The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-21
GREENWICH ASKS
 THE LEGISLATURE FOR NEW JUDGES
Citizens Send a Petition to the Capitol for Investiga- tion of Borough Courts Methods.
DECLARE "JUSTICE" TO BE
 ADMINISTERED BY RING
Call Judges Burnes and
 Hubbard Unfit and Under, Thumb of Walsh Faction.

Thumb of Walsh Faction. Especial Despatch to N. Y. World.)
 Greenwich, Conn.,, Feb. 21.-A pe- tition signed by twelve prominent cit izens of this town. containing charg- es against Judge Charles D. Burnes, and praying for an investigation into the methods of administering justice in the Borough Court under Republi- can ring rule will be submitted to the House of Representatives on Tuesday by Representative Richard A. Elliott.
 The facts set forth in the petition show that the Borough Court has been under the absolute control of R. Jay Walsh and James F. Walsh since it's inception, and that, during the last year more than half the civil cases up before the Court were ham,
 Embodied in the petition is an af- fidavit signed by Percy D. Adams, 8 New York, lawyer, who, as a member of an Investigating committee two years ago, states that Judge Burnes when summoned before the body ad- mitted that he had placed $3,065 of the towns funds to his own account and had kept 1t for nearly a year af- ter he had ceased to hold the office of chairman of the School Committee. The better citizens and the reform element of the town, which is out for good government, are relying on this petition to prevent the reappOint- ment of the present judges and ,ob- tain the appointment of men who are not subservient to political bosses. The petition reads as follows
 Text of the Petition.
 ''We, the undersigned, citizens of said Greenwich, respectfully submit.
 "First-The affidavit of certified tion by Percy D. Adams of certain testimony given concerning transac- tions testified to by Charles D.. Burnes the present incumbent of the Bor- ough Court of said Greenwich.
 "S-.os d - We submit said tes ti- r,on. of said Charles D. Rurnes stat ed in narrative form, as set forth in printed report.
 ''Third-We submit a statement of facts concerning the said Borough Court, signed by William J. Ferris, an attorney.
 Therefore we would respectfully submit to Your Honorable Body that if the same are true, that the said incumbents of said Borough Court are not fit and proper persons for ap- Judge, and we would respectfully .pe- tition your consideration of the same and such action as you may deem wise. a5 .& .ts.:
 ROBERT L. CHAMBERLAIN, WILLIAM P. FERRIS,
 WALTER M. ANDERSON,
 WILL S. GREEN,
 WALTER G. BUXTON,
 J. H. ROSSBOTTOM.
 ARTHUR s. LEWIS,
 HENRY LA POINTE,
 T.(H. KINKADE,
 EDWIN BARTELS,
 CLARENCE A. iCURRIE, HENRY M. CARPENTER"
 Two Petitions Presented.
 The places in the Borough Court are now filled by Judge Charles D.. Burnes and his assistant, Frederick A. Hubbard. Recently two petitions were presented at Hartford simulta- neousiy, one containing the names of 223 citizens asking for. the appoint ment of Percy D. Adams and W. H. Tierney as, Judges of the Borough Court, and the other backed up by fifty names. asking that Burnes and Hubbard be retained
 R. J. and James F. Walsh have maintained their political power in Greenwich largely through their in- 1uence in the Borough Court. Burnes is Walsh's right bower. It was on- Walshes should appear before the Ju- dietary Committee at Hartford and make a strong plea that their candi- dates should be retained. The plea was in fact superfiuous, for R. J. Walsh in the course of his political down laws for the Judiciary Commit tee by which that body should always protect the Republican machine for the honor and glory of special privil ege and political pull. They follow ed his instructions we'll and the Walsh a Cfi rnfIY Greenwich cyJxy content when the committee calmly turned down Adams and Tierney and recommended the reappointme of Burnes and Hubbard.
 Named as Investigators.
 Two years ago when the reform fe- yer hit Greenwich strong a Commit tee of five was appointed at a town meeting to do some investigating. It consisted of Frederick A. Hubbard. secretary; Edwin H. Baker, Nelson B. Mead, Herbert B. Stevens, and Percy D. Adams.
 has become a family affair with R. Jay Walsh and James F. Walsh at the head of the household. It is the practice of the Judge and Deputy Judge to try cases before the court of which they occupy the judicial Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Will bur S. Wright, law partner of R. Jay Walsh, defends persons before the court while receiving a salary from the town as prosecutor. Judge Burnes appointed to the position of Prosecuting Attorney Henry B. White a relative of the Washes, to fill the position.
 = It has also been the practice to transfer cases from the Jurisdiction of a, justice of the peace to the Borough Court upon the payment of 50 cents, as permitted by the charter, in order it is charged, to afford one or more of the parties concerned more fa= vorable consideration.
 Court Family Affair.
 The cost of maintaining the Court in 1910 was nearly $6,00O. Twenty six civil cases were called. More than one-half of these cases were brought to the Court by Stephen l.. Radford, the clerk; Frederick A. Hubbard, Deputy, Judge; Henry B. White, prosecuting attorney; Wilbur $. Wright. assistant prosecuting at torney, and James F. Walsh the part ner of Henry B. White, Charles D. Burnes, Judge, appeared as repre- senting a defendant. It is hardly necessary to say that the court off, cers seldom lost case.
 The petition to the legislature and the flood of requests which have al- ready reached the Governor asking