davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09

Continued from Page -
bered by most Waterburians. It was
claimed by the government that
MaSsucci wrote two extortion notes
to former Mayor Hayes demanding
IS 900. In response to the second
extortion note Mayor Hayes threw
bundle Of paper (supposed TO be
the money demanded) from his au-
tomobile at the corner Of Catherine
Ave. and Wall Street. As Massucci
picked up the bundle he was ar
rested.
All through the case Massucci
indicated that q mysterious stran-
ger" had induced him 10 write the
extortion notes and use other tao
tics TO complete the extortion. He
finally identified Thomas p Kelly
former executive secretary for ex-
Mayor Hayes, as the mysterious
stranger.
Denunciation Severe
Judge Hincks' denunciation Of
Massucci was one Of the most Sc
we're heard In the United States
Court at New Haven In long while,
The Judge called attention 10 the
feet that Massucci, knowing that
Frank Hayes was on trial In the 10
cal conspiracy case, was using the
conspiracy charge as O wedge fol-
the extortion.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
RATIFICATION
OF BRASS co.
PACT IS seen
Union Employees Expected
to Put O. K. on Agree
ment Tomorrow

Ratification Of the agree
ment reached after a series Of
conferences is expected to be
voted by union employees Of
the Waterbury plants Of the
American Brass Company
at a meeting at Waterbury
Brass Workers Union head
quarters on Spencer avenue
tomorrow afternoon. The
vote will include the provis-
ion that ratification become
effective only If the company makes
similar agreements with employees
Of the Torrington and Ansonia
branches.
The local agreement will affect
about 5000 workers. The agreements
being sought at the other two
branches would affect an additional
5000 workers.
The same union committee which
negotiated the agreement for local
employees will meet with company
officials In regard to agreements
with workers In the Torrington and
Ansonia divisions.
The agreement affecting Water
bury workers, completed this week,
calls for weeks vacation with pay
for hourly and piece workers, five
day, 4o-hour week, seniority rights,
time limits for the settlement OF
grievances. five cents an hour more
for night workers and permission
for the union to name 54 workers
with top seniority rights, who serve
as stewards. Provision for reopen-
ing negotiations on wages by either
side Is also made.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09

'sThe time has come the walrus said
To speak Of many things
or shoes and ships and sealing WAY
And cabb&ges and kings"
with this quotation from alice
In wonderland" Walter "Wally"
Grohs well known woodbury. horti-
culturist, philosopher, tree expert
botanist, metallurgist and generally
recognized authority on the weather
crawled right into our reportorial
lap yesterday afternoon and told Us
Of all things-that, when II comes 70
weather predictions, Jim Tyler Is
"a buffer and q guesser."
Just q "Bluffer"
Like the walrus In the verse ]
quote you" said Wally,, II want q
speak Of many things. I'm not 60
ing to speak Of cabbages and kings
however, because I'd never call jim
Tyler q cabbage" but I do know
that when 1t comes to making
weather predictions he Is no king
He's Just q buffer and guesser". It's
time somebody calls his bluff II
he's making these alleged predic-
lions, which I doubt like a big let
ter T.. and you do too" (Which we
had 10 admit.)
Did you ever hear Tyler tell how
he makes his predictions? You car
tell the cockeyed world, or that
portion Of II at least that pays any
attention 10 Jim, that you didn't.
"Now didn't intend TO get into
this prediction game but I can't
stand this predicting stuff any long
er. I've got a method In my madness
and also In my predictions.
"I'll tell you how many storms
you're going to have and tell YOU
how I reached my prediction.
Three Snow Storms
"You're going to have three snow
storms. That might sound funny tc
you, but II call O snowstorm q
snowstorm 1t Is snowstorin. These
half or quarter inch white salutes
that come from the heavens afld
Jim Tyler Is supposed to call storms
are not storms as heared 1t. The
word storm might not look big In
print but It's still gigantic In IT.
meaning, II that guy Webster who
was supposed to know what It's all
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09

