Waterbury Democrat., 1902-11-08
WORK OF FSPOTTERS
Made Business For City Court
 This Morning.
WITNESS DONNIE RATTLED.

Said He Left Duncan's Pharmacy al
 ..2:65'' O'clock When Asked What
 an Oath Was He Said Liquor
 The Spotters Were from McCla1r,s
 Agency and Made Very Sorry nlt-
 nessese
 It was late when city court con yened to-day. and it was unusually late when adjournment was taken, there being deal of business on nand on ac- count of the presence of two detectives from McClairs agency in New Haven being in town recently.
 The first case called was aga1nsr William J. Duncan for selling liquor on the premises of his drug store at S39 Baldwin street on November l. Dun- . can pleaded not guilty, and he was de- tended by Attorney Carmody. Two young men, apparently Italians, or na- lives of southern Europe, sat behind Prosecuting Agent Pierce, and when the latter called out the name John Dinnie," the youngest of these fe- sponded and took the stand. He said he was IS years of age and his home New Haven. He did not look as intel ligent as Detective McClair's "spot- I0ES- lOOks 4u1S yOuuS 16lAON wore dark blue sweater, his hair was rough and black as night and he seemed in need of a good sleep. He testified that on November 1 he went to the store in question with friend and had two drinks of whfskey and beer, for which he paid. That was the extent of his direct testimony. Under cross-examination by Attorney Car mody. Dinnie said he has lived in New Haven for the past nine years, coming from New York, where he lived four years. He came from syria, his na- tive place. in Europe, to New York. He has been in the detective business about a year and has been known as John Tagrinnie, the name of his native town. His visit here on November l was his sixth time here. He was here in October and stayed at the Aldridge house on Bank street, an establishment no one seemed to know. He also stayed in board house kept by a Miss Fellows at 263 Bank street He al= ways came from New Haven by the Cheshire road. His last visit was oc- casioned by the incompleteness of his work done on previous visit, so that he had but little to do He walked from the Merfden depot direct to Dun- cans place. called for the drink for himself and friend and after talking quarter of an hour, took his depar- ture for New Haven. That time he was only two hours here. He first came here as a peddler of silks. His people conducted little store in New Haven and he drummed up trade for them. Firing of this he went into the detective business Before leaving New Haven the last time he was given fI1l1 fncfT7T0Tinr1C hnx 4<1r !, ,s- trip. He was given the full particulars how to approach Duncan's place, the name, number on the street. etc. He had box of jewelry with him to help conceal his purpose. Frequently dur ing his evidence he referred to his note book, but 1t turned out that when he did not testify from his book he told story different from what it con. tained. His book showed that he gave $1 each time for the drinks. whereas he testified he gave $1 the first time and half a. dollar the second time. Again, his book showed he left Dun. can's at 1:45. while he testified he left there at s'2:65," he thoug1t. He was asked if he told any untruths to Dun- can or to anyone else and he said that if he did 1t was because it was in his business. Then he was asked if he un- derstood an oath. and he said he did. He was asked if he ever took an oath. and he said he did not.
 "What is an oath?" asked MT Car mody.
 Liquor" said the witness, and ey- erybody laughed
 MT Pierce stepped up to the witness stand and the witness looked at him. Mir Carmody bade the witness not to look at Mir Pierce. but to look at him. Mir Pierce refuted' the intimation. and MT CarmOdy resumed his examination. and handed him over to Mir Pierce when he had him tied up in confusion. The witness said he did not know of any consequences of taking an oath. or any moral wrong or punishment for taking false oath.
 Mir Pierce, however, got the young man to rights, under his method of examination, but Mir Carmody objected to 1t, claiming that it put the answers on the witness's tongue, and the court sustained him. The witness said that he understood from Mir Carmody's question, What was an oathT' if he had ever been drunk Finally the wifi ness said he. believed in God and in law; that God was the law of the world and the other law the law of courts. With this answer he gave way to Afriends Nicholas Setica.
 The climax to the case against Dun- can was quite sensational Setica was telling a far different story from that of Dinnie. For instance. Dinnie said he told Setica what to enter in their notes. while Setica denied Dinnie ever saying anything to that effect. Two or three times Dinnie was found com municating with Setica by signs and thus prompted him. Setica testified he was only once before in the town. but witness testified to seeing him here several times. Finally it was deemed advisable to remove the spot fers from the room while one of lneir number was on the stand. When the arguments were about to begin Judge Peas1ey said he could not find anyone guilty on the evidence of such witness es as Dinnie and set1ca. It was evil dent that they felt the obligation to tell the truth very lightly and that Their adherence to instructions was stronger than their inclination or de sIra to tell the truth. He surely could mt hold anyone on testimony from 4uch men and he accordingly dis zch5F4ed the case against Duncan
 <7>ein prompted Nr Pierce 10 remark