The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-09
CHECKERS AT GRAFTON.
Fletcher Won First half of Contest With
John Smith.

| laStlc gathering of 20 admirers OF tne
game of checkers, the first half of the
contest between William E. Fletcher
! of this town and John f. Smith of
Worcester, for the Junior championship
| of Worcester county, took place in
Hotel Kirby, last evening. The contest
commenced at 7.45, with an irregular
game of 62 moves and was won by
Fletcher in an easy style.
The second game was Dyke, which
was drawn, after much slow playing.
| The third trial was a Bristol and
was captured by Grafton's boy cham
pion, after IS minutes of playing, the
latter part of which kept the majority
of those watching the game in a state
OF constant doubt as to the result. In
this game Arthur H. Newton, the vet
eran champion, who had charge Of the
board showing the moves to the large
audience seated in the hotel lobby, gave
many Illustrations of how perfectly he
| knew the moves his promising student
would make at certain points of the
game, by carrying the contest several
moves ahead of the players, who were
in an adjoining room.
The second half of the evenings
contest was opened by Fletcher leading
| OH in single corner game and win
ming the same in the same time that
he did the previous one, thus making
! three won by him and one drawn. In
the early part of this game it was
generally believed by the "sharps"
present that Smith would get his first
honor Of the evening, but as the game
progressed his chances Waned slowly
until the end.
During brief recess after the fourth
game, William Earle Fletcher, with the
first half of the match of u games
in his favor and the best of prospects
OF winning a large majority of the
games of the whole series, stated in
conversation with The Spy man that he
found Smith to be a hard player, and
expressed much esteem Tor the ability
of his opponent.
Old Fourteen" was the object of in
terest for the fifth contest and was
won by Fletcher, after a short and
lively battle.
The sixth and final effort of Smith |
TO escape clean whitewash at the |
hands of Grafton's young player, who |
has for the past few weeks been under |
the constant training of Grafton's two
veteran players, Messrs. Kirby and
Newton, was a second double-corne |
game This game ended nine minutes |
before the beginning of the Sabbath,
and was in Fletcher's favor.
Thus ended the first half of the
Fletcher-Smith contest with a score of
flve games in Fletcher's favor and one
draw. Clarence M. Putnam acted as
timekeeper.
The second half of the series will he |
played in Worcester next Friday even
ing, Jan. Is. Each of the contestants
received many congratulations on their
pluck and skill throughout the games.
In the local court at 30 O'clock YES
terday afternoon, Mrs. Rosie. wife Of
John E. McGoVern, of North Grafton
was arraigned before Judge William 10, |
Fowler on the charge of stealing silver
spoons sad to be silver, but valued at
Bride. also of North Grafton. LAWYER
j. e. Sullivan Of Worcester appeared
Tor the defendant and entangled the
pIalntln IN her statements to such an
extent as to cause Judge Fowler TO or.
DER Mrs. McGovern discharged
John g. Blanchard of North Grafton
testliled in behalf of the PLAINTIFF, but
was was NOT able to convince the court of
the guilt of the defendant
The two parties Interested in tho oosa
I'VE In the same block and it was tbe !
greatest fake of a court case that ~
neen witnessed in Grafton in long
time. " lols
Inc new timetable of the ConsoIida+-
ed road, Which provides for oars Iea,,
ing each end of the road on each even
anu at 9au hour' and is to go into force on
Monday morning, wes RECEIVED y,;th
much disappointment by Grafton ~ M
pie today They have considered a.
accommodation, cars off the tracL ny
lnaplllty to make the present scba5nio
lIIfle, TO be poor enough. and tba o.
eral feeling of those who smoke oF ~
subject, tonight was very bitter un1ass
tue company is to make better time nv,
the new schedule than has baen ~
case Use since the opening of the road
Inc motormen and condl1cfors
We're so anxious to go onto the no., no
as to give up day run in fine cit,, 4t cue
a night run over Grafton hius MI ~ ~
change with delight, as thev ro,,i oile
an opportunity to get back to 80
run, for which most of them ba19a Ivy
come anxious. nave oe-
GraIton, Jan. S,-Grafton's school
quessioh, Wnch was so holly contested
at the special town meetine 80
Thursday evening, is now he'll, ,,l US
earnestly commented upon thar aTan
before by the people who were onroS(,l
TO petltloning the general cOurt fn,, IL
right to issue town bonds to tha ,,,,,o,,,lI
OF $fo,OOO. The element which -
against this article being passad "%is
now much more strongly aeainst +bo
erection or new buildings in the csn-
IRE OF the town and promises fo Con-
tinue IT'S selge with great INTEGRITY ~,
IN the March town meeting. AZ which
time, if the right to issue how'd %spJ ~
granted by the legislature. il will me -,
up desperate fight about the 1ocatIoe
of the new buildings. ''os''io!l
North Graftonites are the ones most
opposed to the erection of fha 80.
hlSh school building in the centre 60,
ing that there are more pupils in eifbo,,
the south or north parts of the tov,n
than at the centre. Those 9t tho ca',
tire who want the high school iocetn5
here, offset the reasoning of thoir
northern friends by saying the centre
Is the only place convenient to all norts
OF the town, and bid fair to nave an
easy victory at the annual town meet
ing.
Union prayer services will be held
II the Baptist Church each evening
ms week, with the exception of SAT-
lrday, the Baptist and Congregational
societies Joining in the exercises Rev
=. ID. Penney, of Lincoln Square
Jhurch, worcester, will be present and
speak each evening the early part Of
ne week, and Rev Arthur e. ST
lames, also of Worcester, will be
present the remaining evenings of the
week. with these two well known
'peakers secured, the two societies look
onward 10 unusually interesting meet
ngs The time of service y2iii ~,
80. ~"
HE WAS no GIfNrrr 1,NFANy