an Esthonian ship bound for Sweden
The Esthonian captain had consent
ed TO keep their names of the pas
senger list, and hide them, In case
OF search by Russian warships.
Russian Cruiser Damaged
The Esthonians said they had seen
In Tallinn port, the $500 ton Russian
cruiser Kirov, Russia's most modern
and most powerful cruiser, damaged
by Finnish coast artillery at Hango
They said her engines had been put
out Of commission by Finnish shells
and that 1t was reported repairs
might take many weeks.
Large numbers OF volunteers are
pouring In from Sweden. On my
plane one Swede brought his own
rife, wrapped In paper. Another
brought q revolver.
launching at Aabo I learned that
the men at the next table were
Swedes who had just arrived TO vol
unteer for military service.
A Finnish girl Travelled all the way
from London In my plane to join
the Finnish women's auxiliary army.
She was already dressed In high
leather boots and breeches and hoped
TO go into service Immediately.
I'VE can do work behind the lines
which will release more men for
ton numbers more than 10000 wo-
men already. We wo whatever work
the 'front.'" she said. "Our organiza-
Is necessary In order to put more
men with rifles In the front line"
At Aabo workmen were husily
boarding up windows as protection
against bomb blasts.
Smart Looking Soldiers
The streets were swarming with
fine, smart looking soldiers In long
gray great coats.
In every town along the railroad
from Aabo to Helsinki there was Wis.
ible evidence Of military preparation
Our train was on regular schedule
faster than most trains In England
these days.
Upon my arrival at Helsinki
found the mots complete black oui
ever have experienced In my years
as o war correspondent. There was
scarcely glimmer Of light In the
town, which Is two-thirds evacuated
II was blacker even than London
which thus far had held the black
out championship. When I started
TO use my flashlight, which I had
used on the western front, an alert
air warden Immediately stopped me
and gestured that the glass must BIZ
dimmed by blue tissue paper as his
| was.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09

"During the year, we have mailed
tax demands and have contacted
the taxpayers In every way possible
In an effort to effect payment OF
delinquent taxes. The results have
been quite satisfactory.
"As OF December LIST, 1899. the
collections on the 1898 grand list
payable In 1899, have totalled APP
proximately 96 per cent OF the
amount charged 10 the tax collector.
which percentage rate Ia the high.
est In the history OF the city.
1.-THE collections on deltquent
taxes have been materially In
creased and at the present time we
are conducting drive which was
recommended by the Board OF
Finance and q committee composed
OF the tax collector, tax attorney and
corporation counsel involving the
services OF the city sheriff and
deputy sheriffs who are working on
O fee system without cost 70 the city.
The results OF this drive have
brought In many who have been
SeTVeu Witti VuA WuAkeAAVo eAA wv
eral who received tax demands.
Completes Gard System
I'VE have further completed the
card system which lists all personal
property taxes due the city OF Wa
terbury from the years 1917 up to
and including the list Of 1897, pay
able In 1888. This OF course, enables
us 10 check on taxpayers who come
In and request 0 current Dill ana
very often we And by referring TO
our card system that they owe back
taxes, but due to the fact they
have moved many times over q per-
iod OF years, II has been impossible
to locate them. We then try to Of.
feet immediate payment or make
arrangements for payment as soon
as possible.
"All sewer layout and grade and
street assessments have been en-
tered on cards, which simpliiies the
matter Of checking and handling
these accounts.
Recommendations
1.-THE following recommendations,
I deem are In order.
prom my past experience, ! feel
that the ONCE Of the tax collector.
can be handled In o more efficient
manner, II instead Of having four
separate oflices as II now has, II
would be combined into one ONCE
which would coordinate the work
and ut the same time make II pos
sibie TO carry on the work with per-
haps fewer employees.
II further recommend that the
salaries Of the employees OF this
department be 80 adjusted so as to
fully compensate them for the type
OF work they do and the response
bilities connected Herewith. II
must be remembered that with the
new systems installed which cover
many years Of back taxes, the detail
work, ETC., has greatly increased.
II also recommend O change In
our assessment date on personal
property tax. At present our tax
date Is May 1st Of one year and the
due date one year later. I do be-
lieve q gocdly amount Of taxes ID
lost because Of our present assess
nent date. At present, we have too
much mail returned, marked
moved" cannot locate" etc., the
period being too long between the
assessment date and the due date.
II also gives Us considerable trouble
with taxpayers who live In Water
bury on our tax date but move else-
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
EX-ALDERMAN
DIES TODAY
AT HOSPITAL
VIM. P. LOeffIer, Well.
Known Bunker Hill Resi-.
dent, Succunbs Today

