New Britain herald., 1916-01-08

slugs at your Oak street home?' Law yer O'Brien asked.
 ''It was Mir. Battey," the witness said. He added that on Oak street Mir. Battey collected from his meter four times and accepted s1ugs for re- demption. He also said that once on Seymour street and twice on Main street Battey collected. In Decem- Der, 1914, Henry Rice collected from the meter and redeemed slugs, said Smith, In the spring and fall of 1914, Smith said he was present when his wife paid MT. Battey. Smith furthermore declared that on seven or eight occasions Stephen Du- dack, another collector, had collected I from the meter and on two occasions had redeemed slugs. Between Jan uary 1922, 1914, Dudack took the 1 meter out of their house on West Main street and later returned with the slugs and 8 bill for s3, which Mrs. Smith paid in her husbands presence. Once before, when he lived in
 Sweeney's block, Smith said, the gas company redeemed two slugs. Never, said the accused, had the
 gas company forbidden him to use
 slugs and never had he intended to
 defraud the company.
 Cross examined by Prosecutor Klett,
 Smith said he wished to correct a
 previous statement that he paid MT.
 Battey. "It was Mrs Smith and I saw her." he said. Smith admitted that if the gas company's card record showed payments on dates different than those he said, he might be mis- taken.
 Asked why he had been so willing to go with Bamforth when the writ was for Thomas Smith, the accused said "because it was for defrauding the gas company"
 Keeps Key For Protection.
 Asked why he insisted on carrying the key to the meter closet he said it was because he did not want his wife to have it. She is extremely careless and often leaves the door open. I kept the key to protect the gas company" Smith also said he kept the key to protect himself be- cause if Mrs. Smith left the door open and some one shook down. the meter he would have to pay. He also has valua bles in the closet so keeps the door locked. Smith said he did not think it strange that his ct year, but he had been ready at all times to redeem any slugs. He said his wife had asked him to wait for MT. Kennedy, who had been insolent to her, because he couldn't get to the meter. Kennedy did not show up he said.
 Calls Battey Perjurcr.
 During the trial Smith had been ,alm but towards the end of the prosecuting attorneys cross examina- 1 ion he f1ared up. He declared that 1 f MT. Battey denied redeeming slugs 1e was perjuring himself and if other l employees of the company said the 1 ;ame they, too, were perjuring them- l 'efves. Later Smith said he would I lot go so far as to say Battey was l oerjuring himself, "I'll say he isn't cling the truth he said.
 Mrs. Smith Testifies.
 Mrs. Smith gave similar evidence to hat of her husband. She said Bat ey was the first collector who re. [eemed slugs for her. Stephen Du. lack also redeemed B worth of slugs nd at her present address Mrs. Smith insisted that MT. Battey had redeemed l bout $S worth of slugs. Rice also edeemed $1.75 worth, she said. Mrs. 'mith declared that Battey had re- |eemed slugs at her home on Sey- nour street in Sweeney's block.
 "I assume that you have a family aid the prosecutor. Just my hus- and, myself and the cats" Mrs. l smith said. She told the court that he is often out. Cross examined urther on who collected slugs and he dates. Mrs. Smith said, You've ,ot me all mixed up."
 1T don't want to get you mixed up, madam" said the prosecutor.
 Witness told the court that on at east seven or eight occasions collect ,rs had redeemed slugs. She replied o g. question from Judge Meskill that l he did not think it queer that the 1 meter had not been read in so long [ because she knew that meters are sometimes lost track of by the com- oany for long periods of time.
 Battey Denies Allegations.
 MT. Battey was recalled to stand. He denied statements by Mir. and Mrs. Smith that he had redeemed slugs for hem at 175 Main street, on Oak street and elsewhere. He also denied that he was at Smiths house on Main street two years ago.
 Within the past five years have ] you redeemed slugs for anybody," asked Lawyer O'Brien.
 "Yes,' he replied.
 Then is 1t not possible that you may have redeemed slugs for Mrs. Smith and forgotten it?'
 ''No Sir" was the reply, MT. Bat tey denying that he ever redeemed slugs from the Smiths. He admitted that the company does permit cus- toners to use slugs if they redeem them.
 J. J. Kennedy, a Gas company em- ploye, denied that Mrs. Smith ever made an appointment for him to meet her husband. At this meeting