Norwich bulletin., 1912-01-04

the criminal superior court on We'd
nesday morning when it looked as if
the entire jury would have to be ex-
oused from the trial of the case of
state VS.. Charles Fl. Crandall. 1t de-
veloped when the selection of a jury
started. T. L. Peabody and P. B.
Main of North Stonington were ex-
cused from the trial of this case by
request The request then came from
Carlton H, Skinner of Colchester that
he be excused as he had been talking
with Mr. Main in the jury room in
reference to the case.
Attorney Edmund Perkins said that
all the jury should be asked regarding
it, but 1t was found that only four
others had been talking concerning it
and what was said was of little or no
consequence, and the trial proceeded.
The courtroom was packed with wit
nesses, counsel and spectators such as
court officials could not remember
that it had ever been before, notwith-
standing some of the prominent muir
der trials. Every seat was occupied
and there were many standing. De-
spite the large attendance. good order
was maintained though the clerk found
it necessary to eject one man because
he persisted in talking out loud.
A new information was read to
Crandal, differing from the one to
which he pleaded not guilty, but he
made the same plea. The new charge
is breaking and entering, with intent
to commit burglary and with intent to
commit robbery with force. This diff
fers from the charge on which the 9TH
er three in the case pleaded guilty,
and is more serious as to penalty.
The first witness called was Civil
Engineer George e. Pitcher, who tes-
titled relative to plans made of the
locality and a floor plan of the Rath
bun house in North Stonington. The
house is 1897 feet from Mains cross
ing. He showed photographs he had
taken of the building and said that
he had found bullet hole and evil
dence Of powder marks on a door
jamb. He described the premises at
length and showed a place indicating
where there had been a stake in the
ground which was broken off. The
club, which it is alleged. was used in
breaking the windows of the house,
was lying in front of the states at
torney during the day. The engineer
could not say that it was the one
broken off. A sash of the window in
the living room was broken in. the
glass being smashed The glass panel
in the front door was broken, a wood
en- panel cracked and there was a
mark of a heel there.
Conductors Identify Men.
Conductor John S. Bennett, employ.
ed on the Norwich & Westerly road,
testified to knowing Charles CrandaIl
and had known him Is years.
He testified that Crandall got on his
car at 1910 a. m. with Donahue and
Larsen at Hamilton avenue, Deem
Der IS. The latter two got off at
Cassadock Hill station in North Ston-
ingtOn. DOnahue and Crandau sat side
by side and took turns paying the
fare. Crandan got off at Mains cross
ing.
He saw Them again at 1908, when
they got on at Mains crossing, all
three going into the smoking car. All
came to Norwich. There were not
many passengers on going down.
Conductor Henry Lyter testified to
living in Poquetanuck for year. He
is a conductor on the Norwich &
Westerly road in the afternoon and
evening.
| He could not tell where the three
got on his car, but he first noticed
Donahue, Larsen and EnOrigo as he
| was going up Fox hill. They got of
| at Cassadock Hill station, Donahue
| having requested it. Mr. CrandaH
was not there to his knowledge. They
! got to Cassadock hill about 7.45.
| L. w. Kinmouth of Ledyard, con-
/ ductor on Norwich & Westerly road,
! testified that he was employed Dec6m-
! Der Is at his usual work. He left
| Westerly at $40 p. m. and stopped at
! Hilltop, two miles west of Main s
! crossing II. North StcningtCn. The
car arrived at Hilltop about 1907 p.
| n. Three young men got on the car
! there and came to Norwich. They
were Donahue. Larsen and Enorigo
! He said the accused was not on the
! car
crandal Wanted the Money in Sum
mer.
William L. Richmond of North Ston-
ington. living a mile and a half from
| Midtown, testified that William Rath
bun lives north Of him on the road tc
| Mains crossing.
He said he had known Mr.. Crandal
| three to four years. He lives half
! mile south Of William Rathbun'5
place. Along the middle of the past
| summer he had a talk with Charles
Crandall about Mrs. Rathbun. Gran
dali said that he had some trouble al
the Rathbun house, and said he would
like to have the money Mrs. RathbuT
had. If he did he would go up K
Maine and have a good time. The
witness advised him to behave ant
said he would get the property some
! day. The conversation took place a
the home Of the witness.
Mr. Richmond testified that he wa
at Mr.. Rathbun's until 100 o'clock OF
| December, IS. 1t was moonlight. HI
left at that time and there had beer
no trouble there up to then. Mrs
Rathbun had been i'll and was in bed
Dorshue as States Witness.
James ]. Donahue, of No. 1873 Wash
| ington street, II last April, said h
is acquainted with Crandall and hat
known him about years. He testi
fed to knowing Arthur Larsen fou
years He has known Rondero Emo
rigo about three years and knew hin
as 'Rondy" or Pete" He is a ma
son Larsen goes to business college
Donahue said that he had worked .
horne. doing odd Jobs.
He said he was at William Rath
I buns In North Stonington Decembe
Is. He said he had a talk with Gran
dali about q week before that II
: testified that he was Jointly charge
with CrandaIl for burglary and plead
> ed gully.
He had talk with Crandall at tn
I I ponahue house about plan CTanda
: had IN mind. He called Mr.. Rathbu
his father -in-law.
CrandaiI Proposed Plan.
Donahue said Crandall came to, hi
q house about o'clock ovtr a week be
n fore the break. He asked if Donahu
knew how he could get some none!
| Crandall said there was going to b
d an auction at Mr. Rathbun's and want
Q ed to know if Donahue could come t
it.
Donahue said he didn't go to tn
auction.
The day after the auction the Tues
n day before the break, Crandall cam
VI to him again and said he wanted {