Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-09
ANDRIoLA DEF ENsE
Groten Arson Case Is Long Drawn
Out.

The Groton arson case, in which Jack
Andriola of GrotOn is accused of try
ing to hire James Kelly, a Is year Old
boy, TO set fire to the Armstrong house,
was before the criminal court all day
here on Thursday, and when court ad-
journed at 4.35 until 10 o'clock this
morning the opinion of some of the
lawyers interested was that the case
would probably not be finished up till
Saturday.
Before resuming the Andriola case,
Judge Wheeler heard an argument by
jeremiah j. Desmond in favor of
awarding the CTandall burglary reward
to Constable Peabody of Stoningten
The judge took the papers in the re-
ward contest.
Constable Charles II. Card of Groton,
who took part in the trap laid for
Andriola after James Kelly, a boy, had
informed the town prosecutor, Warren
B. Burrows, that Andriola had made
Oyertures to him, was the principal
state witness Thursday. The constable
told Of being in the bushes near the
Armstrong barn and waiting for the
arson plot to be perpetrated. Card
said he was so near that once when
Andriola moved he stepped on the con-
stables fingers.
1t was on the night of Sept % last
that the alleged attempt was made to
burn the barn. Card, the constable,
said he heard Kelly and Andriola dis
cussing the details Of the plot. Kelly
said: I'll put oil on the paper and you
(Andriola) touch a match to H.
Andriola is alleged to have replied:
No! You touch the match to it. You're
a boy and can run faster than l."
Andriola offered the boy IS and a
better position in the Holton store if
he would set the fire.
They failed to agree the constable
said, and Kelly ran away Andriola
called after him three times, but he did
not come back Card and Prosecutor
Burrows went to Kelly's house that
night and secured the bottle Of kero-
sene.
Attorney Burrows. Sheriff Tubbs and
W. L. Armstrong were witnesses for
the state. The cross examination fail
ed to materially affect their direct tes-
timony. The state then rested.
The defense began with the testimony
Of Nellie Sampson. followed by Cor
nelia Rutigliano, Jack Rutigliano and
Joseph Dinora Of Groton. Marie Lucito
Of Norwich was called and said she
was at the Andriola home on the night
in question and saw the accused there.
her son going to the ferry on the night
! of Sept. 25. Andriola hopes to prove
an alibi
William E. Andersen, clored, Of New
| London, was a witness. telling Of cut
! ting brush IN the rear of the Arm
| strong and Andriola He seemed to
/ enjoy the experience of being on the
! witness stand and caused several rip
| pies Of amusement to run around the
| court room, so that Deputy Sheriff
| Draper had to rap for order on the
! benches. Mr.. Anderson brought out a
| notebook TO fix the dates on which he
cut brush. States Attorney Hull or
| cross examination discovered a point
! in the book on which he laid stress il
Toting that memorandums made or
the three days in question were made
| in two varying shades Of pencfling
| and he RED to get the witness to ac-
! knowledge that the pages had all beer
/ wrieen up together at once and at
later time than the days named. Tht
witness maintained that the notes hat
| each been made on the respective day
| and Major Hull laid the book in a.
| evidence.
Walter r. Denison, a real estat,
dealer Of Groton, testified to directin;
/ the colored man, Anderson, to cut tn,
] brush back Of the Armstrong house
Court adjourned at 433, while an
other Italian witness was on the stant
by whom the defense was endeayorinJ
to strengthen an aliiOi which they ar
endeavOring to establish for Andriola
Court comes in again on the case a
10 o'clock this morning.