The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-12-14
c. r. Crosby Would Investi-
gate Thompson Fund
Expenditures
READY TO TEST
MATTER AT LAW
sayes He Does Not Believe Trustees
Have Right to Distribute the Money
Wherever They See Fit-Several
Years Since Report Was Published

Editor Of Reformer:
was glad to read in yesterday 5 as
sue OF The Reformer what The Med
dler had TO say about the administra-
tion of the Thompson fund Ii is high
time, ! believe, that the citizens of
Brattlcboro should take steps 10 pro
fect their interests If we do not the
Thompson fund trustees will soon be
spreading the money Originally willed
to Brattleboro and Rhinebeclll all over
New England
do not believe that these trustees
are authorized by law TO do what they
are doing with the Thompson fund
money. | Gm told on good authority
that Mr.. Bradley not only Is helping TO
pay for the school nurse in several
towns III the state, but has Just com
pleted an arrangement with the state
board Of education whereby the Thomp-
son fund Is to pay the salary of a
nurse to oversee this work throughout
the state. | do not believe that anv
construction of the Thompson will, or
the court decree by which its original
wording was modified, would authorize
the use of the money for such q pur-
pose.
| As | remember ii. Thomas Thompson
left this money . for the relief and sup
port OF poor seanstfesses, needle WON
| en-, and shopgirls, who may be in TEN
| porary need from want of employment.
| sickness, or misfortune. specifying
| that it should be spent in Brattieboro.
/ VT, and Rhincbeck. y. Y. The Mas
| sachusetts courts later ruled that the
| fund could be used for - kindred char
| table purposes, (cf course within the
confines of Brattleboro and Rhincbcck
specifying, | think. one of these uses
to be the erection and maintenance of
n hospital / do not believe that any
court would hold that the trustees have
q right 10 spend this money anywhere
lhey see lit, and / stand ready to be
tparty to legal action to tost this ques-
ltion.
How much do the people of Brattie-
boro know, anyway, about the way this
money IS being spent? 1t has been sev-
cral wears since any report of the trust
ees has been published IN vour paper
although | suppose one has 10 be filed
every year with the probate court.
would suggest that you take steps 10
gel HOld OF Il copy OF lhe iasl repofi
and publish it in full for the benefit of
the people who used to think that they
were Thompson fund beneieiaries.
Eleven years ago the sewing women
of this town began legal proceedings
to establish their claims to first con
sideration under the Thompson fund
but nothing definite ever came from ths
action. I think the time has now come
for Brattleboro as a town to start some
, sort of suit that will settle definitely
whether the trustees have the right Il
spend Thompson fund money all owe
the state.
As | said before, | am willing to b,
q party to such proceeding, also Il
contribute toward the cost Of the same
Hoping that my remarks on this sub
jcct will lead other citizens of Brattle
boro to express their views and ma.
result in carly action with view L
Il preserving for Brattleboro people wha
Justly belongs to them, am,
Respectfully,
CHARLES RICE CROSBY.