Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-10
PRO AND CON ON
 GRoToN COURT JUDO GEsHIP. Claims Of Latinaer and Hewitt Ad- vaneed Before Judiciary Committee.
(sneciaI to The BulIetin.l

tl.J
 Hartford Feb. g--The Judiciary committee gave hearing this afternoon on the resolutions appointing Freder ick P. Latimer, republican, judge of the town court of Groton, and Augustin s. Chester, deputy judge, also on the resolution appointing Albert ". HeW- ltr, the present incumbent and .. dem- ocrat. Senator Whiton appeared in favor of Latirner, saying that he had held the position until replaced by a democrat, and he considered him to be an entirely competent and proper per son to be judge. The resolution ap- pointing Latner was also strongly favored by the two representatives from Groton, Messrs- Kenyon and CrandalL The senator and represent atives also favored Chester for deputy judge,
 Capt Jason L. Randall appeared as the leader in opposition to Latimer and was favorable to the retention of Hewitt as judge. He said L-stimer was not at present d resident of Grotou and that his business was in New London. and always has been in that city. As judge, Latimer was not pune tual In attendance at court He said representative citizens Of GTOton were present to oppose the appointment Of LaLimer, and he laid in written pro- tests from the secretary of the New London Ship and Engine company, To- cated in Groton, and employing over 2. thousand men, and OI the warden Of the borough and other prominent citj- Zeus.
 Selectman Marcus L. Trail told the committee that the representative people of Groton would be pleased to have Judge Hewitt reappOinted- His business was located but a short dis tanCe from the court room, was always available, and is q fair minded man.
 The secretary of the board of school visitors, AlT- Heath, said he was ill tayOT the retention of Judge Hewitt He had served the town well and no fault could be found with him. for he was always on his job.
 Mv. Pitcher, former principal of the Groton High school, told the commit tes that te came to the capitol to ap- pear in favor of the continuance iu office of Judge Hewitt, and believed the judgeship should be treated in a non partisan way. Mir. Pitcher said he was 9. republican and voted for the representatives who prefer Latimer to Hewitt. He said although Judge Hew- itt was a democrat, he was level head ed and as square as Q brick, sound and saTe, and possessed common sense. He was ever ready to attend to court du- ties and no time was wasted to await his pleasure. He added that t Was the sentiment of the representative people of Groton that Judge Hewitt be continued in office
 Rev. Mr. Arthur stated that he had been a, friend and neighbor of Judge Hewitt for eight years, At the time of MT. Hewitt's appointment he said that all things being equal he prefer red lawyer to a layman as judge: but Mir. Hewitt proved an excellent and competent judge. The representa- tive people of the borough are satis- fled with him as judge of the court and want him reappointed
 Captain Randall said that Judge Hewitt was wanted by the people of Groton irrespective of party and hoped the committee could see their way to depart from their rule and not be guided by the expressed wishes of the senator from the district and the rep resentatives from the town of Groton.
 Senator Isbell, chairman of the com mittee. asked: "Is Judge Hewitt q, law yer?'' and Captain Randall made re- sponse: ''No; he is an honest and sen sible mani"
 Judge I4atin1er stated that he did not want to tire the committee with a re- hash of what had been threshed out on a former occasion, but he wanted to set the committee right as to his residence. He said his home was in Grotou, his household effects were there, and he was a taxpayer and voter in the town. During the present winter he IS stop ping with his wife and child at the home of an aunt of his wife, as a matter of family accommodation. He was surely g, resident of GrotOn and proposed to continue as a, resident. lie was just as much 3. resident of GToton as was Representative Kenyon, who moved to Hartford with his family during the legislative session.
 This closed the hearing in the Groton case.