New Britain herald., 1925-02-14
CHAPMAN IN MOOD
 FOR MURDER HERE Said Police ''Nill Be Lying
 Around Here Like Bees' HIS MOVEMENTS TRACED
Bandit and shcan Came to This City to Burglarize Bcsse-Lcland Store But Burglar Alarm Forced Them to Change Plans.

to Change Plans.
 For the first time, the story of the movements and plans of Gerald Chapman, master criminal of the age, and Walter D. Shean, wealthy Springfield business man, on the af- ternoon before the burglary of the Davidson & Leventhal store and the murder of Patrolman James Skelly
 has been learned for publication It has been closely guarded by the police and the state attorneys of- fce.
 With the revealing of the story, it became known that the Davidson & Leventhal store was not the obiec- tive of Chapman and Shean when they started for New Britain. Their intention was to knock off" the Besse-Leland store. The proposed break in the Besse-Leland store was abandoned by Chapman, according to the story, after he visited the store and upon examination found that it was completely wired with a burglar alarm system.
 According to the information, Chapman and Shean started from Springfield early on the afternoon Of October II and headed toward Hart ford. It is reported that Shean claims that he was unaware of their destination, or the purpose of the trip until sometime after they had left Springfield and were we'll into Connecticut.
 It was then that Chapman is re- ported to have informed him that they were "going to knock off a place in Connecticut and pick up a little change" The pair arrived in Hartford and continued through to this city, Chapman pulling up in the machine near St. Peters church, where the two men left the car and walked to the center of the city.
 Chapman at Besse- -Lelands
 Leaving Shean on the sidewalk outside the Besse- Leland store, Chapman is reported to have gone inside, returning in a few minutes and telling Shean that there was nothing doing on that place, 1t is all wired" The two men then walk ed along Main street and Chapman looked over the Davidson & Leven- thai store and decided that he would go in there and reconnoitre.
 En .ering the store he walked down to the rear in one aisle and then returned and walked up the other aisle. Satisfying himself that he wa, acquainted with the layout of the place, ne went to the front of the store where he leaned up against one of the doors.
 It was while he was leaning against this door that he is alleged to have removed thS screws from the lock, and was observed by Edith Larson, a clerk on nearby counter The Larson girl noticed the man standing there for several minutes, but was unaware of the act he was WILL u SCltN ullN behind his back.
 Having finished his work on the door Chapman is reported to have returned to the street where he re- joined Shean and told him that the place was all set for the break. The two men are then reported to have gone to Waterbury. returning to Meriden about o'clock that night, where they put up at roadhouse, after purchasing some fuses, a jim my and a few other burglar tools at 8 Meriden store.
 Come Here Early fin Morning The trip to this city on the morn- ing of the burglary was started at about o'clock and tho machine was parked on Church street. On the way here, Shean said that CfSNnan gave him a revolver and tola Uan to use it if it was necessary.
 Shean is reported to ESTe stated that he remained in the antomobile while Chapman went to the store and broken into it. Later, while both were working on the safes in the place, Chapman said. referring to Johnson, stable hostler they had met in the alleyway. "l wouldn't be surprised if the fool wont and told the police, but If he does they will be lying around here like bees" Chief William c. Hart and Detec- tive Sergeant William P. McCue took the Larson girl to Hartford with them yesterday. IL Is understood that she was taken for the purpose Of identifying Chapman, but was not called upon to give him a close scrutiny. When Chapman is alleged 10 have been in New Britain he was sporting a mustache, and it is re- ported that the absence Of the mus tache on Chapman yesterday baffled E the girl and makes it necessary for ] her to give him closer scrutiny be- g fore she can identify him positively. Chapman Cool in Court
 The remarkable coolness of Chap man when he was arraigncd before ] Judge Jennings in Superior Court yesterday afternoon to plead to tle murder charge against him amazed spectators and officials. They could not believe that the man realized that he was being placed on trial for a crime that means the death Z penalty if he is convicted.
 According to those present in court. Chapman appeared utterly in- different to the proceedings, alr though not a movement was made by anybody in the courtroom that was not observed by the master criminal. The keen penetrating eyes Of the modern Rasfues flashed about the courtroom with every move any body made. although his head and body remained motionless. County
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