William P. Loeffler Of 1877
Bunker Hill Avenue, former
alderman and well known
resident Of the city, died this
morning at the waterbury
Hospital. He was born In
New York City on June %,
1867, but had been q life long
resident Of this city, coming
here when a small child. He
was the son Of Charles and
Elizabeth Loeffler, life long
residents Of the Brooklyn
section Of the city.
Mr.. Loeffler was prominently
Identified with activities In the
Bunker Hill district and was men,
Der Of the Bunker Till church. He
was a willing supporter Of all un-
dertakings for the beneflt Of the
community.
He was also active In fraternal
circles Of the city and was q men,
Der Of Comstock lodge, knights OF
Pythias, knights Of the Golden
Eagle, Woodmen OF the World, and
was state treasurer OF the Inde-
pendent Order Of Red Men. He was
also O member Of the Veterans as
ISOLATION Of the Old Monitor Hose
having served as O member Of the
volunteer FIRE department.
He served for three terms as an
alderman from 1909 to 1918 and
from 1885 to 1887 and was also O
former member Of the board Of
assessors.
For many years Mr.. Loeffler was
affiliated with the Old New Eng
land Watch company, but for the
past IA years has been engaged as
plant engineer OF the 1ngraham
company In Bristol.
Survivors include: Two sons
Charles q. and Edward II. Loeffler
Of this city; three daughters, Mrs
Robert Goodyear Of this city; Mrs
Russell Miller Of Chatham, N. j..
and Mrs. George Z. James OF Fan
wood, N. j.; two brothers, Charles
and Albert Loeffler OF this city;
one sister, Mrs. q. p. Wagner OF
this city and four grand children
His wife, Mrs. Mary Loeffler, died
two years ago.
The body was removed to the AL
derson funeral home, 10 Central
avenue where funeral services will
be held on Monday at time TO
be announced later. Burial will be
In Riverside cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral
home on Sunday from 3 to 5 and
TO Q o'clock.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
Catepillars Tell Tale
''Wally" Grohs, Sage Of Woodbury., Contradicts
Tyler Storm Prediction -- Three Big Ones,
Claims Waly INV Seventeen in ALL

about, knew anything.
II you want to pin me down like
Tyler on those triyiallties III sas
seventeen" I don't keep turkey;
like Tyler and can't send them out
TO plod through couple Of flakes
to see II they're footprints are reg.
istered. which Tyler wants 10 do to
prove that 1t showed, but I do wear
rubbers and I have to discard the
rubbers and put on my boots before
7 officially register storm. But ID
get down to the way Jim wants u
I'll still say seventeen.
Caterpillars DO II
Now here's how make my predic-
tions. For years I've studied cater
pillars, their home life, their habits
and particularly, their colors. Only
a few weeks ago I picked up
quartet Of these critters right Out
here on the borderline between
woodbury. and Minortown, and be-
lieve me, It was O harmonious quar-
tet from the soprano to the bass, OF
II you want TO take 1t from the bot
tom up, from bass 10 soprano. II
was o swell combination. They were
all alike.
Well here's the way you tell whaI
the winter Is going to be II you hi.
bernate with the caterpillars. The
caterpillar's head Is O yellowish col
or. II back Is black. Sometimes a'
this time OF year, which Is the pre-
dieting season, the black streak, (not
the Yellow extends only q quarter
OF the distance down the back be-
fore the color turns yellow again
That's bad. It means a long and
treacherous winter. This year on al
four caterpillars the black ran right
down to the catepillars muffers and
I'm speaking automobileically and
do not mean the kind OF muffiers
that are worn around the caterpil.
lars neck.
This means. and here's my pre-
diction.
Wide Open Winter
"It's going to be wide open win.
ter. II you could save the actua
snow fall YOU wouldn't be able Il
add II up TO three feet. said, 81
/ told you, you'd have three biz
storms, but they really won't be BIC
as I tabulated them, but they're the
biggest that will come along"
do you ever count on the squir'
rels In making your predictions" W.
asked.
"Weil I'm q tree expert wally re.
sponded, I make O part Of my liv.
Ing by taking down trees for people
don't cut them down the ordinary
way, pull them out by the roots
In fact some OF my clients refer
to me as tree dentist" Well whcr
you're fcoling around with trees
naturally you know squirrels.
Nuts To You
"Ail I can say about squirrels Il
that they're too playful and unre.
liable. In other words nuts TO you
on that question.
I could talk much longer on the
subject but what's the use. I've tole
you what's going TO happen and II
I'm wrong-check me. I'll Just say
In conclusion that you can't deny
you've had the SWEETEST December
that you can remember for o lone
time. I'll even take q flyer that
well have O green Christmas ? 2
score me on the positive side fol
an early spring"
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
Russian Prestige Has
Suffered Severe Blow
Continued from Page -

