New Britain herald., 1921-09-22
P0LI,E IveIST MAN HELD AS MATERIAL
WITNESS IS WITHHOLDING Information;
He ADVISES HIS FAMILY NOT TO WORRY
MOther-in-Law in Bridgeport
Seeks to Prove Alibi,
Writes Letter Saying He
Was in Park City On
Saturday. ... Ass.sSaS
~-ls- skysa

| ]7fIs.FE Y
| Laughing, singing and whistling all
day long in his cell at police head
| quarters, Edward Cotter, who is being
held by the police as a material wit
ness in the murder of Louis Wrinkle,
battles all attempts to elicit any in
formation or to confirm anything now
known to the police. After an hour
of the most severe grilling at noon
today Sergeant Richardson, Prosecut-
ing Attorney A. A. Greenberg, Captain
| Thomas w. Grace and Police Com
missioner P. F. King, Cotter still
| denies any knowledge of the crime.
Police Not Satisfied
| The police however maintain that
he is Withholding information whichs
has an important bearing on the case
and intend to keep at him until they
ascertain just how much he knows, if
anything. When asked what they real
ly got from him today, Captain Grace
answered, Enough to justify holdings
him for a, further examination" Over
dozen witnesses were examined in
private at the detective office this
morning by police officials working on
the case. When asked how long they
intended to hold Cotter as a witness
Captain Grace replied that he did not
know, but that he felt reasonably sure
that he would not be released today.
Acts Suspiciously.
Commenting upon the examination
this afternoon Detective Sergeant
Richardson said: His actions and
his efforts to cover UP his actions
look very suspicious"
I'm other words, you mean that his
statements do not agree with thesevi-
dence," he was asked. "Yes," he re-
piled, that is just what I mean"
When asked what Cotter really had
to say at the examination, Sergeant
Richardson replied: He takes the
same attitude he has always taken
whenever we have questioned him on
anything. Everybody is liar but
him, even when confronted with wit.
nesses.''
I'm satisfied that he knows some.
thing about the case that he is not
telling said Richardson. But we
must take into consideration, in or
der to be fair to everybody, that he
is Irresponsible"
But We'll keep pegging along, just
the same"
Mother in Tears. @
Tears stood in the eyes of Cotter's
aged mother this afternoon when
she discussed the holding of her son
as a witness. 81 did not go with my
husband and daughters to the police
station last night" she said Be
cause I was afraid I would collapse"
"I have been SO worried that [
really don't know what I am doing.
1t it was anything else but murder.
it would not be so bad-but murder
why that's awful
When asked if the family had en-
gagged a lawyer to look after Ed
wards interests, Mrs. Cotter said
hey were advised by Prosecuting
Attorney Greenberg that it would not
De necessary. However" she said,
IF we find it is necessary we shall
ret one.''
Letter is Received.
A letter was received at the Cot
er home at 356 Elm street this FORE
loon from Mrs. McCaulty, of Bridge
,ort, Cotter's mother-in-law saying
hat Eddie" was in this city on
saturday, the day the body was
ound.
At the police Htation this after
DON it was stated that Coter will be
cid until all clues are run down.
Among the suspected witnesses who
ave been questioned within the
2 ST several days was Clemens Las
owski said to be the proprietor Of
saloon under suspicion.
Protests Innocence.
'"Tell mother not to worry, I don't
now thing about it," said Cotter
yhen speaking to his father and sis
er, Mrs. David Moore, of % Pros
ect street. last night. The boy, ac-
ording to his sisters statement to The
[era1d today, wept when he discussed
4, case.
Eddie always was wild boy con-
nued Mrs. Moore, 'and he did hang
round the two saloons down there
Meaning in the vicinity of the muir
er) IF the laws had been enforced
e would not have been allowed to
those places, because he
just 81 years DID, she added.
Have Nothing on Him.
According to Mrs. Moore, she was
I'D by certain members of the police
apartment yesterday that they had
othing definite on her brother and
Mess something material developed
lev would have to let him go. Why
lie says, "Officer MacAvay told me he
wv him starting out for Bridgeport
I Friday morning, the day before the
urder."
According to the family, Edward
ad been in the habit of making fre-
lent trips to Bridgeport, where his
ife resides, and has not been seen
IContinued on Thirteenth Pagel i.