The Press., 1907-09-11

Superior Court.
The September term of the Tolland
county superior court opened in Rock
willie Friday with q short calendar
session before Judge Robinson. The
case Of the state against James q.
Billings of Somers was nolled. Mr..
Phelps stated to the court that the
marriage had since been legalized by
an act of the legislature, and that
Billings was providing for his wife
and child. Robert Mitchell, the en-
bezzling ticket agent OF Stafford
Springs, was sentenced to four months
in Jail. Judge Robinson admonished
the accused to leave liquor alone in
the future Mitchell was charged
with the embezzlement of $242 33
and a mileage book to the value OF
SO. George johnson, who has been
confined in Holland Jail awaiting trial
for the theft of horse in Stafford,
appears to be deranged He has many
deIusions, and will not be tried at
this term. If his mind continues
deranged, q commission will be ap-
pointed, and he will probably be sent
to the Middletown insane asylum.
Arthur Bedford of Hartford pleaded
guilty to burglary. and was sentenced
to not more than ! years and not
less than one year in state prison.
Harry Ravens of Hartford pleaded
guilty to theft, and was given six
months in Tolland Jail. The two
young men were engaged in the bur-
glary at the Vernon railroad station a
few weeks ago, when they secured
$42 from the ticket office.
The following jurors have been
drawn: Tolland, Ernest E. Hall;
Andover, Fred H. Sackett; Bolton,
Nathaniel Loomis; Columb ia, War
rem A. Collins; Coventry, John
Brown; Ellington. Howard H. No
Knight, Daniel H. MaIloy; Hebron,
Ernest s. Newcomb; Mansfield, Ben
jamin s. Bliss; Somers. Henry W.
Hanks, E. s. Fuller; Stafford, Frank
H. Baker. Lot O'Halloran; Union,
Fred Aldrich. Jr.; Vernon, John
Mulligsn, Frank B. Ogden; willing
ton, Oscar f. Himmeler.
The criminal term of court opened
yesterday. The first case assigned to
the jury was that of the state against
CLARK Howes of Holland. charged with
the shooting and asssulting of former
Representative John Dunn with intent
TO kill, in the Tolland post office,
May n. There was large attend
ance. Deputy Sheriff Price of Toll
land told of Howe's coming to his barn
on Saturday, two days before the
shooting, and telling him that Dunn
had ordered him to leave the Dunn
place and never to speak to his wife
again. The prisoner told witness that
Dunn ought to let his wife come to
him, as they both loved each other.
The officer told him that il Dunn
came to him he would advise him to
secure a divorce from his wife, if the
rumors were true, and let her go.
Frank W. Gardner, grain merchant
of Tolland, told of taking the revolver
away from Howes after the shooting
and giving il to Deputy Sheriff Price.
Mrs. Caroline E. Dunn then took the
stand. She said that on the afternoon
of May "a Howes, who had been en-
ployed on the farm for some two
years, came into the kitchen, where
she was at work. She was alone,
with the exception of her two small
children, who were outside. Hcwes
made improper proposals to her, which
she refused. He threatened her life,
and also that he would blow her hus-
bands brains out. He finally left,
and when her husband came home she
told him all about it. John ]. Dunn
told Of his wife telling him her story
when he came home. He then order
ed Howes to leave the place, and never
TO speak to his wife again. On the
following Monday, as q result of some
thing his wife told him, he started
out to have Howes arrested. He
found him at the post Office, in a rear
room, and asked him If he was going
to get out of town. Howes pulled q
revolver on him. Witness grabbed
an old hammer and struck Howes in
the head. He then ran back toward
the post office. Howes followed him
and fired five shots at him. One cut
the skin on top of his head, one cut
the coat shoulder and another entered
his left leg above the knee. Howes
then struck him severely with the
butt end of the revolver until men
pulled him of. Witness said that he
was taken home, and later taken to
the Hartford hospital. The case will
be continued to-day. Former At
torney General King of Willimantio
and Attorney r. H. Fisk of Stafford
Springs appear for the defense, and
State Attorney Phelps of Rockville for
the state.
On q motion of Attorney Reed of
Stafford Springs. John Buckley of
Union was admitted to the bar at the
morning session of court.