New Britain herald., 1919-12-02
If True, His Confession WMClear up Battling Murder Mystery Ot March 2, 1917 on Kensington Avenue
TELLS POLICE HE
 ROBBED DEAD BODY
After Staying Jitney Driver, Young Desperate Says He
 Spent Night At Hotel

The mystery of nearly two years as to the murderer Of Charles A. Taft, of Hartford, the driver of the jitney whose dead body was discovered on the road to Kensington, a flow hun dred feet southwest of the terminus of Arch street on the morning of March 2,' 1917, has apparently been cleared up by u written confession made by Human C. Beckett, aged 22 years, who formerly resided at AZ Madison street this city. Beckett, who has led wild life since ooyhood, is in the state prison at Windsor, Vermont, serving q sentence for lar ccny.
 Robbery Was Motive.
 The state police succeeded in $r- curing the confession from Beckett, < sthereby clearing up one Of the mur- . der cases that to many was destin ed to go down in Connccticut'3 criminal annals as unsolvcd. Robbery, the ac- cepted theory of thc police at the time of the discovery ot the crime, is the cause Of tho murder. according to Beckett in his confession. How much he gained through his terrible decd may be told in the confession, but the state officials arc withholding he detailed confession at this time. The grand jury. for the December term of the superior court, criminal side, will be in attendance tomorrow, and it is likely that States Attorney Hugh Nj Alcorn will ask for an indtct- mcnt of Beckett for the crime of murder in the first degree.
 No Woman Implicated. : In the confession of Beckett, Inc . youthful despcrado claims that rob- bc11 wlS the motive for the attack and death of the chauffeur of Inc "Night Hawk Special" which was also known as the ''Venetian Special be- cause Of the fact that Taft made his headquarters at the Venetian restanr ant on Market street Hartford and lwhere he piled his trade, which con- ta'sted principally of habitues or the underworld. It has been generally accepted that woman played a part in the case, but Bcckctt's confession is said to disagree with this theory. Beckett states in the issive that he was alone at the time of the commit ting of the murder and was on his way to his parents home, which was at that time in Kcnsington. The con- x fession is a voluntary one on part Of the young man.
 Has Chcckcrcd Career.
 Just where the state police rece1v- cd their tip connecting Beckett with the crime, will remain a mystery. Beclctt's record in this city is one that has come to the attention of the public on more than one occasion. He g was what is known as a "sticll up man. by the local police. Ever since he vas in his teens he has figured in various depredations that have kept him in the eyes of the minions of the law At the age of 15 years, he was committed to the State school For Boys at Meriden. and later he was transferred to the Connecticut Re formatory at Cheshire, following an attack on d night watchman at the Mcriden institution.
 On May 27. 1915, Beckett was pa roled from the reformatory, and was returned to the institution on July Il of the same year for infraction of the parole rules. He again secured a parole on August IS, 1915, and on January 10, 1916, the records at the = institution show that Beckett Was listed as q parole violator
 Hints At Taft Murder.
 From what can be ascertained the information that the state police re- ceived justified an investigation and the next move was to locate his whereabouts. A few months ago it was disclosed that the sought-for B, young man was an inmate of the Yer mont prison, and one of the officials went there and questioned him. At that meeting, the official talked for considerable time with Beckett and from statements the latter made, the official was satisfied that the prisoner must have actually been present when Taft was shot. There was no comics |, sion at that time. On November II, the official agatn visited Beckett at the prison. It was evident that the statements made by Beckett on the previous visit of the state policeman had had an effect on the youth. It was at this meeting that the con- , fession was made and turned over to the officer.
 Going to Parents Home.
 Although details are being with S held the substance of the confession
 Srl