This Day In Norwood History-January 8, 1895-John Gillin Wants Children Carried to School

Their Father Now Wants Damages Because Their Conveyance is Not Suitable.

NORWOOD, Jan 8— Three suits, aggregating $15,000, have been brought by Mr. John Gillin, who resides in the Ellis district, against the town. Each suit is for $5000 and is brought as guardian for his three minor children for alleged damages, caused by the failure of the town to provide proper educational facilities.

Up to two years ago these children attended the Islington school in the town of Dedham, which is a short distance ever the line from their home, but when the Norwood school committee received a bill from the town of Dedham for their tuition it immediately commanded Mr. Gillin to take his children away from that school.

This he did, keeping them home for a year, upon the ground that it was practically impossible for them to attend the nearest Norwood school, which was three miles away. At the last March meeting, he came in and presented his case, and the sum of $200 was appropriated to convey his children to and from school. Immediately after this meeting, the school committee brought a criminal suit against him for having kept his children out the previous year. This suit dragged along for several months and was finally dismissed by Justice Lane, before whom it was brought.

The father now claims that the vehicle for the conveyance of the children to and from school is an unfit one, and has brought the suits, as aforesaid.

The writs are returnable on the first Monday in February.