Norwich bulletin., 1922-10-13
-7l'7 ' -'s-77 -F-------' -'-- :
 PUTNAM

EQ IMAM
 Fifteen years confinement in the Nor l wich State Hospital for the Insane was i the sentence pronounced upo Ernest | Skinner by Judge John ". Banks at Thursday mornings session of the su- | perior court here after a trial of the | case to court
 Another case similarly disposed of was | that of the state vs. George Leslie Ros- | well of Mansfield Roswell was ordered | committed to the Norwich State Hospi- | tai for period of five years
 Mental Responsibility figured decisive 1 ly in the disposition of these cases Su- 1 perintendent Franklin S. Wilcox, of the Norwich State Hospital expressing his opinion that both young men were sub l normal in their mental development and that they were nat capable of controlling their actions at the times when the crimes with which they were charged were committed. Roswell was first presented before the court to answer to a charge that he had attempted to wreck a passenger train on the N Y, N. H. & H. railroad on the evening of June 3, while the train was l travelling between North Windham and Wiilimantic. It was charged and not denied that Roswell had placed two rail- road ties upon the track at point just | beyond the curve on the west-bound track about midway between North Windham and Willimantic. Engineer William U 1 Lowden, who was in the cab of the To- 1 comotive drawing the train, said that he first saw the obstruction as he rounded | the curve and that he immediately shut off steam, applied the brakes and open ed the sand valve. The train had almost l stopped when the locomotive plowed in- to the ties, throwing one off the rails and to the side of the track and pushing the other off little to one side of the right l of way.
 L. T. Gerry. Willimantic, who some l time after the attempted wreck made l photographs of the locality, Roswell be- l ing present at the time and arranging l the ties, as they were on the evening of June 5, was a witness, as was w E. Jackson, investigator for the state at terney's office, and Dr. F. S. Wilcox of l Norwich.
 Dr. Wilcox gave his opinion that Ros- well was of the mental capacity of enid of ten years; that he considered him irresponsible at the time he attempt- ed to wreck the train. Dr. Wilcox gave hls opinion that Roswell was more ir- responsible at some particular time than at others but clearly set forth that it was not his opinian that Roswell should be committed to the state hospital for lie, indicating that there might come N tAttS eliCH It NOutu seem duNlSaDlP to release Roswell and allow his to return tc I his home. provided it could be shown that his home conditions were satisfac-
 tory and that his release would be sub
 Ject to proper supervision of his activi- l ties by representatives of the state hos
 pital
 Skinner was accused of causing the
 death of Clarence Miller in the Howard S
 alley section of the town of Hampton
 on Nov. s, of last year. It was alleged
 that because he had developed a dislike
 for Miller, who was something of recluse
 living al0ne in pretty home near where
 the accused resided with his father, he
 decided to rob him. on the eve of Mill lers departure for a visit with relatives
 in New York state. It was further charg- cd that Skinner had entered Miller's | hQme by stealth at about 10 o'clock on
 the night of November 8. with the intent of r9bbng the place and that as Skin Iner entered the room in which Miller a
 man of 96, was sleeping, Miller awaken ed; that Skinner, a youth of Is, seized
 a hatchet which he found behind a stove in the room and beat Miller to death with the instrument, severing one of his tic- tim's arms in the vicious attack The
 state further charged that young Skin ner then made his way to his home went
 to bed, tossed about in his nervous state
 and finally decided to get up and set the
 Miller house afiire to cover up the evil
 dence of the major crime.
 State Police Officer Howard A. Elliott,
 who, with State Officer A. W Williams
 took Skinner into custody at the scene of his crimes the morning after they were committed, testified that Skinner had confessed that he had killed Miller. as
 heretofore detailed, and afterwards set fire to the house to cover the crime
 State Officer Islliotts testimony was cor reborated by Officer Williams. Various
 other witnesses testified i'll the case, in cluding Wallace N. Jewett. former se- lectman of the town of Hampton, and
 pr. c. A. Jenkins of Willimantic, whc
 made an examination of the remains oi Millers remains after the fire
 An interesting feature of the disposa
 of this case was the interest of Skinner
 in what was obecome of him. He plead. ed with certain officers to see that he was allowed to remain at the Norwich
 State Hospital. the best home he has ever known, he stated. It so happened that his wish in this respect has beer
 complied with. but not because he asked
 it; rather because the circumstances 3 seemed to warrant.
 Just prior to adjournment State Attor ney Charles E. Searls reported to tn, SOutI DH lHItt Cd6tS OH WHICH ile recon
 mended that nolles be entered Thest were the cases of William Wheeler
 charged at Willimantic with violation O
 the liquor laws; that of Antonio Nor
 reil who was one of the figures in al S incendiary case that occurred in th ! town something over a year ago, ant j that of William Wenich, charged witt
 breaking and entering.
 z Other eases on the criminal list vii l 1G e. A.
 January term, to be held in Williman
 tic.
 State Attorney Charles E. Searls sait ] Thursday that the case of the state vs
 Barnett Hart was pending. MT. liar ! is charged with having tried to hribr