"What Is this so-called great mill
tary power with which we have allied
ourselves when little Finland can
successfully resist it9 Maybe we did
not make such o good bargain after
all In our pact with Russia"
Feelings Elsewhere
This Finn said that the mass Of
people in Germany seemed appre-
hensive about the encroachment Of
Russia In the Baltic, and felt that
II might be directed against Ger
many In the long run, thus constitute
Ing Q future menace TO German
security.
In Sweden found great appre-
hension lest the soviets try to drive
through upper Finland and across
Norway to secure ports IN the At
lantic.
Besides the Films who are dock-
Ing back from all over Europe to
Join the army, volunteers are COM
Ing In from all Scandinavian and
Baltic states.
On my plane were men from Es-
thonia-now allied with Russia-who
had hidden In the engine room Of
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09

Continued from Page y
defensive. and unconnected with the
British blockade.
Up to 100000 men may be en-
ployed In the anti-mlne campaign,
as part of which there will be
daily sweepings Of channels by nine
sweepers-small wooden hulled boat
which can pass freely into fields Of
submerged magnetic mines.
Three German Subs Hit
Ietorting to new German mipe-
torpedo wave. the British navy and
air force believed they had account
ed for three German submarines
yesterday.
It was announced also that the
German steamship Henning Olden-
dorf. 3.648 tons, had been captured
by British warships.
There seemed no doubt In the air
ministry that q coast patrol air
plane sank a submarine yesterday
morning, scoring direct hits near its
coming tower IT was seen to
founder In the water and then to
sink, the air ministry said.
Another coast patrol plane at
tackled o submarine. The pilot
caught It as 1t was submerging, the
air ministry said, and dropped
nearly o ton Of bombs on I as II lay
few feet beneath the water. Fly
ing at only 900 feet because Of low
clouds, the airplane commander
swept down and let go several
bombs. First oil appeared, the pilot
reported, then the bow and coming
tower OF the submarine emerged OH
poured out OF the U-boat. Suddenly
the bow rose vertically. the pilot
said, and the submarine plunged
stern flrst. Two destroyers arrived,
the air ministry said, and. to make
sure, dropped depth charges.
Early today II was reported that
o third submarine had been sunk
the one which yesterday torpedoed
and damaged the British destroyer
Jersey. Royal Air Force airplaneS
and destroyers In q combined at
tack sank the U-boat, according To
reports.
The admiralty seemed confident
that II could combat the German
submarine campaign and destroy
U-boats faster than they could be
built and manned.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
FIGHT TO keep
MAN IN JAIL
BEGINS TODAY
Held as Tax Delinquent
Accused Seeks to Take
Poor Debtors Oath

The City of Waterbury
fought today to keep a man
In jail for failure to pay back
taxes on personal property.
Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci George J. Crocicchia APP
peared for the city as hearing
was opened at IL o'clock at
New Haven county jail on
the plea Of Samuel Kelman,
of 241 Lincoln, for permits
sion to take the poor debtors
oath and gain his release. He has
been in jail since Tuesday morning
being taken there on body writ after
failing TO pay taxes allegedly
amounting to over $i,400.
II Kelman's request Is granted
the city was prepared to ask for
review Of the case, which will keep
him In Jail for another day. II
necessary, Mr.. Crocicchia said, the
case will be taken to the common
pleas court or superior court.
The hearing on Kelman's petition
was being held before Justice OF the
Peace James D. Kline.
Kelman has been the only one
arrested thus far In vigorous cam
paign for collection Of delinquent
taxes on personal property. The
campaign began with the mailing OF
thousands Of warning notices. Tax
warrants have been served on scores
OF delinqeunts during the past two
weeks, with virtually all OF them
avoiding jail by making payment,
More warrants are being prepared
daily by Tax Collector william A.
Ennis. City Sheriff Angelo j.
Nardona, assisted by deputy sherlfss
and policemen, has been serving the
warrants. The delinquent accounts
date back as far as 1917.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
FUNERALS

