New Britain herald., 1915-09-02
HI IS CHEAPER TO
 BUY THAN TO STEAL
D. ". Wilcox Fined $35 for Theft
 of $50 Watch

honesty is the pest policy 1t was proven in police court this morning that as a business proposition it is
 cheaper to buy then to steal, for D. D. Wilcox of 76 West Main street was fined $35 and costs by Judge James T. Meskil1 for the theft of gold
 watch valued $3O. The watch be-
 longs to James Griffin of 15S North street. Wilcox's downfall came when to tried to pawn the time piece at Sam Tarskis "sign of the three balls.''
 MT. Griffin identified the watch and fob as his property and valued the Waltham at $30. He is employed
 by Building Inspector Arthur N.
 Rutherford as a mason and was working on new house on Park street extension. He left his trousers with the watch in the pocket on the first floor of the house. When he looked for his watch at 3:45 o'clock it was gone.
 Buys Stolen Watch.
 George Kniffer of Pearl court iden- tified Wilcox as the man who tried tc pawn the stolen watch in Sam Tarskrs pawn shop and subsequently, sold it to himself for $3 and a cheap CT watch. Kniffer said that he and a young man named Charles Beebe went into Tarskis shop about 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon and saw Wilcox trying to pawn the watch for $10. Tarski offered him $1 when Beebe raised the bi6 to $2 and was eJected from the store by the pro- prietor who objected to competition in his own place of business. On the street however, Kniffer met Wil- COX and gave him $3 and his own old watch to boot for the gold time piece. He said Tarskj was much in- censed at the loss of a customer and followed himself and Beebe up to the corner of Main and East Main streets. Becoming apprehensive of notoriety the two young men ran as far as Commercial street, but Tarski kept up with them and as result of their argument all three went to the police station where developments, disaster ous for Wilcox, took place.
 Tarslxi's Laudable Ambitions.
 Tarski told of Wilcox trying to pawn the watch for $1O and offering him $1, although he suspected the watch had been stolen. He said he p1 otested when Kniffer tried to buy 1t because he wanted to protect the city from having stolen property sold but Judge Meskill told him not to bother about explaining his laudable l mbitions about saving tthe city dis l grace. John Nelson said he saw Wilcox go into the house from which Griffin's watch was stolen.
 o s,-,. Arrested in Theater
 Officer Charles Mccarthy traced Wilcox to the Scenic theater, where he arrested him in company with his wife and daughter at 8:30 o'clock last night. Mrs. Wilcox told the officer if there was any trouble over a watch she would give it to him, and handed him the timepiece her hus- band had received from Kniffer. To Sergeant Bamforth, Wilcox denied stealing the watch and at first denied possession of the fob, but later pro- 1uced it.
 Wilcox's story in denying the theft was child-like in it's absurdiity. He said he was standing at the green when total stranger came up to him and offered him the gold watch and fob for $2. Thinking 1t a good bar gain he bought it, he said. He later told his wife that he had played policy and struck a bargain, getting Ss and a watch. He denied the theft.
 Jail for Zelnba Brother.
 Stanley Zemba was sentenced to serve forty days in jail on charges of and breach of the peace. He was arrested at Landers, F'rary & Clark's factory yesterday afternoon by Officer Perry for assaulting his brother John. The accused pleaded guilty and his only plea in court was that he was very sorry it happened.
 Sent to County Home.
 Flight years old Mary Connors has been taken from the town home and was committed to the county home at Warehouse Point by Judge Meskill in cham bers.
 Rest Eggs 29c dog. Russell Bros.