Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-23
Special to The Bulletin)

Willimantic, May 22. = One of the most cold blooded crimes com mitted in Willimantic in years was executed a few minutes after o'clock Wednesday evening on Main street, almost in the heart of the city, as hun dreds of mill operatives were hurrying home from work.
 Michael Connors. about 45. who lives in South Windham, pulled a re- volver and fired at John T. Murphy, blacksmith in the employ of the Amer ican Thread company, who lives at 690 Main street. The act was committed on Main street on the north side at point between Hollis H. Lyman's plumbing establishment and Otto Schmidts lunch cart. just west of the Main street railroad crossing. The shot was heard by hundreds of people. Murphy was seen with a bullet wound through his head and the blood stream ing over his face by men and women as they came up from the mills
 Bullet Entered Back of Ear
 Murphy was hurried to St. Joseph's hospital, where an examination by Dr. Owen O'Neill, the hospital surgeon, disclosed the fact that Murphy is in critical condition. The bullet en- tered back of the right ear and came out above the right eye, on the fore head. It was first believed that Con- nors met Murphy face to face, but the fact of the entry of the bullet in- dicates he approached Murphy from behind and took him unawares. COnnors, immediately after firing the shot, ran for cover, and endeavored to ! escape. Chief E. H. Richmond and Liuet Daniel Billourey upon being mo- tified, followed, and caught him near the oil tank down on Chapman street. Dresser Tenders Aid in Connors' cap-
 ture.
 Immediately after the shooting oc- cured, Connors walked through from 1 Main street to Union street in the alley ! below Tanners cafe. and through Gen. i ter street to Valley street, down Val | ley across Jackson, through Valley | street extension to the railroad track and down the tracks to the Standard | oil tank near Chapman street, where | Chief Richmond with Fred Mercy, who | telephoned headquarters of the affair and put John Simmons on Connors' | trail while be was doing it, told the | chief that Connors was the man as the chief collared Connors, and held his arm, while Mercy took the revol- yer from Connors' right-hand hip | pocket.
 1 Lieutenant Killourey then came and 1 took Connors on the other side and he was taken to headquarters in an auto mobile
 Much credit is due MT. Mercy and Mr Simmons for the part they took in the capture Both are dresser ten ders at the American Thread com pany's plant.
 Connors Sings in His ceIIe.
 Connors was visited by a number in the cell room Wednesday evening but had no statement to make. He sang songs at times and did not seem to be taking the matter seriously.
 At a little after II o'clock pr O'Neil said that Murphy might last through the night and even finger foI couple of days more.
 6rooded Over Loss of Job.
 He was taken in an automobile tC police headquarters and placed in g cell within fifteen minutes after the crime had been committed. Chiei Richmond is Investigating. It is noi l1known at present exactly what charge will be placed against Connors. Con- nors has brooded for the past two years over the fact that Murphy ha; been filling his former place as black smith at the American Thread com. pany. Up to about two years ago Con. nors was the blacksmith and Murphy