The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-06
DECORATIVE FTREMEN NOT
 TO BE EXEMPT THIS YEAR.
Prominent Citizens Who Never Smell- ed Smoke Must Come Up With
 Personal Tax in 1912

There will be a stirring up in the town when the personal tax for 1912 is collected if there is no miscarriage of the plans now in the minds of the authorities. There is long list of names on the list of 1911 for whom exemption was claimed and allowed on account of membership in the To- cal fire department. Most of these are names of men of wealth and prominence in the town and it is some years since they appeared at a fire or paid any dues to any fire company in the town It is proposed on the list for this year to allow ex- emptfons only in the cases where the claimants are paying dues in the present fire department Or have serv- specified in the law. This plan will add nearly 100 names to the list this year. The collection of the personal tax here has worked a hardship in some cases. The collector John c. Wilcoxson put his hand in his pocket in several instances and paid the tax himself when his heart was touched by the privation suffered in order to accumulate the money for the tax. One man lived far out in the north end of the town with a sick wife and little to eat, brought in his 1ona- tion to the State graft and paid it over when he needed it to buy bread IL raise the amount privately and re- turn it to him with something added for good luck An exemption in a case like this would be justifiable. Some surprises are promised when the warr"rts fo~ the delinquents are issued this week.
 Fred Starr Beardsley, superinten- dent of the Sealshipt Oyster Co. who has been ill at his home on Judson Place for week is able to be out again.
 The South East Georgian published at St. Mary's. Ga, recently gave an extended account of masque party and at which among the guests ap- peared the name of Mrs. S. W. Reardsley of this town who was cred ited with a phantom costume
 William Wyatt who took his own life in Milford yesterday was for mer resident of Stratford and was well known here by the older resi- dents who are at loss to account for his desperate act.
 Edward H. Beers and David Booth have returned from an extended tour through Florida where they enjoyed every minute of the time and were not subjected to the inconvenience of a rainy day.
 lodge of Odd Fellows are having their pictures taken to be framed together and hung in the lodge room for the hene3t of coming generations of Odd Fellows.
 Sheriff John J. Williams was the victim of a trolley accident yester- day afternoon when the machine he was driving collided with an express trolley car near the Cartridge shop on Barnum avenue. The machine was wells broken up forward and the four ladies who were in the car were more or less cut and bruised. although no one received serious injuries. It is believed that the collision might have been avoided if the motorman had made an attempt to slow down. An ice wagon in front of the sheriff ob- structed his view and he got on the track before he saw the car coming about 300 feet away. The automobile was taken to Bridgeport garage for repairs and the ladies were taken to their homes.
 George F. Hoeschele died suddenly at his home on the Huntington road last night soon after returning from the Singer shop in Bridgeport, where he was employed. He had appeared to be in his usual health up to the disease was ascribed as the cause by Dr. w. B. Coggswell, medical exam iner for this town who called to view the body. Mrs. Hoeschele and four children survive. George and Ger trude reside with their parents. Mrs Edward PitZer lives in Stratford and Mrs. Joseph Clemens is a resident of Bridgeport. Deceased was an Odd Fellow and a member of the Corn- cordia society of Bridgeport. A very pleasant surprise was giv- en Tuesday evening at the home of Arthur Parks of East Broadway, in honor of his birthday. Luncheon and cards made the evening very enioy. able.