Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-15
PRESTON MANAGED
States Witness is Being Drawn
 Deeper Into Murder Case.

For the first time since the Bassett murder trial began week ago last Monday, Preston, whom 1t was ex- pected would turn states evidence, felt the cold manacles of the law Wednes- day. He was taken to jail handcuffed and in that way he has been taken every afternoon since The few priyi. leges that were his before then have been taken away from him, while Bag sett seems the happiest man within the walls of the county jail.
 If it turns out that the jury will sac- quit Bassett he will be the luckiest man alive, for having been pardoned from a sentence of eight years in Au- burn state prison, N. r., for burglary, he cannot be re-taken into custody for that crime. His name was scarcely mentioned in the case yesterday, ex- cept when he was told to stand up for Identification to see if he was one of the men who inquired along Plank road for work the afternoon of the day of the assault. 1t seemed that Preston was the man who was on trial, not Bassett, for not one of the witnesses called for the defense seemed to have ever heard of Bassett until after the arrest of Leonard, Cenesky and Pres ton.
 Francis Missel. John Spellman. Ed ward S. Lewis, all testified that they first heard of this idea of robhing Lockwood from Preston. They met a few times on the green and it was ever on Preston's mind to have the old man robbed. Preston told one of them one night when they were alone to- gether that Cenesky had decided to do the job alone, but he, Preston, would not permit Cenesky to have all the old mans money, for he would get drunk and become indiscreet. According to one witness they had started out to do the job when it raiIied and they went home. Another night Lewis left them after they had been some time on the way and that broke up their plans for the time. They had no definite plan Of action arranged, but it appeared to be their. uniform opinion that no harm should befall the old man. neverthe- less they were to have gone armed.
 A man living in the Brooklyn dis trict, who was known as "Skin," was to help in the job if Lewis. Speilman or Alissell failed to show up. It seemed that Skin" was anxious to go, vet he was never in any of the parties that had been defeated. once by rain and once by Lewis leaving.
 Finally Preston told Lewis that he was going to get out of it anyway" and Lewis said that when he at length heard that the job was done he did not believe 1t had been done by Cen esky or Preston or any of the others mentioned, but by some one who had got there before them. He did not re- port the matter to the police for that reason.
 Yesterday was one of the most tedious since the trial began. The evil dence was entirely accumulative, and everybody was glad when court ad- jonrned.
 The crowd waiting outside to see the prisoners depart was larger than any afternoon since the trial began. so large. in fact that policeman was put on duty there to keep free the way to the carriages. Preston no longer holds his head erect He seems a diff ferent man since the. handcuffs were put on him. while Bassett seems as light-hearted as seems possible under the circumstances.