New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-08-17
FEUD IN BOARDING
HOUSE HAS AIRING
Rudolph Becker Fined for Attack
on Mrs. Peplau on August B


etery Lane on Thursday evening
August s, was taken up Tor trial IN
police court this morning oerore
Judge James T. Meskill. The defen-
dant entered a plea Of not guilty and
was represented by Judge F. B. Hun
gerford.
Officer McCue, who made the arrest
on complaint of the woman, said that
he saw the accused bleeding from a
cut near his nose. The woman was
in apparent pain and the accused was
Peplau house had the appearance of
being forced, and on examination the
officer found the lock smashed
The complainant testified that
Becker, who was boarder at her
home, came home on the evening OF
the alleged assault and broke down
the door. When she demonstrated
with him, he struck her a violent
blow in the abdomen, which neces-
STATED the attention Of a physician,
she said. The accused also chased
her about the house until she finally
made her escape and notified the Of
icer, she claimed.
On cross-examination by counsel
for the defense, Mrs. Peplau testl-
fed that she was saying her prayers
when Becker broke down the door
In answer to a question by Attorney
Hungerford, Mrs. Peplau said that
she has not resided with her husband
in fourteen years.
"You had him arrested, didn't
you?' asked Attorney Hungerford.
IT object protested Prosecutor
Woods
Judge Meskill asked Attorney Hun
gerford what he proposed to show by
the question:
II want to show that this woman
got rid of her husband by the same
trickery that she is playing on
Becker" answered the attorney.
The court sustained the obje>tion.
Mike Albrec11t, a boarder in the
house and room mate of Becker's
saw Becker push the door in and also
saw him chasing Mrs. Peplau around
the house, he said.
At this juncture Judge Meskill or
dered the opposing lawyers to move,
as they were too close for Albrecht's
comfort
Officer McCue, recalled to the
stand, said he saw a plate on the
floor on which there was a drop of
blood.
DR.. John L. Kelley was called as a
witness and he said he had attended
the woman on four or-f1ve occasions.
He found her suffering from pains
in the abdominal region, and she was
also in a highly nervous condition.
He was forced to administer mar
cOtic on one occasion.
On cross examination the doctor
said in his opinion the injury was
caused by blow.
why it might have been caused by
eating green apples?'' said Attorney
Hungerford
The physician was positive that the
illness was not due to the reason ad
vanced by the lawyer. He stated
| that the woman was in terrible pain.
Mrs. Teckla Restin, neighbor Of
| Mrs. Peplau, testified to going to the
| house after the alleged assault and
! finding the woman writing on the
| floor in pain
! The accused took the witness
| stand and denied emphatically tina,
! he laid a hand on the woman. lie
said when he arrived home the doc,
! was open, and when he reached his
! room he found Mrs. Peplau just leav-
ing it, and another boarder was occu.
plying the bed. The woman then hit
him a violent blow with something
which inflicted a wound, he claimed
She then went out and had him ar.
| rested.
| 'Has she ever told you that she
sent other men up?" asked Lawye,
! Hungerford.
An objection was entered by Pros.
ecutor Woods but the court allowed
| the question when Lawyer Hungerforc
| proceeded to show that it was to test
her credibility as a witness.
The accused then said that Mrs
Peplau had told at different time
| that she caused her husbands ar
| rest.
! Several witnesses were called b,
the defense to show that a week afte]
the alleged trouble the woman wa:
we'll and was attending to her house
hold duties with no signs of illness
| Prosecutor Woods claimed a con
viction on the evidence presented b,
the complainant and the physician.
Attorney Hungerford in his plea
for his client, attacked her characte
in a rather harsh manner.
Judge Meskin found the accused
guilty on the assault charge and i'm
posed fine OF SIS and costs. II
case of an appeal, bonds were placed
at 500.
James Set Free.
Harry D. James pleaded guilt,
to the charge of failing to have tn.
| front lights on his auto burning las