New Britain herald., 1924-04-14
CONFESSES STORY VAS A HOAX.
Rode to MiddletOWn Voluntarily
 With COlored Men and Women

The sensational kidnapping story of Bernard Carlson of s6 West Pearl street about being held up by four colored men at the point of two re- volvers in the rear of the 1. O. 0. F. building in Hungerford court a week ago Saturday night went up in smoke yesterday when Carlson broke down under a griiling given him by De- tective Sergeant William F. McCue and Sergeant George c. Ellinger at the police station and confessed the whole story. Carlson had claimed that he was held up by the four colored men. two of whom held revolvers pressed against his side, forced into an auto mobile and driven to Cromwell. where he was robbed of s52 and gold watch.
 At the police headquarters yesterday Carlson admitted that his story was fabrication and that he had gone with the colored men, who were accom- panied by two colored women, of his own accord, and not only paid his own fare, but had paid the fare for ono Of r the other men.
 The revised story Of the affair, as admitted to by Carlson, was that he had met colored man near tho South church after he finished his work and was asked to direct the man to the colorcd club on Arch street. He walked mp to where the club is To- catcd and just as they reached if, three colored men and two women were coming out to enter an automobile. The man whom Carlson had directed to the place asked tho ethers where they were going and they answered 10 Portland. The man expressed A de- sire to go and SO iid Carlson. who said he would like to go if the two women went.
 A protest was put up against al- lowing Carlson to go, but his friend intcrceded for him, and Carlson was admitted 10 the parry paying his own fare and that Of his friends. On the trip Carlson was made very com fortable. one of the women sitting on his lap all the wny. it is said.
 Tho machine stopped at a house in Portland and two mon and one of the women ld&t. but Carlson stayed in the machine with the others until they had proceeded q little farther on. when he was invited to get out. His money and watch were gone. Carl son would not tell the police when his watch and money were taken from him.
 carlson's confession resulted from an investigation made by Sergeant Ellinger, who was assigned to the case and started running down of the alleged gunmen. Last Friday, the sergeant picked up clue, and Saturday, accompanied by state policeman and Carlson, they went over the ground in the ease. and the arrest of Eli Gurney. Henry Reese, Toby Oden and Mary Harris followed in Hartford, They were confronted by Carlson, who refused 10 identify any of them, but after being ques- tioned. the four Of them confessed that they were in tho party that Carl son went riding with,
 They were brought to New Britain yesterday morning and when they told their story in front Of Carlson, he finally confessed.
 Police were skeptical about Carl sons story from the beginning, as he was unable 10 give any description of the men or the machine in which he alleged that he was Kidnapped. An other thing that the police could not understand was why he did not report the affair immediately upon his ar- rival back in New Britain instead Of waiting until his fellow workers at the. Connecticut company practically compelled him 10.