FROM THE PATENT OFFICES.
In the patent ofiice reports of this
country 665 different styles and vari-
eties of pens are described.
It is said that 17,000 patents for the
manufacture of ink have been taken out
in Great Britain.
Mark Twain has been quite a prolific
inventor. In 1871 he took out his first
patent for a. strap for suspendering
trousers. He has also been an as-
signee of quitea number of patents,
some of which are of recent date.
A new gas burner has appeared in
Paris. It is formed of platinum wires
and fibrous material resembling asbes-
tos. The fibers become incandescent,
and give a light of 25 candle power,
with a consumption of 2% cubic feet
of gas per hour.
Quite Excusable.
An exchange reports that the teacher
of a city school received the following
ample apology from the mother of an
absentee:
“Dere mam: plese eggscuse Willy He
didn’t have but one pair of pants an I
kep him home to wash them and Mrs.
O’ toole’ 3 goat come and et them off the
line apd that awt to be cggscuse enuft‘,
goodness nose. Yours with respeck,
Mrs. B.—”—Ymith’: ('omnnn‘hn.
EVERYBODY S HO UT)‘ bum
HALE’S
LUNG
BALSAM.
It Cures When all Others Fail.
250. at
HALE’S.
~86 Bill lN PRICE"
() ll‘
ME __AT.
Round, Sirloin and Por-
terhouse Steaks, Sausge,
Po: aul R11 Kristi
Reduced 26. 6 Pound
All First Quality Meat.
J. W. BOGARDUS,
6 WATER ST., NORWALK
DRINK
WATE RFD B THE
Stomach,
Bo were,
Liver and]
Kidneys.
FOR SALE BY
T111 H11 11,161181818111111 Co
FALL AND WINTER
SUlTIl‘l GS.
Having W'pcurel a large line of handsome
Fall and inrer suitings, I am ready to make
them up in the latesostyles.
F. Ko'coun,
ll North Main St, South Norwa’k.
QNSRSSATSl
LNEW LOT IN BLUE AND BLACK, I
‘ Tai lor-rnade, latest stvle,
8" I0 $109 waists and sleeve liningss.Mi
DIAGONAL WORSTFD UIT .
IN BLUE AND BLACKS 8
$8.50 a Suit. ““1 11111255553...
‘ Call and examined
H. GOODWIN,
170 \VASHINGI‘ON STREET BRIDGE.
Horace E. Dann,
EXCELBIOL
Livery and Sales Stable.
uvuwuvwwuv“\
Opposite .Danbury: and
Norwalk Railroad aepot‘
Nor-walk, Conn. Stylish
Single or Double Team
with or without drivers
Safe horses for women
andcmldreo- .
, . saunas ”Ones
Y
s A 39.420121
.uvoided.
mained there unlil his demise.
l
CAPT. 61pr wms.
Judge George W. Wheeler of the
Superior court, on Wednesday handed
down his decision in the case of James K
Crofut vs. Harriet R. Crofut and Jacob
M. Layton, executor of the will of the
late Andrew J. Crofut. Judge Wheeler
gives judgment in favor of Mr. Crofut
and orders the executor to deliver over
to plaintiff $36,500 of the stock of the
Crofut & Knapp company which bé-
longed to his late father.
The old firm of Crofut & Knapp Was
made into the present corporation of
Crofut So Knapp Company in March
1893. In order to keep the control of
the corporation in the two families it
Was agreed by the members of the Cro-
fut- and Knapp families. in case of death,
to b: .queath by will his holding of the
new company ’15 stock to the other mem-
ber of his family.
When Andrew J. Crofut died, he left a
will bequeathing his stock to James K.
Crofut- on the expess condition that the
said James K. Crofut, should pay to his
stepmother, Harriett R. Crofut, $500 a
year tor ten years, provided she sur-
Vim-d that length of time.
From the time he entered business
James K. Crofut had been connected
with either the old firm or new corpora!
tion, and was secretary of the present
company at the; time of his father's
death in November, 1894.
About two years ago the directors of
the company, having a combined con-
trol of the majority .of stock, voted
James K. Qrofutt practically out of the
company, by reducing his salary from
$2,000 to $100ayear, and at the same
time increasing their own salaries. At
the last annual meeting in January the
directors again increased their salaries.
After being voted out of the business
in which he had been engaged during
his business life time, James K. CH.-
fut determined to get the stock to which
he was entitled by the agreement,and to
secure it free of the condition made
by his father in his will and thus re-
lieve himself from paying $500 a year
to his stepmother, to whom his father
had bequeathed nearly all his prOperty
excepting the stock in question.
An action in equity was brought by
001. Russell Frost, as attorney for
James K. Crofut, against the widow and
in which Jacob M. Layton, the eXecu-
tor, was made a party, asking that the
stock be transferred and delivered to
James K. Crofut without the condition
contained in the will.
This action was contested by the wid-
ow, who was represented by Seymour .95
Knapp of Bridgeport, and Jacob M.
