Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-20
EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON.
Antonio Tcstalia Pleads Guilty to Thrc,
Charges of BurglarN.

| Charges of Burglary.
| Before the opening of the criminal side
of the superior court this afternoon a
strange proceeding took place The
prisoners were brought up on the 1:12
train by Sheriff Tomlinson ,Jailer O'Keefe
Haven. A big crowd had collected
at the depot to see the prison
ers arrive. At city hall it was
scarcely possible to break through the
crowd. Deputy Sheriff Peck as soon ms the
prisoners We're placed in the box in the
| superior court room immediately drove all
the spectators out of the building with the
exception of those in the room. Sheriff
Tomllnson ordered all present to arise
| while DIR Anderson gave prayer. At its
conclusion Clerk Z. f. Cole called the
eighteen names on the jury twelve of
whom took their places. The prisoners
were then put to plea.
The first was William Freeman. nine
teen years of age, of Middlebury charged
with assault January %, 1894, on Frank
E. Fem. Attorney Ford, who defended
him, was appointed his guardian. He
pleaded not guilty.
Antonio Testalia, the Italian burglar,
was then put to plea on three counts. The
first was for trying to effect an entrance into
Barlow Bros store on the night of January
-. He pleaded guilty andrrJudGc Wheeler
sentenced him to two years in state prison.
The second count charged theft on January
| l6 when the water works house was en-
tered and tools stolen He pleaded guilty
| to this aud was sentenced to two Years in
state prison. The third count alleged
| theft on January 30, when a freight
car on the Naugatuck road was
entered and about 5000 worth
of cutlery and clocks belonging to Win
sted parties was stolen. Testalio also
pleaded guilty to this charge and was given
three years. Prior to the sentences letters
found on the Italian were read by the court
interpreter and proved that Testala's
brother in New York was a fence" for
the former and that goods were sent there
and that people in Italy were on their way
over to assist in proposed burglaries.
Jerry O'Donnell and Michael Fitzgerald
were next put to plea. On February II
they entered the chicken coop of another
Michael Fitzgerald on Baldwin street and
attempted to steal some chickens. Both
pleaded not guilty.
John Cunningham, charged with entering
Rogers Il Bros factory on the night of De
cember 23, pleaded not guilty.
Dennis H. Flynn pleaded not guilty to
attempting to enter the store of Timothy
Horigan, on February s.
James Reynolds and James Grennan
were charged with entering the shop of
Armstrong Il Buckston, October 81, 1898
Reynolds pleaded guilty, and Grennan not
guilty. Reynolds was sentenced to two
years IN states prison.
Michael Koran, 10, and James Learv -,
charged with assaulting and robblng Max
Shapiro on November 30, pleaded not
guilty.
William Heaney and Louisa Brick.
charged with adultery, on January Is,
both pleaded not guilty.
William Freeman, the colored fellow, ut
point changed his plea of assault on Frank
E.Fenn to guilty. Fem told his story about
Freeman threatening to kill him. Attor-
ney Ford defended him. Two months in
Jail was the sentence
The case of Jerry ODonnen and
Michael Fitzgerald was then called. At
torney Ford was assigned to defend the
bows