New Britain herald., 1914-07-28
MURDER PLOT DENIED
 BY MRS. WAKEFIELD q
Accused Says She Never Knew PleW Intended to Harm Husband.

New Haven; July 2S.-Taking the stand in her own defense today, Mrs. Bessie J. Wakefield on trial in the superior court for the murder of her husband. William O. Wakefield, de- nied f1atly that she had aided James Flew in making away with Wakefield or that she had any knowledge or belief that Plew intended to harm her husband. Plew has already been executed as the actual murderer of Wakefield
 With the resumption of the trial many more persons sought entrance to the court room than on the pre- cedlng days. Included in the num- per were ten or more women who are identified with the Woman's Suf- frage cause. Mrs. Wakefield ap- peared to be in better spirits than during last week, but when she was called to take the witness stand shc almost broke down. At first she wept audibly. and then became composed and told her story eventually with some fervor. Mrs. Wakefield first told of her life in Middlebury where she was born 25 years ago. She attended school until she was IA years 5 of age. Then she went out into service in the household of John Sterry where she remained for sew eral years. She also worked for Mr. Freeman in Naugatuck and at other < places. She married Wakefield De- < cember 4, 1905, at Brewsters, N. Y.
 Accused Begins to Sob.
 At this point the woman began to sob. Her replies to MT. Devine's questions were faint. Then she be- gan to pick up her courage and her answers were given in stronger tones. MT. Devine led her over the period of her. early married life, the diff ferent places in which she had lived, and her first acquaintance with the Plew family. She also told of her care of the Plew baby for two dol lars a week.
 She gave the date of her meeting with Plew in Bristol and when her husband was present or her brother, Frank. Coming down to the day preceding the murder she told of a call Plew made upon her. Plew gave her a letter from her mother. That afternoon she went with the chil- dren to Porter Park for a picnic. They saw Plew from the trolley car coming up the road. Questions as to the children's ages caused Mrs. Wakefield to weep again.
 Preceding Testimony Recalled.
 The witness's attention was here directed to the testimony of Mrs. Gil- lette as to what transpired at the park, the riding on the flying horses l when Plew rode with his child.
 She denied that she sat side of | Plew as described by Mrs. Gillette.
 Retells Quarrel Story.
 The story of the quarrel between l Plew and Wakefield in the bedroom cf the Wakefield house that night was l re-told by the witness, who also said | she took the pistol from Plew and put l it in the yard
 "Plew asked me to get him the re- | to}ver," said the witness. He said he was going home I thought he | might shoot my husband Plew asked: Will you get out to met MT. 1 Ward? I asked him not to go bout to | sstay with me and the baby"
 Did you have any agreement to aid ! and abet Plew to hurt your husband ?" i asked MT. Devine.
 1T didn't know Plew was going to | do anything to him.
 Had you any belief of plan to harm or kill your husband
 No sir.''
 What time did you get up the next morning."
 { -Four o'clock"
 , Short Recess Ordered. . Over the protest of the states at- torney. Mrs. Wakefield was permitted to tell what Plew had told the wit ness MT. filling claimed this was hearsay and that with P1ew dead he could not refute it. At this point short recess was ordered.
 The testimony prior to Mrs Wake fields recital of her story was of general character and had to do most ly with Mrs. Wakefield's reputation in Middlebury.
 After the recess the attorneys were heard further on the admissibility of PIew's declaration to Mrs. Wakefield as to Mrs. Gillette having said that FPlew had been seen in Bristol Judge Reed said he had doubt as to it's ad- instability and ruled it out "Tcstifics Regarding Interview. The. interview with Chief Belden of Bristol about the disappearance of her husband was rtold by Mrs. Wakefield in her own way. She also testified as tc the interview with Coroner Mix as 70 ner husbands clothing at the hearing in Bristol. The witness told fabout the coroner skipping her on the back encouraging her to tell all. She denied that she had told Coroner Mix that she had an agreement to kill her husband. Mrs. Wakefield identified the frame of a pair of spectacles as those she had bought for herself. Recess was then taken,
 SUBMITTED TO LIGHT. 1 uartford Julv 2S S-Secrot,r,, c