The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-21
STILL PROSECUTING
Defense in Case of Caldwell S. Johnstone Will Start
 To day.
JUNK DEALERS TESTIFY
Tell of Dealings With Accused--Dr Gompertz Returns to Stand-.Auto
 Experts Give Figures.

The trial of Codwell S Johnstone on the charge of theft of parts of an au- tomobile was continued in the eriml- nal side of Superior Court yesterday The prosecution was not finished when thought that 1t will ast until Friday morning before it goes to the jury. The witnesses in the morning were Clarence Murmus, and Louis and Jacob Alpert All three are junk dealers The first Murmus, told the following: He tes- ttfed that the accused came to his place of business on Sept l7 and in quired if witness\ would go with him as he had iron and brass 10 sell Murmes said they went away In Johnstones g au- tomohile He had known Johnstone for two years and that he had been in the automobile business at St. John and Olive streets.
 The two men went to Whitneyvlle and here witness saw tho wrecked au- tomoble, He said that four men were there at the time, two of them be ing Louis and Jacob Albert. two other junk dealers
 Continuing, witness said MT John stone told me the automobile had been on fire, and that it belonged to a doe tor MT Johnstone said he was boss of the automobile now. offered him S5 for the rear axle and he refused to take it. as he said he wanted it him self
 Witness then said he negotiated the purchase of the engine for one of the Alperts for $5 and that Johnstone gave him receipt for the money written on a back of one of Murmes' business scards This receipt was produced in court hut if is alleged hy the state that Johnstone signed a fictitious name to it.
 The other two witnesses, the Al- perts, corrohorated large part of his story
 The first witness in the afternoon was Nlyer Chase He had been work ing on the machine with the Alperts, l he said, when Johnstone came up and drove them away, saving that the ma chine was his, and that he represented the insurance company He said that he asked Nurmes how much he would give for 1t and was offered S5,
 Louis Albert told largely the same story.
 The stenographer in the trial court in liamden that tried Johnstone was l put on the stand to read parts of the testimony of the previous hearing.
 There was a dispute over this that the court ruled in favor of the de- fondant's attorney, Hamilton
 William Kennedy, New York auto mobile expert who said that there he gave advice on automobiles in estimat- ing the value of wrecks, was put on the stand to testify as to the value of the parts alleged to have been taken. He said that the parts left af- ter the burning of the automobiles woodwork were worth about $700. Attorney Hamilton objected to the question as he said that he thought tho question too hypothetical, but the ,ourt allowed the question.
 on cross-eXamination the witness said that he did not think that the fire in the woodwork had rendered the iron and steel valueless.
 After q recess, the cross-e xamina- ton of the same witness was contin- ued. He finished by stating that the various pieces that made up the rear part of the automobile were worth about $159
 Charles Lee, an employe of an auto mobile place for four years, followed He said that he was an expert. ir wrecked automobile values and had ex perience in values In wrecks where burning had occurred.
 He said that the parts left were worth about ST00 after the fire, Two shafts that were frequently mentioned in the testimony were shown to him and he said that both Were of value | one seeming all right and the othel :. only slightly warped
 He said that the machine could have been fixed up so that it would run fol slOo hut that it would take considera bly, more than that to put 1t in tho shape that il was in before the fire
 nr, Louis Gompertz was again pu on the stand to testify as to conyer sation he had overheard
 He said; T was in yard next tC that back of Mr Johnstone's house oi Friday, September tS He and Detec tive Dorman and pr Mcdonnell wer' talking In hls backyard MT John stone told Detective Dorman that hC , did not remember the name of tho , iunkman but thought he was callet . Myer. Mir Johnstone was asked wher he got tho rear axle of the automobil and he said that he bought 1t from junkman for s5.
 Dr. Gompeft2 heard remarks ahou the rear parts of the automobile beini , worth from 800 10 Slo) and that tn . engine was in good shape. , During the cross examination Attor ney Hamilton asked the witness if h ] had not testified differently at the tria ? in Hamden, but he did not alter hi , story,
 , The court adjourned until this morn