The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-03
MATSON GETS
OFF WITH SI5O
FINE and COSTS
JUDGE CASE LENIENT BECAUSE
OF BRIDGEPORT MANS UP
RIGHT LIFE PAST TWO
YEARS.
HAD BAD PREVIOUS RECORD
AND SERVED 4-YEAR SEN.
aH>cS TENCE IN STATES
PRISON.
Especial from United Press.)

Case in the Superior court here, to-
day.
Afatson was guilty Of cashing a
check for $41-s2 in Meriden that was
no good. Matson has several aliases
and has served a term in Wethers-
field When arrested he was living
with his bride in Newcastle, Pa,
where he had a lucrative position in
the Shelby Tube Works.
His case was ably pleaded by Attor-
nsy John Cullinan of Bridgeport.
Judge Case in the criminal side of
the New Haven Superior court was
asked to say yesterday whether he
would send to prison or to jail a man
whos- after a-bad previous record,
committed q crime two years ago, fled
the State and then, under new condi-
tons had suddenly turned his back
upon evil. went to work, handled much
money without falling, met woman
and married her and lived an abso-
lutely upright and honest life. He
was before the court charged with the
crime of two years ago. Judge Case
postponed his decision in the matter
until this morning.
That man Is Edward F. Matson,
atlas John r. wilson. alias George o.
Bow4er. In 1907 he concluded a four
year sentence In State prison at Weth-
efH0eld for passing fraudulent check.
IN was arrested during the next two
years for minor offences and In the
lister part Of 1909 he was in Meri-
den- He went to the Office of DR..
James b Dinnan and represented that
he was George O. Fowler, agent for
the Buick Motor Company. He had a
check drawn on the Fourth National
Bank, Of Detroit-there is no such
bank-anc signed by F. E. Beach,
oh
ana he asked DIR. Dinnan to identify
him at the Home National Bank. DR..
Dinnan did identify him and endorsed
tho check.
, Arrested I'm South Norwalk.
Mafson disappeared and, as subse-
Que1iy discovered, went to South
Norwalk. There he passed another
check Of larger denomination and was
arrested but restitution was made by
his family and he left the State before
he could be arrested for the Meriden
offence
Then comes the tale of his regen-
Grafton, as told yesterday in court by
State Attorney Alling, Attorney John
J. Cullinan of Bridgeport, and by the
prisoner, who was questioned by Judge
He-stole his way on freight trains
from South Norwalk to Buffalo where
he hung around for a little while pam
handling and trying to get work. He
shifted then to Newcastle, Pa, with
out a cent in his pocket and with a
stomach which had been craving food
for "A hours. He stopped in front of
a restaurant and finally found courage
enough to enter and ask a chance to
do a little work, that he might get
something to eat. The proprietor put
him at work and when the day was
over he gave him what money was
due him and inquired what he was
engaged at Matson told him that he
had not eaten that day and had no
sleeping place to go to. The restau-
rant man gave him a note to friend,
and told him to come back in the
morning. This Matson did.
Stopped Drinking.
The derelict had always been a
heavy drinker and most of the Of
fences which caused him trouble were
either committed during his drinking
or while craving for it. AS the days
Heightened into weeks. Matson began
to regain q little confidence in himself
and his sobriety and industry earned
him 20 high a place in his employers
9egard that he made him assistant
manager OF the restaurant and very
often he was alone in charge of the
plaza He took care Of the receipts,
which amounted sometimes to $50 a
day, and banked his employers
In the meantime he met a young
woman. q widow, who lived in ELL
wood City a few miles away. The
friendship:. ripened into something
FROM the outset she appeared to have
. beneficial influence upon him and
her brother, who was a lesser official
In the Shelby rolling mills of the
American Steel Company at Ellwood
City, obtained for him a position in
The salary was small but within a
year Matson's hard work earned him
two promotions . He had found hap
piness and was finding success.
Was Arrested on Circular.
When the Meriden offense was COM
United the Meriden police sent no.
tices OF it broadcast, with a descrip-
ton Of the man wanted. One of
them q short time ago, fell into the
hands Of the Ellwood City chief of
police and he Immediately commune
Gated with the Meriden authorities
Matson was living at Ellwood City
under the name of Joseph Huber. He
was arrested and brought back upon
requisition papers.
In the court room yesterday was
his wife and father, and Attorney
Cullinan, was there at the request
OF the father to look out for his in,
terests. His mother was reported as
dying at ner nome In bridgeport anO
the shock of his latest arrest. it was
said, was partly responsible for he1
serious condition.
When the case was first called he
was put to plea upon a count charg-
ing him with obtaining money under
false pretenses, instead of the more
serious charge of forging and utter.
ing. He entered a plea of guilty and
later he was called before the bar fol-
sentence.
State Attorney Alling went over the
record of the accused and then told
the court of his regeneration which
he ascribed in a great degree to the
influence of his wife. He conclude
by saying that he didn't know exactly
what to do with the man. He finally
said he would not make any recon-
menda ton, that he would leave the
matter in the courts hands.
Attorney Cullinan said that the
state, in giving him a chance to plead
upon the lesser charge had done all
and perhaps more than could be ex-
pected- He knew that no plea fol
clemency could be based upon Mat
sons former record but he believed
that great deal of consideration
should be given to the mans apparent
effort TO walk in the way of upright
men. Even though there was no way
of telling that this reform was per-
nanent, he said, there surely was
some promise when a man for two
years had done nothing which would
cause anybody to suspect hi moi any
thing. The people of Ellwood City
ne said were surprised at his arrest