Layton by Attorney John H. Light,
the widow claiming the stock had been
bequeathed according to the agree-
ment, and the payment to her of 3500‘
per year was not a violation of the
agreement. Anumber of legal ques-
tions were raised and the trial occupied
three days.
Under Judge Wheeler’s decision
James K. Crofut is entitled to all of the
stock left by his father, which, with his
present holdings. make him the largest
stockholder of the corporation.
It is probable that an appeal to the
Supreme court Will be taken by the
Widow. .
Sheriff Buys Supplies.
The commissioners of Fairfield coun-
ty have decided that in future they will
leave to the high sheriff the power of
purchasing supplies for the jail as is
done in New Haven and other counties of
the etite. In this way it is believed that
much of the fault finding which has
been heard from prisoners in the past
regarding the food given them can be
The purchases Will be under
the supervision of the sheriff who will
personally inspect the supplies and can
reject such as in his opinion is not pro-
per to go into the institution.
Av —- v‘
_The front Law.
Brook trout may be taken when six
inches in length or over, only by hook
and line and only between April 1 and
July 1. The penalty for taking and not
returning to the stream trout less than
six inches long is limited to $7 for each
offense. The penalty for taking trout
except with hook and line and between
the dates above mentioned is limited to
$50 fine and 30 days imprisonment.
Exception is made in the last . two
cases where trout are taken by owner
of stream or pond for breeding or
stocking other waters.
Death of Capt. lohn.H. Lowndes.
Captain John H. Lowndes, the well
known oyster. planter, died at his home
in Rowayton Wednesday, aged about
65 years.
fined to his home for the past three
years with a paralytic stroke but had
been able to care for his interests in the
oyster business. He leaves a wife and a
family of grown up children among
them being J. Stanley Lowndes also an
oyster grower.
Ow
Dr. W. F. Lacey Dead.
Dr. William Frederick Lacey died at
his residence in Danbury, Monday
afternoon, after an illness of nearly
five months. Dr. Lacey was born in
Brookfield in 1823. He studied medié
' cine in Yale College and graduated
with high honors from that institution
in 1843. In 1844 he went to Danhury ‘
to practice at his profession and r1-
6'
. ted some years ago a special repOit is
The deceased has been con-v
. )“’.“t' ‘.-‘ ‘-- s - z.. .2}
PUBLIG_S_l_l_HO0L8. l,
The annual report of the State Board
of Education his just been to ctived
The report of the secretary, Charles D.
Hine, shows that the number of child-
ren of school age, between 4 and 16, is
170,579, and the number of pupils en-
rolled in the common schools is 138.88?,
an increase of 2,833. The average
daily attendance has. been 96,213. an
increase of 4.727. The number of
schools is 1,577. and of departments 3,-
338. I There are 1,632 school hours. The
schools were kept on an average 283 32
days in the year. The scholars were
instructed by 3,631 teachers durinz the
summer months and by 3,636 in the
winter time. The number of eyening
schools maintained during the year was
32. The number of children fourteen
and fifteen years of age employed in
factories was 2,968, of, whom 360 could
not read nor write.
The value of school property in the
state is rated at $8,450,600, and the rev-
enue during the year was $2,458,274 29.
Of this $168,869'cam‘e from‘permanent
funds, $255,883 from state taxes, $1,850.
315 from local taxes and $183,205 from
other sources. The eXpenditures were:
For new buildings, $308,058.21; for li-
braries and apparatus,‘ $20,402.88; for
running expenses, including salaries of
teachers and superintendents, $1.866,-
063.88; for ether expenses, $390,584.85;
total, $2,585,109.82. The number of dis-
tricts has decreased in the years from
1,408‘ to 1,263, which is gratifying eva-
dence that the town system of manag-
ing schools is making headway. In the
fall of 1895, 15 towns voted on the ques-
tion of consolidation. In eight there
was an affirmative and in seven a nega'
tive majority. The reported school in-
debtedness is $2,633,127, an increase of
$339,095.
In his report Secretary Hine states
that there are high schools having a
four years' couise in 35 towns, with a
total of 6,061 pupils. It appears that in
these schools 30 per cent fall out be-
tween the first and second years; 33 per
cent between the second and third and
that 20 per cent of the remainder leave
between the third and fourth years.
The number of pupils in the normal
schools at the beginning of the school
year 1895 was at New Britian 276, at
Willima mm 78 and at New Haven 200.
Of the 145 graduates in 1895, all but five
are engaged in teaching.
Following out the practice inaugura-
made in the school of Tolland county.
The schools of New Haven, New Lon
don and Fairfield counties have already
received this special attention in pre-
vious reports. In regard to the 'l‘olland
County schools, the Board of Education
finds that “of 1,031 children over 10
years of age examined in the writing of
English by Mr. Warren, 649 failed to
begin sentences with capstil letters.
