Norwich bulletin., 1912-08-23

At the hearing before Judge Breed in the town court of Stonlngtou We'd nesday, in the case against Charles Blumen t@rg. the ex-railroad man. charged with attempting to break and enter the Mystic railroad station, the E. W. Carpenter company clothing store and the Workingmen's club in Pawcatuck, several Rhode Island of- flcers and two railroad detectives were present and taking notes. They were Chief Thomas K. Brown, Sergt. Edwin E. West and Frederick T. Mitchell of the Westerly police department, John R. Wilcox, sheriff of Washington county, and Railroad Detectives Vim cent of New London and Hanafy Of Providence.
 They were present to learn, if possi- bIe, whether Blumenthal could be. con- nected with robberies and attempted robbeIies in Westerly and Watch Hill and at stations along the line of the New York New Haven & Hartford railroad. The Westerly police are sat isfied that Blumenberg committed bur- gIary at the Ramon and Peters stores, as he was in Westerly at that time and the mode of entrance was identi cal with that at the Carpenter store In court Blumenberg testified that he had not been in Westerly for the past six months until last Saturday. Chief Brown and Sheriff Wilcox called on an amt of Blumenberg in Mechanic street. Pawcatuck, immediately after the hearing and learned that he had been in Westerly frequently during the past three months and was here on the day of the Downie & Wheeler circus, and at the time of the robbery of the Main street stores. Blumen- all ha 1AnnAafnH N1yi+h burglary of the Willard hardware store.
 Sheriff Wilcox believes that he saw Blumenberg at Watch Hill on two occasions during the period that breaks were being made at some of the cottages, and was about to appre- bend him as a suspicious character when he disappeared
 Detective Hanafy says he has been on the trail of Blumenberg for over two weeks. for entering the sharon station. and for robberies along the line of the system. The bunch of ci- gars that Blumenberg had in his pos session Hanafy identified as being stolen from the East Greenwich boat club house.
 Detective Vincent was personally acquainted with Blumenberg, when he resided in GrOton, and worked as brakeman. flagman and freight con- ductor. The detective was satisfied that Blumenberg committed burglary at the Groton ferry house in New London and when he started on the trail Blumenberg left his train and disappeared. He was subsequently, located in Springfield. Boston and Providence, but it was understood that no arrest would be made if he kept of (NnnnAnti1IIt Vincent declares that Blumenberg committed the robbery at the Edge comb store in Groton on the eighth of the present month and that arrange ment had been made to arrest him for that crime.
 Arthur N. Nash of Westerly, major of First battalion, First artillery dis trict, Rhode Island National guard, according to the latest returns from the state rifle range, did creditable work at revolver practice, leading in five events. At the fifteen yards, rap i'd fire, eight seconds, he scored 46 of a possible 50. At twenty-five yards, rapid fire. eight seconds. his score was A. Major B. A. Babcock scoring 43, and Lieut.. F. H. Partelo 43. At the twenty-five yards, timed fire, twenty seconds, Major Nash scored the pos sfble 50. At the fifty yards, timed fire twenty seconds, his score was A, and Major Babcocks 40. At the sev- enty-five yards. slow fire twenty sec- onds, Major Nash scored A.
 At the skirmish run, with the rifle, Major Nash scored 3S.
 Although of brief duration, there was a very severe storm in Westerly between 10 and Il o'clock Wednesday night, of the hail, rain, wind and thunder and lightning combination variety. A large maple tree in front of Reuters on the Watch Hill road was blown down, carrying with it the wires and three poles of the trolley and telephone line. Several telephones were put out of business, and traffic on .the trolley road was materially dis turbed- As soon as possible repairs were made Instructions removed. and trolley business resumed. Thursday. the poles were replaced and all evi- dence of the damage removed. So far as known the storm occasioned no other damage in Westerly.
 The thirty eighth annual eIambake of the Westerly Fat Mems club was held at Barnes point, Brightmau's pond, Thursday. There was a large attendance of members and guests. and the pleasures were fully up to the high standard The time was that to be eligible to membership in the club the candidate must weigh two hun- dred pounds or over, but now men of any weight and from any place are eligible. The weight standard is. however, maintained, but the scales are so adjusted that a candidate whose actual weight is no will tip the scales at 210.
 For thirty seven successive years these meets have been held at Bright mans, at the old Brightman home stead, but change was made this year to Barnes. as bakes are served no more at the famed Brightman's.
 All the granite for the new town hall and courthouse has been set, and the granite coping has been ali cut at the New England Granite works and delivered to the contractor except ten pieces. The work of laying the cop- ing will be commenced today (F41- day). In this work a four-legged der rick owned by the granite company, will be loaned to the contractor of the building. The idea of this form of derrick originated with Mechanical Engineer Roberts, who was employed by the New England Granite works before the main office was located in