New Britain herald., 1917-05-28
MERIDEN MAN AND WOMAN BOUND OVER
hafcel and Mrs. Bell Told Police
 They Were Married

Stubbornly contested throughout from a legal viewpoint, with witnesses subjected to grilling cross-examina- ton. objections by counsel to the in- troduction or certain details of testi- mony being frequent, and interpreta- ton of the criminal statutes being arsueA from various angles, the ar raignment of Mrs. Martha Bell, aged
 S5. wife of William Bell of 54 Pratt street. Meriden. formerly of this city. end Caltavone Marcell. aged 24, of
 34 Yale street, also of Meriden, be- fore Judge James T. Meskill in poe
 lice court today for misconduct, de- veloped into lengthy hearing with several intermissions to allow attor- neys for the defense to confer with their clients. Waving examination, following introduction of evidence by the prosecution, the accused were bound over to the June term of su- perior court under probable cause, with bonds fixed at $5Oc each. Charles E. Hull of Meriden went surety for Mrs. Bell, while the aged mother of Marzell provided her savings to ob- tain the release of her son. The hearing was conducted in chambers, Judge Meskitl ordering the e urt room to be cleared at the beginning of the hearing. The arraignment resulted from the arrest of the accused in room 32 at the Regal hotel early yes- terday morning by Sergeant Theodore Johnson and Policeman Patrick Quirk. Represented by Attorneys P. T. 'O'Brien of Meriden and Harry P. Roche of this city. the accused de- n1ed any wrongdoing. Attorney O'Hr1en, conducting the case for the defense, contended that there was no evidence to base conviction on the charges under the statutes. He quot ed at length from the statutes in an endeavor to show there was no evil dence of wrongdoing on the part of the accused. Following the introduc- ton of testimony by the state, he made motion for the discharge of tha5 accused on the ground that there was no evidence to hold them. The motion was denied and was followed by the plea of counsel for the defense for an 1ntermission to confer with their clients. Upon court being re- sumed. it was announced there would be waiving of presenting evidence by the defense. and the request was made that bonds be, fixed under Q probable cause finding.
 Source of Information Police Secret,
 The hearing brought forth several interesting rulings by Judge Meskill upon several mooted points of law or court procedure. One was that a po- Hceman giving testimony does not have to make known the identity of the pe9son giving informat ton that re- sultsfin action. provided such infor- mation or complaint is made to him as policeman. This developed when Attorney O'Brien sharply questioned Sergeant Johnson as to the person who. ...'tipped" him of to the fact that tho couple were registered at the hotel as man and wife. Prosecuting Attor- ney George w. Klett came to his aid with, an objection that was sustained by Judge Meskill. It was also ruled that in an action of this type, circum-
 stantial evidence must play an import. ant part.
 Policeman Quirk testified that he heard considerable disturbance from one of the hotel rooms facing the street as he patrolled Church street early yesterday morning, and was later informed that couple had been making much trouble, as if having an argument. Shortly after 1 o'clock he visited the hotel with Sergeant Johnson, being informed by Night Clerk John Hoyle that the couple in, question occupied room 32. It was testified the door of the room was slightly ajar as they approached it and the accused, fully dressed, were noted sitting on the edge of the bed looking out of the window. The bed was, disarranged, 1t was testified. At torney O'Brien called attention to the fact that none of the evidence indi- cated the accused having been seen by anyone in any way but attired in street dress. The visit to the hotel by the police detail followed a con- ference between Sergeants George J. Kelly and Johnson with Policeman Quirk at headquarters, and the con- sideration of all evidence.
 According to Sergeant Johnson. Marcell persisted. following the arrest, that he and the woman were married. but he professed ignorance as to when and where they were married. Mrs. Bell attempted to "coach him" as to these details and refresh his memory" According to the testi- mony, Mrs. Bell begged hard to be allowed her freedom. saying that her husband is night fireman in Meri- den, did not know, of her trip. and