Putnam patriot., 1913-05-16
Superior Court

The May term ot the superior court opened in Willimantic Friday morn- ing. Prayer was offered by Rev. w. O. Nuzum of the Methodist church.
 Judge Shumwsy assigned number of cases to court. The jury cases will later be assigned for Putnam as these cases are from this end of the county. Short calendar matters were also dis posed of.
 Two uncontested divorces from the other end of the county were heard and deerees granted.
 Before taking up the criminal busi- ness States Attorney Searls stated that the Windham county bar had acted favorably on admitting k. C. Morse of Putnam to practice. Mr. Searls said MT. Morse was native of Windham county and had been prac- tieing in New York for ten years and he nov desired to locate in Putnam. He was admitted by the court after the oath had been administered.
 The criminal business was then talk en ltp. Alfred Lafontaine of Putnam was charged with forgery. Attorney A. J. Bowen was appointed to defend him. States Attorney Searls said that Lafontaine was young man of good family but had got into bad com pany and passed forged check for S2 and another for 1920. Another man, who had not been caught, who has bad reputation, seemed to have insti- gated the crime. The accused gave himself up voluntarily and was ready to make restitution, and he believed the accused did not intead to do wrong and he suggested that he be placed in the hands of Probation officer A. W. Bowen of Putnam until the next term of court. Judge Shumway ordered him put on probation.
 Frank Olson, aged 21, charged with burning barn belonging to NJ. A. Ed ington of Pomfret on May lst, this year, had Attorney P. J. Danahey to defend him. After a consultation MT. Danahey asked the court to have Ol- son examined as he feared that his mind was not just right. Dr. T. k. Parker was called and examined the accused and reported the court that while the young man was ignorant he answered all questions very we'll and seemed to know right from wrong and he did not think his mind was affected. States Attorney Searls then made a statement of the case and Attorney Danahey made plea for clemency saying Olson was young man and had never been arrested before. He had worked a week for the owner of the barn shoveling coal and was paid only S450 and he was provoked at him. Attorney Danahey said the barn was an old one and there was nothing of value in 1t, and he asked for jail sentence. Judge Shumway sentenced Olson to not less than one and not more than five years in states prison. Tony Russell, Thomas Drasco and Tony Rosen, all under 2l years of age, were charged with assaulting Nelson LeClair of Putnam and also robbery. Attorney Danielson was assigned to defend them. They all pleaded guilty. States Attorney Searls said they went to the home of LeClair and asked for milk and when LeClair got the milk they pointed a revolver at his head and told him 10 throw up his hands and then they took s7, gold spectacles and revolver from his home. They bound and tied LeClair, who freed himself and gave the alarm and the three men were captured. Attorney Danielson asked for elemency because of their age. The court sentenced each of the three to not less than one and not more than six years.
 The case against Charles Doyle, charged with James MeClusky with breaking into barn in Hampton, was polled on recommendation of the states attorney.
 Adelard Lebeau was charged with DuIBidiy iiC ub'cih Pteo t' oiS"h iheS the lookup at Plainfield to release one Champaign, a prisoner, and later he broke into building in the same town. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to not more than three and not less than one year in states prison and to one year in jail for breaking in- to the building and the court then sus- pended the jail sentence.
 States Attorney Searls asked the court to assign an attorney to defend Willis D. Lambert, the colored man who killed his wife at kiliingly. At torney w. A. King of Willimantic was assigned to defend Lambert and the case will be tried in Willimantic but grand jury will be summoned to Putnam on Saturday, May IT, to bring