The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-22
JUSTICE COURTS COSTS TOWN MORE
 EVERY YEAR
Arrests On Frivolous Com plaints. Result In Nolles With Costs Taxed On
 StratfOrd.
Especial to the Farmer.)

Special to the F'armer)
 Stratford, Nov. 22-The justice courts have cost the town about $500 year on the average for many years. The board Of finance has estimated that they will cost $1,OOO for the coming year. This increase in cost to the town is brought about by the great number of arrests for trivialities in which there is not evidence enough to warrant a justice in making con ,viction. In such cases the officers who made the arrest and the justice and grand juror get their fees just the same but the town pays for them It is in the power of the justice to re- fuse orders on the town treasurer for such fees if in his judgment the arrest was unwarranted. A well known lawyer commented as follows: The justice courts with their ofHc1ouS constables have been the cause of much adverse comment by legislators and JUrists. Cities make ordinances which control the police but the coun- try constable runs wild and gathers in his prey without let or hfndrance. There is very strong sentiment in this town against the trivial arrests which have been the rule here for the past year. The practice has amounted to a persecution for private gain and it Is up to the justices to stop it and they will do so unless they are in league with the consta- 'bles to swell their incomes. The Fundamental principals of law are evi- dently not understood. The only req son why the town and the bondsnen of the officials concerned in these per era1 disinclinatio of the people to go to law and the belief that it is cheaper to submit to small fine than to fight the cases out to the bitter end.''
 The residents of Barnum Terrace are looking forward hopefully to the improvement Of that street by the selectmen which they claim has been promised to them. The curtailing of the: appropriations for the general work of the seIectmen by the board of finance will prevent some of the work which the selectmen had planned.
 Herbert Doolittle won a live duck at the Redmen's trading post. It was a fine prize. The duck Is being fat tened for Thanksgiving dinner. The duck with more than ordinary sagac- ity hes evidently been warned of his coming fate and is preparing to de- feat the plan of slaughter. It has developed an extraordinary affection for MT. Doolittle and follows him about like a pet. Yesterday morning him to his work at HowIand's in Bridgeport. The duck boarded the oar with his boss who was obliged to get off and secure his pet. before he could leave the place. The duck has a mellow contralto voice and he greets his boss with enthusiasm when ever he appears
 The five houses on California street north which are building for Gus Johnson are rapidly approaching com pletion. Two of them twill be ready flor their tenants before Christmas. Applications have been made for these two The demand for homes in this vicinity is increasing There are very few houses vacant in Stratford. They are usually re-occupied as soon as they are vacated.
 The drain across Stratford avenue at BeardsIey avenue is being extend ed across the property south of the road to a spot where it will empty into an open ditch. This plan is ex- pected to relieve the vicinity of the surface water. Beards1ey lane is al- so being repaired by a gang of men. Capt. A. BedeH Benjamin is having his side Of the road graded so as to allow a sidewalk.
 The choir at the Congregational church will sing Maunder's cantata gregationa1 church tomorrow after noon at 4 o'clock. The choir of the First Baptist church in Bridgeport will assist and the whole will make a chorus of 20 voices. The singers are Mrs. Gladden. Beers, Misses Brair- ling, Lines. Hinckley and Allen, so- pranos; Mrs. Ivan MorehoJse, E5es. Wade Cook, the Misses Bratling. Gra- ham and Pearsall, altos; Messrs. Will mot, Clabby. Haven, Brown and Pow ell, tenors; Messrs. Hall, Saunders, MeIoy, Braitling and Wakeman, basses.
 Cars have been running on the north bound track on North Main street for three nights The trolley company made record in replacing the old tracks with new. The work on this side of the road began Mon day morning. A large amount of filling material will come from the roadway which the selectmen will use where most needed.
 The laying of an iron cuIvert under Stratford avenue at Avon park will relieve the district on the north side of the road of the surplus water which will be led into the ditch which runs H-afSo h