Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-14

The police of Westerly have been seeking Owen Riley for more than six months. He was wanted to answer to he charge of committing a violent as- sault upon John (Dad) Lynch, on the 9th of December. 1918. It was re- ported at the time of the assault that Riley, accompanied by a New London thug, were taken by Chris Ferraro in | his automobile to the farm where | Lynch was employed. Riley and the New London man beat up Lynch very severely, and, so it is claimed, Ferraro. witnessed the assault and did not heed the appeal of Lynch to take him to a doctor for treatment. It is also claimed that Ferraro made no attempt to stop the assault upon Lynch. and farther that he aided the two men to get beyond the jurisdiction of the Westerly police.
 Riley came to Westerly on the Gilt Edge express train from New London, and was arrested by Policeman Chase before he was able to get away from the railway station, although two friends who came with Riley attempt cd to get him into taxicab before the officer could make the arrest Riley was taken to the police station. and not long afterward Ferraro was taken into custody.
 Riley. when arraigned before Judge Oliver IT. Williams in the Third dis srict court Friday morning, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault. Sen tence was deferred. as the court de- sired to hear witnesses so as to deter mine the degree of punishment that ought to be imposed. Police Chiei Brown told the court he could proba- bly get Lynch into court within ar hour. Riley declared that Chris Fer raro did not sec the fight and did not know anything about it.
 Ferraro was arraigned also on the charge of assaulting Lynch, and witf aiding the assailants to escape. He pleaded not guilty and he was placed under a bond Of $500 for appearance in court next Friday.
 Several cases on tho civil side. al of disputed claims on bank accounts were continued. and one case of thi: kind was heard.
 When the case of Riley was re stunned, Town Solicitor Harry B. AgarS moved for sentence. and recommended punishment commensurate with thu fiaerancy of the assault. Mir Agart said that Riley came from Boston witl a stranger. not known to Lynch O. the police. for the purpose of com mitting this assault presumably il settlement of an old grudge. He hiret Chris Ferraro, jitneyman. to take then 10 the Brown Bridge road to the farm where Lynch was employed. It i claimed that Ferraro did not know tn object of the trip until after he wa engaged The only object of the tril was 10 assault Lynch. Ferraro calle' 10 Lynch who was in a field to com out. Lynch did not see Riley and hi pal. When Lynch came both mel assaulted him with their fists and rock. said Mir. Agard. The real motiv IS not known. and as Riley plead guilty. there is no need for showin a motive Lynch was knocked dow and both men kicked him and bea him severely. and one of the men use a rock. Lynch was taken to Dr. Scan Ions office soon after the assault an given treatment and was under tn doctors care for some time. He plead cd with his assailants to take him t doctor. but they drove off.
 Riley told the court that he neve saw the rock before. was sure he di not use rock in the assault and di not believe his friend used the roc against Lynch. Riley said he met hi friend at South Station in Boston an that he paid the fares of both { Westerly. Here. Riley said, he hire Ferraro to take him and his friend { New London, where he drew none from a bank. On the return tril when between Stonington and West erly. he engaged Ferraro to drive Boston and he would be paid g. When on the Brown Bridge roat which is not the main highway Rifle said he saw Dad Lynch in To Dad" gave him a sinner few week previous and he decided to return il compliment. He called to Lynch. tel ing him. You give me a sinner u last time I saw you. and now I'm gC ing 10 give you a shiner." and struC