New Britain herald., 1915-05-31
ACTION CAUjEs MUCH SURPRISE

anent Making disappointment an- advisable-Successor Not Yet Se- lcctcd-Briefs.
 l Like a bolt from the blue came the l announcement this morning that County Sheriff Edward L. Dewey has l decided against reappointing as one
 of hs deputies, William c. Hart of this place, who has served as an officer of the county for the past three years. l MT. Hart's name was not numbered among the deputies named to succeed themselves and when the Herald in- quird of Sheriff Dewey as to the To- cal mans status the information was given that after the expiration of his term tonight the officer will cease to be servant of the county.
 Sheriff Dewey admitted that he had not chosen MT. Hart's successor and applications for the place. The depu- ties arc to begin new term tomorrow and having failed of reappointment Officer Hart will be expected to turn in his badge.
 Sherff Hart's recent arrest and con- viction in Bristol on the charge if de- liyering liquor in a no license town without having the proper orders is given as the cause for his removal from the office. While he did not wish to discuss the matter, declaring that there was no occasion for giving it much publicity Sheriff Dewey admitted that the deputy's arrest put him in an unfortunate light and the failure to reappoint him was but a logical re- suit.
 Officer Hart was fined $1O and costs a week ago for having on one of his livery teams for delivery in Bristol, q keg of beer, for which he dd not have an order showing his teamster to be the legal servant of the owner. He took an appeal to the superior court and the case has not as yet been dis posed of by that tribunal The local sheriff has maintained that as com mon carrier he had the right to de- liver the beer. His team was hired to carry the keg to Bristol and he simply furnished the driver to make the delivery. There was no effort on his part to smuggle the beer into the neighboring city and the officer de- clares that he had no intention of violating the law. In factfhe believes he was acting within his legal rights and he has announced his intention of going before a jury to prove his innocence of wrong doing.
 In his talk with Herald man thls morning, Sheriff Dewey admitted IL possible that the Plainv1lle oMcer may not have done any wrong. HOW ever, he confessed that 1t looked bad for deputy sheriff to get into pre- dicamei1t of this character and for the good of the department his reappoint- ment was not advisable.
 The sheriff did not even intimate that there was anything other than Mr. Hart's arrest behind his removal. The officer seemingly had not been working in harmony with some of the local officials and when it was re- ported here that he would fail of re- appointment there was a belief in some quarters that pressure had been brought to bear to have him deprived of hs badge. MT. Dewey denied that such was the case.
 Sheriff Hart nas served both the town and county as police officer for a number of years. He has always been faithful in the performance of his duties and was a very conscientious officer. He was ever considerate to- wards men unfortunate enough to come in contact with him, after they had violated the laws, and he treated them with kindness seldom shown by a policeman. He has large num- ber of friends in town who will be surprised and disappointed over the action of his superior in dropping him from his department
 with simple but impressive ser- vices Plainville today paid tribute to the men who fought for the preserva- tion of the Union and have since answered the call Of their. Creator. The town accorded the usual honors