Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-15

water Sery1Ce rom fledSdnt N1eW eo Weekapaug did not progress very much Thursday, as about fifty Of the Italian laborers failed to put in ap- pearance. There was no strike or any sembIance of a strike, the men slmpiy did not report for work. They started as usual from their homes and board ed the special work car for Weeka- paug When Conductor McCarrol was collecting the fares, one of the party handed him a fifty cent piece and re- ceived proper change.
 In the next seat one of the men handed the conductor twenty-five cent coin and received the change. He Insisted that he had given the con ductor a half dollar and demandeo the change due from a coin of that de- nomination. The conductor was sure that the passenger was mistaken. lie, however. examined the money 1n his possession and there was but one nall dollar. Then there was dispute, nearly every laborer in the car. rom the front seat to the rear, deciarlns that they. saw the passenger glve the conductor half dollar.
 There was open and frequent accu- sation that the conductor had been Ill the habit of short-changing the labor CTS. As the conductor was positive ne had made no mistake in the change, he declined to give the complaln1ng passenger the extra twenty-five cents z demanded. There was considerable talk among the men and when the car reached the Pleasant View switch. one of the party, presumably a sef-se- lected leader. shouted: "All off," and of they got to man.
 The party of laborers trudged back to the village of Westerly and went direct to the local office of the Norwich E Westerly Traction company. For nal complaint was made against the conductor and the men demanded that the trolley company pay them each s2 for the loss of the days work. They were assured that the charge against the conductor would be investigated, but that there was nothing doing in paying the men for the loss of their time. It was explained to them that only one of their number was directly interested in the transaction and that the rest, at least. should have con tinued on to their work.
 Some of the men said that by reason of not reporting for work at Weeka- paug they would probably be dis charged, but this point was subse- duently satisfactorily adjusted after conference between General Manager Anderson and Superintendent Elliott with Thomas Mckenzie, superintend ent of the water works.
 Just as soon after the trouble as was possible. Conductor McCarroll went to the superintendent's office and asked for an investigation. His report and the cash register in the car were examined and found correct, and. as far as the officials could learn. McCar- roll was not at fault.
 Aibord Ennis, 2f, married, son of re- spectabfe and honest parents, resi- dents of the town of Hopkinton, was arrested In Bradford on a serious charge by Chief of Police Thomas E. Brown, late Wednesday afternoon. The ticket office at Bradford was entered Tuesday night and $66 stolen from a sealed envelope in 8 desk drawer. Rail- road Agents Curran and Hanifan were notified of the theft and made an m vestigation. Suspicious pointed to En- his and the railroad agents called Con- stable John Catto into the case. He went to the home of Ennis in Hopkin- ton and invited him into the town of Westerly. telling Ennis plainly that he was suspected of the crime. With the ticket agent, the two railroad agents and Constable Catto present. Ennis confessed his guilt. but not un- til after the officers produced incrim- mating proof. Chief Brown was sent for and he arrested Ennis and escort cd him to the police station in Wes- terly.
 Thursday morning the young mans parents visited him and urged him to tell the truth. Ennis declared he was innocent and that he had lied to the officers when given to understand that the payment of $66 would end the matter, as he thought it better to pay the money rather than face trial, with It's attendant expense and inconve- nience. Both MT. and Mrs. Ennis were keenly sensitive to the unfortunate condition and both expressed belief that their son was mentally unbal- anced and could not conceive of any motive to commit the theft as alleged.
 Subsequently there was a heart-to- heart talk with the accused, his father and Chief Brown, when Ennis con fessed that he had stolen the money. According to his story, he had been employed for year and half as a telephone inspector in New York city ard while there Contracted the habit of gambling. When he left New York and returned home he left a gambling g debt unsettled. The gambler, the il- legal creditor of Ennis, came to Brad ford to collect that debt and threat ened exposure and bodily harm unless the debt was paid forthwith Ennis saw the ticket agent place money in the Envelope. saw him seal the same with wax, put the envelope in a book and place it in a drawer in the desk. He resolved to get that money and save himself from exposure and his wife. child, father. mother and sister from disgrace. He says that shortly after the theft he gave the money to the New York gambler who imme- diately disappeared. Ennis sobbed and cried during the recital of the story of his crime and declared that he had told the truth. IL was understood that the father of the accused would make good the money stolen from the ticket office.
 Enns stated that he had not been in communication with the New York