Norwich bulletin., 1915-09-11

The continued case Of Deputy Sheriff
George III. Barber Of Hope Valley
against Alexander Anderkin OF Paw
tuclet was called in the Third district
court at Westerly Friday. Attorney
A.. r. L. Ledwidge, counsel for the ac-
cused, asked that his client be permit
ted to withdraw his plea Of not guilty
and to plead nolo. The request was
granted by Judge Oliver Fl. Williams.
Attorney Ledwidge made a statement
that Anderkin was charged with steal
ing 1S empty oil barrels from the
Bradford Dyeing association at Brad
ford Aug. 16, at about the noon hour.
He said that Anderkin ever since his
arrest has been trying to locate the
man who sold him the barrels and
would continue his efforts along that
line. In the light of all the circum-
stances of the case. Mr.. Ledwidge said
justice would be conserved were sem
tence deferred. Whether the person
who sold these barrels was in the en-
ploy of the Bradford Dyeing associa-
ton has not developed. But that the
barrels were purchased, and not stolen,
Is shown in the fact that after taking
the Is barrels on his motortruck An
derxiu proceeded to Ashaway to buy
more barrels and expected to make ad-
ditional purchases in Hope Valley,
when he was arrested. Immediately
he asked to be permitted to return
With the officer to Bradford and locate
the man who had sold him the barrels.
Since then Anderkin had made three
trips to the Bradford plant to locate
the man, but without success.
Herbert NJ. Sherwood of Providence
counsel for the Bradford Dyeing asso-
citation. was of the opinion that the
barrels had been stolen. He said il
was true that Anderkin had been al
| the plant and apparently making eff
| forts to locate a man whom he claimed
| sold the barrels, and in this he was
| given every opportunity, and there Is
O. possibility that Anderkir1 was honest
| in his search. Mr.. Sherwood said thE
| Bradford Dyeing association had nc
| vindictive feeling towards Anderkin
but wanted the thievery stopped. He
| did not think a deferred sentence
| would satisfy. The plea of nolo indi'
| Gated that the defense had no case
hut that perhaps a light fine might b
| beneficial.
| Judge Williams said it was charged
that barrels had been stolen. and com
| plants in confirmation were numerous
and that it was a high handed act t
] load these barrels on a motortruck il
broad daylight and effort should b.
made to get at all the facts. Their
| should be evidence as to the time, tn
location of the barrels, who was arount
there at the time. He did not believ
that man could mysteriously appear
| mysteriously sell the barrels and thel
| mySter1OuSly disappear.
Attorney Sherwood explained tina
the theft happened at a time when tn
big plant was not in operation, an,
when there were only a dozen mel
on the premises about half of then
repairing machinery and the others a
work in the Office. The empty barrel
were near the old mill building an
there were no employees in the yarC
In order to reach the barrels the mo
tortruck was driven through the mai
gateway and to within $50 feet of tn
office. Mr. Sherwood said these empt
oil barrels were allowed to accumulat
and are then sold to a Connecticu
| company and to no one else. Anderki
selected a favorable time for the visi
and evidently had knowledge that tn
mill was closed down. The motortrucl
with the barrels. was seen by one {
the foremen about half mile froI
the plant and the fact reported to tn
Office and the truck was intercepted g
Hope Valley, where arrest was mad
He said AnderSin had been at the mi
several times in an apparent effort
locate the man whom he alleges sol
him the barrels, but he has not bee
successful and perhaps will not be.
Judge Williams-How long has An
derkin been in the business Of buyin
empty barrels?
Mr.. Ledwidge-About 10 years.
Judge-Then he must have been
, the habit of buying from the offfc
rather than from some person on til
, outside.
Mr.. Sherwood-That looked susp
cious to us; but in some small mil
: the yardman does deal in barrels ar
i the like. In Bradford only two me
are allowed to sell anything from IL
premises, for as a rule employees Al
r not allowed to sell corporation prof.
q erty.
\ Judge Williams sentenced Anderk
\ to 10 days in the Providence coun
q Jail and to pay fine Of $40 and cost