davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
STRATFORD'S EX-TOWN
MANAGER ORDERED OUT:
MUST PRODUCE RECORDS
Papers Filed in Superior Court Alege Unaccount-
ed xpenditures-Illegally Collected Salary
Asks Damages of S. 900.

A temporary injunction and
restraining order, with g. writ
giving notice of a suit for dam
ages of $4,000, signed by Judge
Isaac Wolfe Of Superior Court,
and served by Deputy Sheriff
Frank Fasanella, orders Ruth
erford Hayes Hunter, STRAIT
ford's first Town manager. to
further desist from attempting
to function as Town manager,
to turn over to Walter w. Hub
bell all papers. records, vouch-
ers, keys, safe combinations,
etc, and to do no further acts
that are in the nature of an OBJ
struction to Hubbell, named
Town manager, April 10, by the
Town Council.
Effective at Once.
The Injunction papers are signed
by Edward K Nicholson. who is
counsel for stratford. as commissioner
of the Superior court for Fairfield
county; Robert B. Turney, as chair
man of the town council of the Town
of Stratford; by William J. Buckley.
as notary public, and by Judge Isaac
Wolfe, of Superior court. They are
effective Immediately upon service,
which can be either personally or at
Hunters place of reside nce.
The papers state that Hunter, APP
pointed October 2. 1921, was disr1iss-
| ed February 27, last, and since, with
| out authority has acted as town MAN.
ager, in spite of protests upon the
| part of the council; that he has con-
tinued to function as town manager,
and retained possession and in con-
troll of various town records. papers,
vouchers, keys, safe combinations,
etc. These he is alleged to have re-
fused and neglected to turn over to
the town or to Walter w, Hubbell.
appointed temporary town manager,
April 10.
No Account Made
1t is further stated that since Feb
ruary IT Hunter has expended or
caused to be expended large sums of
money belonging to the town, which
are unaccOunted for, and that he has
| refused to account for same. 1t is
/ also alleged that since February 27
until short time ago, he has caused
| to have salary diverted to himself,
| Illegally.
| The papers recite the appointment
| of Hubbell April 10, and claim that
Hunter has refused access to desks
safes, and has changed or caused to
be changed combinations to safes,
| and refused to give Hubben all pa
pcrs documents, vouchers, and other
| town property, and obstructed Hub
! bell in his attempt to perform the du-
| ties of the Cf1ices. Damages Of $b,s
| 900 are asked by the Town of Strait
| ford
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
AUTOMOBILE STOLEN
Husband Laughed In
GLee As He Dragged
Wife Through House

her husband who had not left for
work stole steathiIy up behind her,
grabbed for forcibly around the neck
Speer said that her husband laughed
in glee as he. grasped her two feet
and began to drag here through the
house, allowing her head to be struck
on the walls and the floor.
She peladed but n refused to lei
up. Finally when he grabbed her and
threw her across a table she scream
ets and awakened the child The
child's tears forced the alleged hard
hearted husband to give up his brutal
treatment. She attempted to i've
peacefully with him for their chlid's
sake. but was forced to leave him
Mrs. Core S.,eer OF this city next
roo5z the stand and told the court
stia,.t what mad already been testified
was true. Shs said that che attempts
ed 10 have Speer .urn oter new
leaf He admitted, she said that he
had done wrong I'D faat he would try
20 CO bette. Si.e said she WAS al
the S-rat:crd home after the June
goth asIrir ard that Mrs. Se1eer was
covered with black AM blue marks
and Bruises.
William II. tfeydsE:. father o. the
-,isasr.if also testified. He SID he
tried 70 have Spcer treat his WIS BET
ter out be refused. S9cs,s Clio .oE
appear and was not represented
Judge Woke handed down q dec<ee
Ak 0xW9kf
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Heating Gives
Stern Waning
lO" accountants

