The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-26
 VIEW OF CRAFT
 IN STAMFORD
Rev. E. c. Carpenters Reference To Those
 Higher Up"
Thinks Some Have Paid Money Letters From Minister To
 D. ]. Stafford
Especial to The Farmsr.>

Stratford, July 26.-The troubles which have circIed about the Strat- ford Inn are likely to be soon dissi- pated and as a storm center in the old town it will probably not be heard of soon again for the place has been leased with the privilege of buying by Walter Stapleton who has applied for the liquor license on which a hearing was held on Wednesday. The new owner will conduct the place himself and MT. Stafford will not be interested many way except as owner of the property until the title passes which is expected soon.
 The hearing was unsatisfactory to the remonstrants because near neigh bors testified that they thought the place was respectable in itself and that a hotel properly conducted there was a real benefit to the town. In connection with the trials of the for mer proprietor the following letters throw some light on the situation: From Dudley J. Stafford to Rev. E. o.
 Carpenter.
 Stratford, Conn.,, May 7th, 1913. Rev. B. c. Carpenter,
 Stratford, Conn.
 Dear Sir:H
 If it would be convenient and an interview with you some day this week about conditions at this Inn. would esteem it a, great favor for you to grant this request and if you will call me on the phone, 71-5, I will come down at any time to suit your Trusting to hear from you favor ably, I remain.
 Respectfully yours.
 (signed) D. J: STAFFORD.
 Copy of Original.
 Reply From Rev. E. c. Carpenter.
 Stratford, Ct, May g., 1913. MT. Dudley Stafford,
 Dear Sir:-Your letter is at hand. I will see you or anyone else who wishes to talk with me.
 But I doubt if can help you. I have carefully considered my duty in the matter and do not believe 1t would be right to interfere with the course of justice.
 I take no pleasure in seeing a, man in trouble. That is painful to me. But the law takes into consideration the fact that it is exceedingly diff cult and disagreeable" to get evidence of such law breaking as has been gO- ing on there; and as 1t is difficult 1t imposes very harsh penalty upon those who are convicted, so that oth- CTS may fear to do the same thing.
 Now if we fntercede with the court just as it begins to pinch it will undo all that has been accomplished cannot do it. I told MT. Banks if he could bring it about that you and your wife and McBride would absolutely sever all connection with the Inn I would not make a very big kick if the license was not declared forfeited, though thought the latter should be. I don't know just what the court de- cided the other day but I suppose It said that you must sever all connec- tion with the place very. soon. If that is then you have nothing to fear from me if it is a matter of 9 few days more or less to close up the business. Further than that I can not go. know more than you think I do about what has been going on there We have had men and women detectives in your places at unlawful hours and had this case failed that was brought by the state police we had two other good ones. I think you have some ground to complain that others who have done even worse than you have not been dealt with so harshly. But can assure you that that is no fault of mine or anyone as- sociated with me. But their day will come.
 have no doubt but that you and others have been encouraged by in- huentiaI people in town to believe it was safe to do unlawful business. And T fully believe that some have paid money to such people and given other valuable things. think the ones higher up'' are far more blame wor- thy than the saloon keepers.
 Now if you have such definite in formation that you are willing to give to the officers of the law that will reveal the connection between politics and the saloons of the town, then as far I am concerned I would be quite willing that that you be given all possible credit for what such in formation was worth. These men higher up'' have left you in the Iurch | while in trouble.
 It is very distastefu1 for me to mix up in these things. But the time is | coming when every one of these un- 1 lawful places has got to quit. There l is a band of determined people here that are resolved that that must be.
 Please do not think too unkind1y l toward us. You know as well as I l do that such things should not be. | You would despise me if I were not 1 against them.
 Respectfully yours,
 ERNEST c. CARPENTER. nr n IT Monahan On