Loring agreed to a hearing at Chambers. Chief Justice
Chapman named a day. At the day named the clients and counsel
appeared. I presented my statement in writing. Loring and Fowle said
they knew nothing about the matter. My statement showed a balance of
between $400 and $500 in Fowle's hands. I asked for interest. Fowle
said he had been ready always to pay. I contended it was his duty long
before to have rendered an account, and made payment. Judge Chapman,
with less reason than courts have usually for their decisions, held
that as he was always ready to pay, he was not justly chargeable with
interest. I drew a decree, the judge signed it, Fowle paid, and Childs
returned home that night. For ten years the case had been on the
docket, when, if some one had made an examination of the papers it
could have been disposed of in a day.
The controversy in New England between Trinitarians and Unitarians had
culminated in Groton about the year 1825 in a division of the old town
society and the organization of an orthodox church under the Rev. John
Todd. His successor, a Mr. Kittredge, had charge of the Society in
1835, and for a short time afterwards. He was succeeded by Dudley
Phelps, who was a man of ability and liberal in his religious opinions.
From 1838 to 1841 the post-office was in my charge, although I held the
office of postmaster only from February to April, 1841.
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