The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-10-08
In and ABOUT The COURTS
JUDGE RoRABACK HEARS CASES
IN CRIMINAL SUPERIOR COURT.

Edward Peterson, Charged With Arson,
Sent to Insane AsyIum-FredericI<
johnson, Charged With Assault In
Milford, Sentenced for One Year In
Jail.
Jury business began in earnest in
the criminal superior court before
Judge Roraback yesterday morning. A
few cases on pleas of guilty were dis
posed of and then the trial of cases be-
gan.
John Minkins. colored, changed his
plea from not guilty to guilty and was
sentenced to one year in Jail. He was
charged with an attempt to burglarize
Whitney avenue on the night of Sep
TENDER 10. There were two in the par
ty but Minkins' companion escaped
Frederick Johnson, colored, of Mil
ford, charged with assault on Joseph
Lowry at Milford on July IL, 1903; also
changed his plea to guilty. The charge
against johnson was assault with in
tent to kill, for he pulled out knife
and stabbed Lowry in two places. But
it appeared that Johnson was provoked
into quarrel by remarks made to him
by members Of a party of which Lowry
was one, and he resenting the disparag-
ing remarks, picked out Lowry as the
author of them He was sentenced to
one year in jail.
The first case placed on trial was
that against Edward Peterson, charged
with arson. He was charged with set
ting fire to a barn in Whitneyville on
August l belonging to Howard Sher-
man of New York. The barn was burn
ed down. Peterson is d man of low
mental order and the defense was i'm
sanity. Some years ago, according to
the testimony of John H. Sherman of
New York. a son of Howard Sherman,
a boy member of the Sherman family,
in play shot out one of Petersons eyes.
Since that time the man had been more
cratic and eccentric than before. Mr..
Sherman said that Peterson had been
in the employ Of his family for good
Setst dha was 6OOu# idbOlCl,
but did not regard him as responsible
person. He said that once Peterson
went for three years without speaking
a word to anybody. At another time
he was found living In a cellar way
on Money Island. Stony Greek. Peter
son was nude and clothes and valuables
We're strewn about the cellar floor. The
charge OF Judge Roraback to the jury
strongly pointed to the responsibility
of the accused. and the jury was out
but about five minutes before they re-
turned verdics Of not guilty because
OF insanity. Judge Roraback signed a
commitment to take the man to the
state insane hospital at Middletwon.
George e. Haight and Alfred Daw-5
son, both coIored; were next placed on
trial, chargd with an attempt to burg
larize Horizons saloon at the corner of
COTE and Orchard stree is, on the even
ing of August 9th. The cases were not
finished and were continued until to-
day.
The following named jurors were i'm
panelled for duty in this court:
Beacon Falls, DIN d. Buckingham,
George S. Baldwin; Bethany, Tyler d.
Davidson, Dwight Humiston; Bran
ford, Barlow Honce, Samuel Foote;
Prospect, George T. Fem, Edgar G..
Wallace; Southbury, William E. Plat,
Samuel p, Averill. George B. Russell;
Wallingford William E. Hall, Charles
B. Terrell. Joel r. Hough; Waterbury,
George III. Goodwin, Charles H. Per-
kins; Wolcott ]. Henry Garrigus.
Francis e. Cole.
I In the superior court yesterday after
noon Edward Howcott pleaded guilty
to theft In Branford and was sentenced
to ten months in Jail
George Robbie pleaded guilty to al
theft from TIE New Haven Clock COM
pany and was sentenced to six months
in jail
John Lowat pleaded guilty to charges
of theft and burglary. He was given
six months in Jail on each count,
BERLIN CONSTRUCTION co. SUED.
Before Judge Shunway in the supe-
rior civil court yesterday was heard
the case of Regolo Neri against the
Stanley works Of New Britain ct all. He
claims $4,000 damages. On November
Is, 1902, while at work at the plant Of
the Berlin Construction company in
Berlin, a large crane belonging to
plaintiff gave way and fell on his left
hand, severing three fingers. He was
otherwise injured. Plaintiff lives in \
Washington avenue, this city.
n, -------- ------------
HOWARD KIMBERLY WILL CASE.
The Hobart Kimberly will case was
I'M for argument Yesterday II, tha y,y,o-