New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-01-29
Victim Of Alleged Hold-Up Can't
Recall What Happened
ONLY KNOWS ROLL Is GONE
Man, Whose Charges Caused Near
Sensation Here, Located-Case May
Be Dropped For Lack OF Evidence
Activities in Courts.

mysterious victim of the alleged hold
up, made an appearance in town Sat
urday night, Deputy Sheriff James
Doyle of Bristol, escorting him here
for a conference with Grand Juror
NJ A. Norton. The finding OF Far
rell however, failed to clear the
mystery which surrounded the al
legged robbery and in police circles to-
day it was not known whether any
further action will be taken, lack OF
cumulative evidence making 1t diff
cult for the authorities to have very
high hopes Of a conviction.
With border Of mourning hue
circling his eye, where he had been
punched by his alleged assailants.
Farrell, who had been sought by both
the local and state authorities for
several days, returned to Bristol Sat-
urday night to collect pay due him
at the Bristol Brass company's plant
where he had been employed. Sheriff
Doyle was acting as custodian of some
Of his funds and Farrell called on
him to secure> it. The sheriff, had
been advised Of the reported hold-up'
and at the request of Grand Juror
Norton he brought him here for ex-
animation.
,AIIuOu6u he eApISSS0u IHS OS1icL
that he had been robbed, he admitted
that he was so drunk at the time he
couldn't say for a certainty that any
money had been taken from him.
Last Tuesday he started out with $s5
| in his clothes. He visited several Of
the saloons in Bristol and finally
came to P1ainville. He recalled hav-
ing been in. two saloons here and re-
membered that he had difficulty of
some sort with two young men, one
of whom struck him in the face.
When he returned to Bristol he had
but 500 Of his roll left. This was
taken from him by Sheriff Doyle for
safe keeping, the officer having been
asked by Grand Juror Norton to hold
him should he be found IN the neigh
boring city. The officer, 1t is under
stood, allowed him to go after taking
his money, believing that he could
be located without difficulty when
wanted.
Farrell left the Bristol Brass camp,
where he was living, the following
morning and did not return until Sat-
urday.
After his examination by the grand
juror, Farrell was turned over to
Officer Mitchell Of the state police de-
partment who grilled him further,
securing, 1t is said, no additional in
formation.
Warrant for the arrest Of the two !
young men said to be implicated In |
the robbery were issued Tuesday night |
by Grand Juror Norton and when the |
state police were called into the case |
we're ready for service in the event |
that Farrell would give the evidence. |
Acting In conjunction with Prose-
cutor Norton, Constable Downing had
been searching for Farrell since !
Tuesday and it was on his suggestion
that the victim was held by Sheriff
Doyle. Saturday night Farrell said
he could not recognize the men who
attacked him and he did not wish to
ask for their arrest because of the
many uncertainties concerning the
case.
This m orning he seemed to take a
different view of it. He met Consta-
Bile Philip Marlno on a Hartford |
bound dtnky and during his CONVEX
sat1on was inclined to be severe in
his criticism Of Plainville authorities
He claimed that while he could give
no direct evidence that he was robbed,
because of his condition at the time,
he knew that he didn't spend the
he was beaten and knocked down he
presumes he must have been relieved |
of the roll which he boastingly ex-
hibited in the saloons. you can't I
get any justice in Plainville, anyway"
he told the policeman.
Asked regarding what course would |
be pursued, Prosecutor Norton said !.
this morning he didn't know He |
personally secured all the evidence |
obtafnable on the night Of the alleged |
hold-up, had witnesses as to the as
suit and made himself generally IA
miliar with 1t. He gave what infor-
nation he had to the state police adj |
vising them in addition, that warrants |
had been issued and was prepared to !
present the case to a justice should |
they see fit to make an arrest.
One of Farrell's alleged assailants
left town a few hours after the al |
legged robbery and has not been seen |
since. 1t was reported here that |
he had gone South, accompanied by |
a friend, who had no connection with
the hold-up.
Chief Thomas F. Egan of the state |
police departm ent admitted this morn
ing that his men have taken an in
terest in the case. He believed that |
Farrell without question had been re-
leved Of some of his money but he |
was unable to say whether the evil
dence obtained is sufficient to make |
the serving of a warrant advisable |
should the absent suspect be located. |
Drunks in Sunday Court.
The usual quota of Saturday night |
DRINKS occupied the attention of JUS
tico y. IA. Condell and Grand Juror I
S. s. GWillim yesterday. Fines were 1