Inasmuch as most public account
ants here, practtcing without certi-
icate from the state board of ac-
counting. after being W armed by
Prosecutor Heating that they are
violating a state law, have signified
their intentions of removing the &C.
P. A." from the end of their names
it is not believed that any legal pro-
cedure, as first thought necessary
would be taken. Upon investigation
it was found that there were but
three in Bridgeport although it was
at first thought that there were more.
Many accountants throughout the
diploma mill" which was started in
receipt of a sum of money would in
return send beautifully engraved
diploma a list of simple questions
which the applicant was supposed to
answer and he was then declared an
expert accountant.
Due to a senatorial investigation Of
activities of this concern, States at
torneys throughout America Lave
been asked to check up and find out
how many were practicing with one
of these diplomas on the supposition
that they were bona f1de. This has
been done and as long az the account
ants have expressed themselves as
satisfied that they must remove the
&C. P. AZ or else be liable to prose-
cution, Prosecutor Heating has de-
cided to give them a few days of
grace and If at that time they have
not complied with-the state statues
Pthey will be arrested and prosecuted.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Compensation To
Widow Bus
Driver

One of the most interesting cases
ever handled by the Legal Aid Bu-
reau of the Charities department came
that Mrs. Clara Centofante of 1880
Main street, Is to receive compensa-
ton for herself and three children
because of the violent death Of her
husband a few weeks ago in Afla.ben
New York.
Concenzo Centofante. the husband
ran a jitney bus while living in
Bridgeport and when they were ruled
from the streets his business failed
Driven to desperation he deserted his
pretty wife and three children, leav-
ing them charges OH the city.
Every effort was made by the
Charities department to locate the
missing parent but to no avail. Re-
Gently Mrs. Centofante received word
been killed in an explosion. An in
vestigator armed with a photo of the
dead man went to the New York
state town and q foreman, for the
firm that the dead man worked for
identified it as his former employe
Application was made by the 1ega
department through Attorney Arthur
cident Company Ltd, of New York
for compensation Under the COM
pensation laws of the state OF New
York the widow is entitled to 80 pei
cent of the weekly earnings of heI
husband and the children will receive
10 per cent.
The total compensation that the de-
serted widow will receive amounts tc
S10.S2 weekly. In event of her death
the money reverts to the children and
In case OF marriage the case Will be
settled for q stipulated sum.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Found-The Man
Without A
Country

New York, April % - The
''man without country" has
been found.
He arrived in New York today
and signed his name to the ships
papers of the steamer ESparta as
Captain G. O'Neil.
When he said he had signed
that way for so long he did not
know that the "C'' stands for and
did not fiji in the dotted line for
his E'hOme port because has has
no home, the ship news reporters
became interested and this ds
what they learned:
'.My home is the sea-" Captain
O'Neil said, 81 have had no other
home since I was 10 years old.
ST have travelled 2.1S0, 900 miles
over the Seven Seas in 3S years
as a seaman.
EsNfarried? I Should say not
my home is my ship--with any
in every port for me. I don't go
ashore any more.
"a mans life amt safe ashore
any more, with women going
around the way they do.
s@That's the reason I gave up
passenger ships too many
women.
"No woman gets aboard my
ship unless she has a husband
and she's got to stick close to
him or go ashore"
The deck around the captains
cabin looked like a flower garden.
His cabin looked like a studio
apartment.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Official Broom Cor, tizaUes
To SUeep City HalZ-FSUe
Girls To Be Dropped

In the midst of the rush that is
now in evidence IN the tax collectors
office, the pail of the swinging of the
BROOM has not been lost sight of.
Tomorrow ends the allotted time for
the payment of taxes and tomorrow
will mark the termination of work in
the collectors office, of Miss Rose
Mccarthy, who has worked there for
a number of years Miss McCar-
thy's efficiency and knowledge of the
office routine has made some of the
officials connected with the Office
rather reluctant to let her 60
Just who her successor will be is
not definitely known but it is init
mated that Miss Marion Grace OF the
Fourth district has received the rec
concentration of the executive com
Inittee and will remain as one of the
permanent employees of the office The
supernumerary girls who have been
working during the rush period will
in all probability remain in the office
for another week. after which time
their services will no longer be re-
Quired.
The force remaining in the office
after that time will be Collector Drew,
John Griffen. Russell Neary. Thomas
Finn, Helen Malone, Anna Drew,
Margaret DAILY and possibly Marion
Grace.
The girls who will be severed are
Rose Mccarthy. tomorrow, and with
in a week Caroline Brady Marion
Mccarthy. Hazel Thompson and
Elizabeth Swan
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
No Testimony
To Prove Dead
Man Had Gun
Barry, Sick at His Home,
Has Been Identified
Will Be Brought Here
to Answer Charges Of
First Degree Murder.

