Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-17
SUPERIOR COURT OPENED
Judge Robertson Presided Here
 This Morning.

Nine Prisoners Brought Up in the
 Chain Gang Several Prisoners
 Pleaded Guilty and Were Sentenced
 to Jail-John L. Kingsbury Said Not
 Guilty and Will Be Tried Tomorrow
 Short Calendar and Civil Business.
 The superior court, criminal side, opened here to-day at 9:30 o'clock, Judge s. H. Robinson, who last week closed the May term, civil side, presid- ing, and prayer was offered by the Rev Louis H. Holden, assistant pastor Of the Second Congregational church.
 The usual chain gang that never fails to come with the opening of this court comprised nine prisoners and were in the custody of County Sheriff Durham and Deputies Spencer of Sey- mour, Sweeney of Naugatucll and keepers from the jail. There did not seem to be much interest manifested in the term for the court was singul- arly clear of the customary crowds that accompanies the prisoners from the depot to the court house. Exclus- i've of the members of the bar and few colored people, the remnants of John l.. Sullivan's ssUncle Toms Cab- in'' company that disbanded here some weeks ago, there was no one in the room to show any special interest in any of the nine men in the dock. After the calling of the docket tne prisoners were put to plea as follows: John Bain, theft from person of a gold watch and pocket knife from Ar thur Pratt. Not guilty. Attorney Phelan was appointed his counsel.
 John l.. Kingsbury, 14 theft of gold watch and a silver watch valued at S55 from George Harris on Febru- ary 3. Not guilty. Attorney Bauby was appointed to conduct his case.
 Isaac L. Harper, theft of gold watch valued at s. 0 from Moses Ou- miett on April '. Attorney Church was appointed his attorney.
 Thomas Mulholland and Edward Murrican were jointly put to plea to statutory burglary of Mrs Elizabeth Kenney's saloon on East Main street at the corner of Dublin street. They plead guilty.
 Frank Maxwell, William Fairfax, William Camerell and Horatio Mat thews charged with theft of a velvet suit, a zither-guitar, a bicycle skirt and an automobile coat valued at $92, the property of Lucille Salome. They plead not guilty. These were mem- bers of the Uncle Toms Cabin" com pany that was broken ID by attach ments served by Sheriff Rigney and Constable Donahue. Their case was given to Attorney Slavin. This dis posed of the "chain gang" and a short recess was taken to allow the attorneys to consult their clients.
 Upon resuming the prisoners were again put to plea, it having been un- derstood that many of them had un- dergone a change of mind.
 Harper plead guilty, likewise Bain. and the four colored men. Msxwell. Fairfax, Camerell and Matthew In their cases the value of the Ssoods stolen was reduced to $25, thereby en- titling them to a considerably lighter sentence than they otherwise would have received.
 Bain was the first prisoner sentenced. Tn response to the court he said he was never before in trouble with the law and on that account he was dealt light ly with. He was sentenced to six in jail.
 Mulholland and Murrican were next. A bad record stands against Murrican. MulhOlland has no record Both att tributed their present difficulty to in- toxication. The court pondered a long time before announcing sentence. Mur- rican was given one year in jail and the advice to abstain from drink, and Mulholland will be confined in jail four 
 Harper received sentence next. Ap- it was his first time in court. He has family consisting of a wife and four children and his age is B years. He was sentenced to six in jail.
 The cases of Maxwell. Fairfax. Cam erell and Matthews were then consid- cred. The fact that they sswere strand ed'' here. left strangers in a strange place. without a cent and desirous of getting to their friends. played a prom iment wart .in their case. Each was sentenced to two months in jail and fine of S10 and costs.
 It was then announced that the cases against James ShearOn. VietrO Varoni. Relaney and William Deyoy
 
 Court then adjourned to tomorrow when the case of the state vs John l.. Kingsbury. who would not change his plea, will be tried by the jury.
 Tn the superior court to-day be- fore taking uD criminal business Judge Robinson called the civil docket and ordered twenty-five cases be stricken off There was some opposition to the claim to strike off the case of George H. Boughton and it was allowed to re- main on.
 Short calendar in the superior court will be held Friday morning for the arrangement of civil business.
 The case of Daniel McGrath against the St Joseph's Lithuanian society which went on trial to a jury yesterday in the district court has been continued with the prospect of settlement.