The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-11-17

The Bridgeport papers often appear
ridiculous in their Sensational treatment
OF suburban topics, particularly in mat
eers pertaining to Newtown and vicinity.
70 read the highly colored articles that
appear in these journals, one would infer
that Newtown people were of q highly
excitable type, that when anything hap
pened out OF the ordinary the citizens
abandoned their daily avocationg and in
groups gathered upon the street corners
wildly aroused over the latest event.
Such would be the impression in regard
to the treatment OF the difficulty into
which Judge Of Probate Bradley has
fallen. It is simply a personal matter,
resulting in his failure to meet payments
on an encyclopedia, resulting in a re-
pleyin suit, the refusal of the defendant
to meet the costs in the case, and OF his
going to jail, where he settled up. But
there was no local excitement over the
matter, as the sensational reporters
would have the public believe, the only
wonder being that Judge Bradley should
be willing to have his name placed on the
ledger at the hostelry on North avenue
in Bridgeport, where the record must re-
mai, for all time. But he had consulted
attorneys, and acted, it is said, upon
their advice. The plain facts in the case
as we understand them, are substantially
as follows: The plaintiff in the civil
action is J. A. Hill g Co., of New York,
book publishers, who were represented
by Attorney Munger of Ansonia. The
complaint alleges that Judge Bradley
owed the firm $24 IS on set Of encyclo-
pedias. The Judge had paid something
over $50, but the firms agent could not
collect the balance, and replevined the
books several weeks ago. Afterward
.TnHnp Pra6lox poapiupd hill fn
the costs of the repleVin. This he re-
fused to pay, and his arrest was the
result. He said he would submit to arrest,
but later be would bring action against
all those who took part. 1t appears our
genial local deputy sheriff, NJ. @. Rod
gers, had the body writ in his pos
session for some time, but waited In the
hope of q settlement. He had consulted
Judge Bradley about it, and the judge
adhered to his determination not to pay
the replevin costs. The sheriff said he
would have to arrest the Judge, and asked
the Judge which day would be most con-
venient. Last week Thursday was
the day agreed upon, and the body writ
was put into execution at noon. Mr.
Bradley and the sheriff went to Bridge
port on the train leaving Newtown at
ll,27. He remained in jail three-quarters
Of an hour, and was released when he
p2lu Tue cOsG OF IHe repleVln anu ices,
$16 SO. In an inte rview in the Bridge
port Farmer. Judge Bradley is quoted as
follows: tSeveral months ago book
agent induced him to subscribe for set
Of encyclopedia on the installment plan.
After he had paid over half the cost he
came to the conclusion he did not want
the books, nor the annoyance of paying
installments. The firm got the books
back sever, weeks ago on a suit Of re-
plevin, which he did not oppose. 1t was
an easy way to get out of it, and he was
willing to lose over $50, more than half
the cost of the set. He refused to pay
the costs of replevin, under instructions
of his attorneys. He acted under advice.
He says he will bring suit for damages
against those who caused his arrest. His
attorneys are Toomey & Lynch. he at
tributes the prosecution to malice"