging Mr.. Leahy's name to
the petition on which the city counsel
took action regarding the widening Of
the street, the petition waving all
claims for damages. John r. Sullivan
appeared for Mr. Leahy and explained
that the widening of the street will take
strip of land from Mr.. Leahy's estate
. feet wide and 4SA feet long. Mr.. Leahy
was called on to testify, and said that
the land taken was worth 81 a foot, but
if it is taken it will bring the street line
within four or five inches of his house
and if the fence is moved back. he will
not be able to open his blinds. He would
rather not have the city take the land
at any price.
When asked regarding the signature
Of Michael Leahy attached to the petit
ton, he declared that it was not signed
by him and was not authorized by him,
as he never saw the petition and had
never been approached on the matter
He Their wrote his name with a pen and
then with a pencil to show that he did
not sign the petition. He further de-
clared that the signature was not in the
writing Of his wife or daughter. Accord
ing to his figuring, the land taken by
the city was worth $241.25, but he did
not want it taken even at that price.
After the hearing, the matter was re-
ferred to a subcommittee, consisting of
Alderman Russell and President Hall of
the common council to investigate.
The hearing on the petition of David
Eisenberg for compensation for personal
injuries, was postponed until the next
meeting at the request of Henry l.. Par
ker, Jr., who is counsel for the petitioner.
Mrs. Susan M Bean of Sc Hollywood
street was given a hearing on her petit
widening Oberlin street Mrs. Bean APP
peared in her own behalf and said that
the city had taken a strip of land 200
feet long and two feet wide from her
estate, and she thought she should be
paid 40 cents a foot for it.
Will G. Seaver petitioned for addition
al compensation for land taken from his
estate by the widening of Oberlin street.
He said the city had taken a strip 80
= III and hn To-
been allowed 81 for the damage done to
his estate He thought he should be
given at least $50 to pay for putting his
lawn into shape.
After the hearing the committee voted
To allow Mrs. Bean and Mr.. Seaver the
same price for their land that was paid
to the other abutters on the street.
George L. Clark and James A. Met
calf petitioned for compensation for
land taken from their estates in widen
ing Salisbury street in the vicinity of
the Highland Military Academy. Willis
r. Sibley appeared for the petitioners,
and it was shown 70 the committee that
the land taken from Mr.. Clark varied in
denth from nothing to 20 feet for dis
lance of 290 feet on Salisbury street The
amount of land taken was 334l square
feet. and Mr. Clark thought he should
be paid 20 cents a foot for it, as well as
been cut down by the city The amount
of land taken from the academy estate
was 3S41 square feet. and Mr. Clark
thought that 20 cents foot should be-
paid for this
The committee voted to view these
premises in connection with the other
view next Saturday afternoon.
During the session which followed the
hearings, the committee gave a little
4, of
of James H. Madden for compensation
for services as a member Of the fire de-
partment, on which petition the city So
licitor has ruled that the city can pay
nothing legally, as Mr.. Madden was a
member of the city council while he was
serving as member of the fire depart
ment The members Of the committee
are of the opinion that Mr.. Madden
should certainly be paid for his services,
and 1t was suggested in the meeting that
he ,;as as much entitled to his pay as
other members of the city council and
city commissions are entitled to their
pay for hack hire, shade trees
and other articles thai have
been sold to the city. 1t was
stated in the committee that Chief En-
gineer Vaughn said he would pay Mr..
Madden the $197 due him out of his own
salary as chief engineer if the city coun-
Gil could not find a way out of the di-
lemma.
This statement from the chief engin-
Ger opened a way for the committee out
of the matter, and President Hall of the
common council suggested that 1t would
be a perfectly legitimate way out of the
tangle toraise the salary OF the chief en-
gineer $197 this year and let him give
the extra money to Mr.. Madden as he
intends to do. The chiefs salary could
be placed back at its old figure in 1898
and no harm would be done. This
scheme seemed to meet with the favor
of the other members of the committee,
but no action was taken on it last night.