Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-01-03
Wanted To Be Sent To State Prison
Carleton A. Snyder Sarcastcay Asked For 1t After Getting
Eight Months in Jal-Three in North Stonington Case
Plead Guilty, CrandaIl Saying Not GuiIty-Alen Gets
Prison Sentence.

Cant you give me state prison, in
steadT" was the sarcastic question
asked of Judge Ralph Wheeler in the
criminal superior court here Tuesday
afternoon by Grafton A. Snyder after
he had asked to be placed on proba-
ton, and had been sentenced to eight
months in jail for assault No" said
Jtdge Wheeler eight months in Jail"
Snyder was presented on the charge
OF assault upon Constable Peabody of
North Stonington, to which he pleaded
guilty after thinking over his previous
plea of not guilty. Attorney e. r.
Burke spoke for him and said he had
been in Jail since October and is
suffering from rheumatism as the re-
suit Of scarlet fever. He did not think
MIN & vicious boy but drink was re-
sponsible for most of his trouble.
state Attorney Hull said that the
grand juror Of the town had coIG-
planned of him several times. He had
been allowed to go twice and since
then bad been before the court two or
three times and had been sent to Jail
On the occasion in question. though
not charged, he had been drinking
and assaulted his mother by knock
inS her down AMI humping her head
on the floor. The officer was sent for
end as he came the accused hit him
in The face with a stone. When drunk
he is bad. said the state attorney and
it seems impossible to help him. He
has been on probation time and again
and he win no doubt go back and
cause trouble at his home again if he
should be allowed to go. He ought to
lave long term in jail and that may
not 90 him any good. He said he
would recommend state prison SEN
tence ii he could for the offense.
1t was at this point that Snyder
asked if he could speak and upon the
judge telling him to step forward he
said that he had been drinking on the
occasion in question. The officer who
was following, he said had pique
against him and was bothering him.
lie sadd that if he was put on proba-
ton fer period of five or ten years
ne would be good.
Judge Wheeler said to him that he
had done this same thing before after
Icing an probation and without prof
iting by being in jail Il shall do as
well as l can by you said the judge,
''but il you are presented again l
shall have to send W to state prison,
which wall mean your ruin for life.
The sentence is eiGat months in jail. -"
Say" queTied the accused, and the
courtroom was all atten.i-bn, couldn't
you give me state prison instead ~
''No," replied Judge Wheeler, eight
months in jail" Snyder was then led
back to the steel pen. 1t was the
most peculiar comment ever made Ill
the courtroom following a sentence,
most prisoners being happy at getting
jail rather than prison.
May in Attendance.
The superior courtroom was flied
throughout the day, there being many
specta ors and witnesses. while a large
nunaoer of lawyers attended. rhe
prisoners pen was crowded with the
"a prisoners therein. Prayer at the
opening at 11.20 O'Clock was cred
by Rev. F. o. Cunningham, pastor of
the First Baptist church.
Two boys. aged Is, Carl Decker and
Arthur NClen5on, pleaded not guilty
to stealing property from Walter Deni
son in Groton Nov %, but Molonson
later char ged his plea to guilty. His
cOunse, Attorney Freeman, declared
that he WAS a nepileptic and had lost
several Jobs thereby. His mother
works hard to give him good home
bur he had breken in once before he
ntered the Walter Denison cottage
Nothing was taken either time. lie
vas or probation and broke that but