New Britain herald., 1917-09-25
WITKIN BRAINS OF FRAUD,
 GANG, PROSECUTOR CLA
New Britain Policl
 nounced for Not Sd Railroad Ticket Fl Machine.
DECISION RESERV'
 IN SUPERIOR Cl

States Attorney Alcorn Inforn
 Case He Intends to Drop
 Against Gordon, McNam
 Osborne and Paints Black
 os Witkin's Character-
 Sentenced to Jail.
 Adolph Witkin of 2S7 Elm charged with attempting to
 the New Haven" railroad py
 and selling bogus tickets,
 raigned before Judge William in the criminal superior co morning. Through Attorney E w. Holden the accused entereI of nolo contendere. States ney Hugh M. Alcorn, in aski1 sentence, gave Witkin a scat raignment, termed him the h the alleged conspiracy, said tended to ask for the discharg other three men implicated E severely criticized the New police for permitting Witkin troy the ticket printing which, MT. Alcorn declared, cused had in his possession few days before he was Judgment in the case has a ferred.
 Witkin appeared in the uni the new National Army. Tn for which he is held was col last winter when he, Frank | a railroad conductor of 27 yd vice, Harry Gordon and Fra Namara were arrested. WitA Namara and Osborne have bed bonds of s5,O0O but Gordon Il in jail. Last Thursday Witt sent to Camp Devens at Ayel with the drafted men but WI surrendered at the request
 states attorney.
 Calls WitlAn Bad Man
 In stating the facts to Judl States Attorney AlcOrn gave| a black character. He said \ is a young man who has livd , long time by his wits, largely. gam bling or thieving. He cused Witkin of being the bl the ticket fraud and dec1arcd' was through the evil influence accused that Osborne, Me. and Gordon, as well as other who might have otherwise rt honest, were made corrupt.
 for the entire ticket fraud was on Witkin by the states attorn characterized the three other bis tools. In charging Witkin Attorney Alcorn said that it Y brains that evolved and put this attempted fraud and he c cused the Elm street man of had in his possession only a f. prior to his arrest the machi which the tickets were printe
 In this connection the state' ney took occasion to severel else the New Britain police ment for not obtaining the m There is no apparent reason V authorities should not have o this machine before Witkin chance to destroy it, he said.
 Islamcs Fairs for His Down
 Lawyer Holden, speaking fc kin, made a plea for a suspend tence. He spoke of the rel standing that the Witkin fam in the community, touched up fact that two brothers of u cused are in he navy and tf accused man himself has be- cepted for service in the N Army even after the com manda appraised of the charges again At the present time Witkin il ten days furlough. Although Holden said that Witkin has ad to him that he had the tickets possession and even tried to sell he denies absolutely any act of ing them and also denies that l had the printing machine house. Although the lawyer ad that Witkin has gone astray, marked upon his previously record and attributed his down his evil companions.
 About two years ago, Lawye den said, Witkin accepted q ment at various fairs, having of doll booths which, he said, { cloaks to cover the real ga which exists there. At thes Witkin became associated gamblers and others who have tributed to his downfall. The took exception to the states att remark that Witkin was the leader and brains of the gang q clared that the quartet had ori planned to stand pat" but Witl1in had finally admitted hi in the fraud against their wish, Lawyer Holden sai oy giving Witkin a suspende, tence and permitting him to to the army where he can rede' past he can serve his state than in any penal institution.
 In reply States Attorney again asked that Witkin be sen and when Judge Case hesitat, declared that he had ample pr a private nature to show that really did conceal the illegal D,