New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-10-25
DEATH STALKED THROUGH
WISE-TORIN LOVE AFFAIR
Alleged Murderer Reported
to Have Threatened
Woman and Also to Have
Suggested Suicide.
AMERICA BE DAMNED
HE SAID IN LETTER

Strange Infatuation of Soldier for
Married Woman Described by Wit
ncsses at Opening of Murder Trial
in Superior Court-Mrs Tobin
Feared jealous Lover But Did Not
Rcpe1 Him.
Especial to Herald)
Hartford Conn.,, Oct. 25.-William
j. Wise, formerly a waiter in u New
Britain resta urant and later with the
regular army at Fort Slocum, N, Y,
charged with the murder of Mrs.
Anna Tobin of Maple street New,I
Britain, on the morning of Sept. 10,
was put on trial for his life in the
criminal superior court before Judge |
w. S. Case today. States Attorney
Hugh M. Alcorn is prosecuting and
the accused is defended by Lawyer
a. A. Grcenberg of New Britain and
Public Defender John r. Forward OF
Hartford
Jury Is Selected.
Wise pleaded not guilty to a charge
of first degree murder when arraigned
yesterday afternoon and the work OF
selecting a jury Of twelve men was
Immediately begun. Following are
the names Of the men on whose
Judgment hangs the question Of
whether Private Wise shall be found
guilty or innocent:
James e. Hodges, Bristol, 62 years
old.
George e. Spencer, PlainvilIe, Sc
years old.
Alexander Rogers, Manchester, SO
years old.
Clinton S. Barrows. Newington. 50
years old.
Philip K. Williams, Glastonbury. All
! years old.
Charles Z. Stowe, Enfield, G. years
| old
George w. Ladd, Bloomfield, cyl
years old.
Wesley-W.~Ha Hale, Rocks,. I{ill. ~
years old. - r~.,,-it. .,. :.
John A. Steele. Enfield. co years
old. a.
J. Frank Cowles, East Iiartfoi [.
| G4 years old.
| Henry w. Osborn, Avon, sc ycars]
old.
Rcfore a co:apletc jury wos OBJ
toned fourteen talesmen we're. cx-
cused for various reasons, among,
them being Police Commissioner W
M. Palmer of New Britc:n, VINO said
thaf as an official he had followed the
case closely in the papers. E. B.
Beach Of New Britain was also ex-
cused.
Wise Appears Calm.
Wise appeared in court today
garbed in the uniform OF q United
States soldier, the same suit he wore
on the fatal night when Mrs. Tobin's
lifeless body, the throat cut from ear
to ear, was found on Pearl street and
ne was found, slashcd and bleeding,
short distance away. The accused
has entirely recovered from his
wounds. He appeared calm in the
face of the serious charge against
him and sat within a few feet of
Mrs. Tobin's husband, her mother,
her sister and her brother-in-law
without permitting a single shadow
of worry recognition to fit across
his countenance. He seems to be very
haggard and wears q mustache WHEN
changes his former appearance.
Max J. Unkelbach, the New Britain
engineer who took measuTementss
made drawings OF Pearl street and tho
location of Mrs. Tobin's body, was tho
first witness called by States Attorney
Alcorn. He said he took the mea-
suren1ents on the morning Of Septem-
Der 10, few hours after the murder.
Referring to the map, Mr.. Unkelbach
explained that there are four resi-
dences near the scene Of the murder.
He also explained doorway on the
Pearl street side OF the Corbin Cabi-
net Lock company. The street Is
twenty-one feet wide. The doorway
Is feet inches wide and
is feet inches In depth. There was
considerable blood found in this door
way to a height Of feet inches. tho
witness said. He also said blood was
generally splattered about the doors
way and the glass, as we'll as large
spot of blood on the sidewalk, five feet
from the door. Witness said that ju q
south Of the center of the road forty
two and one-half feet from the sid
walk blotch. was another pool oe
blood. Photographs taken at this
time of the murder were also intro
duced as evidence. Lawyer Forward v
asked where Mrs. Tobin lived and was
advised it was at IL Maple street in 4 n |
q partment house called "The Naples
LindberS Takes Stand.
Frank Edward Lindberg, brother
law of the dead woman, was next
called to the stand He said he lives
on Maple street and has been en-
ployed as chauffeur by w. T. Sloper
for two years. He said he knew Wise /
for the past year. He also knew Anna
Tobin for the past 1S or 20 years, he
said. During the past six months,
witness said, he saw Mrs. Tobin al
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