Norwich bulletin., 1922-05-05


is. of New York. turning states evi- |
dence. testified in the superior court at |
New London. Thursday, that Charles |
f.. Gerard. an employee of the Ashland
Cotton Co. at Jewett City. was the in |
stigator of the attempted hold-up of !
the Ashland Co. paymaster on the |
night of March 10th, with a payroll
of $500.
Deigran has pleaded guilty to the |
charge of assault with intent to rob
and Gerard is on trial in court.
State Attorney Harlai A. Hull is
be ne assisted by Attorney Thomas
E. Troland in prosecuting the case and
Attorney Thomas H. Shields of Nor
witch is defending Gerard.
George e. Pitcher. civil engineer of
Norwich. explained a map Of the Ash
land Cotton Co. plant. particularly the
tower in which the holdup took place.
Saw Gerard With DeIgran.
WiIfred Charteir of Jewett City who
at the time of the holdup was en-
ployed in bowling alley and who
said that he heard of the attempted
robbery the same night. He testified
to seeing Gerard and Delgran in the
bowling alleys the day of the holdup,
mingling with other boys there and
helping to set up pins.
nQeF cross eNaU1lndllOn Dg ALIOE-
ney Shields, the witness said that Ger
ard was not hanging around with Del
gran any more than he was with any
of the other boys.
Paymaster Dugsan Tsstifies.
Paymaster VIM. j. Duggan was then
called to the stand and testified to
having been employed at the Ashland
Cotton mills for about six years and
] ], str m
four years He told that his duties
as paymaster consisted of getting the
money from the bank in the morning,
bringing it back to the plant where it
was put up in envelopes by girls in
the office, after which he distributed it.
He said that he started to pay the day
shift off at $40 in the afternoon and
the night shift at o'clock at night.
The witness said that. he had known
Gerard for about six months and that
/ the accused had worked at the Ash
land cotton MILL in the weaving de-
partment in the day shift for about
two months. Duggal declared that he
d not know Delgran and that he had
never Aseen him. He testified that he
started in at { o'clock to pay off the
night shift as usual and that he had
about $500 in envelopes in a box
which he carried under his arm. He
told Of starting from the main office
of the plant, walking across the bridge
spanning a river between the office and
| the main plant and of going up the
stone steps to the tower door.
Revolver Pointed at His Head.
Duggan testified that he had just
stepped through the door into the room
/ Of the tower when he saw a gun point
ed at him from around the railing be-
sides the stairs leading to the cellar
and then saw Belgran come up from
the stairs with revolver III his hand.
| Delgran had a handkerchief tied over
| his chin his mouth and nose. TIE
witness said the Delgran ordered him
| to throw up his hands, which he did
and in doing 50 the box with the pay
money dropped on the floor.
Had Paynaster BIindfodsd.
| pslgran then ordered him to stand
! up on Platform in a corner of the
room at the foot of flight of stairs
| leading up Duggan said that he was
facing into the corner with his hands
in the ar and Delgrsn with his gun
pointed at him was within three feet
of him.
Delgran then took cloth and band
aged the eyes of the witness and at
the same time he said something which
Duggan said he couldn't hear because
il was muffled by the handkerchief
which Deigran had over his mouth. At
the same time he heard someone on the
stairs and heard the person say some
! thing but he couldn't distinguish what
it was. The witness said that he could
not see who it was because his eyes
were bandaged at the time.
Robber Was Interrupted.
Duggan testified that he then heard
someone come down the stairs and the
person tied the cloth over his eyes.
About that time someone came out OF
of the card room, leading out of the
i tower room and Delgran ordered that
person TO put up his hands but the
person ran back into the card room
instead He said he knew this from
the slamming of the door.
Mill Help Fled.
A few seconds later, Duggan said
that someone else came out of the
card room and jumped on Delgran and
. he (the witness) turned around. Ir
= doing so the bandage fell from his
eyes and he saw Gerard nearby anC
Delgran in scuffle on the floor witt
Harvey Maynard the boss carded, ant
he started to help Maynard. At the
same time eight or ten other people
came out of the card room and Dug
4 gan shouted For Gods sake, give u
Il a hand Instead all the people raI
} back into the room.
= Shot Deigran in Hand.
BY this time, DeIgran had gottel
partly out of the door with Maynard
holding on to him by the leg Will,
= Delgran had hold of the door which h
had shut against his own leg. DuggaI
= said that he ordered Delgran to holt
up his hands and when he didn't h
:, fired three shots from the 80 calibr
revolver with which he was armed on
of doors. After the shots were fire.
Delgran fell on to the stone steps AM
later he learned that he had hit Del
n gran in the hand. The witness an,
: Maynard went out and seized Delgran
Then Duggan- went out doors an
: fired the remaining two shots from hi
!, | revolver as an alarm, after which h
went to the Ashland boarding nous
where he teiephoned for a doctor an,
for Mr.. Carpenter, the agent of tn
mill.