Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-23
Mrs. Wakefield
 Called to Testify
IN EFFORT TO coNTRovERT
 TESTIMONY OF CORONER.
BROKE DOWN AND CRIED
Jury Wa. Excused During Time the Accused Woman Was On the stsns -ii.r Story Differs from corons-'s.

New Haven Conn. July 22.-Mrs. Bessie J. Wakefield. who is being trleo in the superior court here for the muF- der of her husband. William O. Wake field was called to the stand unex- pectedly this afternoon by her couh- sel J. F. Devine, in an effort to con trovert testimony given oy coroner En Mix to the effect that statements ma1e by the woman to him immediately pre- ceding and following her arrest, rela- five to the death of he husrband, were made voluntarily and without induce ment-
 This action followed long arguments by counsel as to the admissibtlity Cf the coroner's testimony, counsel for the accused contending that if it could De shown that Mrs Wakefelds state ments were not made without induce ment the testimony should be exclu1- ed Judge Joel H. Reed agreed that this was law, and then Mrs Wakefield was called The jury had been ex- cused while the arguments were being made and during the time Mrs. Wake field was testifying. Jury Excused. The coroner had previously told of the circumstances under which he had questioned Mrs. Wakefield at Bristol at police headquarters at New Haven and at his offlce here. The coroner said he had not held out any induce ments to the woman and did not put  Wakefield interposed objection to the testimony and the jury was excused while the lawyers argued the matter. Mrs. Wakefield was then called to the l stand. In answer to questions by MT. Devine she said that when, she was taken to the coroner's office he had slapped her on the back and said as | he began to question her: You don't want to get mixed up in l this. Tell the truth and you will be able to so back to your children in During her recital Mrs Wakefield | broke down and sobbed. Coroner Says He Held Out No Induce ments. In testimony given later the coroner I denied that he had slapped Mrs. Wakefield on the back and reiterated that he had held out no inducements | to her.
 The court Is expected to rule on the | admissibiIty Of the corcuers eesd- i mony when the txiai is resumed to- morrow
 MT. Devine. cross examining the cor oner, asked:
 Now. didn't you say Come. open n don't think did- replied the coroner.
 "Dddnt you say Now. come tell Inr"
 I
 Coroner Mix had\reference to his | notes He characterized the proceed | fngs at Bristol as an Inquiry" rather | than . coroners inquest, with witness- | eS under subpoena The coroner said | he told MrE Wakefield that he waa the coroner of New Haven county 1 and had come to see if she could iden- | tify the clothing he showed her as the
 clothing of her husband.
 Mrs. Wakefield Was Reluctant at ln-
 quest. The words Come, tell it." Jud9s | Reed said. could not be called e cozn- | mand, more than an enfreaty. Ths | court asked T. F. Devine to call to ht<
 attention anything In his notes win | reference to the coroner holding ost | fears or hopes' to Mrs. Wakefield to | induce a statement, and James T. | Mather, prosecuting attorney of Br1s- | tol, was called. He testified to tellinG Chief of Police Belden of Bristol that Mrs. Wakefield had come to him and l informed him of the disappearance of l her husband. He also told of Mrs | Wakefield being questioned at Briseol
 ing found on the body of Wakefield. According to his testimony, Coroner
 Mix told Mrs. Wakefield to "speak up''
 and that he would have to take her to 1 New Haven if she did not tell the | truth" Mrs. Wakefield, the witnesz | said, seemed reluctant to tell some l things.
 Do you remember the coroner tsf1-
 ing the stenosrapher to stop, that she
 Yes. I remember something like
 that"
 Adjournment ves taken at this point l until tomorrow.