The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-09
YESTERDAY In THE COURTS
MURDERER RIPPIE INDICTED BY
THE GRAND JURY.

Colombo Murder Trial to Begin To-day
Grand and Panel Jury Lists-rhe Cook
Hand Case-One Year in State Prison for
Theft-other Court News.
The grand jury We're summoned into
the superior court yesterday and after
a charge by Judge Shumway, retired
to hear the case of Thomas f. Ripple,
who was held in the city court charged
with numbering his wife, Mary C. Kip
pie, on January 81, last, at her home,
"a Silver street. Mrs. Ripple was stab
bed several times by her husband, and
died almost instantly.
Ripple pleaded not guilty, but true
bill was found against him for murder
III the first degree. His case may come
up in the superior court as soon as
the Colombo trial is finished. The
grand jury is composed of the follow
ing gentlemen: Alfred N. Wheeler, L..
D. Chidsey, w. T. Donnelly and Theo-
dore Sucher, New Haven; James
Graham and Elford C. Russell, Or
ange; w. p. Thomas and j. w. Buck
ingham, Milford; e. d. S. Goodyear
and Merwin e. Hemingway, North Ha-
ven; f. J. Hall and j. p. Stevenson,
Wallingford; John H. Davis and Bella
I'll. Mann, Hamden; Henry d. Linsley
and Willis b. Hoppin, Branford;
Charles Page, North Haven, and Ed
win F. Thompson, East Haven.
THE BURNS BOYS UNDER BONDS.
q W
explained in the superior court the
bench warrants issued for James and
Thomas Burns, who are charged with
theft from and robbery of Joseph Burg
man in Ansonia March 20. Mr.. Will
liams stated that Burgman had been
paid not to prosecute the case, but
the Burns men are a bad lot and ought
to be punished They We're placed
under $500 bonds each, and efforts will
be made to find Burgman.
TWO THEFT CASES.
Henry Steele was yesterday sentenc-
ed to one year in state prison for theft
of $40 worth of saddlery from John
Brown Of this city January 26 last.
The trial of Andrew O'Connen vas
next taken up. O'Connell is charged
with burglary in the store of James
j. Kennedy of Ansonia, and theft of
six boxes of cigars valued at $50 and a
quantity of cigarettes valued at $40 on
February Is.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty
of simple theft and O'Connell was fined
IS and given twenty days in jail.
COOK-HAND CASE.
The Cook Hand suit is on again be-
fore Judge Prentice and a jury in the
superior court, civil side.
j, Hazleton Cook alleges that when
he was a law student at Yale college
in 1875 he tutored Hollis T. Walker, a
relation by marriage of the late Daniel
Hand, and with such success to enable
Walker to pass the examination for ad-
mission to the bar. Two days after
Walkers admission Cook alleges that
Daniel Hand thanked him effusively
for the services he had rendered to
Walker, and then and there in the
hearing Of Cooks sister and a Miss
Salter of New York, agreed to leave
Cook at Hands death, the sum of $685.
900. He neglected to do SO in the will
or to even mention Cooks name.
The late Governor Luzon B. Morris
was the administrator of Hands es-
tate At his death Wilbur F. Day OF
this city was appointed administrator
and yesterday morning his name was
Substituted instead of Luzon 3. Nor
ris.
Two years ago, before Governor Nor
ris' death, Cook brought suit for the
recovery of the $4,000, but was non
suited. 1t was taken to the supreme
court and a decision was rendered tc
the effect that the non-suit was i'm
properly granted. A new trial was
then ordered.
At the former trial Cooks sister ant
Miss Salter testified to the verba
agreement made between Daniel Hand
and the plaintiff. Since then Miss
Ealter has become Mrs. Cook, and they
reside on Cooks farm at Clinton, thi:
state
Charles H. Post, judge of probate o
Guiiford. was the first witness calleC
yesterday. He submitted the origina
will Of the late Daniel Hand and wa
Immediately excused. Then the evi
dence given at the former trial wa
read by counsel on either side.
Prior TO the empanelling of the jury ex
Judge Stoddard stated that the defens
would claim that all of Mr.. Cooks ser
vices were not worth more than $25
at the most and that it was their in
tention to show that the plaintiff
story was preposterous and out of tn
bounds of possibility Further tina
they should attempt to show that tn
plaintiffs reputation for truth was no
equal to that Of the ordinary mortal
and that if there was any member o
the jury whose mind was made up o.
this point SO that it would require an
great evidence to change his opinio
he should signify it.
No one moved and the jury was EN-
panelled.
Attorney Cook was put on the stan
and his examination occupied the re
nlainder of the day. 1t will be contin
ued this morning. In the cross exam
ination by Judge Stoddard the witnes
-