New Britain herald., 1916-11-23
SEEK EVIDENCE IN
" FE MURDER CASE
Representatives Of States Attor-
ney After Information
HOLDEN TO DEFEND SLAYER

Pursue After Investigation Is Com
pIeted-I1,sanity to Be Prisoners
Defense-Couldn't Pay Fine.
Attorney William H. Maltbie of
Hartford, was in town TODAY securing
information for use in connection
with the presentation of the states
case against Joseph salerno. charged
with wife murder, should the con-
fessed slayer be brought to trial be-
fore a jury in the superior court
With Constable Philip Marino who
was ordered by States ATTORNEY Hugh
M. Alcorn to look up evidence LAWYER
Maltbie, who is Mr.. Alcorn's assist
ant, visited the Salerno house on
West Main street where the voune
wife was slain and made arrange
ments for securing data which will be
used in the preparation of the case.
Photographs of the house and the
room in which the crime was COM
n1itted will be obtained and measure
n1ents will be taken to show the dis
lance between the scene of the muir
der and the Plainville pond near
which the slayer was found bleeding
from a number of wounds which he
had inflicted in an effort to end his
own life.
States Attorney Alcorn's attention
was not called to the case officially
until Tuesday when Constable Ma
rino reported at his office to give in
formation in connection with other
Plainville affairs which are to be con-
sidered by the superior court at the
term which opens on the first Tuesday
in December. Justice A. H. CondeIl
had not delivered the warrant on
which Salerno was bound over up to
that time and Mr.. Alcorn secured it
later. sending a request for the docu-
ment through the local constable.
Because of his lack of information
concerning the crime the states at
torney has not indicated what course
he will pursue but he proposes to
follow the usual course of getting all
the evidence available should It be
necessary to bring the prisoner into
court to face jury.
Relatives of the murderer have re-
tanned Attorney Benedict M. Holden Of
Hartford. to represent him. Mr.. FIol-
den is said to have conferred with the
prisoner in the Hartford Jail. where
he was taken after his hearing in
Plainvil1e. and it was decided to m a Ike
insanity the plea should the case go
to trial. Local authorities declare
that they have not unearthed Il scrap
or evidence to show a motive for the
crime. The fact that the woman was
killed and that Salerno admits re-
sponsibility for the murder is the only
information in their possession.
Salerno has persistently main
tanned that he had no cause for the
| murder and that he must have been
insane when he delivered the fatal
razor slash. His counsel is expected
to rely in large measure on the tes-
timony of DR. c.. J. Hart of New
Britain, who attended the SLAYER after
be was brought to the hospital and
| who declared him to be paranoiac.
Whether the state will dispute that
opinion will depend on the results of
the investigation now being conducted
on Attorney Alcorn's ORDERS.
There Is possibility that the
states ATTORNEY will not call the case
at the December term. permitting it
to go over until March to permit of a
more complete investigation and to
allow observation of the prisoner.
| Couldn't Pay Fine.
y
en- to jail today by Constable Cornell
us Downing to work out fine of IS
and the costs of prosecution imposed
this morning by Justice r. P Prior
before whom he was arraigned on the
charge of intoxication. The ac-
cused was without funds
Hurley was arrested Yesterday af-
ternoon by Officer Downing. The man
| came to town by trolley from New
Britain. He was in an intoxicated
condition at the time of his arrival
and the officer was unable to get him
to leave. The man created a dis
| turbance around the center and was
| finally locked up.
Candidate Wanted
wanted-A democrat to serve on
| the town school committee.
An advertisement of this character
! is being considered by Rev. r. H.
Burton and Rev. H. T. Walsh to
| whom has been accorded the privilege
| of selecting a new member Of the
| school board to fill the vacancy which
has existed since John E. Clarity re-
signed a. few weeks ago. The men
report that. they have thus far been
unable to secure anyone to take the
| place although they feel they have
made a fairly thorough canvass of
eligibles.
The office does not appear to be in
very great demand. Men who have
been approached regarding their ap-
! pointment have turned it down and
! the board remains unorganized for
| the year pending the appearance of
| a satisfactory candidate.
Chairman Burton said today that he
| had expected an appointment would
| be made this week but was disap
| pointed.