davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
AIR FARM
HOUSES ARE NOT
SAFE TO live IN
Officials Testify That Need
of Fireproof Buildings
Is Great.

That the buildings on Life's Fresh
Air farm in Branchville are firetraps
and extremely dangerous as a home
for 200 children was the testimony of
Supt. Silas Moore of the farm in the
superior court this afternoon when he
testified in the suit brought by At
torney General George E. Hinman on
behalf of Life's Fresh Air Fund,
against the Branchville Fresh Air as
sociatiOn.
Supt. Moore declared there had
been at least four fires in recent
years. On one occasion 80 children
had become panic-stricken and had
knocked down a woman caretaker,
who was trying to calm their fears.
The witness is employed by Life's
Fresh Air Fund, an incorporated
body, which is trying to have fire.
proof buildings erected at Branch
Vile.
Gilbert but the farm has been sup
ported by Life's Fresh Air fund, which
paid taxes and insurance, as well as
the expenses of the 1000 or more chill
dren sent there from the slums of
New York each summer. The present
action was brought to ask the court
to interpret the will of Gilbert. Life's
Fresh Air found claims the, unexpend-
ed balance from the income Of the es-
state should not be allowed to accu-
(Continued on page 14)
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
WITHOUT FOOD,
I OF THREE FACES
Il FROM PRIVATI0NS

his system that he no longer had the
strength to work.
They were reduced to living in one
room, surrounded by squalor, the vic
Tins Of abject poverty. A little stove
which failed to radiate sufficient heat
to keep them warm stands in corner
barefooted. walked about the cold
floor, when a coughing spell forced
him to rise from a sitting or lying po-
sition. He was stricken with pneu-
mOnia.
The baby came, but it failed to OBJ
tain nourishment from the mother
who, lived on the crumbs Of neigh
bors as poor as themselves, with the
result that it has been literally starv-
ed to death. Residents told people
about the pitiab1e plight Of the little
family, but the red tape of author
tive procedure, Indifference in official
circles. failed to accelerate action
which should have alleviated their
condition.
The saloons in the district were
prosperous. Occasionally they gave a
small mite to assist This morning
however a saloon keeper entered the
nome. Its frlgid atmosphere chilled
him to the bone, and the sight of the
agonized mother, whose sufferings a
tottering, barefooted and ill-clad hus-
band made futile attempts to ease
Mortified him. The feeble cries of a
dying infant reused him to action and
he called up the emergency hospital.
DR.. John F. Canavan for several
minutes worked heroically to stop the
mothers commissions. Unsuccessful
he hurried her to st. vincent's hospi-
tai in the ambulance, returning to
bring the father and baby to the same
institution.
Christmas is coming but it's joys
will bring no warmth to the Moroto
family. The advent of the Yuletide
season means but the coming OF
death, to at least one, the mother
and perhaps all three will have met
face to face 'The Prince of Peace
by Christmas Day.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19

posals of the central powers seemed
to be based on the supposition that
the government had or would have
concrete and precise indications as
to the basis on which negotiations
would be opened
"This suppositiont does not corres-
pond with the facts" the foreign min
lister continued There is no signs
Of a basis for negotiations in the enc
my note. Should preparations be
made subsequently we should con-
slider what to do but it would be
neither practical appropos to consider
that question today.
II cannot communicate to you any
thing whatever as to the substance OF
the answer we shall give to the note
Of the four enemy powers. The an
swer will be published as soon as It
is drawn up.
"We all wish peace and lasting
peace. But we consider lasting
peace to be- a careful settlement
whose duration depends not on the
soliditity of the fetters with which
one people is held subject to another
states, based on respect for the prin-
cipal nationalities, rules laid down in
the laws of nations and the conclu-
sions Of humanity.
eff we were in the presence Of gen.
uine proposals, with bases of a ma
.ture to satisfy the general postulates
of civilization and justice which I
have just me entioned.- none would re-
ject them abruptly"
Baron Soninno reported to the dep
uties of all parties in the words of
Premier BRAND, Of France, not to
permit the press Of the central pow
ers "to poison the minds of the peo-
pie" and urged them not to play the
enemy's game" by giving way to rash
or untimely manifestations which
might implant the. germs of dissention
and discouragement
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
LIVELY BATTLE
On PROHIBITION
ENCROSSES hub
Both Sides Make Unusual
Campaign in Boston
Liquor Fight.

