Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-26
WESTERLY

Westerly Man Granted Freedom
 James9A. Tefft. Who, While lntoxi.
 eated, Shot Wife, Given Liberty
 From Insane Hospital-Tewn Leads
 in w. S. s. Pledses-Death of Mi-
 ehael F. Murphy-Band Concert =
 Telephone Operators Outing.
 Ten years ago James A. Tefft, upon | returning to his home in Main street | from a Sunday picnic, and while in | drunken frenzy, grasped his gowling | piece and shot and killed his wife, | Harriet Taylor Tefft. Within five 1 minutes later with gun still in hand, | he was arrested by the late Deputy Sheriff, Eugene F. Coon and, with the assistance of the late Police Captain Cornelius Bransfeid, was placed in a cell in the police station. then in the basement of the old town hall. AL though then quite drunk he appar- eEtly realized what he had done He spoke in terms of the highest praise and deepest affection for his wife. and i explained repeatedly that he was glad | he killed her and put her out of life | of trouble and tribulations He had l rot been in the cell an hour, when he i became violent dashed himself i against the iron barred door, and de- | claring that he would not live to be l sent to prison. He became so violent 1 that he was placed in strait jack ct. He is now a free man.
 1 Judge Doran. of the superior court heard and granted Wednesday after noon. in Providence, a writ of ha- l beas corpus in the case of James A. Tefft, who had been at the State Hos pital for the Insane. since December l 3, 1908. when he was committed by Acting Governor Ralph c. Watrous. Tefft had been found:"not guilty of the murder of his wife by reason Of insanity" after jury trial in the su- rerior court for Washington county.
 pr. Harrington, of the institution testified that Tefft's reason had been impaired by the excessive use of al- cohol. Marked improvement in his mental condition since 1913, and to- day his mind is normal. For several years Tefft had been given more or less freedom, was engaged as driver Of a. state automobile, had been per mitted to visit Providence unatTend- ed, and had made trip to his home town of Westerly, for one day. since lis commitment. Dr. George A. Simpson in corroboration testified that Teffts mental condition was lgreatly improved. and that there would now be no danger in allowing him to have his freedom.
 Mir. Tefft was called to the witness stand and answered a few questions
 His mother and sister were ill the court room but did not testify. Judge Dcran decided that Tefft was entitled tc his liberty and the petition was granted. The petitioner was repre- sone ed by. Assistant Attorney General Fred A. Otis and there was no Cppo- sition MT. Tefft was formerly en- gagged in contract work and in dis
 charging vessels cargoes. especially coal, and had substantial working plant along the river front
 Theodore Francis Green, state chair
 man, for Rhode Island, of the war
 savings stamps campaign, has issued
 a report showing the results of pledge
 week, and places Westerly at the
 head of all the cities and towns in
 the state. for the amount of pledges
 over quota. and West Greenwich al
 the head in number of pledges in re- lation to population. Following is the
 schedule Of amount of pledges to enc
 of pledge week: