The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-03-05
YOUTH ADMITS
PLOT TO ROB;
is LIBERATED
Clarkson, Penitent, Begs Po-
lice to Give Him Another
Chance
PALS IN COURT AS
HE WINS FREEDOM
Charges Not Sustained, He
Quickly Makes Break
From City

A pitifu1 tale Of injured innocence
procured the release this morning of
Richard Cooney, alias sCIarkson. >,
who was arrested yesterday morning
after a running chase over fences and
with detectives firing revolvers.
Three members of Cooney's gang
were in the city court room this
morning and detectives say they COM
municated with the prisoner by using
the sign language through the ses-
sion. They gave him advice, for use
in his Testimony, 1t Is asserted.
Though admitting membership in
such a gang. and declaring that they
JewelrX stores in this city. a hard luck
tale is believed to have caused the
release of sCooney this morning He
was merely charged with breach of
the peace and resistance to police
man. On the first. count he was
found not guilty and the second was
no1led.
That Bridgeport was saved from
the most extensive robb cries that have
occurred here in all the period of the
tremendous number of burg1aries OF
a most daring nature, is the common
belief at police headquarters as a re-
suit OF the story told by Cooney. He
told the detectives that 'tBridgeport's s
police were too fast for the gang
Cooney had counsel this morning In
court. BY a remarkable circumstance
no sooner was Cooney arrested than
Attorney Lawrence Finkelstone ap-
peared at police headquarters yester-
day to take his side of the case. It
has been learned also, that Cooney's s
baggage, which was at the Stratfeld
Hotel yesterday, disappeared inme-
diateIy after his arrest. He did not
wait to look for it this morning when
released. He left town as soon as
possible.
While Cooney was in the prison.
er's pen this morning three strang-
ers, who, the police say, are mem
bers of the gang, communicated with
him by means of the sign language.
According to the police, it was obvi-
Gus the three were talking to the pris-
oner, but as the signs were made by
means of apparently natural move
ments, nothing could be done about
He pleaded not guilty to the
charges. Attorney F'inkelstone
brought out the fact that when
Cooney was arrested he was not told
he was under arrest. Therefore, it
was contended, he couldn't have re-
sisted arrest, because he didn't know
he was arrested. The charge was
nol1ed.
On breach of peace he was found
not guilty. Judge Thomas G. Cough
lin advised him to get out OF town
hmm ediate1y.
In talking to Captain George H
Arnold Of the detective department
before the hearing, Cooney explained
that he was the innocent victim of a
gang of unprincipled persons. He adj
mitted the gangs intentions, the po-
lice say, but said he was being made
a tool Of. He was remarkably re-
pentant and said he would never do
it again. He wanted to go home and
lead~a good life hereafter
Captain Arnold gave him some ad-
vice as to his future actions and
counselled him to keep to the path of
rectitude.
According to Information received
at police headquarters, Cooney met
the three members of the gang at
Harrison street and Fairfield avenue,
after he was released and one of them
said: BEAT it, boy!'' He beat it,
out of town with ce1erity. He lives
in Boston.