Boston, Dec. 19.-The liveliest fight
on the liquor question that Boston has
experienced in it's Al years of license
was on today. The no-license advo-
Gates who had lost so consistently in
the past had been aroused to fresh
efforts by evangelistic campaigns and
the concerted action of temperance
societies representing various relig-
ious beliefs.
The license party, admittedly anx-
fous over the outcome, left nothing
that was proper undone In their eff
forts to bring out the vote favorable
to the regulated sale of intoxicants.
At the opening, the vote was about
normal but before noon at most all of
polling places voters were in line in
greater number than at the corre-
spending hour in other years.
There were 118, 110 men registered
and 10946 women. The women voted
only for the school committee.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
.CLACK|NC BONES
|. FACE FAIR WHEN
! HEARING BEGINS
Skeleton of Woman Sup
posed to Be Wife Hangs in
Superior Courtroom.
EXPERT TESTIFIES
WHAT HE OBSERVED
Victim Dead 18 Months, He
Says, But Not as Long as
Three Years.

With the SUPPOSED skeleton of Mar
metal upright. the jury in the
criminal superior court today iistehed
to testimony in the trial of William
F. Fair and Jack Devereaux of Dar-
len, who are charged with having
killed Mrs. Fair. The last prelim-
mary witnesses were heard early this
morning and the trial got under full
headway.
Otto H. Schultz, a coroner's physi-
cipal witness called by the state. He
is a professor in Cornell Medical
school and has many degrees. The
witness said he saw the body on Aug.
10, 1914, the, day after he was found
in the Darien woods. He declared
the remains were badly decomposed.
All that was left, with the exception
of bones, was a pasty substance COW
cred by skin in the region where the
organs in the abdomen are located.
He was able to tell that the skele-
ton was that of a woman about five
feet six inches till and having dark
hair. There was a scar which indi-
Gated she had undergone an opera
ton. His judgment would that
the woman had been dead aeout Is
months. Attorney Jacob B. Klein, of
counsel for Fair, tried to get DR..
Schultz to admit it might have been
as long as three years but the wit
ness said he didn't think so.
Constable William B. Bates ! of
Darien was called to tell how he
learned of the discovery of the body.
He Naid some boys told him Aug g.,
1914, that a body had been found in
the woods. He went to the spot and
took charge of the remains.
Rutland w. Gillette testified he was
the undertaken to whom the body was
turned over after it was dug up.
The trial was resumed at 2 this
afternoon after the usual noon re-
cess.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
FOR CITY
XMAS PROGRAM
ARE ELABORATE
Small Trees to Be Distribute
ed in Hospitals and
Institutions.

A new departure in the city's pro-
gram of making the children in hos
pitfalls, homes and orphan asylums
happy during the Christmas season
will be instituted with the opening Of
the municipal Christmas tree celebra-
ton at Broad street hill Sunday night
Good cheer in the form of fruit,
candy and toys will be distributed
about smaller trees in the Protestant
Orphan asylum, Hillside home, St.
Vincent's hospital, Bridgeport hos
pital and to the children who will as
semble in the High school auditor
ium.
The program to be announced for
the municipal Christmas tree this
week will be substantially as follows:
A procession of ESQ school children
now being trained as a festival chorus
for the occasion by Miss Cora M. Pur-
Vance, supervisor of music, will as
semble about city hall at o'clock.
Headed by the mayor, members of
various city departments and the
Coast Artillery band they will march
to the foot Of Broad street, where the
big tree will be illuminated. An ad-
dress will be given by the mayor and
a musical program played.
The procession will then march to
the High school where the gifts will
be presented.
The city officials will then visit the
various asylums where they will make
like donations to the suffering and
poor alike who are unable to leave
their asylums. The tree, which has
been set up by the park department
and electrically equipped by the
United Illuminating Co., will remain
lighted at night during the week, but
no further exercises are planned.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
HOME ON FIRE,
CHILDREN FLEE
THROUGH SNOW
Run Eighth of a Mile in
Night Clothes to House
of Friend

