Connecticut western news., 1908-02-13
CONSTRUCTIONS ON
 OLD PARADE GROUND
CORRESPONDENT MAKES CHARGES

Disobeyed, That School Rights are
 Denied to Many-Says he has Been
 Denied Justice.-Cannot Obtain Trial.
 We have received the following com- munication from Brooklyn man, for meriy resident of Sheffield. He makes some rather serious charges and claims to have been denied the right of trial. We present the communication with out comment:
 .65 Pineapple St. Brooklyn, N. Y. Feb. 4. 1908 To the Honorable Judiciary Committee,
 State House, Boston, Massachusetts. Sirs:-In the matter of the petition of H. c. Joyner, authorizing an investiga- tion of Instructions on highways in the town of Sheffield caused by the erection and maintainance of dam in the state of Connecticut, it IS respectfully re- quested that the scope of the investiga- tion include the damages caused by said town allowing Instructions to be erected and maintained in the public highways ill said town.
 The town was warned of this crime on December IT, 1897 by the district at torney. 1t was again warned and threatened by the grand jury in 1898 as follows,
 To A. M. Hewins, G. H. Blodgett, and
 J. M. Smith, Selectmen of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire,
 Gent1emen:-At the session of the grand 1 jury for said County the matter of re- moving Instructions on what Is known as the Old parade ground in your town | of Sheffield, which by recent vote of the town, you were requested to remove, came up for investigation, and after due consideration, the foreman was re- quested to notify you to comply with the vote of the town above referred to. Failure to comply with this notice on or l before July 1st, next will involve the 1 liability to an indictment at the July sitting of said jury. ! Respectfully yours. ! Emory H. Nash, Foreman l 1 "As the town did not remove the ob- structions, it was indicted in 1899 by the next grand jury. But some hidden in huence' prevents trial of indictment. and the Instructions are still there al- though many citizens have petitioned the court and the district attorney to try the indictment. I understand that H. l O. Joyner has been employed by the town to tside-track' the trial. He may desire an opportunity to explain how he turns the trick
 In similar case Patrick Hughes re- eently fenced up highway ill said town. The town ordered the selectmen to re- move the fence. They bought Hughes off with the taxpayers money. Parties coming into court asking for justice or favors, should come with clean hands.
 Disobeying orders of the state board of health the town allows sewerage from the village to flow in and pollute the village brook, which floods the coves from which ice is gathered for domestic use, thus threatening public health and 1 driving citizens from the village and 1 town.
 1 School rights are denied to many and a jim crow school Is maintained. If the scope of the investigation will ex- tend to personal injuries will show l conspiracy against me and my family that has driven us from the common | wealth. Some of the crimes committed against us are, rape of child by negro, attempt to kill with an axe, perjury, are on, school rights and highway rights denied us, trespass and destruction of flowers and waterways at our mills by town officers, breaking and entering our mills and dwelling house and stealing belts, machinery, household goods etc., confiscation of valuable property, etc. In many of these crimes the guilty persons are known, but when the courts are closed against us by the hidden in- fuence as ill the town indictment case we are powerless. H. 0. Joyner is a special justice of the district court and often pleads cases before it. I should like to have him questioned as to what hidden influence protects his clients, unless he desires to hide behind the privilege of counsels confidential knowlege.
 Many instances of hidden influence could be cited. the case of the honorable representative from the eighth district was held by the district court for the 1 grand jury. two grand juries have since held sessions but the hidden influence has prevented hearing, to the injury |