The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-29
WORTHLESS BONDS
 FOR BENWELL HOME
Sharpers on Trial Charged With Conspiracy to De-
 fraud Worthy Couple.
Woman Signed Warranty
 Deed of Property With out Receiving Equivalent

The case of Walter H. Quimby of
 Worcester, Mass, and Hector c. Mo
 Lean of this city. charged with con- spiracy to defraud Geo. A and Emma
 c. Benwen out of their house and
 property at 19S Gilbert street last De-
 cember. is being heard before Judge
 Ralph Wheeler and jury in the Super
 for court. Mclean and Quimby. it IS alleged. went to the Benwen home rep resenting themselves as prospective buyers of the property. which the Ben
 wells stated was for sale. The price
 of $4.00O was agreed upon The two young men were willing to offer four
 $1. coo realty bonds. but the Benwelis
 wanted cash. One day Mclean went
 to the Benwell home asking Mrs. Ben
 well to sign a certain warranty deed of the property. telling her that he
 was going to her husbands place of
 business. which is at the Connecticut Paper Co.,, to get his signature. after
 wards. Instead of getting the huS-
 bands signature, Mclean went to the office of the town clerk. where the deed was recorded. Mclean then borrow ed S1.600 on the property at Burr &
 Knapp's. The Benwells were never given a cent for the property which is recorded in the name of the new own CTS.
 Mrs. Benwell. who has brought an action to recover her property. was the first witness called yesterday after noon. She stated that Mclean came to her house a year ago last Novem- Der. stating that he heard the prop erty was for sale. The answer was in the affirmative After considerable price for the home She was asked if she would not accept four Si 900 real ty bonds, but replied that she would take nothing but cash. The proposi- I- generally talked over among her hrs- band and the two buyers. She had heard her husband Insist upon cash. and also say that if the bonds were cash them She stated that Mclean called at her house with Notary George Sears on Dec. 10th. asking her to sign deed which he presented to her, stat ing that he was going to clear up the matter He requested her signature. stating that he was going to get that of her husbands right afterwards. She stated that she never received a cent for the transaction She admit ted that she had agreed to give Mir. Mclean s20 for his trouble in the mat ter. -.--.
 Assistant Town Clerk William T. Mullins testified that he was in the town clerks office at the time Mclean took out a certificate.
 In today's evidence Mir. Benwen cor roborated the testimony of his wife, given yesterday afternoon. stating the transactions he had with Mclean and Quimby regarding the sale of his house and his refusal to take the bonds. He denied that he ever receiv- ed any money from either Quimby or Mclean.
 Mclean on the witness stand stated that he was sent here by Quimby and a man named Batchellor. either to rent | or purchase a two family house for them. as they intended to enter in bus | mess in this city. When they were | here he was to enter their | employ. He had in his possession four bonds worth S1.0c0 each, which were | to be given for the purchase of the | house. When he secured Mrs Ben wells signature to the warranty deed | he intended to also get MT Benwe,I's | signature. but found that was impoS- sible. as Mir. Benwell could not leave T his work. He recorded the deed at I the town clerks office. and then went T to Burr & Knapp. It was his inten- ton to turn over the four bonds to the Benwells. but he became intoxi- cated- He was arrested only a few days later.
 Counsel for the Benwells claim that tie bonds. which are on the Realty & Trust Co.,. are worth noth- ing more than the paper they are printed on-