New Britain herald., 1916-10-23
PQainVille News SCRAPPY NEGRO LET OFF EASY BY COURT His White Victim, However, Has
 to Pay $7 Fine
 "SP0T" A TRUTHFUL DARKEY

| Blow Which Fell on COnlOn'S Head
 Must Have Affected His Memory
 He Gets Little Sympathy from Jus- hce-Voting Machines Shipped. Although he admitted that he was | guilty of the assault charge pressed 1 against him. Edward ("Spot") Cam l bridge, well known negro character, 1 succeeded in getting his fine remitted i'll court last evening, Justice Condell allowing him his liberty on payment of the officers fees. The action of the court was favorable to the accused be- cause of his truthfulness the state having a weak case against him had he elected to dispute the charge
 Cambridge's victim, James Saw yer" Conlon, white of complexion, did Tot fare so well. He was fined s7 and costs, the penalty being the re- suit of his attempts to deceive the court regarding the identity of his ssailant.
 The appearance of the men in court was a sequel to a row in which they became involved in Gleason's lunch
 
 been arrested after the fracas, the police at the time being unable to To- cate his negro opponent. Conlon was given a hearing yesterday morning. He told of being struck down by a negro and declared that he could identify his assailant.
 To give him an opportunity to back up his statements, Justice Condell continued the hearing until night Cambridge voluntarily reported at the Town hall during the evening and responded guilty" when put to plea Despite the negroes willingness to confess his white victim appeared to be anxious to protect him and he told the court that he could not identify him as the man who had assailed him. Ee got little sympathy from Justice Condell and his Expenditures" proved somewhat expensive.
 Grabbed Wrong Man.
 Fridays night near-riot started by negroes employed at the transfer sta ton caused considerable tension around the center Saturday evening, many entertaining a fear that there would be a repetition of the trouble, and it was reported that a number of the townspeople were armed when they left their homes that they might be prepared to defend themselves in case of trouble
 The cOnstables were on the alert and they too seemed to think that there was danger of a pitched battle. Consequently when some one threw a fire cracker over Gleason's lunch loom, said cracker exploding in the air but a short distance from where Officer Marine was standing, serenely contemplating probable reproduce ton in Plainville of a battle scene in Europe, the policemans nerves were iarred to a considerable extent
 The officer about-faced and made a dive for a negro who was standing nearby, and who seemed to be the perpetrator of the deed. The darkey was taken by surprise as the officer pinned his arms to his side and made a hurried search of his pockets in the hope of locating the gun, from which he supposed the shot had been fired. The mans pockets were empty but the officer hustled him to the lookup just the same.
 It was subsequently, explained that the fire era Ter was exploded by some Jokesters and that the negro in cus-
 
 turbance. He was released without a hearing.
 Excitement was also caused during the evening when the 5hrill blast from the whistle at the local plant of the Bristol Manufacturing pierced the air. Trouble in the engine room had caused the sounding of the gong but there was feeling that the negroes had run amuck again and the IS. o. S." call to the Ku Klux clan mem bers had been sent forth. There was ulick exodus from the stores at the center and the whites were prepared to give battle if their services were re- ouired. Many of them seemed to be when they learned that there was no trouble requiring their ottention.
 Machines Shipped Friday.
 The arrival of the voting machines to be used at the election next month is expected tonight or tomorrow, the selectmen having been advised this morning that the apparatus was shipped from the plant of the Auto matic Register company in James, town, N. Y., last Friday night The machines were sent by express and unless there is some unforeseen de- lay in transit they should be here ready for assembling by tomorrow at the latest.
 The company will send a represen- tative here during the week to get the apparatus set up and to explain to the town officials the manner in which they are operated. They will be on exhibition for over a week and the voters should have ample time in which to familiarize themselves with them.
 As the republicans polled the lar &cst vote at the last election the G. | 0. t. lever will have the top position | on the machine, the democrats sec l