New Britain herald., 1919-12-02
Grandmother Believed To Have Information Which May Show Youth s Story is "WiId Yarn"
DECLINES TO TALK
 UNTIL PROPER TIME
Local Police However, Are
 Satisfied That Young Pris- Oner is the Real Murderer.

IIuIldI lo uIluueSLlOnaDly out or his mind. He never committed the murder-lts only one of his wild dreams There's g time and place for explanations, however, and until that time perhaps the least said, the bet ter.' So spoke Mrs. James Mason, white haired and broken in health and nerve as a result of the terrible ncws that reached her--the grand mother of young Luman Beckett, elf-confcssed murderer of Charles Taft-early today She left the Er- win Home this afternoon to visit with her daughter. Mrs. George Beckett, the mother Of the man charged with tho crime.
 Refuses to Discuss Case.
 In her nervousness, Mrs. Mason plainly showed that she was with holding som ething which she bcliev- ed to be Of importance in solving the mystery of her grandson and would have discussed the source of that in formation had it not been for the warning of her daughter that the best plan would be to reman silent. Asked if it was not so that she had been speaking to her grandson's former sweetheart and that she had been told by the girl that Lunan had been in her company on March l, 1917. at the time the murder is believed to have been porpctrated, she faltered a moment, then began, "Well, I--." Her daughter broke into the conversation and Mrs. Mason took heed with the result that whatever information she holds will be kept silent for the time at least.
 Ex-SwcctIlcart Unconccrncd.
 
 Beckett formerly kept company ap- peared unconcerned over the matter today. She denied that the accused had called on her on March 1 and could not remember just how long before that time he had visited her home. She admitted that she had been keeping steady company with the young man for some time previ- Ous.
 Beckett Tipped Off SlcutIl.
 From a fairly authentic source it was learned today that Beckett vol untarily furnished the tip that re- suited in his giving to the state po- lice the confession Which results in the clearing up of the murder of Charles A. Taft. From this source it is understood that Beckett sent to the states attorney a letter stating that lie desired to talk with Connecticut officials, and all the praise that is be- ing handed out in certain circles re- garding the ability of one of the state policemen in ferreting out the mur- derer receives slight jolt. ,, Police Are Satisfied. Chief William J. Rawlings was ask ed today regarding the confession. He said ''I am satisfied from what We have in possession, that Beckett is the man wanted for the Taft murder '' | Chief Rawlings admitted that the To- | cal police were i'll possession of con- | siderable information. He also eX- 1 pressed no surprise over the confes- i sion.
 Detective A. J. Richardson spoke ] briefly of the case. He intimated t11a t : the local department was active ill the 1 Taft murder during the past few months. He said that he had plan l ned to go to the Vermont prison to l interview Beckett. He, however, was l not afforded this opportunity l The Beckett confession aDsorbed d 1 the most of attention in this city To ! many little credence is placed in Beckett's admissions, it being accept ] cd that he is youth who has an in clination toward bravado, and who would not stop at anything to gain notoriety and who is mentally un- 1 balanced. The grand jury will sit at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning when an indictment will be brought, charg- ing Beckett with the murder.