New Britain herald., 1922-11-04
Ellwell Says She Intimat- ed in Uncertain Way Money Was Needed Up in Hartford'
Woman Mentions Sum of $5,OOO as Amount Paid to Counsel-No Further In- vestigation.

Mrs. Helen Muter, operator of ( jitney line in this city. was called before the public utilities commission in Hartford late yesterday afternoon to explain to the commissioners the stories published in newspapers ir regard to an alleged large fee she was supposed to have given loca attorneys for securing jitney fran. chise for her.
 Following a conference with the commissioners another short confer ence was held in Commissioner c. C. Ellwell's office with Mrs. Muter, one of her bus drivers, P. s. McMahon Saul German, representing Mrs. Mu- ter: A. F. Stewart, head of the jitney department. and Herald representa- tive in attendance.
 Lawyers Fee Discussed.
 At this meeting, Mrs. Muter was assured by the commissioners that she was under their protection as long as she had certificate to operate the jitney line and she had nothing to worry about. She explained the trouble to MT Stewart and MT. Ellwell and her remarks might have been construed to insinuate that the money was to be used, in part at least, for someone ''up there" The point was not clearly made and Mir. Ellwell was called at his home in New Haven to- day by the Herald. He was asked if he understood the testimony alleged that part of the money was to be used for other than lawyers fee, and he replied:
 She intimated in an uncertain way that they needed 1t up in Hartford but what she said was rather in dennite. don't thing 1t was very clear just what she meant"
 Mir. Elwell supplemented his re- marks by saying that someone ir Mrs. Muter's company brought up the subject of the use to which the fee was to be put and that she agreed with the insinuation. He was asked whether the commission would i'm vestigate further and replied in the negative.
 Henry F. Billings, secretary of the commission, said this morning that he was not present when Mrs. Muter is alleged to have told about the re- ported use to which the money was to be put. He did say, however, that he understood that Mrs. Muter had been charged an additional fee by a lawyer for an application to se- cure a modification of her original license although So far as the com mission knows he had nothing to do with it."
 Woman Says Fee Was $5,0O0
 During the course of the conversa- ton yesterday Mrs. Muter mentioned s5,ooo. the sum of money the local attorneys were supposed to have se- cured from her. Commissioner Ell we'll in commenting upon this state ment in joking way said that this was more than he earned for years salary.
 Commissioner Ellwell told Mrs. Muter and her attorney that he did not know what they could do in the case and both he and MT. Stewart said that she should have told them of her trouble at the time she se- cured the license which was about one year ago.
 Her Case is Continued
 Following the hearing Saul Berman, attorney for Mrs. Muter said that he did not think that he would be able to get to New Britain Saturday morn ing to appear in police court when her case would come up for hear ing, and wanted her to secure local lawyer.
 P. s. McMahon said that he did not think that this would be neces- sary. Mrs. Muter then asked Mir. McMahon if she could have the case continued until next week as she was nervous and excited.
 Lawyer German then suggested that he would call tip Prosecutor Joseph Woods and tel! him that he would not be able to appear for Mrs. Muter on Saturday and therefore ask for a continuance of the case.
 In police court this morning the case against Mrs. Muter, Clyde Smith and Dominic Soccoly, charged with a violation of the motor vehicle statue In regard to overcrowding jitneys, was continued until Wednesday morning of next week on the request of Mrs Muter.
 History of Muter Case.
 Previous to Mrs. Muters arrival at the state capitol yestedday afternoon, Secretary Henry r. Billings of the commission dictated the following statement to the Herald by telephone:
 "All that this commission knows about the recent inquiry raised in New Britain relative to Mrs. Muter's certificate to operate bus line is what we saw printed in the news papers.
 Mrs. Muter received a certificate from this commission. Certificate No. ii. dated June 23, 1921, to operate iitneys on a specified route In New Britain. That certificate is still in force and so far as the commission knows will continue to be in favor of
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