The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-16
Metropolitan Board
Will Try to Avoid
Litigation.
STOLE MARCH ON FRIENDS.
Ex-Chief of Police Murphy
Marries Sooner Than
Expected,

Clinton, Nov. 1.-THE metropolitan
water board is determined to trv the
cases pending against the common
wealth on account of land taken for
the construction of the Wachusett res
erVolr, unless terms of settlement more
favorable can be procured.
The Cunningham case in which the
jury awarded $4,000 to the petitioners,
was decided setback to the office of
the attorney general. 1t was freely said
by the lawyers that it meant a general
settlement of cases, all along the line.
The purchase of the Philbin farm for
a price approaching $4,000 confirmed
this view apparently. This settlement
was effected through Mayor r. B.
Dodge, worcester, and was certainly
generous.
He was in fact so generous that the
water board is afraid of making more
Oh the same kind, and will refuse to
take the chance A visit to Clinton
made by Assistant Attorney General
Hallowell, is believed to be the fore
runner of the immediate trial of as
many land damage cases as can be
handled.
Mr.. Hallowell met George w. Morse
IN TINS town yesterday and during the
DAY conVersed with nearly every man
who has reputation of knowing realty.
among the number were George S. Glib
son, William Bancroft and Andrew L,
Fitch
1t is probable that some or all of
these gentlemen will testify for the
state as to the value of the lands sew
orally in dispute
Inc reason given for Mr.. HallowelPs
visit was his desire to see the territory
where the reservoir is located.
Almost the entire charge of the liti-
cation connected with claims amount
ing to $2,O0O,OOO, is intrusted to Mr.. Hal
lowell
1t will add greatly to his reputation
to secure verdicts for less than the
metropolitan water board has offered in
settlement. For this reason he is giving
the cases much attention.
In conversation with a gentleman.
yesterday, Mr., Hallowell referred to
the Philbin settlement. saying he was
glad 1t had not been made in his Of
flee.
There are hundreds of thousands of
collars OF claims pending against the
state that have not been filed in court.
They are mostly for consequential dam
ages and relate to injuries Of MANY
Kinds. One Of the most notable is the
claim of the st. Jean society of West
Boylston, an organization formed for
the mutual insurance of its members.
The water board took the manufacture
ing industries of the town. The mem
bers were scattered to other places.
The society wants to recover a sum
large enough to guarantee the older
members of the society who remain in
town of
ance.
bill giving such compensation was
passed by the House and Senate, last
year, and vetoed by Governor Wolcott.
The same bill will be offered in 1900.
There are several claims for oompen-
sation for persons who have been de-
prived of business by the operations Of
the board. There are doubtless 200 per-
sons seeking damages for the deprecia-
ton which their property has suffered
by loss of population of the town in
which the property is located. Most Of
these claims come from Boylston and
West Boylston
In Clinton and Lancaster farmers
along the Nashua river want to be com
pensated for loss of fertilizing material
which was brought to their land by the
spring floods. The same men want to be
paid for constructing and maintaining
the fences that will have to be erected
on both banks Of the river below the
dam where the bed is dry
There is no end in sight The cost of
the reservoir will doubtless exceed the
estimated cost today by as much as it
now exceeds the cost that was originally
estimated. Many O. these claims for
consequential damages are of course eX-
orbitant, but there is an element of jus
tice in most of them In a few cases the
courts afford no remedy The next ses-
sion of the legislature will see an I'M
usually large number of bills asking for
special relief.
The people of the several towns in
which the Wachusett reservoir is 10
Gated take the view that Boston should
be willing to pay damages of all kinds
for the privilege of supply of fine
water forever
A local sensation was the marriage of
Thomas Murphy, former chief of police,
to Miss Cecilia L. O'Toole. The cere-
mony was performed by Rev. w. c.
McCaughan, at the parochial residence
at 10 O'Clock this morning. John w
Mcnamara and Miss Della OMalley
were witnesses.
Mr.. Murphy stole a march on all his
friends who had been expecting his
marriage for some weeks. BY special
dispensation he escaped the ceremony
Of having the bans cried. A score of his
friends lined up in front of the Clinton
house to see him come out this morning
He evaded them by entering a hack al
the side door The hack was driven to
the, home of the bride on School street
and then to the rectory.
Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were driven
into worcester and from Worcester took
train for New York city.
In district court this morning John
HeinoId, Chace street, was tried on the
charge of selling liquor without a
license and fined S75 He was convicted
by the testimony of Forrest Ryan, who
is employed as an engineer by Nawn &
Brock. contractors on the north dixie.
Ryan brought a case Of beer to Heinold
in Clinton and induced him to deliver it
in Boylston in the presence of Metro