Putnam patriot., 1916-09-22
Tracy Pleads Guilty To
 Larceny Of Four Foxes
Sentenced to Six Months in Jail Sentence Suspended and
 Probation Ordered
Civil Action Settled by Agreement Council Settlement Not Given Out

The civil action of Robert c. Smith l of East Killingly vs. Ralph Tracy Of killingly, which was on trial Tuesday and Wednesday before Judge Reed and a jury, in the superior court at 1 Putnam, came to a sudden ending at half past eleven Thursday morning when the jury were informed by the court that the case had been settled by agreement of counsel, and withdrawn. l At twelve o'clock Tracy was brought before the court on a criminal conn plaint and plead guilty to the theft of four foxes valued at $50.
 He was sentenced to six months in jail and execution of sentence was sus- pended and he WAS placed in charge of k. w. Seward of Putnam as specia probation officer.
 The case grew out of the theft of l four foxes and fifteen skunks from tho 1 fur farm of Robert c. Smith, East l killingly, on tue night of December l 21st last.
 Three days later officers searched the home of Tracy and found two fox skins and four skunk skins. Tracy was ar l rested and taken before the town court of killingly where probable cause was 1 found and he was bound over to the su- perior court and furnished bond for his appearance.
 Subsequently the civil action was started the plaintiff asking for treble damages to the amount of S465. After being on trial Tuesday and Wednes- l day a settlement was reached by agreement Thursday morning. Att torneys in the case would not state the amount of settlement but IL is be- lieved have been substantial and prac- tically all that was asked for.
 The court room was cieared Of spec. tators, who believed proceedings were over for the day, when Tracy was brought in on the criminal charge.
 The States Attorney stated that i the information contained three i counts, two for breaking and entering and one for the theft of four Canadian | fox skins valued at $50. He said he was willing to noile the tisst two counts and accept a plea to the third count.
 Tracy plead guilty to the larceny charge.
 The states attorney then outlined 1 the case to the court and said that he had pursued what he believed to be the proper course in holding the crim- inal Sase in abeyance until the civil action was disposed of so that the state would not be put to the expense of paving the way for civil action. He intim ated that had the civil action ter. minated favorably to the defendant that in all probability the original complain woald have to be nolled. He said that a settlement of the civil suit having been made by com- 1 plete restitution to MT. Smith, Dhe felt differently than he would had the case gone to the jury. He thought that the fact that restitution had been made should be considered. He said he knew Tracy's father and he is man of eighty years and of the highest char acter. Tracy also has wife and child ren. "Taking all the facts into con- sideration," said Attorney Searls," 'l feel that possibly clenency ishould be extended to the aceused2 A sentence of six months in jail has been suggest ed to me and the suspension of the ex- ecution of the same and 1 make that suggestion to the court for considera' tion2p
 JudgeY Reed then addressed Tracy. He said in part: "Mr. Tracy, call you mister because 1 wish to show you re- spect, you sense that the civil case that has been on trial Is now finished. This Is to settle the criminal case. You have plead guilty. The situation Is an embarrassing one in view of the situa- tion of yourself and family. It is al- ways sn unfortunate result that crime must fall .on an innocent family. l have some feeling for that aged father and wife and children. This ought not to be satisfaction to you. You are the one to protect them If you care anything about them. Do you care for them?"
 Tracy--"Yes sir9'
 "You.ought to take better care of them than this. You are the one to take care of them. This is poor way to take care of one's wife and children, to do things like this which was
 wrongful, cruel and wicked, and about the most foolish .thing you could do.
 It seems 10 me the stofysyou told the jury In the civil case was as foolish and
 ss silly a one as you .could have told.
 You might have expected! !thcm to be-
 lieye you were at home that might but you couldn't expect them to believe 1 you received those skins from Maine. hope this will be a lesson to you and that you will right about face and do l the best you can. 1 want you to feel . tbat the way to get anything is to get