Milford, Dec. 19-The six children
of John Armstrong. ranging in age
from four to 4 years. were forced out
into the bitter cold of early morning
today, barefoot and scantily clad,
when fire broke out in their home,
while all were asleep. The occupants,
awakened suddenly, had no time to
save any of their belongings and the
children, clad only in their night
garb, had to run about an eighth Of
a mile before they could reach the
shelter of the nearest neighbor's S
house. The temperature was between
eight and ten degrees above zero.
The house, with it's contents, was
burned to the ground, the loss being
between $4,000 and $4,000. Arm
strong with his children moved into
the place about six months ago. His
wife is not living.
The children were alone in the
house at the time and had to get
out by windows. The fire is believed
to have started from the kitchen
range. The father, who works dur
ing the night in Bridgeport, returned
this morning to find his home in ruins
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
BOARD
SHOULD BUY ALL
PAVING FOR CITY
DR.. r. J. Lynch, Retiring,
Gives Argument Against
Present Method.

DR.. r. J. Lynch, who will bow out
next month as a member of the board
of contract and supply, sang his swan
song at meeting of the board this
noon. The board transacted only
routine business, but DR.. Lynch's re-
marks brought some interest to-the
proceedings.
The doctor said he hoped the good
work done by the board would be
continued and extended. He hoped
that the board Of education would
soon do it's buying through the board
of contract and supply.
In closing DR.. Lynch said he
thought the hoard ought to do the
city's Warrenite buying.
William E. Seeley, treasurer of the
Republican party. and the only other
board member present, said he
thought the doctors suggestion a good
one-but he smole a slight smile as
he said it.
maybe we could save the city
some money on Warrenite, at that
said Mr.. Seeley.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19

London Dec 19-Premer Lloyd George said in the House
of Commons today that it felt that they
entering negotiations that Germany prepared to accede
to the only terms which possible for peace
tanned and maintained in Europe.
The Premier said that without reparaon peace would be
impossible. 5... ~.
Mr. Lloyd George said there proposals peace
To enter into proposals of which they had knowledge
put their heads into with the end in the hands
Germany
Much they onged for it, the Premier added the central
note and the speech preceding afforded small
agement and hope for honorable and lasting peace
Mr. Lloyd George said:
Our will be given in full accord with allies.
Each of the allies has separately and Independently arrived
the conclusion glad of the first given by
France and Russia" ~ f-.a ie.ss,. a.s-
Mr. Lloyd George said the allies would insist that the only
end of the must be complete guarantee against Prussan
miarism disturbing the peace of Europe.
formal reply of the allies, the Premier announced will
be given n the course of few days. He said:
We will await until hear what terms and guarantees
than those which Germany broke Meanwhile
we put trust in unbroken army" ~ ,.
declaring that without reparation mpossi
be premier asked whether a the outrages land and
qudated by "a few pious phrases about hu
i4x,D
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
Droto died at st.
Is this afternoon,
efforts Of physi-
es at the institution
-

Starving in the midst of plenty,
dying on the eve Of the Yuletide sea-
son, when the spirit Of Christian
charity is supposed to spread it's pro-
tecting wings over the victims Of ad-
versity. and impart to the homes Of
the poor a semblance of Christmas
plenty, a mother of II years, her babe
of three months and her husband,
Philip Moroto, lie on the brink Of
death at st. Vincent's hospital
The mother cannot live "a hours,
and at noon today was gasping for
breath, struggling hard to live on.
The husband, a cOnsumptive, has con-
tracted pneumonia and little hope is
held for his recovery. The babe of
three months whom the physicians
describe as nothing but frail'
frame" will probably live but few
days-a victim of malnutrition.
The little family was removed to-
day from place they called home %
a squalid single room, in the base
ment of the house at 226 North
Washington avenue. The authorities
had been appealed to aid the mother,
who when DR.. James A. Canavan ar
rived, was rolling on the floor. in the
throes of convulsions, struggling for
air.
About year and half ago Moroto
married a pretty Italian girl, whose
roseate complexion testified to her
good health. For about a year they
lived happily and the knowledge that
a baby was coming to gladden. their
home, added joy to their lives.
P,,f Of
that their happiness should be short
lived Moroto contracted constmp-
ton. For a while he struggled along
working at his place in the factory,
until the violent cough had so racked
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
SUBMARINE
CRASH LAID
TO captain
u. S. Inspectors Report
That Skipper of Lost Tug
Was Responsible for Ma
rine Disaster.
MisjudgedSpeed ofDeutsch,,.
land and Gave Wrong
Signal to Engineer, In
spectors Say.

