New Britain herald., 1928-12-29
WOODS OBJECTS TO
TWO PROSECUTORS
No Need Of Change, He Tells
Charter Revision Committee

Sponsors of the move to establish
a dual prosecutors system and place
both officials on equal footing.
were raped by Prosecuting Attor-
ney Joseph G. Woods who came be-
fore the charter revision commit
tee last night to argue that the
change is not made necessary by
the amount of business handled in
the court.
There was no intimation given
me that this plan was to come be-
fore the Lawyers Club, so-called.
and there was no encouragement
given the so-called committee" Mr..
Woods declared. This motion was
sponsored, believe. by f. B. Hun
gerford chairman Of the lawyers
committee.) believe Judge Kirk
ham has been misled and that he
didn't know what this thing meant
until 1t was all over-he's been very
fair about it
I'm going on my 14th year as
an official of the court. seven years
assistant to the late George w. Klett
and since about 1921, prosecuting
attorney. I have conducted $4,000
criminal cases in ~ years. Although
it's hard task at times. ] enjoy 1t.
They talk about Hartford, where
there are three prosecutors and sew
eral clerks making out warrants.
They forget that Hartford. or w"
will call 1t Greater Hartford, includ-
ing its surrounding towns has about
100000 people who are liable to ar
rest for one thing or another and
presentation in the Hartford police
court.
There's no analogy between
having two judges and having two
prosecutors. The city court judge
and the police court Judge are sit
ting at the same time. The prose-
cutor only works in the morning
and has the rest Of the day to care
for his private practice.
Il tell you. gentlemen. If George
Klett was alive he wouldn't sponsor
a thing like this. No man here
would like to have an assistant on
equal basis with himself, this is not
the time for two prosecutors and
there is no need for the change.
You wouldn't put another corpora
ton counsel on equal footing with
Judge kirkham. or another clerk of
courts on the same grade with Emil
Danberg"
When Mr.. Woods had concluded,
Senator-elect L. w. Christ asked
what the Lawyers club is. and
whether 1t is a club or the bar as
ISOLATION.
IT'S a club, pure and simple. 1t
meets once a month to have a din
ner." Mr.. Woods replied with a
smile on his face.
George V. Hamlin recalled the
statement of Judge Hungerford tina:
the lawyers committee does not
favor salary cuts when the change
is made. but Mayor Paonessa re-
minded that this matter is beyond
the lawyers jurisdiction.
Councilman John L. Holmbers
favored allowing the present system
TO continue, stressing the Importance
Of having a recognized head 10
whom the city may look and Mayor
Paonessa questioned the efficiency
Of the change.
Action was deferred to a later
date.
Secretary Ralph Benson of the
Chamber Of Commerce was heard
with reference to the establishment
Of a small claims court and he pre-
sented a proposed bill which. he
said, is almost identical with those
OF Hartford and Stamford. It is
proposed to have an informal court
in which debtors and creditors may
he brought together with a court
cost of 81 and small matters com
promised without legal proceedings
in city court.
Senator Z. T. Hall asked II She
cost Of such a court has been com
puted. and Mr.. Benson answered
that while it has not it is believed
that the one clerk required would
be compensated out OF the 81 pay
ments made when each claim is en-
tered
No action was taken on the pro
posal to increase the jurisdiction o.
the court, and on the suggestion that
the judges be empowered to call in
stenographers when they deem il
advisable, II was learned that tn.
statutes now cover this point,