New Britain herald., 1919-12-02


 to take him to the home of his ! ents, MT. and Mrs. George Becl{ who resided at that time in Bet Beckett, in the confession, gives a | tailed account Of the trip to this d He alone and unaided shot TaftI the Kensington road about 200 southeast of the Arch street termiI \ he says. After the shooting, Bec1 states that he walked back to q Britain, where under an assu{ name, he went to the Hotel Bel on Church street and remained the night.
 Deserts American Army.
 Beckett says in the confession { he spent some time in this cityI irregular intervals. When entrance World War seemed to be but a. nd ter of moments, Beckett, who claimed he was in France with Liverpool regiment, related to newspapers and reporters, whose he managed to get, tales of experieI in France and particularly arc Nerdun, in the ever to be rernem be siege at Verdun, when the forces the crown princess army was hal that were interesting to many
 which were intensely wild to otIl He then Joined Go. I, c. N. c. went with the company to Norw and was later arrested as. a -desel
 Will Surrender Accused.
 Beckett, in the confession, told state police that he was making way to Canada, when he fell into clutches of the law in Vermont 1918. He was sentenced to stI prison for a term of one to two yeX for larceny, and on the strength additional evidence against him. was brought into court again in cd Der, 1918. and an added sentenced one and one-half years was given Il for highway robbery and assault. is now serving this term. States torney Hugh M. Alcorn has the Surance of the Vermont officials f Beckett will be turned over to Connecticut court, under an ind ment of first degree murder.
 In his first talk with the state lice official, Beckett showed 8 strd antipathy for the New Britain pol officials.
 Was Cold Flooded Murder.
 The murder of Taft was q c| olooded affair and arrested consid able attention at the time. The jitnI was found by Daniel Olander, M resided on the Kensington road, on morning of March 7, 1917. Taft in his position behind the steerI wheel, and when discovered a buI wound was found in his head ab} two inches to the left of the right eI The route taken by the car on Hateful night is one that would used only by a person who was quainted with the country. Beck had lived in Berlin for many yes and was thoroughly Conversant vi the conditions. It is a highway is seldom traVersed by autoists, VI usually make their way to Be1 from this city, along South M street to the state highway. It VI however, an ideal place to com5 such a crime, as the chances of cape were greater than along a I'd that is used much more extensive| Taft's body had fallen over the steJ ing wheel, and his gloved hands H dropped to his sides.
 Body Had Been Robbed.
 One foot was on the brake, and lights of the machine were burni when the discovery was made. T bullet wound in the back of the Ind was clean, and there was no sins hair. Frozen blood was found on floor of the car and on the groul outside. The flow of blood came prI cipally from the murdered mans nd The contents of the jitneur's pockI were missing, and a cheap wat which he carried was also gone. It side door of the car was open, al owing to the cold spell. the grouI was frozen hard. thus affording va little clue for the police to work I The revolver, which was used by tl and several cartridges wd found a short distance away from tI jitney car. People residing in Il vicinity, on the day following il crime stated that they heard the d stop about 9:30 o'clock at night. al there were others who remember rl seeing the machine later in the eye ing. Tn position of Taft's body d not excite attention at the time,
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