New London, Dec. 19-United
States Steamboat Inspectors
Withey and Rankin, of this
city, today made public their
finding relative to the respon-
sibility for the collision be-
tween the German merchant
submarine Deutschland and the
tug T. A. Scott, Jr., in the Race
ON the morning of November
A., which resulted in the sink
ing Of the latter and the drown
ing Of her entire crew. Cap
tain Frederick Hinsch, a~pas-
senger, was saved by the mer-
est chance.
The inspectors place the
blame for the catastrophe upon
mistake made in a bell signal
given by Captain John H. Cur
ney, of the tug, to the engineer
of that vessel at time when
the two vessels involved were
SO close together that,th mis-
take proved to bea fetal error.
In their finding the inspectors con-
tinue:
'It seems to us probable that Cap
tain Gurney underestimated the speed
which the Deutschland was making
after passing New London Light, at
which point her speed had been in
creased to eight or nine knots an
hour; and that Captain Gurney did
not realize how quickly the Deutsch-
land was closing up the distance be-
tween her and the T. A. Scott, Jr.,
until he was advised by Captain
Hinsch to give the Deutschland mort
room and to increase the speed Of the
! T. A. Scott, Jr.
'.If Captain Gurney then looked out
of the pilothouse window of the T. A..
Scott, Jr., it must have been evident
to him that absolutely no time must
be lost in increasing the speed of the
"A. Scott, Jr., in order to clear the
Deutschland and possibly in his over
anxiety to avoid collision he gave
the wrong signal to the engineer and
had no time to correct the same be-
fore the collision took place.
The inspectors further say:
1--WE are satisfied that the Deutsch-
land was being navigated in a careful
and competent manner by Captain
Paul Koenig, prior to- the collision;
that he did all in his power to avert
the collision and that he made all due
efforts to effect the rescue of the tug
r. A. Scott, Jr.. all of whom were evil
IDENTIFY trapped at their posts of duty
so quickly did Nthe tug sink. Captain
Hinsch, in our opinion, owes his es-
cape to the fact that he was out on
deck when the collision occurred"
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
SECURITIES FOR
/ MILLION WORTH
81, He DECLARES
Former Head of New Haven
\ Road Testifies in 3. & M.
Action.
NO EXPERT, ONLY
FARMER HE AYERS
"I'd Take a Dollar for the
Lot" He Says Of Rail
way Notes.

Boston, Dec 19.-Charles 8. Mellen,
former president Of the New York,
New Haven &NHartford, and Boston
& Maine railroads, appeared today as
"a witness in the federal court hearing
on the question of making permanent
the present temporary receivershlp OF
the latter property. Introduced by
counsel for the minority interests
which are opposing eceivership, as
''probably the greatest living railroad
ma min this country" Mr.. Mellen mod
|estly protested that he was not an
expert on railroad matters but was
only farmer.
Mr. Mellen displayed a keen grasp
of Boston & Maine affairs. Asked by
Conrad w. Crooker, minority counsel,
regarding list Of securities owned by
the road to determine any difficulties
between their book value and the wit
ness opinion Of their real value, he
made summary answers.
"Td take a dollar for the whole
BUNCH" he said, referring to $940,42O
of notes Of the st. Johnsbury and
Lake Champlain Railroad company
SIG, ,154 Of notes Of the Conway Eaec-
trio Street Railway company, both
listed as payable on demand.
The Fitchburg railroad, one Of + g
principal subsidiaries of the Boston &
Maine, which owns 55,514 shares of its
common stock, "was not an asset
available for any nancial purposes"
when the Boston & Maine assented to
curities of the ST. Johnsbury and Lake
Champlain Railroad company quoted
at $4,517 in the last annual report, he
appraised at minus one dollar a
share and absolutely negIgible.''
In the case of III shares Of Concord
and Claremont railroad, however, he
stated that eff I owned the Boston &
Maine would not sell that stock at
81 900 a SHARE explaining that it had
''a nuisance value"
The stock appears or the record at
$4,S9O. An effort by minority counsel
to obtain from Mr.. Mellen his opinion
of the fairness of rental charges paid
by the Boston & Maine to certain
leased lines, was ruled out by the
court as irrelevant to the question of
solvency.
IT don't wish to have it assumed
that am here to say these leases are
valuable to the Boston & Maine" the
witness interjected. The book state
ment Of the cost Of the Boston &
Names construction was ''far less
than the actual COST he stated, add
ing that the figures should be at least
so per cent greater. He held SINH
larly the 0,108,52O did not represent
fully the roads investment in equip
ment.
Regarding the roads total operating
revenue of $52,075,427 during the last
fiscal year, the witness agreed with
counsel that it was abnormal.
''It is absolutely due to the abnor-
NAL circumstances of the great hur-
rah in Europe" Mr.. Mellen said. The
great boom in business in,<this coun-
try, in his opinion, is not permanent
reliable.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19

