New Britain herald., 1929-12-07
Bridge That Turned to Stone

treat me as well as I'd like 10 be treated. l did make that remark. 1 I'll not lie out of it. I was nervous.
 Do you recall shortly after I got 1 on the board asked you what was the matter with the siren at that ! time and your answer was I don't lnow' and walked away from me" 1 Chairman Butler asked, | MT. Cooley corrected the chair man. He said this statement was partly wrong. He said T don't know but 1 added l haven't founl cut yet" He then admitted walk 1 ing away. Didn't you tell me vol were taking orders only from the cbicf?' the chairman asked.
 "I don't remember that" was the answer.
 Do you remember that time l l found you and your assistant pick ing pears during the hours when both of you should have been on duty"" Mir, Butler asked.
 Ncighbors Handy With Phone
 The superintendent answer was: You are partly wrong. It has been an annual custom for my assistant 10 pick pears in my yard. He has my permission to do so. l let him go down there and after time l came down to sec him. Then all automobile drove up to the curb aud my assistant told mo there was someone who wanted to sec me. found out 1t was the chairman Some of my neighbcrs arc very handy with the telephone and they usc it often."
 You asked me if l had permis- sion from Chief Noble to be therc and l said no. You told us to ge ack to the fire house. told niy assistant to stop and not COntin It until after o'clock.
 On another occasion through som, short circuit the siren was blown il a period when traffic was heavy despite the fact that there was nc fire. Cooley admitted he was yer, angry at Operator Parker and uset 1ong language in donouncing him.
 On another occasion letters passcl between them. Summing 1t uT Chairman Butler asked him if an, of the conN ersations were beyond hi duty as chairman of the board of fir, commissioner, if any Of them coul: be termed as hcckling. he con tinucd.
 You spoke Of unpleasant conyer sations. Can you recall any other which may prove your point?"
 Whenever you want to find ol anything you have peculiar way c doing it. Cooley replied. T am : man and l want you to talk to m man to man. l don't like that supu lior attitude regardless of your posi- ton. I'm your equal man to man As Abraham Lincoln said every mal is born equal regardless of race color or creed
 l Do you think have eve , hcckled you?, the chairman asked l Doesn't Like Chairman's Attitude , You talk 10 me in such a dis agreeable way that l did not like il. . was Coolcy's answer.
 : Then your objection is a dis . agreeable temperament" the chair
 man suggested.
 = Yes, l am affected that way my = self sometimes was the elcctrica
 superintendent answer s So 1 have found out" the chair man declared.
 At this point Mr. Cooley said. ' = told you how I feel and I do nc want to take it back" II You could not take it back now, the chairman answered.
 The electrical superintendent V added: 'f assume I have been i o this department for 53 wears an
 six months and probably l am gel
 ting little stale"
 4 You arc bringing this up youl .r self. we arc not asking you to q n so,' the chairman replied,
 "l wouldn't say any more if
 were Nou, warned Commissions Becl>With. and tho hearing came
 a close.
 II Attorney GafGncy asked NJ Q Cooley if he was willing at all time c to take and obey orders from h
 @uperiors, and he said he was. Alto l. ncN Gaffney then presented lett'
 from former board mplimentir ,t Mr. Cooley for his work.