The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-20
FAIRFIELD
The adjourned hearing before Judge

The adjourned hearing before Judge
| hobbs, in the case of Mrs. Julia
Watts Morris Curtiss, was resumed
yesterday in the probate office of the
Town hall. Owing to witnesses from
New York having missed an early
train the hearing was delayed for
sometime and did not begin until al
most noon. Neither Stiles JudsOn
nor Mr.. Kellogg, of the firm of Kel-
1ogg & Rose, counsel for Mrs. Curtis,
was present A lawyer representing
Mr. Kellogg, appeared, and was sub
mitted to an examination by Judge
Banks and Daniel Davenport. Of his
own knowledge he knew nothing, and
proved to be very unWilllng wit
Healy, who has been living at the
Curtiss house, was for IL years man
aging clerk for Kellogg & Rose, and
he also knew that one E. H. Gay is a
deputy u S. marshal. He had seen
them both with Mrs. Curtiss at Vari-
Gus times. While waiting for the ap-
pearance of witnesses, Mr.. Davenport
addressed the court, taking the posi-
ton that if Judge hobbs should con-
tinue to hear and decide the case
after his term of office expires, his
action then would be just as valid
as before. He said he had looked
up the question and was satisfied In
his own mind. He butressed his
position by citing three cases from
cluded that one may be a Judge de
facto and what he does under such
circumstances is just as valid as il
he were judge de jure. He said: eff
you proceed as judge to the compile
ton of this matter your authority
cannot be called in question" He
added that the duty had been i'm
posed by law and that Judge hobbs
should continue the case. The Judge
appeared to hesitate about accepting
80
said he would be glad to give up the
whole matter. He feared that if he
continued after his term of Office had
expired such action might jeopardize
the case. 1t was announced to the
court that notice Of the continu-
ance had been sent to Mrs. Curtiss
but no reply had been received. The
first witness called was Keith w.
Morris, the deaf mute son Of Mrs.
Curtiss. He had to be examined by
The substance Of his testimony was
to the effect that on the 4th or 9Th
Of last November, while he was walk.
ing in the hall Of the Hotel Savoy. in |
New York. his attention was called
to the intoxicated condition of his
mother who was in the dining room.
She spoke loudly to the walters who
were laughing at her, and she sat be- |
hind a man and put her arms about
him and kissed him. A hotel detec- |
sequent1y she was taken to the office |
Of DR.. Lawrence, where she slept |
several hours, when she was brought |
back to the hotel about midnight. Mr.. |
Of New York. a young |
man, cab driver bv profession, tes-
Curtiss for some six months, during
the fall and winter Of last year. He
recited how he used to drive her
about the city, and how she had him
make frequent visits TO saloons, ho-
tells, etc, and purchase wine, whls-
in front Of her house, for
many hours, and sometimes would |
drive almost all nig mt Sne eadkea
be intoxicated. The night he took
her to the Hotel Savoy she was 90
drunk she had to be lifted out of
the carriage by an attendant of the |
shops and buying new stockings and
changing her footwear in the car
rage, leaving the old stockings IN
the cab. which the driver threw away
the next day. Another New York
ived with Mrs. Curtiss for a long time
1t her place at Sasco Hill, and used
20 drive her about Fairfield. He
said he had to do all kinds of work.
house maid. coachman. errand and
DOy. CtC. ne udo OlLSll |
seen Mrs. Curtiss helpless from the
effects Of liquor, "paralyzed." as he
jailed it, She was like a wild woman
ind as drunk as an Indian. "All In,
Down and out" He had even pat
her to bed, taking off her Jewels, and
sleeping in chair half the night to
De on hand if needed. There was
much more testimony of a similar
Kind. when the court adjourned at a
ate hour.
Today Rev. Allen Beeman, secre-
AIRY of the School Board, issued
checks for. the payment Of the sal
lries of the school teachers. The
next meeting of the board will be
,eld on the 10th of January. There
vas no meeting of the board last
Friday, and consequently no business
vas transacted. The school teachers
held meeting on Friday afternoon
n the sth grade room over the post
,ffice. Supt. Graham had an inform
Il talk with the teachers, and it WAS
proposed to try and induce the
cholars Of the schools to read bet
er books than the trashy fiction of
which they are now SO fond.