Norwich bulletin., 1922-04-06
PUTNAM


 dents of Putnam, and well known in the city. appearing as litigants on op- posite sides, attracted a larger crowd than usual to the superior court room Wednesday. The case was listed as Oscar Rich vs Jesse E. Rich; the plain tiff, who is the defendants son, asked an accounting in the business in which he alleged he was engaged with his father as partner. also asked for $20 900 damages. The defendant denied that the business was conducted as partnership but alleged that his son worked fir his as clerk.
 The plaintiff was the first witness. He testified that the shoe and furnishing store of A. N. Douty was for sale in 1914 and that his father came home and asked witness if he would like to go into business with him as partner and that if he wcHld be- the father would purchase tho business It was agreed, witness said that they would be equal partners. The store was pur- chased for S5.500 which was borrowed l from the First National bank of Put nam, Ms Rich. mother of the defend ant and wife of the defendant putting up bonds &S security for the loan Wit ness testified that he put in $500 cash to start a bank account as all the bor-
 
 ness.
 This money was deposited in the bank in the name of J. E. Rich & Son The sien over the sto~e door also bore this inscription. as did the bill heads and envelopes used in the business Witness took Dart in buying and selling and helped on the books. The first year wit ness received rn roonnv hut @ot flis board at ho-7A n77 ''-s- o@-ti-r,e1 through the second year. He said the aereer'-'-
 that all nrofits should be left in the bus mess and that he and his father should ta7-A ont as little as possible.
 The business showed a profit from the start The third year witness was nlannine on getting married. He talked the matter over with his father and it was agreed that he should draw sos. week. He was roarried at St. Iosepll's rectory in May. 1918. The e25 ara n ca- ment was continued to March. 1920, when a son was born to hir1 and hts wife and after that he drew $3n a week The loans were paid back from the nrofits of the business Tn 1920. two StudebakeE automobiles were bought from fhA proceeds of the business his father had one and witness had the o+nnr
 His father purchased some real es- tate taking S2.o00 from the business and gave a note for the balance of S4.- 0N cash paid. The property was pur- chaand in the fathers name
 Witness said he remained in the busi- ness until November, 1921. At that time he was informed that he was no longer a partner. His father had talk with witness wife and told her that wit ness had no interest in the business only as clerk. A few days later his father, uncle and the clerk in the store Aly Iii Ii on Saturday. He went to the store l again Monday and was threatened if he din't keep out.
 He talked with his father about the $2,000 used to purchase the real estate. It was to be a home for both fami- lies His father took out $1,o0o to pur- chase oil stock He said Glis father said in the presence of Mrs. Brinsdale, his mother-in-law. that witness was a partner in the store.
 l On cross-e examination, he testified that l he gave up position in his uncle's mill 1 to go into the store. Lived at home un- til married. The note for $2,o0O used in the purchase of the home was sign | ed by his father, and witness never sign 1 ed any note for any money that went l into the business. The $500 he loaned was paid back to him but no interest was paid on it. Check for the automo- 1 piles was made out to the dealer. Had trouble with his father about a month before he got out. Father and mother both told him that money was borrowed for both. His first car was bought by his mother-in-law who has made her home with him winters since he was married. The monthly report to the i internal revenue department was signed by his father only; he and clerk wit messed the signature. No partnership report for income tax was ever filed. Il On redirect examination testified that | all borrowed money was paid from prof its of store Last inventory he remember. ed was about s31 ,OOO After the trouble started his father offered to reEt hin half of the house for s20 a month, pro-