Norwich bulletin., 1913-01-23
COURTS OF COMMON
 PLEAS EXPENSIVE.
Few Cases Ever Tried in Them but Cost of Maintenance by State Heavy.

The biennial report of the criminal
 business of the courts of Connecticut
 has just been issued for Information
 of members of the general assembly. In
 the common pleas courts the cost Of
 trying criminal cases has been figured
 out as being extremely expensive. For
 the year ending July l, 1911, two hun
 dred cases were disposed of in the New
 appeals from convictions in the city
 court. There were 26 cases tried, of
 which r resulted in convictions, eight
 in acQuittals and one in disagreement
 Of the 192 cases which were called,
 eight defendants have forfeited their
 bonds. S7 entered pleas of guilty, 34
 had absolute nolles entered, and 45
 paid fines and costs in whole or in
 part as had been imposed in the low
 CT court. Of the 200 prosecutions 57
 were for breach of the peace, 27 for
 violations of the liquor law. 16 for
 theft, II for selling junk without a
 license, 10 each for keeping disorder ly houses and reform school com
 plaints, and the remaining cases of varied nature.
 For the year ending July 1, 1912. this court disposed of PA cases which had been appealed upon conviction in the lower court. In 24 there were trials with 23 convictions and II ac- quittals. Of the total number of cases 10S had pleas of guilty entered, 31 had absolute nolles, 46 paid up lower court fines, SAP were disposed of by verdicts, three cases were vacated and two forfeited bonds. The total mum Der of cases tried in this court for the two years was 60 out of the 424 cases appealed from conviction in the city court. The last legislature appropri- ated for this court for two years, on the criminal side alone. $S,00O for the judges salary. S4,000 for the clerks salary, s4.oOo for the prosecuting at torney's salary and s22.000 for court expenses a total Of SSS.OOO.
 Tn the Fairfield criminal common pleas court for the year ending July l, 1911, 37s eases were brought on appeal from the lower courts. and five went to trial, in which there were four con victfons. In 25o cases pleas of guilty were entered, 20 forfeited bonds. 80 nolles were uttered and Is nolles upon terms. For the. year ending July 1, court and 10 trials held in which there were seven convictions. Of the total number 290 pleaded guilty, 20 forfeit ed bonds, 150 nolles were entered and to this record to the effect that 5S nolles were made necessary by reason of a supreme court decision in State vs. Penner, Vol. S5, Conn. For the 15 went to trial The last legislature $36,500 for salaries and expenses of this court for two years.
 In the New London common pleas cT1Inlndl sue, TOT Ine year enQ- ing July 1. 1911. 34 cases were dis posed of with no trials. Four persons pleaded guilty, six forfeiting bonds. nine nolles entered and Is nolles upon terms. For the year ending July l, 1912, 34 cases were brought with one trial, which resulted in acquittal. For the expenses of this court the 1911 legisla ture appropriated $11,500
 In the district court of Waterbury Il cases were brought with 15 trials, in which there were II convictions. Of the total cases 14 persons entered pleas of guilty, IT nolles were entered and g nolles upon terms, for the term ending July l, 1911. For the next 12 months in this court 47 cases were brought, in which there were seven trials, six convictions being se- cured There were five pleas of guilty, II nolles entered and P nolles upon terms. The appropriations made for two years by the last general assem- bly appear to have been S43,600 for salaries and expenses, although this probably includes the civil side.
 No reference is made in the report to the Hartford county common pleas court.
 A summary of the business of the pleas court of New Haven, Fairfield and New London counties, and the district court of Waterbury, from conviction in the lower court were brought. in which 99 persons stood trial, and the last general assem- bly according to the recommendat ton of the committee on appropriations, of which Senator Peck of Danbury was chairman, appropriated $129,600 for salaries and expenses in these courts.