The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-30
AT HARPER'S FERRY.
"BattIe of the Oven
Was Fought at
Midnight.
EAST BROOKFIELD EXCITED.
Rival Factions Array Them
selves and the Whole
Town Talks.
EAST BROOKFIELD EXCITED.

East Brookfeld, May 29.-The all
absorbing topic today has been the
Battle of the oven," which occurred
early this morning at what is popular
~ known as Harper's Ferry. For some
time IsadOre Trahan, the local baker,
and Lewis Harper, have been at log
gerneads as to the ownership of large
brick oven built in the basement of a
store owned by Mr.. Harper, and rented
by Mr.. Trahan.
At midnight last night Mr.. Trahan,
assisted by two men, Ledoux and Nor
mandy by name, started tearing out
the oven and throwing the brick out
side Considerable noise was made,
which awakened Mr.. Harper, who re-
sides in a neighboring house. He I'M
mediately, in company with his son
Henry, dressed and went to the build
ing where the work of destruction was
progressing rapidly.
He ordered the men to desist, and on
their refusal summoned Nathan War
rem, the mortgage of the building. On
the command of the latter, the work
was stopped and all parties retired.
E4dily III lilG IIlOl IlllE, llONSNNtt w v
men were again set at work, and again
were they ordered away by Mr.. Harp
er, who al this point put the property
under control of officer John j. Car
ney. PUih parties are in a decidedly
hot frame of mind. and interesting de-
velopments are promised later, each
one having sought legal counsel.
Tr,al Justice Curtis of Spencer is ad-
vising MIR. Trahan, while j. r. Kane
Of Spencer is in the lists for Mr.. Harp
er. Each side tells a conflicting story
and 1t Is hard to assume as TO when
is in The right.
A representative for The Spy saw
Mr.. Trahan tonight, and was told the
| following: Five years ago my brother
| Felix and myself, under the firm namt
of Trahan Bros, rented the baSemen
of the Harper building under the fol
| lowing conditions expressed verbally
| We were to build the oven which cos
! between $500 and $500, but at the enc
of five years were to have the privilege
| to remove the oven in case a re
moval was desired.
Il have been informed by a legal au
thority that I had a perfect right t.
move my own property and according
| ly did So We worked at night be
cause l have no time to put in in tn
| daytime, Mr.. Harper had no right, II
my opinion, to force in the door. as m!
rent is paid up to June"
| Mr.. Harper takes the opposite
ground, saying that no agreement a
| to time or to the removal of the oVel
was ever made by him in any form
| By advice of his counsel, he dismisset
the officer from his property tonight
and barred up all the doors, putting tn
| iron work of the oven inside again.
The building was engaged by Henri,
Alexander to be used for a bakery, bu
its disposition now that the oven i
spoiled, is not decided.
| Mr. Trahan also claims that he bull
| the chimney, but that he had no inten
| ton of pulling that down. The affai
has created a great deal Of excitemen
! in town, almost every one ranging
| himself on one side or the other.
| Mr.. Harper announced his determine
! ton to push the matter right through
and to get all the reparation which h
considers due him. When told 0
| this resolve, Mr.. Trahan philosophical
| ly replied that while he had no wish t
carry the matter into court, he shoult
be willing to go if summoned.