New Britain herald., 1921-09-27
Bridgeport Man Tells Story of Hold-Ups and Other Crooked Deals Laid to Door of Former Local Youth.

Edward Cotter, now held by the state police in connection with allega- tions concerning the rum ring in New Britain and the death of Louis Wrinkle | is about to lose his child wife, whose home is in Bridgeport, providing that she gets enough money to institute divorce proceedings it was learned by Herald investigator who went to that city yesterday in an effort to trace the movements of the material wit ness and to get some information on his life there. The suspicion is gen. eral that Cotter is being held in Hart ford by the state in an effort to get information from him concerning the alleged New Britain rum running ring.
 am going to get a divorce as soon as I can save enough money" sobbed little "Cushie" Gan abbreviation of Acushla) wife of Edward Cotter, when interviewed by a special criminal in vestigator, formerly of the New York World. now employed by the Herald.
 Tells of Abuses
 "Cushie' or Patsy as she is af- fectionately called by her friends. wept bitter tears when she retailed accounts of how she has been abused and beaten by her husband. It was only after some minutes that she could compose herself so as to go on with her statement. Barely four feet tall. l7 years old, looking like a school girl of 12 or 14. this pretty little child wife told a heart breaking tale of a whirl- wind courtship with a dashing young fellow from another city. who, after marriage. turned out to be poor hus- band and abused her so badly that she was forced to have him arrested. Upon Al. l fl, court with a sentence of 30 days fin jail if he did not refrain from his tactics. he continued abusing her, destroying her clothing, refusing to support her until finally the wife and her mother were forced to drive him out of the house.
 The story as told by the wife. who from all appearance should be playing with dolls. instead of talking about a husband. is told as follows:
 Married 9 Months Ago
 'I am married nine months. I met Eddie 14 months ago. We were intro duced by Fritzie Voight. Our wedding took place in the office of Alderman Dunbar and later was blessed at St. Peters church by Rev. Father c. R. Lefty, six months after the legal we'd ding.
 When asked where her marriage license was. Mrs. Cotter answered. Eddie has it, I often asked him for it but he refused to give it to me-"
 Worked But Little
 For six months after her wedding Mrs. Cotter lived at 40 Poplar street. Bridgeport with her husband and mother. Tn all this time she said her husband did practically no work. ex- cept a few hours he worked occasion ally for Rev. Lefty. he made no at tempt, she says, to find a job and support her and it became necessary for Mrs. Cotter and her mother. Mrs. James McKaulghty, whose husband was away seeking work in New York, to apply to the Bridgeport charitable authorities for aid. She said he got some bonus money or aid of some kind from the state for two weeks, amount ing to SIS a week. which he gave to her mother.
 Finally. Mrs. Cotter says. she was forced to seek work to support her self.
 "I never saw it although heard the talk about some story of a revolver. which Eddie told me was not true" she added when questioned about the stealing of a revolver and subsequent holdup with which Cotter is charged.
 After I married him knew he was crook" she said.
 Sister-in-Law Paid Rent
 Mrs. Cotter said that for two months she lived with her husband in New Britain at 35 Walnut street with a Miss Jones. During this period she said a sister of her husbands. Mrs. Nellie Moore. of Prospect street, paid most of the rent. When asked if her hus- band had any income she stated that he got some state aid for six weeks from April 1 to May Is.
 When did you sec your husband last"
 The Couple Never Spoke
 The Monday after the murder. He went to my home for his overcoat. We never spoke to each other. Sat urday night. the night when the body was found. my mother told me he was at the house looking for his overcoat and sweater.'
 In less than 13 months that I lived in Bridgeport after met him and after we were married also. he went to New Britain about 25 times and stayed all night.
 Had Husband Arrested.
 On June had nim arrested for beating me. He was told in court if he didn't make good he would go to jail for 90 days.
 He used to slap my face. My mother bought me a S65 suit one time and he tore it up. When I mad the other job was afraid to go out for fear he would beat me.
 ''I will never live with him again. I intend to get a divorce as soon as I can get the money"
 The story of Cottet working for Rev. Lefty is borne out by a statement of the priest and also by his housekeep- CT. Miss McGrath. "Cotter said he had nothing to eat said Miss McGrath, and we gave him odd jobs and paid him by the hour. He drove Father Lefty out in his Car three or four times. We never knew them until they