New Britain Herald Newspaper, March 16, 1923, Page 18

CLEAR MRS, WELLS ONMURDER CHARGE! Jury Roquits Woman of Killing| Innkeepe | Mineola, L. I, March 18.—Mrs, | Mary Elizabeth (Billle) Wells was found not guilty las¢ night at 11.28 of the murdér of Captain James Pet- tit, proprietor of the Massapequa Inn The verdict was roturned eight min- utes after the jury had left the court room for the second time, having had réread to them the testimony of John | Mitehell, the waiter, Thomas Boyan, | utflity man, and George Schweitzer, the chef, coneerning what occurrad at the Inn, particularly Mrs. Well's movements the night of the shooting. In their testimony the three witness- | es said they had heard no shot fired on the night of the proprietor's death. | In his summation for the defense, | Attorney Levy declarud that the pros- ecution’s failure to prove a motive for the slaying of Pettit entitled the defendant to at least a reasonable doubt regardless of the point of view| from which the evidence was consid- | ered. Levy asserted that Pettit had committed suicide. District Attorney Weeks, in closing | for the state, said that Pettit harlf squght death by an awkward medium if he committed suicide, demonstrat. | {ing what he described as the impossi- | bility for Pettit himself to have pulled the trigger of the shot gun with which the state contended Mrs. Wells killed him. After defving legally second degree murder and first degree mansiaughter, Judge Smith warned the jury in his charge to avoid in their deliberations considerations of sex and sympathy. Ha closed by asserting that Pettit had{ either killed himself or had been slain | by the defendant. | The case against Wells was placed in the hands of the fury at 6:30 o'clock last night. After dining the Jury began its deliberations. Mrs. Wells, who was accused in connection with the death of Captain Pettit, in a room at the inn on the night of Jan. 7, took the stand in her own defense yesterday, before Coun- ty Judge Lewis J. Smith and a jury| here. She told the story of her life, which contained several marriages, dll\'orcvs and one attempt to kill her- self, | | HONESDALE BANK CLOSED. | Warrants Out for An;sz of Cashier, Charged With $50,000 Shortage. Harrisburg, Pa., March 16.—C. H. Glja!g. Second Deputy Banking Com- missioner, yesterday took charge of | the Farmers-Mechanics Bank of | Honesdale on a report made by | George W. Brown, Barking Examin- | er, that hey had discovered defalca- tions amounting to $50,000 which, | with alleged bad loans, he reported, | would bring the total loss to approx- imately $168,000. Warrants were issued for the ar- rest of C A. Emery, cashier, who is charged with manipulating notes, al- tering accounts and other practices to conceal the shortage. The bank has a capital stock of Your Choice of 1,000 New Hats In this group you will find pokes, high Dutch crowns, cloches, tricorn matron hats, side-cockades and large floppy models; trimmed with flowers, ribbons of spicy nature, Maline horse hair, Milan straw and feathers. In short, the most fascinating Olga Ralph, An :vican prima donna now in New York, has $ against J. H. Kirby, 62-vear-old millionaire lumberman, claimiug lack of promised support. Kirby is promin- entered suit for $i* - ent in Texas, Washington, D. C., $75,000, a surplus of $45,000, undi- vided profits of $28,000 and more than $800,000 in deposits. Honesdale, Penn., March 16.—C. A. Emery, cashier of the Farmers-Me- chanics’ Bank, closed by the State Banking Commissioner, was arrested last night charged with irregularities in his accounts. After a hearing he- fore a magistrate he was locked up in the Wayne county jail. WYSTERY IN DEATH OF ARTIST'S NODEL Fonnd Dead With Chloroform Vial Nearby-Jewelry Gone New York, March 16.