July 22, 1988

After 15 weeks of the Richard Crafts murder trial, Judge Barry Schaller declared a mistrial after one juror refused to continue deliberating. Warren Maskell of Preston refused to continue to deliberate after the jury foreman had notified the judge they were deadlocked. On the 17th day of jury deliberations July 15, at 4:35 pm, jury foreman Ken Messier reported to the judge in a note that they were deadlocked. At 5:17 pm, the judge brought the jury into the courtroom and read them what is called the “Chip Smith” charge… which instructs a deadlocked jury to reconsider their opinions. The jury returned to the jury room and before beginning deliberations again, requested a menu for dinner. Within five minutes of the menu request, Mr Maskell walked out of the jury room and in the hallway said, “I’m outta there, and I’m not going back in there.” Judge Schaller said he has never had a mistrial in his 15 years on the bench, and that even a deadlocked jury is a very rare occurrence. As the trial stands now, it belongs in the Superior Court in the State of Connecticut, and a new location must be found for the highly publicized trial that has captured the attention of media from all over the state. The trial had the longest period of jury deliberations in state history for a criminal case.

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Keeping Dickinson Park open late on weekends for teens to use as a hangout has so far been a successful remedy for the year’s old problem of Newtown’s teens not having a place to go — but it is only a short-term solution. As a possible long-term solution, First Selectman Rod Mac Kenzie has asked the Parks and Rec Commission to explore converting the old town garage on Church Hill Road into a teen center.

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In her most significant victory since moving into the 16-year-old division last fall, Newtown’s Patti Murren captured the New England Hard Court Tennis Championships earlier this month at Massachusetts’s Wellesley College. The tourney is one of the four major ones sponsored each summer by the New England Lawn Tennis Association. Murren won all five of her matches in straight sets.

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The Chamber of Commerce’s “Summer Sale Along The Newtown Trail,” is back on again — for Friday, August 19, and Saturday, August 20. The sale was originally planned July 22–23, but was postponed because not enough merchants signed up in time. At the meeting of the Chamber’s board of directors on July 20, however, the consensus was that with the active support of The Newtown Bee, the sale could be held in August.

July 26, 1963

At Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Board of Education, in the high school library, John Sommi, administrative assistant to the superintendent of schools, James F. Hinckley, announced that the State Department of Health had approved the site of the proposed new elementary school in the South Center District. This is the Joseph Samperi property of 19.16 acres of land on Cold Spring Road.

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The Newtown Progress Festival Celebration, which will take place over the entire Labor Day weekend, will this year again feature a series of athletic events for boys and girls of all ages, culminated in the selection of a Newtown Boy and Girl Champion. These contests will start at 1 pm on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, at the Town Park.

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The lecture room of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library was filled to overflowing Monday evening, when members and guests of the Newtown Historical Society met to hear a talk by H.F. Randolph Mason of Woodbury on the fascinating subject of “Historic Houses in Connecticut.” In his talk, Mr Mason described in detail the fine and unusual features of the outstanding houses which grace various towns around the state.

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On Tuesday, July 23, the first group of Fresh Air children left the Bethel station for their return trip to New York City. The Newtown Jaycee Wives wish to express their thanks to the host families who so generously gave two weeks to six children. Upon departure the children received gifts from the Jaycee Wives. It was quite evident from the happy, smiling faces that the children had had a wonderful two-week vacation.

 

July 22, 1938

THE HOBBY SHOP Main Street, Opposite Morris & Shepard’s, Newtown, Conn. — New Line Of DAYTIME FROCKS In Bemberg sheers, silks and novelty materials. Sizes 14 to 44. MARILYN DRESSES — GIFTS — DOROTHY ALLEN HULL

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Mr and Mrs F. Byron Tomlinson and Mr and Mrs John MacDonald of Bridgeport and Huntington, have opened a road stand just east of the Housatonic river bridge, Sandy Hook, one Route 6. The new stand is modern in every respect and will carry a variety of tasty sandwiches and refreshments. One of the features of the menu will be Mitchell’s ice cream, which is widely known for its quality. A large picnic grove is offered to the public for use free of charge.

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Virginia Brooks, daughter of Mr and Mrs S.S. Brooks of Walnut Tree Hill district, who had the misfortune to slip from a swing on last Wednesday, fracturing her left leg, is now resting comfortably at her home. The fracture was set at the Danbury hospital by Dr Stahl.

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The Pine Tree Patrol of Boy Scouts got off to a flying start on Sunday afternoon, July 17, at 2 o’clock, when about 25 parents, friends and Scout officials gathered to wish the Scouts a most pleasant journey on their annual Pine Tree adventure trip. The trip, this year, will carry the patrol into the White Mountains, Northern Main, up the St Lawrence to the Saguenay River and into the Laurentides National Park, by way of the historic city of Quebec.

 

July 25, 1913

The second of the series of recitals given by Prof Skiff’s Summer School of Singing, was held last Saturday evening, July 19, at his summer home on Botsford Hill. A delightful program was rendered to a very large and appreciative audience.

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W.F. Hale, proprietor of the Newtown Inn, has secured an orchestra for the Inn. They play each day from 2 to 3 pm, and from 8 to 10 pm, with a sacred concert, Sunday night. Saturday evening, the pleasure hall was filled with dancers. The innovation appears to be a popular one.

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Selectman W.C. Johnson had a close call from a serious accident, Saturday night. As he was going down the street with his car, the shadows made it appear that the car of James B. Nichols was on the wrong side of the road, while it was on the correct side. In order to avoid a head on collision he suddenly turned his car, which overturned. Mr Johnson and Messrs Crick and Nelson, who were with him, escaped injury although somewhat shaken up.

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Mrs Julia Beardsley has had a very handsome stone placed in Bradleyville cemetery in memory of her mother, Mrs Horace Bradley. Hughes & Chapman did the work. B.D. Beardsley lost a very nice cow, last week, supposed to have been poisoned by eating wild cherry.