New Britain herald., 1914-11-19
POLICE COURT CLERK '
 IS SORRY FOR ERROR
Didn't Intend ts Write Criminal
 Record Against fx-OftIeer.
ECHO OF ELECTION DAY MIX-UP
Comes Back at Elections and Says He Doesn't Know Why They Should Have Selected Man They Did for DiSenfranchiscment.

Judge George w. Andrew, clerk of the New Britain police court, today expressed regret at a series of cir cumstances that brought James Coyle, an ex-policeman, into the limelight on election day when he was held up at the sixth ward voting place and was informed that his name had been stricken from the voting list because he had been convicted of crime that would cause his disenfranchisement
 The matter has been the most inn portant subject of discussion since election day and MT. Coyle has been warm under the collar as he feels that he has needlessly exposed to public derision and that his character was assailed when, in the presence of a number of persons at the voting place, he was accused of having a criminal record.
 COyle Taken by Surprise.
 When the ex-policeman entered the polling place Charles w. Irving, the moderator, told him his name had been stricken from, the voting list on instructions from Judge Andrew. MT. Coyle became decidedly angry and in-
  private was without blemish. He in- sisted on voting. The polling officials communicated with First Selectman William E. Latham and Registrars Thomas J. Smith and William H. Scheuy. The selectman called up police headquarters on the telephone | to learn whether there had not been 1 a mistake. He was informed that i there was no record against MT. Coyle l and that there had been a big mistake. l The selectman and the registrars then l instructed Moderator Irving to permit ! MT. Coyle to vote.
 l When Judge Andrew and Selectman Latham met later the latter suggested that it might be good form for the i former to apologize to MT. Coyle. Sc far as is known this has not been done Coyle Issues Statement.
 MT. CoyIe, who, it is said, has made threats to sue the city because hi character was assailed, sent the fol lowing letter to the Herald today:
 MT. James Coyle of 8 Connerto, street would like to inform the pub lie that he has lived in the city O New Britain for twenty nine year and during this period has seen four teen years in the police departm en and also served four years in the DO lice department of New York. He re
 signed in both cities with clean rec
 ord. He has never committed an
 crime in his long life, which fact h 1 is proud to state to the public a
 large. This is a reply to the charg
 made against MT. James Coyle at tn
 sixth ward voting place on Novembe
 3rd, 1914"
 Judge Andrew Regretful.
 In a stateme ent made after readin
 MT. Coyle's communication, Juds } Andrew admits that he was at faul : although unintentionally, and he ex } presses regret that it occurred. j Asked to comment on the matter Judge Andrew said that it was one c , those unfortunate mistakes tha , sometimes happen, that in copyin 1 a number of names from his record ! of those who were disqualified t vote. the first name was a person wit the Christian name of James, an that when he came to the name C . Coyle, he inadvertently copied tn name as James Coyle, when it shoul l have been Thomas Coyle. It so haI ? pens that there are several Jame Covles in the city. It is needless say that none of these persons wer
 in fact intended to be named on tn , list. and Judge Andrew stated that h had no idea how the registrars cam
 to choose the James Coyle Wh : wrote the letter. He regrets that an , inconvenience has been caused to an , one.
 , The election officials disclaim an responsibility for the error. The , say they simply did their duty. a , though they did not say why they se
 lected James Coyle, the ex-pollct
 man.