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Small-Town Exploits Amuse Lawyer
BY JOHN F. HEENEHAN

   BERLIN --- Harry N. Jackaway remembers the day he received a $1 million check in the morning for selling a  bowling alley and a $100 check in the afternoon to "defend a cow."
    That kind of day is par for the course for a small-town lawyer, Jackaway says.
   "You just don't know what is going to come through that door," says Jackaway, who is almost finished writing a book on his experiences as a lawyer in a small town.
   He was part-owner of the bowling alley and attorney for the sale when it was made in the early 1960s.
   And, he wasn't hired to defend the cow, but the owner.  Farmers are responsible for any damage caused by their wandering livestock, and  this particular farmer's cow had been struck and killed by a car. The driver wanted to hold the farmer responsible for the damage to his car.
   "You are always dealing with problems --- divorce, bankruptcy, children in trouble --- you need a release, "Jackaway says.  "You
appreciate the funny stuff."
   The funny, interesting and frustrating experiences in his almost 25 years of
practicing here will be told in in his book, Jackaway says.
   Thirteen of about 20 expected short stories have been completed, he said,  He predicted the book would be about 150 pages long.  All the incidents are true, but most of the names have been changed, he says.
   One story involves the local drive-in movie theatre which specializes in X-rated movies,  its movies apparently were creating severe traffic problems on the Wilbur Cross Highway, from which passers-by had a clear view of the screen.
   A view of the films was also available from the upstairs of four homes, Jackaway said.  The children there would sneak upstairs late at night to watch.
   The movies also could be seen from the teen center.  In an attempt to keep teen's from watching the movies, personnel there painted the windows black.  But the teen-agers would just walk outside to watch the action.
   Finally, Mayor Arthur B. Powers told Jackaway, the corporation counsel, that he wanted "no more filthy pictures" to be shown there.
   Because that would have violated the U.S. Constitution, Jackaway instead ordered the drive-0in owners to construct a 16-foor fence around the establishment.
   The legality of the measure was challenged by the owners.
      A total of 27 witnesses, including the neighbors, their children and church leaders, were taken to court the day of the trial by Jackaway, as we a multitude of letters to the mayor asking that the drive-in be closed.
   Seeing the number of witnesses and hearing the public outcry, the drive-in owners consented to build the fence for $16,000.
   But, Jackaway said, "I always wonder if the problem is really solved."
   He had thought of writing the book for about 10 years and finally began in earnest three months ago.
   "It is very personal working in a small town," Jackaway said.  "Your accomplishments can be seen all over town,"  he said.

[The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) · Tue, Jan 2, 1979 · Page 66]

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