—Belated po- lice activity had developed few estab- lished facts today in the investigation of the muysterious death of a girl known as Dorothy King, an artist's model, whose body was found yester- day in her apartment on West 57th street. She was iagentified as the daughter of Mrs. Anna Kiernan of 101st street. Two Arrvests Likely. Two men, “a big fellow and his and New York. secretary,” were night by the police, His name was given as Albert Guimares of Boston, and the police declaied he admitted acquaintance with several men iden- tifled with the robbery of Mrs, C. P, Hugo Bchoelkopf, of Buffalo, at a New Year's party here, Admits Knowmg Girl, Guimares did nqt deny, according to the police, that he was with Miss King until 11 o'clogk Wednesday night, He did say he had known her for months and had made her many gifts, Elevator attendants at the building did not ideutify him as one of the two men who accompanied Miss King when she returned home, Guimares later was arrested on a charge of violating the state law against carrying weapons without a permit, after the police had discover- ed an automatic pistcol and a round of cartridges in his vatise at his hotel, The "big fellaw,” according to the elevator operators, left the apartment early, but they did not remember see- ing "the secretary" leavc. JURY WHITEWASHES HOODED GANGSTERS No Evidence to Support Bastrop Murder Charges Bastrop, La.,, March 16.—No indict- ments were returned by the More- house parish grand jury in connection with the slaying of Watt Daniel and T. F. Richard on August 24 last, and various hooded band activities, which the jury has been investigating for the past ten days. The jury's report was given to District Judge Fred Odom last yesterday. Attorney General Coco and two of his assistants left here before the grand jury made its report. Mr. Coco stated early yesterday that in event being sought, and |no indictments were returned he Inspector Couglin, in charge, said he|would file bills of information against expected them within a few hours | certain persons nameéd at the open her death. found near the body, but medical ex- committed suicide. No Reason For Suicide. Several clues were taken as pos- seemed happy. had not worked since clothes and jewels. Foremost among the murder theor- ies was that of robbery. Jewelry Is Gone, | Several tostly items of jewelry she | the jewelry or had it in a safety de- posit Box in a bank which is to be visited today. A tall striking man in a dark Van IDyke. bundled in a long fur over- coat, was taken to the apartment last assortment of hats ever offered for the money. $3.98 \ EVERY HAT A SPECIAL $4.98 VALUE AT THE PRICE Eastern Millinery Co. 133 MAIN STREET Hats of the Better Kind at Popular Prices apartment, 18 months ago, although |pected of being implicated she always was suppried with costly|death of the two men and for various lesser offenses. $5.98 They are understood to have visited | hearing here in January as having her the night and morning preceding | participated in mob activities. He did not state, however, whether this ac- An empty cholorform bottle was|tion would be taken immediately. In its report the grand jury re- aminers and police said the cause of|ferred to the masked band case as death could not be determined until|"“The deplorable crime of August 24, an autopsy_had been held today The[and stated that while it police believed Miss King was mur-|thoroughly into the affair it could dered, but admitted she might have|find no evidence that would warrant the indictment of any individuals. had gone Says State Will Act. T. Z. Walmsley, assistant attorney- sible basis for motives of murder, but | general, who questioned many wit- none was found to support suicide, A | nesses at the open hearing, said at few who knew the girl said that she |New Orleans last night They believed she|the state would act at once in pre- taking the|senting affidavits against persons sus- he believed in the “The state has counted on indict- Though the [ ments at least for the lesser offenses,” remainder of the apartment was in|Mr. Walmsley said, adding that there order the sleeping room was torn up.|was sufficient ground on which the state could obtain a new grand jury. He said the state would request a is believed to have worn were miss- | change of venue for the trial of those ing. The police would not disclose |against whom affidavits whether they were sure she had worn | made. would be He intimated that affidavits would ¢harge more than forty-five persons with such crimes as lying in wait with a dangerous weapon, as- sault and battery and deporting per- sons from the state. He was not posi- tive what course would be taken con- . 