Norwich bulletin., 1915-05-19


Ralph Ricardino. alias James Peter
of this city, was placed on trial In
the criminal superior court In New
London Tuesday morning charged with
forgery. Ricardfno Is accused OF is
suing q check for $3.50 on the Uncas
pose of defrauding the bank The
check was dated Oct. 8. 1914, and
made payable to James Peter, an dem
dorsed by the payee. The signature Is
alleged to lie that of Lewis Shapiro
of Norwich. The check was cashed at
the Manhattan Clothing Co.
The following jury was selected to
try the case: James p. Johnson, VIII
liam A. Ames, Alfred Highmore, G..
w Noyes, George /. Wilcox. Fred D..
Harrison, Ira Steward, William N.
Sawyer, William Roberts and George
L Holmes. The accused was de-
Tended by Attorney R. M Douglass OF
this city and State Attorney Hull is
being assisted by Prosecuting Attorney
Hall OF Norwich
Lewis Shapiro was the first witness.
He said he had known Ricardino for
five or six years and the accused had
worked for him. He was shown the
alleged forged check and declared
that the signature was. not his.
In cross examination Shapiro said
that he had been in the habit OF
drawing checks for the accused whom
he employed He testified that he had
drawn a check for Ricardino on Oct.
1. 1914. for 81 in payment for clean
ing out well. He had not drawn any
out t. him since.
Herman A. Bruckner. clerk for Por-
teous & Mitchell, told of Ricardfno
coming into the store and purchasing
from him St pair of trousers. hat and
shirt, in payment for which he Of
fered the check which had been exhib-
Ite1 and which he Identified The wit
ness took the check to the head OF
the firm who declined to accept it.
Several other witnesses were exam
med before court adjourned to con-
hnue the case the next day.
The defense is that the charge
against Ricardino is case of mis-
aiken identity.
Must Serve One Sentence.
In the court on Tuesday Edward L.
LaDuca. the Central Vermont rail-
way freight conductor. who was con-
victed last Friday IF an indecent as
sault on three East New London boys,
was sent enced to six months in jail
on each Of the three counts by Judge
Milton a Shumway, but the execution
of the sentence. in two counts was
suspended Indefinitely, leaving but six
moEths to serve.
State Attorney, Hull moved for SEN
tence in the case soon after court
Slute H. = tlOIIltS LAY IN kcAu1IiIs
counsel for LaDuca. made a plea for
mitigation of the sentence. He stated
that the circumstances surrounding
the case were such as to raise disturb
Ing doubts in the minds of the coun--
sci as to the mans guilt. LaDuca had
had ample opportunity to deny some
Of the circdn1s stances under which the
assaults were alleged to have taken
place hut instead he had admitted
them. He die" not attempt to deny
that there had heen numerous times
when he had rena med in his ca,boose
In the yards after the trains arrival
In New London which he might easily
have denied had be been guilty.
Attorney Smith told of an incident
In the courthouse Immediately after
the trial when the little Scaplen boy
had been heard to say that "the boys
were lying The remark was made in
the presence of Sheriff Sidney H
Brown, County Commissioner Smith
and Probation Officer Richard W.
Mansfield
also defended LaDuca, made a state
ment in which he said that he had
r"t1ing to add to what Attorney
Smith had Said except that he wished
to call the attention CT the court to
tho statement made by the Jewett
boys father friday afternoon thai he
did not believe the charge against
the man.
Sheriff Prown was asked to tell the
circumstance sbt Ut which the Soap
len boy made the statement credited
to HIM. Tho sheriff sa1c that some
one, he did not know who, asked the
Scaplca boy If the other boys were
telling the truth and he had replied.
"Nn, they are lying He said that
the county commissioner and the pro-
beCion officer were present.
State Attorney Hull said there can
ho Snn9t1la f7Cn;hf q fn la 1Ioa'R
guilt. He GAG that the three boys
couldn't tell the Stories they had told
at numerous interviews during the