Norwich bulletin., 1911-09-09
WESTERLY COUNCIL TAKES ACTION
Offers $500 Reward For Robber in Newall Case MT. Nevall Offers Like Amount-Over Eighty Attend Lardn Family Reunion-Local Participant in State Golf Tournament.

After week of fruitless endeavor to capture the highwaymen who re- lieved David McG. Newau of s1.2OO the town council assembled Friday morning and offered a reward of $500 for the apprehension and detection of 1he robbers. which is the limit allowed by law. To this sum, MT. Newall has added an equal amount, making a total rswArd of $1.oeo. There was a lively dBcrssieu, in response te the assertion by Mir. Newail to the effect that the town oou1cA had shown a laxity of keasn n this oaAs and that the po- 33Do wurs Handicapped by lack of pro- N10oo 4o meet an emergency of this mAA s HsEall while finding no 691k S1A the personnel of the coun- cai c 1oace, did not consider the sys- fA@ oB adequate, and the result was a ursv1ng distrust among the people that Sas pre5udicial to the best interests of chs town As fair-sized taxpayer As wa9 entitled to the serious consid- eraten. as was any other citizen, of the town and he certainly expected respectful treatment. He had no doubt that the police were doing their Ses4, but their best under the present uystsm was not satisfying to the peo- yiA The police seemed willing to do hut they did not seem to have any, khfng to do with.
 On the day of the robbery and since 2r. NewaH has paid from his private purse for automobile hire, telephone and telegraph messages and other ex- panseS fin an effort to locate the rob kers. which tended to show that there ~as lack in the nagement of the police department, which is under the direct supervision of the town coun- ell. He believed there should he a fund available to meet police expenses in any emergency. and that more prompt action on the part of the coun- cil. that would carry with it increa sed police activity. He stated that if re- effort to capture the robbers that re- ward should have been offered before q whole week had elapsed.
 Councilman Flynn explained that it was his intention to introduce the mat ter of offering a reward at the regular meeting last Tuesday. but as he had seen Mr Newall and the town solicitor fin conversation that morning he pre- suuned that some other plan had been agreed upon.
 Assurance was given Mir Newan by the councilmen that the members of the council were desirous of doing all 1n their power to check lawlessness in Westerly and to safeguard the property and interests of the people. It was farther explained that the town had always paid the bills for transporta- tion- telephone and telegraph, and like expenses in the hunt for criminals, and that the case under consideration was no exception It may be that owing 10 the sickness of the chief, that the deputy chief exercised care in the in curing of expense in this case, not being familiar with the liberaiity of the council in such matters. and per hsps doubtful whether bills incurred would receive unanimous approval and colnmenGation
 There was considerable talk along that line and every member of the council had something to say on the subject.
 At the close of the discussion there was unsnimity of opinion that the town offer the highest reward allowed by law. and then followed the passage of the following vote:
 Voted. That the town council of Westerly. R l.. hereby offers a reward of $500 for the detection. apprehen- sion and conviction of the persons or any of them. committing the crime of robbery upon David McG. Newall. while on the highway near the village Of Bradford. in the town of Westerly, on the second day of September. 1911. Said reward 60 be pai0 to the person or persons entitled to the same by the town treasurer Of Westerly out of any funds of said town not otherwise spe- cially appropriated: all in accordance with section %. chs ter 90, of the gen eral laws.
 -A- -NtNaiA lAitsA AlatElAul4- NutItu v like reward. and that the public au- rounceruert of the reward include the combined sum rather than have two separate reward notices issued. and that all information be given to John R. Wilcox. sheriff of Washington coun- ty. or to Thomas F. Brown, deputy chief of police.
 The plan for the improvement Of Pierce stree vas approved, and no other business was transacted at the l meeting