Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-18
Twenty Prisoners Put Gn Plea
 This Morning.
THE COURT ROOM WAS PACKED


 the First Called-Several of the Pris-
 oners Charged with Various Offenses Plead Guilty.
 The superior court, criminal side, opened to-day, with Judge Elmer on the bench. Court opened at 10 o'clock and prayer was offered by the Rev Father Slocum. 1t was the first time in the history of the local court that n Catholic clergyman appeared in an off, cial capacity, and for the first time | also, the seating accommodations of the room, though it is among the largest in the state, were far from suf- ficient. And yet only members of the bar and those directly concerned in the matters on the docket were allowed in the room. Sheriff Rigney stood guard at the entrance and barred all who were drawn thither by curiosity. Even then the majority of the attorneys, jurors and scores of witnesses had to stand. This is d feature hitherto not allowed during proceedings of the SUI perior court.
 There were twenty cases on the docket. The prisoners put to plea an- swered as follows TatriclS Dwyer, in decent assault, guilty; Joseph Dolan, theft of typewriter, guilty; Daniel OConnor of Naugatuck, rape, guilty; Michael Breen, breach If the peace in stoning trolley car, not guilty; Will liam Seery, displacing a trolley switch, not guilty; Timothy Ryan, burglary, James Reynolds burglary, not guilty. This completed the jail list and a short recess was taken to allow counsel to confer with the prisoners. The other cases were: Joseph Petkus, adultery; Joseph Cavanaugh. theft from person; Lucy Kamatus, adultery; Vincent Silva, attempted bribery; James Shearon, se- duction. The following were charged with breach of the peace: George Wildman, Edward Moesche, Philbert Fontaine, Dennis Sweeney, Michael Fischer, Joseph Varnasse and Peter Bergin. These cases sprung from the trolley strike and each Is charged on three counts, breach of the peace, throwing stones at car, and throwing stones through a car window.
 After recess the jury was err1- pannelled and the case against Michael Breen was put on. Breen was defend ed by Attorney Cassidy. He was charged on three counts of attacking trolley car on the eveA.ng of Febru- ary ?.
 Detective Cahey was the first wit ness called by the state. His evidence was to the effect that on the date of the accusation he was on duty on South Main street about 12:15 o'clock n. m. Near Jefferson street he saw two troll ley cars passing and at the same time the accused stepped out of the shadow or Jefferson street. raised his right hand and immediately crash of glass m window of one of the cars fol- lowed. Witness ran toward him and accused ran up the street. Witness shouted Catch him." and accused col lided with two men. His hat fell off and he ran into Officer Hickey, who slipped and fell. Hickey Joined in the pursuit and Officer Bowling also. Ac. cused got out, of sight for while. run ming up Scovill street. When witness saw accused next he was in the GUS tody Of Bowling and Hickey. Officer Geraghty picked up the hat and it was returned to accused in the police sta tion. At the request of Attorney Cassidy witness drew n map of the scene of the attack, showing where the cars were at that time; Jefferson, Scovill Union and Grand streets. There were no passengers on the car in which the glass was broken. According to the last count in the complaint there were passengers in it. The above was re- peated by Officers Hickey and Bowling. Hickey testified in the city cont to Ixs xsa
 he resisted arrest. He also said he was drunk. Bowling testified that he did not lose sight of Breen from inc time- he heard Sergeant Cahey shont until he himself arrested him.
 According to Officer Bowling there were about ten persons on the sidewalk between Jefferson and ScoyilI streets. Omeer Geraghty testified the street was in an uproar and good many of the windows in the car were broken. This closed the prosecution and Breen was put on the stand. He testified chat he was on South Main street at the place and date in question. He saw a man throw something at the car and seeing Sergeant Cahey on the op- posite side of the street The ser geant cried out Catch him'' and he uSSHaSu It pIuueHI IO get out or harm $ way. He ran He lived near by. but believed that it would not be safe to remain, ard besides that, having heard that the sergeant was after him, he started to run.
 In the city court next day he was tried for intoxication. resistance and stoning a car. On the first two he was sentenced to 60 days in jail and bound over on the thfTd Last June he came to town after serving three years in the Philippines. Attorney Cassidy asked him what battles he was in, but the state objected and the question was ruled out. His army discharge was entered as evidence. Under cross-examination he testified he did not run until he saw the officer making toward him, but the principal reason of his running was because he knew the officers were after him, be- cause he was advised by them to leave town or thev would make trouble for