The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-27
SHERIFF STACC D ELY FRI ED
 THE GOODS
Lively Battle In Constable Fred Beardsley's Back 4 Yard Late Saturday
 Night
STAGG PROVES VICTOR
And He Orders Beardsley to Court on Election Day When He Ought to Be Working at the Polls.

Caliph Charles E. Stagg and Grand Vizier Fred P. Beardsley of the peace loving town of Stratford, have thrown to the four winds of heaven their many years friendship and have de- clared open war upon one another. Sheriff Stagg is just now the master of the situation, for on Saturday night he gave Beardsley a physical upset that the constable will long re- m em Der, And further than that, he has another one up his sleeve for the consta ble; For on Oct 3. election to be hustling around to rally the voters to his support in his fight for reelection as tax collector, Stagg will make him appear in the town of Fairfield before Justice Bacon Wake man to answer to replevin proceed ings that led to the battle last Satur- day night. .l
 During the many years that Stagg has reigned as the uncrowned king of Stratford, Beards1ey has been his prime minister. Aside from their of used to go hunting and fishing to- gether, their families exchanged wis its. and altogether they were about as inseparable a pair as one would meet in days Journey.
 All this row has been stirred up, because Fred wanted to collect. $6 from his nephew, Harold E. Lowell for stab1ing a horse for a-couple of weeks, at the very nominal price of $3 per week.
 Beardsley and Lowell and other members of their family. had interests i nthe hardware store that Beardsley had conducted for several years up .BeardsIey's activity As a constable as tax collector, and minister p1enipo- tentiary for his chief, Stagg, kept him away fRom his business So much that there was a family council at which it was voted to tie the tfnware to the genial constable,
 At the rattle of which he was sup posed to become affrighted, flee, and leave the store in charge of the allied Beardsley-Loveu interests. This he Lowell, one of the rising young ', strat- ford merchants, has been presiding over the house, farm and garden inn plimentS that form the principal Stock in trade of the store.
 Last Saturday, Beardsley wandered into the store and is said to have demanded $6 for the Keeping of the followed. Then Beardsley walked up and down the store. pointing out one thing thing after another to which he laid cated his assertions, and there was nothing left for man of Beardsley's well known determination but to make good. This he did by seizing large stock of supplies and carting them away.
 Lowell is not man given to physi- fruitIess he telephoned to Stagg, and then they got a writ of repIevin. Stagg started out late Saturday night to reclaim the stuff. Up to then, all had been pleasant between Charley and Fred.
 Stagg reached the Beardsley domi- cile shortly before midnight and made known his mission. BeardsIey put up awful howl But Stagg insisted that his duty was plain and started for the barn where he had reason to believe the stuff was sec- sreted. Beardsley thrust his talls mus cu1ar form between the diminutive figure of the sheriff and the barn door. The sheriff thrust him one side and started in. Beardsley and he grappled, and the two fit and fit and fit until the little sheriff emerged triunphantly leaving the bruised and worn out figure of his former aide lying prostrate on the greensward y He delivered the goods, all right. He got the stuff and served papers on Beardsley citing him to Justice Bacon Wakeman's court in Fairfield, Oct. 8.
 There's the rub. For that is cleo ton day in Stratford, and Beardsley as tax collector, is running against John Wilcoxson. one of the leading citizens of Stratford. a Democrat who many of the citizens believe can col lect the taxes equally as well if not better than Beards1ey. The latter is extremely anxious of reelection as a vindication of his administration