New Britain herald., 1923-06-06
CARLSON TAKES OWN
 LIFE IN COUNTY JAIL.
teontinusa from First rassl

I ANHNAhNNl run NHst EdEel
 easlons Mr, Carlson Insisted he did
 not murder his wife and that her
 death was due 10 accident. The
 statement has been made that Carl,
 son sat upon his wife and held her
 under water for long time, This he
 sleaalasily denied and maintained
 that he did not hold his wife under
 water for any period Of time, His
 counsel believed his statement and
 were ih possession of evidence which
 would show that Carlson did not hold Fer under water, In our talks with
 carlson We noted nothing peculiar
 about him"
 Carlson was arrested April ss. after,
 according 10 police allegations, he had
 confessed to the killing Of his wife
 on the night of March a, He was
 arraigned In police court June 1 and
 held with bonds for trial at the
 session Of the superior court that
 opened yesterday at Hartford,
 Mrs. Carlson died after Ford
 coupe in which she and her husband
 were riding had overturned near the
 foot Of South Main street and her
 head had been thrust Into brook, causing death by drowning, At the
 time Of the fatality, Carlson told the roliee that his wife was driving and.
 blinded by tho glare Of powerful headlights, had crashed into a fence. causing the car 10 overturn in brook. He said at that time that he managed to escape uninjured. but his wife was pinned beneath the car and when he regained consciousness about half an hour afterward. she was dead.
 On the day of the alleged comics. sion. Carlson was quizzed at police headquarters twice and was arrested early in the evening, after the alleged confession had been secured. The police say Carlson admitted that not only had he planned to kill his wife. but he had hoped that the crash through the fence and into brook would have been fatal to himself. He said his wife had told a neighbor that she was going to kill him and another woman.
 To the police Carlson related the incidents leading up to the killing. | In the afternoon they left home about 1 o'clock. going to Meriden by way of Plainville and Southington. They re- turned home and left shortly after ward for South Manchester. Returning, they stopped at Harts fur shop in Hartford where Carlson purchased a fur coat for his wife. They had disagreement, the wife asking for coat costing $500 while he did not feel he could afford to pay nore than s150. The purchase was ,aid for by check. drawn on a bank n which the prisoner had no funds.
 The return trip to New Britain was continuous dispute, according to 'arlson. He drove through Stanley treet to East Main street. thence to East street, passed Newington road i, nd again went into Stanley street. he wife taunted him about other , 1omen and his refusal to purchase :, he coat she wanted and, the police ss ay. he decided to end it all.
 Going down South street hill, arlson speeded up the machine and arted across the street. through the ence and into the brook. Neither e nor his wife was seriously injured. :. Then he saw her struggling to get :, Ut of the machine, he placed her i. cad in the water and sat on it, the ;. olice claim he admitted. After half ' l hour. assured that she was dead, \ 9 began to look for help. John rawley. motorman, and Ava Ven es of Berlin. assisted in taking the :, ,dy out of the car while Carlson ~ as taken to the hospital for treat . ent He was discharged on the o me evening and returned to his V ,me. :, A police investigation was started ,
 once and as a result Carlson was " He'd to headquarters several weeks \, terward. He told several con- A' cting stories as a result of which e police were able to gather bits of idence to present before him. The suit was the confession. m Carson's suicidal attempt was his tn corS. While awaiting trial in the ST y lockup he attempted to kill him. N If by hanging. Doorman Gustav to elberg investigated strange noises W q frustrated the attempt. " The alleged slayer and the victim al Ire married 20 years ago. They Sf d two children. Carl, 19, and e, lius, IS, with whom Carlson lived ter the death of his wife He was plumber by trade.