Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-27

If any Of the crowd of lawyers and others who went to Hartford yesterday expected to heac surprising details in the hearing on the city court judgeship before the Judiciary committee, they must have beeh greatly disappointed, in one respect at all events. The most startling occurrence in the hearing was the practical intimation by Judge Bur- pee that 1t was he who started this rumpus about the assessments alleged to be due the city and which has not only raised an awful stir about his head but turned out to be a Dig ob stacle to his, reappointment as Judge of the city court. On account of q similar hearing on the city judgeship in New Haven the hearing on the local matter did not begin till 3:30 o'clock and was not finished at 5:30 half an hour after the regular time for ad- journing. Attorney c. G. Root con- ducted the opposition to Judge Burpee. Attorney Ely of New Haven appeared for him. In opening Mir Root said he was unfortunately present to oppose the proposition to reappotnt Judge Burpee. He understood Judge Burpee had requested the committee to give him hearing and he saw the judge was present. A. c. Lord member of the former board of finance was then called and was furnished with copy of the report of the finding of the com mittee of which he was member, to investigate the matter of assessments alleged to be due the city by Judge Burpee. After telling how the com mittee inquired into the natter which is ancient history to Waterbury peo- pie now, he was asked to explain a number of items on the report. These items pertained to R. F. Sheehan, Stone street, Charles A. Adams, Hill side avenue; L. H. Toucey, East Main street; NJ. P: Lawlor, Bank street; The Waterbury Manufacturing company i; E. Leavenworth, Bank street; George B. Lamb and K. Prichard, Bank street. All of the above had paid as- sessments to Judge Burpee but there was no record of the payments on the city books. Mir Lord stated that two reports were made by the committee. the first one about year ago. Tue committee went to see Mir Burpee only once as committee, and that was when they handed him their report. He, after looking it over, said he could not believe that the difference was so much and that there must bes.a mis- take somewhere. What the committee said in reply, witness could not recall. Mir Burpee offered to assist the con- nittee, but he did not give the proffer- ed assistance, and the committee did not ask him for any, though they were under the impression that he could give them a good deal. Mir Lord said, in reply to Senator Judson that the committee did not jump to conclusions, nor take anything for granted. Every thing they did was on basis of black and white. If person claimed he had paid his assessment but did not pro- duce receipt, the assessment was not checked off as paid. Some Of the receipts were ordinary ones, and some official. Receipts did not show what the money was received for, but checks did.
 A, H. Wells, another member of the Investigating committee testified that they asked Mir Burpee what he propos- ed to do about the matter and he, pub. lished a letter giving thepdesired in formation, and told them that his books and records were burned in the Platt block fire. To the best of MT Wells belief Mir Burpee did not do anything to help the committee. except to write to the mayor for permission to see the city books. In reply to MT Ely, Mir Wells said he did know that the investigating committee was ap- pointed at the request of MT Burpee He had heard about three years De. fore the investigation was begun that Mir Burpee was behind in his payments to the city. Witness thought the mat ter first come to public notice by the board of finance finding that lot of money was due the city from assess ments.
 Here Mir Root informed the com- mittee that Mir Burpee had filed bond to indemnify the city in case of short age proven against him. We are not here to produce opinions" he went on "Ne are hear to produce facts and was under the opinion that this was an investigation"
 NIT Burpee then arose and began his side of the affair. He said he never knew that anyone in Waterbury or Misunderstanding toward MT Root, who lives in MilfOrd-cOuld ever use this affair to cast reflections upon him. Before I was city attorney" he went on, .the city collected all the assess ments except those that were overdue. Ii was my duty. as city attorney to collect those. The city kept no books. the auditor and city clerk merely kept a record of the paid assessments on sheets of paper. Many of the assess ments due at that time were from poor people. who were able to pay only by installments. When payment Of an assessment was made a receipt was given. what it was paid for and the street and number of the party wno paid 1t. entered upon it. When lien was taken on certificate was gwen to the party to give to the town clerk. We made up our accounts every month and the amount was sent to the treas urer with the corresponding receipt stubs. This was the city's method o1 keeping track of assessments pad from 1891 to 1894. when the fire in Platt building occurred and books and records in my office were destroyed. The city's money was never mingled with my own accounts or the accounts of my clients. After the fire l found there was a big sum due the city. l knew that a great portion of it had been paid but who paid it and Niio did not was unable to ascertain. hay ing no means at hand to do SO. l got a list of all assessments due and l sens cut the notices again. this being the