New Britain herald., 1930-02-05
Contest of 1904 May Be Re- peated If Parties Decide to Nominate Rival Can didates in November - Effect on State Election Possible.

USSlDlc.
 The probate court judgcship which Judge Bernard F. Gaftncy will quit next November after @6 years Of service, has been in existence since 1924 and during the century that has passed since its establish mcnt, it has teen presided over by many leaders in community life au1 in the legal profession.
 Many changes have come over ihls branch of the judicial system 10 meet changing customs outlined iu the legal practice book but its pur- pose has remained baoically tho Same-scttlement and aGmimstra- tton Of the affairs Of persons who have passed on and those who are incapable Of directing their own business.
 New duties have been aided from time to time when a legally consti- tuted weapon has been needed in 1he adjustment of personal affairs not Of sufficient general interest 10 require the services of other branches of the judicial system. Thus have the powers and duties increased until today the statutes governing probate court procedure fill a great many pages and thou gsnds Of volumes have been cmploy- ed to record court decisions on pro- Late law.
 Records in the office Of Judt4 Gaffney date back 10 the year IF which the court was created. Gases arising prior to that time and affect. ing lands within the limits Of this city can be found in Hartford, Farm irgton or MiddlctoWn. the three points to which such matters We're taken in the days previous 10 IS24.
 District of Berlin Created
 In the re-districting of the state for purposes of probate it appears ir the revision of 1902 that the dis trict of Berlin was created with thH. town and the City Of New Britain in its confines. Judges Of probate for this district. are selected joint l" by Berlin ind New Britain. This requires nominating convention ID which each community sends dcl2- gates in numbers agreed upon. The democratic convention usually prc- ccdes the republican delegates gath erlng by one day. This is a custom that has grown from the practice ol q quarter of q century standing in which the choice of the dcmocra s. Judge Gaffncy, has received the en- dorscment Of the republicans on the following night.
 So regularly has the office 0, probate court judge been filled with out question of contest that one rare, lv associates political campaigning with the position. Yet. the position vas the center Of one or the hard est fought political battles in the history of New Britain. This was in 1904. Judge G1ffney had been nom mated by the democratic party and the late Judge George ". klctt was picked by the republican convention a contest for the honor Of succccl- ing the late Judge John Coates.
 With the city considered 10 be regularly republican in state and n-tional affairs, and that being the national election year, Judge Calf uey was generally regarded to have lesser chance Of victory The call- paign was wased vigorously up to 'iectlon day when it resolved itself irto a furious battle Of ballots When it became known that q suD- sl2ntial majority had been turned in Tor the state and natonal candidates Q. the republican party. hcadquar- i'rs Of that party rcjoicod al what appeared to 0e a "clcm sweep" It vas several hours later when count. ing Of the paper ballots was cou- pletcd and 1t was learned that Jud ,r Caffney had won in q Spcctacul 2. O"rsonal Nlctorr. In no year Nhi.n has passed since that time has thcr, "on republican nominee for th. pct.
 spear and Dc~mond Delegates
 several years a@o rncrc ,vcr, alsptrins, that republican deI,. -a'os from Berlin ~,rn coming tc inc convention prepared 70 doman, hat one of their owH party be uom mated for jut place auJ ready ,C
 H2Gcst the ulme ol Attorney -ti, E.. '.al E. W. Ajlla-. native of Bcrul '#sn p"rIcinG m partnership wit Judge klett "no had already trLa, Is sword in rol,ticai battle vii. Judge Gaffucy. Athough it ~r ".nerally und d1rs'ood that Jrd@c Al Ing Was not party 10 the plan. t,, t.'rlin delegation was reported O h. "damant and ready 10 draft Wor, o' the plan leaked mo local rCpuh tt0an circles. Althou-h inc story c nat trampjrad at tH. noJ&rHtioI ."s n-yr bcoa oflrmAn oroadcas Drdt for endorsement Of Jud-