Norwich bulletin., 1909-11-04

Wednesday morning when the su- perior court came in. Judge Robin son charged the jury in the civil case of Joseph Peck vs. Ernest P. Chesbro. The jury retired at 1925 o'clock. They returned at 1920 o'clock and through their foreman reported that they had reached a verdict for the defendant.
 A recess was taken until 1.S0 o'clock.
 Roberts Sent to Jail.
 The prisoners who had pleaded not guilty when the criminal side of su- perior court came in here fortnight ago, were in court Wednesday to stand trial before Judge Robinson and the jury.
 Israel Roberts, who has been in jail awaiting trial for defrauding a board ing house keeper in Sterling, changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to Is days in jail by Judge Robin son.
 Capias Issued for Thomas Osier.
 Lester Henry, charged with intoxi- cation and assault, also changed his plea to guilty to intoxication and that of assault was nolled. State Attorney Searls stated that Henry was accused of having assaulted Thomas Osier of Killingly and that the latter had been summonsed to appear as a witness
 
 The attorney thought that, while the case was of a minor character. some action should be brought againast Os- fer. Judge Robinson ordered a capias to be issued and Osier brought before the court Friday to show cause why he did not put in an appearance on Wednesday.
 Judge Robinson sentenced Henry to 15 days in jail.
 
 Alice skinner's Case Tried.
 The case of. state vs. Alice Skinner, charged with attempt at arson at Hampton, on August IS, 1909, was taken up before Judge Robinson and a jury at 1.30 o'clock in the after noon.
 Defendant had previously entered a plea of guilty to breaking and enter ing the residence of Harriet Colburn at Clark's Corners, Hampton, on the 18th of August, 1909, and the larceny therefrom of some $59 worth of goods. Accused is charged with an attempt to burn the home of Mrs. Colburn. 2 The jury was impanelled to hear the evidence and pass upon the case, as follows: Edwin B. Latham and Ed ward s. Billings, Windham; James Chaplin George w. Saunders and William H. Harris. Pomfret; John E. Hibberd, Woodstock; Frank Rich, Plainfeld; T. D. Chandler, Hampton; Nelson Bennett, Putnam.
 Attorney Charles A. Capen of Will limantie appeared for the accused. State Attorney Charles E. Sarls pros- ecuted.
 Harriet Colburn testified to owning the house in Hampton that was bur glarized and broken into during the month of August while she was away, for she found things sbadly filtered up upon her return. She said, that there was oil upon the floor, in four of the rooms, and in one room there was a basket full of carpet rags sat- urated with oil. Mats upon the floors were also soaked with oil and some had been turned up and she found burned matches near them. At the time she went away the windows were nailed down and all the doors nailed up except the front one, which was locked with a key. Upon her re- turn the house showed evidences of having been broken into and a num- Der of things stolen. .
 Bureaus and trunks had been over hauled and silk dresses and the best of everything taken away. Upon going upstairs great disorder confronted her. A suit case, watch, knife, shire waists, dainty aprons and other small articles were stolen. She said that no one person could have carried off all the things that were stolen at one trip From the upset appearance of the house she believed that whoever did the job had taken plenty of time about it.
 Patrick Navin of Hampton testified to having known Mrs. Colburn for about twenty-five years and that there was no one living at her house during the month of August He testified that he had gone over there early in Sep tember and found oil on the floors, mats and carpets, and that there was also oil-soaked rags and that up- stairs everything was hit or miss and scattered all about. Trunks and boxes were open and their contents strewn around generally on the floor. Wit ness had seen the accused in Hamp- ton on August Is, being on the high way at the time. |. He next saw her in court at Hampton when she said that she had entered the house by means of a key and stolen the goods.
 Saw Three Burned Matches.
 On cross examination witness said that he only saw three burned match es on the floor.
 Mrs. Minnie Millerd of Mansfield tes- tified that she had visited the Golburn house Sunday, Sept. 5th. The main points in her testimony corroborated that of Mrs. Colburn with reference to oil on the floor. Had noticed three burned matches. The mats were singed, but not particularly damaged.
 John H. Fitts, deputy sheriff and se- lectman, put upon the stand, said that he had attended the justices trial and that the accused had said that she went into the house by the aid of key When he was taking her to jail he said that the accused had not told him that she did not try to burn the house but had spilled the oil. She had told him after being put to plea in the superior court that she was going to plead guilty to this charge, but did not