Of 205 children 11 years of age 105
failed to use the period correctly. ”
The suggestion is made in the repbrt
that there be town grammar schools,
district supertision, and county high
schools. In concluding its report, the
Board makes its former renommenda-
tion of supervision of the schools by
expe1t=. '
A SMALL GEYSER.
There was not a little exc'tement on
Main street, late Tuesday afternoon.
A plumber was engaged in tapping the
water main with a patent tapper, when
suddenly there shot up into the air to .
the height of feity feet a volume of
water from an inch and a quarter hole
which had been drilled into the pipe.
Several teams were standing on either
side of the street near by, and when the
sudden shower of water struck them
there was a general stampede. Luckily
the owners of the horses were near,
and by prompt action averted what
might have been an almost inextricable
oonglomeraiion of horses, harnass and
Wagons.
Clark Ely, at Raymond’s grocery.
rushed out and underneath a shower of
water led a horse attacln d to a carriage.
to a place of safety on Wall street and
left him in a position whrre he could
wink one eye at the young geyser' and
with the other take in the handsome
millinery display in the Bosh 11 Store
window.
In less than ten minutes a crowd of
tWo hundred persons had congregated
at the scene, among those assembled
being a number who seemed to take
especial delight in getting where the
spray could sprinkle them to the best
advantage.
After perhaps a fifteen minute delay
Coroner Roach was found and be shut
the water off from the main pipe at a
point near the Boston Store. And yet
the crowd lingered, and were there
again this-morning. '
The plumber who was doing the work
at the time of the accident, states
that he was using a patent machine
adapted for the work of making a con-
nection with the water main and doing
away with the necessity of shutting 011'
of the water, when the machine slipped
with the above mentioned results.
The shut off valve has been placed
and everything is again in working or-
der.
It was altogether an impromptu April
shower on the last day of March.
... . L.___._..-
Subscribe for the GAZETTE and 'I‘rih-
. l
Hut. 1
l
' 1.
-, 1"" .' _.
'WELKLY - N015. WALK -~GAZE'rrn.
MUTUAL '. LIF
SURANCE 00.
11
OF NEW YORK.
RICHARD A McCURDYPreside-nt.
, men to
Assets. ‘ .
Liabilities .
Surplus .
Total Income .
Total Paid Policy-holders in 1895,
oYoar
Insurance and Annuities in force.
Net gain in 1895
dingllecdl. llll
$221,213,721 33
194,847,157 58
$26,866,563 75
$48,597,480 51 .
$23,126,728 45
$899, 074,453 78
$6], 647, 645 36
NOTE—Insurance merely written, Is discarded from this Statement as wholl mlsleadln '
actually issued and paid for in cash is Included . y g, and only insurance
I have carefully examined the foregoing Statement and find the same to be correct.
CHARLES A. PRELLER, Auditor.
From the Surplus a dividend will be apportioned as usual.
Report of the Examining Committee. '
Ettiooot the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New You,
February 11, 1896.
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of this Company, held on the 18th day of
December last, the undersigned were appointed a Committee to examine the annual
Statement for the year ending December 31st, 1895, and to verify the [same by com-
parison with the assets of the Company.
/
The Committee have carefully performed the duty assigned to them, and hereby
certify that the Statement is in all particulars correct and that the assets specified
therein are in possession of the Company.
In making this certificate the Committee bear testimony to the high character of
the investments of the Company and express their approval of the system, order and
accuracy with which the accounts and vouchers have been kept, and the business in
general transacted. -
H. C. Von Post, _
(harles R. Henderson,
James C. Holden,
Robert Clyphant,
'Wm. P. Dixon,
Committee
J. H. Herrick. .
ROBERT A. GRANNIS, Vice-President. ..
WALTER R. GILLETTE, General Manager- '1
ISAAC F. LLOYD, Second Vice-President,
WILLIAM J. EASTON, Secretary,
lOHN A. FON DA, Assistant Treasurer.
WILLIAM P. SANDS, Cashier
HENRY E. DUNCAN. Jr., Cor. Secy.
ALBERT ‘KLAMROTH, Asst. Secy.
F REDERIC CROMWELL, Treasurer.
JAMES TIMPSON, 2d Asst. Trees
4 EDWARD P. HOLDEN, Asst. Cashier.
l
EMORY MCCLINTOCK LL.D., F. I. A., Actuary.
JOHN TATLOCK, J 3., Asst. Actuary.
CHARLES A. PRELLER, Auditor,
WM. W. RICHARDS. Comptroller.
HENRY S. BROWN, Asst. Comp.
JOHN C. ELLIOI‘l‘, Superintendent of Domestic Agencies,~
EDWARD LYMAN SHORT, Gen. Solicitor.
GUSIAVUSS ‘3.WINSEON, M. D.
MEDICAL DIRECTORS ~
ELIAS J. MARSH, M. D.
GRANVILLE M. waxrngm. D.
moms w. summons.
New Haven, General Agt. for State of Connecticut?
Local Agent.
Norwalk Chronicler