Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-09
LEICESTER NEWS.
War Precipitated Between Water
District and Town.
seIectmen to Deduct Hydrant Money to
Secure Town for Damages Paid
Mary Clifford.

The regular monthly meeting of the
board of selectmen was held Saturday
afternoon. Several orders were drawn
and the town affairs talked over. Su-
pervising Engineer N. A. Johnson of the
state highway commission was present,
and looked over the last accounts of the
contractors on the state road. Edwin
Warren and WE. Sprague were present
and will get their pay as soon as the
money is sent by the state. The meet
ing adjourned subject to the call of
Chairman A. E. Smith when the funds
are received from Boston. There was
no fun to speak of at the meeting, but
that came later in the day
The town of Leicester pays $1275 to
the water district for hydrant rental
every year. The order for the money
to pay for 1897 was not drawn and here
by hangs a tale. Early in the year Mary
Clifford of Leicester stepped off an elect
rlc car at Washburn square into six
foot trench dug by the water district,
as there were no lanterns out, and sued
the district for the injury done her,
Last April she won a case against the
water district. and the judgment and
costs amounted to $3.50. The town paid
the bill, and the selectnnen proposed to
take the sum from the money paid the
district for, hydrant rental and only pay
them the balance. The water commits
sioners heard of this and said they
would give no receipt for a part pay
ment The selectmen also heard the
commissioners talk, and took the ground
that they paid out no money without
taking a receipt, and so drawing the
order was laid over.
After the meeting Water Commits
sioner H. o. Smith came into Booths
drug store and asked Mr.. Booth if that
order had been drawn. He was quite
angry when he found no money was
forthcoming, and when Selectman w. A.
Bell came in he and Mr.. Smith INDUCED
in a war of words, which lasted about
ten minutes.
Mr.. Smith was asked the reason why
the sum paid to Mary Clifford was
taken from the hydrant rental, and said
he knew nothing about it beyond the
action taken at the meeting. He said
he saw no legal authority for the select
men doing as they did, but supposed
they did, or they would not have done
so. He said the water district would
not be robbed of their money, but could
not say what they would do to recover.
Chairman A. z. Smith was seen Sat
urday evening by a Spy reporter and
asked about his side of the matter.
When told that Mr. Smith of the water
commissioners saw no legal basis for
their action. he said: Certainly we
have a right to recover for the money
the town has spent and he knows it..
We don't want to rob them OF the
amount due for hydrant rental, but we
must get back the money spent. The
water district would not settle for SloO
with Mary Clifford when they mad a
chance, and so the case was pushed in
~ na Tor G
fend the case as the water commis-
sioners would not, and Water Commits
sioner Estabrook was at Worcester Tor
the district. The accident was their
fault as there were no lanterns out, and
/ see no reason why the town should
not get something back for the money
spent
A CURIOUS CUSTOM,
An epidemic has struck Leicester that
has caused no deaths and filled no doc
tors wallet, but has converted many
familiar people into utter strangers,
About two dozen people have shaved off
that hairy appendage over the upper lip
commonly known as a mustaehe, and
MANY are thinking of following the fash
ion. Some have been greatly improved
in looks, but can not be told on first
SIGHT except to those who recognize
their lips and chins as having once Ee-
longed to a Leicester youth.
GATHERED ABOUT TOWN.
sixty employees of A. w. Darling's
lower mill took sleighride to defer
sonville Saturday evening. a turkey
supper and dance was enjoyed and the
party returned home Sunday morning.
James o'Connell and Timothy Rice
went fishing in Olney's pond Friday and
hooked pickerel that tipped the scales
in the moonlight at S1s pounds.
Thayer's mill will commence Monday
working from 6.15 a, m. until e.45 p. M,
so that there will be no work all Sat-
urday afternoon, instead Of stopping at
3 as formerly.
AT the selectmen's meeting il was de-
cided not to appoint a successor to Mrs.
A. E. Smith on the school committee, as
it would be small honor for any one to-
serve until town meeting only.
Mrs. H. A. Gould of Millbury has re-
turned home. Her father, Rev. Albert
Warren, will return with her.
AS good shirts for 80 cents at the Boston
store as you can buy elsewhere for So