New Britain herald., 1917-07-13
NEGRO WITNESSES RETURNED TO JAIL
Men Who Watched Harris Slay
 Tanner Fail to Get Release ALL SIGN DISPOSITIONS

Pease Swears Harris Told Him of His Plan for Murder-State Claims
 Slayer Will Hang for Crime-Odd Fellows Install Offlcers-Bu1ef Items.
 After repeatedly denying having witnessed the killing or possessing any information of value to the author tiles, Milton Pease broke down follow ing vigorous examination yesterday and in a formal deposition gave the police evidence, which the state claims is of sufficient strength to make Her man Harris forfeit his life in payment for the murder of Frank Tanner, who he stabbed to death in the negro quar- ters on Whiting street on July A. Pease confessed to having a full knowl- edge of the crime. He also swore to statements showing that the slayer had premeditated the killing and that
 the murder was committed with due deliberation.
 Pease's deposition was obtained at the Hartford jail before he was
 brought here with other negroes, held as material witnesses to the murder, 1 Prior on charges of breach of the peace. He had been told that Pues- odo, Orange and Willarson three other witnesses, had told the authori- ties all they knew in the hope that the lies they previously had told would be overlooked and they would not be punished.
 Since the time of his arrest Pease
 maintained that while he returned to the house with Harris he did not enter the room in which the murder was committed and had no knowledge con- corning It. Yesterday he signed a statement in which he admitted that l he was told by Harris on the return l trip that the latter intended to kill 1 Tanner. He then stood by with the 1 other negroes and watched the slayer l pounch on Tanners prostrate form l and plunge the knife in his throat. None of the men made any attempt to 1 interfere as Tanner was unpopular 1 with them and when Harris left the l room after inflicting the wounds 1 which caused the mans death they, 1 too, made a hurried exit. Pease, in 1 his statement. declared that he owned l the knife with which Tanner was 1 killed He had loaned it to Harris on ] the morning of the murder, although l he did not know until later what use l the slayer proposed to make of it. The six negroes locked. up in jail l since the murder were brought here l last evening by Captain Hurley and 1 Officer Wheeler of the state police de- l partment and Constable Marino. Since l the latter obtained confessions from | two of the witnesses a few days ago l a formal statement of their version of l the killing was drawn up in the states attorneys office and yesterday l four of the men affixed their sigma lures to it. The other two apparently did not see the murderer at work and 1 their release from custody was | ordered yesterday.
 The cases against Pease. Orange, | and Willarson were continued until July 21 and they were 1 returned to jail. An effort will be
 made to have Harris brought before 1 the Superior Court at the present ses- l sion and an Indictment against him l may be asked for within a few days. The state claims to have a complete l case of first degree murder against the 1 accused.
 l Harris father returned to town to- l day after spending some time in Bal
 tinl9re, and it was reported he had ar | ranged to employ counsel for the l young negro
 l Odd Fellows Install. l With District Deputy Frank G. Os- I borne presiding the officers of Se-
 quassen Lodge, recently elected for 1 the ensuing term, were formally in- 1 stalled last evening in Odd Fellows
 Han The district deputy was assist 1 ed by William J. Mckee as deputy 1 grand marshal.
 l The elective officers seated were: ] Noble Grand-Morris w. Greene. 1 Vice Grand-Frank H. Bohman. | Secretary-W1lliam J. Mckee. 1 Trea E.. Morrill, | Following the business session there
 was social hour during which lunch 1 was served.
 Frisbie to Retire Tomorrow. l Tomorrow will mark the retire. ment from business of Franklin P. l Frisbie Plainville's veteran merchant. 1 Mir Frisbie has sold out his interests l in Frisbe and Hemingway's store to 1 the new owner will take possession on 1 Monday.
 MT. Frisbie has been in business 1 in Plainville since he was twenty one | years old and the townspeople in 1 general concur in the opinion that he l has earned rest.
 He will continue to live here but
 l will give up all his business connec-
 l tions.
 1 Fought Hitching Post.
 l Patrick Mcclellan, freight hand
 | Ter on the verge of delirium tremens,
 ! attempted to start a fight with a hitch
 1 ing post in the center this morning
 l and although he bruised his knuckles
 | badly he was determined to continue
 until knockout blow was delivered. l Constable Cornelius Downing called
 the bout off as Mcclellan was in dis