The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-16
FAIRFIELD
Mrs. Sherw0"d's CIa 'm-Given $I. GOO Widening Dangerous Curves NichoIs Terrace Highway-The Road to Sasco Hill.


 on Saturday night. at the town meet ing, was the claim presented against the town by Mrs. Charles G. Sherwood, whose husband lost his life last fall while on his way to the Gree nf1eld H Il fair. by leaving the highway and driv- ing into a brook. presumably to water his horse. This brook is near the Mill Plain road. and a little further up is crossed by bridge. The horse got in to a hole near the duck pond, so call Selectman Fox said at the meeting, the water was deep enough to drown man. Judge Perry moved that the matter be referred to the Speaker of responded by saying the man lost h S fife in the brook: and that he had left widow and five children dest tute. MT. Sherwood used to earn about $15 a ly. said Judge Banks. Mrs. Sherwood has no claim against the town. The notice sent to the town is fatally de- fect1ve. and as a technical point Of law. the case would fail if an acton was brought. Otherwise waiving the illegality of the notice. Judge Banks thought the case would be a doubtful one and that there is a fighting chanc ,, on both sides. He said the town is not wholly blameless. If Mrs. Sher- wood receives anything from the town it will be because of the goodness of the hearts of the voters. If a sut is brought recovery cannot be had. MT. Beach drew the notice and it is de- fective, as he admits. It was under stood that the defect consisted in not accurately describing the place where the accident occurred. MT. Beach. counsel for Mrs. Sherwood. was pres remarks This was granted. He thought the place was indicated with sufficient accuracy: he thought tn ! town is to blame. but he was willing to place the whole matter on the mercy of the town. He said the hole in tn } brook or river is within the limits of the highway; that MT. Sherwood left the roadway and drove into the water innocent of danger. He hoped the town would treat the lady white. Dr. Donaldson asked the selectmen if this hole. or crossing in the brook. is in the highway. Selectman Fox replied that it was once a part of the high way. He said it is dangerous if one to cross the brook by driv n 2 into it. There is a spot where one can cross in safety Judge Banks said tn ! law is that the town is liable if the road is in a dangerous condition for the traveller. MT. Justice Wakeman that the town pay the widow of MT. Sherwood the sum of $1 O0o. The locality invited MT. Sherwood to go into the brook. and MT. Wakeman said he thought the town morally re Sponsible. MT. Beach was asked if the town should vote a certain sum for Mrs Sherwood, would she receive it all, every cent, or would MT. Beach claim some of it for hisservices. MT. Beach replied that he should render ous. and that Mrs. Sherwood would re- ceive every cent. With this under standing a motion was made that tn . town counsel compromise the claim of Mrs. Sherwood for the sum of $1,OO0. The motion was adopted. In reply to a question by Attorney Cummings Fox said no action had been taken regarding making the particular place in the highway safe. but such action would be taken as soon as the claim was settled
 The question of abating the taxes assessed against the Bridgeport Fresh Clerk Flint said he had the matter in serted into the call. as he had been ap- pealed to by those having the inst tu- tion in charge. to have the taxes assp ars g fe se nS of the town Ths place is assessed for about s1. 800. MT. Bacon Wakeman moved that the taxes be abated. Judge Perry said the thin could not be done. but that the order. if adopted. would stand until some one objected. The motion was adopted.
 When the question came up regard ing widening the highway near the residence of George Reineck in south port Selecrman Fox pointed out the fact that when a trolley and an auto mobile approach this point. there would be very close quarters for team. MT. Reineck is willing the tow should take the necessary land from his estate on his side of the road but he would want nay for it. A woman owns land on the other side of the road. and while she had not been seen in the matter. the presumption was she would also be willing to sell the few feet needed. MT. Fox had SC en the superintendent of the trolley in relation tD the matter. but MT. Chap man would have to lay it before the Board of Directors Questions were asked as to the probable cost. and MT. Wakeman moved that the selectmen be instructed to prepare a plan and re- pert at the next town meeting. Com missioner Simeon Pease suggested that there should be a widening of Carey's corner. which is quite as dangerous as any other. Judge Perry thought that if the town is going into the busine there are other corners which need widening on the turnpike. He re-
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