New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-19
THE OBSERVER
Makes Ran6om Observations
On The City ano Ito People

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
lof cities boasting high grade o1tic'
buildings.
The McCabe building u directi,
north Of the Main street railroad
crossing and II still used for Office
purposes On the upper doors. A
decade ago. the law arm Of Walsh
Nsskill I Roche occupied front Of
hcaa, with windows on Main street
and others facing the tracks. Jane,
J, Watson. present chairman Of the
hoard OF water commissioner. had
= real estate and insurance office
behind the front offices. and DR.
Andrew J. Barker, dentist, was next
in the line. Others had Offices in
the building 1t various times. but
when Judge Roche entered the prac-
tice Of law there. this was tho lay
out.
Judge Roche's father, the late
Judge James Roche. had been asso-
ciated with the late Judge John
Walsh and the late JHdge James T.
Meskill In the firm. and his son sue
ceeded him. At that time. Judge
Walsh was = stenographer in the
superior court ut Hartford, and
Judge Meskill WA Judge Of the po-
lice court. Mr.. Watson was . men,
Der Of the board Of assessors and
had served ~ = member Of the
common council from the Fifth
ward. Naturally. politics and the
handling Of municipal government
agencies and departments came In
for considerable attention by these
men and those who called on BUSH
ness or for social purposes. Many
a debate W. staged there. the spa
cious front offices usually being the
battle ground. and many. too. were
the happy hours spent there In the
company Of tho judges, the realtor
and the dentist.
After Judge Walsh's death. the Of
fees were maintained by Judge
Meskil( and Harry" Roche. They
were inseparable friends, spending
their evenings together and having
much In common. they must have
enjoyed their social contact fully as
we'll ~ their business associations.
A. Harry" advanced In experience.
be benefited greatly by the advice
and example Of Judge Meskill. and
often after the. latter's death men
were heard to comment on the
similarity in the temperaments of
the two friends.
The passing of Judge Meskill was
followed by changes in the occu-
pancy of McCabe's building and 1t
was only 4 short time before the
increasing demand for office space
by professional men made possible
the erection of many Of the build
inss which comprise the present
business district of the city. Harry"
Roche moved a little farther down
Main street, DR.. Barker was in the
McCabe building until his death, and
Mr.. Watson in the meantime had
changed locations. The offices they
once had have been taken over by
other occupants. who put them to
uses Of varying sorts. but passers-
by Of the present day who also were
passersby Of an earlier period will
always associate with the, building.
the group that once was there.
T, OF all the deserved tributes paid
to the memory Of the deceased mag
istrate. none were more sincere than
those which came fror' the SOCIAL
ed younger members OF the bar.
They lost Z friend whose sterling
qualities they will appreciate more
as they feel the need of his COM
partnership and advice. Although
not an old man in years, Judge
Roche was engaged in the practice
Of law considerably longer than the
majority Of the lawyers, many Of
whom have been admitted to the
bar within the past few years. and
1t is but natural that they should
refer to him as one Of ''the older
fellows" He was never happier
than when given the opportunity to
wrestle with = legal point and over
power 1t for the assistance Of a
young friend. for he new allowed
his memory to overlook the earlier
days when Judge Meskill. an Older
fellow" helped him over some of
the rough spots along the pathway
to a successful practice.
law Compelling Installation
Of Fluc Should Go on Books
Alderman J. Gustave Johnson. In
the opinion OF the Observer. views
the proposed gas water heater flue
law from = peculiar angle. He be-
lieves that the common council has
discharged it's responsibility when
it. warns householders that carbon
monoxide gas created by the heaters
il dangerous. He has expressed the
opinion that house owners should
not be burdened with extra expense
incident to the installation Of flues
which would carry OFT the death
dealing fumes.
All the expense to which property
owners would be put could not
compensate for the loss OF a single
life. And the expense. incidentally,
would not be large. Few there are
who could not afford to pay the
bill. The majority will install flues
even If the proposed law is not en-
acted but the law should be writ
ten into the books for the purpose
of compelling landlords who place
greater valuation on money than
on human like to take the elastic
off the bank roll and contribute to
the safety of the community.
Alderman Johnson's attitude
should have no effect on the pas
sage of this measure. Balancing
lives against dollars Is dangerous
business.
COMMUNICATED