Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-17
Could Prove No Case Against
 Treasurer Purcell.
HIS CASE WAS AIRED TO-DAY

After Hearing All the Evidence on
 Both Sides, Judge Peasley Dis
 charged the Man-He Claimed He
 Did Not Abscond, But Only Went to
 Terryyille to See His Mother, Who
 Was Dying.
 The case of Nicholas p. Purcell, charged with aembezzlement of $91 from the Meat Cutters union, of which he was treasurer, came up in the city court to-day before Judge Peasley. At torney Russell defended. This case has excited the greatest interest among labor unions in the city. Wellington Wookey, 5 Cooke street, was the first witness. He testified that between August 28 and October 9 Purcell was treasurer of the union and that be- tween October 3 and November 13 wit ness turned over to him $66, for which he had receipts to show. This small item of evidence was not obtained until after considerable wrangling be- tween counsel, the defense being de termined to contest every statement. Wookey testified that in all there was handed over to accused as treasurer of the union $252 .36.. and that accused collected good deal of money from the members of which there was no record on the books. Wookey, there upon, began tedious disclosure of the records of his books. showing the amount each member had paid. This became so tedious that the court ad- vised the lawyers to retire to tho ante room with the witness and his books and prepare statement of his -eT'' dence. Upon resuming it was shaw | the items figured up S14.a0 "~1'i il "f- cused& collected as dues and di1 net account for to the union. On October |3O meeting of the union was held and a committee was appointed to in Iquire into PurcelPs books. Another meeting was held November 13. Pur- Icell was to be at this meeting, but he did not come. A committee was sent for him, but he refused to come, whereupon a second committee was sent and he then responded. The lcommittee then read the report of the investigation of the books and Purcell Isaid he knew he was short. that he dil not know how much. but no n2at+e'' whethe, r. r-as fifty cents CT $5A V" would make it good.
 Pros~~--t~-- Dvlrant endaavnred
 show more of the proceedings of% ti" meeting. but the defense objected and |stated in support of their claim that some time ago a prominent man was mulcted of $3.OO0 and the swindler fled to New Jersey. The governor of 1T +fA the governor of New Jersey. but the latter refused to acknowledge them, claiming that the state of New Jersey was not collecting agency for tho state of Connecticut. MT Russell meant by this that the union in ques- ton was trying to make of the city court collecting agency and of. cel- tain newspapers an aid to help it. MT Russell said that it was published in some of the local papers that Purcell had absconded when in reality he had only gone to, visit sick relatives at his old home in Terryville. Witness said he was elected treasurer when Purcell was suspended. On September Il he was elected assistant financial secre- tary and frequently he received mon ley with Purcell. He always got re- ceipt from Purcell for what money he himself received, but he did not get receipts from him for money he re- ceiyed. notwithstanding it should be re- ceived and accounted for by himself. It was not Purcells business to accept money from the members; he merely assisted witness. Witness did not re- call anyone named Collins acting as f. nancial secretary Witness never told Purcell he was short, but the trls- tees did Some of PurcelPs receipts did not bear his name and Attorney Russell undertook to show that wit ness did not recognize Purcelrs writ ing. Leroy Wright, former financial secretary, produced receipts in Pur- cells handwriting for $136 from May p to August 2S.. The union was or ganized May 4.
 John H. Green, trustee of the union, followed Wookey, after which Wookey was put on again. Wookey was cer- tain he could identify Purcelrs hand writing and Attorney Russell took him to task on this point. Wookey stated that Purcell, without any authority. took 300 tickets from the Central Labor union for the picnic Labor day and that the union was held accountable for them. Purcell, however. has paid S3O on the tickets and owes $7.50.
 Court adjourned at noon to o'clock, at which hour Samuel Weibel began his evidence. He was followed by Walter c. Hennessey. Both witnesses are trustees of the union. Their evi- dence was substantially alike and a corroboration of what had been given before. Weibel was recalled to the stand by the state, whereupon Judge Peasley remarked it was hardly neces- sary to proceed further. He saw no case against the accused, who, he said, is still a member of the union, and through half his term of office. The evidence showed that he had at the utmost only small sum of money on hand, $216, out of which he paid $195. It was evidently a row over tickets for