During. the war, the premier said,
shipping would be nationalized in
true sense.
Premier Lloyd George announced
it had been decided to give recogn1-
ton to the agents of Former Ere
mier Venizelos, Of Greece.
Dealing with the war situation, the
Premier said he had to paint a stern
but not gloomy picture. The Ru-
manian blunder was an unfortunate
one, but at tho worst at only prolong-
ed the war and could not affect it.
1t might have salutary effect, he
continued, in calling the attention OF
the allies to obvious defects Of or
ganization. To prevent the Ruman-
ian situation from becoming worse
they had taken strong action In
Greece they were taking no risks.
They had decided to recognize the
agents of Former Premier Venizelos.
Speaking of the western front, Mr..
Lloyd George referred to the growth
of the British armies there and con-
tinued:
"I am convinced ultimate victory is
sure if the nation shows the same
spirit of endurance and readiness to
learn as the mud-stained armies at
the 'front.'"
Turning to the more purely political
of the domestic problems, before the
new ministry, he said:
1--WE are anxious to avoid all con-
troversia questions. The functions of
the Premier and leader of the House
have been separated because it was
thought the double tasks were too
much for one man. In war you want
prompt decision, and the allies have
suffered disaster after disaster from
tardiness of decision"
The speech Of Chancellor Won Beth
mann-Hollweg before the German
Reichstag was characterized by Mr.
Lloyd George as constituting in sub
stance denial of the only terms upon
which peace was possible.
The premier said the time had come
when the doninions should be con-
suited more formally as to the war.
An imperial conference would be sum-
moned at an early date to discuss vital
questions.
The first appearance Of Mr.. Lloyd
George, before the House of Commons
as Premier, today, was made in cir
CunSCanCeS S0lOOIn IL ever ldCco ny d
new holder Of the office. Even if the
peace proposals of the central powers
had not interviewed, his statement of
the policy of his government. which
was chosen in reply to public demand
for more vigorous prosecution of the
war, would have marked an i'm
portant step in the world conflict.
The peace note, however, shifted the
interest and every corner of the world
awaited the announcement as to the
British attitude toward the move Of
the central powers.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
Friends Sacrifice
Fails to Save Trio
In Burglary Arrest

August Jenson, John Griffin and
Joseph Hunt, despite the efforts of
John Cummings, of 4S7 Barnum ave-
nue. to exonerate them from all blame
for burglarizing the liquor store con-
Quoted by Smith & Lamb, at East
Main and Maple streets, by taking all
responsibility for the robbery himself,
in court this morning, was held in
bonds of $500 until Necember 27.
All three of the men held belong
in Brooklyn, N. Y, and were arrested
in Cummings room, where suit case
full Of stolen liquor was found.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
HOUSE
WRECKED; NONE IS
HURT AT U. NJ. C.

A quantity of illuminate exploded in
one of the mixing houses of the Union
Metallic Cartridge Co. at Seaview ave.
nue. and Grant street, this morning.
The fiimsy structure was shattered
and residents nearby were badly
scared by the ooncqssion. No one was
hurt. III
The loading houses are segregated
from the main plant and are Of f1imsy
construction. The mixing of fulmi-
nate is done by machinery, so that no.
human lives are jeopardized by the
highly dangerous process. A
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-19
TRAINMEN, ARRAICNED in COURT
FOR MANSL AUCHTER FOIL OWING
FATAL WRECK, PLEAD NOT GUILTY

guilty" Judge Case held them for
the next term of the criminal side of
the superior court under bonds of
$1,000 each. They had been held by
the coroner under bonds of $4,000.
Deputy Coroner Monzani held both
men criminally negligent in his find
ing on the wreck, in which Engineer
Eugene Lake and Fireman, Charles
Slack, of the Winsted Express were
instally killed.