Norwich bulletin., 1912-02-16
IHE WESTERLY CHICKEN THIEVES
Tucker and Longodelucca Given Three Months in Jail
and Fine of $40 and Costs Each-William M. Ogsten
Dies Suddenly-Masonic Burial for James Potter
College Club Meets.

The Third district court, Judge on
Yer II. Williams. was occupied for two
hours and a half Thursday, hearing the
complaints brought by Chief of Police
Thomas e Brown against John Albert
Leroy Tucker and Angelo Longodeluc-
ca, charged Jointly with stealing chick
ems and separately with being idle and
dissolute persons and without visible
means of support.
Both pleaded not guilty to the
charge Of stealing four chickens of
the value Of 81 from the hen coop Of
William o. Pierce OF 81 Pierce street,
some time after midnight of last Tues
day.
Chief Brown testified that he had
known the accused for several years,
and was suspicious of their general ac-
lions. Mr.. Pierce reported the theft
Of his chickens to the witness We'd
nesday morning and he made immedi-
ate inspection Of the premises. He
went TO the home of Edgar Burdicl1
in a Lane off Pierce street, after be-
ing satisfied that the chickens had
been taken there as footprints in a
patch Of snow and drops Of blood in
dicated that the chickens were taken
to that house direct from the hen coop.
He found two dead and unpicked
chickens in the basement and indica-
tons of the killing and dressing Of
other chickens. He then went up
stairs and arrested Tucker and An
Eelo, the latter being asleep on a
Lounge. The chickens recovered were
identified by Mr.. Pierce.
Ths witness said he made a second
trip TO the Burdick house and found
two more chickens in a dark cellar
OF the basement. which were also
1dentified by Mr.. Pierce. When he
made his first visit there were blood
stains on the basement floor, but on
his second visit he noticed that effort
had been made TO wash away the blood
Etains. The heads Of two Of the birds
were completely twisted off and one OF
these was found near the hencoop and
another in the Burdick yard. The
heads Of the other two were intact
with the neck broken. The witness
was positive that some Of the foot
prints In the snow were made by the
shoes worn by Tucker, as they agreed
in size and one shoe was without a
heol. and the heel of the other shoe
was almost wholly worn out on one
side
Both young fellows declared they
did not know anything about the theft
OF chickens when questioned by the
witness after their arrest. When the
chief called. Mrs Burdick was in the
kitchen and Mr.. Burdick was abed.
Chief Brown testified to finding blood
stains on the trousers Of both prison.
ers and in response to queries Burdick
explained the presence Of the blood
by saying 1t came from a calf he had
butchered, while Angelo made no at
tempt at explanation.
William o. Pierce gave testimony,
and Edgar Burdick and his wife Min
ME also testified. This concluded the
evidence in the chicken stealing case.
Tcvn Solicitor Harry B. Agard repre-
aented the state and also in the cases
that followed.
Tucker was then arraiqned upon
complaint of being an idle and disso-
ute person, being without employment
and without visible means of support.
He pleaded not guilty.
Tucker in his own defence testified
that he had been employed in various
places until the latter part of De-
cember and since then he had been
unable to get work. In response to
questions from Town Solicitor Agard.
Tucker said that for three nights prior
10 his arrest he had stayed out and
around and had stayed out and
around" before that time. He had
stayed at Blackler's without permis-
sion and said that he could have a
home with his aunt If he desired.
Angelo langolucca was arraiqned on
like complaint and pleaded not euiIty,
and the testimony was Of practically
the same tenor as that against Tucker.
o.. Judge Williams Iectured the ac-
eused and urged them to lead better
lives and to become a benefit instead
Of q menace to society," Both were ad-
judged guilty on both complaints. For
stealing the chickens each was SEN
fenced to three months in the Provi-
dence county jail and to pay a fine of
$50 and costs. On the complaint of
idleness and no visible means of sup
port, Tucker was sentenced to six
months in the house of correction and
Angelo received a sentence of nine
months TO the same institution.
William NJ. Ogsten of Westerly died
suddenly Thursday afternoon at the
home Of Rev. G. B. Spalding in North
Stonington- He was sixty eight years