Norwich bulletin., 1918-02-26
SPECIAL AGENT IN = ' rr NEW LONDON COURT.
Philip Miller Charged With Assulting A Breakman,

The case against Philip Miiier. g special agent employed by the New Haven roads charged with assaulting Edward Askins, a. breakman employed by the same company, the assault taking place in the Union Station at New London. Thursday morning, was continued by Judge Colt in the police court Saturday morning, after wit nesses had tstified for the state until Thursday, Fem. 2s, and bond of $200 was ordered >"
 Miller asked for a continuance upon the ground that he wanted to secure an attorney and a witness as well. After some delay Attorney Tracy Waller was secured to defend Miller, and the case was begun.
 Edward Askins was the first witness to be called by MT. Cronin and he told the court that he is engaged on 2 run which # requires him to leave New London at 4:3O in the. morning. Thursday morning he reported at the despatcher's office about ten minutes to four. and said. that he had gone to the waiting room of the station about 4:15 to wait his call. While he sat on the bench. he fell asleep. The next thing he knew some one had pulled him off the bench. Askins said that Miller then raisd his hand, and. thik- | ing he was to be struck, he raised his arm to ward off the expected blow.
 At that Miller said, You'll raise your hand to me, will you" and he l then drew a bleckjack and hit him. Askins claimed to have been, knocked l to the floor and while down Miller made four attempts to hit, him an his head, but that he, had put his hand over his head to protect himself. and received the blows. on his hand and that the only reason Miller stopped was because a. woman screamed, As kins, said that his clothes had been torn when Miller pulled him off the bench. He also said that he ha9 al no tine hit Miller. When Miller was dragging him, toward the door on his way to the police station, Askins claims he was called vile names.
 l ,Sergt. James D.. Gaffney said tha!
 he was doing desk duty when Askins was brought in by Special Agent
 Miller and was, charged with trespass-
 ing on railroad property. He said that
 Miller and his prisoner. were followed into the police station by the nigh
 train dispatcher and trainnlaster, who Iinterposed in Askins behalf. Sergent Gaffney said he allowed Askins to g. ina the custody of the despatchef. The
 sergeant said that Miller would have to make another charge of assault.
 | Ernest l.. Newconb, a breakn1ar
 employed by the New Haven road
 said that he was in the station at the
 time Miller is alleged to have as: saulted Askins. and that he saw Askins sitting on the bench near the telephone. booths. Miller went up ts Asllins,. who apparently was asleep which, he drew a blackjack and hi Askins over the head. He said .Askin' was pulled by Miiler off the bench t the f1oor He did not see Ashins dt anything which would cause Miller t' iabuse him. t.. =
 William J Dugan, also a braakn,a1l said that. he had worked with Mile
 in the Fort yards, and that at tha time he knew him as Griffin. He saiC
 that hs saw Aslzins sitting on thu
 bench in the station, and that Mile
 had hit him with blackjack thae' times, ond the threw him on the floor When M1fer got Askins on the floor he grabbed him by the coat collar ant dra ged the prostrated man along to ward the door. He did not see -Askin strike Milfer, or otherwise do anythin!
 to cause the special agent to Urea
 him 50. ' s | Charles B. Hanson, acting trair
 master, told the court that he was ol
 his way from the station lunch, counte to his office up stairs, and as he wa on the stairs he heard 8 woman .erean T twice. Retraating his steps he l!urTie, to the waiting room and got there il
 time. to see. Miller strike Askir: whl was on the floor. He said that b. followed the men to the nolire Sta t'or