Arthur Barry, alias Cum
mings. held in his home town,
Worcester, Mass, and Joseph
Porter, address unknown and
still at large, are equally and
criminally responsible for the
shooting to death of Peter
Wagner, 1O1 Parallel street,
this city, according to a finding
made public this morning by
Coroner John J. Phelan.
Died April Is
Wagner died in st. vincent's hos
pital April Is from peritonitis and
other complications, following an alb
dominal wound received at the hands
of one or both of the men held re-
sponsible, at 1925 on the night of
April 10.
The episode that resulted in wag-
ner's death, and a series of beadngs
Of other members of gangs, arose from
an argument that took place at a
dance in Schwaben hall. French street.
and which has brought to the surface
evidences of gang rule in certain Sec
lions of Bridgeport.
Barry and Porter, newcomers" IN
Bridgeport, attended the dance. One
of them asked Nina Gregory. wife Of
Leroy Gregory. for a dance. She re-
fused and he is alleged to have call
ed her a ''little bum" According to
testimony this was the man known
Gregory and friends took UP the in
suit Porter, to another attendant
at the dance who endeavored to act
as peacemaker. offered to apologize.
without the apology being made, and
when they attempted to leave the
vicinity by going towards North ave-
nue. were followed by Gregory and
to follow and threatened to shoca. The
men persisted In following, two shots
were fired. and Wagner dropped.
Feared Violence.
Coroner Phelan, who has withheld
the finding for some days. hoping
that one or both of the men might be
produced to testify, says I'm view OF
the circumstances show I am of the
justified mas Stunning that chastisement
would be melted out to them by friends
and synppathizers of Gregory and his
wife for Porter's offense, to the latter
if they remained in the hall, and that
their hurried leave taking without an
their fear of physical violence at the
! hands of friends and others of the
Gregorys. and that outside Of the
hall, being armed, they would be bet
ter able to defend themselves"
The statemen tot the coroner con-
! tinues, however, and says that mas
| much as no testimony has been intro
duced to give cause to believe that
Gregory or Wagner were armed, and
inasmuch as they were the only two
| following the two offenders. that they.
| the fugitives. were not justified in
shooting.
Barry Identified.
Barry. captured several days ago
| in Worcester, sick In bed, has been
positively identified as '<Cummings''
| and extradition papers have already
been sought that will bring the men
| to Connecticut. where he will be ask
| ed to answer to a charge of first de
gree mur6er-
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28

Dragging her throuhg the house by
the feet, throwing her clothes in the
fireplace, asaulting her, beating her
and throwing her on tables, were some
of the accusations brought against
Thomas E. Speer. late of Stafford. in
an uncontested divorce proceeding
case brought against him by Elinor
Heyden Speer. alleging 1ntolerable
cruelty. After hearing a long list Of
cruel acts on the part OF Speer, Judge
Isaac Wolfe granted her a divorce
with the custody OF her IL year old
boy.
The couple were married October
%, 1908, and separated June 80, 1926.
Mrs. Speer, young woman and neatly
arGred in a sport suit, told Judge
Wolfe the treatment she received AT
the hands of her brutal husband. She
sad that his assaults upon her were
long series extending over a period
az two years. His treatment OF her
Is alleged to have greatly impaired
her health and several times she was
forced 70 seek the advice OF her pily-
sician.
On June 30. 1920, the climax OF
.44efr married life was reached. AT
tt'ar time Mrs. Speer,s father, Villa m
H Heyderr was living Nth TIE cou-
pic. On +I.iz particular morning tho
father Of, Mrs. Spear left at o'clock
for work leaving Mrs Speer. iler hus-
band and their little child who was
asiaep In the house. She had just
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Local Firm May
Be Out Of Luck

