New Britain herald., 1917-05-22
TWO SOLDIERS TAKE MOTOR GAR AMI! FLEE
Other Company E Men Figure in
 Mi1up in Hartford

sF several memDeTS OA COupAAy Gzs
 First Connecticut Infantry, stationed in barracks in this city and also on
 outpost duty at Parkville. becoming wearied of routine army life have goAe off on rampage of their own which
 has resulted in their falling into the
 clutches of the law and will, un-
 doubtedly result in their cases coming
 ofilcially to-. the attention of their su- sperior officers in the regiment. Ex- corporal Fred Becker and Private Ross Rhodes were arrested in Meri-t den last night charged with taking
 without leave an automobile belong
 ing to Captain Frank H. Johnston of the Second company. Home Guard, and Private William Grabeck and Private Henry Gardner are being held
 by the Hartford police for trial on
 May 24 on charges of threatening to shoot a police officer and also with breach of the peace. In addition. Sergeant Raymond Queenin and Pr1- vate Albert Jennings. Private George Scarlet, Privates Ross and Albert Adams have been subpoenaed as witt iiesses, while Sergeant Queenin and Private Ross have been cited by the judge of the Hartford police court for contempt of court Lieutenant Ashley J. Grimn, in command of Com. 'p@ny E, Is conducting a thorough, in- vestigation into these cases and was q visitor during the court proceedings this morning.
 Autnan0bfle Ia Stnlen.
 Tho charges against ex-CorporaJ Becker and Private Rhodes are said by military men to be very serious. but whether they will first be tried by the civil authorities and then turned over to the military authorities has not yet been determined. Second Lieutenant Robert V. K. Harris. IT,. has been in communication with Pros- ecuting Attorney G. W. Klett and Chief w. !. Rawlings in an attempt to have the prisoners turned over to the military authorities for punish ment under strict military court martial. According to official in formation both Becker and Rhodes were under arrest and military guard when they made their escape last night in the appropriated automobile It Is charged that recently Becker quit his post in Elmwood without leave and went to Springfield where he remained for two days On his return he was reduced to a private by Lieutenant Griffin and placed under arrest await l ing court martial Private Rhodes was also under arrest as the result of an escapade last week with tho Hart ford police officials. The weather be- ing favorable last night. both Becker and Rhodes were given . respite from the close confines of the guardhouse and permitted to sit in front of tho armory under guard. According tc l additional information the two sol diers, noting Captain Johnston's six cylinder Studebaker automobile stand- ing in front of the armory, made a sudden dash for the car and sped away. The theft was reported to the local police at 9:45 D. m. and immed- lately the authorities in Hartford. Meriden, New Haven, Bristol and Waterbury were notified to be on the alert for a couple of olive-drab sol diers in a touring car. At }. 1O:4O o'clock the two soldiers were held up
 and arrested by the Meriden police.
 This morning Detective A. J. Richrd-
 son went to Meriden to bring the two
 prisoners back. Prosecuting Attorney
 Klett has told the military authorities that all he desires Is to have the men
 suitably punished and 1t is not unlike
 ly that he will ask for 8 maximum
 penalty If they come before the court. Military men intimate that if the two soldiers come up for general court martial they may likewise get max imum penalty.
 Soldiers Hold Or Police.
 Regarding the escapade in Hartford. stories told by local military men and by the Hartford authorities differ. The Hartford version places the