New Britain herald., 1919-12-02
BECKETT CONFESSES
 HE IS MURDERER
(Continucd from Third Page.) being believed that he was sim ply waiting for someone to return to the
N oman in the Case.


 The wheels of justice which re- volve speedily at times, were set in motion immediately on the discovery of the murder. and for many days, nothing was left undone 10 solve what looked like one of the most baffing cases the police encountered in many years. As in most murder cases theories were numerous, but there did not seem to be any other than that of robbery that could throw any light on the case. Taft, it was said at the time, was thoroughly acquaint- ed, through the business he was en- gagged in, With the underworld of Hartford, and this fact produced the theory that a woman would be found in the case. The confession of Beck ett. however, relieves this long ac- cepted theory. Everything that looked like 9 possible clue to the apDrehen~ sion of the murderer was run down, and the police after time found them selves baffled.
 When the robbery theory was dis cussed, those who did not accept this as the cause of the crime, used the argument that had the murderer sought money, he would have used some other means of securing it viz a black jack or some other weapon other than a revolver. Taft had also been accused of being 8 "stooI for the Hartford police, and again theory had it that revenge prompted the crime
 Victim 37 Years Old.
 The victim was 37 years old and re- sided at [ Pearl street. He had for several years conducted a jitneN bus mess in the Capitol City. As is stated in Beck ctt's confession, Taft was hired by the youthful desperado to drive him to the home of his parents in k ensins ston. What transpired during the trip to this city. is a matter Of conjecture. Taft. it was stated, usually carried considerable money with him, and this fact may have been learned bN Beckett either during Inc trip or before it.
 Murder is Discovered,
 It WAS shortly after 0 clock on the morning of March ,. 1917, when Dan iel Olander on his way to his employ ment in one fthe local factories. saw the car standing, and on closer ex- animation he saw Taft had been killed. The New Britain police were immed
 
 Tatt's face covered with blood, and closer estiga ton disclosed a, bullet wound from a .38 caliber revolver in the back of the head. The revolver was found a, short distance away from the automobile. It was Fred F. Carl l son of 237 kensnston avenue, who 1 first notified Sergeant George J. Kelly | of the crime.
 Heard Revolver In fixing the time of the crime, the I Miss Rutb filling, a nurse, whose home | Was close to the scene of the crim Q. 1 MissAllipg told the police on the day of l the discovery that she had heard the 1 unified sound of a revolver abOut S:S0 1 clock on the evening previous. Miss l filling went to the door of her home. and saw a. nautom obiIe slowing down, and later coming to a halt under an l electric light Miss filings first i'm preSslon of the sound she heard was 1 that of the slamming Of the car door.
 After the usual prelimina ries, the 1 body of Taft was removed to the un- ertabing rooms of M. J. kermcy x !. Co.,, where an autopsy was performe ed by Dr. Philip D. Bunoe assisted by Dr.: Harry A: EIcock, tif local medi- cal examiner. The auto .sy determined l that death was instanraeous
 Brother Identifies Body. ~~ ldentlfcation-of the murdered man