The funeral Of Stanley Sieminski,
will be held from the home, IL
Ward street, Monday morning ct
s:l5 o'clock to ST. Stanislaus kost.
ka Church OF 0 o'clock. Burial
WILDE in Calvary cemetery. Friends
may call at the home after 8 p. n.
today.
The funeral Of Mrs. Ellen WEIGH
was held this morning ut Q o'clock
from the Mulville Funeral Home, 40
West Main street with O solemn
high mass at 10 o'clock OF st. Fran.
els church, Torrington. Burial was
In the old st. Francis cemetery.
Torrington.
The funeral Of Mrs. Mary A.
Sonderman, widow OF Albert Son.
derman was held this morning ct
8:i5 o'clock from the Mulvtlle Fu-
neral Home, 270 West Main street,
to the Church Of the Immaculate
Conception, where q mass OF re-
QUEEN was celebrated at Q o'clock.
Burial was In Calvary cemetery.
The funeral Of Francis Danusis
was held from his home, Falls ave-
nue., Oakville, this morning Of ESQ
o'clock to ST. Mary Magdalen
church, Oakville, ct 0 o'clock. Burial
was In Calvary cemetery, waterbury.
The funeral OF James Tango win
be held from the Colasanto Funeral
Home, o34 Bank street, Monday,
time and other arrangements TO be
announced later. Burial will be IN
calvary cemetery.
The funeral Of Mrs. Pierce Gordon,
will be held from the Mulyille
funeral home, $40 West Main street,
Monday morning at s:i6 o'clock to
the church OF the Sacred Heart,
where o solemn high mass will be
celebrated at 0 o'clock. Burial will
DO In the family plot, new 81. Jos-I
eph's cemetery.
The funeral OF Mrs. Timothy Ma
honey will be held Monday morning
at 8:l6 o'clock, from the home, 10
Paramount street, with o solemn
high mass at 0 o'clock AZ st. Francis
Xavier church. Burial will be In
the new st. joseph's cemetery.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
COUNTERFEIT BILL
PASSER FRIGHTENED

A man six feet two inches tall
tried to pass $40 counterfeit bill
IN @ South Main street liquor store
yesterday afternoon according to
police.
The man who also had a small
moustache, left the store when q
clerk began 10 question him about
the bill.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
POFF TO APPEAR
MONDAY IN COURT

Julius Poff, Is. Of BAT Chapman
street. arrested yesterday on charges
OF violating the motor vehicle law,
was notified 10 appear in trafiic
court Monday when his case was
called before Judge Theobald 3.
] Conway today.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
MINISTER DIES

Boston, Dec. 9-(UP)-The Rev.
Cicero Adolphus Henderson, "a. min
lister Of the Claiming Church In
Dorchester and o former director
at the Babson Institute. died yes.
terday
A native Of Missouri, he was O
University Of Missouri and Harvard
Divinity School graduate.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09

brothers, John, David and James
Henderson OF New York: three SIS
ters, Mrs. Frederick Minkler OF Cox
sackie, N. r, Mrs. Mary Diehl Of
Newburgh, N. X, and MRS. Harry
Lewis OF Egg Harbor, N. J.
The funeral will be held from the
Clark funeral home 20 State, street,
time and arrangements later.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09

where during the year and are again
taxed In other towns and cities OF
the state whose tax date Is In Octo-
Der. We have had much difficulty
getting this mater Strengthened out
between the taxpayer, the assessors
and the motor vehicle department.
I believe our assessment date on
personal property should be say
October LIST. the tax due date, the
following March LIST. A charge IN
this regard would tend to bring our
assessment date more IN line with
those Of towns and cities surround
Ing Waterbury.
1--WE have appropriated in the 1916
budget money TO purchase two new
billing machines which will replace
two old ones which have been In
service for ct least 10 years. feel
these machines viii expedite the
work on the preparation Of the tex
bills and rate books"
(Slgned)
WILLIAM A. ENNIS,
Tax Collector.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09

Hong Kong factories are busy sup
plying Far East markets affected by
che war.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
DIED

DIED
HIeNDfcNNON--lnt this city, Dec. 9th
1899, william Henderson, Of i4i
Greenwood Ave. Funeral arrange.
ments later, from Clark Funeral
Home, 20 State ~.
LOEFFLlN--In this city. Dec. 9th,
bunker Hill Ave. iF'S Snsrai Monda az,
time TO the announced later, from
.Alderson Funeral Home, 10 Central
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-09
CARD ON TIFANKs

CARD or THANKS
We wish to thank our many reia-
tiyes, friends and nelghbors for the
kindness and sympathy shown W.
death OF our beloved father and
brother. Giovanni Dicrosta.
Signed:
THE DICRosTA FAMILY.