Apparently the Municipal Garage is
the butt of many disgruntled people.
The latest garage matter dates back
to the time that it was built. At the
time the work was being done by the
Bridgeport Construction Co, the &C.
,ment was purchased from Silliman
and Godfrey.
From time to time the city of
Bridgeport has received bills for the
cement sent to the garage but not as
yet has the city sent $500. the ap-
proximate amount of the bill, to Sill
man and Godfrey.
The cement has been used and sign
ed for by agents acting for the city
ever two years ago. and the money
has never been paid. Again the bill
has been given. this time for the o.
K OF Angus Thorne, temporary sec
rotary of the Garage Commission.
Whether Silhman and Godfrey are
"out of luck" or whether it lies with
in the Jurisdiction of the board of
aldermen, or the board of apportion-
ment will. possibly be determined by
the opinion City Attorney John A.
Cornell, Jr., will give concerning the
$14,800 for supplies and the proper
method of procedure to pay the same,
for which he has been asked by the
board of apportionment.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
337 Ratings Given
To Ex-Service Men

New York. April 2S-More than
1900 veterans now nospitaIiZed in the
second district, including New York,
New Jersey and Connecticut. under
the United States Veterans Bureau,
have been contacted during the hos
pital cleanup campaign" which VIII
be concluded May l. OF this num-
Der SS7 new awards or ratings were
granted veterans who had never pre-
vfously received compensation from
the government In addition to those
3S7 new awards. 494 old awards were
increased temporarily which carry
compensation at the rate of $50 per
month for single men and an add
tional allowance for married men
with children. At the present time
there are 2S2 cases. which are under
going action. ,
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Cornell And
Mayor Deny
Any Break .

When questioned yesterday by a
representative of the Times Mayor
Atwater denied that there was any
breaks between him and Town Chair
man John a. Cornell, Jr.
When questioned concerning the
action of the new garage commission
in discharging nine men and appoint
ing new men to fill their places, he
said: Everybody who is working in
the garage has been placed there only
temporarily, until such time as they
prove to the commission that they
are capable of fulfilling the duties as
signed to them"
This also holds for the foreman,
William Neisner who succeeded Will
liam Valentine.
When Mr.. Cornell was questioned
concerning the reported break he
said: MY conference with the Mayor
was purely a legal one and there has
been no break between u.s."
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Atlantic Fire
Loss Will Not
Exceed $4,000

According to report issued by the
insurance company and received by
Chief johnson this morning the total
damage done by smoke, fire and
water at the recent fire in the Atlantic
Hotel will not exceed SIG, 900. The
interior of the hotel which at first
was thought to be completely Quilted
was after Investigation found to be
damaged in such a manner that re-
pairs could be made at small cost
The following IS the settlement agreed
upon by the insurance company:
Damage on the building, S11,453;
damage to the Atlantic Cafeteria by
smoke and water, S425; damage to
the contents of the building, laundry,
etc. $1,000.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Titled Cleared On
Wakely Property

Judge Isaac Wolfe of the Superior
court today cleared the title of the
in the case of Percy P Anderson VS..
Charles H. Wake1y ct ais. The case
was brought to court to settle any
claims that may have been on the
properly of long standing.
Percy Anderson, the present own
er of the property, testified that he
purchased the property April 10, 1912
and that to his knowledge there were
no claims on it.
Henry Harris. former Charities Com
missioner testified that he had no
knowledge of the mortgages or any
other membranes on the property
and Eva G. Harris, his wife, said that
the title had been searched three
times and that each time it was found
clear The case was un-contested and
judgment rendered in favor of the
rIaintiff
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
William B. Spencer
Died Early Today

William B. Spencer of 80 Home
stead avenue, STAFFORD, one OF the
older residents of Bridgeport. died
early today at his home after a hong
Tlness Mr. Spencer served many
terms as police commissioner and at
enc time was city councilman. He
was well known among the older res
dents of the city and for a time was
a member of the firm of Hubbe1 &
Curtis. He also was a member Of the
Seaside Club.
He leaves his widow, Carrie A, and
one son. Fenlon Hubbell. The flu
neral Will be held from his late home
Monday at $3.50 O'Clock. Burial will
be in Mountain Grove cemetery.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
INJUNC TI0N ORDER STOPS HUNTER
Barry And Porter Held Responsible For Wagners Death
Old Hebrew LaU
Used By Judge
In Memphis

Memphis, Tenn, April rs
The ancient law of the Hebrews
was called into play in a Mem
phis court today when Judge
Ben l.. CapeII instructed a jury
in a damage suit to return a ver-
dict in accordance with Exodus
XXI; 2S and 20.
Judgment for $50 was
awarded e. Il. Snyder against
Joseph Micci. Snyder was bitten
by Micci's dog.
The twenty eighth and twenty
ninth verses of the tyyenty-firSt
chapter of Exodus instructed
that a man should be punished If
his OK, habitually vicious, should
not be kept restrained.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28

