Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-20
SUES PAPER MILL FOR
 BREACH OF CONTRACT
Walter O. Whitaker Makes $16,0oo Claim on Thames River Speeialties Co.


 The superior court was occupied here all day Tuesday with the trial of the suit of Walter o. Whitaker against the Thames River Specialties company of Montville for which he was formerly superintendent. Attor- neys Edmund w. Perkins and J. J. Desmond conducted the case for MT. Whitaker while Major Hadlai A. Hull and c. HadIai Hull conducted the case for the defendant company. MT. Whitaker who was superin- tendent of the manufacturing depart ment of the Thames River Specialties company mill sues the company for $16,000 for breach of contract in con- nection with his employment as su- perintendent
 In the complaint the claim Is made that the company agreed to hire him as superintendent at the salary of $3,000 per year from Sept. 16, 1910, to Oct. S1. 1915, which was to be in creased to 5000 per year and also reasonable travelling and hotel ex- was put into the mill. On Dec. 2s. 1910 the company discharged MT. Whitaker, paying him. at that time $Z54, having previously paid him on the first day of each month. MT. Whitaker, who formerly resided
 in this city. but is now superintend- ent of a paper box company in Natick, Mass, was the first witness put on the stand
 He testified as to the circumstances of the discharge, saying that he was called into the private office of w. Van Rensslaer on the Dec. 2sth men tioned in the complaint and told that either he or MT. Van Renssiaer would hve to get out. He was accused of having insuIted a son of MT. Van Rens- slaer some time before and he was given a written discharge. In this he was accused of being incompetent. Mr. Whitaker said he protested at the time of the discharge and went to the plant of the company the next morning, but was told it was known why he came around and that his place was filled. When given the discharge Mir Whitaker said he would consider his contract legal unless the courts said otherwise MT. Whitaker testified he went to work for the Uncas Power company at Thamesville as shipping clerk in 1885 and in five years was made as- sistant superintendent and later super intendent and filled the latter place for two years. Then he went to Utica with the Utica Box Board company as superintendent and was there three years when he was engaged by the Thames River Specialties company. He is at present superintendent of a paper box company in Natick, Mass. After the cross examination he was l followed upon the stand by Lewis H Scranton, who had been sales agent for | the company When Mir Scranton's testimony and cross examination was over the plaintiff rested at 245 Defense Begins.
 The defense sought by testimony tc 1 sustain their contention that Mr.Whit- | aker was incompetent. Their first wit | ness was Lowell Emerson. president oi l the Rhode Island Cardboard company ! who testified to poor quality board re- I ceived from the Thames River paper mill.
 George J. Lockwood of West Haven | purchasing agent of the Nationa' Folding Paper Box company, who | placed an order with the Thames River Specialties company, testified that out of a 10000 pound order ship | ped in December, 1910, 29,0o0 pounds l had to be returned. It was unsuitable l for use because 1t would not bend. Int l order represented about $500 and thu I quantity returned represented about | $500.
 | Edward B. Munson, treasurer fol l many years of the Munson Folding | Box company of New Haven, testified l to dealings that the company had ir l the latter part of 1910 with the | Thames River Specialties company l that shipments of board from tn, l company were of poor bending quail | ties. The board cracked so that | | could not be used for the purposes fol
 l which it was intended Several letter,
 between the companies were put in a!
 I exhibits
 l Judge Shumway adjourned court a
 i 4.3o till this morning. There are 3
 exhibits in the case. mostly letters.