Putnam patriot., 1915-03-12
SUPERIOR COURT
Jury Return Verdict of Guilty in Oatley
 ys Murray
Judgment Will Be Rendered Friday


 
 In the superior court in this city Tuesday civil action was begun and finished before Judge Milton A. Shum- way and jury. The case was that of Ina Oatley vs Leslie Murray and was bastardy proceeding. The plaintiff lives in East Killingly and is only r years of age and the defendant lives in Danieison and is Is. Both were pupils at the killingly High school. Plaintiff alleged that defendant was the father of her female child born on the 18th of August, 1914. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty.
 The Oatley girl was the first witness. She testified that she had known the defendant about three years. She said he had visited at her home, had taken her to Wildwood park and had taken her to the baccala reate exercises. He invited her to meet him and Harold Beckley and asked her to bring an. other girl with her. This was on the night of Nov. 18th, 1918. The girls ar rived on a trolley car between and o'clock. They met the two boys al Davis park and walked up Main street to Sterns street. They turned up Sterns street which Is a dark unlight. ed street. Plaintiff and defendant were ahead and the other couple be- hind. They turned in near pair of bars and stayed there about twenty minutes. Defendant assaulted her against her will. They then went back and the two girls took the S,30 cal home. Plaintiff did not realize hel condition until day or two before the child was born.
 Alice Law, the girl that plaintiff brought with her, was the next wit ness. She told of the walk up Sterns street. She said the other couple walked on ahead and were out of sight for about twenty minutes.
 Ethel babbitt of Providence told ol seeing the two couples on that evening and speaking to them.
 Mrs. Ellie Oatley, mother of tho plaintiff, testified to the birth of tn, baby. She said that soon after th, | doctor went away she asked he daughter who the father of the chilo was and she said 1t was Leslie Murray and she had continued constant in that accusation and had never men. toned anyone else.
 The baby was exhibited to the jury that they might determine If there was any esemblance between it and its putative father. Plaintiff rested.
 Defendant took the stand in his own behalf. He admitted taking the walk as testified by plaintiffs witness but said it was in October and not in No vember. On the night of Nov. 18th he said he was at whist party in St. James hall. He denied absolutely that there had been any improper re- lations between himself and the plain tiff. He said that there was no Ap- pointment but that he and his friend saw the girls get off the car and fol- lowed them.
 Harold Beckley, who was with the Law 'girl, testifie to the walk and said it was in October. He said the other couple went ahead and he lost sight of them for some twenty min utes but that they were not more than thirty feet away at any time.
 Patrick Murray, father of the de- fendant, testified that he moved his family in October from one house to another. Previous witnesses testified that they fixed the time as October on account of this moving.
 Mrs. Murray, mother of defendant, told of the moving and said that on the night of the 18th of November she went to the whist and her son accom- panied her.
 Emma MeBnde, Fidelim Lemeaux, and Mrs. Mary Kennedy, all testified to being at the whist and seeing the defendant there.
 The arguments were begun at 2.30 and were concluded at 3.10. The judges charge lasted about twenty minutes. The jury retired at 3.25 and returned at 4.20 returning verdict of guilty.
 Alter consultation of counsel it was understood that lump sum had been agreed upon as damages but what the amount was was not stated. The judgment will be recorded Friday.