New Britain herald., 1916-10-19
PaalnVille News STATE POLICE HERE
 TO SEEK BURGLARS Town Disturbed by Series Of Petty
 TheftS Committed Recently DEMOCRATS RALLY TONIGHT
Johnson Now Believes It Will Be Pos sible to Get Voting Machines Here For EIectiOn-NeSrOes at Transfer Station Grow ReStIeSS-BricfS.

Station Grow RestIeSS-BricfS.
 Attempting to solve the mystery as sociated with a series of petty burg laries and thefts, Chief Egan of the state police department has sent his representative to PlalnVllle and Ot- ficers are now working in the hope of apprehending the perpetrators. Deputy Sheriff McCabe of Southing- ton. who frequently does Investigating for Chief Egan, was here yesterday and 1t was said that he has been as- signed to the task of clearing tho mystery.
 It is admitted that during the past few months a number of burglaries, most of which were of no great inn portance, have been committed here. But few of them have been made pub- lie and while the state police have received reports concerning them, tho local constables admit that except n a few cases complaints were not made to them.
 Within a week the state officers have been advised there have been few breaks. Reports have also reached them of attempted burglaries which proved unsuccessful, the bark ing of dogs or the unexpected awak- ening of the occupants of buildings selected for operations having fright ened the providers away before they gained an entrance.
 Owners of garages seem to have been the principal sufferers. Robes and parts of machines have been taken from the places in which they were housed and nearly everything of value that was movable went away with the visitors. One automobile owner reported that his garage was visited a few nights ago and the un- invited guest even went so far as to attempt to steal the car, conditions at the place the following morning re- vealing evidence that an effort had been made to start the engine. The car was out of commission, however, and the thief was unsuccessful in his quest.
 Places of business have been broken into in quiet fashion and small amounts of money have been taken. The owners have claimed they could not see the wisdom of making much noise over their loss and they in- variably were content with simply making a report to Chief Egan.
 Police officers believe that local tal- ent, familiar with the places broken into, are probably responsible for tho thefts as the manner in which the buildings invariably were entered would indicate that strangers were not concerned in it.
 Outlook More Hopeful.
 According to First selectman John son the outlook for getting voting o1oi fo.. at the November election was much brighter today and there Is reason for encouragement on the part of those advocating the substitution of the me- chanical apparatus for the Australian ballot.
 After visiting the state commission CT in Hartford yesterday and talking with representatives of concerns which manufa cture the machines, the selectman took under consideration the matter of getting apparatus made by the Automatic Register company, which is in use in several places in the state. He has communicated with the company's representatives and this morning he felt that he may be able to make a contract with them
 MT. Johnson discovered that all the companies insist charging for the rental of the machine the price averaging $75 for each one used, but they are willing to have the money apply towards paying for the appar- atus should the town decide to pur- chase them outright.
 The selectmen do not believe that the voters understood that such high rental would be charged when they passed the resolution instructing the selectmen to make the use of the machines possible on election day. Nevertheless they feel that their or ders are plain and it is up to them to obey them at any cost.
 Efforts will be made to get the machines here about a week before the election if possible to give the voters a chance to become familiar with the manner in which they are operated
 Negroes Grow Restless.
 Men in change of the freight handlers at the transfer station are not enthusiastic over the success of the railroads plan of having southern negroes substitute for the white men formerly employed on the platforms The negroes are not a very energetic lot and many of them are longing to go back to their southern homes. lh1flculty is encountered daily in get tAng them to go to work and it is feared that there will be some de- scrtons from the ranks tonight when they draw their first pay.
 The men are under contract to work TOT sixty days at the expiration of which the railroad agrees to give them free transportation to Norfolk, ' ct. Qr of I,o The railroad plans to hold back a weeks pay in addition to an sS charge for transportation north to compel the darkeys to live up to the terms of their contracts.
 5epmOpratc 4o Rally