Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-12

The appearance on the stand of Ma tf,an Pumerantz, the accused, and the rebuttal testimony offered by the states attorney were the features Thursday in the superior court here in the trial of Mr Pumerantz on the charge of arson and fraud in connec- tion with the fire that occurred at his store in the Shea building in New Lon don on Dec. 13. 1913.
 Alr. Pumerantz was put on the stand in the morning. He denied that he set fire to the store and made Q. denial of the principal witnesses for the state His examination consumed the greater part of the session.
 At 2.42 the defense rested and States Attorney Hull prepared to put on witnesses in rebUttal In this con- nection he produced as exhibits the door castings from the cellar doorway in the Pumerantz store, where Benny Puin erautz, brother of Nathan, has previously testified that he had nailed up some shelves, driving the nails into the door castings.
 Major Hull said that he would pro- duce the ten cr0sspiece Of the doorway and the doo> itself in court today so as to settle forever the question about the shelving in this location.
 The Accused Testifies.
 IH beginning his testimony Mir. Puun- eTantz said he was B years of age and that he was born in Austria. He said he had been in the tailoring business in New London If years. part of the tiT1e as q workman and the remainder of the period as a keeper of a store and shop. He declared that some of the time he had as many as seven nlen in his employ. He had been in the Bank street store four years when the fire occurred, and there he carried the largest stock in his line of business that was carried in New London.
 In May 1913. g. Boston house to which he owed money attempted to foTce the payment of it's bill, but Purn- erantz sought an extension of time in that direction. and then he had two experts from New Jersey examine the stock and estimate it's value. He had $12,g0 worth Of goods and when the fire occurred he had more than ever before. He then had $14,000 or $15, ,000 worth at wholesale. He offered to pay the Boston parties to whom he was in debt $50 a month on their bill. He said the fixtures in the store then were worth S3.050 and he had Q cash regis ter that was worth $595.
 MT. PunIerantz then told the story that other witnesses for the defense had told and said that he went horne on q trolley car after he closed his store the night of the fire. He didn't remember the conductor with whom he rode home. He denied that he treated Mccarthy, the watChmau, to any beer
 
 positive about the matter.
 Denied He Said He Went to Bath.
 Mir. Pumerantz said he talked with members of the state police about the fire in his store and was of the opinion that the flames started near the fur mace. He denied that he said he went to the Turkish bath, because he did not go there, but went home. lie took his books to the MOhic3n hotel that the state police might examine them. He denied that he set fire to the building He said he was obliged to go out the back door of the store to go to the cellar and accounted for the boxes be- ing piled in the store near the door to the fact that the store was being ar ranged for the Christmas trade. He Pumerantz came to the home of wit ness about ? o'clock 9. ID. and told him the store was in flames. Then he dressed and went to the store.
 MT. Pumerantz denied the story, told by the witness for the state, Lipp, that he said he would do anything to ge, money" Pumerantz admitted that he had trouble with Lipp over $50 and that Lipp and his wife made a scene at the store. He had a hearing with the investigators of the fire. Pumerant2 said that drunken men had slept in the cellar, he had been told.
 After Attorney GeaUy had finished with the direct examination of Nr Pumerantz the states attorney gave him & lengthy cross examination.
 In rehuttaI.
 Tine first witness in rebuttal was Robert J. Fullerton, Q contractor, in whose sight the door casings used as