The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-08
HE COULDN'T READ.
c. Bryant Signed the GiIrein Protest Not
Knowing What It Was.

The license commissioners have voted
of IS Glen street, providing he can find
location where the residents do not
put forth such strenuous objections to
his operating a grocer's license in their
midst.
Yesterday was the last day on which
protests could be filed. There were
but two in addition, and both were di-
rected toward Mr. Gilrein, but more
interesting than either was a new
phase of the Christopher Bryant pro-
test.
1t will be remembered that about a
week ago the commissioners received
a protest against granting a license to
James ]. Girein, signed by Mr.. and
Mrs. c. Bryant. Thursday Mr. Gill
rein brought in a statement signed by
Mr.. Bryant as published in yesterdays
Spy, which was in effect that Mr.. Bry-
ant had never signed a protest against
the applicant, and that if such a pro-
test had been made and his name
signed, it was WITHOUT his consent
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Bryant ap-
| pcared at the commissioners office, and
| after producing copy of The Spy and
| indicating the item in question denied
that her husband ever knowingly
! signed such a statement. She said
| that her husband was very much sur
| Drised when he learned that such a
statement had been filed with the COM
| missiOners.
From Mrs. Bryants conversation, it
| is apparent that her husband cannot
read, and that when he signed the pa
per in question, he thought that he was
signing a statement that Mr. Gilrein
| Kept clean place, nothing more, and
had he been aware Of the import of the
| document, he wouldn't have signed
lit.
The protest of Philander and Walter
| Lee Sprague of 1l2 and 1 Carroll street,
respectively, is given verbatim as fol-
lows:
Worcester, Mass, April 3, 1899.
| To the Board of License Commits
! siOners:
| "Gentlemen-As a property holder
| within stones throw of a rum-gro-
| Gerry (more rum than grocery which
| has proved itself a nuisance during Its
| short existence in our neighbJrhaod,
We respectfully protest against reli-
censinS said place, known as James
Gilrein at No. 13 Glen street
In the first place it has deprecated
the value of property in the locality.
Secondly the citizens of ward 2, at the
last election showed its wishes by vet
ing nO-license
| FINALLY the location of this nuisance
| is located about half way between two
| churches and on a thoroughfare not
many rods from Belmont street school
This thorOughfare, Hanover street
is one of the principal ones used by the
| school children and has been for years
to and from this school.
| The above mentioned reasons are BY
no means all that could he cited, bu
| are sufficient to show the undesirable
ity of re-licensing the above named
| place.
We therefore solicit your honorable
board not to grant a license to Mr.
James Gilrein al No. IS Glen stree.
"Philander Sprague,
IL Carroll street.
Walter Lee Sprague.
l Carroll street"
Still another protest against Mr.. Gil
rein is signed by about 80 citizens O.
| ward ?, giving the reasons of the citi
zens, why in their estimation Mr. Gil
rein should not receive a license, as
follows:
ITO the honorable board Of licens,
commissioners of the city of Worcester
We, the undersigned, citizens O
ward ?, do hereby earnestly protes
against granting a grocer's license Il
Jas. j. Gilrein & Co.. at 10 Glen street
knowing that the result Of grantin,
such license will be injurious to tn
peace Of the neighborhood and damag
ing TO the value of the property"