Superintendent Of Charities Angus
P. Thorne today received an anony-
nous communication written in Ital-
ian warning him that the cashier OF
the department would be robbed Sat
urday while returning from the bank
with the weekly payroll of the de-
partment The informant said that he
overheard a conversation between two
men man East Main street lunch
room between two Americans and
thew declared that they were going to
stick up the cashier Saturday and
obtain tn mon&
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Charity Payroll To Be
Robbed Tomorrow, Says
ANONYMOUS Note to IhOT7ae

The letter was translated and q
COPY will be sent to the Police depart
ment- In concluding the informant
stated that he was telling what he
overheard because he wanted Mr..
Thorne to know that 1t was not italian
people who were committing the
crime The unknown writer stated
that the. Italians were blamed for
Everything that happened.
The letter Is not taken seriously by
officials of the department. but It was
admitted that extra precautions win
be taken when the payroll 10 brought
Tram thu hank komaErnE
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
DECREE GRANTED TO-DAY.

Mary Schaffer Bel1ock, Sandy Hook,
who appeared before Judge Isaac
Wolfe last Friday during the short
calendar session of Superior court
asking a divorce from David W. Bel
lock, a fugitive from justice, was
again in court this morning with an
additional witness. After hearing the
additional testimony Judge Wolfe
grnated the decree, to include the GUS
Ooy of a minor child.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
LOCAL MAN SEEKS DIVORCE.

Vincent P. Ketcham, this city, asks
a divorce from Josephine /. Ketcham,
whose maiden name was Weismantle,
and who lives at Amityville, l.. /. N.
Y. The papers filed this morning give
the date of the marriage as Noven-
Der t. 1902. and claim disertion
since February 2, 1914. There are
two minor children, Hulda, IS; and
Millicent, H.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
LABORERS TO BE PAID
AT CITY YARD TOMORROW

Charities department laborers will
receive their pay at the City Yard
tomorrow. The number of employed
is now listed at 1876, 395 of that num-
Der being laborers. Today % men
were sent to Portchester to work and
1t is expected that $50 men will be
sent Monday to work on the Port
chester-New York Railway.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
CLAIMING ALLEGES CRUELTY.

CHAN n l.
James Gordon Claiming accuses
Louise AGNES Claiming, whose maid
en- name was Muller, of intolerable
cruelty in a suit for divorce filed to-
day Both are of this city and the
date of the marriage is given as June
23 1912. The petitioner also asks
the cusody of five minor children,
James Gordon, Jr., seven; Jane
Gewndo1yn, six; Ruth Fenwick, four;
Robert Francis, two5> and Walter
Claiming, one.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
DISSOLUTION PAPERS FILED.

Papers We're filed with Town Clerk
C. En- Winton this morning by the
firm of Danberg and Carp. known as
the d. and c. Oil Co. for dissolution
of partnership. The names of the
partners appearing on the partner
ship papers are Harry Danberg and
Sam Carp.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
PROMISED TO MAKE GOOD

An automobile driven by Abraham
Cohen of the Bridgeport Barrel Com
pany, crashed into a white way pole
in front of 304 State street yesterday
completely demolishing the pole, The
accident was reported to the police
but Cohen was let go on promise to
make good the loss.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
DIR. KEEGAN APPOINTED
TEMPORARY CITY PHYSICIAN

Dr. J. F. Keegan has been appoint
I'd temporary assistant to City Physi-
han Edward T. McGovern. The city
physicians Office is still handling an
unusual number of case among the
poorer residents of the city and the
two doctors are kept busy.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-28
Cleanup Week
Starts On Monday

Mayor Atwater today stated that he
would ask for the cooperation of the
people of the city in carrying OUT
stClean Up" week campaign which
starts next Monday by notifying the
charity department if they had any
cleaning to be done. There are nu-
rnerous people who will be available
and the charity department will be
able to supply all the help required
in helping to clean up next week.
AUTOMOBILE STOLEN.
Automobile thieves who broke into
a garage on the estate of r. NJ. Jen-
T1ines in Greens Farms made off with
an autom objIe Wedne sday night ac-
cording to a report made to the police
today.