4 cerning those implicated in more ser. fous crimen. Troops Dragged Lake On December 21, Gov, Parker or- dered a company of infantry to More- houhe to drag the lake in search o the bodies, Th%‘ bodles of two men bound with telephone wires and badly mutilated were found floating on the surface of the lake. They were iden. tified as thone of Riehard and Danlel, An open hearing was started Janu. ary b to Investigate the slaying of the two men and the activities of masked bands in the parish which the gov. ernor contributed to the Ku Klux Kian The open hearing revealed stories of abductions, deportations, floggings, sending of threatening notes and de« talls of the curcumstances leading to the disappearance of the men who were murdered, On August 24, 1922, five citizens of Mer Rouge, T, ¥, Richard, Watt Dan- fel, his father, J. L. Danlel; W. C. Andrews and “Toa" Davenport were abducted on the Bastrop-Mer Rouge road, while returning by automobile from a plenie celebration at Bastrop. The abductors, estimated at from fif- teen to twenty men, one in a white robe and the remainder wearing black hoods, placed the five men in a truck and drove away Late that night J. L, Daniel and Andrews were released after being flogged, while Davenport was released without * punishment. Richard and Watt Daniel disappeared. Relatives insisted the' men had been murdered, and enlisted the ald of Gov Parker {n the search for them. PSS i HUGE STATUE ¥OR POPE Rome, Ttaly,—A gigantic mtrhle' statue of Pope Pius X, weighing more than 18 tons; has been placed in position in St. Peter's basilica here. Plus was temporarily buried in the crypt of St Peter's awaiting the preparation of a final bury‘nl place of which this statue will be 'a part. What do young Men Want for Spring Suits? WE KNOW WHAT THEY WANT They want TAN SUITS in all the various shades, Light tan;, dark tan, medium tan and just plain tan.. They want them in Sport models with belts and straps and they want them at the right prices such as these: $19.75 $24.75 $29.75 " That just exactly describes our stock which is one reason why we are selling so many Tan Sport Back Suits—Right now. g Besge Helands = Main Floor — SAGE, ALLEN & (CO. 3-1090 (INC.) 3-1090 Hartford Conn. | Smart and Distinctive DRESSES at . $25.00 Thousands of women are delighted every season ‘with the artistic frocks featured in our special section of dresses at $25.00. Our Spring' collection shows originality, quality and variety of design, and lovely materials and colors comhine to make these dresses un- usually attractive. Flat crepe, Elizabeth crepe, satin faced crepe, Canton crepe and printed crepe de chine are a few of the materials used. Many are effectively tucked, pleated and beaded. 5 mCZ};ors are navy, brown, black, green, Copen, henna, sand, caramel and gray. ‘Sizes SPRING SUITS $25.00 “ $39.50 Moderate Prices For Suits That Will Pleagse the Most Discriminating Purchaser. A wonderful collection of suits in tricotine, Poiret twill, camelaire, escotine and velour checks. Coats are of varying length, Some are smartly trimmed with braid. SPRING SKIRTS In the season’s most desirable fabrics.” As usual, we are ready with Style, Quality and $7.75 . $10.75 $13.75 Tailored, knife and other small plaited effects. Flannels, plaids, novelty stripes, wool crepes. FUR SCARFS AND CHOKERS Which admirably accentuate the fashionable costume, suit or frock. Fox Stone Marten Fisher Hudson Bay Sable Wolf Squirrel b Mole anm Marten Mink Opossum - $8.95 * $195 SILK FROCKS FOR GIRLS $7.95 . Unusual values in girls’ silk dresses, made of fine taffetas, crepe de chines and pongees. Smart straight line models with embroidery in contrasting colors. All the favorite shades for Spring. Sizes 6 to 12 years. Extra value at $7.95. . We show also an excellent assortment of silk dresses for street and party wear. Prices from $12.75 to $27.50. - :&Jfl Special For Saturday WOMEN'S SOROSIS SHOES SPECIAL PRICE ..00vquvnnveesnnians. $7 50 Regularly $9.560. Stylish Oxfords as pictured above. Black kidskin, patent leather and tan calfskin.