New Britain herald., 1923-04-27
Newington Road Man, Showing no Emotion,
 Pleads Not Guilty to Holding Woman's Head Under Water Till Death
Police Failed to Investigate Until Urged to by Mayor Paonessa, Who Ordered Them to Get Busy.

Them to Get Busy.
 John A. Carlson of 36 Newing- ton road late yesterday after noon confessed to the New Brit ain police authorities that he had killed his wife, Mrs. Gerda Nelson Carlson, on the night of March 24, when 8 Ford coupe in which they were riding toppied over a steep embankment at the foot of Sand Bank hill on South Main street, into Willow Brook. In police court this morning he entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of first degree murder and on request of his attorney. P. F. McDonough, Judge George w. Nett continued his case until Tuesday morning of next week without bonds.
 The Herald" heard to-
 day that the police investi-
 gated the accident" only
 after being instructed to do
 so by Mayor Paonessa. The
 mayor confirmed this report
 this noon. He said that he
 had had several calls con-
 corning the accident, had
 investigated the case per-
 sonally by visiting the scene
 and inspecting the automo- bile and had called in the
 police the following day,
 suggesting that an investi-
 gatiOn be prosecuted. While
 the police claim credit for
 unrayeling the mystery,
 they failed to act until or
 dered to do so by their su-
 peri0r.
 According to the alleged con- fession made to the police Carl son had premeditated not only the killing of his wife but of himself as we'll for more than a month. Mrs. John Swanson of 62 Newington road and a friend of the family told him that Mrs. Carlson had told her that she was going to kill her husband and Mrs. Arthur Taylor of 60 Newington road and then throw herself in front of a locomotive to end her own life, Carlson ad- mitted to the police.
 This was told him more than one month before the murder took place, he said, and from that time on, the police say, he made plans as to which would be the easiest way to get rid of himself and his wife. He told the police that he did not be- lieve in hanging or in shooting and after passing Willow Brook on South Main street near the Berlin town line, he thought that drowning would be the best means.
 Continuing with his story the police V, l ss.A ernoon, March A, at ahout o'clock he and his wife left New Britain and went 10 Plainvile. From Plainville they went to Southington and on to Meriden where they had lunch in down town restaurant, From Meriden they returned to New Britain and stopped at the house few moments before continuing on to Hartford. They did not stop in Hartford but went on to South Manchester ana on their return trip they stopped at Harts Fur shop on Trumbull street. Hartford. where the prisoner said h. bought his wife fur coat He ad mitted that an argument ensued rela. tive to tho purchasing Of the coat in asmuch as his wife wanted one which cost more than $500 and he did not feel as though he could afford to pay more than s150. He bought the s150 coat and paid for it with check, knowing at the time that he did not have any money in the bank on which the check was drawn on.
 Haunted Him About Male Friends
 They returned to New Britain by way of Elmwood and Stanley street until they reached East Main street. pa ssed North & Judd's and continued to East street going directly past Newington road. They again turned on to Stanley street to where the occurred. He said that sine argued and tormented him all the way home from Hartford because of the fur coat and said that if he did not want to furnish her with good clothes she could get them from other men. Carlson said that these re- marks caused him to make up his
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