Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-23
DEFENSE OPENS IN
 THE ToMLINSoN CASE.
Effort Will Be Made to Prove an AIibi Court Will Come in Monday Morn ing to Finish Case.


 The entire day Friday was spent in the trial of the state vs. George Tom
 linson. charged with criminany as- saulting Helen E. Smith. When court opened Attorney Geary continued his
 cross examination of the Smith girl
 The girl said she lived with Mrs. Daniel E. SweeZy in Groton when she first went there and before she went
 to the Avery home. Mrs. Sweezy ad- ylsed her to keep away from there, as Mrs. Avery was a trouble maker. The girl denied that Mrs. Avery had threat
 ened to send her to reform school if
 she did not say it was George Tomlin-
 son who did it. She said Mrs. Avery
 told her she would have to go there if
 she did not tell things just as they
 were. The testimony of the girl was
 not finished until noon.
 pr. F. II. Hartman was then called
 and as an expert answered a number
 of questions as to, the girls condition
 and was cross examined by Attorney Geary.
 Eben D. Buxton of Brookline, Mass, testlhed that he was a brother-in-law of the girl and told of Tomlinson mak
 ing visit to his home when the girl was there. He told of the conversa- tlon Tomlinson had with the girl He said she could not be made to come here to testify against him. She ac- cused him of the crime but otherwise made no reply to him.
 Assistant Clerk Norman testified that the bond was called in the Tom linson case on Sept. 23 of this year.
 Helen Smith was called and testified that she was the daughter Of MT. and Mrs. William B. Smith. Her father is moulder and she was born in this city. Town Clerk Holbrook showed by the records that Helen Edith Smith was born here Jan. 13. 1892, being the tenth child in the family.
 Bertha Brown of Baltic street tes- tiied that Helen lived with her for a while in January of this year She brought two women home one day and
 introduced them as Mrs. Sweezy and Mrs. Baker, but she did not hear any conversation among them. At this point the state rested.
 Mother of Accused Called.
 As the first witness for the defense Mrs. Jane Eliza Lamb. mother of George Tomlinson, was called. She said that her husband died last Feb ruary and the father of the accused died number of years ago. She has been a resident of Groton 26 years. Her son attended school until he was r, since when he has worked. hay ing been employed at the shipyard there and lately in Providence. At the time of the assault she said her son was employed at the Marquardt mar ket and that he came home from work at seven o'clock and had his supper He remained at home that night. not going out at all.
 A brother, John Tomlfnson aged 1T 17, testified that George came home | to supper on the night of the assault | about 6.30, and remained there until | he went to bed at nine and was there | then.
 Mrs. Signe E. Sweezy. upon being | called testified that her husband is | a conductor on the New Haven road. She formerly lived here and for ten | years had known Helen Smith, She also knows the Avery family. She tes- -ifed that Helen told her that Tomlin- son was not guilty of the crime. She claimed Helen told her that if Babe was blamed the Avery family would force her out of the house and send | her to reform school. She claimed she met the Smith girl here one day and went to her boarding place with her at the request of the girl and then -hey went to New London to see the state attorney.
 She was given a long ss-examina- jon, which has not been completed. To Major Hull she said that on the second day of court in the January F term she spoke to Helen about the f natter in the court room, and that hey went out together without being r excused from court and went over to he Otis library She declared Helen E stayed outside while she went in and Ooked around. They then walked down F Q Franklin square, where she intend { ed to take the car for her fathers in laurel Hill section, when Helen said 'he wanted to go to the Auditorium, md she said She would take her, and t vent there with her. paying both ad- k They were there an hour Lnd they parted at Shetucket street 'orner. Helen had asked her to come ID with the Tomlinson girl and told s Ter the telephone call where she could 'e found To the state attorney she aid she forgot the number. so had to ook it up when she and Miss Tomlin- on came up here later. She telephon- d to the mill where Helen worked and l. walked un Franklin street to meet her. Helen came down Boswell avenue and net them. and they went to her board ng place in Baltic street. Miss Tom nson was introduced as Mrs. Baker, o that she would not be known as be- ng interested in the Tomlinson case ,lalm1ng that it was at the request of he girl all three then went to New .ondon, she paying Helen's fare. They 7ere going down to see the state at- orney. She claimed she took such in crest in Helen because Helen asked CT to. She declared she had never ome up here so as to put a story in Ielen's mouth. She said that there had not always cen happiness between herself and ]